Bedside Lamp English Learning Reader IV: Spy (English-Chinese Contrast)

Author: Wang Ruoping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: The story is set in early 20th-century London, 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, Winne, primarily selling pornographic pictures and publications. Living with them are Woolock's mother-in-law and younger brother, Steve. The family sustains itself through this business, though financially strained, it remains warm and cozy. As the story unfolds, we learn that Woolock is actually a double agent working for multiple parties: a small leader of an anarchist underground organization, a spy for a foreign embassy, and an informant for the prosecutor, Hitler. Woolock's so-called friends in the organization are several anarchist extremists who spend their days claiming to change French society through terrorist activities: the elderly Karl Vent, despite being toothless, bald, and frail, still seems capable of committing one last murder; Michael Reis, 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 life becomes shrouded in darkness due to the arrival of a man named Latin, an ambassador from a foreign embassy who, for political reasons, orders Woolock to blow up the Greenwich Observatory. It is this mission that leaves Woolock depressed and unable to sleep. At this time, his somewhat mentally disabled younger brother, Steve, enters his life. Steve is easily angered by social injustices and deeply empathizes with others' suffering. He respects and trusts his sister-in-law. Woolock decides to exploit Steve's tendency to take up causes, his mental disability, and his trust in him. He buys a new type of bomb from the "Professor." The "Professor," in his own words, is a ruthless person who practices anarchism through action. He considers creating bombs his ultimate goal. However, the bomb explodes prematurely, killing Steve and turning him into a pile of fragments. Woolock is also targeted by the police and the prosecutor after they find a torn piece of cloth with their home address on Steve's body. Upon learning that her beloved younger brother was killed by the husband she trusted, Winne is devastated and. In a fit of rage, she stabs Woolock to death with a knife. However, the fear of the hangman's noose compels her to commit suicide by throwing herself into the Thames River. As she shakily walks down the street, she encounters Osborne, who is walking towards her. Osborne, having learned from the "Professor" that Woolock has been killed, races to Woolock's home first to the money he left behind. Only after seeing Woolock's dead body at home does he realize the truth. To save himself while obtaining the money, he deceives Winne, promising to take her abroad to live. After extracting the money from Winne, he jumps off the train they are taking to leave the country and returns to London. However, before he has a chance to enjoy the money, he reads in the newspaper that Winne has committed suicide by drowning. Thus, he too is driven mad.