She was silent, thinking. Those thoughts, at first, moved far away from the gukuy before her. But, after a time, her thoughts returned and settled upon them. Throughout her long silence, they had squatted patiently. Now, returning her gaze, they remained still and motionless.
Nukurren understood, and appreciated, and then accepted, their own acceptance of her. And she thought that perhaps the Mother of Demons was right, after all. She was still skeptical, but—the eyes were there, after all, staring back at her unflinchingly. The eyes of outcasts, refugees, exiles, with nothing in their gaze but confidence and trust.
“Do you think it can be done?” Nukurren asked. She was looking at Aktako, but it was Kokokda who answered.
“Train a new army? Yes, Nukurren, it can—”
“That is not the question,” interrupted Aktako. “She knows the answer to that question.”
Aktako made the gesture of bemused uncertainty.
“Who knows, Nukurren? I did not think we could cross the swamp. But I was determined not to give that muck the satisfaction of my defeat. And, after a time, we were through the swamp. Then, we met the Utuku ogghoxt. I did not think we would survive the battle. But I was determined not to give the cannibals the satisfaction of a meal. Then the demons came, and destroyed the Utuku. And perhaps that is what you need to ask yourself.”
Aktako gestured toward the young demon.
“I think there is more to this world than we know, Nukurren. So I think we should not assume the world will always defeat us. Did not this same world allow demons to exist? And who knows what can happen to a world which has demons in it?”
Nukurren looked away from Aktako’s hard stare, and examined the gaze of a much smaller pair of eyes. Eyes of fury.
“And why are you here?” Nukurren asked.
The demon made that strange facial gesture which served them as a whistle of amusement.
“You are my friend, Nukurren, and I thought you could use some moral support. Besides, my wounds are almost healed, and it’s my job. I’m the Sharredzhenutumadzhoru of the apalatunush. We ummun and the gukuy warriors will need to learn to coordinate our efforts.” The armless, flat-faced gesture of ruefulness. “We didn’t do so well in the last battle.”
“Not true. The Pilgrims did extremely well,” said Nukurren forcefully. “The demons were stupid. Especially the big male demons who led them, thinking they were invincible. Mindless sp—dzhiludhurren. Very stupid buyush. I shall tell Ludumilaroshokavashiki to seek another mate. Why waste love on one who is determined to die?”
Nukurren could not misunderstand the meaning of the gesture which the young demon now made, alien though it was. The slight bow, the clasping hands.
We were invincible, Nukurren. We had you. And still do. Teacher.
Suddenly, she was filled with love for the young demon. As always, her mantle remained gray. But she made the gesture of fondness to the boy. With some difficulty, for it was a gesture she knew but had never made herself before. Then, to the assembled warriors, she made the gesture of respect. And finally, to Aktako, she made the unnudh wap kottu.
“I think you are right, Aktako,” Nukurren said. “And, even if you are not, we should not give the world the satisfaction of our surrender.”
“Wait here,” she commanded them, and went back into the command circle.
“You spoke of an ancient warrior, who taught a new people the craft of war,” she said to the Mother of Demons. “What was her—his—name?”
“Steuben. Baron Friedrich von Steuben.”
Nukurren made the gesture of negation.
“That is too long.”
She turned to leave. “I accept, Mother of Demons. I will be your shutuppen.”
The ranks of the future army of the nashiyonu were drawn up in the center of the valley. In ragged files.
Very ragged, thought Nukurren. But the immediate problem is that they are still separated. Tribespeople here; Pilgrims there; and the former Utuku clustered away from everyone else. Avoided by everyone else. We must put a stop to that. At once.
She was not concerned. She had served as a trainer for the Anshac legions, whose warriors came from everywhere.