Anthony forced a tot of brandy between her lips. She seemed to be outside her own body, hovering somewhere beyond reality, removed from the gathering as Anthony moved about the room, directing everyone quietly, answering the telephone, tending to them all. Sarah observed herself from some great distance, half lying on the sofa, supported by cushions to keep her from moving her arm. Her shoes were muddied, her clothes torn and bloodstained. Piet’s blood. No! Don’t go there. Don’t say the name. Don’t look. Don’t look. A wave of nausea overtook her, and she retched and tried to sit up. Anthony was at her side instantly, holding a small basin in his hand, seemingly able to anticipate each new crisis as it arose. He held her head over the bowl but only a small dribble of bile came up. She had already shed everything on the ridge. Don’t think about the ridge. Don’t look. Don’t look . . . Anthony wiped her face and tucked a blanket tight around her. He left the bowl on the floor beside her and returned to Hannah’s side. The policeman was talking again. When had he returned? Or even left the room? Sarah tried to concentrate on what he was saying, but the sound was distorted, as if he was speaking through a long tunnel.

‘There was someone on the ridge, just a few yards from us,’ Anthony was speaking now. ‘He threw a spear, took down a bloody great hyena very close to Sarah. The leader of a pack. I caught the movement as the spear went through the air. I saw her falling and then she began to scream and when we got close to her we saw the . . .’ He broke off, unable to continue, passing his hand across his eyes.

Jeremy Hardy waited for him to regain his composure. After a few minutes he prompted gently. ‘So, you didn’t get a look at him? The man on the ridge?’

‘No. I went to help Sarah. When I looked up, he was gone.’

Sarah made an effort to speak, trying at first to clear her throat without success. Then her voice broke through, hoarse and choking. ‘I saw him. The hyena was closing in on me. He killed it with his spear.’

They were looking at her now, Anthony and Lottie, and Hardy. Hannah remained unmoving, her gaze fixed and staring. Sarah felt her throat constrict as she forced herself to continue.