Honore de Balzac was an excellent French writer. One of his stories, A "Passion in the Desert," tells about a heartwarming relationship between a man who was stranded in the desert and his interesting relationship with a lioness.

The lioness had traits and qualities like a human being which the main character in the story was sensitive enough to appreciate. First, she was fierce and distrusted a stranger. Later, the man won her trust and ultimately, her friendship. The lioness lost desire to devour him or harm him. When he would see her come home , walking in a languid manner, still wiping her bloody mouth from an obviously satisfying dinner, he would tremble in secret. But she left him alone and they had a peaceful co-existence. Sometimes, she came beside him and allowed him to touch her paws, scratch her head, tap her shoulders. Then she would walk away like a coquette. They slept a distance from each other, each one alert towards any unwelcomed guest who may come to hurt or destroy. Each one was prepared to defend the other from enemies.

As the days passed, the man was getting impatient. He was scared there would be no rescue team to look for him and he would spend the rest of his life in the dessert.

One night, the lioness made an unexpected movement towards him. The man's survival instinct made him pull the knife on his side and in split of a second, the man had stabbed the lioness in her breast. He could never forget her eyes. They were tender and meant no harm. There was no hatred but understanding. How would a man feel after killing his only companion in a lonely, burning desert?