Sarah said goodbye to him after dinner, because she intended to leave at dawn so as not to miss any of her day’s work. Sleep did not come until the early hours, and she lay under her mosquito net in the unaccustomed space of a double bed and thought about Camilla. What must she be feeling now, with her mother so close to death? And what could have caused such a serious rift with her father? She adored him, had always sought his love and approval. There was something odd about the story. Sarah frowned in the darkness. If she had only followed her instincts. But tomorrow evening, when she got back to camp, she would write.

She left Samburu Lodge early and drove fast. Allie was waiting for her, but she did not ask about George Broughton-Smith or the reason behind his visit. Later, when they found a shady tree where they could eat their packed lunch, Sarah told her what he had said.

‘I’m glad to see Wildlife Federation money going to Langani,’ Allie remarked. ‘It’s a great chance to show this country, and the world at large, what can be done if private ranchers give some of their land and their time to conservation. Will Hannah open up the lodge now, do you think?’

‘I don’t know. She can’t cope with the idea at the moment. I suggested that she might use it as a training centre. Set up a fund in Piet’s name, to carry on his work. But it was a mistake. Tactless and much too early. She was very angry with me.’

‘Anger is the weapon people use to beat off grief. But it causes problems if it’s allowed to fester too long.’

‘I know,’ Sarah said. ‘I hope Lars can help her through it, now that he’s back.’

When they returned to the compound in the evening, Viktor’s car was parked outside. Sarah’s heart sank.

‘Well, well,’ Allie commented drily. ‘You’re getting your fair share of visitors this week.’

‘You can keep this one,’ Sarah said. ‘I need time to myself. I don’t need visitors right now, and especially not Viktor.’

He was surprisingly sensitive, offering condolences and then keeping the topics of conversation to elephants, politics and architecture. But Sarah found it hard to master the anger that simmered in her when she thought of the way he had discarded Hannah like an old pair of socks. She sat quietly through the dinner, making little contribution to the discussions. It was Dan who mentioned her night at Samburu.

‘Did they have any leopards there last night?’ he asked. ‘I’m not sure I approve of this idea of hanging bait up in a tree and encouraging them to come to one spot all the time. It’s not natural, and God knows what the long-term effects may be.’

‘You were at Samburu Lodge overnight?’ Viktor was surprised.