Young Wajanja enjoyed being with Isha.  The two of them shared a passion 
for living that made them appreciate the miraculous qualities of the 
ordinary.  Jannie had been watching a bee on a flower as it probed the 
golden treasure trove of pollen, packing it on its legs to fly back to 
the hive.  Isha helped her track the bee back to the hive, and then they 
watched at a safe distance as the workers stocked the hive with honey.
	"Look at the perfect little tubes that make it up," Isha said.  
"Just don't get too close.  Each one holds a drop of honey.  That's what 
they eat, you know.  They spend their life hunting flowers the way we 
hunt antelope, only they don't kill them.  Heaven will be like that, you 
know."
	"Isn't that wonderful!" Jannie said, getting closer.
	"Watch out!"
	"I can't see.  I'm not going to touch it."
	A bee saw her curious gawking as a threat and swarmed her.  "Hey, 
get away!"  She ran a short distance and tried to roll in the grass.
	"Hold still!" Isha cried.  "I'll get it!"
	"Leave me alone, stupid bee!  Get away!"
	Isha came up to her as she batted like a windmill.  She watched 
her small prey until it lit on Wajanja, seeking its target.  A sudden 
but careful swat of Isha's paw knocked the bee on the ground without 
even scratching Jannie's fur.  Then Isha stomped down on the bee in the 
grass.
	"DAMN!!  Owww, ohhee, ooohh!!"  Isha hopped around on three legs, 
holding her injured paw up.  "The little bugger!  A curse on your whole 
hive!"
	"Are you OK??"
	"Yeah," Isha said, settling down in the grass and sucking on her 
paw.  "I bet I hurt her more than she hurt me!"
	Togo and Kombi came bounding up.  Kombi shook his head.  "You 
ought to be easier with your Aunt Isha!"
	"It was a bee," Isha said.  "There's a hive over there."
	"Uh oh!  I'm out of here!"
	Kombi ran off, followed by Togo and Wajanja.
	"Hey, wait up!"  Isha hobbled after them on three legs.  "Jannie, 
I promised your mother I'd keep an eye on you!  Stop, NOW!"
	The three cubs came to a halt and sat watching Isha painfully 
cover the distance with one paw in the air.
	"Gee, are you going to be OK?"
	"Yes, Togo.  Thanks for asking."
	"It bit you real good, didn't it?"
	"Bees don't bite, they sting.  That's the other end."  She settled 
to the ground again.  "Look, I don't feel like playing games now and I 
can't keep running after you.  Does anyone want to hear a good story?"
	"Mbogo's big fight!" Kombi said.
	"Something with wild dogs in it!" Togo said.
	"Eww, gross!" Wajanja said.  "I want a love story!  Kigali and 
Lisha!"
	"Who wants all that kissing!" Kombi said.  "Mbogo and the Lioness!  
That's the best story EVER."
	Isha smiled benevolently.  "I tell you what.  I'm going to tell 
you a special love story."
	"Come on, Beebee," Togo said.  "I just ate and I don't want to 
lose it all."
	"Yeah.  We're out of here."
	"No, wait!"  Isha smiled mischievously.  "This is about a 
different kind of love.  You'll like it, Kombi--there's some fighting in 
it.  Best of all, there's not a lot of kissing."
	"Well, if you promise...."
	Isha looked at each of the cubs intently with a long, silent 
glance.  Soon, they were all staring at her and she hadn't yet spoken a 
word.  Such was her flawless delivery that she was always in demand for 
stories.
	"Many years ago there was a lion cub named Mano, the favorite son 
of King Malawi and Queen Penda.  In Mano's time, most of the animals who 
were not born of a female had gone back to be with Aiheu.  Few 
remembered what it was like to live in a world without birth or death 
during the time of dreams.  But for the sake of these few, Aiheu would 
sometimes walk among his creations.
	"Mano was carefree in those days.  But the source of his great joy 
was not playing games but serving his parents.  When he was but one year 
old, he would hunt small game with his mother, and before the first 
threads of his mane began to show, he would walk the border with his 
father.
	"At first the hyenas taunted him and the wild dogs laughed at him 
as he marked the territory.  But as the days passed, they came to admire 
him and would pay respect to him due a king.  Malawi rejoiced to think 
that someday the land would go to a son who inspired such admiration 
even from his adversaries.
