‘Such a betrayal. I can’t help it, Gus. Geese can live to be thirty or more. I can’t wait. You will be all right.’

A landrover drove up the lane, stopped by the gate. A man got out. Matilda stood. Gus honked angrily, the rims of his eyes showing red. Matilda shook hands while Gus hissed and threatened the man’s ankles, his neck stretched out, head low.

‘Good afternoon. He’s a fine bird. I brought a sack.’

‘Oh yes, you said. You said that would be the best way. Would you like a drink?’

‘No thank you, I’d better not. If I get this fellow loaded up I’ll be on my way, then he’ll have time to get to know his harem before dark.’

‘They won’t hurt him?’

‘No, no, no, a gander rules his geese. They haven’t heard of women’s lib.’

‘He rules me –’ The man nodded, unsmiling, looking down at Gus.

‘Your other gander?’ She glanced away.

‘A fox got him. I think I told you.’

‘Yes, of course you did.’

‘Gus, don’t!’ The man sidestepped as Gus pecked his calf. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘That’s all right. Thick trousers. I keep them all shut up at night now. He’ll be safe.’

‘He’s always slept in the scullery.’

‘Well yes, but he will get used to his shed, stable actually, stone floors, geese are messy birds. I hose them down, the stables.’

‘I slosh water over the scullery floor, it’s got a drain in the middle, a sort of grating.’ What a stupid conversation. Couldn’t he get on with it and go? ‘Shall we get him into the sack?’

‘Okay. You pick him up as you know him, put him in. That’s right. I’ll tie this round his neck so that he can’t hurt himself Ouch! That was sharp.’

‘He’s frightened.’

‘Yes, of course. There we are. I’ll take him now, he’ll be all right, don’t worry. Soon he’ll be with his harem. Six of them.’

The man carried Gus to the landrover, put him over the tailboard. Gus did not stop honking as the man drove away.

‘Fucking harem. I must be mad.’ Matilda went indoors, poured herself a stiff whisky, switched on the radio for the weather report. High pressure continuing over the Atlantic, very hot, very dry.

The telephone began to peal again. Matilda went up to the instrument and pulled off a strip of cellophane, letting it ring until it tired. Now the picnic. She took a basket and put in butter, rolls, a slab of rather runny Brie, some peaches, a knife, a corkscrew, a bottle of Beaujolais.