When the Spirit Bear Catches the Eagle

By William Henderson

Lex is forced to leave school for a short time and the boys head off with Uncle Jeff to find the truth regarding the fate of an old friend.

The journey surpasses the destination when they find some truths that challenge their own perceptions of reality and what it means to experience the spiritual realm.

A peek behind the curtain between this world and the next that will stay with them forever.

"...(t)he more you become aware that it is your brain that runs those little scenes of fear and guilt in your head, the more you will see it to be true. You needed that brain to run your body so you gave it all the power. However, the brain is not who you are, it is just a tool, like your hand or your heart. But the brain will not give up control easily, so the first step is simply to be aware that it is there and wants to be in control. The spirit is outside of space and time, as we understand it. I was about your age when my dad explained it to me this way. When the power supply runs down in your radio, do you say the signal is dead or the radio is dead?"
“Well, the radio is dead, of course. The signal is still being broadcasted,” Lex knew this to be true.
“So when the body dies, what happens to the signal?” Jeff asked plainly.

While Lex and Ricky pursue the truth in the death of an old friend of Uncle Jeff's they begin to realize there is more to life itself than the tangible realm experienced by their five senses. But great danger lurks ahead and the question remains as to who will be the one taking the Long Walk and who will be the guide.

"...he was dreaming until he woke up covered in sweat and filled with dread. It felt like he was seeing it all through someone else’s eyes, but it went deeper than that. It would have been more accurate to describe it as someone else’s dream or vision. Lying there he recalled how he was in a cold dark place where he couldn’t breath floating up toward a light. It seemed to take forever to reach that light and when he broke the surface he saw the Spirit Bear on shore just staring at him. After a moment he made out the eagle on the ground and thought he could hear the great bird shriek, as the bear placed one of it’s huge paws on it. But now as he stood there rubbing his head from where he banged it on the cupboard as he jumped up from the settee he realized, that the shriek must have been his and he was wet with cold sweat."

• Language: English
• Publisher: William Henderson
• Release date: Nov 4, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466139480

William Henderson

I have come to understand that happiness is a byproduct of working at something you enjoy and not a goal in itself. It can be anything, a sport, musical instrument or hobby, as long as it takes effort and discipline. Some time ago I realized that one of the things that truly made me happy was writing.Anything that gets people, especially young people to read is wonderful. However, it is tragic that we have separated and withdrawn from the real world to such an extent that we no longer see the mystery and wonders of nature that are our birthright.The Lex & Ricky Mysteries are meant to expose young people to the wonders of the natural world and our collective native heritage. An awareness of sustainability issues is provided along with questioning the cost of trading away our inheritance for short lived "prosperity," often to people who do not live in our communities. Most people cannot possibly imagine the rich natural and spiritual life they are denying themselves.

Book preview

When the Spirit Bear Catches the Eagle

A Lex & Ricky Mystery

by William Henderson

Copyright 2011 William Henderson

All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Chapter 1: Old Friends, New Friends

The sky was dark, not a hint of color on the horizon. The only reason Lex could see the shape coming up the road was because of the moonlight bouncing off the fresh snow. The scene reminded him of an old black and white silent movie. Not a sound could be heard apart from his own breathing. He had watched this approach at least a couple of dozen times since moving to Terrace. Even now in winters close embrace, Lex could feel the warm rush of anticipation flush his cheeks.

Good morning, Lex issued a peppermint fog that slipped between two folds of a yellow scarf. She stood close to him shielding herself from an icy, galloping wind driven by the sun warming the air over the valleys to the east.

Mornin’ Jane, Lex squinted, peeking out from the eyelets of his full faced toque. Are you going to the skating party Friday night?

I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it. Are you?

Yeah, sure. I think it will be fun. I'm told they are going to hook up some speakers outside so that there will be music and maybe even some dance lights, he was sure about the music but threw in the comment about the colored lights in the hope it would drum up some interest.

That sounds like a possibility, Jane offered tentatively as the school bus pulled up beside them. It’s only Monday. It depends on what else comes up through the week. Jane had two older sisters in high school. She had been well instructed on how to treat boys that you were interested in. Never commit to anything until you have to and always, always, always, leave them wanting more.

