condensed master

The Reluctant agent
A Compelling Story of Espionage
Chapter 5
Chesapeake Bay
Will was now without a ship. He had reported to the Merchant Navy shipping
pool in London, where he was attending on a day to day basis, hoping to get
allotted a ship, sooner, rather than later. Staying at the Seamen's Mission, close
to East India docks, could be likened to one step up from the soup kitchens, but
it was reasonably clean with meals provided, and it's accommodation served as
a temporary measure during transfer between ships.The rooms resembled tiny, thin
walled boxes in rows, on either side of the bare corridor, allowing the slightest
sounds to resonate through them. No sheets were provided for the beds, just
coarse, dark grey rough blankets, making it necessary to go to bed fully clothed
in order to avoid both chaffing the skin, and getting a poor night's sleep.
This was Will's first transfer experience. As a loner, he always found it difficult
to make acquaintances and he was finding the waiting period tedious. Everywhere
he frequented he would look around, hoping to see a friendly face.
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