condensed master

Will Bonner
response, there surely must be one? Gerald finished off his drink and placing the
glass back on the table his hand still quivering, he looked across at Will, and
struggling with the words he spoke again, this time quietly.
"I know that you're with the organization and I've been asked to contact you."
Will felt at a disadvantage. His mind flashed back to ferret man, the correspondent,
Omah and Blyth, but this man was completely out of character.
"I think we should get away from this bar, let's go on to the beach and sort
things out." As they walked out of the hotel and on to the beach Will felt the
impulse to keep his distance. If any of the crew spotted him with Gerald, seeing
his unmistakable walk which obviously put him in the homosexual class, they
would never let him forget it for the rest of the voyage. Keeping to the edge of the
beach and under the palm trees, Will resumed the conversation. "I'm not part of
the organization, but you are."
Gerald hesitated, signs of nervousness showing again. "Yes, I am," he blurted
out, "and I do know that you have been involved also."
"Yes, but I'm not an agent," and as he was speaking it suddenly dawned on
him that perhaps someone had made a mistake in bringing him together with
Gerald. The possibility of finding out more information about the organization
sprang immediately to mind, but this was not the time for questions of that nature.
"Are you going to ask me to do something for you here?"
"No, I need you to do something with me." This was certainly a turn of events!
"Look Gerald, don't push me into anything. You've taken me by surprise. Give
me some breathing space. I'll meet you again right here tomorrow around 11 a.m.
and we'll talk things over.”
Gerald's face took on a scared look. "You're not going to let me down are
you? If you do, we'll both be in a lot of trouble."
Will paused before speaking. "I've been threatened with reprisals before, but
you can count on me being here."
Turning he walked away, the scenic splendour of Waikiki beach taking
second place to the recent happenings. His mind was now fully preoccupied, trying
to come to terms with the fact that here he was again under ferret man's thumb,
even though he was on the opposite side of the world!
What about Gerald? It was impossible to imagine him as an agent, his whole
demeanour was that of a highly strung individual. What am I getting myself into?
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