Lex slowly clambered aboard the bus behind Jane. He found his insulated pants and down filled coat very cumbersome to move around in. By the time he got his knapsack off his shoulders he was half a bus length behind Jane, lumbering down the aisle like an old woman carrying a load of laundry. Unfortunately, this left plenty of time for Tommy to jump up from where he was seated and insert himself beside Jane.

Morning Lex! Moving a little slow there today, eh, old man? laughed Tommy victoriously as Lex lumbered past to sit in the seat behind them.

Hey Tommy, Lex offered with little enthusiasm as he threw his school pack on the seat and began undoing his coat. In the beginning Lex really liked Tommy because he was so confident in himself and seemed to know everybody. But ever since the incident with the Old Ones, Tommy has taken every opportunity to needle him. And the badgering was becoming more aggressive. Lex knew that it was just a question of time before the hostility percolating between them boiled over.

Looking good today, Janey! Tommy leered at her as he put his arm up over the back of the seat behind her.

Jane just glanced at him without responding before turning back to fix her gaze through the window and the soft glow of the snow outside in the darkness. She was covered head to toe with only her blue eyes peering out. Jane knew Tommy was up to something and wasn’t biting.

Are you coming to the skating party Friday? Tommy asked.

Jane just sat there with her mitts clutching her knapsack on her lap riding the bumps in the road, staring out the window.

What? You don’t talk to Natives? Tommy was a seasoned bully and he was itching to get something going this morning.

I talk to 'some' Natives, Jane emphasized as she unwrapped the yellow scarf from her face and kept looking out the window. Lex was surprised she took the bait.

Well I suppose you wouldn’t go to the skating party with a Native, huh? Tommy could feel her relax and took the opportunity.

Sure I would, Jane shook the cold from her scarf and then looped it over the back of her neck again, holding fast to each end.

Really? Tommy was genuinely surprised. He was looking for an argument not a date.

Sure. That’s why Lex is taking me, Jane smiled at Tommy and turned back to the window.

Ah, he’s not a real Native! blurted out Tommy in a telling retort. Stinging from her rebuke, he retreated back to his seat forward on the bus.

Lex wondered if she could see his face flush red as she winked at him in the obsidian mirror the school bus window offered.

C’mon Ricky! You are going to be late! Karen yelled up the stairs from the kitchen.

OK, Mom! I’m coming! Ricky was staring at the three stones on top of his chest of drawers as he pulled on his hoodie.

Uncle Jeff made them promise never to tell anyone about the Old Ones. Ricky and Lex had no problem with that since they didn’t figure anyone would believe them anyway; at least not without proof. As for Gary and Tommy, well, Gary still had nightmares of those events, but they were coming fewer and farther between. Tommy on the other hand was really pissed. His dad had convinced him that evidence of the Old Ones could have been their ticket to the good life. When Tommy’s dad Larry Sullivan, confronted Jeff about such evidence at the hardware store in town back over the Christmas holidays, Jeff just laughed and made fun of him. The Brotherhood was about as hardcore as you could get about protecting what little remained of their heritage. Unfortunately for Larry, he had made his choice and there would be no turning back. The word around town was that Larry’s kid Tommy told him a whopper about Bigfoot and Larry was dumb enough to fall for it.

Ricky! Let’s go I’ll drive you! Karen yelled up the stairs again.

Okay! he slid out of his room and bounded down the stairs two at a time. That’s the offer he had been counting on for a ride to school. He hated waiting in the cold for the school bus and the long ride to pick everyone else up.

Thanks Mom. It sure is cold this morning! Ricky pulled on his toque and pulled over his hood as he climbed out of the Jeep Cherokee, about fifteen minutes later.

Sure, sure. Just don’t tell your brother if you know what’s good for you. He already thinks I’m playing favorites, smiled Karen.

OK Mom! Love you! Ricky slammed the door and ran into the schoolyard to huddle with his friends.

Hey Ricky! Over here! shouted Gary standing next to the brick wall by the asphalt basketball court. The two boys had become very close since that bit of ‘skullduggery’ as Gary liked to refer to it.

Hey Gary. How was your weekend? Did you ask your parents if you could stay over this Friday? The boys had conspired to a night together playing Little Big Planet since Lex was going to some skating party at his school.

