Under the Acacias cotpl-4

by John H. Burkitt

  “I’d never do that!” She looked into his sparkling eyes and smiled. “I’ve misjudged you, Kombi. You’re really very sweet.”

  He smiled back. “Do you think so?”

  “No, but I’ll still see you tonight.” She reached over and kissed his cheek.

  He walked away, a blissful, innocent smile on his face. Togo met him behind the bushes. "So, did you pull the old 'grabbing at the wind' story on her?"

  "Yep. Works every time!"

  Togo nudged him and grinned. “The Love Doctor strikes again.”

  He rubbed his cheek where she kissed it. “I wish you wouldn’t put it that way. I’m going to see if she’ll come with me. This is serious.” He looked off into the distance for a while, then rolled on his back in the grass. Togo joined him.

  “So, Togo, have you narrowed down the field?”

  “Who, me?” Togo had an embarrassed grin on his face.

  “Who is she? Don’t hold out on me now.”

  “You’d laugh at me.”

  “No I wouldn’t.”

  “Well, it’s Lisani.”

  “Miss Priss??” Kombi giggled.

  “There you go laughing at me!”

  “I’m sorry,” Kombi said. “Really I am. But you and Lisani? You know she’s stuck on Habu.”

  “So is Wajanja. But that doesn’t stop you from trying. I guess we’re grabbing at the wind.” Togo took his paw and ruffled Kombi’s mane. “Hey, I hope you catch it, you dog.”

  “What the heck. Why don’t you hit on Lisani? I mean, maybe one of us will get lucky.”

  “You don’t ‘hit on’ a girl like Lisani. And I don’t suggest trying it on Wajanja if you want her to marry you. ‘Get lucky’ indeed!”

  CHAPTER: PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW

  Togo and Kombi were showing changes in their maturing bodies. They lost that long-legged look that once made them appear awkward. Their manes were filling out nicely, their chests were broadening, and one day out of the sheer will to make a grand noise, they both let out with a roar that would have made Ugas quite proud.

  Uzuri would look at them appraisingly, and some of the time she was proud of the fine lions they were becoming. Other times she would mourn the loss of their cubhood and the approach of their commoner’s mantlement. She would eventually have to tell Simba that they were sons of a King and entitled to a royal mantlement hosted by their father. And doing so, she would also be saying her farewell to her old life and old home. Uzuri loved Ugas and longed to be by his side, but his words came back to haunt her. It would never be easy to leave old friends and old haunts and start again. But if Togo and Kombi could do it, she could too. When she was depressed, she would close her eyes and look inward at her dream--Ugas by her side as Togo and Kombi stood on Pride Kopje and surveyed their kingdom.

  She had not discussed this with her sons yet. She could not risk either of them making an indiscreet remark. Uzuri had planned out what she would say and how--she did not want her departure to be spoiled by misunderstandings or hard feelings.

  And so knowing nothing of their mother’s plans, Togo and Kombi spent much of their time fawning on Simba, trying to ply him with favors. Simba was utterly surprised when they stopped calling him “big guy” and started calling him “Sir.” Kombi brought him a hare Uzuri had caught for him to eat, and Togo even dragged part of a gazelle for him clear up Pride Rock so he could wake up to a surprise breakfast.

  Privately, Nala asked Simba if there was a way to let them remain. “They’re trying so hard to please you. There’s is no hate in them--they will not turn on you the way your Uncle did.”

  “That’s not the problem,” Simba replied. “I’d trust them with my life, if it came to that. They’re afraid of their destiny, Nala. I don’t blame them, for I know the ways of the ‘big world,’ and they have reason to fear it.” He sighed and glumly ate the haunch.

  Later that same day, Togo and Kombi offered to help him with the border patrol. “You have no brother to help you,” Togo explained in what sounded like a prepared statement. “Without a Prince Consort, you have to go around doing everything for yourself and have so little time to spend with Nala.” Togo looked over at Kombi who subtly nodded approval and he continued; “We insist on taking the Western Plain.”

  “But that’s very hot and dry,” Simba said. “And it can be very dangerous.”

