‘But I thought David was proud of being the cook,’ Sarah said, puzzled.

‘He is,’ Lars said. ‘But he and Kamau have never accepted Simon. They still think he got the plum job at the lodge, over the old-timers. Anyhow, Simon was apparently drinking in his hut with Kipchoge for most of the evening, so I don’t see how he could have been responsible. He tried to convince David, but I think everyone was too drunk. They’re still upset about what happened to the cattle, and David wanted a fight. By the time we arrived, Simon had a swollen eye, and he was pretty scared. God knows who killed the wretched bird, or why. It was a typical sacrificial thing. Piet thinks maybe David might have done it himself, to make trouble for Simon. It’s anyone’s guess. Anyway, it’s all died down. For now.’

‘Poor Simon,’ said Sarah. But she was relieved that the whole incident had saved her from making an even worse fool of herself.

‘I came out to look for you when Lars and Piet left, but you’d gone,’ Hannah said.

‘I needed an early night.’ Sarah was hot with embarrassment. ‘But I didn’t sleep. All the changes – you know. And I’m never at my best first thing in the morning. You should remember what a grouse I was at school until the end of first class.’

She stirred her coffee, concentrating on the spoon circling in the black liquid, creating a murky whirlpool like the one she had been sucked into last night. The dining-room door opened and her heart sank as she saw Piet’s reflection in the mirror above the sideboard. He was singing something under his breath. Sarah mumbled a greeting, and kept her head down. He looked as though he had not a care in the world, she thought. And maybe he hadn’t, now that he had wiped her off his slate as a jealous hysteric. Decided to treat her behaviour with the contempt it surely deserved. He strolled past her to take his place at the table. Now Sarah could make out the words he was singing.

‘Shit, bugger and bollocks, the truth is there to see . . .’

Her face flamed, and he sang the words a little louder, so that everyone could hear.

Hannah stared at him. ‘Piet! Really! Can’t you see you’re embarrassing Sarah?’

‘Am I?’ Piet looked down at Sarah with a guileless grin. ‘Ach yes. I’d forgotten. She wouldn’t ever use words like that, not with her convent education, and so.’

Sarah stood up quickly. ‘I’ll get my stuff together. I’ll be ready when you are, Lars.’