The Leonid Saga cotpl-5

by John H. Burkitt

  Togo said, “Kind of like Avina?”

  “Yes, only poor Avina died surrounded by enemies. You missed a lot not knowing her.” Isha patted his cheek with her paw. “An elderly baboon shaman was passing through the kingdom to bless cubs. Mano sought him out and fell before him, begging him to help.

  “’Shall I bless you, my child?’

  “’A zebra broke my mother’s jaw!’ Mano sobbed. ‘She can’t eat! You must help her!’

  “The baboon looked at him sadly. ‘It is the order of things that some die young. Only Aiheu himself can conquer death.’

  “’Where can I find Aiheu?’

  “’Do you think the mighty Aiheu will give you audience? Do you not know the bargain made by your grandfather that pleasure is worth pain, and that the two are brothers? That pain is the price of pleasure?’

  “’But if I gave him a gift?’ Mano insisted. ‘Surely he would let my mother live if I gave him a gift! Something to trade for my mother’s life?’

  “The old one said, ‘It would take something of equal value. You would have to die in her stead, but no one has ever proposed such a thing.’

  “’Then I will be the first,’ Mano said. ‘My life for hers. Now sir, tell me where I may find Aiheu.’

  “’It is not simple,’ the baboon said. ‘He is in the distant east, a journey fraught with danger and challenge. And if you would see him, you must be quick, for if your mother’s jaw is broken, she will die within the week. In your dreams you shall see a vision where to find the Lord, and it will give you true guidance if your heart is pure and your courage is strong.’”

  Kombi asked, “Is this a true story?”

  “All of my stories are true unless I tell you they are not. Listen carefully--you may learn something.” She continued:

  “Mano went to his mother to bid her farewell. She motioned for him to come near. ‘Take your place by my side, dearest son. Let me love you while my strength holds out, so you will remember me when you are old and tired.’”

  A tear slid down Wajanja’s cheek. “That’s so sad!”

  “Mano wept. ‘I could never forget you, Mother, but I cannot stay. I must go into the east to find Aiheu and bring you healing.’

  “’Foolish, kind child, stay with me. I shall not live to see you return.’

  “’Mother, I must go. If I stay here and watch you die, I will never be happy again. Bless me for my journey and pray for my success.’

  “She put her paw on his cheek and blessed him, and he headed toward the land of the sunrise.

  “He was afraid that he would fail, but he was also afraid that he would succeed. To one end or the other, he would die, and he prayed to Aiheu that his Ka might sit with his grandfather among the stars.”

  “Does he die?” Togo asked, clearly distressed.

  “Wait and see.”

  “I’ll listen to the whole thing. I just want to know if he’s going to die.”

  “Everyone eventually dies,” Isha said, rubbing his face with her good paw. “Just bear with me for a little longer.”

  “So alone did he feel, for he could not tell his brother or sisters of his plan. It was a terrible secret to carry under the hot sun. A few of the Pride Sisters tried to stop him, but he bid them a sad farewell and continued. Finally, his own father stopped him at the border. ‘Go home, my son! What you are doing will accomplish nothing but to double my grief.’

  “With wisdom beyond his days, Mano said, ‘If I returned now, I would not be the son you love, and I would not even love myself.’

  “Malawi looked into his eyes of love and kissed Mano. ‘If you had been another cub, I would have scolded you for such foolishness and sent you home. But not my Mano--if you say you must go, I will not stop you. Yet before you leave, I would lay my heart at your feet. For I shall have no more happiness until you are safely home.’”

  Kombi nudged Isha with his paw again. “Did he really put his heart down?”

  “It’s an expression. Now do you want to hear this or not?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Isha looked at each of the cubs piercingly. She managed to recapture the moment before she was interrupted. “Mano did not want to tell his father he was leaving home to die, so he was brave and smiled. ‘Watch for me in the East. If I am not back in two weeks, watch for me in the stars.’

  “With that, Mano crossed the border and headed into the Big World.

