condensed master

The Reluctant Agent
A Compelling Story of Espionage
brought more laughter and this time Gerald joined in. Will looked across at Gerald.
"Relax, everything's going to be alright. When we get to the shop, pull up with
the passenger door in line with the shop door and please do as I ask. Whatever
you do don't show any fear, even though you may be terrified inside." Gerald
nodded, but he had that scared look on his face.
The side street was almost deserted as on Will's previous visit, and Gerald
parked next to the footpath and close to the shop door. Will entered the shop first,
but this time he quickly looked into the shadows detecting the dim figure of a man
secreted in the far right corner.
Gerald was following close behind, and Will positioned himself between him
and the man in the shadows as they approached the counter. Almost immediately,
the fat man came out of the back room nodding in recognition, but without saying
a word. Will broke the silence, but even though he was speaking to the fat man,
his eyes never left the corner of the room.
"I've come for the negative from the photo you took of me the other day." The
fat man shifted uneasily from one foot to the other.
"No, I can't do that."
"We're not going to leave until we have the negative, so get it right now!"
Will's voice was raised.
The fat man's accomplice suddenly appeared out of the shadows and
advanced towards them. He was armed with a short iron bar. Will drew the
derringer from his pocket and pointed it at the man's chest but he continued to
come forward. Pulling back the hammer stopped him in his stride.
"If I pull this trigger you'll have a hole in your chest big enough to put my fist
through."
The look of fear on the man's face and his bulging eyes, brought back
memories of the fat Goanese in the linen locker on his last ship. Will turned to
Gerald.
"Go into the back room with him," pointing to the fat man, "and get that
negative, if he gives you trouble show him that big revolver."
Out of the corner of his eye Will saw Gerald disappearing through the rear
door with the fat man and after what seemed an eternity, they reappeared.
"I've got what you want," Gerald called out, holding up an envelope. The fat
man slumped on to a small chair behind the counter a look of despair on his face
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