  “We don’t mind, Sir,” Kombi said, bowing with respect. “Danger is our life.”

  “And what would you like in return?”

  Kombi looked shocked and scandalized. “Sire, we’re just trying to be nice.” He looked casual, but his tail twitched nervously. “Since you asked, I wish we could go on being friends forever.”

  Simba sighed deeply. “I know you do.” His heart was not into having them become rogue lions, bachelors on the open fields having to support themselves with marginal hunting skills, being driven from pride land to pride land by a succession of males. Despite their routine truancy, Simba had grown to love them, and he saw in them some of the basic goodness that was in their mother.

  Uzuri would be the real problem. Next to Sarabi and Nala, Simba loved Uzuri the most, and he would steal glances of her private grief that weighed on him like an injury. And despite himself, Simba had grown extremely fond of Togo.

  The brothers watched him carefully to see how he would react. Simba scratched his mane uneasily and said, “You want the Western Plain, eh?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Fine. We’ll start there in the morning.” Simba rose and stretched.

  Togo glanced at Kombi quickly, his eyes widening. “S-Sir?”

  “You heard me.” Simba looked them up and down. “I’m glad to see you taking on some responsibility. However, a responsible lion also knows his limits, and I’m afraid you aren’t yet up to the challenge.”

  Kombi looked indignant. “What do you mean?!”

  “Your heart is in the right place, but you’re too soft to go out there.”

  Togo sucked in his stomach self-consciously. “We can hack it, sir.”

  Simba shook his head. “No.”

  “We can take care of ourselves!” Kombi grated. “I’ll beat up any lion who dares challenge our border!”

  “Really?” Simba looked at him. “Knock me down.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Knock me down.” Simba looked at him. “Or can’t you even handle that?”

  Togo flicked his eyes to Kombi, who was staring balefully at the king. “Kombi, give it up.”

  “Yeah?! Watch and learn, Togo!” Kombi gathered himself and leapt towards Simba, intending to tackle the other lion full force. Simba sidestepped neatly and wrapped his forepaws around Kombi, seizing him in mid-air and wrenching him around to bring him crashing to earth, Simba’s weight holding him fast. Kombi gasped for breath, humiliation in his eyes as he looked up at the sad face above him.

  “Had this been a real fight, your mother would be mourning your death.” Simba nuzzled him gently. “I’m sorry, Kombi. You and Togo have one month left to you in which to do something.”

  “What are we gonna do?” Kombi said in a small voice.

  “I’ll not cast you out unprepared, son.” Simba laid a paw gently on his head. “We’ll patrol the Western plain tomorrow...together. Each morning, we’ll go out on patrol. Talk with your Mother; she knows a lot about the lay of the land. When we get back, I’ll show you how to fight.”

  CHAPTER: A STRANGER WALKS

  For the longest time, Ugas’ pride managed to hold together the fragile deception that kept their sovereignty intact. The lionesses doubled border patrols after reports from several revealed a rogue male had been observing the pride carefully.

  Then one evening when Adhama said in her deepest voice, “This land is mine!” a distinctly male voice answered her from the bushes.

  “Nice try! Now all you need is a mane!”

  The worst had happened. Through long observation, the stranger had learned the patterns of
the watch, and he easily slipped through where there were no sentries.

  “The king will make you pay for this!”

  “Are you the king?” He laughed. “What’s the problem, Sis? Am I that ugly?”

  The lion stepped out into the moonlight. Indeed, he was anything but ugly, but she did not like his attitude one bit.

  “He will be back soon,” she said. “Then you’ll pay!”

  “Fine.” The stranger sat down and began to groom a forepaw. “I’ll wait for him right here.”

  For several minutes that felt like several hours, Adhama stared at him icily. There was no sign of nervousness in his manner. He knew that he had won.

  She bowed her head. “What good is it pretending. He’s dead.”

  “Good. That saves me the trouble of killing him. In the meantime, I’m hungry. What do you have?”

  “A little bit of wildebeest. Not much.”

  “Not much?” He uttered a short, ugly laugh. “It’s an acquired taste, lady. When you’ve eaten ‘not much’ as long as I have, you never turn it down.” He frowned at her. “Well, do I have to draw you a diagram??”

