Of course, theoretically speaking, operators used their hands to control the equipment, not their voices. They each had their own unique accent, however, their own unique differences, even if in reality these differences were incredibly subtle and exceptionally difficult to discern. It is possible to say that there is no simpler language than Morse code as it is based entirely on ‘dots’ and ‘dashes’. Because of this excessive simplicity, it is an exceedingly specialized language, meaning that all of its practitioners need to receive particular training in order to use it. Consequently, everyone who uses it follows a standard method, and since they all follow a standard method, naturally differences will be few and far between – indeed, most people would be unable to make out any differences at all. But they are there. Over the last five years, I’ve been able to make out one particular operator who has a distinctive habit in their otherwise smooth transmissions: whenever that person transmits five ‘dots’, there nearly always seems to be one additional ‘dot’. But Morse code does not have a string of six ‘dots’. You would think that perhaps this would hinder communication, but I guess that when people hear this specific transmission, they simply assume it to be five ‘dots’ and overlook the sixth. I didn’t, and this is how I was able to identify and, let’s say, come to know this particular operator. Whenever I hear the extra ‘dot’ added to the string of five, I know whom I am listening to.

However, such examples of operators not conforming precisely to the code are rare, and for high-level military communications such a person would have already been dismissed. So even though I mentioned this to Abing, in my heart I knew that asking someone to listen for and identify such minute and subtle characteristics of radio operators was not an easy job: indeed, you might as well ask someone to cut you down a moonbeam.

Nevertheless, Abing seemed to have decided to see things through to the end. On the morning of the following day, I was woken by a telephone call from the guest-house attendant. He told me that Section Chief Chen requested my immediate presence. When I arrived in his office, Chen passed me several sheets of paper and said, ‘Abing has already finished listening to the eight boxes of audio tapes (of course, it must have been in a cursory manner, but perhaps that was all he needed?). The results are there on those pages: see for yourself.’

As I scanned through the papers, Chen continued, ‘It’s almost unbelievable. In fact it’s downright unbelievable. Abing! I dare say we shouldn’t need more than a few days for him to finish identifying all of the remaining enemy stations!’