‘Everyone assumed it was a bug. But when the water company ran tests, they found massive levels of aluminium sulphate. CCTV showed three tanker loads getting dumped in the water treatment plant that supplies the city centre. The aluminium reacts with the metal in water pipes to release sulphuric acid. It basically burns up your insides.’

Julius tutted. ‘Just when you think it can’t get worse …’

‘Everyone assumes the Transport Union did it. The area boys mostly live in the town centre, so most of them got poisoned. Plus, nobody is going into town. All the restaurants and shops are closed, so even area boys who didn’t get sick can’t make money.’

‘Are people dying?’ Julius asked.

‘Some, mostly little kids and old people. It’s thirty-six degrees today. There’s no safe drinking water in the city’s biggest slum. You can get bottled, but the price has shot up and those people can’t afford it.’

‘Crazy,’ Julius said, shaking his head.

‘Every bus out of Akure has people hanging off the roof, and drivers charge crazy prices for tickets.’

‘A stupid war so my stupid uncle can be governor for another four years …’ Julius complained.

‘How’s life outside of the crazy?’ Duke asked.

The situation back home made Julius’s problems feel tiny. ‘Pretty good here,’ he admitted guiltily. ‘I miss Gabe and Orisa, and you obviously. Half-term break starts tomorrow. I asked Mum if I could fly home and she was like, No way you’re here during election week.’

‘That sucks,’ Duke said. ‘But you said your family’s house in London is massive …’

‘Gabe and some of my country cousins came over for summer holidays. But this time it’s just me and the housekeeper. I don’t even think Mum wants me home for Christmas. It’s like she blames me for Kehinde dying. Or feels I should have died instead …’

‘Heavy,’ Duke said. ‘You’ve made friends at The Hall. Won’t you hang with them?’

‘They live all over the world,’ Julius answered. ‘Matt, my roommate, lives in Hampstead, North London. I’ll probably go up to his place. There’s a few others who live close to London, but most go off with their families. Skiing, or whatever.’

‘I’m around to talk to, at least,’ Duke said. Then his tone bloomed with mischief. ‘You know what you should do? Big empty house in a posh part of London? Tell everyone you’re having a party. I bet heaps of people would come.’

Julius laughed. ‘They’d trash the joint!’

‘Which belongs to your mother, who you hate …’ Duke noted.

Julius’s laugh turned evil. ‘I like that. The house actually belongs to SJ, but he’s my mum’s bitch, so it’s the same thing.’

Julius grinned as he watched Duke’s pixelated fist punch the air and chant, ‘Party, party, party …’

FORTY