We jumped as a team in two sticks, led by the Slavic officers. As senior officer I acted as jump-master in training although in the actual attack I was to be protected rather than to command. The operations plan was simple. We were to drop in North Korea in high mountain country near our objective. The three whites would masquerade as Russian officers. We hoped to pass as inspectors or medical health officers touring the country with a North Korean Army escort. As the Russians had taken control in China and North Korea, we should be able to get by, at least for a while, considering the disorganized state of that plague-tortured peninsula. A rendezvous with the agent who had contacted the enemy virologist would be arranged. From then on it was up to us. Afterwards we were to be evacuated by submarine from a pre-designated spot on the coast. We climbed into the trucks. As they rolled down the road back to our quarters, I pulled Pat's latest letter from my pocket and skimmed once more through its well remembered pages. Because of the danger she was no longer working with the research project but was helping Polly on the electron microscope.... Polly had heard from Harry.... He was in Formosa training with the Americans and Nationalist Chinese for a landing on the Chinese mainland ... he had sold them on the idea.... Polly was worried of course.... She was too ... would I please be careful ... she loved me and missed me so much ... she wanted me to come home safely. I folded the letter and put it away. I'd be coming home all right! On that I was determined. No damned disease, no stupid Communist fanatic was going to stop me! The emphasis on pure physical conditioning changed although we continued our long marches and strenuous exercises. Now we worked constantly in Russian or Korean uniforms, used enemy equipment and talked Russian or Korean. It was hard at first but gradually I achieved a basic knowledge sufficient to deceive a casual observer. A week before Christmas General Rawlins, the Special Forces commander, called me into his office. He came around his desk as I saluted. "You're looking fit, Macdonald. The instructors tell me your team is progressing very nicely." "Thank you sir." "In view of their reports I am letting you and your men off for Christmas and New Years. Air transportation will be arranged as far as possible. Warn your men again about security regulations. See the Chief of Staff for the details." His normally stern face cracked into a smile and he stuck out his hand. "Merry Christmas," he said. * * * * * The day following my return to Vancouver was Christmas Eve. Polly and Pat and I drove out to have dinner with Dr. Hallam in his hill-top apartment. We found him dressed in a white chef's cap and apron busily sugaring the top of a ham. In a moment the girls found aprons of their own and began to get in his way. I got busy with the brandy bottle and the egg nog.