Alex's breath caught in his throat.
The lion had seen him.
There was no mistaking it now. Those golden eyes were fixed directly on him through the gap in the ferns, and for several long seconds neither man nor beast moved.
It was perhaps forty metres away.
Alex's mind, exhausted from hours of walking and running on very little sleep, nevertheless became painfully clear.
He didn't panic.
There was no point.
His mind immediately began running through the possibilities.
Alex slowly lowered his center of gravity, keeping his eyes on the lion.
Then he made the only decision that seemed remotely sensible.
He turned and ran.
Not away from the lion.
Toward the nearest tree.
The lion's made the sprint but alex was faster.
Alex reached the thick-trunked oak and grabbed the lowest branch, hauling himself upward as quickly as he could. His boots scraped against the bark, but adrenaline made the climb far easier than it should have been.
