Meeting up with the king

I was about 8 or 9 feet from two 400 pound lions today. they were sound asleep. at first. but, when one of them raised his head, turned, and looked me straight in the eye, my fight or flight impulses raged out of control. it was exhilirating and unnerving all at the same time. I don't recall an event that so focused my senses. while I took the lion's stare with all the gravity owing in such encounters, I must say that the king of beasts was at best bored, and at worst absolutely oblivious. as much as I cared about where I found myself, he could not have cared less. total insouciance! shaun, our guide, was as calm and unconcerned as "big boy," as they called him. he assured us that as long as we didn't approach them head on (which they perceive as a threat), and as long as we didn't stand up or make sudden movements we would be fine. by staying seated, shaun said, the lions would not distinguish us from the land rover, which I guess is not threatening to them. standing up, however, would be a game changer. then, we would be perceived as humans and the rules would change instantly. I must have asked shaun several times about how these "rules of engagement" were agreed to. was there some memo that set all this out that the lions confirmed in some regal signing ceremony? how could he be absolutely certain it would work like this in all cases? in any event, as I sat in the very open and exposed land rover, I tried to become physically and psychically merged with my seat.

shaun stopped the rover and we watched these huge lions for about 20 minutes. I prayed the car would start when it was time to go.