6
Russia-Canada Highway, east of Tetlin Redoubt
General Spotted Bird surveyed the burning perimeter of Tetlin Redoubt through his field glasses. No movement. No resistance for over two hours. “Okay,” he said with a growl into his microphone, ”send in the braves.”
Infantry rose in both directions on the wide front, established earlier through cannon and other heavy weapons fire, and moved forward with caution and practiced alertness. The occasional crack of a rifle would bring the troopers down onto their bellies, but they didn’t hesitate in their advance. No rounds came their way; the enemy offered a total lack of resistance.
“Whattya think, Fires-Twice?” General Spotted Bird asked, squinting over at his adjutant.
The tall Sioux glanced at his commanding officer and nodded toward Tetlin. “I’d send in the Dog Soldiers if it were up to me.”
“Why?”
“They handle the unexpected somewhat better than our less experienced troops, and they won’t walk into a trap.”
“Agreed. Make it happen.”
Colonel Fires-Twice motioned to the radioman. “Contact Major Guthridge and tell him to execute Plan Prairie Fire at once.”
“Yes, sir.” The sergeant flipped switches on the large radio attached to the wide tank hull and spoke rapid Navaho into the microphone.
Colonel Fires-Twice cleared his throat and glanced at the general again.
“You got something to say, say it,” the general said, peering through his field glasses.
“We’ve run out of civilian liaison units. There were more towns in British Canada than we thought.”
“Don’t worry about it, Franklin.” General Spotted Bird lowered the field glasses and bent his mouth as close to a smile as he could. “We’re in Russian Amerika now, and every place we take will be given to our northern brothers-in-arms.”
“Why are we doing that? We’ve already taken most of British Canada. If we’re not out for conquest, why the hell are we still risking FPN lives?”
General Spotted Bird peered through his binoculars again. “For the big picture, Franklin, for the future.”
“I’ll take your word for it, General.”
“Sirs,” Sergeant Yazzi, their radio talker broke in.
“Sergeant?” General Spotted Bird gave him his full attention.
“Captain Guthrie says there is a man named Cassidy who just drove in and demands to see you. Says he was sent for.”
General Spotted Bird grinned for the first time that day.
“Indeed he was sent for. I sent for him. Have Mr. Cassidy brought forward at once.”
Sergeant Yazzi spoke into the microphone for a moment and then lapsed into silence.
Colonel Fires-Twice gave the general a look. “Is that Yukon Cassidy you sent for?”
The general glassed the field again. “Yeah. Know him?”
“We were friends when we were boys. I haven’t seen him since he got pissed and joined the Royal Canadian Rangers back in ’73.”
General Spotted Bird dropped his binoculars to his chest and gave the colonel a level stare. “You never told me you knew him.”
“You never asked, sir.”
“Why was a white kid living in the FPN?”
“His dad was one of those back-to-the-land rustics in the late ’50s. His mother is Hunkpapa Sioux, so he’s half Indian.”
“How long did the father last?”
“He’s the chief administrator for the big hospital in Sioux Falls, still married to his wife after all these years.”
“That’s amazing. Most of those guys went home after three months. What was Cassidy like as a kid?”
Colonel Fires-Twice grinned and shook his head. “He got me into more damned trouble than any five other people put together. Always had a scheme that would make us some money, get us horses, or much later, find wild women.”
“And you haven’t seen him for over fifteen years?”
“The few times he came back to Pa Sapa to visit I was out patrolling one of our borders. You know his record pretty well, General. How is that?”
“He’s worked for me off and on for the last ten years. Best facilitator I’ve ever seen.”
“I can easily believe that. He was always good in tight situations. One time he and I—”
A battered utility with a lodge top screeched to a stop beside the Brule’ tank and both men watched a solidly built man of medium height climb out and look up at them.
“General Spotted Bird, you sent for me?” His gaze wandered over to the other man in the wide tank hatch. “Frank, is that really you?”
“With your permission, General?” Fires-Twice said with a wide grin.
“By all means, Colonel, go greet your friend.”
Colonel Franklin Fires-Twice vaulted out of the hatch, landed on the hull and then jumped to the ground. He and Cassidy grabbed each other in a fierce bear hug and danced in a circle, pounding each other on the back. When they pulled apart General Spotted Bird saw tears on the faces of both men.
“I’ve thought about you every damn day,” Franklin said. “Always wondering what you were up to, where you were, who you were—”
“You’re looking good, Frank.” He wiped his eyes with a grimy sleeve. “And a full colonel, too! I always knew you’d get somewhere if I just got the hell out of the way. I’ve kept up on you, too. Two Valor Shields in one career is a record, isn’t it?”
“So they tell me. It is so good to see you, my brother!”
“We can’t let this many years separate us again, agreed?”
“Agreed!”
“Now I have to report to the general.” Cassidy turned and looked up at Spotted Bird. “Any word on our outlaw?”
“The Freekorps went through here over a week ago. They jumped the border in the middle of the night without killing anyone. The Russians had other fish to fry and put the incident on the back burner. Where they went from here is anyone’s guess.”
“Was Riordan with them?”
“Oh yes. Our witness was very sure of that point. Riordan’s scout car nearly ran down the guy’s kids. Riordan had the driver stop and he screamed at the kids for being in his way.”
“That asshole never changes, does he?”
“There’s a firefight ahead of us—we’re taking out Tetlin Redoubt—but we can get you around the fighting and headed northwest if you wish.”
“I would be most grateful, General Spotted Bird.”
“You’re after Riordan?” Franklin Fires-Twice asked.
“I’ll bring him back to the First People’s Nation to answer for his crime, my friend.”
“Isn’t he surrounded by mercenaries?”
“So I’ve heard.”
“But how—”
“I’ll see you when I get back, Frank. Please stay safe.”
“You too, Wayne.”
Cassidy crawled back into the battered utility and started the engine. Then, with a wave, he swayed off down the road stretching north into the heart of Russian Amerika.