“’You may live here, but so does the acacia tree and I do not love it nor do I speak to it when I pass.’
Obade turned started to leave, but Duma wept and ran after him. “Do not listen to my words of anger, my brother! I have lost my father, but my brother who was gone has returned again!”
Sarafina fell silent, peering down at the two cubs under her paws. Togo and Kombi lay quiescent a moment, the raised their heads to gaze uncertainly at each other.
“Kombi? I’m sorry I said I hated you.”
“Me too. I didn’t mean it.” Kombi looked at his brother a long moment. “Actually, I thought your poem was nice--actually.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Togo nuzzled forward under Sarafina’s gentle weight and pawed his brother’s cheek. “Friends?”
Kombi grinned and pawed Togo. “Yeah.”
THE SUN AND THE MOON:
Ahadi was sitting at the end of the promontory where he had been for an hour or more just looking out over the lands. Taka crept quietly out on to the shaft of stone. With stealthy pads, he approached his father, anxious to see what mood he would find him in. Akase looked rather upset but would tell him nothing about what the King wanted. He hated it when she did that.
“My son, come sit by me.”
“Dad, did I do something to make you angry?”
“No. Come sit by me.”
“You’re not sick are you?”
“No. Just sit by me.”
Taka sat next to his father. Taka’s breath came and left in hurried bursts and there was a trembling in his limbs. “It’s not fair! I know something’s wrong!”
“It all depends in how you look at it.”
“I don’t even know what it is.”
“It’s just that I’m having one of those times when it’s not easy to be king. I have to make a lot of difficult decisions, and when I do, I come up here and let the wind clear my head. Feel the wind, Taka. My son, if you concentrate hard enough, you can let the wind blow your worries away and all that is left is the decision itself.”
“So you are making a hard decision? And you need my help?”
“In a way, yes. I’ve made the hard decision already, but I don’t know how much pain it will cause, my son. Pain inside me, and pain to the ones I love.”
Taka looked away. “You might have known a long time ago if you had been more observant. Why don’t you cut to the chase? I want to hear you say it rather than overhearing it in the shadows and crying alone.”
“Very well, son. Mufasa is going to be the next king. It was not an easy decision.”
“I guess not. Either pick the one you love the most or the one that’s best qualified. Love always wins out, doesn’t it?”
Ahadi looked down. Tears came to his eyes. “Oh Taka, before Aiheu I hope you didn’t mean that! Muffy loves me, but I’ve always known who loved me the most. Son, I love you more than I could say.”
“Oh, Dad! I’m sorry!”
Ahadi nuzzled him. “Son, to me you will always be beautiful and wonderful, but you are not strong enough to bear the brunt of the world when it becomes harsh and unyielding.”
“So it’s my scar.”
“No.”
“Then it’s my weak body.”
“Not just that, though Muffy’s strength was a factor.”
“Then what was it, Father?? Why was I passed over?”
Tears streamed down Ahadi’s face and he looked away. “Must I say it? What’s done is done.”
“Why, father?? At least tell me why??”
Ahadi looked around and stroked Taka’s cheek with his paw. “Because your heart is so gentle, you would not be able to make the hard decisions demanded of a King. You are so full of beauty and love that you can see no ugliness in anyone or anything. Muffy has a good Ka, but he always cautious to avoid the deceit and wiles of his adversaries. He can be harsh when a King must be harsh. Could you have put Gur’mekh to death? Could you have slit his innards with his sad, terrified eyes looking up at you?”
Taka looked away.
“See, your own heart tells you I’m right. In love, I did not burden you with this weight. You may not see it this way, but I’m doing you a great favor.”
“So that was it. You think me only a scholar?? Did I learn one too many stories? Did I know too much history?? Did I pay a little too much attention and not watch the wildebeests enough??”
“No, my son! I am not perfect, but I have always acted in good conscience.” Ahadi’s chin began to tremble. “Have I not told you every day that I loved you? Did I miss a day? Do you hate me, Taka? Do you hate your old father who sired you and gave you his unconditional love?”
Taka looked at him and shuddered. “How could I!”
Ahadi leaned into Taka and nuzzled him. “I love you like the rivers love the rain. Never tell your brother what has passed between us. I love him very much and don’t want him hurt. And I want you to love him too. More than anything.”
“Yeah, right.”
Ahadi took in a deep breath and let it out. “Don’t start ignoring me now. You need to hear this story.” He put his paw over Taka’s and gave it a light push.
“When Aiheu first brought light to the world, he brought to shine the two brothers Sun and Moon. And at first they were alike, equally bright and warm, and very proud of their great beauty. But the heat of their twin lights was unbearable and no good thing could grow and no good thing could walk upon the ground. And Aiheu repented that he created two brothers, and wondered which one should lose his light and warmth that the world might live.
“Sun begged the Lord that he might shine forever, and that his faithful service would bear witness to his entitlement.
“’Moon your brother has also been faithful in his duties and served me well.’
“At this, Sun began to cry and begged the Lord that he should not be extinguished.
“At this, Moon bowed before Aiheu and said, ‘As my brother has asked, so be it. I cannot stand to see him harmed, for he is my brother and I love him.’
“At this, Sun felt shame. ‘Blessed are you, Moon, for you are the greater brother. To you should go the light of Heaven and I will sit in darkness and bewail my foolish pride.’
“Aiheu wept. He held Moon to his heart and said, ‘As you have asked me, so shall it be done. But I shall not extinguish you, but only cool your light. And my children will mark their lives by you, the brighter light to be the day and the lesser light to be the night. But greater are you, Moon, for your mercy shall be remembered as long as this story is told among my children.’ And Aiheu kissed him three times, each time dimming his light a little until he only shed a soft glow.
“Now when the living things were made as Ka was placed in forms of Ma’at, Aiheu considered that these children would have life, then die. And he considered what to do that new life would arise to replace the old. So he considered the brothers Sun and Moon, and one of every living creature he made like the Sun, powerful and fiery. The other he made soft and gentle. And so it was that male and female he created them, that by working together through love, the gift of life should endure forever. Because the male is powerful, he fights to protect the Pride from all its enemies. But it is the female whom God has given the miracle of bearing children. Remember, my cubs, to honor your mother when she commands.”
Ahadi nuzzled Taka. “I’m asking you to be Brother Moon. Mufasa thought you deserved to be King. He also asked me to divide the kingdom between you. I refused him, son. But I want you to carry all your days the secret that he would have given you the kingship and half of everything he owns. Don’t hurt him, Taka! Please don’t hurt him!”
“Oh, Daddy!” Taka pushed his face into Ahadi’s soft mane. “I love you!”