The night was clear and the full moon was rising as they churned up the last part of the trail to the lodge. There were no lights on and Anthony pressed the horn in three long blasts expecting one of the staff to come out with a lantern, but there was only silence. He jumped out, gave the two farm boys torches, and signalled for them to follow him round the back of the building. Within a minute he had returned.

‘The Land Rover’s not here,’ he said. ‘Looks like something’s gone wrong and Piet’s not back. But there doesn’t seem to be anyone else around either.’

He had his rifle loaded now and Hannah was out of the car, her revolver ready. Sarah trailed behind them, her legs shaking, a rising alarm threatening her ability to remain logical. They walked quickly through the reception area, flashing their torches into corners and around the back of the bar. But there was no sound. The viewing platform was in darkness, and none of the floodlights that lit the waterhole had been turned on. The place was deserted. Sarah could feel her heart hammering against her ribcage, and her breath was coming in gasps. They searched the lounge and the dining room again, and then the kitchen and the storerooms. Nothing. Anthony made his way to the generator shed to turn on the lights. It was then that they discovered that all the wires and the radio line had been cut.

‘Oh God, let me have made a mistake.’ Sarah could no longer control her rising panic as she muttered her desperate prayer. ‘Let me have made a fool of myself, please, dear God. Let him drive in now, and ask what the hell we’re doing here and be angry with me. Let me see him, please. Just let him be safe.’

She ran back to the platform, straining her eyes to see what was below. For a second, she thought she caught a movement, down by the waterhole in deep shadow, and she leaned forward. As she did so, a heavy hand came down on her shoulder from behind. She screamed and whirled round to find herself face to face with Kipchoge. His eyes were wide and rolling and he gripped her shoulder with enormous force. His lips moved and a sound came from them, bubbling out in a rush of dark blood as he toppled to the floor at her feet.

‘Kipchoge! Kipchoge! Oh Jesus! Kipchoge, answer me for God’s sake! Where is Bwana Piet? Kipchoge, please . . . Oh God, don’t die now. Tell me, tell me please what has happened!’ Sarah was screaming the words, sobbing as she bent over the body, shaking him as his eyes disappeared into the back of his head, and she knew he was gone.