The Malthus Pandemic

by Terry Morgan

CHAPTER 65

  Larry finally got a call through to the Nigerian doctor Abdouleye in Kano.

  "You left a message at the US Embassy for me to call you," he said.

  "Yes. You wanted to know more about Doctor Mustafa, who ran the Kofi Clinic - the one who ran the tests on the new medicine."

  "Yes," relied Larry. "Have you got anything more?"

  "Yes," Abdouleye said. "Can you meet me?"

  "I'm in the USA at the moment," Larry said. "And I'm not sure when I'll be back."

  "So, you lost interest in one hundred Nigerian deaths?"

  "Definitely not," Larry said, "In fact that's why I'm here. I'm in Washington."

  There was a pause.

  "I think I told you there was also a white man here," said Abdouleye. Doctor Mustafa arrived first. He set up the clinic and the white man joined him just before the tests started. Because people saw a white doctor they trusted Mustafa."

  "Do you now know the name of the white man?"

  "Doctor Suleiman He stayed about one week then left."

  "How do you know this?"

  "The wife of one of the patients who died. She says her husband was healthy but they needed money. They had heard about cash being offered to help test a medicine for coughs. Her husband attended the clinic and was given, from what I can make of her description, an asthma inhaler. Several men, including her husband then got sick. They were told they would be moved to hospital for more checks. More money was paid out. After a month, the woman and several others had heard nothing. They went to the clinic but no-one was there. They reported it to Kano State Government. They inspected it and then closed it. The woman then heard about many other men."

  "Are you sure the white man's name was Suleiman?"

  "Yes."

  "Could it have been Solomon not Suleiman?"

  There was a distinct hesitancy from Abdouleye. "Yes," he said. "According to the woman, he did not look Arab. Mustafa spoke Arabic. The white man only spoke English."

  "If I send a photo to your mobile, can you check it out for me? Let me know by text if it's the same man?"

  "But what are you going to do?"

  "That is why I'm in Washington. Please stay in touch as we may need you to provide evidence in due course."