Hannah lay back in the water, trailing her fingers in the lap of the waves, tracing lines on sand ripples. He is so like Sarah, she thought. They are both constantly moved and swayed by the blur and beauty and frailty of passing humanity. She had loved being in the blue-green sea with Tim Mackay, swimming, diving down alongside him to reach the coral beds, moving effortlessly with the current. ‘I’d rather be weightless under the water than floating in space,’ she said.

‘Where’s your sense of adventure, Sis?’ Piet rolled over on to his stomach, closer to Camilla.

‘Firmly rooted on this earth. In this sand. On our farm. But maybe I’ll go to the moon on my holidays, when I’m an old lady. If the Americans or the Russians really do get there in the meantime.’

‘You might have to rethink all that, if Pa decides to leave Langani,’ Piet said, and Hannah’s exclamation made everyone look at her.

‘Well, I’m staying. And so are you.’ Hannah delivered her words with a ferocity that surprised her brother. ‘You said it yourself. This is our home and our country. We’re staying.’

‘Oh come on, you two!’ Sarah dug anxious fingers into the sand. ‘We’ll all be here after Independence. One way or another we’ll be back from whatever we’re doing. I know we’ll all end up here – even you, Camilla. This country will never let us go.’

‘She’s off again.’ Camilla raised herself on one elbow. ‘But I suppose we can be grateful for one of her more cheerful predictions. She’s right, though. I can’t imagine not ever coming back here. No matter what I do, it’s always going to be a part of me, this country.’

‘Well, I’m more interested in the immediate future.’ Tim stood up and reached for his clothes. ‘We’ve had the best of the sun and we have to rig up the tents. After that it will be time for a cold beer and a shower. And then food and dancing.’

The Turtle Club was packed with up-country families who had come down to the coast on holiday. The place vibrated with noise and laughter, and the gurgle and clink of glasses being poured and raised. Tim counted out the contents of all their purses and wallets and ordered fresh lobsters and cold white wine. Friends came over and invited them to make up part of a larger group, but they deliberately avoided the general mêlée. They were halfway through dinner when Camilla felt two hands covering her eyes, and heard Piet’s exclamation.

‘Anthony! Man, it’s good to see you. How come you’re not out in the bundu?’