	"But one day when the Queen was hunting, she was struck in the 
face by a zebra's hoof and her jaw was broken.  It was a mortal wound, 
and she went home so she might not die alone.  The heartbroken Malawi 
prepared her for her death the way Aiheu had taught his children, 
marking around her eye and under her jaw with his paw as he wept.  Her 
cubs huddled against her, grief stricken.  But of all the cubs, Mano 
grieved the most, too much to accept her fate."
	Togo said, "Kind of like Avina?"
	"Yes, only poor Avina died surrounded by enemies.  You missed a 
lot not knowing her."  Isha patted his cheek with her paw.  "An elderly 
baboon shaman was passing through the kingdom to bless cubs.  Mano 
sought him out and fell before him, begging him to help.
	"'Shall I bless you, my child?'
	"'A zebra broke my mother's jaw!' Mano sobbed.  `She can't eat!  
You must help her!'
	"The baboon looked at him sadly.  `It is the order of things that 
some die young.  Only Aiheu himself can conquer death.'
	"'Where can I find Aiheu?'
	"'Do you think the mighty Aiheu will give you audience?  Do you 
not know the bargain made by your grandfather that pleasure is worth 
pain, and that the two are brothers?  That pain is the price of 
pleasure?'
	"'But if I gave him a gift?' Mano insisted.  `Surely he would let 
my mother live if I gave him a gift!  Something to trade for my mother's 
life?'
	"The old one said, `It would take something of equal value.  You 
would have to die in her stead, but no one has ever proposed such a 
thing.'
	"'Then I will be the first,' Mano said.  `My life for hers.  Now 
sir, tell me where I may find Aiheu.'
	"'It is not simple,' the baboon said.  `He is in the distant east, 
a journey fraught with danger and challenge.  And if you would see him, 
you must be quick, for if your mother's jaw is broken, she will die 
within the week.  In your dreams you shall see a vision where to find 
the Lord, and it will give you true guidance if your heart is pure and 
your courage is strong.'"
	Kombi asked, "Is this a true story?"
	"All of my stories are true unless I tell you they are not.  
Listen carefully--you may learn something."  She continued:
	"Mano went to his mother to bid her farewell.  She motioned for 
him to come near.  `Take your place by my side, dearest son.  Let me 
love you while my strength holds out, so you will remember me when you 
are old and tired.'"
	A tear slid down Wajanja's cheek.  "That's so sad!"
	"Mano wept.  `I could never forget you, Mother, but I cannot stay.  
I must go into the east to find Aiheu and bring you healing.'
	"'Foolish, kind child, stay with me.  I shall not live to see you 
return.'
	"'Mother, I must go.  If I stay here and watch you die, I will 
never be happy again.  Bless me for my journey and pray for my success.'
	"She put her paw on his cheek and blessed him, and he headed 
toward the land of the sunrise.
	"He was afraid that he would fail, but he was also afraid that he 
would succeed.  To one end or the other, he would die, and he prayed to 
Aiheu that his Ka might sit with his grandfather among the stars."
	"Does he die?" Togo asked, clearly distressed.
	"Wait and see."
	"I'll listen to the whole thing.  I just want to know if he's 
going to die."
	"Everyone eventually dies," Isha said, rubbing his face with her 
good paw.  "Just bear with me for a little longer."
	"So alone did he feel, for he could not tell his brother or 
sisters of his plan.  It was a terrible secret to carry under the hot 
sun.  A few of the Pride Sisters tried to stop him, but he bid them a 
sad farewell and continued.  Finally, his own father stopped him at the 
border.  `Go home, my son!  What you are doing will accomplish nothing 
but to double my grief.'
	"With wisdom beyond his days, Mano said, `If I returned now, I 
would not be the son you love, and I would not even love myself.'
	"Malawi looked into his eyes of love and kissed Mano.  `If you had 
been another cub, I would have scolded you for such foolishness and sent 
you home.  But not my Mano--if you say you must go, I will not stop you.  
Yet before you leave, I would lay my heart at your feet.  For I shall 
have no more happiness until you are safely home.'"
	Kombi nudged Isha with his paw again.  "Did he really put his 
heart down?"
	"It's an expression.  Now do you want to hear this or not?"
	"I'm sorry."
