condensed master

The Reluctant Agent
A Compelling Story of Espionage
walking that he was finding it difficult to get around. His face looked pinched and
pale, he was obviously sick. Managing to crack a faint smile he sat down next to
Will.
"You rubbished Tony, one of my agents yesterday."
"What did you expect?"
"It was just a long shot. I knew you must have something for me, and I didn't
want to risk getting out of bed."
"I'll never deal with anyone I don't know, ever! Incidently, is your sickness
permanent or fatal?" Ed smiled faintly again but it was clear he was in no mood for
fun and games.
"You're a cruel sod Will. No, it's not fatal, it's a disease I picked up in the
jungle during the war when we were fighting the Japanese. It reappears from time
to time, but thankfully it's receding. What do you want to see me about?"
"I need the small recorder to do some final testing. Can you get it to me?"
"Are you getting close to finishing then?"
"Yes."
Ed's face began to light up at the thought of getting another device. "Would
it be okay if I sent it with Tony?"
"I guess that's okay, but not here. Tell him to wait for me to get off the tram at
Toorak and Hawksburn Roads. I'll look out for him each evening."
"He knows where that is, he was waiting for me when I met you there last
time." So that's who it was, Will thought. But it gave him no relief knowing it.
"Tony normally doesn't get involved out in the field, he's office bound, taking
care of all the interstate connections. He's a book man and only records what he
is told." That information was valuable however, and Will tucked it into the back
of his memory for future retrieval, giving no indication to Ed that it interested him.
On the third evening after seeing Ed, Will alighted from the tramcar as usual,
and there was Tony standing on the corner. He was wearing a trench coat and
cautiously approached Will, reaching inside his coat for the recorder, which
quickly changed hands.
"How's Ed?"
"He's getting better. He'll be up and about soon, thank heavens! I'm not used
to working out in the field and I'm sorry about the other day at the workshops."
He was definitely not a homosexual, but Tony's demeanour reminded him a little
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