condensed master
Will Bonner "I can arrange for someone to bring one or two for you to look at." Will felt the tension rising again. "I am prepared to pay a lot of money for the right one, but I must see a collection to be able to choose, otherwise I am not interested." The Goanese hesitated before answering. Everything was going as Blyth had outlined, but this is where it could fall apart. He had done as he was asked and could do no more. "Wait here," and returning to the others they once again engaged in animated conversation, and the visual interchange started all over again, giving Will the feeling of a criminal in a police line-up. Will walked across to the centre of the room aligning himself with the front door to get a full view of the street and observing that the activity had not decreased. The continuous flow on the pavement across the entrance of the shop was suddenly interrupted by the appearance inside the door of a man walking briskly into the room. He was Hindu, Will recognized him immediately as the owner of another shop he had frequented on a previous occasion. Spotting Will, he bounded across to him with outstretched hand. "Hello Sahib, why are you here and not buying from my beautiful shop?" Will gave a customary reply, watching him head to the back of the room to talk to the Goanese. After engaging in conversation, laughter emanated from the group as the Hindu pointed towards Will. On his way past Will he stopped briefly. "Don't forget Sahib, if you're not satisfied here come to my beautiful shop." The Goanese appeared at his side. "One of my boys will follow you back to the ship, and we will get back to you tomorrow. Bring enough cash, you may need a thousand rupees," he said, as they both stepped out into the street. After a short interchange with one of the boys who Will had seen before entering the shop, the Goanese disappeared back inside. Everything so far had gone according to plan. The boy, who was designated to follow him back to the ship was typical. Dressed in a shirt, shorts and sandals, he was sticking to him like glue, some twenty or thirty paces behind. During the 30 minutes walk, Will had time to think about what had transpired. Away from the tense atmosphere of the shop he could analyze things more rationally, finally realizing that only two factors had any significance. 60
The Reluctant Agent A Compelling Story of Espionage First, the appearance on the scene of the big Hindu, and second, the mere fact that he was in the process of deceiving them, and it was the latter that was creating the turmoil for him. Coming to this conclusion, he knew that he had to keep a strong curb on his nerves, otherwise they could contribute to his downfall. Approaching the gangway he looked back along the quay, but there was no sign of the boy. He was probably still observing him, and Will, walking to the top of the gangway, conversed with the seaman on watch for a couple of minutes, then went below. The following morning Will sat on deck, his mates were either sleeping in, or had already gone ashore. He felt as though he was in a dentist's waiting-room, but the ache was in his head, not his mouth! They may not come. What’s likely to happen when he went back to the shop? Would he be taken somewhere? In an effort to put the questions and doubts into the back of his mind he started to walk the deck. Lunch time came and went without contact, and Will was beginning to think that they had abandoned the arrangement. He had already been to the Pursers office to procure the one thousand rupees, and apart from changing into his shore going clothes he was ready to go. To help pass the time away he decided to go up to see if Wes was around and find out what he had been up to, but just as he was about to leave he was approached by one of the Goanese cabin stewards coming across the deck, still dressed in his work uniform. He was obviously still on duty. Will knew him by sight and hesitated, allowing him to catch up. "Will Brenner?" "Yes." "I've been asked to tell you to go to the shop now." "I understand." Will tried not to show his surprise, but he was completely astounded. He was expecting someone from ashore to contact him, and to be called to the gangway, but this was a complete turn of events, and he struggled to take control of the situation, thinking about the ramifications of having the possibility of a crew member with knowledge of his dealings. He's only passing on a message, don't make a big thing of it. Go ashore and get it over and done with! 61
- 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 30 and 31: Will Bonner envisaged, and he hated
- 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 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
- Page 80 and 81: Will Bonner of the pier into the co
- Page 82 and 83: Will Bonner covered with pine needl
- Page 84 and 85: Will Bonner sounds of the soldiers.
- Page 86 and 87: Will Bonner making a menacing movem
- Page 88 and 89: Will Bonner It was like watching a
- Page 90 and 91: Will Bonner "I've come to say how s
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- Page 94 and 95: Will Bonner On it's approach to Hon
- Page 96 and 97: Will Bonner response, there surely
- Page 98 and 99: Will Bonner reappear. "I'll be blun
- Page 100 and 101: Will Bonner The two men concentrate
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- Page 104 and 105: Will Bonner that they were back at
- Page 106 and 107: Will Bonner thing seemed obvious to
- Page 108 and 109: Will Bonner Will was beginning to l
The Reluctant Agent<br />
A Compelling Story of Espionage<br />
First, the appearance on the scene of the big Hindu, and second, the mere fact<br />
that he was in the process of deceiving them, and it was the latter that was creating<br />
the turmoil for him. Coming to this conclusion, he knew that he had to keep a<br />
strong curb on his nerves, otherwise they could contribute to his downfall.<br />
Approaching the gangway he looked back along the quay, but there was no<br />
sign of the boy. He was probably still observing him, and Will, walking to the top<br />
of the gangway, conversed with the seaman on watch for a couple of minutes,<br />
then went below.<br />
The following morning Will sat on deck, his mates were either sleeping in, or<br />
had already gone ashore. He felt as though he was in a dentist's waiting-room, but<br />
the ache was in his head, not his mouth!<br />
They may not come. What’s likely to happen when he went back to the shop?<br />
Would he be taken somewhere?<br />
In an effort to put the questions and doubts into the back of his mind he started<br />
to walk the deck. Lunch time came and went without contact, and Will was<br />
beginning to think that they had abandoned the arrangement. He had already been<br />
to the Pursers office to procure the one thousand rupees, and apart from changing<br />
into his shore going clothes he was ready to go.<br />
To help pass the time away he decided to go up to see if Wes was around and<br />
find out what he had been up to, but just as he was about to leave he was<br />
approached by one of the Goanese cabin stewards coming across the deck, still<br />
dressed in his work uniform. He was obviously still on duty. Will knew him by<br />
sight and hesitated, allowing him to catch up.<br />
"Will Brenner?"<br />
"Yes."<br />
"I've been asked to tell you to go to the shop now."<br />
"I understand." Will tried not to show his surprise, but he was completely<br />
astounded.<br />
He was expecting someone from ashore to contact him, and to be called to the<br />
gangway, but this was a complete turn of events, and he struggled to take control<br />
of the situation, thinking about the ramifications of having the possibility of a crew<br />
member with knowledge of his dealings. He's only passing on a message, don't<br />
make a big thing of it. Go ashore and get it over and done with!<br />
61
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