Amarakh stared right into Shaka’s eyes, trying to appear as fearless as she could. “You can’t extract a confession to a murder by death threats.” She looked around at the hyena faces and saw agreement in their eyes. It emboldened her. “This is my land, and I give you my word we will investigate within the customs of our law. But you must let him go. Leave--now!”
Shaka spat. “I do not believe you.”
“You are not in a position to negotiate,” Amarakh said. “Leave at once. I will see your brother the King tonight. We will talk.”
Tears began to roll down Shaka’s cheeks. “You are right,” he said. He stared at her, his eyes as empty as the summer sky. “You are absolutely right. I am NOT in a position to negotiate!” Looking heavenward, the lion took a deep breath. “Aiheu abamami!!” He swung down and taking the hyena’s throat in his jaws bit down and twisted, nearly severing the head. Blood shot out and spattered some of the onlookers and the body twitched in spasms before collapsing in a final sightless stare.
Fabana shrieked and ran around in little circles. “Oh gods! Oh gods!”
Hyenas looked at other hyenas. The rage swept from body to body like a grass fire. And as if by an unseen signal they all descended on Shaka and tore him apart.
When she could restore order, there was very little left of Shaka. Amarakh looked at the remains and a fear sank into her like a dagger of ice. “Roh’kash will soon test our mettle,” she said. “The Lion King Ahadi will no doubt wish to avenge his brother’s death. Well, we shall meet fang with fang, and claw with claw.” She raised her head high. “Oh, Chosen Ones! Guard your children now!” Turning to her mate, she nuzzled his shoulder. “Set out double watch, my love. I’m expecting company.”
Tension built as the time passed. Then finally about three hours had elapsed when one of the guards called out, “Lions approaching at post number eight!”
Ahadi appeared at the rim of the depression. Beside him were Sarafina, Uzuri, Isha and Zazu.
The four lions reached the boundary of the elephant graveyard. Waiting for them was a large war party with Amarakh. “Steady lads. Be ready to die for Roh’kash and Roh’mach!”
The lions came in a tightly knit group, with fangs bared. Ahadi came right up to Amarakh. “Where is Shaka??”
“What is left of him is removed to the place of the dead.” Amarakh struggled to show defiance. “He took the law into his own teeth and killed one of ours on our own land without a trial. We offered to hold an inquest, a fair trial by the law of our people. But he turned us down and killed a male whose wife is pregnant.”
Ahadi’s eyes hardened into stone. “So you murdered him!”
“We EXECUTED him. We couldn’t wait for him to kill others. He was too dangerous to place under arrest.”
“There is no doubt he was dangerous after his wife was ripped alive by YOUR PEOPLE!” Ahadi unleashed a terrible roar. Uzuri and Isha joined him, igniting terror in the hyena guard. “We have seen the evidence.”
“We had not, Sire. We could not be sure, and we could not wait to be sure.” She had Fabana brought forward. “Here is the dead male’s wife. If you would have revenge, let all the people see that you fight honorably with her one on one. Let them see that you have given her the FAIR chance to defend the honor of her family.”
The quaking female stammered, “Mercy! Have mercy! I am with child!”
Ahadi looked at her with some pity. “Now you know what it feels like to lose someone you love. The Roh’mach is courting death to toy with my sympathies like this, but she has won this round. You will not be harmed.”
But Ahadi looked sternly at Amarakh. “Because your people have killed my brother, and because his wife was basely murdered, you are banned. No more shall you scavenge on the Pride Lands. Not until the last of the group that killed Avina is dead.”
“But my Lord, we will all starve!”
“Perhaps a few hungry nights will motivate you to enforce your own laws, Amarakh. Besides, this is not such a bad spot to scavenge. You never know when an elephant might want to die.”
She held up her head and stared back. “You mock me because you are powerful, and I am but a hyena. But the gods know I must be fair to my people. Grief has blinded you, impaired your judgment and robbed you of your wisdom.”
Ahadi and the lionesses left. Someone had to break the news to Sarabi and Elanna. Ahadi knew that Sarabi and Elanna belonged with him, and he knew he was the one that must speak the awful words. “Aiheu abamami,” he stammered. “Please God, give me strength.”
Amarakh stood silently, watching them go. All the efforts of generations of hyenas before her had left with them, she realized. Gnashing her teeth in frustration, she paced away towards her waiting mate.
“This calls for immediate action. This ban of Ahadi’s means death for us all if we don't find a way to placate him--fast.”
“But how? You heard him. All the guilty ones must die before he’ll release the ban.”
“That’s just it. Ahadi has no target for his anger. If we were to give him one...” she looked silently at him.
“It’s a little late for that, don't you think?” he snorted contemptuously. “What are you going to do, smell their breath for lion leavings? He was a big buffoon-there was enough to go around for all.”
“You overstep yourself,” Amarakh said dangerously.
“Well, what do YOU suggest? Perhaps we should just ask them, eh?”
Amarakh sat quietly, a smile tickling the corners of her mouth. “No, WE will not ask them. But Shimbekh will.”
“The seer?”
“Is there another Shimbekh?” She cuffed him lightly. “Of course, the seer. She is the most gifted in many generations. She will sort out the truth if anyone can.” Amarakh gazed off into the distance, where Pride Rock could be seen shimmering in the heat.
“And when we have found the guilty one, we will have justice. The leader will be brought alive to the Lion King for judgment.” She rose and stalked off.
In the great open courtyard at the entrance to the graveyard, the entire clan stood assembled, waiting nervously. All were lined up. One by one, they were asked one question: “Did you lead the attack?” As each was cleared, their cheeks were marked with a bloody pawprint from the leavings of Shaka.
At the far end of the line, one hyena looked on as the number of suspects began to narrow down. He could not pass the test, and he did not want to die helplessly as Jalkort did. Gur’mekh sneaked away temporarily, and with all the courage he could muster bit himself--hard--on the inside of the thigh. He gritted his teeth and tried to blink back tears. Taking his paw to the blood, he marked his cheek and then with agonizing effort put dust on the wound to stop the flow of blood a little. It would not do to be hemorrhaging if the deception was to work.
Trying to hide his limp, Gur’mekh tried to blend in to the other hyenas. He realized to his horror that he had marked the wrong cheek, but it was too late. He must try and go unnoticed.
“Hey Gur’mekh, you’re leg is bleeding! How did you do that??”
“Hsssh, Korg! Not so loud!”
Korg shook his head sympathetically. “You should have that looked at.”
“I will later.”
“But it’s serious.” He bent his head to examine the wound closer.
“I’m serious. Drop this conversation!”
Korg sniffed of his cheek, a gesture that prompted Gur’mekh to slap him with a paw. “STOP!”
Heads turned. Now Gur’mekh was the subject of scrutiny by dozens of hyenas. He began to tremble.
“It’s yours! It’s your blood!” Korg shouted, “Roh’mach, it was him!”
Gur’mekh panicked. He tried to run, but his leg was cramping. He was quickly overtaken and stopped by bared teeth on all sides. Pushing through the crowd was Shimbekh. He tried not to look in her eyes.