Togo and Kombi were flush with optimism. They believed that they would not be leaving the Pride Lands, and that some way, somehow, Tanabi did not want to rule the Pride on his father’s death. That one day they would stand on the promontory of Pride Rock and proclaim the new kingship.
They had promised their mother to keep strictest silence about the arrangement, but they went to a few of the attractive young lionesses and spread the wonderful news that two of them would marry the most eligible bachelors in the land. Each of them promised to keep it to themselves, but gossip started to circulate.
“Why doesn’t Tanabi want to be King?” Isha asked. “Is there something wrong with him? Has he lost his nerve?”
“Not our Tanabi,” Ajenti said. “He’s plenty brave enough. Maybe he has a weakness--one that he’d rather talk about. The poor boy!”
Barata drew close and whispered, “Fact is, I think he has weak eyes.”
“No!” Ajenti said, taking in a gasp. “The poor boy! How bad is it?”
“I’m not sure,” Barata said. “He bumped right into his mother the other day.”
“I thought that was an accident,” Isha said.
“It was. He didn’t deliberately do it. But Nala said, ‘What’s wrong with your eyes, son?’”
Ajenti bowed her head. “The poor boy!”
“Hi,” Tanabi said, nodding at the lionesses.
Ajenti came right up into his face. “It’s me, Ajenti.”
“Uh, yeah. I know.”
“Taking it easy, dear?”
“Well, I guess so. I had a little unexpected free time today. I thought I’d go to the water hole and just kick back.”
“You’re so brave,” she said, giving him a big kiss. “You’re so much like your father.”
“Thanks.” Tanabi shrugged, then walked away.
“The poor boy!” Ajenti said, a tear running down her cheek. “I wonder if he’ll go completely blind?”
It wasn’t long before Habusu came to see Simba. He fell before him and said, “Haven’t I loved you as much as Togo and Kombi?”
“Yes, son.”
“And longer? When they were still playing pranks on you, wasn’t I good to you?”
“I know who my friends are,” Simba said cautiously, but with a warm nuzzle. “What would you have of me?”
“Can’t you fix it for me too? The way you did for them? I don’t want to be King any more than Tanabi did. I just want to live here in peace. Please don’t send me away into the big world!”
Simba nuzzled him again. “I did not ‘fix’ anything for anyone. They will receive their mantlement on time. My boy, don’t cry. Rely on Aiheu, and keep to the path of righteousness, and you will find a home of your own. That is the duty and the privilege of a male lion.” Simba nodded gravely. “I’ll be right back. There are a couple of people I need to see.”
Simba encountered Togo and Kombi near the watering hole. They started to nuzzle their King and benefactor, but not when they saw the look on his face. “Boys, we need to talk.”
Uzuri was asked to join the group by Zazu. “I’d hurry if I were you. He’s really upset.”
“Oh gods,” she said. “What have they done this time??”