‘I found them a temporary manager,’ he said. ‘Bill Barton’s son has come back to take over their farm. Help his old man. So their manager, Mike Stead, is looking for a job. He’ll work for Piet and perhaps he will stay if they get along well. Or maybe Jan and Lottie will come back now. That would be best. So, here I am. No job and no prospects.’

He drained the last of his beer. Sarah felt for this faithful, generous man. She could not believe that Hannah had been half-witted enough to drive him away, to deprive Piet of the friend and manager he relied on. And what would she do when Viktor tired of her, as Sarah feared that he would? Thoughts swarmed, but could not be expressed.

‘Do you have a plan, Lars?’ she asked, eventually.

‘I’ll go back to Norway, I suppose.’

‘For good? You can’t do that. You belong in Africa.’

‘I don’t know that any more.’ He was noncommittal. ‘I will go home for now. I have not had a holiday for more than three years, you know.’

He was right. He had always stayed at Langani while everyone else went on safari, or on courses, or away on business. No one seemed to have considered that he might want it otherwise. A trip to Europe could be good for him. And perhaps while he was away, Hannah would come to her senses. Sarah left him briefly in the mess tent, and went to find Allie who shook her head in disbelief when she heard the story.

‘What an idiot that girl is. But she’s not the first to fall for that lone wolf. A bit of bad can be devastatingly attractive, and that’s the problem. Not fair, is it? Let’s try and hold on to poor old Lars for the night. Help him drown his sorrows. Dinner and whisky, and a bit of man-to-man talk with Dan. I’m sure he’ll be delighted to oblige.’

Lars seemed grateful for the invitation. His departure from Langani had been precipitate and unplanned. He had thrown his belongings into the Land Rover in a chaotic pile. Books, clothing and all the paraphernalia accumulated over his time at the farm littered the back seat of the car. He was not given to spur-of-the-moment actions, and his present situation was a source of turmoil as well as misery. Sarah sent him off to the guest hut to clean himself up. After dinner, Dan brought out the whisky, and the two men were soon roaring drunk. There was raucous singing and back slapping and reminiscences of happier times. Allie and Sarah exchanged looks and retired to bed. They would pick up the pieces in the morning.