CHAPTER:  THE BIRTH OF THE CUBS

	When Isha's time had come, she had three cubs.  Her son looked 
like the newborn Mabatu, and so she called him Habusu.  Maybe he would 
meet a good lioness who would love him the way she loved her Baba and be 
a prisoner to her love.  The daughters were named Minshasa and Jona 
after her favorite lionesses in  star lore.
	Rumors had circulated about the father of the cubs.  While it was 
still uncertain, most of the lionesses would have bet their whiskers 
that she had mated with Mabatu before his mantlement.  Some of her pride 
sisters filed by to see them, more out of curiosity than of joy.  They 
looked for familiar features in their face.  More than a couple stared 
at Habusu and commented on how familiar his face was.  Significantly, 
Kako did not even show up.  
	While Isha was not a social outcast, there was tension and a 
feeling of disapproval in the faces that filed past her.  They would say 
something pleasant only to go outside and gossip.  And with Isha's 
excellent hearing, there was no doubt she heard many hurtful things 
before the day was over.
	Yolanda said, "She will be a devoted mother.  She has SUCH a way 
with KIDS."
	Ajenti nuzzled her mother and laughed.  "Talk about robbing the 
litter!"
	Sarafina said in a quiet voice, "How did he get her in trouble?  I 
mean, I didn't think at his age they could...well, YOU know."
	"Carry through with it?" Ajenti said.  "When those things aren't 
on their mind, they wouldn't think of trying.  But when someone puts 
ideas in their head, you'd be surprised."
	Sarafina was shocked.  "Are you saying she led him on?"
	"I'm saying if those cubs were a reflection, Mabatu would be 
standing by the water hole.  That's all I'M saying."  Ajenti winked and 
walked away smugly.
	Just as Isha was ready to cry with shame, her friend Uzuri showed 
up.  Uzuri's love for Isha was absolute and unconditional and in her 
eyes, there could be no taint to spoil the beauty of her cubs.  Uzuri 
looked at each cub, sniffed them gently, and touched them with her 
tongue.  "This male looks like Mabatu when he was that age," she purred.  
Isha cringed, but she saw that there was no malice in her words.  "He's 
very handsome.  Sometimes I worry about Baba; where he is, what he's 
doing, and if he's missing you.  We must pray for him."
	Isha nuzzled her.  "I love you, Uzuri."
	"Why?  What did I do."
	"Nothing-and everything.  Just because you're you.  You're my 
truest friend in the world, and don't think I don't appreciate it, 
girl."  As Uzuri left, Isha brought the cubs to her warm belly and 
guided them to her milk.   She rubbed over them with her paw tenderly as 
they nursed.  "I don't care what the others think.  You are my children, 
and you are wonderful.  You are Mabatu's children.  Our children."  She 
half closed her eyes.  "My little Mabatu.  Wherever you are, I hope you 
know how beautiful they are."
	Later, Taka himself came by.  "Look at the little angels," he 
cooed.  "Aren't they beautiful!"
	"Mabatu's children," she said.  "That's what you came to find out, 
wasn't it?"
	"Mabatu," he said softly.  "I will go to my death grieving for 
him.  He was my son, and he always will be."
	"Then why did you let him go?"
	"I don't have to tell you, but I will."  He sighed.  "The seer 
told me he would meet an evil fate if he stayed here.  I love Mabatu.  I 
loved him enough to give him a small chance over no chance at all."  He 
sighed again.  "Everyone I love suffers for it.  Even my poor Lannie.  
Do you think I'm completely unaware?  I may have many faults, but 
stupidity is not one of them."
	There was a truthful ring to his voice.  Isha looked at the 
sadness that clouded his face as he recalled his friend.
	He looked at the male cub.  "What is his name?"
	"Habusu."
	"Habusu, you are son of my son.  You will be my heir, and the one 
true King.  I am not a seer, but I predict that you will not be hated as 
I am hated.  You have brought some measure of peace to my heart.  That 
is not an easy thing to do."
	"You honor me,"  Isha said, but she looked a little worried.  
"Please don't tell the hyenas just yet."
	"Why not?"
	"If their seer is so good, let her come tell you."
	He half laughed.  "Yes.  Let her.  But aren't you a little curious 
what the future holds for him?"
	"Yes.  That's why I plan to be there when it happens.  We all have 
to suffer thorns and bruises, and we all have to die, but isn't it 
really better not knowing how and when?"
	"Why Isha, you're a philosopher."
	"All mothers are philosophers."
	Only one week earlier, Beesa had become a philosopher.  
Fortunately, she only had one cub to worry about feeding, a daughter 
named Lisani.  Perhaps someday Lisani would grow to love Habusu.  
Perhaps Aiheu in his mercy will provide some future for them all.  
Perhaps....


