Spy - Bedside English Learning Reader IV (Pure English Version)

Author: Wang Ruoping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: The story is set in London in the early 20th century, revolving around anarchist sabotage activities orchestrated by foreign forces, presenting a dramatic and gripping depiction of social and political struggles. First introduced is Woolock, who runs a small shop with his wife, Winnie, primarily selling pornographic pictures and publications. They also live with Woolock's mother-in-law and younger brother, Steve. The family manages to make a living, though somewhat struggling, but maintains a warm atmosphere. As the story unfolds, we learn that Woolock is actually a multi-job spy: a small leader of an anarchist underground organization, a spy for a foreign embassy, and an informant for Prosecutor Hit. The members of this organization, Woolock's so-called friends, are several anarchistic extremists who spend their days claiming to change society through terrorist activities: the elderly Karl Vunt, despite being toothless, bald, and frail, still seems capable of committing one last murder; Michael Rice, who had spent fifteen years in prison, not only failed to reform but had instead written books about his thoughts and experiences in prison; and Osborne, with his typical criminal face, who only knows how to chase women. Woolock's relatively peaceful days were overshadowed by the arrival of a man named Latin. This man is an ambassador from a foreign embassy and, for political reasons, orders Woolock to blow up the Greenwich Observatory. As Woolock is troubled and unable to sleep over this, his dim-witted younger brother, Steve,. Steve is a young man who easily gets over social injustice and feels sorrow for others' suffering. He respects and trusts his sister-in-law greatly. Woolock decides to use Steve's tendency to take up causes, his dim-wittedness, and his trust in him. He buys a new type of bomb from a professor. The professor, in his own words, is a ruthless person who practices anarchism in action. He sees creating bombs as his ultimate goal. However, the bomb explodes prematurely, Steve is blown to pieces, and Woolock is arrested by the police and prosecutors after finding a torn piece of cloth with their home address on it in Steve's body. Upon learning that her beloved younger brother was killed by the husband she trusted, Winnie is extremely heartbroken and despairing. In anger, she stabs Woolock to death with a knife. However, her fear of the gallows leads her to commit suicide by throwing herself into the Thames River. As she is staggering down the street, she encounters Osborne, who is walking towards her. Osborne learns from the professor that Woolock has been blown to death and is trying to be the first to reach Woolock's house to his remaining money. After seeing Woolock's dead body at home, he realizes everything. To save himself while getting the money, he deceives Winnie, saying he wants to live abroad with her. After her money, he jumps off the train taking them abroad and returns to London. However, before he has a chance to enjoy the money, he learns from the newspaper that Winnie has committed suicide by throwing herself into the river. This news drives him mad.