Alaska Republik-ARC (35 page)

“How do I do that?”

“Accept my offer. It might mean resigning your commission in the RCAF. But I guarantee you that you will receive a higher rank in the Dená Army and equal if not better benefits.”

“I admit to feeling somewhat dizzy at this point, Grisha.”

Grisha laughed. “Hell, man, so do I! I was a slave when I first got into this outfit and Wing helped save my life. Top that one!”

“You’re kidding me, right? You were an actual slave?”

“You want to hear the story? Wing, please grab me another beer. Well, it all started down in Akku…”

94

Delta, Dená Republik

“Pelagian, you need to wake up.”

He rolled over and looked up at Yukon Cassidy. “Why? I was up late last night campaigning.”

“You were drinking and campaigning. I know because I was there.”

“So why are you up already?”

“Because I have been in elections before—you haven’t.”

“And I must rise from my comfortable bed because?”

“Konstantin Mitkov and a number of his friends have surrounded the two polling places and are stopping everyone.”

“What?” Pelagian sat up and for the first time noticed Bodecia wasn’t beside him. “That’s not allowed.”

“Perhaps you need to tell him that. I’ll go with.”

“Where is Bodecia?” he asked, pulling on his clothes.

“I think she’s out giving Konstantin a lot of grief.”

“Shit!” Pelagian pulled on his boots and stood. “Show me!”

Bodecia stood in front of two young, burly men. As he closed on them he heard Bodecia say, “You do not have the right to stop anyone from voting.”

“I have the right,” one of the thugs said in a condescending manner, “because no one can stop me.”

Pelagian walked up behind the two men, putting his hands on their shoulders and leaning between them briefly.

“You should have listened to her,” he said and jerked his head back, “it would have saved you pain!” He slammed their heads together, dropping them in a heap.

“It’s about time you got your butt out of bed,” Bodecia said.

“You might have woken me, my love.”

“Don’t start with me, you’ll lose! You have two more coming up behind you.”

Pelagian turned as two young men stopped in their tracks and glared at him and Cassidy.

“Why you beating up our friends?” one demanded.

“Because they are assholes,” Pelagian said. “Do you have a problem with that?”

“It’s pretty easy to take two guys from behind,” the other one said. “Might be harder if you were facing them.”

“They were impeding voters. That’s against the rules.”

“
What
rules?” the first said with a snort.

“
My
rules.”

They both glanced at each other and in that instant Pelagian stepped forward and cracked their heads together, and stepped back as they fell to the ground. He looked around at Bodecia and Cassidy.

“This election work is tiring. I’m hungry. Is there breakfast to be had?”

“Perhaps. Follow me.”

“Haven’t I always?”

“Don’t be impertinent. Have you voted yet?”

“No, I’ve been busy.”

“Go back and vote. Then come over to the house; we’re feeding everyone.”

Pelagian and Cassidy walked back to the school where he’d encountered the young men. As he walked through the door someone grabbed him. It was Konstantin Mitkov.

“Who you gonna— Oh, it’s you.” His face went pale and he stepped back.

“Are you grabbing everyone who walks in here?” Pelagian demanded.

“I can ask, can’t I?”

“What do you do if they tell you it’s none of your damn business who they’re voting for?”

Konstantin’s face clouded. “I ask ’em why!”

“You are breaking the law. No one is supposed to try and tell people who to vote for.”

Konstantin grinned. “Ain’t no law like that here, yet.”

“Well, maybe this will work.” Pelagian hit Konstantin in the side of the head and the man collapsed. “Okay, someone show me how to vote for myself.”

“Can I vote here?” Cassidy asked with a grin.

“Everyone knows you’re a resident of this area; of course you can vote here,” Pelagian said.

Two old women sat at a table containing a ledger. Pelagian stopped in front of them and asked, “What do I do now, Aunties?”

“Sign your name here,” one said crisply.

“And then mark your ballot,” the other one said, holding out a small ticket of paper.

“When you’ve voted you put your ballot in there,” the first said, pointing to a keg with a slot cut into the top.

