condensed master

The Reluctant Agent
A Compelling Story of Espionage
every stride. They had only seconds to spare and Will knew that they had to keep
that advantage, or suffer the consequences.
Once again, he realized that he would have to look after the welfare of a
second person, as well as saving his own skin. This was the story of his life! The
atmosphere was electric, all he knew was that he had to keep going in the
direction away from the scene, and sooner or later they would come to the
gardens.
Progress seemed painfully slow to Will as he kept stopping to push Ed along.
He would have been out of there by now, had he been on his own. The darkness
was a blessing, but he could still hear voices and footsteps from a distance behind,
indicating that they were still holding their own, but nevertheless, still being
pursued.
The gardens were now ahead. Will could faintly see the iron railings and he
stopped to look left and right down the street. It was deserted but open, there
was only one way to go. Across the street, over the fence and into the gardens,
but they would have to be quick. Ed read what was on Will's mind.
"I can't get over that fence."
"If you can't I shall have to leave you behind. If we go up the street either way
we could run into them." Will threw the case over the fence and passed the
telescope through the railings, into the shrubbery. Clambering over he landed on
soft earth.
Turning, he saw Ed frantically trying to scramble up to reach the top, but he
was hopeless. Will jumped back over and gave him a boost until he could get a
grip, then climbed back over, picking up the case and telescope. Ed's progress
over the fence was painfully slow, and he was hesitating, frightened of falling.
"Jump man, jump!" What was that zinging and popping noise? Ed fell off the
fence into the shrubs below.
"I've been shot in the leg!"
"But I didn't hear any gunfire."
"They're using high powered airguns!"
The gardens would have been a sanctuary but now that Ed had been seen they
would be followed. He was limping badly and his mind was concentrating on his
leg.
"Forget about your leg, or you might get the next one in the back of your
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