Gamu was soon over his disappointment at Kubali’s triumph. After all, no prize easily won was worth much. Tolerating their desire to make love in the morning, Gamu went to the watering hole and looked at his own reflection. He tried to make the most sad face he could create and looked at the reflection. “Oh Gamu,” he said in a rough imitation of Kubali’s voice. “Why did I ever let you back in my life? Why didn’t I see this coming??”
Gamu could no longer keep a straight face, and he rolled on his back with laughter. “Griz, get over here!”
Nonplused, the hyena left the cover of the reeds. “How did you spot me?”
“I didn’t. I just know you, you little sneak. The same way I know Kubali and Elanna. And my little flea-bitten friend, knowledge is power. So he’s breathing down her neck, is he? It will give him something to think about when he’s on the savanna alone.”
“I thought you wanted to kill him,” Griz’nik said.
“I’m not sure. I wandered around alone for the longest time. I know what it’s like. But for him it will be far worse. He’s lost the kingship, and he will also lose her. I see those shapely thighs of hers, and I think about the sweet delight of her lithe golden body....” He trembled. “How much sweeter it will be to know my enemy is alone and unloved! And every time she cries out my name, it will pull out a thorn that lion put in my heart!”
Griz’nik looked at him crossly. “You’re sick, you know that? Even I can tell she’s beautiful for a lioness. If I were you, I’d take her out behind the reeds, and Kubali would be the farthest thing from my mind. My gods, Gamu, if you want to know what I think....”
“I DON’T,” Gamu said, swiping at the hyena and shoving him into the water.
“One of these days you’re going to go too far,” Griz’nik said, huffing and puffing as he left the cold water.
“And then you’ll do what?” Gamu patted Griz’nik on the cheek. “Face it, my little friend. You need me. Even if you could kill me, and the thought is laughable, what would you do? Expect a handout from the mistress you ill treated and her husband? I think not.”
“You promise me much,” Griz’nik said, “but what have you actually delivered? A couple of lousy rabbits?”
Gamu gave him a withering look. “These things take time to be done right. Remember what I told you about the territory to the south?”
“The land between the hills?”
“Yes. You and Elanna and I. You’ll get to hunt gazelles and no one will bother you. Maybe you’ll find another mate and have some little--whatever it is hyenas have.”
“Pups.”
“Yeah, right. But only if you obey. Only if you wait. I’m not like your Taka. I won’t be pushed around or circumvented.”
“Circumvented?”
“Shoved aside.”
“You and your big words.”
“Big words for a lion with big ideas.”
Griz’nik shook himself, and water went flying about, getting in Gamu’s eyes and wetting his mane. Griz’nik tried not to smile broadly at the mischief he’d created. “Oh, pardon me.”