	Isha looked at each of the cubs piercingly.  She managed to 
recapture the moment before she was interrupted.  "Mano did not want to 
tell his father he was leaving home to die, so he was brave and smiled.  
`Watch for me in the East.  If I am not back in two weeks, watch for me 
in the stars.'
	"With that, Mano crossed the border and headed into the Big World.
	"He walked all day in the hot sun, but he found no water.  Weary, 
hungry and thirsty, he collapsed and fell into a deep sleep.  He had a 
dream that he would meet Aiheu in a mountain pass the next morning, and 
it gave him hope.  Surely this was a sign from God!
	"The next day he traveled on.  He did indeed find the mountain 
pass but the Lion King met him in the pass and required that he fight to 
proceed.  `No one may enter my land through this pass, for the prey is 
for my family alone.'
	"'I will not hunt your prey, though I would take some of your 
water to ease my burning thirst.  I must pass through your land, but I 
shall not stop along the way--may Aiheu witness my oath.'
	"'And where are you headed that is so important that you must 
trespass on my land?'
	"'I am headed to find Aiheu.  I am going to give up my life for my 
mother's.'
	"'That is a difficult story to believe!'
	"Mano said, 'My life only has value if it can ransom my mother.  
Kill me if you must, but I will seek the Lord.'
	"The lion kissed him.  `Your bravery astounds me.  You shall pass, 
little one.  I shall escort you as far as the eastern creek.  There you 
can refresh yourself, but you will be on your own.  And may the gods 
grant you success, though I hate to see you die so young.  When you rule 
from the stars, remember me.'
	"Mano kept his promise.  He did not stop to rest until after he 
crossed the eastern creek.  It was night, and though he had drunk, he 
had not eaten in two days.  His hunger kept him awake until after 
midmoon, but when he finally slept, he had a dream that he would meet 
Aiheu across a desert.
	"Heartened, the next morning he headed out into the desert.  
Indeed, it was as desolate as his dream had warned him, but he did not 
see Aiheu.  Instead the wind rose up and buffeted him without mercy.  He 
was tempted to turn back and drink from the creek and try to hunt, but 
still he kept on and crossed the sand.  `Aiheu, I will not stop until I 
find you!  I am coming to give my life for my mother!'  And when he said 
this, the wind died down.
	"Still, the sun was blazing hot.  After long wandering in the 
sweltering heat, he spotted some distant trees.   And going to them, he 
found blessed coolness where he could regain his senses.  He was thirsty 
and needed a drink.  Perishing from thirst, he found to his great joy a 
deep pool.  It was filled with milk rather than water, something that 
made Mano wonder, but he was willing to drink most anything by that 
point.
	"'Stop!  It is forbidden!'  A gorilla came and raised a club in 
threat.  `This is the sacred spring of Mara, the birthplace of all life.  
You are forbidden to drink here!.'
	"'Why?'
	"'This is a holy place.  You came in your selfishness, wanting to 
take what is not yours to ease your discomfort.  Find another place to 
drink!  Any place but the Lord's pool!'
	"'But I am going to give my life to Aiheu that he may spare my 
mother.  If I am dead, I shall have nothing to give him.  Strike me if 
you must, but if I live, I will go to my Lord.'
	"The gorilla withdrew.  `Drink, then.'
	"The milk took away his hunger and thirst, and he fell into a 
satisfying sleep.  He dreamed that the next day he would meet Aiheu in a 
field.
	"Heartened, he went in search of the field, and he found it just 
as it was in the dream, but all he saw on it was an elephant that 
charged him every time he tried to cross, stubbornly driving him back 
toward the jungle.
	"'Let me pass, old tusker!  I have no quarrel with you!'
	"'We do not allow your kind here.  You just want to kill our 
children and harass us!'
	"'I am not here to kill but to save,' Mano said.  `You must show 
me where Aiheu is, for I have come a long way, and my time grows short.'
	"'The young fool speaks of time growing short!'
	"'I may be a fool, but I must see Aiheu to give my life to him 
that my mother may be spared.  If you do not show me the way, I will 
fight you as best I can!'
	"The elephant believed him and relented.  `Brave one, go between 
the two purple hills, beyond the two acacias and find the spring where 
Aiheu comes to cool his thirst.  I wish you success, but I hate to see 
one so young die.  When you come to your kingdom among the stars, 
remember me.'
	"'Even as I will remember the Lion, I shall remember you.'
