Spokes knew what this was about, of course, and the letter on the Chief Superintendent’s desk confirmed it.

‘The boys have been razzing Spokes about his middle name again,’ the Chief Superintendent told the Assistant Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner as he prepared two cups of piping-hot, good, strong Taganda tea. The Assistant Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner both smiled at Spokes genially as the Chief Superintendent poured a dash of milk into both cups, added two lumps of sugar to one cup and one lump to the other, stirred the contents with the same teaspoon, placed the teacups on two saucers and then nestled three lemon creams on one saucer and one lemon cream on the other. Handing Spokes the saucer with the single lemon cream, the Chief Superintendent said, ‘After all these years, I think I know how you like it.’

‘You do, sir,’ Spokes said accepting the cup of tea.

‘Have any of them ever guessed Moustache?’ the Assistant Commissioner asked, mirth all over his face.

Spokes did not say anything, but he twirled one end of his waxed moustache before taking a bite of the lemon cream. His three superiors laughed a little too heartily, and that was when Spokes began to suspect that the day would not contain any of what he had expected.

‘I could put the boys out of their misery, tell them what that M stands for once and for all,’ the Chief Superintendent said, taking a seat and gesturing for Spokes to take his.

‘Please don’t, sir,’ Spokes said as he sat down. ‘I was rather thinking I would tell them on my last day, as I walked out the door – make a grand gesture out of it.’

As Spokes spoke, the three men exchanged glances and the atmosphere in the room changed a little.

The Chief Superintendent harrumphed before saying to Spokes, ‘The boys and I are going to Kariba for the holidays. A spot of fishing before the New Year. We would have invited you, of course, but we were thinking that you should act as Chief Superintendent in my absence.’

So that was what they had been up to. Spokes contemplated the three men, and they all looked like Cheshire cats that had got the cream.

‘I see, sir,’ Spokes said.

‘I am glad you do, Moloi. I am glad you do,’ the Chief Superintendent said.

His three superiors, looking very pleased with themselves, smiled at Spokes and then got up to leave. On their way out, they all made sure to shake his hand as though in congratulation.

And that had been very much that.