condensed master

Will Bonner
The atmosphere did not quite make the Royal Hawaiian, or the Taj Mahal Hotel
in Bombay, and the rugged countenance of the Australian did not match up to the
sophistication of Bligh, but everything else fitted in perfectly.
Edward Blake took off his jacket and placed it on the coat stand next to the
table. He turned to Will.
"I'll order an early lunch, if that's okay?"
"I guess so, but I can't be away long."
A long silence ensued and it was Will who abruptly broke the obvious impasse
of not knowing how to commence with what was required. "You're from British
Intelligence aren't you?"
"Yes, as you are too."
"No, I keep telling people that I'm not, but the fact seems to get lost
somewhere along the line."
"I was told that you were."
"Well, they're wrong, so what do you do now? I could be a danger to you,
couldn't I Mr. Blake?" Blake put up his hand to stop any further conversation.
"Please call me Ed, honestly I wasn't told. Are they holding something over
your head?"
"Yes, what have they told you? Do you have a file on me?"
"No, there's no file, they just told me about some of the work you had done,
and that you could be relied on."
"Look Ed, the war's over, what could you possibly want with me now?" Ed
stared into space, as if pondering what to say next.
"Even in peacetime, there's always somebody at war with an old enemy.
Australia is full of Central and Eastern Europeans that have brought their conflicts
with them when they emigrated, and small organizations have sprung up,
supporting their desires." Ed paused and looked at him, and Will knew that every
word that was spoken from now on would implicate him.
"Look Ed, things have changed. I'm married now, and before we go any
further I have to warn you that if you or anyone in the organization hold my wife's
wellbeing against me, to pressure me to get jobs done, I'll hold you responsible.
You will be the first on my list."
Ed, who had been leaning forward in his chair to try and keep the conversation
low-key suddenly sat bolt upright, a momentary look of surprise on his face, which
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