I went back into the main room, holding a handkerchief over my nose. I rumpled Freddie’s shirt and hair at the front, and moved him back into the original position he’d fallen in. I searched his pockets and found his cigarette case and selected one. I didn’t know if I’d left it long enough, if there was enough gas in the air to cause an explosion.

I was suddenly tired; I didn’t have the energy or the will to go through with this. All I wanted was to be back at Kiboko with Maud. She was safe. I felt tears building up and pinched myself hard; I couldn’t fall apart now. It doesn’t matter if the gas has built up enough, I told myself. Leave, before you go mad, and go home.

Keeping the handkerchief in place, I checked underneath the sofa and behind the cushions to make sure I hadn’t dropped anything. I crossed the room to the hallway door. Freddie had come home, got drunk, turned on the oven, maybe drank some more, then started getting ready for bed. While he was brushing his teeth he remembered what he was going to put in the oven. He came back into the sitting room, thought he’d have a cigarette while cooking and boom. He tried to run to the back door, tripped on the rug and fell, hitting his head on the coffee table.

I went back and turned over a corner of the rug to make a tripping hazard. Hopefully the fire would get rid of all of this anyway, but it didn’t hurt to create a story.

I returned to the doorway. My fingers lingered over my lighter. Once I flicked the cigarette into the room, I reckoned I would have a second or two to sprint down the hall to the front door. I measured the distance with my eyes; I could do it.

I lit the cigarette, tossed it in the direction of the kitchen and ran for the front door.

My ears were ringing, and I felt, rather than heard the explosion. The floor seemed to tilt beneath me, then I was at the door, rattling the handle. It jammed. Sweat gathered at my temples and I thought for a moment I would have to bust it down with my shoulder, then I managed to wrench it open and spilled out.

I ran as quickly and as quietly as I could to the road. I turned in the direction of the Muthaiga, then stopped short. I couldn’t risk picking up my car and being seen. I’d have to get back to Kiboko another way.