When Mabatu was three moons old, it rained heavily. That rain would be remembered for a long time because it was the last rain before the drought.

It took a while for the sun to bake the remaining water out of the soil and dry up the grass. Dry spells were frequent on the savanna and only to be expected. For the first week, no one was alarmed. A week later, some of the lionesses remarked on it before the hunt. But after four weeks without rain, hunting began to suffer. Little Baba was now four moons old, and his appetite was growing along with his body. His “Uncle” had to work harder to find enough for him to eat. Once when game was very scarce, Taka brought him a couple of large fish that had been stranded in a pool once part of the river. When Mabatu started to turn up his nose at them, Taka looked hurt and said, “But I caught them myself just for you.”

Baba tried one, and liking it quickly devoured it. He sniffed of the other, but looked up. “What are you going to eat?”

“I’ll find something.”

“Here.” He shoved the fish over to Taka. “You eat this one.”

Taka looked into Mabatu’s eyes. There was a quality about them that reminded him of young Simba. For a moment he experienced if not repentance at least a pang of regret. “What a kind thing to do, ” he said, nuzzling the cub. “I love you, Baba.”

“I love you too.”

There was no difference in Simba and Mabatu. Simba used to tell his Uncle, “I love you” from time to time. In his heart Taka swore from then on that only those who knew the evil they caused would die. He felt that he had saved Baba, and in doing so wiped out his guilt for killing Simba (for indeed he thought the cub was dead). Though he was unsure about Roh’kash and had turned his back on Aiheu, he still suffered a superstitious dread about what would happen to him when he breathed his last. Baba would be his atonement. Baba would be his salvation. Baba must live.

Isha was very close to Kako and her son Mabatu. She worked hard to help them whenever she could. And they were not without gratitude.

One day when Isha came to take care of Mabatu while Kako went to see Rafiki, she told Isha, “You’re the sister I never had. What wonderful thing did I do to deserve you?”

Isha nuzzled her. “I was just wondering the same thing.”

“That’s the third time this month you’ve taken care of Mabatu for me. There must be something I can do in return.”

“I love the little fellow. I enjoy every moment we spend together.”

While Kako was gone, Isha thought she would just keep an eye on little Baba, but it turned out he wanted to be more involved. So they wrestled. Mabatu was too young to make headway with a fully grown lioness, especially not an accomplished huntress like Isha. She tried hard not to win too badly.

Mabatu was quick, if nothing else. She was surprised to find herself off balance when she was not planning it. He pounced on her stomach and giggled. “Gotcha! ”

After he let her up, she dusted herself off and said, “I’ll get you next time, you little rat fink.”

He kissed her cheek and said, “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He smiled broadly. “Are you married?”

She laughed, a little embarrased. “No. But maybe someday the right lion will come along.”

In a shy voice, he said, “When I grow up, I want to marry you.”

She laughed again.

“Please don’t laugh at me. I meant it.”

“I wasn’t laughing at you. It was just such a sweet thing to say. I wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.”

“You’re not mad?”

“No.” She kissed him. “It was the nicest proposal I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard quite a few.” She pulled him over with her paw. “Time for your bath, squirt.”

Mabatu did not raise the usual objections. When she cleaned his fur, he purred quietly.

Later that day as the lionesses gathered for the hunt, Uzuri came to Isha with a broad smile on her face. “Congratulations! ”

“On what?”

“On the big event. Mabatu just told me the good news.” She laughed, something Uzuri didn’t often do.

Embarrased, Isha asked her, “Who else did he tell?”

“I don’t know. But I’d catch him quickly if I were you.”

“I’ll have a little talk with him.” Isha thought a moment and burst out laughing. “He asked me if I was married. The little rat fink, I should have known what he was up to! ”

Among the hyenas, there were several seers, but few that could compare to Shimbekh. She was said to have the ear of Roh’kash, and her words were never taken lightly.

Without Rafiki to give his guidance to Pride Rock, Taka relied on her judgment to make all his important decisions. Of course, this was of great interest to Shenzi, who saw in it a way to secure control over Taka and virtually rule the Pride Lands.

Shimbeck was always surrounded by questioning throngs, for everyone wanted her wisdom. But her personal friends were few. Like most seers, she never married. The dark and frightening aspects of the future were a large obstacle to her being seen as a friend. And for most hyenas, Shimbeck and the future were inseparable, as if the unseen had taken on a familiar form to stalk among them.

Makhpil, a shy but talented seer was only an adolescent. But she clung to Shimbeck for comfort. Her own parents were afraid of her, though they had no reason to be. So Shimbeck was both mother and father to Makhpil, and Shimbeck loved her appropriately. They had both faced the future, and it could not come between them.

Prophesy is a two-edged sword—it cuts both ways. Shenzi, at first unable to make Shimbeck lie, convinced her to tell only the truth that helped the hyena cause. A half truth is like a half carcass; it can be dragged twice as far.

Both Shimbekh and Makpil knew that a seer who lied was a seer no more. The gods would take the truth from those who would not use it. And for a long time, Shenzi only encouraged Shimbekh to manipulate the truth for it would be a shame to lose her rare talent. Somehow Shimbekh’s personal feelings never entered into Shenzi’s mind, and Shimbekh was all too aware of that.

Then came a time months later when Shimbekh had made so many compromises that Shenzi could blackmail her. Shenzi wanted Shimbekh to come to her private quarters, this time without Makpil. And when she had her alone, she said, “You will tell Scar that it is folly to leave Pride Rock. You will tell him that the day he attempts to go, he will die.”

“My Lord Roh’mach, the gods do not say it. A seer is a servant of the Lord. To lie is blasphemy.”

Shenzi smiles coyly. “Is it really blasphemy when the greater good depends on it?”

“You mean YOUR greater good depends on it.”

“Whatever.” Shenzi comes up beside her and pats her lightly on the cheek. “I wouldn’t want to be you Honey Bun, not when Scar finds out how far you stretched the truth.”

“On YOUR orders.”

“Little old me?” Shenzi smiled wickedly. “Would I ask you to lie to my King? For shame! ”

Shimbekh says “You wouldn’t dare tempt the gods.”

“Oh yes I would. Taka’s superstitions are his downfall. I believe in what works, and this works. Play the game by my rules, and you’ll have no reason to frown. Refuse me, and you won’t be able to frown.”

Shimbekh says, “Well I have one prediction for you. This path leads toward defeat. You do not scratch dirt at the gods and profit by it.”

“Are you threatening me??”

“No. You threaten yourself. We all pay for our own sins, Roh’mach. I will pay for mine, but you will pay for yours.” The seer looks at her closely before going. “I will pray for you.”

“You just do that. But first, you see Scar.”

She walks out. Going in to see the King, she bowed deeply. It took all her nerve to keep from trembling. “My Lord, King of Kings, I have something to report.”