In these circumstances I cannot work at Langani. It is not good for either of us, or for the farm. But I would never let you and Piet down. I have found a replacement manager, and I hope he will work out fine. I’ve told everyone I am leaving because of a family problem in Norway. And that is where I will go.

Hannah, I hope that you will be safe and that you will find happiness. You are full of courage and beauty and I will never cease to admire and love all that you are.

Thank you for the good years at Langani Farm.

Your devoted friend,

Lars

Hannah read the letter twice. She sat down in her chair, trembling but determined not to cry. He would come back. She was sure of it. They had had arguments before, and he had always come around. This was what she had feared – that any romantic connection between them would jeopardise the workings of the farm. Now, ironically, it was the lack of any such liaison that had sparked the crisis. She spent some time in the office and then went to find Juma in the dairy.

‘What about Bwana Lars?’ he asked hopefully. ‘Will he be back soon?’

‘I hope so, Juma. But he has a shauri with his family in Norway, and he has to go there. So we will have to wait and see.’

The afternoon seemed endlessly long. There was no one she could talk to. Except Sarah. But when she got through on the radio only Allie was there. Later, when Sarah said that she could not leave Buffalo Springs, Hannah kept her voice light and said nothing about her troubles. But when the call was over she sat beside the phone and cried, until it suddenly rang again, forcing her to pull herself together. It was Viktor and her heart leapt with the excitement of hearing his voice.

‘I want you to come to Nairobi tomorrow,’ he said. ‘Come down, my warrior queen, and conquer the city. I want to take you to the opening of an exhibition. The artist is a friend – he made your bronze leopard. And then we will dance at the Equator Club and make love all the rest of the time.’

‘I can’t leave here, Viktor,’ she said. Her disappointment tasted bitter in her mouth. ‘Piet is going to be away for the next couple of days. I’m needed at Langani. Maybe you could drive up for the weekend.’

‘Ah, Hannah. Leave your serious self at the farm and come and play with me. Start out right now. I want to touch you and see that look on your face, and see you opening for me.’

‘Viktor, I can’t leave.’ Her voice was strangled.

‘Well, my little jam pot, I am sad. But we will see each other soon.’