Totems of Seldovia: An Alaska Children's Adventure Mystery

By Martin Grossman

One dark night on a windswept Alaska beach, The Teller of Tales tells a story never heard before. An aura of mystery surrounds the tale and draws you in like a warm fire on a cold winter's night. He challenges only those who believe his story to face the hazards of the trail and to go on the adventure of a lifetime.

Three children answer his call and try to unravel the clues that surround The Mystery of the Totems of Seldovia. As the story unwinds you will find yourself hiding from a hungry bear, traveling along a dusty road where Dust Devils rise to meet you, or looking for clues in the old cemetery while two ominous ravens stare at you like you're their next meal.

Totems of Seldovia will take you on a roller coaster adventure in the age of innocence and a search for treasure beyond your wildest dreams—so come along with our young explorers in a search for the secrets of the Totems of Seldovia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publication Consultants
• Release date: May 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781594335914

Martin Grossman

Martin Grossman developed his skill and passion for writing when he was editor of his college newspaper, The Daily Cub. After serving his country overseas he came to Alaska on vacation—and never left. Martin has a passion for writing children's books including two published titles: Oscar the Otter and Pigs of Lake Hood. The idea for Totems of Seldovia came to him when he travelled to the small, sea coast community of Seldovia, located across Kachemak Bay from Homer. Happy children abound there and they held his hand while showing him some of the unusual places in the small Alaska community—the least of which are the strange and wonderful Totems of Seldovia.

Book preview

ONE

TOTEMS AND TREASURE

My best friend is Michael McDonald. I call him Mikey, and he is nine years old. Mikey’s parents were tragically lost at sea in a fishing boat accident when he was just two years old. Mikey had no other relatives so The Tribal Council of Seldovia, which has jurisdiction over such matters, gave him to a childless couple to raise as their own. Mikey grew up loving his new mom and dad but like all energetic young boys could hardly wait for summer vacation to come.

Mikey and I always spend our summers together, riding our trail bikes along the rough Seldovia roads, fishing, or hanging out down at the boat harbor. No matter where we go, my little sister Angela is not far behind us. I gave up trying to ditch her last year when mom told me to let her tag along. It didn’t make me real happy but I was sure if I didn’t honor my mother’s wishes she’d give me more chores to do. Besides, mom never told me I couldn’t ride my bike fast, so Mikey and I usually left her in the dust.

It was the day after the festival. Mikey, and I rode our bikes onto the old wooden bridge. We looked down into the dark green water. It was high tide, which is a good time for the fish that had gotten past the fishing fleet to be running upstream to spawn. I stared down into the water. My mind should have been on fishing, but I couldn’t concentrate.

There’s one, shouted Mikey. What a hunker of a salmon. I’m going to go home and get my fishing pole.

You can go fishing if you want Mikey. I’m going to ride up the road to Grandfather’s house. I want to talk to him about those totems he told us about last night.

What are you talking about? said Mikey.

Don’t you remember Grandfather’s story last night, chimed in Angela.

Who invited you into this conversation, Angela? I thought we ditched you way back by your cabin.

It just shows you how wrong you are again, Mikey McDonald. I watched you sleeping last night at the festival when Grandfather told his story of the totems.

Don’t be stupid, Angela. There aren’t any totems in Seldovia, said Mikey with a snicker.

I jumped between them before the argument got hotter. Look you two. Stop this arguing, I said with the authority of a big brother. I’m going to Grandfather’s to talk to him. You’re both welcome to come along if you like.

Well okay, said Mikey as he got onto his bike, but I bet there aren’t any totems in Seldovia. Both of you must have fallen asleep at the festival and were dreaming.

***

Grandfather’s cabin was on the edge of town where the sandy coastal landscape turned into bright green forest. His cabin sat up on a little hill at the end of a fern lined walking path. The wood smoke coming out of the chimney told me he was home. Mikey and Angela followed closely behind me as I cautiously walked my bike up the winding path toward his cabin.

We put our bikes carefully next to his spacious wooden porch and walked up to Grandfather’s front door. It was as quiet as the church graveyard. Nobody said a word as we timidly approached his partially opened door. Grandfather always left his door open in the spring and summer months. Just as we got to the door the heat from the fire made the firewood pop! Angela screamed and retreated off the porch. Mikey grabbed the back of my shirt as he retreated, causing both of us to fall on our rears.

Just then the door swung open and grandfather appeared. The wizardly old gentlemen looked down at us hunkering on the ground and laughed. Well don’t just sit there children, he said. I was expecting you.

We gathered ourselves together and dusted our clothes off. I went first, followed by Angela, then Mikey. We held onto each other’s shirttails like a daisy chain. Grandfather was seated near his crackling fire smoking a pipe he had made out of a burl. Two years ago I had been up here and he showed me the pipe. He explained that a burl is a tight knot of wood that grows on certain trees. The wood is so hard it makes excellent pipes and furniture.

The fire popped again and I felt the others tighten their grips. A twinkle was in Grandfather’s eyes again just like when he told the story of the totems last night. I knew you’d be back to hear the rest of the story children, he said. He drew in some smoke and blew it out toward the fire. We watched as the smoke from his pipe joined the smoke from the fire and magically swirled up the chimney.

