Bedside Lamp English Learning Reader IV: Spy (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 powers, presenting a thrilling 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 survives on this income, though somewhat struggling, it remains warm and cozy. 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 Hitler. The members of this organization, Woolock's so-called friends, are several anarchist extremists who spend their days claiming to change society through terrorist activities: the elderly Karl Vent, despite being toothless, bald, and frail, still seems capable of carrying out one last murder; Michael Rice, who had spent fifteen years in prison, not only failed to reform but had also been writing books about his thoughts from prison; Osborne, with a typical criminal face, only knows how to chase women. Woolock's relatively peaceful days were overshadowed by the arrival of a man named Latin, an ambassador from a foreign embassy, who, for political reasons, instructed Woolock to blow up the Greenwich Observatory. Just as Woolock was feeling depressed and unable to sleep over this, his dim-witted younger brother, Steve,. Steve was a young man who easily grew indignant over social injustice and felt sorrow for others' suffering. He greatly respected and trusted his sister-in-law. Woolock decided to exploit Steve's tendency to take up causes, his dim-wittedness, and his trust in him. He bought a new type of bomb from a professor. The professor, in his own words, was a ruthless person who practiced anarchism in action. He considered creating bombs his ultimate goal. However, the bomb exploded prematurely, Steve was blown to pieces, and Woolock was arrested by the police and the prosecutor after they found a torn piece of cloth with their address on Steve's body. Upon learning that her beloved younger brother was killed by the husband she had always trusted, Winnie was extremely heartbroken and desperate. In a fit of anger, she stabbed Woolock to death with a knife. However, her fear of the hangman's noose led her to commit suicide by jumping into the River Thames. As she was staggering down the street, she encountered Osborne, who was walking towards her. Osborne had learned from the professor that Woolock had been killed in the explosion and was trying to be the first to reach Woolock's house to his remaining money. Only after seeing Woolock's dead body at home did he realize what had happened. To save himself while obtaining the money, he deceived Winnie, claiming he wanted to live abroad with her. After her money, he jumped off the train taking them abroad and returned to London. However, before he could enjoy the money, he learned from the newspaper that Winnie had committed suicide by jumping into the river. This news drove him mad.