VII. Good, Old Foes

 

Dhalimu claimed that distance between Golden Sands and High Range was not longer than hundred kilometres. However that was way much harder than marching on Lime Alley. Four lions were forced to walk the loose sand and made water supply desperately difficult. When white lion noticed first rock-island at that ocean of sand, he decided to make a stop, although there was about two hour to dusk.

“We have a problem now.” Said old wanderer. “Let’s stop here and I will think a while.”

Place for a stay wasn’t too comfortable – just a rock emerging from fine sand. It was almost round, measuring about fifty metres in the widest place. Just few crack on stone-plate made mounting dew-collectors difficult. Rock was covered just with few clumps of dried thistle. Lions judged that no animal would survive there.

“We could stay here or go further.” Said Dhalimu. “And personally I would suggest that second option. Let’s try to go at night, what will be easier.”

“But what if we don’t find any shelter for a sleep?” asked Rama. “We can’t make a rest during the day, without any cover.”

“There is always a risk.” Replied white lion. “But living on desert is risky itself.”

“You are commanding here, uncle.” Said Sparthi. “Whatever you decide, I will recognise it as reasonable.”

“But I can’t feel your tiredness and weakness.” Explained lion. “I would go further…” then he looked on Zira. Princess narrowed her eyes and replied instantly.

“Why are looking at me? I could go twice that distance!” She assured with angry voice, although she actually wanted just lay down and sleep.

But she couldn’t. In stare of her uncle there was something cold… A daring question: Are you ready? And clear suggestion that princess was too tired to make any step further. “He thinks I’m weaker than mother.” Thought Zira. “And actually – he is right. But still, I can’t give up now.” She clenched her jaws, turning her appearance to stern and decisive look. But in fact she wanted just to cover expression of pain and sleepiness.

“I guess you should ask about the same.” Murmured Rama, smiling. “But as for me, it’s all right. I could go further.”

“So, Zira, lead.” Ordered Dhalimu.

Princess gathered all he strength to make those few step in front of others with light and sure pace. She exited the plate and entered sand. Then turned back to brother.

“So… can we go?”

Dusk came about two hours later. Princess was still on lead, sensing on her own back stare of uncle. He was measuring her every step and looking for a sing of weakness. Zira was glad that sun set – thanks to that her tiredness wasn’t seen so clearly. Walking in front had also another disadvantage – she had to look for some shelter, what in darkness of night was simply hard. For long hours, Zira was tensing her all body in try to maintainspan lang="EN-GB">Dhalimu claimed that distance between Golden Sands and High Range was not longer than hundred kilometres. However that was way much harder than marching on Lime Alley. Four lions were forced to walk the loose sand and made water supply desperately difficult. When white lion noticed first rock-island at that ocean of sand, he decided to make a stop, although there was about two hour to dusk.

“We have a problem now.” Said old wanderer. “Let’s stop here and I will think a while.”

Place for a stay wasn’t too comfortable – just a rock emerging from fine sand. It was almost round, measuring about fifty metres in the widest place. Just few crack on stone-plate made mounting dew-collectors difficult. Rock was covered just with few clumps of dried thistle. Lions judged that no animal would survive there.

“We could stay here or go further.” Said Dhalimu. “And personally I would suggest that second option. Let’s try to go at night, what will be easier.”

“But what if we don’t find any shelter for a sleep?” asked Rama. “We can’t make a rest during the day, without any cover.”

“There is always a risk.” Replied white lion. “But living on desert is risky itself.”

“You are commanding here, uncle.” Said Sparthi. “Whatever you decide, I will recognise it as reasonable.”

“But I can’t feel your tiredness and weakness.” Explained lion. “I would go further…” then he looked on Zira. Princess narrowed her eyes and replied instantly.

“Why are looking at me? I could go twice that distance!” She assured with angry voice, although she actually wanted just lay down and sleep.

But she couldn’t. In stare of her uncle there was something cold… A daring question: Are you ready? And clear suggestion that princess was too tired to make any step further. “He thinks I’m weaker than mother.” Thought Zira. “And actually – he is right. But still, I can’t give up now.” She clenched her jaws, turning her appearance to stern and decisive look. But in fact she wanted just to cover expression of pain and sleepiness.

“I guess you should ask about the same.” Murmured Rama, smiling. “But as for me, it’s all right. I could go further.”

“So, Zira, lead.” Ordered Dhalimu.

