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

describes the job with reasonable accuracy."
     
    Mac always did have a knack at getting to the heart of the matter.  We were all instantly sobered, which I would imagine was his intent.  I had always thought of myself as rather cold-blooded, but this guy had me beat in spades.
     
    "You are being given a thorough course of training, courtesy of Uncle Sam.  It's possible that Uncle, being a peaceful sort, wouldn't approve of everything in the curriculum, but what Uncle doesn't know won't hurt him.  Security has its advantages, and we're very top-secret here.  We're supposed to be developing some kind of a mystery weapon, I believe.  Well, one might call it that.  After all, the greatest mystery on earth, and the most dangerous weapon, is man himself.
     
    "During your training here you are going to be taught many skills which, for obvious reasons, cannot be practiced fully - at least if we want you all to survive the course - as it is not practical to provide victims upon which to practice."
     
    I heard a low chuckle somewhere behind me, but I was watching Mac's eyes and could see no hint that he was joking - I got the impression that the cold-blooded bastard would have not hesitated to "provide victims" if he thought he could have gotten away with it.  I'm not criticizing, mind you; it
    would have made our training more effective.
     
    Completely deadpan, he continued, "There is also a certain amount of training that has to do with mental conditioning which cannot be practiced at all.  We simply pound it into your heads and hope it takes.  Each profession has its rules of engagement and code of conduct; however in ours, the penalties for lapses are unusually severe and often fatal.
     
    "Rule one," he held up his index finger.  "The mission takes precedence.  We will not knowingly send you on a suicide mission, but if your success requires your death or the death of another - including your comrades or even innocent bystanders - that is regrettable, but necessary.  We are at war, after all, and our missions will most likely be necessary to save many other lives."  There were several nods around the room.  This was standard military procedure, although I had my doubts about the veracity of his suicide mission comment.
     
    "Rule two.  You are not expendable, except when it conflicts with rule one.  We will have a considerable amount of time, effort and money tied up in each one of you.  After your mission is successfully completed, your only concern is to return alive, regardless of the breakage.  If you are captured alive, you will make every attempt to escape.  There is one exception to this rule that brings us to rule three:
     
    "The first thing you are taught in the military is the axiom that you must not tell the enemy anything other than name, rank and serial number, if captured.  In this unit, that nonsense does not apply.  With enough time and effort, anyone can be forced to talk.  If you have potentially dangerous information in your head - a situation we will make every attempt to avoid - you are expected to avoid being taken alive and a means to that end will be provided to each of you."  He paused a moment as we absorbed that idea.
     
    "Other than that, you are free to say anything you wish, to avoid torture that might render you unable to escape.  I hope that's clear to everyone.  Unlike the movies, I have found that a smart, scheming coward generally outlives the brave, courageous hero who laughs in the face of danger and stupidly does or says precisely the wrong thing and gets himself shot.  Not that I'm implying anyone here is a coward; there's just a time to act cowardly and a time to act brave and I hope - for your sakes - that you learn the difference."
     
    I had no particular problem with this philosophy but I could tell from the fidgeting that one or two of the others were having a hard time with it.  Well, what do you expect from a generation brought up on the exploits of