Depending on local conditions, the organizational structure of the underground varies from area to area. As a general rule, because of security reasons, the leadership is rotated. The Party may feel that a member is going “stale.” If so, he may be shifted to another assignment or temporarily “furloughed upstairs” (meaning allowed to reappear in the “open”). A reserve leadership is always ready, in case the functioning leaders are arrested or otherwise incapacitated. This reserve may consist of other underground comrades or members still “upstairs.” On the West Coast, for example, a clandestine communist group using the code name of “Mollie” had full responsibility for carrying through not only underground but also many above-ground functions. For security reasons underground contacts are always downward, not to a higher level. This means that top officials can contact those in lower levels, but the latter (who seldom even know the identity of their superiors) cannot contact above themselves. In event of an “enemy breakthrough,” only the identity of those on the level “broken through,” or lower level, will be revealed. As we have mentioned, the closest cooperation must exist between the underground and above-ground apparatuses. The former cannot operate as a self-contained unit. It must constantly be serviced from above; otherwise it would die of suffocation. As we noticed in Chapter 17, communist fronts serve as periscopes to the “upper world” through which funds, supplies, and instructions are funneled. The deeper the Party goes underground, the greater the reliance on fronts. The overriding consideration of the underground is security, not to be discovered by the FBI. Let’s see how this affects the Party’s operations. Hide-outs Generally speaking the underground uses three types of hide-outs: (1) _temporary_, an abode for a courier or Party member en route to another destination. This will probably be a room in the home of a “politically reliable” individual; (2) _emergency_, a home or apartment where a member, perhaps feeling he is being watched or suddenly becoming sick, can hide on an emergency basis. It is not to be used too frequently; (3) _permanent_, or “deep freeze,” where one or more comrades can remain for extended periods, maybe a month, or even a year, with all necessities being provided. Farms or cabins in remote areas make excellent “deep freezes.” Here are some of the requirements demanded for a “safe” hide-out. They illustrate the Party’s attention to detail. 1. The owner must be absolutely loyal to the Party. 2. If an apartment, there must be no doorman or elevator operator. A walk-up apartment of three or four stories is preferable. 3. If a family home, the members must be thoroughly reliable. There should be no children, relatives, or maids. 4. The proprietor should not be too closely identified with the Party, either as a sympathizer or member.