  “He walked all day in the hot sun, but he found no water. Weary, hungry and thirsty, he collapsed and fell into a deep sleep. He had a dream that he would meet Aiheu in a mountain pass the next morning, and it gave him hope. Surely this was a sign from God!

  “The next day he traveled on. He did indeed find the mountain pass but the Lion King met him in the pass and required that he fight to proceed. ‘No one may enter my land through this pass, for the prey is for my family alone.’

  “’I will not hunt your prey, though I would take some of your water to ease my burning thirst. I must pass through your land, but I shall not stop along the way--may Aiheu witness my oath.’

  “’And where are you headed that is so important that you must trespass on my land?’

  “’I am headed to find Aiheu. I am going to give up my life for my mother’s.’

  “’That is a difficult story to believe!’

  “Mano said, ’My life only has value if it can ransom my mother. Kill me if you must, but I will seek the Lord.’

  “The lion kissed him. ‘Your bravery astounds me. You shall pass, little one. I shall escort you as far as the eastern creek. There you can refresh yourself, but you will be on your own. And may the gods grant you success, though I hate to see you die so young. When you rule from the stars, remember me.’

  “Mano kept his promise. He did not stop to rest until after he crossed the eastern creek. It was night, and though he had drunk, he had not eaten in two days. His hunger kept him awake until after midmoon, but when he finally slept, he had a dream that he would meet Aiheu across a desert.

  “Heartened, the next morning he headed out into the desert. Indeed, it was as desolate as his dream had warned him, but he did not see Aiheu. Instead the wind rose up and buffeted him without mercy. He was tempted to turn back and drink from the creek and try to hunt, but still he kept on and crossed the sand. ‘Aiheu, I will not stop until I find you! I am coming to give my life for my mother!’ And when he said this, the wind died down.

  “Still, the sun was blazing hot. After long wandering in the sweltering heat, he spotted some distant trees. And going to them, he found blessed coolness where he could regain his senses. He was thirsty and needed a drink. Perishing from thirst, he found to his great joy a deep pool. It was filled with milk rather than water, something that made Mano wonder, but he was willing to drink most anything by that point.

  “’Stop! It is forbidden!’ A gorilla came and raised a club in threat. ‘This is the sacred spring of Mara, the birthplace of all life. You are forbidden to drink here!.’

  “’Why?’

  “’This is a holy place. You came in your selfishness, wanting to take what is not yours to ease your discomfort. Find another place to drink! Any place but the Lord’s pool!’

  “’But I am going to give my life to Aiheu that he may spare my mother. If I am dead, I shall have nothing to give him. Strike me if you must, but if I live, I will go to my Lord.’

  “The gorilla withdrew. ‘Drink, then.’

  “The milk took away his hunger and thirst, and he fell into a satisfying sleep. He dreamed that the next day he would meet Aiheu in a field.

  “Heartened, he went in search of the field, and he found it just as it was in the dream, but all he saw on it was an elephant that charged him every time he tried to cross, stubbornly driving him back toward the jungle.

  “’Let me pass, old tusker! I have no quarrel with you!’

  “’We do not allow your kind here. You just want to kill our children and harass us!’

  “’I a
m not here to kill but to save,’ Mano said. ‘You must show me where Aiheu is, for I have come a long way, and my time grows short.’

  “’The young fool speaks of time growing short!’

  “’I may be a fool, but I must see Aiheu to give my life to him that my mother may be spared. If you do not show me the way, I will fight you as best I can!’

  “The elephant believed him and relented. ‘Brave one, go between the two purple hills, beyond the two acacias and find the spring where Aiheu comes to cool his thirst. I wish you success, but I hate to see one so young die. When you come to your kingdom among the stars, remember me.’

  “’Even as I will remember the Lion, I shall remember you.’

  “Two long days it took him to complete the journey. On the first night he did not dream at all. But on the second night he dreamed of Aiheu by the spring, and heartened, he knew what he was looking for at last would be his.

  “He did in fact find the two hills and beyond them the two acacias. And he found the spring, but rather than Aiheu he only saw the old baboon who sent him on the journey.

