‘That’s a good story.’

‘It’s not a story. It’s how the world came to be. We were the first, before everyone. Now we’re the last.’

‘That’s why you steal?’

‘It’s not stealing. It wasn’t the white man’s. He took it from the black man who took it from one who didn’t use his head. It was shown to us first, remember? Just like this land was ours first. We’re just borrowing.’

‘It’s taking what isn’t yours.’

‘See that tree, Kudu? Old and ugly from years and years in the ground. Who does it ask for nourishment? Who asked us for our permission to come and take this land?’

Something crashed behind them.

Roeloff stiffened.

‘What was that?’

Twa was instantly alert.

‘It came from the back of the huts.’

Roeloff got up and walked towards where he’d heard the sound.

At the first hut, he stumbled over Sanna tied up on the ground, and came face to face with a young Sonqua pulling Zokho by the hand. He recognised him immediately from the scar on the forehead.

‘You! What are you doing here?’

‘You know what I’ve come for,’ Toma said.

‘She won’t go with you.’

Then Toma’s expression changed. Roeloff turned slowly. Behind him another hunter had his arrow aimed at his back.

‘Don’t! It’s Eyes of the Sky.’

Koerikei lowered his bow.

Roeloff regained his composure.

‘Why have you come back?’

‘Smoke in the Eyes belongs to our tribe.’

‘You will not leave here alive if my father sees you.’

‘We’ve been here all day, and he didn’t see us. We’ll be gone before he can blink.’

‘No, you won’t,’ Twa came up laughing behind them, pointing Willem Kloot’s old gun. It didn’t matter that the trigger was broken; the sight of it was enough. ‘I know how to use this. Leave the girl and go.’

Koerikei scowled at him.

‘You have the heart of a jackal.’

‘And the fangs of a lion. This girl is ours now.’

‘Wait, Twa,’ Roeloff interjected. ‘Let’s ask Zokho. Zokho? You were right. Toma did come for you.’

Toma and Koerikei looked at each other.

‘Do you want to go?’

‘She has no choice,’ Toma said. ‘Why are you asking? We’ll take her if she doesn’t come.’

‘She has a choice. Zokho?’ Roeloff asked again.

Zokho looked at Sanna on the ground, wriggling to get free of her knots.

‘I have a mother now, Toma. I have food.’

‘A mother? What nonsense is this? Your mother’s dead. These people killed her.’

‘If Zokho wants to stay …’ Koerikei intervened.

‘Zokho will come with us,’ Toma said crossly.

Roeloff came forward. ‘You heard her. She wants to stay.’

‘Let her go, Kudu,’ Twa said behind him. ‘It’s better for her. This is not her way. Not for long.’

Roeloff looked at the girl.

‘Is that what you want, Zokho?’ The tone of his voice wasn’t lost on the hunters.

Zokho answered in Dutch. ‘Do you want me to stay?’

Her meaning caught him unawares.

‘I …’

‘Let her go,’ Twa said again. ‘Make peace with these Sonqua.’

Roeloff stepped out of their way.

‘What did he tell you?’ Toma asked Zokho.

‘He said I should go with you.’

Koerikei nodded his head in amazement. ‘You’re not from here, Eyes of the Sky. Who are you?’