Russian Amerika: Chapter Twenty Eight

28 Outside Chena Redoubt, January 1988

    "Well, do I look like a promyshlennik?" Grisha asked.

    "Actually your hair needs to be more ragged," Wing said, squinting her eyes at him.

    "He'd certainly pass in St. Nicholas," Nik said.

    "Chena is only one berry compared to that bush," she said. "He looks too clean."

    "Wait a minute," Grisha said. "I've seen promyshlenniks in much nicer clothes than these."

    "Where, in Akku?"

    "And Fort Dionysus," he said with a sniff.

    "Chena is not part of that world," Wing said flatly. "The men that frequent Chena Redoubt are lower than the animals they hunt. They have no time for niceties. They would blow their noses on silk and spit on a hardwood floor."

    "So make me look the part," Grisha said with an exaggerated sigh.

    She rubbed grease in his hair and cut at it with scissors. Cora ambled up and watched silently. Nik moved to her side and they discretely touched hips.

    Chan walked over.

    "I think he looks repulsive enough. Now we have to get his partner ready."

    "Who's going with me?"

    "Your guide will be Cora," Chan said, watching his face.

    Grisha frowned and opened his mouth to speak.

    "I will look and play the part of your woman," Cora said quickly and firmly. "You will be in charge as far as observers are concerned. The two of us will agree on our own actions."

    "There could be fighting-"

    Cora laughed. "Grisha, I helped rescue you. I've been a soldier for three years and you've been a lazy sailor for eight. If you want to know the truth, I'm a little worried about how you will stand up to this."

    He throttled back his first impulse and thought about her words. Silence grew in the room. The rancid scent of old bear grease hung heavy in the air.

    "That was stupid of me," Grisha said. He squinted up at Cora. "I'm sorry. To be frank, I'm worried about how I'll do. I know I'm a good field officer, but I've never done anything like this before. I'm glad you're going to be there."

    "If you didn't have reservations," Chan said quietly, "I'd pull you off the mission. If they take you alive and discover your purpose, we'll have to change all our plans and lives will be lost for nothing. You must be completely alert at all times.

    "There is another way into Chena Redoubt, but it is a door which would have to be breached. This plan will save more of our lives than would a direct initial assault.

    "The Russians think they defeated us with their bombers. Our people did not die in vain. So set the hook and then get out quickly. Operation Defiant has started and time is precious."

    Grisha nodded and glanced back to Cora. "You look far too fine to be with someone like this." He jabbed his chest with a thumb. "You'd better let them work on you."

    "I've got an outfit, but my face needs work," Cora said, sitting down on the stool.

    Grisha stepped back next to Wing and watched. He savored the kisses they had shared and looked forward to more. They both held a reluctance to move into anything more intimate. Each needed more time.

    Tomorrow he and Cora had to walk into the twin beaks of the imperial eagle to set bait for an ambush. The comprehension of their audacity made Grisha feel like a mouse. He'd have to be a fast and smooth-talking mouse if he wanted to live. To succeed, Grisha must pass as a Creole promyshlennik.

    Every Russian he encountered would look down on him. Their contempt might help him avoid suspicion; perhaps they would think him too cowed by their numbers and social standing to be dangerous.

    Suddenly the small group around Cora stepped back to admire their work.

    "What do you think?" Wing asked.

    Cora's transformation to frightened, wild-eyed village woman went beyond convincing. For a moment he didn't even want to pretend that he was responsible for the pain and abuse evident in that furtive face. He suddenly smiled.

    "You're good at this! Now if I can just remember to act as if I'm the bastard who makes you cringe like that, we might get through this."

    "You can do it," Cora said firmly. "Now let's get our final briefing from Chan."

    Chan said, "Good news, we've got the Troika Guard surrounded."

    Grisha stopped and stared at the man. "You are giving them the chance to surrender and change their lives, aren't you? Most of them aren't even Russian citizens."

    "Grisha," Chan spoke as if to a child, "of course we're giving them that chance. So far they haven't accepted. Just do your part and we'll do ours."

    "Do you want me to talk to them?"

    "Not to worry, we're telling them about you."