Colonel MacPherson pumped a clinched fist up and down three times while holding an arm over his head. This silent "rendezvous with me" signal produced an immediate result. What had seemed a tranquil mountain scene came alive with men. At first glance, the group that gathered before their bushy eyebrowed, ruddy faced, clan chieftain consisted of a burnoosed Arab, a white redskin in loincloth and cape, and a Finnish ski trooper. All were dressed in white parachute silk. All, until moments earlier, had blended into the landscape so well that an untrained observer, even with field glasses, would have had a difficult time capturing the movement of these strange shapes against the backdrop of a early summer snowfield.

"See those two backpackers down there on the trail crossing the glacier?"

"Yes sir," the men replied as one!

"Let's give up this silly exercise of you stalking me, and go after real game. Carefully, though. Richards, I saw you when you jumped that crevasse. Murphy, you cast a long shadow when you crossed the ridge. Thompson, I heard your boot scrape bare rock a few minutes ago. How many times have I told you kids to walk on the balls of your feet? What's the matter, don't you have any balls?

"Anyhow," the Colonel continued after the polite laughter had subsided, "those backpackers down there are civilians. They probably have the address and phone number of their congressman written in a little black book, as well as the editorial department of six different newspapers. They can be dangerous to your career if ruffled. I want you to pretend they are X-forces, with orders to shoot Yankee airmen on sight. Get it? Don't let them catch sight of you."

"Sir, what is our mission?" a chubby student wanted to know. He had a habit of trying to substitute a proper question, and fancy equipment as Leitz binoculars, in place of performance .

"I'm getting to that, Butler. In fact, you stay here with me and observe. I want this operation to be a success. For the rest of you said civilians seem to be interested in something. Perhaps they are nature lovers, or bird watchers. I want to know what. I want you to infiltrate their perimeters close enough to listen to their conversation, without being seen. Understand? I'll be watching and grading you from here. You only have fifteen minutes to complete this exercise, and report back to me. Now, move!"