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The gibbon was now excited, and shot out through the open door. I stumbled after it, feeling a gloomy sense of danger as it headed towards the muffin bear terraces. Through the turmoil, I could see a single Asiatic bear rocking dismally from side to side. The gibbon began firing randomly into its pit. As I launched myself into a smothering dive, I heard a loud crack, and one of my thighs burst with pain. I rotated my head to see a tranquilliser dart sticking out of my leg, and turned back to find myself missing the startled ape, and plummeting into the bear's enclosure. Rolling around in dust, I began to feel vague. It seemed suddenly hot, so I took my clothes off. The keeper who had fired the dart was shouting words like "no," and "idiot." I found a roll-up. I lit it, took a deep drag, and offered it to the bear. With the cigarette in its mouth, it seemed to look happier. Then I knew I was collapsing, because I do know exactly what that feels like.
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