“But we are a rebel army, General,” Colonel George said, “not a government.”
“The Dená started in the same manner,” Paul said. “Then they had each village elect a representative to send to an assembly where they thrashed out a basic government.”
“Why don’t we just have all the kwan chiefs decide on a government?” Colonel George said. “That would save a lot of trouble and time.”
Paul Chernikoff and Sam Dundas were the only two men in the room who were not kwan leaders. But Sam was the son of a kwan chief and knew that one day he would lead his people. Chernikoff cleared his throat.
“If it had been the Tlingit Army, my cousin Grisha would perhaps be a major. The Dená have traditional chiefs, but they also have legislators, a war council, and a president. Some of those people are traditional chiefs, but the majority are not.”
“What are you implying, Captain?” Colonel Paul asked in a frigid tone.
“Our people have a rigid caste system. Tradition has always outweighed ability and that has not changed in hundreds of years.”
“Our system works for us, Captain Chernikoff,” Colonel George said. “Let the Dená do as they wish.”
“The Dená are creating a republik. Republik means equal representation for all. Every person above a certain age has a vote.”
“Even women?” Colonel George asked in evident surprise.
“Yes, even women. Over half of the delegates in the Dená assembly are women. And they have done an excellent job of directing, and fighting in, the war against the Russians.”
Silence settled on the small room. One by one, all eyes found General Sobolof. Chernikoff kept his silence and waited; he had done his part.
“Like it or not, we are in the midst of change,” General Sobolof said. “We wish to govern ourselves, to throw off the Czar and his cossacks once and forever. It surprises none of us that we cannot do this thing alone; we need help from outside.”
“General, if I may interrupt a moment?” Colonel Paul said. “Would it be worth destroying our culture in the process of freeing our people? The kwan is the backbone of our people—”
“But not the muscle!” Chernikoff blurted. “The people are the muscle, and the chiefs and leading families have always been the brains. It is time the whole of our people had a say in their lives.”
“That is a very radical statement,” Colonel Paul snapped. “This is not the time for radical deviation from the way our people live.”
“Throwing off the Czar and the Russian government isn’t radical? They have been our masters for over two hundred years—is that not tradition by now?”
“Captain Chernikoff,” General Sobolof said, “I think we all get the point of your commentary. Please allow us the courtesy of debate.”
“Of course, General.”
“You may leave the room now.”
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 through.
“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.”
19
Tim McDaniel’s odinochka
Although feeling the room was far too small for all the people jammed into it, Cassidy pulled the door shut behind him and stood quietly, assessing the scene.