‘At least he died a terrible death,’ Lars said, ‘a punishing death. And even if we do not have all the answers, Hannah, it is enough to know that he is gone and he cannot hurt you any more. It is finished, and you can start a new life.’

‘Can I?’ Hannah was holding on to his hand, and he could feel the tremors running through her body.

‘You have to,’ he said, simply. ‘You have to leave it behind you now, and concentrate on bringing a new peace and new life to Langani.’

‘There’s one thing that might clarify this,’ Hardy said. ‘Sarah saw Simon on the ridge that night. She saw his headdress and decorations. I’d like her to look at the items we found, and see if they match what she remembers.’

‘I’ll get her on the radio,’ Lars said. ‘Let you know when she can come down. Meantime, thanks, Jeremy, for coming to tell us yourself, and for everything you’ve done since this case began.’

Hannah stood up, and gave Hardy a small smile. ‘Lars is right,’ she said. ‘We owe you a great deal. Thank you, Jeremy.’ She stood on the steps, watching the jeep drive away.

‘We should call Lottie and Jan.’ Lars came out and stood beside her. ‘And I will contact Sarah now.’

‘On the following day Sarah met him at the Nanyuki police station.’ The headdress lay on the table in Hardy’s office, with the remains of the leather loincloth and the bands that had encircled Simon’s arms and legs. She had expected to feel something when she saw them, a kind of release, a feeling of finality. There was no doubt in her mind that they were his. But she felt only a heaviness in her heart that made her want to weep again.

‘That’s the headdress,’ she said. ‘And the other things he was wearing.’

‘Then I think we can now say that Simon is dead,’ Hardy said. ‘And be thankful for it.’

Hannah was waiting at Langani. They held one another tight, and then went to sit in the garden under the flame tree.

‘There’s something that’s been on my mind these last weeks,’ Hannah said. ‘I’d like to open the lodge, Lars. Have it the way Piet wanted. You and Sarah told me that before, but I wasn’t ready. Now I think we should make it happen. If I’m going to have a child then I’ll need every part of Langani to be viable.’

‘It’s a good decision, Hannah,’ Lars said.

‘Would you come up there with me? Drive us there?’ Hannah’s voice was shaky, but her expression was stern, defiant. ‘I’d like to go there with you both.’