Markaaagh saw what he thought was a dying lion. He had a personal preference, hoping it was not Kubali. Despite his professional detachment, he had grown rather fond of the polite, intelligent lion. He lighted next to him, hoping to at least say something to ease his torment at the end.
“Hey Fuzzy, are you OK?”
“I’m not ready to be the guest of honor at your dinner party.”
“For once I’m relieved.” The buzzard regarded him closely. “Where is your lady friend?”
“Gone. She dumped me.”
Markaaagh looked surprised and disappointed. “Tell me it ain’t so! Brother, I know how you feel.”
“How could you?”
“Oyeghegh left me without so much as a pinfeather.”
“Oh? I’m sorry.”
“Of course, I take these things in stride. In my younger days, I was quite the rage among the young ladies, and I still haven’t lost it entirely! Har har!”
Kubali covered his eyes with a paw.
“You poor boy, I was happy for you. I was hoping this match would work out. I’m really sorry.”
Markaaagh trundled across a bit of savanna, flapping his huge wings until he was airborne and could put some distance between himself and the lion. He embraced the buzzard policy of not getting involved with animals he could eat. It was only courting pain and conflict. Still, he felt he had to get to the bottom of this. If only to find some dirt on Gamu that would give him the satisfaction of ripping out his liver when Fuzzy got through with him.
It took a while. In fact, it took several days. Then by patience and silent soaring, Markaaagh caught Gamu in a bragging mood, talking with a “dead” hyena about his imminent conquest. He heard Gamu tell the story for probably the hundredth time, though it was the first time he could put all the pieces together.
He had heard enough. “We can eat three day old carcasses, but some things we just can’t stomach.” He smiled a nauseating vulture smile. “Today, greedy gut, you get yours! Drive me off with insults, will ya?? I’ll see you ripped like a gazelle!”
Markaaagh flew quickly to find the moping lion. He told Kubali what he had heard.
“You have earned yourself FIRST RIGHTS at my next five kills!”
Kubali rallied. Suddenly he stood tall and straight and proud. It did Markaaagh’s heart good.