“How many people have voted so far?”

“Not too many. That jerk Mitkov keeps stopping them.”

“We’ll fix that,” Cassidy said with a bow. “May I sign the ledger?”

95

Tanana, Dená Republik

Magda watched the ground rise up to meet the RCAF transport carrying her and her parents. It had been a long time since she last flew, and the novelty was enough to keep her glued to the window.

No wonder Jerry loves this so much!

The aircraft touched down on the newly laid tarmac, courtesy of the Republic of California as an aid to their Air Force, and quickly decreased speed as the engines cut back and the flaps on the wings dropped. She couldn’t see much of Tanana from the plane window. This was her very first visit to the new capital.

So much had happened and so quickly. Her father had won the election for delegate by a landslide: 898 to 27 votes. Pelagian immediately hired Yukon Cassidy as an aide; then he hired Magda also—he could have two. He told her the hiring order was because he saw Cassidy before he saw her after the election.

She worked hard at not being miffed as far as others were concerned. Actually, she didn’t really care. Jerry was here somewhere and she would see him soon. She wondered if he knew she was flying in today since communications had been haphazard.

The aircraft stopped moving and rocked to a full stop. They all unhooked their seat belts and moved toward the door. She wondered what had to be done first: the convention began in just two days.

The door swung out and a figure stepped into the aircraft and out of sight across the aisle into the galley. She followed her parents and when she came to the point where she would turn and exit the aircraft, a voice to her right said, “Magda!”

She saw Jerry just before he grabbed her in a tight embrace and kissed her.

They held the kiss until applause broke out and they pulled apart. Magda felt she was in a surreal dream: her parents on one side of her and Jerry holding her tight on the other.

“Magda,” Jerry said, dropping to his right knee, “would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

She nearly fell. But her father grabbed her arm and whispered in her ear, “I think this one is a keeper. What do you think?”

So much at once!
She felt overwhelmed and suddenly hesitant.

She smiled down at Jerry. “Yes. Yes, he is. But, Jerry, can we take this a little more slowly? The war is over and we have the time for the luxury of a normal romance.”

He frowned and got off his knee. “So you’re willing to marry me, or what?”

“I’m at ninety percent, Jerry. This is the first thing involving me in what seems like forever that hasn’t been rushed. Can we just slow down?”

His eyes searched hers and she knew when he made his decision.

“Sure, we can slow down, just as long as we keep moving forward.”

“Oh, thank you!” She grabbed him and kissed him with as much feeling as she possessed.

“Can we get on with this day?” Bodecia asked in a mocking tone.

96

Tanana, Capital of the Dená Republik

Two loud raps of wood against wood cut through the multiple conversations in the hall. The constitutional convention delegates grew silent.

“I am Nathan Roubitaux, the provisional president of the War Council of the Dená Separatist Movement, the precursor to the Dená Army. Some of you know me well, and the rest have laid eyes on me for the first time.

“I would have you all know that this cause has been the most essential element in my life over the previous four years. After the First Battle of Chena, I thought we were doomed due to the loss of so many of our finest warriors and strategists. But others came forth and filled the gaps in our armor.

“This has been the most remarkable time of my life and I would not have missed it for sainthood. The people in this room carry a great obligation to the Dená People; you are going to pattern the path they will travel from this point forward. I had hoped to be a part of this assembly of quick wit and deep thoughts, but I was not elected.

“Therefore, my last act will be to lead the election of the presiding officer of your constitutional convention. Do I hear any nominations?”

A woman stood. “I am delegate Blue Bostonman from Aniak. I nominate General Grisha Grigorievich.”

Another woman stood, “I am Eleanor Wright from Nulato, I second the motion.”

Nathan frowned. “General Grigorievich is not an elected delegate.”

Blue stood again. “Nathan, we’re making the rules here. We can elect anyone we wish. I think Grisha would be a good choice because he has proven his loyalty to the Dená People and yet has no ties to any village.”

“He’s married to a woman from Beaver,” Nathan pointed out.

