CHAPTER 27: IN THE LIONS’ DEN
Makedde’s call of “Aiheu abamami!” was the first sign that the three mandrills had reached the Pride lands. “Aiheu abamami!” he repeated loudly. It was evening, and a very dangerous time to be small and walking about.
Metutu was a little afraid, but Asumini had a look on her face of expectant joy. These were the lands of her namesake’s grandson, the Lion King Ahadi. Ahadi’s father had once peeked shyly at her from the forest rim when Queen Asumini came proudly into Busara’s cave. He was a young cub, still small enough to be afraid of the strange monkeys with the striped faces. Asumini, a child herself, tried to pet Prince Zari, but for her trouble got a few minor scratches and a frantic game of hide and seek. Now she secretly hoped to satisfy her desires on Zari’s great son. Now it would be her turn to be afraid!
“Aiheu abamami!” Makedde called again.
“Aiheu abamami!” A lioness called. “Who’s there?”
“Makedde and two friends to see the King.”
Yolanda’s pleasant face burst through the grass. “My old friend!” She nuzzled Makedde, who took her large head in his arms and kissed her.
“Teacher, you do my heart good!” he said. “How goes the King?”
“Well--thank the gods--and you?”
“I’m back.”
“I can see that.”
“No, I mean I’m back where my heart lives. I’m BACK, Yolanda.”
She smiled broadly. “I prayed they would send you! How long this time?”
“Until I’m too old to dream.”
“And your friends here?”
“I’m Asumini,” the doe answered. “And this is my husband Metutu.”
“Asumini,” Yolanda said thoughtfully. “THE Asumini?”
“I suppose. Busara was my father.”
“Now THERE is a name that is known in these parts! How is he?”
Asumini looked down. “Dead this moon,” she said.
“Oh Honey Tree, I’m so sorry! You and your friends must see the King. He will be glad to see you.”
Metutu looked at Asumini and smiled sheepishly. “I will go down in history--as Asumini’s husband.”
She smiled naughtily. “When I get you alone, you’ll know why.”
Makedde nudged Metutu with his elbow. “You walked right into that one!”
With Yolanda leading the way, they headed toward a tall finger in the moonlit sea of grass. Pride Rock was exciting just to look at. It seemed to have a life of its own, watching the savanna with a lordly detachment in rain or drought, sun or moon. As they headed toward the stone sentinel, it seemed to grow larger and more powerful, until even Yolanda seemed small.
A winding trail led up the side of the main hill toward a jutting stone promontory. Yolanda and the young mandrills were able to take it in stride. Makedde was a little winded, but his excitement began to mount as the promontory came closer. For at the base of the promontory was a cave, and in the cave, Ahadi.
“Guests for the King!” Yolanda sang out cheerfully. A regal face peered out of the cave, ivory in the spell of moonlight. “Can that be my old friend Makedde?”
“Indeed!” Makedde shouted, hurrying the last few steps. “Too long has it been!” He plunged his arms into the soft mane and stroked the strong shoulders. Ahadi nuzzled him. Then Akase came and stood beside her husband.
“Look at the old graybeard!” She kissed him, and she was hugged in turn.
Asumini watched with barely suppressed excitement. “Aren’t they beautiful! Look at them, Metutu! Look!”
Ahadi overheard her. “Come, friends! Don’t be frightened.”
Asumini headed for him as one possessed. With a smile of conquering joy that overpowered her fear, she did as her brother in law had done, burying her arms in Ahadi’s mane and kissing him around the face. “You beautiful creature! Aiheu has touched you with beauty!”
“Dear daughter,” he said, touching her with his tongue.
Metutu was also excited, but he was more reserved. Falling at Ahadi’s feet, he exclaimed, “I touch your mane!”
“Rise, friend. I feel it.”
Metutu stood before the great king. He wanted so badly to make a good impression.
“Sire, I have brought some gifts. One of my herbs will get rid of ticks and fleas!"
"Really?"
"Sure!"
Metutu held up a handful of something that Ahadi sniffed. "Gods, that should get rid of ticks and fleas all right. Pesky cubs, female companions, you name it."
"Well, it does have a slight odor."
"A slight odor??" Ahadi laughed. "Put that on a fresh carcass, and a starving hyena wouldn't eat it!"
Metutu looked down. “Oh, I’m sorry to waste your time.”
Ahadi nuzzled him. “Buck up, Metutu. If you want to get rid of ticks, perhaps you might groom me sometime?”
“Oh Sire, may I??”
“By all means.” Ahadi looked deeply into Metutu’s eyes, and the mandrill looked down, embarrassed. "You're rather shy, I've noticed."
"Oh? Well I may be a little shy, but I also show respect. You're a King and I'm not."
Ahadi laughed. "You're a monkey and I'm not. Now that we know who we are, let's be friends. Asumini set a good example."
Cautiously, shyly, Metutu stalked over to the lion. Unsure how to go about this, he came straight into Ahadi’s face, then backed back. He laughed nervously. “Oh yes.” He timidly reached around from the side and buried his face in the long, flowing mane.
“Oh, it is so wonderful!” The soft, flowing tresses caressed him and surrounded him. He stroked Ahadi and almost without thinking said, “You beautiful thing! You feel like a king! Oh!”
Eventually, Metutu stood back, realizing how he was going on. Before he could recover his composure, Akase motioned for him to come. She had no mane, but he felt the warm softness of her strong neck, and it was reassuring.
“And to think I almost missed this just to be chief!”
Suddenly, a string of lionesses entered. Cubs appeared from nowhere and began to mob them. Ajenti rubbed against Yolanda and purred. “What’cha got, Mom?? What’cha got??”
“Nothing, fuzzy love. But it won’t be much longer.”
Uzuri came to Ahadi. “My lord, no luck tonight. Still, there were no shameful deeds.”
He nuzzled her. "Even so."
"I touch your mane."
"I feel it."
Uzuri had kept her calm, cool disposition, but one of the young females was rather unhappy. It was her chance to become a lioness--to make her first kill. She had missed. Makedde whispered to Metutu the significance of that failure.
“She is still a cub in the eyes of the pride.” He added, “Why don’t you talk with Uzuri, the hunt mistress? She could use some cheering up.”
“What’s a hunt mistress?”
“She leads the hunt. The others obey her commands, for only through cooperation can they hope to succeed.”
“Oh. So she’s like a queen?”
“On the hunt she is. Here she’s one of the Pride Sisters.”
Metutu was not used to judging lionesses. But Uzuri seemed rather young to him to be entrusted with such a job. He nervously went to her to introduce himself. She didn’t look ready to be cheered up or even meet someone.
“Excuse me?” Metutu looked at her carefully. “I’m Metutu.”
“Uzuri,” she said.
“I hear you’re hunt mistrees.”
“Yes.”
Metutu crossed his feet nervously and began to squirm a little. “I may be wrong, but you seem awfully young to be hunt mistress.”
“Thanks.”
“You must be very good at it.”
“Thank you—uh--Metutu was it?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Are those stripes real? I mean, do you paint your face, or is that natural?”
“Natural,” he said. “Females have a little color, but not this much.”