Yeah well, maybe. I think it will be OK. My Mom wants a note or a call from your Mom saying that I won’t be allowed to eat so much candy this time. Gary looked at Ricky sheepishly.

What? Ricky looked surprised.

That’s what I told them happened last time I stayed over and you guys dropped me off the next day. I couldn’t very well tell them the truth, could I? I said I wasn’t feeling good because I ate so much candy. I have this reaction to sugar and some food dyes, Gary confessed.

Oh really. Are you allergic or something?

Yeah sort of. Sugar gets me all wired up and anxious. It gets hard to pay attention and I do some crazy things. Gary explained.

Like what? Ricky asked.

Well, last Halloween, not the one just past but the one in Grade Four. You know what happened at the one just past…

Yeah, yeah. Get on with it. Ricky pressed.

Well, Grade Four Halloween before you were here, all of the kids gave me their Halloween candy. I thought it was great because I am not allowed to go out trick or treating due to my condition. I really like candy too, you know.

Yeah, so?

I ate all of this candy at morning recess because everyone was just giving it away. I ate so much that I barfed all over the Grade Four teacher, Mrs. Beltram.

Get out, what happened?

I didn’t know what to do. I just started laughing.

No way!

Yeah. I had my head down on my desk because I wasn’t feeling good and Mrs. Beltram came over, kneeled down beside me and lifted my head up by the hair and I barfed right in her face. It looked so funny with stuff dripping off of her glasses and hair that I just started laughing hysterically. I couldn’t help it. That’s the way I get when I’m on sugar, man. The more nervous I get the more excited things get.

And then what?

At first she moaned a couple of times and then she let out this crazy howl. I ran out of the class as fast as I could and she ran after me.

I have never heard of Mrs. Beltram. Where is she now? Ricky wondered.

Well, the adrenaline, the sugar rush and such got me so excited that I couldn’t stop throwing up and I laid a slick down the hallway for a good ten feet. She slipped and really hurt her hip but she grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. When the ambulance came we were both covered in barf and they had to give her a shot of something to make her let go of my arm and stop moaning.

That’s just too much, Ricky shook his head in amazement.

My parents agreed not to sue the school board if Barfy Beltram took a job at a different school.

Why do they call her Barfy? You were the one that barfed.

Ohhh, chuckled Gary. She had a lot more barf on her than I did. But I was severely traumatized. It’s something I will never forget, Gary laid a hand over his chest feigning sincerity, as the school bell rang.

Karen made it to Caledonia Senior Secondary in plenty of time for her first class. Heading straight to the staff lunchroom to heat up her coffee, she walked into a rather heated discussion. Fred Wilson, the physical education teacher and Tamir Chauhdry, a new math teacher were arguing opposite views on the proposed Enbridge pipeline to bring the bitumen from the Alberta Tar Sands through British Columbia to the Kitimat seaport.

Wilson was adamant that the proposal would bring in many needed jobs and revenue for a seriously eroded tax base. While Chauhdry scoffed at the idea saying that the potential risk to the environment of such a project for a few transient jobs that would likely go to out of province labor, was pure folly. The conversation was beginning to devolve into name calling when Karen decided that her coffee was warm enough and headed for the peace and civility of her own classroom.

Karen made her way to class tuning in to several corridor conversations about the news of the Northern Gateway Pipelines proposal as she went. In her class a dozen students were gathered around a copy of the local paper, while one of them was reading aloud an article stating that over 60 First Nations had allied to stop the Pipelines from moving forward. Karen set her satchel on the teacher’s desk at the front of the class and sat listening while she enjoyed her coffee.

The students were united in their frustration and anger with the proposed pipeline. Given the associated risks of such a project they couldn’t believe such an undertaking would even be considered. A slender, dark haired girl looked up at Karen as they finished reading the article and asked, Why would they even think about doing something crazy like this, Mrs. Robinson?

What’s crazy about it, Shelley? Karen walked into the lion’s den.

Oh, c’mon! exhaled another student leaning back in his chair looking at Karen incredulously. You don’t think this pipeline should be built do you? What about the consequences? It’s not a question of if but when, something will happen and that black muck will kill everything.

Karen stood up head cocked to the side, arms raised, palms up; body language conveying a