  Adhama’s heart sank. She rose and led him to the larder, watching in despair as their rations for the next two days disappeared in a matter of minutes.

  “Is there any more?”

  “No. There is no more.”

  “Too bad.” He burped. “I was still hungry.” Licking off his paws, he said, “I’m Ambia. King Ambia now. You’re really lucky, you know. I almost went east, but instead I headed west, and here I am.”

  “Well hooray and hallelujah.”

  He looked at her with half closed eyes and scowled. “You must be the one that peed on the shrubs. The urine was very sour.”

  CHAPTER: WALKING THE BEAT

  As the days passed, Togo and Kombi began to feel the weight of a lion’s responsibility settling on their shoulders. It was a remarkably heavy burden.

  Well before sunrise, Simba would rouse them and head off into the early morning mists, each day choosing a particular section of border or area to patrol. At night, as the sun set, they would return to Pride Rock, where Simba would instruct them in various modes of attack and defense. Only after finishing their lessons, far after the sky had turned dark and the stars had emerged, were they allowed to rest and eat their dinner.

  Once Kombi protested this. “With all due respect, if I could eat first, I could concentrate better.

  Simba simply looked at him. “This is no game, son. If you lose your meal in a fight, you go hungry. Concentrate on that.”

  There were no further complaints after that.

  The demands of patrolling and sparring practice were shaping the young lions. Their low, swinging bellies had given way to firm muscle. The young lionesses began to notice, and Kombi would strut about with a conceited swagger, showing off the merchandise. Togo was a bit more shy, and he shuddered when Visima rubbed along his body and ran a curious paw down his thigh.

  Simba and the brothers began to range farther afield, even patrolling the dry and empty Western plains together.

  Early one morning, the three had gone out to examine the border between the Pride Lands and hyena territory. Simba expected no real threat from Uhuru’s clan, and after greeting the hyenas who were doing their own guard duty, the morning passed slowly. Kombi ranged ahead slightly, practicing his rudimentary hunting skills as he followed the trail of an impala who had passed by recently. Togo and Simba followed at a distance, padding slowly across the ground in the gradually increasing heat.

  “Sire?”

  “Mmm-hmm?”

  “Why do we patrol the hyena’s lands when they’re friendly? Isn’t it a waste of time?”

  “Well, for one thing, it helps to keep an eye on things. If things turned ugly, we wouldn’t know about it until it was too late.”

  Togo looked surprised. “You mean they might try and take over again?”

  Simba grinned. “No, I doubt that would happen while Uhuru’s in charge. No, if they had problems, or needed help, though, we’d never find out by sitting at home lying in the sun. Besides, patrolling does more than establish your borders. Sometimes Uhuru meets me out here in the morning, and we talk together. He’s too busy to come to Pride Rock..and, well, I can’t go see him, either. He tells me what’s going on with the hyenas, we ask after each other’s families...”

  “Wow,” Togo said. “All that just by walking the border?” He looked out across the savanna. “But doesn’t Zazu tell you about things like that?”

  “Yes...but hearing about something, and seeing it for yourself are two different things. Besides, I can’t just sit at home. It means a lot to the other animals to see the King out and about, doing his duty. It’s a way to let them know he truly cares about them. My father did the same, as did his father before him.” Simba breathed deeply as he gazed about the plains of his home. “This land is mine. I was born here, I fought for it, and I will die here. I love it, and I will protect it along with my family and friends.”

  Togo looked at the king with admiration, but his smile faded quickly. “It's a shame that we finally became friends too late.”

  Simba stopped and glanced at him. “Too late? Why do you say that?”

  “You know.” Togo sighed. “We only have two more weeks left. Then we have to leave your Pride Lands for good. I was born here, but I’ll never see it again. I’ll die out there somewhere far from home and I’ll never see you or Mom again!”

  Simba nuzzled him on the shoulder. “Listen to me, Togo. In the next realm there is only one kingdom, and it belongs to Aiheu for his children. We will share that Kingdom forever, so friendships never really die unless you let them.” The king wrapped a huge forepaw around the young lion and hugged him close. “Enjoy this time while it lasts. Someday, you’ll be a King yourself. You must be strong enough to let Aiheu’s will be done.”

