Page 135 of The Sun Sister

Cecily was about to disagree, but then she remembered that every bite of meat she had ever taken had begun with the process she had just witnessed. So she shut her mouth, humbled by her naivety.

The walk back to camp was much slower, and dusk was encroaching when they came upon a herd of elephants about half a mile away in the distance.

‘I can’t believe it!’ Cecily gulped as she looked though her binoculars and felt a sudden lump in her throat. ‘They are...majestic!’

‘We must be cautious, they have young calves with them,’ Katherine advised. ‘They’re very protective and won’t hesitate to charge at you.’

‘It’s a cow herd,’ Cecily heard Bill say to Bobby. ‘No shootable bulls – I’m sure we’ll get an ivory trophy sometime, mind.’

Cecily felt a shaft of fury at the thought of Bill – or anyone – shooting these beautiful creatures. She watched the herd move slowly together, the young calves weaving between their mothers’ legs, and she could almost feel the ground beneath her vibrating with their weight and strength.

There was a sudden tap on her shoulder and she looked away from the elephants. Nygasi beckoned her over and crouched down, pointing to something on the ground. She looked at it and gasped. In the soft orange earth was the perfect outline of a large paw print.

‘Olgatuny,’he said. ‘Lion,’ he added for Cecily’s benefit.

‘Yes, a lion.’ Bill’s voice sounded out from above her. ‘He was here quite recently too, judging by the sharp outlines of the track. Nygasi can distinguish between individual cattle, and he once tracked and killed a leopard that had been prowling around hisenkang– that’s his “village” to you, Cecily,’ he said, clapping the taller man on the back. ‘It’s too close to our camp for my liking. We need to be careful.’

As the two men walked to a spot a few yards away, deep in conversation, Cecily stayed where she was, staring at the paw print in front of her. She reached out to touch it gingerly, her heart thumping at the thought of how huge the lion must be if his paw had left a mark this size.

Back at camp ten minutes later, Cecily sat down gratefully. Sipping some tea, she watched the sun slip gently below the horizon, the fever trees forming sharp black outlines in the landscape. A large fire had been lit, and Katherine appeared beside her to tuck a blanket around Cecily’s shoulders as the temperature began to plummet. She watched, fascinated, as the Maasai prepared the kudu flesh on spits and the air was soon filled with the enticing aroma of roasting meat. Given the fact she’d witnessed the animal’s grisly demise, Cecily was ashamed to feel her stomach growl with hunger.

Dusk turned to night, and Cecily looked up to find the heavens filled with more stars than she had ever seen. Bobby and Bill were drinking beer beside the campfire as they discussed the day’s shoot and ate the proceeds of it.

‘Here, darling.’ Katherine handed her a hunk of steaming meat folded into flatbread that had been warmed over the fire.

‘Thank you.’ Cecily smiled gratefully and took a tentative bite. It was delicious.

After dinner, she sat back and listened to the soft murmurings of conversation around the campfire. She was glad of it; the flickering flames and the wood smoke curling up into the velvety night sky made the camp feel like a safe haven. However, as occasional cries and barks of unidentified animals came out of the darkness, Cecily was still relieved at the thought of the heavy rifle that lay casually at Bill’s feet.

After they’d eaten, Bill lit up a pipe, and the comforting scent of tobacco wafted towards her.

‘I’m for my bed now,’ Katherine said, giving a wide yawn. ‘Coming, Cecily?’

Even though she too felt exhausted, the incredible starry skies and the fact she was actually sitting in the middle of the African Bush made Cecily want to hold on to the moment a while longer.

‘I’ll join you in a minute.’

‘Okay. Night, everyone,’ she said as she stood up and Bobby did too.

‘Aye, it’s been a long day,’ Bobby agreed. ‘We’ll see you in the morning, bright and early.’

Bobby and Katherine retreated to their separate tents, while Nygasi and the other two Maasai left the fire and walked out into the darkness. Cecily could see them stationed around the perimeter of the camp, then suddenly realised she was all alone with Bill.

‘How did you find today?’ he asked her as he stirred the fire with a stick.

‘I...well, it’s been just incredible. I feel privileged, even if it was scary sometimes. My adrenaline level was sky-high all day.’

‘Are you an adventurer, Cecily?’ Bill stared at her with that deep gaze of his. ‘Or do you prefer to play it safe?’

‘You know, I’m not sure. I mean, coming to Africa has changed me already. Maybe I’m still finding out who I am.’

‘Perhaps none of us ever truly find out who we are.’

‘You’re definitely an adventurer, surely?’

‘Maybe I wouldn’t have been if life hadn’t made me one. I was training for the law in England, and then, well, war – and love – came and my life was altered irrevocably. So, Miss Huntley-Morgan, what are you really doing here in Africa?’

‘Visiting my godmother,’ Cecily shrugged, unable to meet his gaze.