Alaska Republik-ARC (12 page)

He immediately slowed. He harbored no doubt his wife and adjutant would do exactly as she said. A warm effusion of affection swelled through him and he knew he was a lucky man.

“Yes, Colonel,” he muttered over his shoulder.

“General Grigorievich, welcome to our flight.”

Grisha stopped and stared at the attractive young woman standing at the bottom of the ramp.

“Anita! How is your arm?”

“Thanks to you, it is just fine. It is so good to see you under happier circumstances, sir.”

“This is my wife, Colonel Wing Grigorievich. Wing, this is Anita; she and I have traveled together before.”

Wing smiled and took her hand. “Yes, I heard all about it. So pleased to meet you.”

“And you, Colonel! Now if you will both step this way.”

“Is this the same plane?” Grisha asked, looking around.

“Indeed it is, General.”

Grisha moved up the steps at a slow, but steady, pace. He could sense Wing behind him, ready to catch him if he fell. The leg was nearly healed, but he didn’t want to jeopardize it with undo stress before it fully knitted.

“I’m not an invalid!” he barked over his shoulder.

“That’s fine, Grisha,” Wing said, “because I’m not a nurse.”

He laughed despite himself. She was absolutely the best thing that had ever happened to him. Life without her was unimaginable, and at this point, would be unbearable.

He abruptly stopped on the second-to-last step. Wing immediately grabbed his right elbow. Grisha turned and kissed her astonished mouth. Then he moved into the aircraft.

“That was very unmilitary,” she said as harshly as she could.

“And very satisfying.” He grinned to himself and took a seat, the same one, he reflected, from which he had attended to Anita.

Wing slid past and dropped into the seat next to him. “Where are they taking us?”

“I give you points,” he said. “You’ve waited over fifty hours to ask that question.”

“You mean it wasn’t a military secret?”

“Not from you.”

She punched him in the arm with painful force. “You moose turd! I’ve been going crazy wondering what I should pack for us and you’ve known all along where we were going and could have told me!”

“I’m sorry,” he said instantly. But I needed to know which came first: the adjutant or the wife. I treasure you on both counts, you know that.”

“So where the hell are we going,
General
?”

“To a former British Air Corps base in Puget Sound. There we will transfer to a Californian submarine which will deliver us to Angoon, Russian Amerika.”

“Aren’t the Californians and the US navies fighting the Japanese in those waters?”

“I need to tell my adjutant the answer to that?”

“At this moment, I’m a wife. So how much Japanese activity has there been in the area?”

“They’ve moved their focus south, a long way south. The RCN fleet is moving against them.”

“Good.” Wing glanced around. “Do you think the Tlingit Nation will ally themselves with us?”

“Militarily, without a doubt. Politically, I honestly don’t know. The Tlingits are an incredibly stratified society. The kwan leaders have been in power for a millennium.”

“Sounds promising,” Wing said in a flat tone. “So why are we wasting our time?”

“We may not be wasting anything. If we can get the leaders to actually join us as a true republic, they will have to change their rules. And it would be in a manner where they would not lose prestige. So in a way, it would be a double victory for them.”

“But they wouldn’t run things any more, Grisha.”

“At this moment they are facing the fact that the Japanese could easily be their new rulers. I think they’re ready for a little help into the twentieth century.”

“Are they really that devious?”

“The word you’re looking for is
complex
.”

“All strapped in?” Anita asked.

Grisha smiled at her. “How about
you
strapping in as well?”

She laughed and sat across the aisle from them.

“Prepare for takeoff.”

They all glanced up at the speaker.

The four engines revved and the plane abruptly jerked forward, sped down the runway and soared into the sky.

“What’s our flying time, Anita?”

“Depending on head winds, about six and a half hours, General.”

“Please, call me Grisha.”

“Thank you, Grisha. I am honored. Would you both like something to eat?”

“The last time you asked me that—”

“I ended up wearing your lunch,” Anita said and laughed. She sobered quickly. “I thought we were all going to die that day. You not only helped me physically, you helped me hang on mentally.”

“Not everyone gets sucker-punched by an aircraft.”

Anita laughed again. “That’s for damned sure!”

