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Chapters (75)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. About the Author
  4. Title Page
  5. Intoroduction
  6. ONE
  7. TWO
  8. THREE
  9. FOUR
  10. FIVE
  11. SIX
  12. SEVEN
  13. EITHT
  14. NINE
  15. TEN
  16. ELEVEN
  17. TWELVE
  18. THIRTEEN
  19. FOURTEEN
  20. FIFTEEN
  21. SIXTEEN
  22. SEVENTEEN
  23. EIGHTEEN
  24. NINETEEN
  25. TWENTY
  26. TWENTY-ONE
  27. TWENTY-TWO
  28. TWENTY-THREE
  29. TWENTY-FOUR
  30. TWENTY-FIVE
  31. TWENTY-SIX
  32. TWENTY-SEVEN
  33. TWENTY-EIGHT
  34. TWENTY-NINE
  35. THIRTY
  36. THIRTY-ONE
  37. THIRTY-TWO
  38. THIRTY-THREE
  39. THIRTY-FOUR
  40. THIRTY-FIVE
  41. THIRTY-SIX
  42. THIRTY-SEVEN
  43. THIRTY-EIGHT
  44. THIRTY-NINE
  45. FORTY
  46. FORTY-ONE
  47. FORTY-TWO
  48. FORTY-THREE
  49. FORTY-FOUR
  50. FORTY-FIVE
  51. FORTY-SIX
  52. FORTY-SEVEN
  53. FORTY-EIGHT
  54. FORTY-NINE
  55. FIFTY
  56. FIFTY-ONE
  57. FIFTY-TWO
  58. FIFTY-THREE
  59. FIFTY-FOUR
  60. FIFTY-FIVE
  61. FIFTY-SIX
  62. FIFTY-SEVEN
  63. FIFTY-EIGHT
  64. FIFTY-NINE
  65. SIXTY
  66. SIXTY-ONE
  67. SIXTY-TWO
  68. SIXTY-THREE
  69. SIXTY-FOUR
  70. SIXTY-FIVE
  71. SIXTY-SIX
  72. SIXTY-SEVEN
  73. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  74. CLIMATE EMERGENCY
  75. Copyright

‘Ah! I’m sure there isn’t – but it’s a scientific fact that we need to start talking about. Natural differences. In intelligence and stuff. My brother says the government has silenced all the people that say it’s true because they don’t want to deal with the riots in the streets. But that’ll happen anyway when everyone realises they’ve been lied to. Maybe you’ll be the scientist who makes it all go off. Brings truth back to the world.’

‘OK.’ It’s the best I can offer.

‘So you won’t find it in textbooks. And not on the news either, unless you start looking at the right news.’

I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say – there aren’t really any questions to answer – but I can still feel the imprint of Vince’s fingers on my arm like teeth, so I feel like I have to say something. I say, ‘I looked at more of that website.’

‘I know. That’s one of the places you’ll start to find the truth. What did you think of it?’

‘Yeah, it was OK.’

‘It’s the most honest thing you’ll find around here.’

A cloud of vapour peels from Alan’s mouth into the sky. We watch it rise.

Alan continues, ‘There are people watching us, Josh. You know what I mean? People. Watching. They don’t want you to know a lot of things. They think you won’t be able to handle it and you’ll just get angry. But you know what I say? I say anger is good.’

I struggle to think how this constant, bone-deep heat could ever be good. I want to rip things up and run and run and run until my legs can’t anymore. Then I think of Carl’s eyes again, at the end of that video. The word that comes to mind to describe them now is satisfied.

‘But it’s a good job we’re watching too. I saw you talking to that new Muslim kid. The one your mate Jamie’s hanging around with.’

There’s a pause. I hold Alan’s probing stare and try not to look away, to point my fire at him.

‘You did good,’ Alan smiles. ‘Kind of.’ Vince laughs – a cold, angry laugh.

‘What do you mean?’

‘You challenged him, Josh. You didn’t let him assume he could walk all over us without some kind of a challenge. You didn’t just lie on your back like your mate Jamie when he was told he had to be his “buddy”. You didn’t let some reprobate species of humanity tickle your belly. You showed strength. We need more people like you.’

‘For what?’

‘For the Lions. If you’re interested. No need to answer now. You know where we meet. I’ll send you some more truth in the meantime. I’ve got your email.’