He crouched behind the barricade and fired the pistol four times, without pausing between shots, into the onrushing Mau Mau. They were so close that he could not miss. But only two men were stopped dead in their tracks. The pair that he wounded were so caught up in the adrenalised fury of battle that they ignored the blow and kept coming. The Mau Mau had reached the barricade and were clambering over. Gerhard shifted his gun to his left hand and pulled out his panga. He ducked under a slashing blade wielded by one of the Mau Mau, and swung his from side to side, as fast as he could, desperately trying to keep the attackers at bay as he stumbled backwards.

Suddenly a bullet cut through the left sleeve of Gerhard’s jacket and he felt an impact like a sharp punch to his arm. His grip slackened on his pistol, but a hand grabbed the back of his jacket and pulled him hard.

The door of the kitchen slammed shut and he heard the key being turned.

His wounded arm was bleeding profusely, but the Webley revolver was still in his hand. He was safe. But not for long.

One glance towards the sinks told Gerhard that the men there were out of rounds too, for the Mau Mau were pouring in through the windows and the male and female servants were being forced back deeper into the room. Mashraf shot one of them dead, and that made the others hesitate as he pointed his rifle towards them, giving Mpishi and the others time to scuttle back behind the upturned table, where Mashraf joined them.

The door to the hall was shaking with the hammering of panga blades against the wood. That at least would hold for a while, but Gerhard heard a shout from the hall.

A gun started firing and he had to dive for the floor as the hot lead smashed through the lock.

He scrabbled across the floor to the storeroom door. This would be where he would make his stand. Gerhard put three more rounds in the Webley’s revolving chamber, leaving three in his pocket. He prayed that he would have the courage to do what was necessary for the children when the time came.

Beside Gerhard, Dorian was telling Sophie how much he loved her, and she was replying in kind, each wanting the other to know before it was too late. Sharpe was shouting incoherent abuse at the door, daring the Mau Mau to come and get him. Across the room, Mpishi, Mashraf and two of the housemaids were lined up behind the kitchen table. There were eight Mau Mau opposite them. Three of them were wounded, but able to swing a panga.

Gerhard signalled to the staff to join him. The Mau Mau let them go. They too had run out of ammunition. Why risk their necks when their comrades were about to finish the job for them?