	"Two long days it took him to complete the journey.  On the first 
night he did not dream at all.  But on the second night he dreamed of 
Aiheu by the spring, and heartened, he knew what he was looking for at 
last would be his.
	"He did in fact find the two hills and beyond them the two 
acacias.  And he found the spring, but rather than Aiheu he only saw the 
old baboon who sent him on the journey.  
	"'You said I would find Aiheu in the east!  Now I'm here--where is 
he??  I've been misled three previous times and now all I see is an old 
fool!'
	"The baboon smiled.  `The dreams were all true.  Aiheu was in all 
of those places.  He was a lion, a wind, a gorilla and an elephant.  And 
then as now he was also an old baboon.'
	"Mano fell to the ground.  `Forgive me, my Lord and my God!'
	"'Only one whose heart was steadfast and true could find me.  I 
had to test your resolve.'
	"'So, are you saying that I may die in my mother's stead?'
	"Aiheu took a large rock.  `If you would come of your own free 
will.  I will crush your skull--it will be very quick, my son.'
	"'Will I come with you?'
	"'You will come with me.'
	"'Will I see my mother again?'
	"'When she dies, you will be reunited with her.'
	"'May I not see her one last time in this world before I come with 
you?'
	"'There is not enough time.  Are you having second thoughts?'
	"'No, Lord.'  He cringed, closed his eyes tightly, and said, `Kill 
me as we have agreed and get it over with.'
	"In a moment, Mano felt a light tap on his head and he cried out.  
But Aiheu said, `I was testing my swing.  I should not want to miss and 
cause you extra pain.'
	"Mano cringed again and shut his eyes tightly.  `I am ready, Lord.  
Kill me as we have agreed and get it over with.'
	"In a moment, Mano felt a harder blow that made him flinch, though 
it did not even draw blood.  Aiheu said, `The sun was shining in my 
eyes, and I did not want to strike you wrongly.'
	"Mano closed his eyes tightly and said, `Hurry, Lord.  My mother 
is dying.  My pain is not important when my mother is hurting!'
	"Aiheu dropped the rock and put his arms around Mano.  As tears 
streamed down his face, he said, `My son, my son!  How I love you!  Not 
one hair of your dear head would I harm, even if you were still a mortal 
which you are not.  Come look in the water.'
	"Mano looked into the spring at his reflection.  He gasped, for 
his fur had turned snow white and his eyes were not hazel but sky blue.
	 "When you drank from the pool of Mara you became immortal.  But 
it was not by chance you did this, for I had need of you."
	"'Whatever you need from me, I will give it gladly.  Only spare my 
mother's life!'
	"Again Aiheu wept.  `My child--the moment you headed into the 
East, I healed your mother.'
	"He fell at Aiheu's feet and kissed him.  `Bless you!' he cried, 
but he asked, `Why then did you continue to test me?'
	"'I already trusted you, but now you have learned to trust 
yourself.  In a real sense, you have given your life to me, for you are 
my servant now.  But you will count your bondage the greatest freedom 
you have ever known.  Neither time nor distance shall confine you, nor 
shall life nor death.'  Aiheu blessed him and kissed him.  `As long as 
you remain faithful in your duties, I shall look after your every need.  
You shall rule the host of the Nisei, for you are now a king in your own 
right.  For now, go home to your mother and be for her the good son you 
are.  But when your mantlement comes, I will return for you and take you 
to your kingdom.'
	"Mano went home to his family with much rejoicing, and he was 
indeed a son to bring his parents joy, but he passed his right of 
inheritance to his brother Akbar and nothing would he take away except 
the life his parents gave him.
	"As the days passed into moons, his beauty grew until the very 
mountains and plains saw it.  And creatures came from distant places to 
catch a glimpse of him.   Many were the lionesses that knelt before him 
and said, `Remember me when you come to your mantlement!'  The path that 
lay before him was difficult and long, and when he explained to them 
what Aiheu had planned, they walked away sadly.  Only one did not want 
to go away.
	"Now when the days were due for his mantlement, Aiheu came out of 
the east to bless the sons of Malawi.  `Akbar, you will be a mighty king 
and rule long and happily in the land.  But of all creatures which I 
have made, the greatest is my servant Mano.  In him I place authority to 
oversee my kingdom and only my word shall surpass his.  Great shall be 
his wisdom, and mighty his power, and any good thing that he asks of me, 
it shall be done.'
