Joseph cranked the ignition key. The diesel motor roared loudly to life, and he slammed the Jeep into gear, backing up fast to put immediate distance between them and the beast. The moment the heavy tires spun over the loose dirt, the lion lunged into a full-blown attack posture.
"He's chasing us!" Sam screamed wildly from the backseat as the predator charged straight for the driver's side door with incredible speed. Joseph slammed his foot down onto the accelerator, launching the heavy vehicle across the rough, rutted terrain. The engine howled in protest, and sharp rocks violently sprayed out behind them.
The lion sprinted right alongside the vehicle for nearly a mile, matching their speed step for step, before the Jeep finally managed to outpace the furious beast. The family looked back to see the apex predator shrinking into a tiny golden dot in the vast distance.