‘They’ve created a permanent problem, anyway,’ Hannah retorted angrily. ‘They’re canny and they’re greedy, the Maasai. They’ve got too many cattle for the amount of grazing available, and they’re not prepared to give up one scrawny beast, to prevent the land from becoming a bloody dustbowl.’

‘People have romantic visions of magnificent Maasai warriors with spears who kill a lion now and again, in order to prove their manhood,’ Piet said. ‘But there’s not much understanding of the conflict that’s brewing over the use of land. Tribal jealousies are causing big trouble. It’s not just we whites who have to look at things differently – Africans have to do the same. And that will take a long time.’

‘They wanted Independence and they’ve got it,’ said Hannah dismissively. ‘Now they have to find out that it hasn’t changed things for them, in real terms.’

‘We need to educate people in land management,’ Piet said. ‘Before Uhuru, the politicians promised everyone they’d have land and farms and houses and cars handed out to them right after Independence. And the ordinary wananchi believed that. But of course their lives are no better now than when the British were here, and there’s resentment in many quarters as a result. So the new government is afraid to talk about respect for other people’s property.’

‘But whether we like it or not, it’s their country now.’

‘It’s just as much my country,’ Hannah said. ‘I was born here and so was my father. We also have a right to decide how to manage our land.’

‘Don’t fall into the trap of oversimplification, Sarah,’ Lars said. ‘Hannah does great things here, bringing on young people like David, for example. Having huge herds of Maasai cattle breaking down fences and turning the grazing to dust doesn’t help anyone.’

‘Too bloody right,’ Piet agreed, thumping the table. ‘That’s no way for this place to survive.’

‘There’s no single way to deal with change,’ Lars said. ‘Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, and we’re not going to solve this problem over breakfast. We should ban all questions of politics for now, and finish our coffee.’

Hannah was grateful for his support, for the way he had praised her efforts. And she resented Sarah’s comments. Neither of her friends could know how hard she had worked in the last three months, nor had she told them about the financial threat that still loomed over Langani’s future. She looked across the table at Lars and smiled, realising how balanced he was. Sarah was already regretting her provocative remarks. She felt Hannah was beginning to sound hard, but maybe the break-up of her family was the root cause. She glanced up and saw Camilla watching her with an amused sympathy.