condensed master
Will Bonner from that predicament permanently but at that moment, the possibility seemed insurmountable. Perhaps one day in the future the opportunity would arise. It had been quite awhile since seeing Ed at the Prahan market but when he spotted him waiting in the usual place, it seemed as though it was only yesterday. "So that rare disease hasn't got you yet?" "No, I'm as fit as a fiddle, does that disappoint you?" Ed remarked, joining in the wisecracking. "Let's put it this way. The very day I read your name in the obituary column I'll take my wife out to dinner." "I sometimes wonder whether you mean what you say in jest, Will?" "You'll never know will you Ed?" Ed shook his head. "Will, I can't get the phone apparatus working properly, Tony and I have tried everything. You did promise to check it out for me if I had trouble." Will's heart sank - here we go again! It was more difficult now that his work required only regular hours, he couldn't stay over as he did at the clinic. He would have to tell Dorothy half-truths again. "Do you mean out at Donvale?" Ed nodded his head. "When?" "Would this Saturday be alright?" "No, I can't have my weekends interrupted from now on.” "What about Friday night? I could pick you up around say 6.30 p.m." "Okay. Would you make sure that your instruction notes are handy?" "Yes." Will could see Ed's car parked in Hawksburn Road and they walked towards it. The conversation seemed to be closed, but Ed turned as he opened the door. "I've promised not to withhold information from you. An agent will be there from Sydney, he's my counterpart there. Something big is coming up and we have to be certain that the device works. It's true that we can't get it going properly and we must have it functioning hundred per cent, because we'll only have one shot at getting what we want." "What's all this to do with me?" "Nothing, except for the electronics, and you asked me as part of our agreement not to trick you into getting any work done." There was nothing in the arrangement up to now, that he could use, to get out of going. "Okay, I'll see you Friday at 6.30 p.m." 172
The Reluctant Agent A Compelling Story of Espionage As Ed's car turned and sped down to Toorak Road. Will's mind was now torn between all the good things that were happening in their lives, and now this, which would be hanging over his head like a cloud. He told Dorothy that he was going to check out somebody's audio amplifier, which in essence was the truth, that he was going to Donvale, also the truth. He just didn't give her any other information. Technical people talking technicalities spell out a pretty boring scenario and Dorothy, like most people, wanted to be spared the details - thank heavens! The offices at Donvale were closed and the old man at the switchboard had gone home. Ed and Will had the place to themselves as the agent from New South Wales had not yet arrived. Ed produced the phone tap device and pointing to the junction box just inside the door, he handed Will a screwdriver. Opening the box revealed not two, but several wires, indicating that it served to supply Ed's phone and also provide a junction point for the other lines. An engineer would have no difficulty identifying Ed's individual line, but to an untrained eye it just looked a jumbled mess. Will looked up at Ed. "You were probably across the wrong lines." "How was I to know that?" he said, as he hunched his shoulders. Will clipped the jumpers across the line and the Red light came on. Reversing the clips showed the Green light. Passing the earpiece to Ed he went over to the desk and lifted the phone. Ed's eyes lit up. "It's working, how can we test it on an incoming call?" "Is it possible to use a phone on one of the other lines?" "Yes, pick up the one next to the console in the front office and dial my office number, you'll see it listed there." "Okay. Just remember when you hear the phone ring, start the recorder, then answer." Will left the room to go to the front office and when he returned the look on Ed's face was one of excitement. "Wonderful! Wonderful!" he kept saying, but he was interrupted by a loud knock on the front door. Will removed the jumper wires from the box and was replacing the cover when Ed and his visitor entered the room. The agent from Sydney came over and shook Will's hand firmly and decisively. He was about Ed's age, but in stark contrast his suit was immaculate, and combined with a cream shirt and green tie, his attire appeared to have just left the 173
- Page 122 and 123: Will Bonner that by revisiting Waik
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Will Bonner<br />
from that predicament permanently but at that moment, the possibility seemed<br />
insurmountable. Perhaps one day in the future the opportunity would arise.<br />
It had been quite awhile since seeing Ed at the Prahan market but when he<br />
spotted him waiting in the usual place, it seemed as though it was only yesterday.<br />
"So that rare disease hasn't got you yet?"<br />
"No, I'm as fit as a fiddle, does that disappoint you?" Ed remarked, joining in<br />
the wisecracking.<br />
"Let's put it this way. The very day I read your name in the obituary column<br />
I'll take my wife out to dinner."<br />
"I sometimes wonder whether you mean what you say in jest, Will?"<br />
"You'll never know will you Ed?" Ed shook his head.<br />
"Will, I can't get the phone apparatus working properly, Tony and I have tried<br />
everything. You did promise to check it out for me if I had trouble."<br />
Will's heart sank - here we go again! It was more difficult now that his work<br />
required only regular hours, he couldn't stay over as he did at the clinic. He would<br />
have to tell Dorothy half-truths again. "Do you mean out at Donvale?" Ed nodded<br />
his head. "When?"<br />
"Would this Saturday be alright?"<br />
"No, I can't have my weekends interrupted from now on.”<br />
"What about Friday night? I could pick you up around say 6.30 p.m."<br />
"Okay. Would you make sure that your instruction notes are handy?"<br />
"Yes."<br />
Will could see Ed's car parked in Hawksburn Road and they walked towards<br />
it. The conversation seemed to be closed, but Ed turned as he opened the door.<br />
"I've promised not to withhold information from you. An agent will be there from<br />
Sydney, he's my counterpart there. Something big is coming up and we have to be<br />
certain that the device works. It's true that we can't get it going properly and we<br />
must have it functioning hundred per cent, because we'll only have one shot at<br />
getting what we want."<br />
"What's all this to do with me?"<br />
"Nothing, except for the electronics, and you asked me as part of our<br />
agreement not to trick you into getting any work done."<br />
There was nothing in the arrangement up to now, that he could use, to get out<br />
of going. "Okay, I'll see you Friday at 6.30 p.m."<br />
172
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