CHAPTER:  NO ROOM IN THE INN

	Isha's cubs spent a few days blissfully unaware of prejudice.  But 
then Jona managed to waddle unsteadily to the mouth of her cave and look 
out.  It was a strange world that first met her wondering eyes, one with 
no roof or walls, and a bright yellow eye looking down on her.  And 
playing about were other small, furry creatures that looked just like 
her.  Cubs!
	Excitedly, she gamboled back with the news.  "There are other 
lions out there just like us!"
	When Isha's children were old enough to walk a straight line, they 
would leave the safety of the den and go out to meet those cubs.
	"Hi!" Minshasa said to one.  "I'm Minnie!"
	"I'm Piki!  Wanna play tag?"
	"Sure.  How does it work?"
	Piki's mother stepped forward.  "You're Isha's little girl, aren't 
you?"
	"Yes ma'am."
	"Well run along now.  It's time for Piki's bath."
	Piki looked up.  "But you just bathed me this morning!"
	"Well you're dirty again.  Don't sass your mother."
	While other cubs were free to make friends at will, there were 
strange problems for Isha's children as they sought to be accepted by 
the parents.  Without parental approval, those brief, tantalizing 
contacts with other cubs went nowhere.
	Usually, there was polite avoidance.  Outspoken Gobiso gave 
prejudice a name and face when he came out and said, "My mother told me 
I couldn't play with you.  Sorry."
	Isha's children ended up thinking all cubs pretty much stayed only 
with their mother.  They clung to this belief rather than believe there 
was something wrong with them.  Indeed, they looked and felt just like 
everyone else--they were just more lonely.  They played among each other 
and were an even more closely knit family than usual.  Habusu and Jona 
were an inseparable pair.  Minshasa was more withdrawn and would snuggle 
under her mother's chin.  Ironically, it was Minnie that was more like 
Isha as a cub.  For the first year of her life, Isha was painfully shy.  
That was a bond between them, and Isha would purr, touching Minnie with 
her paw and kissing her while Habu and Jona played.
	Beesa's daughter gave them a welcome respite from their isolation.  
Like Uzuri, Isha showed no favoritism when it came to cubs and treated 
her niece like one of her own.  "Miss Priss" was prim and proper, but 
she was also a lion cub and subject to lapses in both her dignity and 
her discipline.  Because Habusu was so polite and gentle, he and Miss 
Priss formed a partnership right away.  They were not only cousins but 
milk brother and sister.  When Uzuri came to visit, she showered Habusu 
with affection and care, sure that someday he would pledge to Lisani and 
raise a family.  "Look at them," Uzuri would say.  "Don't they make a 
cute couple?"
	While Habusu's sisters played together, Habusu would follow Lisani 
around like a puppy.  Even Taka noticed this, and he pronounced his 
blessings on the relationship, a step that Habu did not understand at 
the moment, but one that made Lisani his betrothed.
	But eventually Habusu wanted another male to play with.  It was 
only a natural part of growing up.  Uzuri's twin sons Togo and Kombi 
heard no dark rumors about Isha and Mabatu from their mother.  Uzuri 
could never see anything in Isha but beauty, though she was aware of her 
`playful' tendencies.  That didn't matter anymore, for to Uzuri alone 
Isha revealed that she was saving herself for her young husband.  Uzuri 
understood--she always understood like no one else.
	Despite their occasional difficulties, Isha's family was a happy 
one, and it seemed with Habusu's future secured that the happiness would 
go on forever.  Then when Isha's children were two moons old, Minshasa, 
who was always a frail and delicate creature, came down with Dol Sani.  
In most cases, it is a rite of passage.  For the undernourished cub, it 
was a major blow.  Helplessly, Isha watched her decline day by day, 
huddling desperately against her mother as if Isha could protect her 
against the invisible enemy that was hurting her.  Isha would stroke her 
with her paw and tell her that everything would be all right, and for a 
while her story fooled the child, and Isha almost believed it herself.  
Then one week into her illness, Minshasa died in her sleep.  Indeed, the 
pain went away.
	The death of Minshasa was a wake up call to Isha's pride sisters.  
Little by little they came to see the unmistakable beauty in her sad 
countenance.  It was a beauty that came from within and brought shame to 
those who gossiped behind her back.  Then one moon later with terrible 
suddenness, pneumonia snatched Jona from her.  The same ones who 
gossiped once would whisper about the noble and beautiful sadness that 
made her already pleasant features almost godlike.  Indeed, she had 
taken on the awful beauty of Kako, her best friend.  In those days, Kako 
stayed by her side constantly, helping her keep her sanity.  It was a 
kindness that would prove important in the future.
	Isha clung desperately to Habusu.  Every night as she prayed for 
Habu's safety, she would say, "If you must take one of us, take me.  But 
spare my son."  Indeed, Isha was not only perceived as a more noble 
creature by the Pride Sisters, she became more noble.  Seeing her roll 
over in prayer was not that uncommon, and everyone nodded and said she 
could use all the prayer she could get.


