Chapt~<br >r One<br >The operation had to be executed with a surgically military<br >precision marked， with a meticulousness that matched，<br >in degree if not i~ scope， the Allied landing in wartime<br >Europe. It was. ~ preparations had to be made in total<br >stealth and secrecy. "They were. A split-second co-ordina-<br >tion had to be achieved. It was. All the men had to be re-<br >hearsed and trained， over and over again until they played<br >their parts perfectly and automatically. They were so<br >trained. Every eventuality， every possible departure from<br >the planned campaign had to be catered for. It was. And<br >their confidence in their ability to carry out their plan， ir-<br >respective of reversals and departures<br >to be total. It was.<br > Confidence was a quality exudet<br >Branson. Branson was thirty-eight<br >six feet tall， strongly built， with b]<br >tures， lips that were curved in an<br >eir leader， Peter<br > old， just under<br >dr， pleasant fea-<br > perpetual smile<br >and light blue eyes that had forgotten how to smile many<br >years ago. He was dressed in a policeman s uniform but<br ><br >