Only then will he drop his guard when you are near.
Only then will he have significant conversations within your earshot.
Only then will he leave his possessions in a porous and unattended state.
Only then can you begin to gather information systematically.
“Come. Let’s go back,” uttered brusquely, suggests that your Designated Mate has no more wish to talk about himself than you do.
Avoid the temptation to analyze his moods and whims.
Salt water has a cleansing effect.
You will see knowledge of your new intimacy with your Designated Mate in the eyes of every beauty on shore.
“We saved lunch for you” may or may not be an allusion to the reason for your absence.
Cold fish is unappealing, even when served in a good lemon sauce.
Be friendly to other beauties, but not solicitous.
When you are in conversation with a beauty, it is essential that you be perceived as no more or less than she is.
Be truthful about every aspect of your life except marriage (if any).
If married, say that you and your spouse have divorced, to give an impression of unfettered freedom.
“Oh, that’s sad!” suggests that the beauty you’re chatting with would like to marry. you’re chatting with would like to marry.
If your Designated Mate abruptly veers toward the villa, follow him.
Taking his hand and smiling congenially can create a sense of low-key accompaniment.
An abstracted smile in return, as if he’d forgotten who you are, may be a sign of pressing concerns.
The concerns of your Designated Mate are your concerns.
The room assigned to a powerful man will be more lavish than the one you slept in while awaiting his arrival.
Never look for hidden cameras: the fact that you’re looking will give you away.
Determine whether your Designated Mate seeks physical intimacy; if not, feign the wish for a nap.
Your pretense of sleep will allow him to feel that he is alone.
Curling up under bedclothes, even those belonging to an enemy subject, may be soothing.
You’re more likely to hear his handset vibrate if your eyes are closed.
A door sliding open signals his wish to take the call on the balcony.
Your Designated Mate’s important conversations will take place outdoors.
If you are within earshot of his conversation, record it.
Since beauties carry neither pocketbooks nor timepieces, you cannot credibly transport recording devices.
A microphone has been implanted just beyond the first turn of your right ear canal.
Activate the microphone by pressing the triangle of cartilage across your ear opening.
You will hear a faint whine as recording begins.
In extreme quiet, or to a person whose head is adjacent to yours, this whine may be audible.
Should the whine be detected, swat your ear as if to deflect a mosquito, hitting the on/off cartilage to deactivate the mike.
You need not identify or comprehend the language your subject is using.
Your job is proximity; if you are near your Designated Mate, recording his private speech, you are succeeding.
Profanity sounds the same in every language.
An angry subject will guard his words less carefully.
If your subject is angry, you may leave your camouflage position and move as close to him as possible to improve recording quality.
You may feel afraid as you do this.
Your pounding heartbeat will not be recorded.
If your Designated Mate is standing on a balcony, hover in the doorway just behind him.
If he pivots and discovers you, pretend that you were on the verge of approaching him.
Anger usually trumps suspicion.
If your subject brushes past you and storms out of the room, slamming the door, you have eluded detection.
If your Designated Mate leaves your company a second time, don’t follow him again.
Deactivate your ear mike and resume your “nap.”
A moment of repose may be a good time to reassure your loved ones.
Nuanced communication is too easily monitored by the enemy.
Your Subcutaneous Pulse System issues pings so generic that detection would reveal neither source nor intent.
A button is embedded behind the inside ligament of your right knee (if right-handed).
Depress twice to indicate to loved ones that you are well and thinking of them.
You may send this signal only once each day.
A continuous depression of the button indicates an emergency.
You will debate, each day, the best time to send your signal.
You will reflect on the fact that your husband, coming from a culture of tribal allegiance, understands and applauds your patriotism.
You will reflect on the enclosed and joyful life that the two of you have shared since graduate school.
You will reflect on the fact that America is your husband’s chosen country, and that he loves it.
You will reflect on the fact that your husband’s rise to prominence would have been unimaginable in any other nation.
You will reflect on your joint conviction that your service had to be undertaken before you had children.
You will reflect on the fact that you are thirty-three, and have spent your professional life fomenting musical trends.
You will reflect on the fact that you must return home the same person you were when you left.
You will reflect on the fact that you’ve been guaranteed you will <EM>not</EM> be the same person.
You will reflect on the fact that you had stopped being that person even before leaving.
You will reflect on the fact that too much reflection is pointless.
You will reflect on the fact that these “instructions” are becoming less and less instructive.
Your Field Instructions, stored in a chip beneath your hairline, will serve as both a mission log and a guide for others undertaking this work.
Pressing your left thumb (if right-handed) against your left middle fingertip begins recording.
For clearest results, mentally speak the thought, as if talking to yourself.
Always filter your observations and experience through the lens of their didactic value.
Your training is ongoing; you must learn from each step you take.
When your mission is complete, you may view the results of the download before adding your Field Instructions to your mission file.
Where stray or personal thoughts have intruded, you may delete them.
Pretend sleep can lead to actual sleep.
Sleep is restorative in almost every circumstance.
The sound of showering likely indicates the return of your Designated Mate.
As a beauty, you will be expected to return to your room and change clothes often; a fresh appearance at mealtimes is essential.
The goal is to be a lovely, innocuous, evolving surprise.
A crisp white sundress against tanned skin is widely viewed as attractive.
Avoid overbright colors; they are attention-seeking and hinder camouflage.
White is not, technically speaking, a bright color.
White is, nevertheless, bright.
Gold spike-heeled sandals may compromise your ability to run or jump, but they look good on tanned feet.
Thirty-three is still young enough to register as “young.”
Registering as “young” is especially welcome to those who may not register as “young” much longer.
If your Designated Mate leads you to dinner with an arm at your waist, assume that your attire change was successful.