My wrists were tied to a wooden bar. The door closed and I was alone.
A switch clicked and light flooded the room and spilled through the fabric of the sack over my head.
‘Hello?’
A hand pulled the sack away and I looked into his face.
‘So you found me,’ he said. ‘What should I do with you now, old friend?’
‘Talk to me.’
‘Why should I talk to you?’
‘I can offer you a way back.’
‘Why would I want to go back?’
‘The alternative is I kill you.’
He laughed. ‘You don’t seem to be in a position to promise that.’
He was right. He was always right.
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
We lost one of the giants of modern literature this week, and a writer I simply adored. John le Carre was the master of the spy novel, but also one of the greatest writers of the last century full stop. This is my own little tribute to him. Thanks for the stories.
49 responses to “ROGUE AGENT”
A lovely tribute, Iain
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Thanks Neil
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I feel it is a shame that anybody goes at the moment, especially when their last several months enduring lockdown. It seems a waste for all that effort to be for nothing. But then I wonder how long I will keep saying that? And, after a while, it wears thin.
/he was a very intelligent writer, I thought. I liked him, not so much for his writing because I’ve read very little, but in his real-life interviews, he seemed quite switched on.
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Thanks. Yes, as well as being a great writer he was a great interviewee and speaker, and intelligent on any number of subjects.
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Did feel like Le Carre. He better be a great negotiator 🙂
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Thank you so much. Yes, he’s in a bit of a tight spot!
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Dear Iain,
You left me wanting more. Apt and well written tribute.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle.
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A very fitting tribute, Iain. I was sorry to hear the news.
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Thanks Sandra, another sad moment in this year of depressing doom.
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Makes me wonder about the back story. A fantastic take on the prompt.
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Thanks so much.
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Well, hat’s off to him for his bravado!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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If nothing else, bravado it out!
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Great story! I want to know what happens!
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Thanks so much Ashley 🙂
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Great story and tribute, Iain. I’m sure le Carre would have been very impressed 🙂
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It would be nice to think so!!
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Excellent piece, Iain.
I recently read A Legacy of Spies and the old master had lost none of his deviousness!
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Thanks CE. If you get a chance, his last book ‘Agent Running in the Field’ is also a perfect dissection of the madness of Brexit, and even writing at 88 year sold, he had lost none of his intelligence or knowledge.
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I, too, loved leCarre, and sensed his style in your story this week. Well done.
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I’ll take that compliment! Thanks Linda
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Very much in the great man’s style. A bit of a ‘what happened next’ teaser!
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Thanks Keith, a nice compliment!
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Offering to bring him in from the cold? Clever tribute.
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Thanks so much Liz
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Sorry to hear one of your favorite authors passed on. I can see why there was no happily ever after in your story 😦
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He did not have many happy ever after endings to his novels!
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Isn’t he the author who wrote “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”? I’ve seen movie adaptations of his work (Obi-Wan as George Smiley) and enjoyed their intricacies.
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That’s the one, and one of his best books, among plenty of others.
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Well done.
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Thanks
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I’m not familiar with John le Carré’s work, but you captured the spy genre well.
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If you ever do fancy a new author, he’s definitely worth your time.
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Always. I’ll have to look into him.
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I’m not familiar with the situation, but by other’s comments, you must have hit a homerun.
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Thanks Oneta
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just like the great writer would have written. a fitting tribute. well done.
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Thank you
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So many great writers have gone. I wonder if they are still writing. perhaps in a totally different style/genre…
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Who knows? Thanks Michael.
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Well done Iain, a lovely tribute.
A sad loss indeed
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Thanks Laurie. Such a shame 😦
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Talking him round does seem to be his only option at this point.
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Let’s hope he’s a smooth talker!
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Fascinating story even before I knew it was a tribute to LeCarre. I love how the last sentence captures the fact that this spy may in fact be on the verge of breaking. Well told Iain.
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Thanks so much Anne 🙂
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Gripping story line, leaves me wanting more. A skilful tribute to Le Carre.
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Thanks so much 🙂
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