  “’You said I would find Aiheu in the east! Now I’m here--where is he?? I’ve been misled three previous times and now all I see is an old fool!’

  “The baboon smiled. ‘The dreams were all true. Aiheu was in all of those places. He was a lion, a wind, a gorilla and an elephant. And then as now he was also an old baboon.’

  “Mano fell to the ground. ‘Forgive me, my Lord and my God!’

  “’Only one whose heart was steadfast and true could find me. I had to test your resolve.’

  “’So, are you saying that I may die in my mother’s stead?’

  “Aiheu took a large rock. ‘If you would come of your own free will. I will crush your skull--it will be very quick, my son.’

  “’Will I come with you?’

  “’You will come with me.’

  “’Will I see my mother again?’

  “’When she dies, you will be reunited with her.’

  “’May I not see her one last time in this world before I come with you?’

  “’There is not enough time. Are you having second thoughts?’

  “’No, Lord.’ He cringed, closed his eyes tightly, and said, ‘Kill me as we have agreed and get it over with.’

  “In a moment, Mano felt a light tap on his head and he cried out. But Aiheu said, ‘I was testing my swing. I should not want to miss and cause you extra pain.’

  “Mano cringed again and shut his eyes tightly. ‘I am ready, Lord. Kill me as we have agreed and get it over with.’

  “In a moment, Mano felt a harder blow that made him flinch, though it did not even draw blood. Aiheu said, ‘The sun was shining in my eyes, and I did not want to strike you wrongly.’

  “Mano closed his eyes tightly and said, ‘Hurry, Lord. My mother is dying. My pain is not important when my mother is hurting!’

  “Aiheu dropped the rock and put his arms around Mano. As tears streamed down his face, he said, ‘My son, my son! How I love you! Not one hair of your dear head would I harm, even if you were still a mortal which you are not. Come look in the water.’

  “Mano looked into the spring at his reflection. He gasped, for his fur had turned snow white and his eyes were not hazel but sky blue.

  “When you drank from the pool of Mara you became immortal. But it was not by chance you did this, for I had need of you.”

  “’Whatever you need from me, I will give it gladly. Only spare my mother’s life!’

  “Again Aiheu wept. ‘My child--the moment you headed into the East, I healed your mother.’

  “He fell at Aiheu’s feet and kissed him. ‘Bless you!’ he cried, but he asked, ‘Why then did you continue to test me?’

  “’I already trusted you, but now you have learned to trust yourself. In a real sense, you have given your life to me, for you are my servant now. But you will count your bondage the greatest freedom you have ever known. Neither time nor distance shall confine you, nor shall life nor death.’ Aiheu blessed him and kissed him. ‘As long as you remain faithful in your duties, I shall look after your every need. You shall rule the host of the Nisei, for you are now a king in your own right. For now, go home to your mother and be for her the good son you are. But when your mantlement comes, I will return for you and take you to your kingdom.’

  “Mano went home to his family with much rejoicing, and he was indeed a son to bring his parents joy, but he passed his right of inheritance to his brother Akbar and nothing would he take away except the life his parents gave him.

  “As the days passed into moons, his beauty grew until the very mountains and plains saw it. And creatures came from distant places to catch a glimpse of him. Many were the lionesses that knelt before him and said, ‘Remember me when you come to your mantlement!’ The path that lay before him was difficult and long, and when he explained to them what Aiheu had planned, they walked away sadly. Only one did not want to go away.

  “Now when the days were due for his mantlement, Aiheu came out of the east to bless the sons of Malawi. ‘Akbar, you will be a mighty king and rule long and happily in the land. But of all creatures which I have made, the greatest is my servant Mano. In him I place authority to oversee my kingdom and only my word shall surpass his. Great shall be his wisdom, and mighty his power, and any good thing that he asks of me, it shall be done.’

  “Mano left to wander the world, doing the will of Aiheu wherever he went. The lame he healed, and the ill he made whole, and as Mano’s fame spread, the beauty that shone from his eyes seemed to increase as well, for he never healed another that he did not also strengthen himself, and he never taught another that his wisdom did not also increase, for in the measure he showed goodness to others Aiheu showed it to him.

