‘What are you going to do?’
‘Look away and close your eyes.’
Geoffrey did as he was told, for there was no mistaking the severity of that command. There was silence, broken only by the rustling of leaves. And then a soft, dusty thump, accompanied by a fusillade of dry cracks as branches and tree-trunks snapped.
‘Hold on to my jacket and follow me,’ Memphis said. ‘But do not look until I have told you it is safe. Will you promise me this?’
‘Yes,’ Geoffrey said.
But he did not keep his word. As they passed into the cool of the trees, Memphis veered around an obstacle, drawing Geoffrey with him. He opened his eyes, squinting against dust still hovering in the air. Mephisto was on the ground, lying on his side. The bull’s one visible eye was open, but devoid of life. The huge grey, elaborately wrinkled form was perfectly still, perfectly dead.
‘Did you kill Mephisto?’ Geoffrey asked when they had reached the airpod.
Memphis loaded Sunday into the rear passenger compartment, placing her gently onto the padded seat. He said nothing, not even when they were in the air, on their way back to the household.
It was only later that he realised he had left the red wooden aeroplane down in the hole.
PART ONE
CHAPTER ONE
He was on his way back from the edge of the study area towards the research station, just him and the Cessna and the open skies above the Amboseli basin, his mood better than it had been in weeks, when the call arrived.
‘Geoffrey,’ a voice said in his skull. ‘You must come to the household immediately.’
Geoffrey sighed. He should have known better than to expect this untroubled state of mind to last.
He was over the property ten minutes later, searching the white-walled and blue-tiled buildings for evidence of disruption. Nothing struck him as out of the ordinary. Everything about the A-shaped residence, from its secluded courtyards and gardens to its swimming pools, tennis courts and polo field, was as neat and orderly as an architect’s model.
Geoffrey lined up with the rough track that served as his runway and brought the Cessna home. He bounced down, the fat-tyred wheels kicking up dirt and dust, braked hard and taxied to a vacant spot at the end of the row of airpods belonging to the household and its guests.
He let the engine die and sat in the cockpit for a few moments, gathering his thoughts.
He knew what it was, deep down. This day had been in his future for so long that it had taken on the solidity and permanence of a geographical feature. He was just surprised that it was finally upon him.
He disembarked into the morning heat, the aeroplane issuing quiet, ruminative sounds as it cooled down. Geoffrey took off his faded old Cessna baseball cap and used it to fan his face.
From the arched gatehouse in the wall emerged a figure, walking towards Geoffrey with slumped shoulders, solemn pace and grave demeanour.
‘I am very sorry,’ he said, raising his voice only when they were almost close enough to speak normally.
‘It’s Eunice, isn’t it?’
‘I am afraid she has passed away.’
Geoffrey tried to think of something to say. ‘When did it happen?’
‘Six hours ago, according to the medical report. But it only came to my attention an hour ago. Since then I’ve been busy verifying matters and informing close family.’
‘And how?’
‘In her sleep, peacefully’
‘One hundred and thirty’s a pretty good age, I guess.’
‘One hundred and thirty-one, by her last birthday,’ Memphis said, without reproach. ‘And yes, it is a good age. Had she returned to Earth, she might even have lived longer. But she chose her own path. Living all alone up there, with just her machines for company . . . the wonder is that she lasted as long as she did. But then she always did say that you Akinyas are like lions.’
Memphis draped an arm around his shoulders and steered him towards the gatehouse. ‘You are the first to arrive back at the household. Some of the others will begin chinging in shortly. Within the day, some may begin to arrive in person. The others, those who are in space . . . it will take much longer, if they are able to come at all. They will not all be able to.’
They entered the shade of the gatehouse, where whitewashed walls cast cool indigo shadows.
‘It feels odd to be meeting here, when this isn’t the place where she died.’
‘Eunice left specific instructions.’
‘No one told me about them.’
‘I have only just become aware of them myself, Geoffrey. You would have been informed, had I known earlier.’
Beyond the gatehouse, fountains hissed and burbled from the ornamental ponds. Geoffrey shoed aside an armadillo-sized gardening robot. ‘I know this is as difficult for you as it is for the family, Memphis.’
‘There may be a difficult period of transition. The family . . . the business . . . will have to adjust to the absence
