condensed master
Will Bonner "They sure are an odd trio." Everyone knew that the Goanese as a race, were for the most part passive, happy and contented, worked hard and never gave trouble, and Will concluded that these three were the exception, no doubt a result of their connection in Bombay, and they must have known the severity of what was going on there. Will listened as Blondie continued, it was rare for him to be giving information. "They are never with the others, and you were fighting outside the fat man's linen locker. Every night between the 8 to 12 p.m. watch, they play cards there." Thanks Blondie, Will was thinking, that's a prime piece of information! The crews quarters were buzzing with the news, but Will could bank on the gossip petering out after a day or two. The incident was minor and not infrequent, so once everyone found out that it had been just another fight, without blood being drawn, there would be no more interest. His most predominant thought was the constant fear of being ambushed again during the remainder of the voyage. There was no one he could ask for help, but supported by the information from Blondie, he would have to take some positive action soon. Will decided that he would go to the locker the following evening and try to eliminate the problem. The intervening time was an example of what the remainder of the voyage would be like. Constantly on the defensive, always in the presence of others, never walking the deck at night, and much more. A virtual prisoner for the next three to four weeks. Will sat in his cabin waiting for the appropriate time. The two Scotsmen were getting some sleep, prior to their twelve midnight to four a.m. watch and Will, taking his kitbag from the locker removed the contents and turned it inside out. Roughly sewn into the base was a palm size derringer pistol with an ivory handle, given to him by someone, as a memento. He had only fired it once before, just to see how it performed. Refilling the bag and stowing it away, he made his way up to the fat man's locker. It was about 10 p.m. and there was no activity in the corridors. Removing the pistol from his pocket, Will burst through the locker-room door, and as Blondie had described, all three were playing cards around a small collapsible table. Practically all the space was taken up by the three men, and the weedy one had his back to the door. 68
The Reluctant Agent A Compelling Story of Espionage Putting an armlock on the weedy man from behind, Will pointed the pistol at the fat man and pulled back the hammer. "You bloody well tried to kill me yesterday," he shouted, "now you're going to pay for it!" All three were in a state of panic, the fat man's eyes were bulging, and he was shaking his head from side to side. The little man was pleading for mercy, and Will knew that he had nothing to fear from him. Keeping the gun pointing at the fat man and dragging the weedy man to the door, he released the armlock from around his neck. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you," he cried, disappearing through the door. Will moved closer to the remaining two, their heads were pressed against the linen stacked on the shelves, trying to get as far away as possible. "I've written a letter to the Provost Marshall in Bombay, telling him all about you two," Will lied. "If anything happens to me, you'll be put away when you get back to Bombay, and you will never get to see Goa again. I've explained in the letter how you are connected, and had it put in the purser's safe until the ship docks in Liverpool." The cabin steward started to whimper. "Please don't do anything, you'll get no more trouble from me." Will motioned toward the door with his pistol, within seconds he was gone. Will moved even closer to the fat man, who was more terrified now that he was facing the threat on his own. With the others gone, Will knew that he had to wind things up quickly and get out of there. "I had nothing to do with what has happened to your brother," Will lied again. "He was doing bad things back there in Bombay, and the police have eventually caught up with him. You are the lucky one!" The fat man apologized. "I'm sorry, I've made a mistake. I promise nothing will happen." Will released the hammer of the pistol making a clicking sound as it passed over the ratchets. The fat man slumped down over the table, probably relieved that he was still alive. If only he knew! He carried no bullets for the derringer because it was an old calibre, but it was a menacing weapon for it's size. Putting the pistol back in his trouser pocket, Will quickly left the linen locker-room. The corridor was still deserted, and he felt himself shivering as he walked briskly back to his cabin. 69
- Page 18 and 19: Will Bonner food so he just lay the
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The Reluctant Agent<br />
A Compelling Story of Espionage<br />
Putting an armlock on the weedy man from behind, Will pointed the pistol at<br />
the fat man and pulled back the hammer.<br />
"You bloody well tried to kill me yesterday," he shouted, "now you're going<br />
to pay for it!"<br />
All three were in a state of panic, the fat man's eyes were bulging, and he was<br />
shaking his head from side to side. The little man was pleading for mercy, and Will<br />
knew that he had nothing to fear from him. Keeping the gun pointing at the fat man<br />
and dragging the weedy man to the door, he released the armlock from around his<br />
neck. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you," he cried, disappearing through the<br />
door.<br />
Will moved closer to the remaining two, their heads were pressed against the<br />
linen stacked on the shelves, trying to get as far away as possible.<br />
"I've written a letter to the Provost Marshall in Bombay, telling him all about<br />
you two," Will lied. "If anything happens to me, you'll be put away when you get<br />
back to Bombay, and you will never get to see Goa again. I've explained in the<br />
letter how you are connected, and had it put in the purser's safe until the ship<br />
docks in Liverpool."<br />
The cabin steward started to whimper. "Please don't do anything, you'll get no<br />
more trouble from me." Will motioned toward the door with his pistol, within<br />
seconds he was gone. Will moved even closer to the fat man, who was more<br />
terrified now that he was facing the threat on his own. With the others gone, Will<br />
knew that he had to wind things up quickly and get out of there.<br />
"I had nothing to do with what has happened to your brother," Will lied again.<br />
"He was doing bad things back there in Bombay, and the police have eventually<br />
caught up with him. You are the lucky one!"<br />
The fat man apologized. "I'm sorry, I've made a mistake. I promise nothing will<br />
happen."<br />
Will released the hammer of the pistol making a clicking sound as it passed<br />
over the ratchets. The fat man slumped down over the table, probably relieved that<br />
he was still alive.<br />
If only he knew! He carried no bullets for the derringer because it was an old<br />
calibre, but it was a menacing weapon for it's size. Putting the pistol back in his<br />
trouser pocket, Will quickly left the linen locker-room. The corridor was still<br />
deserted, and he felt himself shivering as he walked briskly back to his cabin.<br />
69
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