Martin appears at my side, matches my pace. ‘You looking forward to this?’ he says.

‘I am. I’ve never been to anything like this. I went to a full-moon festival in Thailand, but that was just a bunch of drunk stoners stumbling around on the beach. I’m sure it was spiritual once.’

‘I’ve heard that,’ he says.

I don’t know why I said that. I never went to the beach in Thailand at all. But I’ve seen YouTube clips and I know from some of the idiots I met in Bangkok that this is exactly what the thing is like.

‘Apparently you can have a reading from one of the shamans,’ he says. ‘I really want to, but I’m also a bit scared. I’ve never had the guts to go to a fortune-teller or a psychic or anything like that. Part of me thinks it’s all nonsense, but the other part of me is scared about what they might say.’

‘They aren’t going to say anything bad to you,’ I say, not that I have any direct experience. ‘All that “something terrible is going to happen” is only in bad horror films. Besides, didn’t you say you were becoming more spiritual since your Buddhist experience?’

‘That’s not the same; that’s a proper religion.’

‘I think the nomads think the same about their shamanism,’ I say. ‘Let’s just wait and see, shall we?’

A giggling behind us makes us both glance around. Carrie has linked arms with Rory, and their heads are tipped closely together. I can’t hear what he’s saying. I ball my hands into fists, feeling my nails cut into my palms.

‘Is he always such a lech?’

Martin shrugs. ‘I don’t think Carrie is complaining.’

I frown, and ignore him. Then I pick up the pace and march further ahead.

Sarnai is walking along with a couple of boys I haven’t seen before. I don’t know if they’ve come from another camp, or if they just turned up for this, but she also doesn’t seem to be complaining. Her skills as a guide are quite lacking, and usually it doesn’t bother me, but I need something to take my mind off randy Rory and compliant Carrie.

If only I fancied Martin, it would be so much simpler.

‘Hey,’ I shout, ‘Sarnai!’

She turns around, her MTV grin already in place. ‘Oh, hey guys. This is going to be so much fun!’ The boys keep walking and she slows down a bit, waiting for us to catch up. ‘You’ve got free time to do as you please here, guys. You can watch the wrestling, the archery … there are lots of fun stalls and great food and drinks…’

Martin butts in: ‘I heard we can talk to the shamans – is that right?’