NOT REPEAT NOT RESUME AUTHORITY OVER EX LAX UNDER ANY
CONDITIONS STOP EVERYTHING POSSIBLE INCLUDING TERMINATION
REPEAT INCLUDING TERMINATION WILL BE DONE TO PREVENT
CANIDY FALLING INTO ENEMY HANDS STOP YOU WILL ACKNOWLEDGE
TIME AND DATE OF RECEIPT DONOVAK END QUOTE
Fine read it and handed it to Douglass.
"Jesus, he is mad," Douglass said.
"You have a code word for a situation like this?"Wilkins asked Fine.
"To acknowledge receipt?"
"Yes, I do," Fine said.
"You want to give it to me?" Wilkins asked, on the edge of sarcasm.
"I don't think I will," Fine said.
"I don't want to acknowledge that message."
"What?
"Wilkins asked incredulously.
"I'm not sure that was sent by Donovan," Fine said.
"Before I acknowledge it, I want confirmation."
"That will take hours," Wilkins said.
"It doesn't sound like Donovan to me, either," Douglass said loyally.
"What the hell are you trying to pull. Captain?
"Wilkins demanded.
"Canidy was there," Fine said.
"And he's not a fool. I certainly won't double guess him, and I don't think Colonel Donovan would, either."
Wilkins opened his mouth to argue, but didn't get a chance to speak. One of the operators called out.
"Hey, I got something from Vis...."
"What does it say?"
"It's not in the clear, for Christ's sake," the operator said, furiously pounding his typewriter.
Eight minutes later, the decryption process was completed:
----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ss
FROM POSTMAN FOR CAIRO VIA STATION VIII