‘There are other areas in Kenya that have minimal risk of malaria,’ George said. ‘I know your father always wanted to stay at the coast, but upcountry isn’t such a bad place. It would be a great pity if he didn’t return at all. He’s done so much good here, and his experience is priceless.’

At the New Stanley Grill they ate Mombasa oysters and highland lamb, and took turns dancing with George who seemed totally at ease, more friendly and approachable than Sarah remembered. Perhaps it was because they were older, and he was comfortable with them now. Old friends and acquaintances stopped at their table, asked them to dance, plied them with compliments and wildly exaggerated stories of the bush and the scandals in the city. It was as if they had never been away. Sarah was light-headed with wine and laughter when Piet finally asked her for a dance. For a second or two she had a sense of déjà vu, a vision of him in London when Marina had ruined it all. But this time there was only the closeness of him, the sound of his breathing and the smell of his skin, and the feel of his fingers on her hand. Later, at the flat, when they had all said their goodnights, she heard him make up a bed on the sofa and her body felt strung out with longing for him as she tossed and turned, and finally tumbled into a restless sleep.

Camilla sat up late with her father, on the small balcony overlooking the city lights.

‘So you like this job, Daddy? I mean, really like it?’

‘I do, yes. It’s already proving frustrating, the clash of conservation interests with the demand for more agricultural and grazing lands. Kenya politics are diabolical. There is international pressure to save the game, and local councils desperate to get their hands on funding, and crooked officials who want to siphon some off to buy themselves cars and wives. And we have a bunch of eager research scientists crawling all over every national park and game reserve, with a host of largely unproven theories as to what should be done. It’s a powerful cocktail that can blow your head off, if you don’t handle it carefully. But I like the challenge, yes. I’m hoping to spend more time here. I think your mother might even come out for a visit.’

‘I saw her before I left. She was different, somehow. Calm, almost. I found her quite strange.’