Free Lords of Corruption by Kyle Mills Page A

disgust.
    "Well," Flannary said, throwing an arm around Josh's shoulders, "on that note, I think we'll just head on over to your bungalow."
    "It was good to meet you," Josh said lamely, allowing Flannary to drag him away. The feeling was clearly not mutual.
    "Christ, that came out sounding racist,
    didn't it?" Josh said when they were alone again. "That's not the way I meant it. I'm just really tired. Or maybe it's the malaria pills . . ."
    Instead of letting him have it, which would have been completely justified, Flannary started to laugh. And once he got started, he couldn't stop. He bent forward at the waist, convulsing wildly but somehow not spilling any of his drink.
    When he started coughing and choking, Josh slapped him a few times on the back. "JB? Are you okay?"
    When Flannary finally managed to catch his breath, he started leading Josh down the path again as though nothing had happened.
    "I hate to say it, kid, but I think I'm warming up to you."
    "What do you mean?"
    "You want to know why she was so upset?" "Because it was a really asshole thing for me to say?"
    "Guess again."
    "Because I just got here and have no idea what I'm talking about?"
    "An enlightened attitude, but that's not it either."
    "Then why?"
    "Because you're right. The simple trut h a nd it's one of the few here -- is that men don't gather firewood. Period. It's women's work, and there's no amount of rapes and mutilations that's ever going to change it."
    The bungalows were simple concrete affairs, similar to the wall that surrounded the compound but with a few incongruous architectural details that showed some effort. Flannary led Josh through the open door of one of them and waved his drink around in place of a tour.
    It wasn't bad -- a combination of his family's trailer and a dorm room, but with the strong scent of mold being circulated by a rickety window AC unit.
    "It's got a bathroom in the back," Flan-nary said. "Nothing fancy, but it's a flush toilet, and on sunny days the water's . . ."
    He lost his train of thought when a young girl entered carrying a beer and another umbrella-topped gin and tonic.
    "Falati," Flannary said, "you're like the daughter I never had." There was no comprehension in her expression, but that didn't seem to bother him. He handed the beer to Josh and took the gin for himself.
    "Nice to meet you, Falati."
    She nodded politely and disappeared bac k t hrough the door.
    "So what do you think?"
    "I was expecting a mud hut, so I think it's great."
    "Mud huts don't happen around here. Hard to get top dollar."
    "What?"
    "This place is owned by President Mtiti's cousin, and let me tell you, they're charging rent that would get you a Central Park view back in the States. Plus, having us all corralled like this makes us easy to keep track of."
    Josh took a pull on his beer and then held up the bottle. "How much is the president's cousin going to charge me for this?"
    "You don't want to know. But don't worry, the tabs all say stuff like 'children's antibiotics' and 'children's mosquito nets,' so it'll sail right through your people."
    "What's the difference between antibiotics and mosquito nets for kids and ones for adults?"
    "There is none. But the word 'child' tends to grease the skids in the industry."
    "Maybe I should have ordered a Shirley Temple."
    "Funny! You're a funny guy."
    The man who had carted off Josh's luggage came through the open door, emptie d o ne of the suitcases onto the floor, an d s tarted carefully going through the content s f olding, organizing, and finally selecting an appropriate drawer or shelf.
    "Hey, don't worry about that. I can do it."
    "Don't sweat it," Flannary said. "This is his job. He's paid to do this. Right, Luganda?"
    The man looked up from his position on the floor and displayed those amazing teeth again. "I'm at your service, JB. Like always, yes?"
    "Luganda is a national treasure," Flan-nary said to Josh. "He knows everybody, can get anything, and has all the choice gossip. If you