Princess gathered all he strength to make those few step in front of others with light and sure pace. She exited the plate and entered sand. Then turned back to brother.

“So… can we go?”

Dusk came about two hours later. Princess was still on lead, sensing on her own back stare of uncle. He was measuring her every step and looking for a speed and proper pose and in the same time carefully observing dull landscape of the desert. Finally about three hours after midnight, she noticed shapes of some rocks. She turned there, guiding her group closer. Object happened to be not only a rock, but brink of small ravine.

“That’s it.” Called Zira to others. “We will stay here.”

“Are you tired?” asked Dhalimu with concerned voice, however princess sensed some poisonous triumph in that.

“No, but we must halt anyway.” She replied decisively. “It’s a great cover, proper to gather dew tomorrow. Most likely we won’t see anything like that in next day.” And not waiting for reply, she entered the crack.

Tired lions quickly prepared place to sleep. Stone pans were covered with brush, that could collect moisture before the sunrise. Then Goldlanders entered a deepest crack that would surely shield them from sun of raising day. Rama and Sparthi fell asleep instantly, due to extreme exhaustion. Zira stayed awake, because she was even too tired to sleep. Dhalimu seemed to be unmoved by almost twenty hours of march.

It was rather cloudy day, but at night came wind that moved clouds away. Moon and countless stars were shining from the sky, painting rocks of ravine in odd silver colour. Zira was looking on that changed stones with half-sleeping stare.

“Try to relax in every possible way.” Said Dhalimu, quiet enough for not to wake to Rama nor Sparthi. “Straighten your paws, try not to move. I guess that sleep will come soon.”

“And what will be tomorrow?” asked princess with inquiring voice. “More of testing me.”

“I’m not the one who testing. You are.” Replied Dhalimu.

“Do you hate me, uncle?” asked Zira, instantly reading perfectly white lion’s heart. He was silent for longer while, before he answered.

“No, I can’t say that. But still, I regret that your mother died.”

“And what will be, if I turn out to be like her?”

“I will be seriously confused.” Replied white lion. “Good night, Zira.”

*

They set off on morning. Dhalimu awoke them at sunrise, so they could drink before nightly moisture dried. Then they rested an hour more to walk away when sun was already high on sky. That day wasn’t cloudy – on morning wind was cooling wanderers a bit, but from midday heat became unbearable.

In spite of weakness of previous day, Zira was going smoothly, maybe even better than Rama. Lioness was in middle age, but yet out of her prime. She endured the way, but it clearly weakened her strength. Sparthi was going at his pace, not staying in back, but not speeding too fast – just using strengths of his youth to keep tempo dictated by Dhalimu.

Zira was leading, but she marched with speed that white lion judged as proper. Dhalimu itself was biggest enigma of trip – he was in age that could explain some condition problems, but he looked as if that was just a walk around the Golden Cave.

“That’s it.” Called Zira to others. “We will stay here.”

“Are you tired?” asked Dhalimu with concerned voice, however princess sensed some poisonous triumph in that.

“No, but we must halt anyway.” She replied decisively. “It’s a great cover, proper to gather dew tomorrow. Most likely we won’t see anything like that in next day.” And not waiting for reply, she entered the crack.

Tired lions quickly prepared place to sleep. Stone pans were covered with brush, that could collect moisture before the sunrise. Then Goldlanders entered a deepest crack that would surely shield them from sun of raising day. Rama and Sparthi fell asleep instantly, due to extreme exhaustion. Zira stayed awake, because she was even too tired to sleep. Dhalimu seemed to be unmoved by almost twenty hours of march.

It was rather cloudy day, but at night came wind that moved clouds away. Moon and countless stars were shining from the sky, painting rocks of ravine in odd silver colour. Zira was looking on that changed stones with half-sleeping stare.

“Try to relax in every possible way.” Said Dhalimu, quiet enough for not to wake to Rama nor Sparthi. “Straighten your paws, try not to move. I guess that sleep will come soon.”

“And what will be tomorrow?” asked princess with inquiring voice. “More of testing me.”

“I’m not the one who testing. You are.” Replied Dhalimu.

“Do you hate me, uncle?” asked Zira, instantly reading perfectly white lion’s heart. He was silent for longer while, before he answered.

“No, I can’t say that. But still, I regret that your mother died.”

“And what will be, if I turn out to be like her?”

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