“General Gehlen told the colonel he thinks we have to expect the Soviets will try to kidnap anyone they think knows anything about Operation Ost. While Freddy will know no more than he absolutely has to about the details of Operation Ost—in case the Soviets grab him, the less he knows the better—but he will serve as the contact between Kloster Grünau and me.”
“Got it,” Dunwiddie said.
“And turning to the subject of contact,” Wallace said. “There is no way I could operate a semi-clandestine radio station in the Vier Jahreszeiten, so you get the Collins and the SIGABA.”
Collins? SIGABA? Cronley thought.
Semi-clandestine radio station?
What the hell is he talking about?
“Yes, sir,” Dunwiddie said.
“Bring Lieutenant Cronley up to speed on that.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What are you driving?”
“A Kapitän, sir.”
“I’m not sure the Collins and the SIGABA will fit in a Kapitän,” Wallace said. “But that’s not going to be a problem. I got you another three ambulances . . .”
Three ambulances?
Oh, the ones with the Red Crosses painted over.
“. . . so you can put the SIGABA and the Collins in one of them and drive home. They’re in the basement garage.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You drive the ambulance, Mr. Dunwiddie, as second lieutenants are not supposed to drive ambulances. It’s beneath their dignity, and we don’t want to draw attention to us with an undignified lieutenant, do we?”
“No, sir.”
“And when you get home, send someone to pick up the other ambulances. I want to get them out of here before anyone asks where I got them.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Spend the night here—I don’t want to risk damage to the SIGABA if you hit a pothole. Leave first thing in the morning.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Can you think of anything else, Hessinger?” Major Wallace asked.
“No, sir.”
“What do we do, sir? Check into the hotel?” Dunwiddie asked.
“Not necessary. I requisitioned this entire floor. I don’t know what I’m going to do with all the space, but I didn’t want anybody else in it.”
Wallace looked at his watch.
“Well, that’s it. I’m off to see the Wizard . . .”
Now what the hell does that mean?
“. . . call Freddy when you’re set up with Vint Hill.”