	"Mano left to wander the world, doing the will of Aiheu wherever 
he went.  The lame he healed, and the ill he made whole, and as Mano's 
fame spread, the beauty that shone from his eyes seemed to increase as 
well, for he never healed another that he did not also strengthen 
himself, and he never taught another that his wisdom did not also 
increase, for in the measure he showed goodness to others Aiheu showed 
it to him.
	"For a while he was satisfied with his solitary path, making a new 
friend over each hill, but passing on like the restless wind.  Aiheu 
kept his promise and looked after all of Mano's needs.  But Mano had one 
need that became more keen with the passing of years.  He begged Aiheu 
for a mate, someone like him who would accompany him.
	"Aiheu heard his prayer and found a lioness named Minshasa whose 
heart was pure and good.  At his bidding she drank from the lake of Mara 
and became immortal and dazzling white.  Then she was sent in search of 
her husband, and was told only that he was `one like her, of great 
courage, wisdom and love.'  But he did not tell her Mano was a white 
lion.
	"In her wandering, she found N'ga, son of Ramallah.  He was strong 
and comely, and brave enough to make her a handsome consort.  But before 
he could pledge to her, his brother Sufa came and challenged him for her 
favors.  The brothers fought bitterly for three days under the sun and 
moon.  They were of one strength, one endurance and one determination.  
Neither could prevail, and they fell to the earth exhausted
	"Minshasa felt that both lions were too foolish to be the husband 
Aiheu had promised her and she went on.  It was then she saw Mano by the 
mountain called Niobe.  And he knew her at once as the mate Aiheu made 
for him.  Joyfully he came to her and said, `The wife I prayed for has 
found me.'  And at once he pledged to her and she to him.
	"As for the mother of the blessed Mano, death came to her as it 
came to all mortals, but it could not separate her from her son.  That 
is why it is said to this day in the mantlement, `Like Mano, you shall 
not forget who gave you life.'  And do you know what her name is?  One 
of us has it."
	Togo said, "Was it Kombi?"
	Isha laughed.  "No, you little Rat Fink!"  She pawed him and said, 
"It's Isha!  That's why it's one of my favorite stories.  So cubs, did 
you three learn anything from this?"
	Kombi said, "I sure did!  It's stupid to fight over a girl for 
three days.  N'ga should have told her to choose between them."
	"Well, that's one thing...."  She looked at Jannie, who was drying 
her eyes.  "How about you?"
	"That's easy.  Love is the strongest thing in the world."
	"Very good!"  Isha nuzzled her.  "That's certainly true."
	Togo sat still and somber, and after it was a while before Isha 
noticed and nuzzled him gently.  "I haven't heard from you."
	"The same thing she said." Togo said, looking down.  "You know, 
love."
	"But there's more, isn't there?"
	Togo looked her in the eye.  "I guess so."
	"You guess so??"  Isha tenderly nuzzled him.  "What are you 
thinking?  You can tell your Aunt Isha, honey tree."
	"Well, I was just thinking about Malawi and how much he loved 
Mano."
	"He did indeed."  She quietly said, "Just like Mufasa really loved 
Simba, and Ahadi really loved Mufasa...and I guess Scar too.  You came 
along at a bad time.  Things weren't always like this."
	"I wonder if my dad even knows I'm alive," Togo said morosely.  "I 
wonder if he even cares if I'm alive."
	"Why, Togo!  Of course he cares!  That's what your mother said."
	"She doesn't tell me nothing about him."
	"Anything."
	"You said it.  And I'd like to meet him, but Mom won't even tell 
me who he is."
	"She hasn't told me either.  But she said that someday soon you'd 
know all about your Dad.  Uzuri told me he was wonderful and kind, and 
he will love you very much.  Buck up, son, and humor your mother in 
this.  She will tell you when she feels the time is right."
	Isha got up, tested her foot, and finding she could rest her 
weight on it she limped toward Pride Rock with the cubs in tow.  "Yes, 
Togo, you have a very good father because no one else would be good 
enough for your mother."
	Togo moved alongside and nuzzled her shoulder.  "I love you, Aunt 
Isha."

Bookmark/Search this post with:

delicious | digg | reddit | newsvine | furl | google | yahoo | technorati