“Can I help you prepare the food?” Wing asked.

“Oh, no, but thank you, Colonel. I don’t do much on these VIP flights anyway.”

“Please, Anita, I would like you to call me Wing. Vee-eye-pee?”

“Very important persons. Like it or not, that’s how the crew regards you, including me.”

“We’re just soldiers,” Grisha said. “You’re just as important as we are.”

“Whatever you say. Now, what would you like to eat?”

24

Delta, near St. Anthony Redoubt

Jerry’s feet hurt. “Can we take a break?” he asked.

Magda glanced back at him. “Ten more minutes, okay? We’re really close.”

He decided to go as far as the next bend in the trail and if it stretched on through the boreal forest with nothing else in sight, he was going to sit down for at least half an hour. The more he thought about sitting, the more he anticipated finding nothing but more trees.

A dog barked as they entered the bend. Consort and Arrow answered in unison, and then fell silent. Two hundred meters away sat a cabin flanked by a massive woodpile and small outbuildings. Beyond the cabin sat more buildings of varying sizes.

Two dogs raced toward them in total silence. Magda laughed and bent to greet them. “It’s Griz and Kodiak. Mom and Dad must be here already!”

Wood smoke drifted in the air as well as the savory odor of frying meat. Birds flew past and their chirping filled his ears with comfort. He felt weight he hadn’t before noticed lift off his shoulders.

Magda slowed so he could catch up with her.

“Welcome to Delta, where the Delta River flows into the Tanana River. This is where I was born and have lived most of my life. Now follow me and stay close.”

She led them down a small path skirting the edge of the village.

“Why are we going this way?”

“Because I don’t want to talk to the Russians who man the garrison here.”

“Russians? Here?”

“They think they still own the place, remember?”

Jerry had registered it as a fact, but only mentally; he knew she felt it viscerally, and he must also or suffer greatly.

They moved down a heavily shaded corridor in the closely woven willows, which nearly became a tunnel. Birds darted and flew in panic from the humans. He wondered what their chances would be if they encountered Russian soldiers in here. Slim, he decided, very slim.

When he looked forward again, three men blocked their path. All four dogs wagged their tails. Magda didn’t slow her pace and for an instant he wondered if she saw them. One of the men opened his arms wide.

“Little Magda, how good to see you!”

She responded in kind, throwing her arms open and racing forward, “Uncle Frank!”

They hugged and laughed. Jerry and the two men with Uncle Frank eyed each other warily. Magda spoke rapidly in what Jerry supposed was the local dialect of Athabascan.

Uncle Frank became agitated, glanced up at Jerry and then focused again on Magda.

“Your father is wounded?”

Magda nodded.

“When Kodiak and Griz came in, I thought you and your family would be here soon.”

“The dogs are here but not my parents?”

“Yes, and your father is wounded, so—”

“The Russians must have captured them!”

“We’ll figure it all out, don’t worry. And who is this?” he nodded toward Jerry.

Before Magda could answer, Jerry snapped to attention and said, “I am First Lieutenant Gerald Yamato, Republic of California Air Force. My P-61 was shot down in a battle with a Russian armored column.”

“I am Franklin Isaac, the doyon for this area. This is my friend and associate, William Williams.” William smiled and nodded. “And this is my friend, Yukon Cassidy.”

Cassidy, who was the shortest of the three, nodded and smiled.

“We heard about that battle, Lieutenant,” Frank said. “Your squadron eliminated a threat we thought would have to be fought right here in Delta. In the name of the Dená people, I thank you.”

“Uh, you’re welcome.” He felt embarrassed but couldn’t decide why. “Do you know how many of my people survived the fight?”

“I am not sure, but I think I heard the number seven.”

“Seven. We went into that fight with fifteen birds. Can you put me in touch with the airfield at Fort Yukon?”

“No. The Russians still hold the small redoubt here, as well as all the communications.”

“How did you hear about the battle?”

We have people inside the redoubt, but they have no authority over the Russians.”

“Jerry,” Magda said, “tell them about the Freekorps.”

Jerry told them what he had heard and seen. “We don’t know where they went, but we heard engine noises off to our right. I’m not sure when that stopped.”

