The pain in Sarah’s shoulder began to penetrate the numbness of her mind and she concentrated on it, willing herself not to think beyond it. Dr Markham arrived from Nanyuki. He tried to coax her gently to her bedroom so that he could examine her, but she refused to move from the place she had chosen beside Hannah. He probed carefully for a few moments. Then he sat down beside her, telling her in his kindly voice that her shoulder was dislocated, that he knew that she did not want to be taken to the hospital right now. He was going to give her a local anaesthetic and try to push it back into place. Later, there was a shriek of pain which she realised came from within herself, and then the doctor was strapping her arm close against her side, and suggesting that she should come to the hospital for an X-ray in the morning. She struggled to sit upright and to respond, but her voice would not work properly and she could only shake her head, indicating that she must stay here with Hannah and Lottie. The doctor turned to search in his bag. His face was crumpled with sadness as he handed Sarah two tablets and held the glass of water for her, lifting it to her mouth as she swallowed.

Then he spoke to Hannah, reaching up to tap her face lightly, trying to get a reaction. It seemed only yesterday that he had brought her into the world, and her brother too. Jan and Lottie had been young then, like himself. They had all been so hopeful, so optimistic about their futures in such a blessedly endowed country. Now Hannah was staring through him, unblinking and outwardly calm. He filled a syringe and gave her an injection, but she did not flinch or appear to notice as the needle pierced her skin. Lottie stroked her hair, weeping soundlessly, her face a portrait of appalling desolation and grief. Sarah looked at them and a chill struck her, making her shake uncontrollably.