MATT HELM: The War Years by Keith Wease Read Free Book Online

the door to go around to the opposite entrance.  As at a signal, the others got up to follow us.  We all found seats and sat there until, precisely at eight o'clock - twenty hundred hours to be militarily correct - Mac walked in, looking just the same as he had the day before.  Even the suit looked the same, although I doubted it was the same one.  No one could stay that neat after a long plane and car ride.
     
    Still relatively fresh from OTS, I started to stand up as we were taught to do when a superior officer enters a briefing room.  Vance put a restraining arm on my shoulder, saving me from the small embarrassment suffered by two others who did stand briefly before looking around in confusion and sitting down again.  Mac didn't crack a smile.
     
    "Gentlemen - and lady," he nodded in the direction of the lone girl in the room.  "You are about to start a training program - at least continue one - which is unique in America's history.  While working with the military, we are actually operating apart from it and will dispense with the military formalities.  I am called Mac, not sir, and the same goes for your instructors, Frank, Vance, Abraham, Fedder and Rasmussen."  He pointed to each in turn.  I looked at each one as he named them, congratulating myself on identifying them as instructors in the canteen.  A couple, Frank and Abraham especially, looked older than the rest of us, but they, as well as the others, stood out somehow.  I'm not sure quite why, other than all of them seemed to have a "finished" look - and don't ask me what that means.
     
    Mac was continuing, "Frank will be your surveillance and interrogation instructor. Vance, here, will conduct small arms and hand-to-hand training, a continuation of your earlier education.  Abraham will take you through the intricacies of codes, ciphers and similar intelligence skills.  Fedder will teach you about explosives, Rasmussen about the more exotic forms of mayhem and together they will show you how to perform with a partner.  I will occasionally be here to add to your education as best I can."
     
    I was disappointed that he didn't mention rifle, knife and fencing training, not that I felt I needed them, but I was still young and naive enough to want to show off.  I got my chance sooner than I thought.
     
    "There is one change in our faculty.  Vance, who normally also teaches rifle and knife classes, has informed me that you would be better served with a different instructor.  So, one of our students here, Eric, will take over those classes."
     
    I started to look around before I realized he meant me !  I was shocked and immensely flattered all at once.  I also remembered Vance's comment on not being too proud to use an expert and realized it was practiced all the way to the top.  I think it was at that point that I really knew I had found a home.  I caught Vance's eye and nodded to him in thanks.  He nodded back with an amused look.  I refrained from looking at any of the other students.
     
    Mac said dryly, "I take it from your expression, Eric, that Vance did not tell you as I asked him to.  Well, Vance does like his little jokes."  Addressing the rest of the class, he continued, "Although Eric is the first of you to perform as an instructor, I sincerely hope he will not be the last.  In this unit, we will need every resource we can get.  Whenever any of you displays a special talent, if you can teach it to the others, you'll be asked to do so."
     
    Thus expertly smoothing over any ruffled feelings, he continued, "This assignment has taken you out of the mainstream of the war, but it's still a war of sorts and you can consider yourselves still soldiers of a sort, but I'd rather you wouldn't.  Don't make up any pretty mental pictures.  If you were working for a criminal organization, you'd be known as enforcers.  Since you're working for a sovereign nation, you can call yourselves ... well, “removers” is a very good word.  It