“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.’