18
Tanana, Dená Republik
“No,” Wing said as sternly as she could. “We aren’t taking any large weapons.”
“But this is the rifle General Grigorievich used in the Second Battle of Chena, Colonel!” Sergeant Major Tobias’ eyebrows went as high as his tone of voice.
Grisha laughed. “Don’t worry, Sergeant Major, I’m sure I won’t need it in Akku.”
“Very good, General.” Tobias left the room.
“He’s like a mother hen!” Wing said in a low voice as she sat down beside him. “Sometimes I feel I’m a rival to him for your affection.”
Grisha put his arm around her shoulders, pulled her over and kissed her.
“If that’s the case, he lost.”
“Well, I wasn’t worried about him winning!”
“Neither was I.”
She peered at him. “Grisha, you’ve changed somehow. You don’t seem as uncomfortable as you once were with what you’re doing.”
“I finally realized that I was no longer a charter boat skipper in chains, but rather I was a person of authority in charge of the lives of many good people. The thing that has saved me in the past, and now, is my ability to change: to assess the situation correctly and embrace it completely. I have accepted the fact that I am now a general and must think far beyond myself if I am to do the job I have been given.”
“I think I’m who I always was.” She looked at him with new eyes.
Two knocks sounded on the door and Sergeant Major Tobias stepped though.
“Guess who?” Wing muttered.
“Colonel Jackson wishes an audience with you, General. What should I tell him?”
“Show him in, Sergeant Major Tobias.”
“Very good, sir.” He shot Wing a glance and then exited.
“I think the sergeant major and I shall have a little chat,” Wing said, “about his chances of promotion.”
“There’s no higher enlisted rank than sergeant major,” Grisha said.
“True. But he might be a corporal, soon.”
“Grisha!” Benny Jackson strode into the room and then stopped short. “Sorry. General Grigorievich, how good to see you again.”
Grisha smiled and reached up from his wheelchair. “Benny, it will always be Grisha to you.”
“Thank you, sir!” He shook Grisha’s hand and looked over at Wing. “And the most exciting woman I know, such luck I have. How are you, Wing?”
She embraced him. “It’s good to see you, Benny,” she said into his ear, “what do you want?”
He pulled back with a laugh. “Damn, I hate it when a woman is smarter than I am.”
“Another woman, you mean.” She smiled again.
“Wing!” Grisha said with a frown.
“No,” Benny said in a more somber tone, “she does have a point.”
“I know you’re a busy man, Benny,” Grisha said. “What can I do for you?”
“In a way, it’s something I can do for you. Do you, personally, have a problem with the Republic of California rendering aid to the Tlingit Nation?”
“Christ, no!” Grisha tried to sit up straighter, but the full leg cast kept him pinned to his chairback. “I couldn’t be happier! They will be under the Japanese yoke within weeks if they don’t get help, and we can’t help them.”
“I don’t trust your current government, but I trust both of you. We’ve all shared privation, defeat, and victory together. There is no stronger bond among humankind.”
“No argument,” Wing said, her eyes shining. “Finish what you started to say.”
“We’re going to declare war on Japan if they don’t withdraw from Alaskan and Californian waters. I understand you two are the new Dená ambassadors to the Tlingit Nation. Congratulations. Be ready to move south on a moment’s notice, okay?”
“Why?”
“We’re supplying your transport and it’s to our advantage to have you down there right now. They trust you. Something about a kwan?”
“Yeah, that means a lot to them,” Grisha said. “Will you be going with us?”
“No. They pulled me out of the field to ask you about the potential alliance with the Tlingits. My government thinks we have a bond they can manipulate, so they obviously don’t know you very well.”
Wing grinned but her tone bore an edge. “And you’re not trying to manipulate us?”
“No, Colonel Grigorievich, I’m not. I might try that with your government, but not with the two of you.”
“Thanks, Benny,” Grisha said. “We appreciate that. Now get back to your command.”