  “For a while he was satisfied with his solitary path, making a new friend over each hill, but passing on like the restless wind. Aiheu kept his promise and looked after all of Mano’s needs. But Mano had one need that became more keen with the passing of years. He begged Aiheu for a mate, someone like him who would accompany him.

  “Aiheu heard his prayer and found a lioness named Minshasa whose heart was pure and good. At his bidding she drank from the lake of Mara and became immortal and dazzling white. Then she was sent in search of her husband, and was told only that he was ‘one like her, of great courage, wisdom and love.’ But he did not tell her Mano was a white lion.

  “In her wandering, she found N’ga, son of Ramallah. He was strong and comely, and brave enough to make her a handsome consort. But before he could pledge to her, his brother Sufa came and challenged him for her favors. The brothers fought bitterly for three days under the sun and moon. They were of one strength, one endurance and one determination. Neither could prevail, and they fell to the earth exhausted

  “Minshasa felt that both lions were too foolish to be the husband Aiheu had promised her and she went on. It was then she saw Mano by the mountain called Niobe. And he knew her at once as the mate Aiheu made for him. Joyfully he came to her and said, ‘The wife I prayed for has found me.’ And at once he pledged to her and she to him.

  “As for the mother of the blessed Mano, death came to her as it came to all mortals, but it could not separate her from her son. That is why it is said to this day in the mantlement, ‘Like Mano, you shall not forget who gave you life.’ And do you know what her name is? One of us has it.”

  Togo said, “Was it Kombi?”

  Isha laughed. “No, you little Rat Fink!” She pawed him and said, “It’s Isha! That’s why it’s one of my favorite stories. So cubs, did you three learn anything from this?”

  Kombi said, “I sure did! It’s stupid to fight over a girl for three days. N’ga should have told her to choose between them.”

  “Well, that’s one thing....” She looked at Jannie, who was drying her eyes. “How about you?”

  “That’s easy. Love is the strongest thing in the world.”

  “Very good!” Isha nuzzled
her. “That’s certainly true.”

  Togo sat still and somber, and after it was a while before Isha noticed and nuzzled him gently. “I haven’t heard from you.”

  “The same thing she said.” Togo said, looking down. “You know, love.”

  “But there’s more, isn’t there?”

  Togo looked her in the eye. “I guess so.”

  “You guess so??” Isha tenderly nuzzled him. “What are you thinking? You can tell your Aunt Isha, honey tree.”

  “Well, I was just thinking about Malawi and how much he loved Mano.”

  “He did indeed.” She quietly said, “Just like Mufasa really loved Simba, and Ahadi really loved Mufasa...and I guess Scar too. You came along at a bad time. Things weren’t always like this.”

  “I wonder if my dad even knows I’m alive,” Togo said morosely. “I wonder if he even cares if I’m alive.”

  “Why, Togo! Of course he cares! That’s what your mother said.”

  “She doesn’t tell me nothing about him.”

  “Anything.”

  “You said it. And I’d like to meet him, but Mom won’t even tell me who he is.”

  “She hasn’t told me either. But she said that someday soon you’d know all about your Dad. Uzuri told me he was wonderful and kind, and he will love you very much. Buck up, son, and humor your mother in this. She will tell you when she feels the time is right.”

  Isha got up, tested her foot, and finding she could rest her weight on it she limped toward Pride Rock with the cubs in tow. “Yes, Togo, you have a very good father because no one else would be good enough for your mother.”

  Togo moved alongside and nuzzled her shoulder. “I love you, Aunt Isha.”

  THE STORY OF N’GA AND SUFA:

  “Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be.”

  -- Robert Burns

  Once when Ugas was lying under the night sky, Uzuri his wife came alongside and laid next to him. It was often her custom to leave the hunt when things were slow and she would not be missed. She would spend those times next to her husband to feel his closeness and watch the stars proceeding overhead.