Andy McLaren died last Sunday, 2 July 2017. He and I had met for breakfast at Linda’s Diner nearly every week for fourteen years.

Andy loved reading, especially the big novels by Wilbur Smith. He read early drafts of my work and gave me solid, nuts-and-bolts feedback. The Cursing Stone will be dedicated to him.

A few years ago when he was recuperating from open-heart surgery, Andy said that he’d always hoped to see the herds of wildebeest migrating across the Serengeti plains. I’d like to think that he’s there now, as the trek goes on.