And when, a few hours later, she stood with the man who looked after the cattle and identified those that she would sell, she did not think that it was the wrong thing to do, but picked them out bravely, without regret. That one, she said, and that one over there; that one is the calf of a cow my father called the brave one, that one came from far away, over that side, and was very strong; that one had a father who had only one horn. The cattle were rounded up, lowing, watching with their wide brown eyes, their heads moving to keep flies at bay; it was hot that afternoon and the trees themselves seemed to wilt; there was dust, kicked up by the cattle as they moved; there was the sound of bells tied round the necks of some of the herd. They are the ones who give music to the other cattle, her father had said of those ones.

Now that line came back to her, and she said it, under her breath. They are the ones who give music to the other cattle.

“What was that, Mma?” said the man. “What did you say?”

Mma Ramotswe looked down at him; he was a short man, bow-legged, and his eyes were bright with intelligence. She smiled. “It was something my daddy said. He was a man who knew a lot about cattle.”

The man inclined his head respectfully. “I have heard that, Mma. I have heard people say that about him. They have said it.”

That Obed Ramotswe should be remembered, that people should still speak of him; that touched her. One did not have to be famous to be remembered in Botswana; there was room in history for all of us.

“He was a very good man,” she said. “He loved his cattle. He loved his country.”

She had not intended to utter an epitaph, but that, she realised, was what she had done. And she thought: if your spirit is anywhere, then it is here, among your cattle, where you might hear what I have just said.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

MR. SEKAPE REVEALS SOME PECULIAR VIEWS

SHE HAD TO DECIDE. She could tell Mma Sebina first that she had found her brother, or she could speak to the brother, to this Mr. Sekape, and reveal to him that he had a sister. The two possibilities raised quite distinct issues. Mma Sebina had asked her to find relatives for her; Mr. Sekape had not. So while it would be no shock to Mma Sebina if Mma Ramotswe came up with a brother, that might not be the case with Mr. Sekape. He would have got up that morning in the belief that he had no sister, and by the time he went to bed he would do so in the knowledge that he did have one. That would be a major change in his circumstances.