EXTRACTS: The Modesty Blaise Companion Expanded Edition © 2018 The Book Palace (425 PAGES in Full edition)

T H E M O D E S T Y B L A I S E C O M P A N I O N I I 386 TARRANT, Sir Gerald (continued) “LAST DAY IN LIMBO” P 34 Asks Willie to spend some time at the training establishment run by his Department in the hope of helping one of his best agents, Maude Tiller, over a rough patch, having just finished a nasty assignment for him. Is unimpressed by the complaint he receives about Willie from Jacoby, the resident instructor. He is made the victim of a bizarre joke, organised by Willie, with the same idea of cheering up Maude. When he drops in on Modesty at her country cottage he is told about the watch Modesty found at Paxero’s villa and her belief that Danny Chavasse may still be alive. He suggests that Modesty could try consulting Lucifer, which sets her on the trail to Limbo. At Willie’s request he assigns Maude to him for the journey through the Guatemalan jungle to Limbo and arranges with his Minister, on a nod and a wink basis, for helicopter and troop back up, should this be called for. De-briefs Maude after the operation and has her posted as an Instructor at the training establishment to impart what she had learned from Willie during their operation together. “DRAGON’S CLAW” P 24 When Luke Fletcher gives Modesty the three pictures he has painted from memory of his rescue from the Tasman sea she gives one of them to him as a gift, much to his delight. Helps as much as he possibly can in the various efforts to guard Fletcher and also to stimulate the recovery of his memory. Provides Modesty with a special radio frequency which enables her to get a message to Australian security. When it is all over, he joins Modesty, Willie, Lady Janet Gillam and Steve and Dinah Collier at Modesty’s country cottage for Christmas. Also sings baritone in the Benildon village choir when required. Drawn by Dick Giordano TARRANT, Sir Gerald (continued) “PIECES OF MODESTY” P 155 “SALAMANDER FOUR” His name is used by Willie to advise Salamander Four that the old Network dossier on their organisation is now in Tarrant’s hands, with instructions to open should anything at all untoward happen to either Willie or Modesty. This should provide an effective deterrent to retaliation against them for saving Waldo from their revenge. “PIECES OF MODESTY” P 159 “THE SOO GIRL CHARITY” He is more or less lured into helping Modesty and Willie extract retribution from Charles Leybourn by providing them with background information. “THE SILVER MISTRESS” P 12 On his way to spend a holiday with Modesty in the Tarn, he is kidnapped by Mr. Sexton on the orders of Colonel Jim Straik. His disappearance is made to look like an accident, that he has died in a car crash and his body has been washed away in the river Tarn. He is taken to Chateau Lancieux, where Colonel Jim explains that what he wants is information that Tarrant would know in order to use it for the purposes of blackmail. Subjected to physical degradation, pain at the hands of Mr. Sexton and mental assaults from Mrs. McTurk and Angel he nevertheless refuses to reveal any secrets. When Modesty is captured and put into his cell, he does his best to provide as much information about their situation as possible, including his opinion that Mr. Sexton may be the best unarmed combat practitioner in the world. He Is subjected to a vicious physical beating just before Willie contrives an escape. While Modesty uses techniques of katsu to revive and partially restore his mobility Willie is sent on his way with Lady Janet Gillam and Quinn. Finally able to move, Modesty guides him through the underground caves by which she and Willie first arrived. Pursued by Mr. Sexton, he is ordered by Modesty to cover her naked body in grease and is the only spectator when she fights and defeats Mr. Sexton in hand to hand combat. He spends ten days in the Durand clinic undergoing tests and remedial treatment followed by a further two weeks at “Pendragon”, Modesty’s villa outside Tangier. Finding himself unable to adequately express his thanks, he gives Modesty a small token as a keepsake, a tiny charm in the shape of a tin of grease on a bracelet, made for him by a local craftsman in gold. It is engraved with the words “With love and gratitude, G.T.” When Willie suggests that his recovery would have been much quicker if he had had a mature Frenchwoman as company and offers to arrange it for him, he accuses Willie of being nothing more than a pimp. A month later, having spent all night at his office dealing with a crisis, he meets Modesty, Willie, Lady Janet and Quinn on their way back to Modesty’s penthouse after a celebratory night on the town. Insists that Willie give way and allow him to use the pram wheel cart Willie is riding. Admonishes Modesty for showing her knickers and is accused by Willie of “language”. Modesty agrees that he stops at nothing and Willie would blush if he knew of his goings on with a naked girl and a can of grease.