Arrival in Africa brought unforeseen danger for Pauline. Navigating the dense jungle quickened her heart. Amongst swaying leaves and tangled vines, a looming figure saw her eye. It was a massive, angry gorilla, dark and bristling.

Panic surged, echoes of the guide’s warnings on untamed jungle inhabitants flooding her mind. Remembering the advice – ‘In the presence of a gorilla, play dead’ – Pauline lay still, trembling, silent. The gorilla advanced, eyes fixed on her, a heart-thundering, terrifying moment.

It sniffed, fingers lightly touching, while she dared not breathe, its weight and warm breath looming over her. Minutes felt like hours as the gorilla inspected. With each second an eternity, Pauline’s fate seemed uncertain. Its dark, intelligent gaze bore into her soul.

Then, to her astonishment, the colossal creature gently scooped her up in its powerful arms, carrying her deeper into the jungle. Fear coursed through her veins, clinging to the gorilla, a helpless child in the guardian’s embrace.

They reached a hidden jungle cave. Inside, Pauline realized the gorilla wasn’t attacking, but protecting her. It carefully set her down, watching over the wilderness from the cave entrance. Its eyes held profound wisdom and a quiet understanding.

Rescuers, following the trail left by the jeep, arrived hours later, filled with amazement at the sight. Cautiously approaching, they reached Pauline and helped her to her feet. The gorilla, sensing its task completed, stood aside, allowing the rescuers to take her. Casting one final glance, it vanished into the jungle’s depths, an unsolved mystery of the wilderness.