“Yes,” she said. “As Pelagian says, ‘I am orating to the ordained.’ I am worried about what they will do to you and Pelagian.”
“If you can escape,” Rudi whispered in an urgent tone, “you must do so!”
She smiled and shook her head. “No, I am too much bound up in that man’s life to leave. I would rather die with him than live without him.”
Rudi looked at the sleeping Pelagian, then back to her.
“You have no idea how much I envy him at this moment.”
29
38 miles south of Delta
Bo Thomas slowly crawled backward from the ridge of the knoll before turning. Frank Isaac and William Williams leaned forward at his approach. Back at the ridge Yukon Cassidy remained on his stomach, peering through binoculars.
“They got a bunch of people down there, maybe hundred fifty, two hundred. They got tanks and them things that have big machine guns and haul troops.”
“Armored personnel carriers?” Frank asked.
“Yeah, those. And a bunch of trucks.”
“Shit,” William said in a reverent tone. “We’re in over our heads.” He eased forward to a vantage point and raised his binoculars.
“Why are they here?” Frank said.
Bo shrugged and Frank patted him on the shoulder. “Good work, Bo. Now get back to the others and tell them to stay very quiet.”
“Can I tell them what I saw down there?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay. See ya.” Bo evaporated into the brush.
Frank slowly took position between Cassidy and William. “Whattya see?” he whispered.
Williams spoke first, “Same thing Bo saw. But what I don’t see is Pelagian or Bodecia.”
“Are there any large structures where they might be held prisoner?”
“Well, there’s close to two dozen vehicles where they could be held, and there are two large tents.”
Frank squinted his eyes. “I can’t see for shit any more. Are either of them marked as a hospital?”
“Yeah, the biggest one.” He pulled the binoculars away and looked at Frank. “You getting old or what?”
“Unless you’re dead, you’re getting older all the time, right?”
“Good point.”
Cassidy spoke up, “Hey, I see Bodecia.”
“Where? What’s she doing?”
“She’s walking up to the hospital tent. The guard doesn’t seem to see her. She went in.”
“I’ll bet my trap-line against yours that’s where they’ve got Pelagian,” Frank said.
“No bet,” William said. “Okay?”
“Yeah, no bet.” Frank scooted back into the dense tree line. “This is more than we can handle. It’s more than the Russian garrison can handle.”
“Hell, it’s more than all of us put together can handle,” Cassidy said, joining them.
“Not necessarily,” Frank replied.
“Colonel Romanov, Doyon Isaac is here to see you,” Sergeant Severin said.
“I hope this isn’t more trouble. Please show him in.”
The colonel stood as the doyon entered.
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Colonel Romanov.”
Romanov shook the offered hand. “I am never too busy to see you, Doyon Isaac. Please make yourself comfortable.”
“We have a mutual problem, so I will get straight to the point.”
Romanov nodded.
“There is a small army of mercenaries up on Boris Creek, small by army standards, that is. They number around one hundred fifty to—
“Two hundred effectives,” Romanov said. “Your intelligence is very good, Doyon Isaac. But how is this your problem?”
“We are very aware of the fighting north of here between the Dená and the Russian military. The fact that it has lasted over many months gives us all hope we had been afraid to admit before now. We’ve heard nothing for almost a week, but prior to that things had quieted and—”
“The Republic of California has entered the war on the side of the Dená separatists by dropping 900 paratroopers on Chena three days ago. They will be defeated by the armored column moving north from St. Nicholas.”
“Your high command hasn’t told you about the battle of Rainbow Ridge?”
“What are you talking about?”
“A squadron of ROC P-61 Eureka fighters destroyed most of the armored column, and blew large gaps in the road to the pass. The surviving vehicles are stranded until the road can be repaired in both directions.”
“Propaganda, perhaps?” Romanov countered, feeling a void in the pit of his stomach.
“I had no idea you were unaware of the battle. Over half of the attacking squadron was destroyed.”
“I knew about the battle, and the destruction of the armored column; what I didn’t know was that I had a spy among my communications people. We have other reserves in the area.” Romanov didn’t like this verbal chess match, especially since they had lost contact with their only reserve—Taiga 10.
“Good, because the Freekorps is a very real threat to this village and your garrison. If you believe the Russian Army can effectively deal with the threat, I am much relieved.”
“What other choice is there?”
“We could join forces. I don’t have a lot of people under arms, but perhaps enough to make a difference.”
“A Dená Separatist cell would aid the Russian Army?”
“Part of the Dená Republik would help foreign troops stationed here by the Czar to defend the village of Delta and in so doing also defend St. Anthony Redoubt.”
“Republiks have a sordid history in North Amerika. They’re always breaking off from each other and starting new ones. Look how ineffective they render each other south of here.”
“In fact,” Doyon Isaac said, “they’re all fighting between themselves right now. Yet the USA and the ROC have both sent troops north to help us. The Dená Republik is already fact, Colonel Romanov.”
“Why are you interested in helping the Russian Army combat a band of mercenaries?”
“Two reasons. You have always been fair and as respectful as possible to my people. As far as the mercenaries are concerned, we are in this together: they will kill indiscriminately, not just Russians.”
“My grandmother was of the Yakut People. They and the Athabascans share many traditions. I treat your people the same as I would treat my own family.”
“I had no idea,” Doyon Isaac said, visibly moved.
“I sent out our helicopter this morning to check on Tai… on our reserve force. The helicopter encountered an unknown force and heavy fire. One of our pilots was severely wounded.”
“Do you want our help?”
“Your people know this country better than my men ever will. If you could provide ground reconnaissance, I would be most appreciative.”
“Consider it done.”
“Thank you, Doyon Isaac.”
They shook hands and the Athabascan left the office.
“Sergeant Severin, sound officers’ call!”
30
Delta, Russian Amerika
The scrape of an opening door pulled Jerry Yamato’s attention away from the remains of his meal. Magda jumped to her feet as William Williams entered the room.
“Well, you’re both up,” he said cheerfully, heading for the teapot on the stove.
“You were supposed to wake me after four hours,” Magda snapped.
“Yeah, well we were out messing around in the bush about that time. Besides, Frank said his favorite niece needed her sleep.”
“Where is Uncle Frank?”
“Over talking to Colonel Romanov.”
“Who’s that?” Jerry blurted. Fear vibrated through him and he wondered if these Indians weren’t as antagonistic toward the Russians as he had been led to believe.