She looked ahead, trying not to let her gaze return to the two mounds. Even with their covering, the sickly smell of decay had begun to permeate the clearing as the heat of the day increased. She bit her lip hard, forcing herself to respond calmly to what Dan had said.

‘I suppose it was the suddenness of it. The awful savagery and the waste,’ she said. ‘I do realise what you’re getting at. It’s necessary to have a certain detachment, like doctors with their patients. But up to now it’s been like magic, watching them every day, getting to know them. I was mad with anger, you know. I wanted to take the car and go after those bastards – I suppose Erope told you. It was crazy, of course. We would have ended up dead. Just as well he was thinking for the two of us!’

‘He’s done the same for me on occasion,’ Dan admitted.

‘I have a lot of learning to do,’ Sarah said. ‘I’ll take what you say on board, try to be clinical and efficient and not throw a wobbly every time something bad happens. But I don’t know if I can ever achieve the detachment you’ve described. Because I feel so involved. I can’t not feel that way. And maybe you consider that a hindrance to your research.’

‘No. A passion for what you’re doing is usually a healthy thing. But you have to be careful that incidents like last night don’t cloud your judgment, or tear you apart. Because I’m afraid you’re going to see more of them. If you stay.’

‘What are you trying to say, exactly, Dan?’ She looked at him directly.

‘I suppose I’m asking you whether you’re strong enough for all this? I wouldn’t want to see you destroyed by the random cruelty of this country. I know you love it, that you’ve been here since you were a kid. But it can be worse than harsh. You have to have a certain iron in the soul to survive. You’re a fine young woman, Sarah. We don’t want you to give too much and, in doing so, lose yourself.’

She sat for a while, thinking. He was right to challenge her. Was she tough enough to do this kind of work, out in the bush where life would always be dangerous and unpredictable? There was no room here for weakness and self-pity. But she knew that she wanted to stay, to be given the chance.

‘I don’t know what I’m made of yet,’ she said at last, ‘but I’d like to stick around and find out. If you’re willing to keep me on the right road.’

‘Attagirl!’ Dan said, smiling at her. ‘You’ll do great work here. And you’ll know you’ve made a difference.’

Chapter 20

London, November 1965