by Terry Morgan
CHAPTER 31
Kevin Parker was just dropping off to sleep on his sofa when his mobile rang and made him jump. It had to be someone to whom time meant nothing. It was.
"Kev, it's Tunje."
"I'd never have guessed it was you, Tunj. What's up?"
"Have you checked out the Malthus Nigeria message board today?"
"No, Tunj, I usually check out the boards where something useful happens or someone has something interesting to say."
"That's very unkind, Kev. You might have missed something."
"No chance, Tunj, you'd have been the first to tell me."
"And so I am Kev. You want to know?"
"Try me."
"Joseph phoned me."
"And who the hell is Joseph?"
"Mate of mine who works at the USA Embassy in Lagos."
"Is he a member, Tunj?"
"Sometimes, Kev. He got interested in the Malthus site when he was doing his computing degree at Wolverhampton University. They were set a project to look at message boards and how they operate. I suggested he check out ours."
"Ours, Tunj, ours? Anyway, did he sign up and contribute anything of use?"
"Yeh, he signed up and I gave him a summary of population control methods from 1786 to 2012."
"So you taught him how to put on a condom, am I right, Tunj?"
"Ha, ha! Comedian tonight, Kev?"
"Get a move on Tunj, I was just dropping off. So why did this Joseph phone you?"
"His boss is an American doctor, Kev. He's the one who reported the Kano deaths to the WHO."
"So how did he know we were interested in these deaths then Tunj?"
"Because of your post, Kev? Remember now? You can't blame me, this time, Kev."
"Ah, yes," Kevin said, remembering his own post of a few days ago.
"So this friend of yours, Joseph, who works at the American Embassy in Lagos and has a degree from that higher education facility known as Wolverhampton University still checks out the Malthus Society website then. Have I got it straight, Tunj?"
"Looks like it, Kev."
"And why did he choose to attend Wolverhampton University then, Tunj? Was it because he had a thousand other Nigerian friends already living in and around that area of England that someone with enormous foresight once called the Black Country?"
There was a mystified pause from Tunje.
"Now don't get all racist again Kev, otherwise I'll start reminding you about Bristol docks, Whiteladies Road, Blackboy Hill and the rest of Bristol's dubious history. Anyway, what the fuck has Wolverhampton University got to do with it, Kev?"
"Because they turned me down when I applied for a job as Head of Faculty, that's why. Anyway, what did Joseph have to say?"
"That he'd seen a message from 'Thalmus' saying 'Check out WHO DON. Anyone know anything?'"
"And his higher education at Wolverhampton University enabled him to work out what WHO and DON meant, Tunj? Their computer course must be better than I thought."
"The lack of sleep is doing your comedy act a world of good, Kev. You should try staying up late every night."
Kevin sighed. "What about this friend Joseph? Why have you phoned me?"
"Ah yes, Joseph. He checked out the WHO site, then saw the DON. And in case you are about to ask, yes, they taught him all about acronyms as well at Wolverhampton."
"And what did he think or do about this information, Tunj?"
"Joseph agrees that Nigeria is a mess, it's still an economic disaster area and totally overpopulated - most of his ex university mates - that includes me of course - agree. That's why he still checks out the Malthus site. And that's why Big Shot Mohamed El Badry contacted him."
"El Badry has spoken to this guy as well?" Kevin almost exploded.
"Yes. About six months ago. But it was nothing to do with me, Kev."
"And what did El Badry want?"
"Let me explain, Kev. It's like this. Joseph works for the American Embassy's commercial team. El Badry phoned to say he was interested in finding somewhere to conduct some customer satisfaction surveys on some medicine his company was introducing. They wanted somewhere small in the north of Nigeria. He was put through to Joseph as Joseph does healthcare. Then, as Joseph comes from Kano, Joseph suggested he try an area called Dala Hill."
Tunje stopped suddenly. Kevin wondered if Tunje still had more to say. As there was silence, Kevin said, "Is that it, Tunj?"
"Yes."
"So what happened next, Tunj? Did El Badry say thank you very much, I'll get back to you once I've done my customer satisfaction survey, or anything?
"No, but Joseph phoned me because it was his boss, the American doctor, who had reported the deaths to WHO. And, according to Joseph, the place where the people who died came from was near Dala Hill. You see now, Kev?"
"Fuck," said Kevin.
"Yes, fuck it is, Kev."
"Call from Bangkok, Richard."
Richard Lacey had just arrived in his office at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva.
"OK - my office," he said. He dumped a brief case on his desk, lifted the phone and immediately recognised the voice of the WHO South East Asia Regional Director.
"Pradit - good morning," said Richard.
"Ah, Richard - morning ah. It's Pradit. I'm in Bangkok. We're now getting some more, ah, information on the respiratory outbreak."
"Good, about time."
"It's truck drivers, Richard."
"Truck drivers, Pradit?"
"Yes, Richard. It appears that all except one of the cases were truck drivers. That accounts for only men, ah - healthy, young, middle aged. They were all delivering water melons to a big fruit wholesaler in Bangkok."
"Are you saying there is a link with water melons, Pradit?"
No, ah. The common link is the fruit wholesaler. It's near a big bus terminal and train station, ah. Very crowded, ah."
"So why truck drivers and not ordinary bus or train passengers?"
"Good question, ah."
"You mean you don't know yet?"
"Yes, ah, I mean no ah. The Ministry is looking at where they parked the trucks. They, ah, deliver overnight and sleep in the daytime. But they like sleeping in the big shed where, ah, the water melons are sorted. It has air-conditioning."
"So - the air-conditioner?"
"Don't think so, ah."
"And the single female case from Bangkok, Pradit?"
"Yes, ah. She was sleeping with one of the drivers we think."
"So what is the conclusion, Pradit?
"Don't know yet, ah but we found something very strange outside the door of the place where they sleep, ah."
"Yes, Pradit - go on."
"Some mini inhalers, ah, like the ones used by people with asthma. You know the sort, Richard? Made of blue plastic with a mouthpiece. They have a miniature pressurised cylinder for the drug - like salbutamol. One or two puffs - asthma attack gone, ah."
"So are you testing the inhalers, Pradit."
"Ah, yes and no. They don't have the cylinder, ah. Just the blue plastic part. You know what I'm talking about, Richard?"
"Yes," said Richard, "I know them very well. In fact, my son uses one. How many inhalers?"
"Two in a box big enough to hold ten or more. But no labels, no marks. Probably irrelevant but the Ministry say they can probably trace them back to the manufacturer if necessary - but they would need to involve the police, ah, and, anyway, perhaps no connection with the respiratory cases - but very strange, no?"
"Mmm," said Richard, "very strange."
"Anything from Nigeria?" Pradit asked.
"Nothing, Pradit."