Footprints in the Sand. Chloe Rayban

this is for your breakfast. If you come back now you can have it while it’s still hot.’

      I’d turned anyway. I was already walking back with him.

      ‘Where were you going?’ he asked.

      ‘Just wanted to see what was along the path.’

      ‘Another village.’

      ‘Oh, right.’

      We continued walking in silence for a while. And then he suddenly stopped and said: ‘Listen.’

      ‘What?’

      ‘They’ve stopped. The crickets. One moment they’re all going for it like crazy, giving it everything they’ve got, chirping or whatever they do. And then suddenly, they all stop. All at once. Why do you think they do that?’