John Burkitt - Under the Acacias

“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.”

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.”

“Just because I never got pregnant didn’t mean I never....” She glanced over at Rafiki. “You know.”

Ajenti poked her head through the bushes. She saw the other two lionesses and gasped. "Oh my gods!"

Isha pushed past her. She looked appraisingly at the other lionesses. And shook her head. "I knew I wasn't the only one, but I underestimated the old boy."

“Watch what you say about my husband!” Uzuri shouted.

“Your husband??” Isha said.

“Your husband??” Ajenti echoed.

Rafiki motioned for quiet and tried to begin the ceremony. "Death has struck down our friend Ugas. Let us remember him as a brave lion, a good lion, whose heart was full of love...."

"Yeah, you can say that again!" Ajenti said bitterly.

Isha nodded. “He was Bango's father. And I must admit he was a good lion--quite good.”

"Yes," Sarafina said quietly. "He was good, wasn't he?"

“Sarafina? You too?”

Isha came to her. “You and Ugas??”

“Why not??” Sarafina said. “We were a matched set. I couldn’t imagine you’d like him. I like a comfortable routine, but you would have gone crazy. The same old thing every time.”

“Never the same thing twice!” Isha said, scandalized. “Are we talking about the same Ugas?”

“And his sense of humor,” Sarafina added. “He always told the funniest jokes. Most of them don’t bear repeating in public.”

“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. That was saying a lot.

Rafiki sighed. It would be a long night.

The next morning, Uzuri called the Pride Sisters together one last time. She had before her a dead hedgehog. Dipping her paw in the blood, she touched Misha on both cheeks, leaving red prints. Then she kissed the startled lioness.

“I give you the most precious possession I have,” she said, tears streaming down her face. The pride sisters all took in a deep gasp. “I gave a lot of thought to what I would say when I left you. In the end there is nothing I can say, and so I leave you with silence. But I can never forget the time we spent together on the trail. Farewell, my sisters, and Godspeed.”