“Sarafina? You too?”
Rafiki stood helplessly as the lionesses began to compare their relationships.
“I couldn’t imagine you’d like him,” Sarafina told Isha. “I like a comfortable routine, but you would have gone crazy. The same old thing every time.”
“Never the same thing twice!” Isha said. “Are we talking about the same Ugas?”
“And his sense of humor,” Sarafina said. “He always told the funniest jokes. Most of them don’t bear repeating in public, but there was this great one about the elephant and the rhino that would kill you!”
“Jokes??” Uzuri was outraged. “That somber, powerful and tragic lion of destiny??”
Barata said, “It seems he sized us up like prey. He chose a different approach with each of us. Sisters, we were had!”
“It was worth it,” Sarafina said.
“I learned a few things,” Isha said.
“Now ladies,” Rafiki said forcefully. When he got their attention, he lowered his voice to some semblance of dignity. "He meant a lot to you all, and we honor his life. He was devoted to his extended family, he had enough love to go around, and he died the way he lived, doing what he loved best."
“It must have been ‘Old Number Four.’” Isha said. “That will do it if you have a weak heart.”
Rafiki shook his head. "Ladies, put aside your judgment. He was with us for a time, now he is gone. Let us remember that whatever else he was, he was a child of Aiheu, a compassionate lion, a fair lion, a wise ruler, and for me a dear and gentle friend. And we will all miss him. His first wife died of Babesa, very horribly. His second wife was killed in a hunting accident. After that, he was always afraid of commitment. He was, as Uzuri saw so plainly, a very tragic lion who had known much suffering. The comfort you brought him was the only good thing to brighten his long and lonely life. Out of love, he wanted you by his side, but out of love he sent you away to keep you safe from harm. Now from the stars he looks down and sees your sad faces. Now he is no longer afraid to love you with his whole heart."
They all roar, then start bawling. It felt good to be able to share that hidden grief with a friend, and they huddled together as they wept.
The moon drifted ever onward, and by ones and twos the lionesses left to return to Pride Rock and try to sleep. Finally Uzuri had Rafiki alone and she clearly had unanswered questions.
“Why, Rafiki? If this is true, why did Ugas marry me?”
“So your children would be legitimate heirs to reign after him. You see, you are the very image of his second wife. He often called her Kamba--‘Honey Tree.’"
“He would call me that when he....” She looked at Makaka and paused. “You know....at the height of passion.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Oh gods! Bless his precious old heart! That poor, sad lion!”
Quiet except for her sobs, she turned and wandered slowly into the night to be alone.
Makaka pulled at Rafiki’s arm. “That’s so sad. We ought to say a prayer for her.”
“We will.”
“And we ought to say a prayer for him and his other two wives.”
“There were no other wives,” Rafiki said. “But you must never tell another soul that. Especially not Uzuri.”
“You told a lie?”
“In her case, it was the only merciful thing to do.”
Makaka looked puzzled. “What’s Old Number Four?”
Rafiki patted him on the back. “Isha promised to tell me someday--when I’m old enough.”
CHAPTER 64: SUNSET
“I tell you he’s smiling. And well he might smile. His life will be easy and free from pain, at least if I have any say over it.”
Makaka was too quick to hurry up the side of Pride Rock. It triggered an asthma attack, and Rafiki nervously rummaged through his medications in the wan light of dusk looking for silver vein mint. He was only sure by the smell, and when he crushed a few leaves and held them under Makaka’s nose, the youth began to settle down and breathe deeply.
“I can carry you back down, but I can’t carry you to the top.”
“Let’s go on up. I can make it.”
With more caution and reserve, Makaka went up the shaft of stone to the tip, followed by Rafiki.
“You need to be more careful,” Rafiki said, taking his seat on the end of the shaft.
Makaka sat next to him. “I’ll try. Well, some of the time.”
“What does that mean?”
“I was just thinking.” Makaka paused for a long time. “You know, it’s like Minshasa told me. I was safer in the village, but I’m happier here.”
“I must admit I’m happier with you here.”
He put an arm around Rafiki. “I love you too.”
As they sat together, the African Sunset came to its climax, the red orb of the sun wavering as it sank below the horizon. Overhead in the afterglow a few stars winked into the purple sky, watching over the land and its peoples. A lioness came and sat next to them quietly. Makaka scooted over to her and slipped his arms around her plush, strong neck. Uzuri touched the child with her warm, pink tongue. Then she looked over at Rafiki. “It’s you I came to see.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Makaka can wait in the cave.” She sent the child away with a gentle pat of her paw, then twitched her head for Rafiki to come closer. “You are tired, honey tree. This world has worn you thin. I can almost see the moonlight through you.”
“We’re none of us getting younger, old girl.”
“How well I know.” Her eyes, old but still alert, met his. “There is not much time between sunrise and sunset. If you would not be caught out after dark, you must leave some time to do all the important things.”
Rafiki put his hand over her paw. “Do not talk of sunsets, my dear. I’ve seen more than my share.”
“Don’t make this harder than it has to be.” Uzuri sighed deeply. “I slipped in the hunt tonight. A hoof nearly caught me in the cheek. For one moment I looked death in the face.”
“Uzuri, dearest!” He gave her paw a squeeze. “You must be more careful. Don’t put a thorn in my heart. You, Makaka, and Misha are the reasons I go on living. You must never die.”
“Someday we all must die, but I have things I need to say before I go. Important things.”
“Is it what I think it is?”
“I hope so.” She touched him with her warm tongue and looked penetratingly into his eyes. “I love you, Rafiki.”
“Oh Uzuri!” Tears of joy began to stream down his face. He reached out and fondled her strong, soft neck and felt the gentle rhythm of her heart. “I love you too.”
THE END: THE SPIRIT QUEST
LEGAL NOTE:
This original copyrighted work is based on Walt Disney's feature film, "The Lion King." Elements taken directly from “The Lion King” are the property of The Walt Disney Company. "The Spirit Quest" is distributed free of charge excepting reasonable distribution costs. Quoting passages from our work, writing original pieces based on our work, or using characters we created is fine as long as you secure prior approval. That begins by sending either of us a copy of the work. Our e-mail addresses are:
David A. Morris:damorris@wilmington.net
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This story is a fictional work, but we don’t claim that any resemblance to any characters living or dead is purely coincidental. With love and respect, we acknowledge the debt we owe to those who taught us how to laugh and cry. Without acting as clear models for any one character, many great souls, some non-human, have been woven deeply into the fabric of our lives only to end up in “The Spirit Quest.”