condensed master
Will Bonner envisaged, and he hated the very thought of doing it, but how else would he get around it? He was amazed at the speed a devious mind could come up with excuses. In seconds, he remembered how he once met a local radio operator (ham) in Aden, on a previous voyage. That would be his excuse for wanting a change in schedule. What a relief! Will burst into Wes's cabin finding him sitting on his bunk. "What's the hurry Will? Sit down and catch your breath." "Could you do me a favour Wes?" "You know I will, if I can." "I need the schedules changed so that I get the two mid-day watches off for the next two days. I will do any other watch or anything else for that matter, it's important to me." "Is that all?" Wes remarked nonchalantly, as though it was just a formality. "I'll see the first officer and get it changed right now as a matter of fact," and without another word Will watched him manipulate his bony body up the stairway towards the bridge. Will leaned for a moment against the handrail of the stairway and bowed his head. Wes hadn't even asked him why he wanted the change of roster, and he felt both elated for not having to lie, yet at the same time, admitting to himself that he had used a friend. He felt bad about that. Should Wes ever ask he would have to take a risk and tell him the truth, in a way that hopefully, would not compromise him. Returning to his cabin he started to prepare for the following day. Will awoke to start his early watch. Wes had succeeded in making the changes, relieving him of duty at 8 a.m. with plenty of time to get ashore. He intended to get up to the Queen of Sheba's Wells around mid afternoon. It had been a hot night without an iota of breeze, and the sun was getting up to kick the temperature over the century mark. He would stay on board for lunch instead of eating ashore. In the past Will, like many others, had picked up stomach bugs from eating in foreign ports, so he only ate ashore when there was no other option, and never in the back street cafes. What a good feeling it was to have solid ground under his feet again, just the act of walking ashore was a boost to the ego after the endless day to day routine on the ship. The smells, emanating through the intense heat greeted him as he 30
The Reluctant Agent A Compelling Story of Espionage walked across the harbour front into the town. He had an hour to spare, so he made his way into the centre to look through the bazaar. These foreign ports were notorious for pick-pocketing, just about everyone you knew had been "relieved" of something at one time or another. His hand, which had been constantly in his pocket since leaving Port Said, gripped the package more firmly. It would be a disaster to lose it at this critical time. The activity in the bazaar had subsided somewhat, as was customary in the middle of the day when the sun was as it's highest. It would start to spring to life again around 4 or 5 p.m. getting busier during the cooler part of the evening. In contrast to the dull austerity of wartime Britain, the bazaars had a distinct carnival atmosphere. Will looked at his watch. He had better get started, although it was only a few minutes walk to the town square where he would get transport up to the Queen of Sheba's Wells. There would be plenty of gharrys' - an open horse drawn landau type of vehicle, which were popular with the tourists. As he rounded the corner he was not disappointed, they were all lined up around the square, ready for him to take his pick. As he approached, the usual fight broke out between the drivers to get his business, and he had prepared himself to be pulled and pushed in all directions until a particular driver won out. With a wide beaming smile showing his stained and decaying teeth, the winner bowed and with a sweeping gesture of his arm, like an actor on the stage taking his final curtain, he directed Will into the well worn leather upholstered seat, adorned with faded seat cushions. Will sat precariously on the edge of the seat, trying not to make too much body contact with the cushions, thereby giving the fleas the opportunity of a new host, but the possibility of surviving even this short journey without picking one up, would be a miracle. By now, the heat was practically unbearable, the sweat was running in rivulets down his body and legs, causing the dust thrown up by the movement of the carriage to adhere to his skin and clothing. He was beginning to feel dirty and bedraggled, and for this reason had not dressed in his usual shore going tropical whites, but instead had remained in his work clothes. He was still gripping the package in his trouser pocket which was now saturated with sweat. Reluctantly, he transferred it to his shirt pocket. It would not 31