Mikey pushed forward. He spoke so low we barely heard him say, I don’t believe there are totems in Seldovia.

Angela and I were stunned into silence. Mikey had challenged Grandfather. Shh Mikey, I said as I pulled him back onto the floor. If grandfather said there’s totems, then there’s totems. Angela nodded in approval of what I had said.

Now children, said Grandfather, the boy has a right to his own opinion. He blew some more smoke in the direction of the fireplace. I could swear, instead of going up the chimney, the smoke formed itself into a totem pole topped with a turtle. Mikey must have seen it too because he was pulling at my shirt real hard. Grandfather just smiled.

Did you see that? Mikey said under his breath.

See what Mikey? I purposely fibbed.

You see children there are totems in Seldovia and you will soon get to see them. I have it on good authority, like all totems, they tell a story. In this case, the totems will lead you to the long lost Russian treasure that legend says was buried near here.

I had heard of the legend of the buried treasure from my mom and dad. They told me once long ago a Russian trading vessel was forced aground during a raging storm. The captain and his first mate were the only survivors. They had managed to get the chest laden with furs, jewels and gold to shore. Somewhere near what now is Seldovia they managed to bury their loot. My dad said that before they could get passage back to Russia, the ship captain had a falling out with his first mate and killed him. The captain, who had been mortally wounded during the fight, made it back to the old Russian Orthodox Church, where he died of his wounds. It was rumored that he never told anyone where he buried the treasure, but he left a map. The map has never been found, nor has the treasure.

What Jason says is true children. I was just a youngster, not much older than you, when the Russian sea captain and his mate died. Fact is, both of them are buried in our church cemetery; but enough of this talk about people dying and grave yards.

Angela was sitting on the edge of her seat listening to every word. Angela then asked the question that was on all of our minds. Will you tell us more about the totems Grandfather?

Better yet take us to see them, said Mikey with a twist of sarcasm in his voice.

Calm down you two. I’m sure Grandfather will show us in good time, I said.

Jason is right children. I will show you a totem in good time. The totems are a bit of a mystery. They’re not totems in the conventional sense. They’re not made from large wood poles carved with the faces of birds and beasts of Alaska. The totems I talk of are a more modern variety. These totems have only been in Seldovia a very short time.

Grandfather paused and inhaled deeply on his burl pipe. The smoke he blew out formed a white mist that resembled a fire hydrant. It was an odd thought, I know, but that’s the shape it took just before the updraft of the fireplace sucked it into the chimney.

There is a mystery that surrounds the totems, Grandfather continued. The story goes that whoever can solve the mystery of the totems will find the Russian treasure and be wealthy beyond belief.

We all moved closer to Grandfather. His story so captivated us that, like a spider, he had woven an intricate web, and we were forever captured in his words. Grandfather continued with his story. I will lead you children to the first totem. From there, you are on your own. I must warn you, however, that the trail to riches might be fraught with many dangers. And remember my children; Grandfather will always be here for you if you need him. Now, let us go find the Totems of Seldovia.

TWO

THE CLUE IN LOLLIPOP PARK

The spirit of adventure welled up inside me filling my chest with the thrill of the hunt as my active imagination saw the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Mikey, Angela and I followed closely behind Grandfather as he wound his way up the small footpath behind his cabin. We soon found ourselves at the top of the hill overlooking the town of Seldovia to the north and Kachemak Bay to the south.

Okay Grandfather where is the totem pole? said Mikey with more than a little bit of skepticism.

I wondered myself as I looked all around the top of the hill and saw nothing that resembled a totem.

The wind had come up just as we crested the top of the hill and now blew a stiff breeze in our direction. It added to the drama of the moment and Grandfather seized on it like a lion pouncing on a lamb. With his white smock billowing in the wind, he pointed his aging crooked finger to the north. Through his long white beard he proclaimed, You will find your first clue next to Lollipop Park.

The wind blew harder now. Perhaps it’s a warning, I thought. My imagination now conjured up sinister and foreboding thoughts. Dark swirling clouds had replaced the rainbow and the pot of gold. The weather has turned on us children, said Grandfather as the first drops of rain began to fall. We must get back to the shelter of my cabin. Your mothers would never forgive me if I sent you back to them with summer colds.

As we wound our way back down the trail, I couldn’t get the thought of his first clue out of my mind. The rain was falling harder now making the thin trail treacherous and slipperier than ground up night crawlers. Mikey had fallen down twice and was covered with a thin coating of mud. Angela took Grandfather’s hand and made it to the cabin without a missed step. As for me, well, I should have paid more attention to the trail than to my imagination.

The rain stopped just as we made the front porch of Grandfather’s cabin. Mikey and I went straight away to the fireplace and dried off in front of the fire. Angela had fallen asleep in Grandfather’s chair. I still don’t believe there are any totem poles around here, Grandfather. I think it’s just another of your tall tales, said Mikey.

"You may believe what you will, Michael, but before this day is through you will know that I