The weeks in Sligo sped away with a sense of achievement and progress that dulled her impatience to be in Kenya and to be close to Piet again. The days had hardly begun when they were over, and it was time to fall into bed. She was glad of the sheer physical exhaustion. It blunted the memories of the raid that would otherwise have invaded her sleep. They were always there, lurking in every strange sound or sudden movement, but she kept them buried lest her parents should see how badly she had been affected.

‘I’d forgotten what a beautiful place it is,’ she admitted to her brother, as they stood on the front steps, looking out across the water. ‘I imagine you’ll be very happy here. You and Dad will make the best team anyone could hope for.’

‘It’s a big responsibility,’ he said. ‘Sometimes I wonder, are we mad, or what?’

‘Come on now, Dr Mackay. Let’s have none of the doubting stuff. They’ll be queuing from miles around to consult with you, and the practice will have a great nurse in Deirdre. You’ll do just fine.’

A long letter arrived from Hannah. Things were running normally at the farm. Piet was working round the clock, since Lars had not yet returned to work. There was no progress in the police investigation. She hoped that Sarah would be there soon, and that they would all spend Christmas at Langani. Piet sent his love. Sarah had hoped for a few lines from him, but she could understand that he was short of time. He had never been much of a writer anyway. The post brought nothing from Camilla, and two phone calls and a letter had elicited no response. Sarah wondered if she was in trouble, if there was a problem with the scarring on her face.

In Sligo things were falling into place, and Sarah was suddenly impatient to be gone. It was time to move on. She decided to leave a few days early and spend some time with Camilla. The telephone rang and rang, and it was two days before Camilla answered.

‘Camilla! It’s Sarah. Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you. Didn’t you get my letters?’

‘I’ve been floating around. Seeing chums. You know.’ Camilla sounded as if she had just woken up.

‘No, I don’t know. You can’t just vanish like that and say nothing. Where were you, anyway? Did you go away with George?’

‘George. Dear old George. No, I haven’t been anywhere with him. Nowhere at all.’ Camilla’s voice was slurred.

‘Camilla, you’re not drunk are you?’