Page 116 of Cry Havoc

“How long until we can use the encryption machines against the Americans in Vietnam?”

“The machines are fully functional, and we have the keying material necessary to utilize them now. Dr. Egorov is reverse engineering them so that we have exact copies. After that we will train personnel on their use and maintenance, and then we are a go.”

“How long?”

“He estimates a month.”

“Pressure him to speed things up.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The compromise of American military communications is an unparalleled intelligence feat for the Soviet Union. With Walker in the Navy and Desmond at the NSA providing keying material, we are in a position to decrypt enemy radio transmissions, including those to and from their submarines.”

Penkovsky slowly nodded. They would soon have the potential of listening to every secure American military and intelligence communications transmission. They both knew there was a possibility that a compromise of this scope and scale could result in securing a nuclear first strike capability.

“I want to be kept apprised of the plan to capture MACV-SOG soldiers in Laos. If this works, you might be in this seat as director sooner than planned.”

“It would be an honor, Director.”

CHAPTER 39

3rd Army Field Hospital

Saigon, Vietnam

“YOU ARE LUCKY TObe alive, son.”

Tom heard the voice before he could see the speaker. He could tell it was a man, but his vision was blurry.

“I’m Dr. Kevin Brenner. You are in intensive care in the 3rd Army Field Hospital. Don’t try and talk, you have a breathing tube in. Blink if you can hear me.”

Tom blinked his eyes in response, and also in an unsuccessful attempt to clear his vision.

“Good.”

He attempted to move his hands and feet but was hit with another wave of blinding pain.

Ella! Where’s Ella?

“Try not to move. Before I go into details, just know you are going to survive. You are not paralyzed, and all your limbs are intact.”

Tom tried to talk but was prevented by the breathing tube.

His eyes darted around the room unable to focus.

Ella!

“We will get that tube out later today. Until then just try and relax.Your head is strapped to the table. We needed you immobilized. Normally we would want you in Okinawa or Germany for this, but we couldn’t risk moving you, so we did the surgeries here.”

Tom was vaguely aware that he had a tube inserted in his nostrils.

“You have been here for three days. Can you wiggle your toes?”

Tom did, but almost passed out from the searing wave of pain that shot through his body.

“Good.”

Though his vision was still blurry, he saw what appeared to be movement. The doctor was taking notes on a clipboard.