“Wing hasn’t lived in Beaver for almost fifteen years and she’s smart enough and honest enough to not favor one village over another. Are you miffed that I didn’t nominate you?”

“I am only trying to follow what little protocol we have established thus far. Are there any other nominations?” Spots of color darkened Nathan’s cheeks.

A tall man stood and glanced around the room before addressing the chair. “I am known as Pelagian and I am from Delta. I see many faces here that are new to me. Could we adjourn for an hour or two so we all might meet one another?”

“There is a motion and a second on the floor,” Nathan said. “We have to deal with them before anything else can be entertained.”

“Fine,” Pelagian said. “I move that the motion and second be tabled for two hours. Somebody want to second that?”

Gennady Ustinov stood, identified himself, and seconded the motion.

“All in favor of the motion to table signify by saying aye.”

Everyone in the room loudly intoned, “Aye!”

“Are there any nays?” Nathan looked over the room and rapped his gavel. “The motion carries, the vote is tabled and we are in recess for two hours.”

Conversational buzz immediately filled the room and people moved around, shook hands, introduced delegates they knew to people who were still strangers, and formed small discussion groups. Nathan left the room but nobody seemed to notice.

Pelagian went around the room, from person to person, until he had shaken every hand and heard every name. Just before the two hours had elapsed, General Grigorievich arrived; a cane in his hand aided his limp. Applause broke out.

He raised his free hand in the air and the delegates quieted.

“I have been told that my name is in nomination to be the presiding officer at this convention. You honor me beyond my abilities. I am not sure I could correctly herd this argumentative bunch.” He grinned and most of the delegates laughed.

“Seriously, I don’t think I am the right person to do what you ask. There are others with more education and experience who could handle this much better than I can.”

“Grisha, would you hear me out?”

“Of course, Blue.”

“You don’t have relatives anywhere in Dená country. You don’t care if someone is upriver or downriver or even from the Yukon. No one has any doubt about your loyalty or abilities. You’re the only person in Tanana who fits that description. You’re perfect for this job and we need you to do it.”

She sat down and the room grew quiet.

“Who agrees with her?” Grisha asked.

Everyone stood. A few stood more slowly than the others, but in the end all the delegates were on their feet.

“In that case I guess I’ll do it. Let me know when you want to start.” Grisha turned and left the building. Applause broke out behind him.

97

Tanana, Dená Republik

Jerry knocked on Colonel Shipley’s door.

“Come in,” sounded through the wood.

Jerry entered and stood at attention. “Request to speak to the commanding officer, sir.”

“At ease, Major Yamato. Of course you can speak to me. Have a seat. What’s up, Jerry?”

Jerry sat and looked across the desk at his commanding officer.

“I didn’t think I would ever hear myself say these words, but I’d like to resign my commission in the Air Force.”

“I wondered how long it would take you to decide.”

“Sir?”

“General Grigorievich spoke with me about putting you on his staff, said he didn’t want to go behind my back but wanted you to make your own decision. I agreed with him.”

“It’s not that I don’t love my country or honor my commitments, Colonel—”

“Nobody would believe that of you, Major, least of all me. You have been immersed in a culture that fascinates you, you have met the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, and her culture has made you part of it in a very special way. I would do the same thing you are, hands down.

“But I want you to be aware that you can be seconded to the Dená and still maintain your rank and service in the RCAF.”

“I did know that, Colonel. After a great deal of thought I decided that this might lead to more duties in the Dená Army and, to be honest about the situation, I should join them from the start. How do I start this process, sir?”

“You can end it by signing these three sheets of paper. When General Grigorievich told me of his intentions, I had the paperwork drawn up and ready for you. This
is
an efficient branch of the service, you know.”

“Yes, sir, I know.”

Jerry quickly scanned the papers and then signed all three. He laid the pen on the desk and smiled up at his former commander.

“If you’ll still be here on August first, I would appreciate it if you would attend my wedding.”

“I’ll make a point of being here, Colonel. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Just think how many California cocktail parties I can dominate with this story.”