“There is a story behind that name,” she said. Rafiki had a strong suspicion that he was going to hear it, and he settled back while the anguished details came pouring out, punctuated by fits of sobbing. He was genuinely interested, but prayed that she would hurry up and leave before someone else came by.
“And we used to meet at our special place by the river,” she continued. “There was a patch of jasmine there. He would tell me that I was the prettiest blossom of them all. The name stuck.”
“You will pray for him tonight, I trust?”
“More than that,” she said. “He deserves so much more. But I can’t tell the other sisters. I mean, none of them knew I was seeing another lion. They would look down on me.”
“I understand.”
“At midnight, I was hoping that you and I could meet at our special place by the flowers. You understand, don’t you? I mean, I can’t let that poor, dear lion go to the stars without someone who understands what he meant to me hearing a few good words.”
Rafiki put his arms around her neck and gave her a hug. “You poor, dear lady. We’ll see what we can work out.”
Just then, Ajenti stuck her head in. “Oh, you’re with someone else. I just have this thorn in my paw.”
“My shoulder was stiff,” Isha said. “It feels much better now. Come on in.”
Limping as well as she could, Ajenti waited until Isha was out of hearing range.
“Oh Rafiki!” she said, bursting into tears. “Isn’t it awful about Ugas! Surely he told you about me?”
“Yes, my dear. He was Misha’s father. He used to call you ‘Squirrel.’”
“Indeed. There’s a story behind that name. The first time we were together, there was this squirrel in the acacia tree, and....”
Just as Rafiki was settling down to hear another story of love’s labors lost, Sarafina pushed her head in.
“Oh, you’re with someone. I can come back later.”
“No, it’s fine,” Ajenti said. “He just pulled a thorn from my paw.”
“You’re lucky,” Sarafina said. “I have this pulled muscle in my shoulder.”
Ajenti started to leave. “If you want to check on me at mid-moon, you know where I’ll be. Please see if you can be there.”
Rafiki sighed. He knew exactly where she would be at mid-moon. She would have a bigger thorn in her heart than in her paw when the truth came out.
Sarafina watched until she left. And when all was quiet, she fell before Rafiki. “Oh gods, you have to help me!” she stammered, tears running down her cheeks. “I’ve kept this thing bottled up inside me and If I don’t get it out, I’ll just die!”
“You just found out about Ugas? I didn’t think it wise to tell you, knowing that you and he were close.”
“I knew all along!” She covered her face with a paw and sobbed. “Why didn’t you tell me he was Uzuri’s husband! Why did you let me make such a fool of myself! This is all my fault!”
“My dear, don’t be so hard on yourself! Nothing is your fault.”
“But it is, don’t you see??” She looked him piercingly in the eyes. “It’s all my fault!” She added in a weak whisper, “We were making love at the time!”
“Oh my gods!”
“And when he was dying, he thought I was Uzuri. He said, ‘Forgive me, for I’ve been unfaithful to you. It’s only you I loved!’”
Rafiki bowed his head and tears streamed down his cheeks. “Tell me he didn’t say that!”
“He did,” she said, her heart crumbling. “Oh gods, I feel like such a wretch! My own sister’s husband! And I killed him!”
“You did not kill him! Age killed him. Old age, Fini! At least he died with someone who cared by his side.”
He reached down and kissed her cheek, lovingly stroking her face and ears. “Don’t believe his little confession. He wanted Uzuri to feel good, but I knew that lion. He spoke highly of you, and used to brag that your daughter had your lovely eyes. He loved you, Fini.”
“He said that?”
“Yes, I swear.” He stroked her gently. “You and your sister Uzuri are both beautiful and sweet and intelligent, and so wonderful. He was lonely because Uzuri would not stay with him. Maybe he saw in you the things he loved in her.”
She looked at him perceptively through her tears. “I know how you feel about her. That’s the nicest thing you could have said to me.”
“I meant it, Honey Tree. Every word.”
She reached up with a paw and stroked his face. “I can hardly bear to look at her, knowing what she’s going through. Can you meet me at mid-moon by our special place? Maybe Aiheu will be merciful to me and help me find inner peace. My life has not been worth living for weeks now.”
“How could I refuse you, old girl?” He patted her shoulder. “I may be a few minutes late, but I’ll be there.”
CHAPTER: ASHES TO ASHES, DUST TO DUST
Rafiki was relieved when Uzuri came a little early. Uzuri was never deceptive, though she was hard to interpret at times. She did not advertise her feelings through chatter and social conventions, but she always managed to show the ones she loved her warmth and compassion.
But now she was able to toss reserve aside and bare her soul. She knew that his spirit would be watching from the stars, and she could not afford to show a calm face to him.
“Oh, Ugas! Oh gods, my husband, my lover, my heart! He’s dead!”
Tears began to stream down her face. She wanted to roar, but dared not. Instead, she nestled in the sanctuary of Rafiki’s arms and sobbed.
“That wonderful lion! That kind and gentle soul! What little time we spent together made me more noble, more grand just for having loved him! And let me tell you, Rafiki, more important than his breath on my cheek was being there with him.”
He kissed her and stroked her gently. “Yes, my dear.”
“He was caring, with a voice as warm as a good nuzzle, and a nuzzle as warm as the sun. Sometimes we would just lie side by side, and I would smell the honest fragrance of his mane against my cheek. He always made me feel special and beautiful. The last time we made love, he said--” She began to convulse with choking sobs.
“What did he say?”
“He looked at me sadly and said ‘Love me as if it was for the last time.’”
Rafiki put his arms around her neck, kissing her around the face. “My poor girl! My poor little girl! It will get better with time. You will never be the same, but you will learn to live with the loss, as I have.”
Uzuri kissed him. “I was right. You do understand.”
He rocked ever so slightly back and forth with her head pillowed against his chest, whispering, “There, my love. I’ll always be here for you, and not just tonight. You know it, don’t you?”
Tears streamed down his cheeks as he felt her soft breath on his arm and felt the trembling in her large, powerful body rendered almost helpless by crippling grief.
At that intimate moment of grief, Barata showed up. Rafiki sighed.
“What is she doing here?” Uzuri asked, drying her eyes quickly.
“Uzuri, dearest, try not to be too upset.”
Uzuri hurried over to Barata and confronted her furiously. “You are here because of him, aren’t you??”
“He had an affair with you too? I didn’t know! I swear I didn’t
know!”
“Affair?? He was my husband!”
Barata was taken aback. “You never told me!” Barata rolled over on the ground. “I swear, Uzuri, I would never have cheated on you. It was only once, and it was many moons ago. Oh gods, I love you! You’re my pride sister! I’m sorry!”
Uzuri looked at her misery and knew that she was suffering a double grief. The hunt mistress nuzzled her. “Get up, friend. I should have gone to be with him. I left him alone, and I can understand how this might happen.” She tilted her head puzzled. As discretely as she could, she said, “Still, I always thought you never had an interest in--you know.”