- Page 1 and 2: The Reluctant Agent A Compelling St
- Page 3: I dedicate this book to my wife Dor
- Page 7: Will and Dorothy sat overlooking Ni
- Page 10 and 11: Will Bonner It was a relief to get
- Page 12 and 13: Will Bonner Taking a well used pipe
- Page 14 and 15: Will Bonner close that Will could f
- Page 16 and 17: Will Bonner a second blow between h
- Page 18 and 19: Will Bonner food so he just lay the
- Page 20 and 21: Will Bonner convoy returned, the ab
- Page 22 and 23: Will Bonner mines that were just be
- Page 24 and 25: Will Bonner only served to direct e
- Page 26 and 27: Will Bonner dark Will had no diffic
- Page 28 and 29: Will Bonner Will looked astern to s
- Page 32 and 33: Will Bonner be long before he would
- Page 34 and 35: Will Bonner stumpy legs to operate
- Page 36 and 37: Will Bonner Omah seated himself beh
- Page 38 and 39: Will Bonner Scared to look back he
- Page 40 and 41: Will Bonner thin mirror, hanging on
- Page 42 and 43: Will Bonner Omah, was no doubt a we
- Page 44 and 45: Will Bonner The Inspector floundere
- Page 46 and 47: Will Bonner The voyage across the I
- Page 48 and 49: Will Bonner them away. Between watc
- Page 50 and 51: Will Bonner where one might choose
- Page 52 and 53: Will Bonner mind that this man woul
- Page 54 and 55: Will Bonner Will's mind was racing
- Page 56 and 57: Will Bonner The following day he ha
- Page 58 and 59: Will Bonner "How can I help you, Sa
- Page 60 and 61: Will Bonner "I can arrange for some
- Page 62 and 63: Will Bonner Changing his clothes he
- Page 64 and 65: Will Bonner Will pulled himself tog
- Page 66 and 67: Will Bonner sight of the cabin stew
- Page 68 and 69: Will Bonner "They sure are an odd t
- Page 70 and 71: Will Bonner It was all over, but he
- Page 72 and 73: Will Bonner Will watched as Wes wal
- Page 74 and 75: Will Bonner Will was trying his har
- Page 76 and 77: Will Bonner interruption throughout
- Page 78 and 79: Will Bonner their scrutiny, but a r
Will Bonner<br />
envisaged, and he hated the very thought of doing it, but how else would he get<br />
around it?<br />
He was amazed at the speed a devious mind could come up with excuses. In<br />
seconds, he remembered how he once met a local radio operator (ham) in Aden,<br />
on a previous voyage. That would be his excuse for wanting a change in schedule.<br />
What a relief!<br />
Will burst into Wes's cabin finding him sitting on his bunk.<br />
"What's the hurry Will? Sit down and catch your breath."<br />
"Could you do me a favour Wes?"<br />
"You know I will, if I can."<br />
"I need the schedules changed so that I get the two mid-day watches off for<br />
the next two days. I will do any other watch or anything else for that matter, it's<br />
important to me."<br />
"Is that all?" Wes remarked nonchalantly, as though it was just a formality. "I'll<br />
see the first officer and get it changed right now as a matter of fact," and without<br />
another word Will watched him manipulate his bony body up the stairway towards<br />
the bridge.<br />
Will leaned for a moment against the handrail of the stairway and bowed his<br />
head. Wes hadn't even asked him why he wanted the change of roster, and he felt<br />
both elated for not having to lie, yet at the same time, admitting to himself that he<br />
had used a friend. He felt bad about that. Should Wes ever ask he would have<br />
to take a risk and tell him the truth, in a way that hopefully, would not compromise<br />
him. Returning to his cabin he started to prepare for the following day.<br />
Will awoke to start his early watch. Wes had succeeded in making the<br />
changes, relieving him of duty at 8 a.m. with plenty of time to get ashore. He<br />
intended to get up to the Queen of Sheba's Wells around mid afternoon.<br />
It had been a hot night without an iota of breeze, and the sun was getting up<br />
to kick the temperature over the century mark. He would stay on board for lunch<br />
instead of eating ashore. In the past Will, like many others, had picked up stomach<br />
bugs from eating in foreign ports, so he only ate ashore when there was no other<br />
option, and never in the back street cafes.<br />
What a good feeling it was to have solid ground under his feet again, just the<br />
act of walking ashore was a boost to the ego after the endless day to day routine<br />
on the ship. The smells, emanating through the intense heat greeted him as he<br />
30
Change language