‘And British-educated!’ Piet flung back his head and laughed. ‘Taught by the very men he came back and defied. But some Africans who were sent away, who attended the same kind of classes and lectures, have turned out to be rabble-rousers for the most part. They’ve come back here and used their education to make a power base for themselves, and they don’t give a damn if they destabilise the country, or destroy relations between black and white. They’re not interested in working together in a spirit of Harambee. There’s no side that’s all good or all bad in this.’

‘You’re right,’ Sarah said. ‘It’s no different in Ireland, with this terrible situation between north and south.’

‘I suppose. And when Kenyatta describes the perfect tribal kingdoms of bygone days, you can be bloody sure he’s leaving out some uncomfortable truths, like the dishonesty and the murder and the graft. Man, there isn’t any society free of it, unless you believe in the one where you wear a white dress and wings, and spend your days playing a harp.’

‘I suppose I see things too perfect, and dream that they can actually be like that,’ Sarah’s smile was contrite. ‘Is that such a bad thing?’

He covered her hand with his, looking at her with mock solemnity. ‘I love your clean, wholesome vision, Sarah Mackay,’ he said. ‘You hold on to your ideals, girl, and your faith in the human race. You always see so much more than other people do.’ He reached over to tuck a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. ‘That’s why I wanted you to be the first to visit my lodge. It’s almost finished. Lars and I have been working on it like blacks. Sorry – like slaves. Is that better? Or worse?’

He was laughing, and she would have laughed with him but she could not breathe properly. His touch on her cheek and his eyes smiling into hers made her limbs feel like they were dissolving, and she could not trust her voice.

‘So. First, you’re going to tell me what you see.’ He seemed not to have noticed her silence. ‘You are my prophetess, Sarah. My personal seer. I know you love this place and you understand what I want it to be.’

Sarah reached for his hand and held it against her cheek, closing her eyes for a second, imagining herself sliding from her horse into his arms. She wondered how he could understand the feeling she had for this place without sensing the love that she had for him.

‘Sarah? Are you all right?’ He was relieved when her eyes snapped open to meet his concern. ‘For a moment there I thought you were going to faint! Is it the sun?’