The Malthus Pandemic
Page 45
CHAPTER 43
In Nairobi, it was not yet 6pm, but Jimmy Banda had been sitting in the Nyayo Bed and Breakfast for well over an hour waiting for Luther Jasman.
It wasn't that he was always early for appointments but Louise had decided she needed the entire office including Jimmy's desk and chair for a book-keeping meeting with a client. But Jimmy didn't mind. The Nyayo B and B was run by an old school friend, Emmanuel, who not only chatted to him while mopping the kitchen floor but kept Jimmy's coffee mug topped up. When Jimmy returned from a visit to the men's room a short man in a dark suit was ringing the bell in the reception area.
"Ah," said Jimmy still pulling up his zip fastener, "You must be Luther."
"Yes sir," said the man - a short, but neatly presented young man of Indian descent with, as Jimmy noticed, an open necked shirt and no tie. Jimmy tightened his own tie in response.
"Cup of coffee?" Jimmy asked.
"Thank you."
Jimmy led Luther Jasman to the seat he had been warming for the best part of an hour and called out to Emmanuel for two more coffees.
"Yes, I met Greg O'Brian at an Irish Embassy reception." Jimmy said, roughly picking up where he had left off on the phone earlier. "We got chatting. I told him about my part time work at the University - I teach accountancy. Anyway, long story cut short, he asked about students. I said, no problem, how many did he need. He said he had problems recruiting staff and thought students on work experience might help."
Jimmy paused and glanced at Luther Jasman's hands. He was turning and twisting a new and shiny, gold wedding ring on his finger.
"What is your opinion?" Jimmy asked but then gave him no time to reply. "Mr O'Brian gave me your name. You must be very important with Shah Medicals."
"No. I am only in charge of product registration. I am a graduate of the faculty of biology, you see. It is not so complicated, really."
"It sounds very complicated to me,"
"Oh no sir, not for me," admitted Jasman, "The products are quite simple. I've been there for four months."
"So what will you want the students to do?"
"I suppose to help in the laboratory. I have been told we have new products coming very soon."
"So, what sort of students do you need?"
"Perhaps microbiology students, perhaps pharmacists or nurses. We need students who understand infection control. That is my interest. I also understand we need a production engineer."
"If I may say so, you seem a bit vague about what the company is planning to do."
Emmanuel brought two mugs of coffee and Luther Jasman lifted one to his lips, decided it was too hot and put it down again. Jimmy drank his.
"It is a new company you see, sir."
"So, if Mr O'Brian isn't your boss, who is?"
"A French man. He reports directly to Mr Mohamed Kader, sir."
"Ah, France," said Jimmy, "I know it well - Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Marble Arch. His name's not Jacques Piquant is it?"
"No sir, it's Dominique Lunneau. We can call him Don."
"So how many people work for you, Luther?"
"Just three, sir. They are from Pakistan. They are allowed here because they are qualified in biotechnology from the University of Karachi."
"Three, did you say? That is a lot."
"Yes, sir, but we are not so busy yet. We are waiting for the new products to come from Egypt."
"Egypt? Pakistan? It is a very international company you work for. Lots of career opportunities I would imagine. I wish you luck."
Luther Jasman started to turn the ring on his finger more rapidly, nervously, and Jimmy knew he had pushed him as far as possible - too far in fact. Hoping Luther would not remember too much about the meeting he'd had in the Nyayo B&B, Jimmy decided to wind it up in case a few more stories came into his mind and he completely overdid it. He stood up.
"Well, thank you, Luther. I'll be in touch as soon as possible. How many students did you say you could use?"
"Perhaps three, Mr, uh......"
"Mr Franklin," said Jimmy and left Luther still drinking his coffee.
From his car, Jimmy sent a text to the other Mr Franklin he knew in Bangkok.