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“That’s what the Germans call their spies—” Canidy began to explain.
“Not a damn one!” Corvo interrupted.
“—It’s short for Vertrauensmänner,” Canidy went on evenly, his attention still on Scamporino. “It means ‘trustworthy men.’”
Canidy looked at Corvo. “Not one? That’s too bad.”
Corvo looked as if he could not believe his ears.
“Why in hell would you say that?” he said.
“Because he might make a good CEA.”
Corvo glanced at Scamporino as he thought about that a moment, then said, “A double agent?”
Canidy nodded.
“I believe the OSS likes to use the term Controlled Enemy Agent,” Canidy said, then added, “You might take another hard look. Just to make sure.”
Corvo looked like he was about to explode.
Canidy held up his hand, palm out.
“Before you fly off the handle,” he said, “consider your source. That they were in the POW camps during Operation Torch could mean they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time and simply got swept up with the real bad guys. Or…it could mean that there’s one or more who were in a Nest, that they’d been pins on the map when we came through, and now, oh so conveniently, denounce the Nazis and Italians.”
“Pins on a map?” Scamporino said.
Canidy noticed that even Darmstadter now was looking curiously.
“Max,” Canidy said, “does Pins on the Map Syndrome mean anything to you?”
He shook his head. “Sorry, Major.”
“You can call me Dick,” Canidy replied.
The look on Corvo’s face showed that he appreciated the gesture.
“It’s the first I’ve heard of it, Dick,” he said. “The syndrome, that is. Keep in mind I’m new to all this.”
Canidy knew tha
t when he had been recruited for the OSS, Corvo had worn the stripe of an Army private on his uniform.
“In many ways, me, too, Max,” Canidy said, then, after a moment, added, “I gather that Nests and Asts are unfamiliar terms also?”
Corvo nodded. Scamporino shrugged slightly.
“About how many men do you have, Max?” Canidy said.
“Everyone included,” Corvo said, “about thirty.”
“How soon can you round them up?”
Corvo looked at Scamporino and raised an eyebrow, passing the question.
“Fifteen minutes?” Scamporino answered.
Canidy nodded as he considered that. He looked at this wristwatch.
