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

E X P A N D E D E D I T I O N TARRANT, Sir Gerald (continued) STORY 60: “THE DOUBLE AGENT”: STRIP 6460 Some years ago, with Modesty’s help he outwitted and disgraced Hakil, an Eastern European spy master who has at last been restored the senior position he held prior to Tarrant’s coup. Hakil wants revenge and he has devised a most elaborate plan to assassinate him and put the blame on Modesty by using an exact double of her. Unaware of the attempt about to be made on his life he is playing golf when Willie and Maude Tiller arrive at the thirteenth tee just in time to foil the plot. Willie knows instinctively that the double is not Modesty and pushes him to safety. He later reports to Modesty that Hakil attempted to defect and was liquidated by his own side, but not until after he had revealed a British sleeper agent. It was the sleeper who set up the round of golf and he now intends to use him to convey false information. STORY 62: “MILLION DOLLAR GAME”: STRIP 6637 Is entertaining Willie at a Whitehall club when he learns to his astonishment that Modesty was last week on Kibo, which is the highest point in Africa. STORY 63: “THE VAMPIRE OF MALVESCU”: STRIP 6778 Much to the annoyance of his fellow players he interrupts a hand of cards at his club on receipt of a message from the Club Steward that someone is calling him on behalf of Modesty Blaise. The caller is Weng asking him if he is able to provide him with information about a new terrorist group called Europe’s Fist. It is for onward transmission to Modesty. After a slightly false start he tells Weng what little he knows of its aims and structure, but it is really not very much. It is presumed that Modesty later lets him know that the group is now finished. 165 T H E M O D E S T Y B L A I S E C O M P A N I TARRANT, Sir Gerald (continued) STORY 64: “SAMANTHA AND THE CHERUB”: STRIP 6836 Invites Modesty to a piano recital to hear his godson, Stefan Kolin, play. Is with them both when Willie reports that Lucy, Stefan’s wife, has been kidnapped. Fears it is a plot to force Stefan to return home to the Eastern Bloc country from which he defected. Suggests to Modesty and Willie that it might be the work of a new international criminal group, Contrax, which undertakes dirty and unofficial jobs for governments. Keeps a watching brief while Modesty and Willie dig around and is called in to clear up when Lucy is rescued. It was Contrax. STORY 68: “THE BIG MOLE”: STRIP 7254 Entertaining Modesty and Willie at his weekend cottage in Beckleton. He has been dragooned into playing a leading part in the re-enactment of a civil war skirmish that took place near the village. He discusses with Modesty and Willie the violent armed raid that has freed the traitor Sir Clive Meyrick, “The Big Mole”, from custody. It was claimed by a group calling itself The Paladins. He assures them that it is not his problem as Boulter’s department is handling it. When Willie finds a bottle containing a message that says Meyrick and the Paladins are in the nearby nurses home and are holding the nurses hostage, his Minister puts him in charge of their rescue. Calls in the S.A.S. Ready Squad, led by Michael Kerr, an officer known to Modesty and Willie from their Network days. Together they effect the rescue of the nurses, the recapture of Meyrick and the capture, with some loss of their lives, of the Paladins. Apologises to Modesty and Willie. He invited them for a quiet weekend in the country. STORY 70: “FIONA”: STRIP 7446 About to go on leave for a month to visit his brother’s grave in Imphal, he quite by chance meets Modesty at the airport. She is going to visit the Lathams, friends who run a small hospital in rural Bangladesh. Travels with her and volunteers to spend some time helping in the hospital. Survives an attack by Wu Smith’s men on the way and enjoys it. Learns from Sumi that Wu Smith is operating a heroin processing plant nearby and of the prophecy of Gopal. When Modesty and Willie finally sort everything out he is given a confession signed by Wu Smith to keep for future use if required. Drawn by Romero Strip 6637 3rd March, 1987 Drawn by Neville Colvin Strip 6503 21st August, 1986 Drawn by Romero Strip 6778 23rd September, 1987 Drawn by Romero Strip 6839A Not published in the Evening Standard Drawn by Romero Strip 7262 23rd August, 1989 Drawn by Romero Strip 7487 17th July, 1990