condensed master

Will Bonner
Bart nodded his head and Will proceeded to load the tapes. As soon as the
tape started playing all the men crowded around the recorder, obliterating it from
view. Will sat listening but failed to understand one word as it was in Yugoslav.
The first tape ended without any reaction and they all turned to Will for him to start
the second one and as before, the rugby scrum formed around the recorder again.
The minutes ticked by and Will began to get the impression that the whole
thing had been a resounding failure. He would suffer the ultimate embarrassment
if the information on the tapes proved to be of no value and he was beginning to
prepare himself for the worst.
A flapping noise sounded as the loose end of the tape careered around the
spinning spool, indicating that it had finished and a hushed silence followed - then
a spontaneous cheering and clapping. They all ran over to Will slapping him on the
back, tugging at his arms and shaking his hands, it was like being mugged and
congratulated at the same time!
When the cheering stopped, glasses and wine appeared as if from nowhere
and drinks were poured and passed around. Will picked up the tapes eager to get
away. He turned to say goodbye and instead of the criticising glances he received
on entry, the response was one full of appreciation, and smiles all round.
Bart walked over to the car to see him off. "We know now who killed the boy,
and when we retaliate they will know that someone has had surveillance on them.
Tell your source to be careful, because they'll be trying to find out who it is.
Whenever we can, we'll pass information to you. Thanks for what you've done."
"You were good to me when I was in trouble at the factory, but I was also
thinking about the boy."
Will drove away but his mind was in such a turmoil he had to pull over just a
short distance away and stop on the side of the road. He tried to come to terms
with what was happening. The Serbs back there at Bart's house were no different
than the Croats, both parties intent upon killing one another. There was no big
political cause or agenda, not here in Australia anyway, just a deadly feud.
He began to feel sickened and ashamed at being party to this madness. The
feeling didn't go away and time was wasting. Dorothy was on her own, he had
better get back, but the recent events would still be churning over in his mind for
some time to come.
Returning the tapes to Ed's office Will was hoping that he was out. It would
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