“It faded about four hours ago,” Magda said. “I thought they might be following one of the tributaries back up into the hills. We didn’t see them on the highway.”

“Do you have any idea how many there are?”

Jerry and Magda shook their heads in unison.

“Those are the people I’m looking for,” Cassidy said.

“Any idea how many Russians were in this group?” William asked.

“No idea at all. How many Russians are here?” Jerry asked.

“Fifteen officers and ninety enlisted men. About half the enlisted are trained well enough to actually fight.” Frank grinned. “But the garrison has three tanks and a lot of heavy weapons.”

“How many people do you have in your DSM cell?” Jerry asked.

“What makes you think we have a cell?” Williams asked.

“You’re Dená. I’d be more amazed if you didn’t have an organization here. You already mentioned spies in the Russian garrison.”

“We slightly outnumber the Russians, but we can’t match their fire power,” Frank said. “But we’ve got to get out there and help your parents, Magda.”

“Did the three fighters come by here?” she asked, gesturing at the sky.

“Planes? No.”

“I thought my mother had already picked up a vehicle. But, with the dogs here, I’m no longer sure.”

Frank nodded down the path. “Tell me about it while we get ourselves organized.”

Twenty minutes later they sat and talked over tea.

“I sent out three men who know the country,” Frank said, draining his teacup. “Give them a day and they’ll know what’s going on and why.”

“What about my parents and Rudi?” Magda asked.

“William’s getting the supplies we need. As soon as you two get some rest, we’ll go after them.”

“I’m not tired,” Magda said.

“Yes, you are,” Frank said, his lips twitching toward a smile. “And look at the lieutenant, he’s almost asleep.”

Jerry forced his eyes open in the cozy kitchen of Frank’s home. “I can keep up with you!”

“I’m sure you could, Lieutenant Yamato. But you’d be of more use to us and yourself if you recharged your batteries.”

Jerry couldn’t argue with him. He wasn’t just tired; he was exhausted. He couldn’t remember ever being this tired before in his life. Magda had to be nearly out on her feet, too.

“Four hours of sleep and we’ll start, okay?” Frank said glancing from one to the other.

Jerry nodded.

Magda sighed. “Okay. But just four hours.”

Frank pointed to two doors. “You each have a room if you wish.”

Jerry felt his cheeks grow warm. “Thanks, see you in four hours.” He entered a small, clean bedroom containing two single beds and a dresser. As he shut the door he heard Magda say, “It’s not like that, Uncle Frank.”

“Whatever you say,” Frank said with a chuckle.

***

Jerry’s eyes popped open and he wondered what it was that woke him. For a long moment he couldn’t fathom his location. Then it all flooded back.

He sat up in the comfortable bed and looked across the room. Magda slept on the other bed, curled in a fetal position with the sheet pulled tight around her shoulders.

So much for trust,
he thought. But then he realized that her defensiveness might not have anything to do with him. There was a lot happening in her life just now that might induce something less than open, welcoming arms on her part.

He turned, pulling his body free of the light sheet and blanket, and slipped into his boots. As he secured the lashings, he glanced around the cabin. He could live in a place like this, he decided.

Varnished peeled logs fit tightly atop each other, creating a snug bedroom boasting one window. The yellow cedar window frame brought warmth from outside and spread it liberally throughout the room. The plank flooring felt cool and sturdy under his feet, and nowhere a sliver to be found.

Jerry had spent months living in the Sierra Nevada Mountains every summer for five teen-aged years. As a counselor he had one of the better cabins in the camp. The difference between this house and those cabins was the difference between
Satori
, his P-61 Eureka fighter, and an AT-9 Sacramento trainer.

They both fit the description, but in such different ways.

He looked back at Magda again and found her staring at him.

“Hi,” he said. “How do you feel?”

She looked at him, her head still partially buried in the pillow, and smiled. “I’m fine, how are you?”

“Quite rested, thanks.”

Her eyebrows arched. “What time is it? How long have we been here? Why did they let us sleep so long?”

Jerry peered at his watch.

“It’s eighteen hundred?” He looked up at her. “Six in the evening. We’ve been here about six hours, if I remember right. What was the last thing?”