‘We may be looking for one of the people you caught stealing your fence wire, or grazing their cattle on your land without permission,’ Jeremy said. ‘Whatever the reason, we’re doing all we can. I promise you that. How is Lars coming on, by the way? We sent a bottle of Scotch. Thought that would be more useful than another bunch of flowers, if the nurses don’t take it away from him.’

‘He’s doing well,’ Hannah said. ‘He’ll be away for another couple of weeks, and then he’ll have to take it easy for a while.’

‘Good news. Maureen asked me to invite you and Piet for lunch and some tennis on Sunday. I want to take advantage of the fact that we’re missing Lars and his vicious backhand. I’m thinking I might even win a set or two, while he’s out of action.’

Hannah was grateful for his attempt to inject a normal topic of conversation into their dialogue. ‘I don’t know about this weekend,’ she said. ‘But soon, yes. That would be good.’

Anthony phoned. He had heard the news at a lodge where he had taken his clients for lunch and a swim.

‘I could come up for a night, if you like,’ he said. ‘I can leave my guests here in the Mara and spend tomorrow night with you.’

‘No. It’s a great offer, but it’s too far,’ Hannah said. ‘You’d be driving all day tomorrow on that terrible road, and then you’d have to be up at dawn next morning to go back. It’s got to be nine or ten hours on the road. We’re fine, but thanks for suggesting it.’

‘Could you cope with an overnight guest?’ Piet asked her, when she had been home for a week. ‘Viktor would like to come up and look at all the furniture before we move it from the workshop up to the lodge. In case there are any refinements, as he puts it, to be carried out.’