CHAPTER:  HABUSU

	Finally, Habusu became weak in turn.  Isha was going mad with 
worry, and Taka paced about like something possessed.  "The curse!  The 
curse!" he would murmur.  "Will nothing stop it??"
	Isha was heartened when Kako and some of her friends smuggled 
herbs from Rafiki to build Habu's blood and heal his infection.  Even 
Taka, who did not often pray, would come over and let the child stroke 
his mane in the belief that a King's mane might have some healing 
powers.  He would pray to Aiheu, and even breathe a quick whisper to 
Roh'kash just to be sure.  Then day by day Habusu grew stronger.  For 
one of the short times in Taka's adulthood, he believed that there was a 
God after all.  And from that time forward, he would always say "Aiheu 
provides" before eating.
	From the time he was very young, Habu had been told that his 
father loved him very much, though he had never seen him.  And though 
that sounded strange to most people, Habu did not doubt it for a moment 
because his mother would never lie to him.
	Though Isha did not lie, the truth she withheld from him would 
fill volumes.  Habu knew about his father only in broad general terms--
that he was brave, handsome, gentle, and loved them both very much.  But 
Habu thirsted to know more.  And one day when Togo and Kombi were 
telling him about things that happened before he was born, he decided to 
ask if they knew his father.  It was a dreadful mistake.
	Kombi, without malice, simply tried to answer his friend's 
heartfelt question with a truthful answer.  "Mabatu was one of the older 
cubs," he said.  I heard Ajenti telling Sarafina that he scored with 
your Mom before his mantlement, and Scar kicked him out but wouldn't 
tell anyone why.  Maybe he saw them--I don't know.  You mean she didn't 
tell you?"
	"No."  Habu trembled.  "What do you mean by `scored?'"
	"You know.  Getting down.  Heavy breathing.  The wild thing."
	Habu gasped.  Tears started down his cheeks and he let his breath 
out in a great wail.  "Mommmm!"
	"Hey, Habu!  I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," Kombi said, 
genuinely distressed.  "That's where babies come from.  It's just your 
Dad wasn't old enough, and you get busted for that around here."
	Sobbing, Habu bolted for home.  He huddled against his mother's 
soft, warm body and cried.  "Tell me it's not true about Daddy!"
	Isha regarded him with her heart crumbling and kissed him gently 
and repeatedly until he settled down.  "Let me tell you about your 
father."
	Isha explained to him in gentle terms about the lifelong love 
Mabatu had for her, about the time Taka suddenly determined he must 
leave the Pride, and about the bittersweet night before his mantlement.  
"I loved your father and I pledged to him.  He had to go away for 
reasons only Taka understood, but he said he would come back for us 
someday.  Then he will love you as I have loved you, and we will be a 
family again.  I promise."  She was uncertain if Mabatu was alive or 
dead, but she did not share this with Habusu.
	The question preyed on her mind more than ever.  She had to settle 
her heart one way or the other, so late that night when Habu was 
peacefully asleep, she went to see Makhpil.
	The hyeness was not surprised to see Isha coming.  Few things 
surprised a medium of her quality.
	"Please be truthful with me.  Please."  Isha stroked Makhpil's 
foreleg with a paw, a desperate gesture of pleading that a hyena would 
understand all too well.  "I know we have been enemies in the past, but 
the gods have given you this talent for a reason.  Please use it for 
good.  Do not lie to me."
	"Lies cost me my best friend," Makhpil said.  "She was my only 
friend.  I will not lie as she did."
	"I will be your friend," Isha said.
	Makhpil looked into Isha's eyes. "Yes, there is truth in you.  
Goodness that I did not expect to see.  Your friendship honors me."
	"I have a problem," Isha said.  "It's driving me crazy.  I have to 
know if...."
	"Hsssh!" Makhpil said.  "Silence, my girl.  Silence!"  She closed 
her eyes and drew back her ears.  From her parted lips came an eerie 
high-pitched whine.  It sounded painful, but she didn't seem to be in 
distress.
	"You are worried about your husband."
	Isha started.  "Yes!"
	"Hsssh!  It comes to me.  Yes, your husband is alive.  But how he 
fares, I do not know.  The spirits are unclear."
	Makhpil's eyes flew open with a wild stare and she shook as if to 
rid her coat of water.
	"Are you OK?" Isha asked.
	"Of course.  Glad I could help."
	"Please tell no one what you have seen.  Tell no one of Habu's 
father, not even Shenzi or Taka."
	The hyeness looked in her eyes.  "You fear Taka.  You fear us 
too."  She looked away.  "I don't blame you.  I'm scared all the time.  
Shenzi has spies everywhere watching us."
	"You too?"
	"Yes.  They need me, but my powers frighten them, so I've taken to 
sleeping lightly when I sleep at all."  Makhpil touched Isha's cheek 
with her paw.  "Roh'kash gave me strong teeth, sharp ears and quick 
feet.  I have no need for lies and tricks.  Your secrets are buried 
deep."
	"Bless you, and bless the news you bring."  Isha fondled Makhpil 
and kissed her.  "I live again.  Perhaps he will come back to me.  
Perhaps he will claim what is his."
	"Perhaps he will, koh'met."  She nuzzled the lioness tenderly.  
"Never underestimate the power of love."

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