Looking around her, Camilla realised what an immense labour of love the whole construction had been. Piet had created a haven of light and tranquillity up here on the rocks, above the glorious expanse of the land and the great mountain that presided over it. They deserved to be happy here, Piet and Hannah and Sarah. And perhaps one day Jan and Lottie would come home again, filled with pride at the way their children had carried on the work begun by their forefathers so long ago. She wondered where Lars would fit into the picture, and she looked up at Hannah who was fastening a lampshade on to a base made from a dried-out gourd.

‘I noticed last night that Lars really has a thing for you,’ she said, and laughed as Hannah’s face turned red. ‘Oh my, Han. You have a strong resemblance to Sarah when your skin turns that subtle shade of beetroot.’

‘Did she talk to you about that? About Lars?’

‘No. I could see it for myself. So what do you think about him? If anything.’

‘I do wonder sometimes what it might be like with him.’ She looked across at Camilla with some embarrassment. ‘Sarah said I was scared, and she’s right. Stupid, heh? A big, strong farm girl like me, full of common sense. That’s how it is though.’

‘Being strong doesn’t help when it comes to love,’ Camilla said. ‘The heart makes a fool of the head, time after time. Trust me. I know.’

‘Maybe I like him just because there’s no one else around,’ Hannah said. ‘I’ve been working so hard, and I haven’t got money to go and splurge in Nanyuki or Nairobi, so I’ve become a bit of a hermit. Anyway, there are always girls ringing up, looking for him.’

‘I’ll bet they’re no competition.’

‘I’m not sure. And there’s another thing.’ Hannah paused to gather her thoughts. ‘I’ve come to value my independence. I spent more than two years down south, always thinking about Pa and his problems, always worrying about Ma. Now I make my own rules, and I’m not responsible for anyone else’s emotions or happiness. I don’t want that to change again, and I’m afraid Lars would swallow me up. He reminds me of Piet. They’re so alike.’

‘I think you’re making that up to protect yourself,’ Camilla said, smiling. ‘But you’re not fooling me. Now give me that drawing and let me try and work out where this table is supposed to be placed, before the others arrive.’

The jewel of the evening star appeared, and the dusk swiftly surrendered all semblance of heat to the oncoming darkness. They were squinting in the dying light, trying to decipher Viktor Szustak’s plans, when they saw the headlights bouncing up into the sky and across the rutted track.