‘The entire point of Fascism is to strengthen the state.’

‘And don’t you think a strong state would be good for its people?’

‘Not at the expense of other, weaker states. Fascism just rewards the bullies and punishes the vulnerable.’

‘You make it sound like the British public school system,’ I said. Freddie winked at me.

‘And what about the BUF slogan?’ Maud asked. ‘“Britain first, Dominions second, Foreigners nowhere”. Don’t you think it’s hateful, pitting us against “foreigners”?’

He shrugged. ‘People will always feel more for their own countrymen. We’re tribal like that.’

‘But we’ve never lived in isolation. People have always been travelling, discovering new lands, moving in.’ She clasped her hands together. ‘We moved here.’

‘So you think there should be no division between countries? No Britain, no France, no Spain, no Germany. Just one big world?’

‘I think we shouldn’t be so small-minded. Everyone’s the same, aren’t they? Why should we hate them?’

‘People aren’t the same,’ he said. ‘The Germans prize strength and power, and the Swiss prefer peace. The Italians are romantic and emotional, and the Swedish are very serious. We have laws against stealing, and the Maasai think they can walk off with any cattle they happen to come across.’

‘But individually, doesn’t everyone want to be liked and respected? And be able to eat and wear clothes and keep their families safe?’

‘Of course,’ Freddie said. ‘But there are too many people in the world to care about them all.’ Maud made a protesting noise and he held up his hand. ‘Hear me out. Our minds can’t cope on that sort of scale. That’s why we form smaller groups – communities, nations – that we can comprehend. And after a while those smaller groups start to forge their own identities. And when you share an identity with a man, you’re bonded, you want to help him out.’

Maud frowned. ‘So you only want to help out those who remind you of yourself?’

Freddie caught my eye and I couldn’t help smiling. ‘She’s getting better,’ I said. ‘You might not win this one.’

‘Listen,’ he said. ‘If we build up Britain, she’ll be able to help us out here in Kenya. That benefits the natives too.’

‘And how will you build up Britain?’

‘Ah – you’ll have to wait for my speech.’ He checked his watch. ‘Speaking of which, I should get up there now.’

When he walked to the front the whole room clapped and cheered. He took a moment just standing there, smiling.

The woman on my right leaned over to me. ‘Doesn’t he look natural?’ she said.

‘Seems like a home crowd,’ I said to Maud.

‘They haven’t heard him speak,’ she said. ‘This isn’t the Happy Valley set – they’re ordinary, decent people. They’ll see through his rubbish.’