Web of Lies Read Online Free

gas, arms, and ammunition to supporters of the military coup that forced President Kabbah of Sierra Leone to flee from Freetown in May earlier this year.”
    Femi’s ears pricked up at the mention of Nigerian jets.Normally he would not have bothered to listen.
    “Leaders of twelve West African states recently voted to impose a blockade on Sierra Leone. They have called for the coup leader, Major Johnny Paul Koroma, to hand back power to President Kabbah and his democratically elected government.
    “Nigerian troops are leading the joint West African force and have warned all ships to steer clear of Freetown harbor. Only those with food and humanitarian aid are being permitted to enter. A spokesman for Major Koroma accused the Nigerians of causing chaos in Freetown and killing civilians in the bombing.
    “Last week Major Koroma sent a message of sympathy to Britain on the death of Princess Diana. He said that the people of Sierra Leone would remember the princess for her compassion as well as for her stance against land mines.”
    “Ehn! Ehn! Rogues and more rogues! Wolves who dress up as sheep are everywhere!” Papa turned the volume down on the little radio. He picked up the key and held it out to Femi.
    “I’m not happy about this, but your sister made the case. Following in her judge uncle’s footsteps at home! She argues just like your uncle Tunde.” That was high praise from Papa. “So, young man, this is your first key. Make sure you don’t lose it.”
    “I won’t, Papa.” Femi wanted to leap and dance around, but he kept his head lowered as he stretched out his hand.
    “This doesn’t mean that you can come and go as youplease. I still want you and Sade to walk home together. This is only for emergencies, do you understand?”
    Femi grasped the key and promised.
     
    In school he showed the key proudly to Gary. Gary was an only child and was used to having his own key. When he congratulated Femi, however, there was no hint of mockery. Femi felt unusually happy. With his key in his pocket, walking home with his sister no longer seemed such a burden. It was strange how he even felt sharper in lessons over the following days. The jigsaw of so many different teachers, books, rules, classrooms, and corridors was beginning to slip into place. He was going to prove to his sports teacher, Mr. Hendy, that he was a candidate for Avon’s lower school football team. The team practiced after school, and Papa would then have to agree to him coming home later on his own.
    He even began to think that he had worried unnecessarily about the camera-eyes boy. He had seen him several times in the playground and learned his name when a girl had shouted, “See you tonight, James!” She and her friends had screamed with laughter as if it were a great joke. Each time James was in a crowd and didn’t seem to notice Femi. That was a relief. He was bound to ask what Sade thought of Errol’s message. It would be too embarrassing to repeat what she had said, even if James’s friend wasn’t the same Errol. Another reason for Femi feeling easier was that the rumors about the severed finger had died almost as quickly as they had spread. In assembly Flash Gordon briefly mentioned that the police weremaking inquiries and anyone with information should come to his office. But it was only a sentence before a tirade on the state of the boys’ toilets.
     
    “Hey, Femi bwoy! Where’ve you been hiding, little brother?” James slapped his palm against Femi’s hand.
    “I haven’t!” Femi’s voice rose in denial.
    “I reckoned you were avoiding me or something! Didn’t see you around.”
    James maneuvered Femi a short distance along the corridor away from the door of the boys’ toilets that Femi had been about to enter. Femi smiled weakly. There was no escape.
    “So what did she say, then?” James didn’t even say Sade’s name. Femi felt the webbing around James’s pupils close in on him. He mustn’t