At the hotel they were greeted by a cacophony of clattering plates, and the intrusive buzz of humans eating and drinking. Land Rovers arrived in convoys, drawing up at the entrance in each other’s dust, disgorging small parties of chattering, sweating people in shiny safari suits.

‘I couldn’t do this,’ Hannah said, ‘but I’m glad I’m here to see it. Camilla and Anthony, this has been the greatest birthday gift anyone could dream about. And looking at this place, I know that the quiet and the calm of our little game lodge at Langani is going to be the best.’

As she spoke she could see Piet at the reception desk, talking into the phone, beginning to frown. When he rejoined them she registered the anxiety in his expression.

‘Lars wasn’t there, but I spoke to Simon. There was a problem – an incident actually – two nights ago. I thought perhaps I should drive down right away, but there’s no point.’

‘What kind of incident?’ Hannah looked up, her fingers pressed against her cheek.

‘I’ll tell you the details in camp,’ Piet said. ‘Let’s leave these noisy people to entertain the animals. Simon sounded sensible. What a find he’s been, that boy. He said Lars is dealing with the problem, and there’s nothing else to be done right now. The police have been round to investigate, but we all know that won’t be much help these days.’

‘The police? Don’t tell me someone’s stolen the fencing wire again?’ Hannah said. ‘What is it, Piet?’

‘Let’s get back to camp, heh?’ Piet said to Anthony. ‘We’ll talk about it there, over a quiet drink.’

He refused to comment further until they had settled themselves around the fire. Then he pulled his chair up close to Hannah and swallowed some whisky before speaking.

‘We lost five of your milk cows last night, Han. Someone cut their throats and left them lying in the field. It sounds to me like a grudge. It wasn’t rustlers after stock, or somebody who wanted to sell the meat. I don’t like it at all.’

‘Not my cows!’ Hannah cried out. ‘Five of my cows! Which ones? I don’t believe it!’

‘We’ve always had a problem with fencing wire being cut and stolen, and bloody Maasai herds coming into our grazing. Or our own cattle being taken on a raid.’ Piet was frowning. ‘But why would anyone kill five cows and not even take the meat? This is very strange. And ugly.’

‘Do you think it’s someone we fired that’s making trouble?’ Hannah asked, as she tried to come to terms with the news and its implications. ‘What happened to that herder that Lars sacked a few months ago? Maybe this is his way of getting back at us.’