  “What is it like to be king? Neat, huh?”

  "It's like I told my son Tanabi--being King is not all fun. You think this is a long walk? Just wait till you’re walking your own borders in the driving rain with only Kombi to help you. You get lots of respect, and that’s nice. But you also work hard, and you have to make some unpopular decisions--even decisions that are unpopular with your own self, like your mantlement. I love you, Togo. I’m going to miss you terribly, and if there was some way to keep you here, I would."

  "You mean that?"

  "With all my heart. I’ll miss that scamp of a brother of yours too. I can truly say it won't be the same here without you."

  CHAPTER: JUST BETWEEN US

  Togo and Kombi had never been on a hunt before. Increasingly aware of the perils that prideless lions faced, they went to their mother and pleaded for a few lessons. Uzuri agreed, for she wanted to spend some time with her sons in their old home. She knew the land intimately. Like all lionesses, she thought that the land was alive. Its breath stirred in the wind, and she could almost feel its pulse beneath her feet. Pride Rock was the heart of the land, and it had a permanent place in her own heart. Could she learn to love Pride Kopje? Yes, if Ugas was there. But she would always feel regret for what she had left behind.

  Uzuri was initially delighted by their request. She had no daughters of her own, and now that the opportunity presented itself, she jumped at the chance to pass on some of her knowledge to her offspring. She began instructing them in some basic skills, and looked forward to sharing some of her secret tricks and tips to help ensure a successful kill. She was a patient teacher as well as a huntress beyond compare, but as time wore on it became readily apparent that none of her natural ability was in them. They had the facile charm of their father Ugas, and they looked like a couple of likely fighters if territory must be defended. But they were no hunters.

  Late that afternoon, she stood in the tall grass at the foot of Pride Rock, bending her head now and then as she imitated a grazing gazelle. Several yards away, Togo and Kombi were flattened in the depths of the grass, breath
ing rapidly as they practiced a pincers maneuver for the umpteenth time. They had been going at it since before high-sun, and the heat was oppressive in the lush vegetation.

  Togo eased his head up gingerly, his russet mane matted with perspiration as he peered through the grass. Sweat ran into one eye, stinging, and he winced. Blinking furiously, he saw his mother about six body lengths away, her back to him. A grin split his features and he sank down again. Motioning to Kombi, he eased off sideways, intending to line up on an oblique angle while Kombi executed the main attack.

  Kombi nodded and crept forward slowly, placing his paws carefully. His forelegs quivered with exhaustion and nerves, the result of the last five failed attempts to successfully get within striking distance. His tail lashed, and he stepped forward again.

  “Movement!” Uzuri shouted. “Movement is the key to hunting. A lion has to have discipline, else instinct takes over, and control is lost.” Her voice hardened. “Togo is five lengths behind me. Kombi, you are to my left at the same distance. What do you intend to do, drive your prey by thrashing at the grass like humans?”

  Kombi stood up and shouted, “Damn! What did I do wrong NOW?”

  “Watch your mouth, child.”

  “I’m not a child, mother!”

  “You are until your mantlement, which is only a week away, in case you’ve forgotten!” Uzuri snapped. “You are too noisy; you thrashed your tail and gave away your position easily. Togo, you were silent enough...but you moved against the grain of the grass when you began the flanking maneuver; I saw the trail cutting through the grass as soon as you moved.”

  Togo sat up miserably. “I’m sorry.”

  “And have you forgotten about the wind?! I was downwind of you the whole time; I smelled you coming. You can conduct an upwind attack ONLY if you have superior speed or numbers to cut off fleeing prey...and neither of you is fast enough.” Uzuri stopped, claws extending in frustration.

  “Mom? I’m sorry.” Kombi hung his head. “I didn’t mean to smart off like that.” He blinked pathetically at her, eyes bright with pain at her obvious disappointment. Kombi cursed himself for being so clumsy. His mother was the best hunter he had ever known, and here he was, embarrassing her.