They sat in breathless silence until he came padding soundlessly up through the trees, his spotted coat gleaming in the moonlight, his movements filled with voluptuous grace and purpose. For a moment he stopped and gazed at them, eyes green and calculating, whiskers quivering in the ghost-white light. He was a creature of utter perfection, proudly aware of his extraordinary power and beauty. He stood before them, only yards away, so that they could hear his breathing and smell the musky scent of his body. The minutes stretched away into an uncounted silence. Sarah felt a jolt of alarm and distress as Anthony stretched a hand out towards his rifle. The leopard had seen the movement too, and turned his head. No one stirred. Then he flicked his long tail, took one final look at his audience, and walked on past them to disappear into the trees on the edge of the kopje.

‘Jesus Christ! What an experience. What a magnificent animal – a big male, young and without a blemish on him. I’ve rarely seen such a fine leopard, and he was in no hurry to conceal himself. What luck – what incredible good fortune!’ Anthony was jubilant. ‘Best get out of here, though. He won’t be happy if we hang around indefinitely. Piet, you go first, girls in the middle, and I’ll bring up the rear.’ He lifted his gun.

‘You wouldn’t shoot him?’ Sarah had to ask the question.

‘If it was you or him, which would you want me to choose?’ he said, laughing.

In the tent Sarah undressed and climbed into bed. The image of the leopard was still intact in her mind as she fell asleep. In her dreams she felt his breath on her face and the touch of his soft fur on her skin before she noticed that tears were slipping from his eyes, and turning into a rushing waterfall behind which he finally vanished without a trace.