The Eagle & The Forest: The Earth-Watchers, #4

By Lester Ferguson

50 year-old Sebastian Eisenhower II reminisces about  the summer of 1987 when he & his pre-teen pals, recklessly travelled to The Amazon Rainforest  to find his missing mother & her two colleagues.  Unknowingly, Sebastian & his friends are faced with a more dangerous, & complicated situation than they expected! 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newavestudio
• Release date: Apr 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386171966

Lester Ferguson

Born in Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas, Lester Ferguson is one of the Bahamas' most imaginative author and illustrator. Concerned about the condition of our home planet, Lester created the Earth-Watchers series for children, the books were designed to broaden children's awareness about our fragile planet earth and its diverse environment. Today, Lester lives in Austin Texas with his lovely wife and two mischievous kids.

Book preview

NEWAVESTUDIO-ART OF LESTER FERGUSON

@LESTERFERGUSON5

NOSTALGIA

∞∞∞

‘The scene of the world is changing, I remembered this quote from an ancient book that I read a few years ago, & I’m sitting here thinking how can an ancient book be so contemporary if it didn’t have a powerful intelligent source as its author?  Presently, as it stands, things are looking bleak for me- I’m facing a 10-year prison sentence-I’m accused of being the leader of an extremist group- The Earth-Watchers. The only consolation to my soul right now sitting quietly in a court of law is my attorney, he’s an old friend, & a brother born for times of distress.

My attorney’s name is: Donovan Newton-he’s one of the best criminal lawyers in all of Canada- one of the top five to be exact. I looked over my shoulder at Donovan several times with tremendous pride, even though I tried to hide my feelings carefully. I’ve known Donovan almost all my life, we were best friends from primary school, straight on through senior high school; then, of course, changes in life separated us for a period. The funny, cowardice, skinny boy that Donovan used to be, is far gone- he’s defending me fearlessly in front of a feared judge who is notorious for sentencing so-called extremist: The Earth-Watchers.

The year is now 2025- I know, it sounds like some sci-fi movie period, Donovan & I are now 50 years of age, but I’m starting to drift away-day-dreaming or something; Donovan’s voice was taking me back to a time that life seemed a little simpler. I was no longer paying attention to my trial, I started to reminisce back to the summer of 1987 when Donovan & I was 12years old, & we did something dangerous. My name is Sebastian Eisenhower II-& I’m going to tell you the story just the way it’s going through my mind, like it’s happening at present day.’

It’s the summer of 1987 & school is out! I’m totally happy that the 6th grade is over, coming from elementary & then entering middle-school is heavy stuff for a kid you know. My name is Sebastian Eisenhower II- I’m working with my dad Dr. Sebastian Senior, at The Earth-Watchers Raptors Rescue & Rehabilitation Center here in Vancouver Island Canada. The rescue center was an incredible place to me because I was always able to see nature’s finest birds of prey, even though most of them were either injured or sick, they were still amazing to witness! The problem was, I was terribly bored working with my dad, he’s just one of those people who works all the time & thinks he doesn’t have enough time for fun stuff.

My mom, on the other hand, was different, she was the one who enjoyed having fun! I guess I inherited that personality from her. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not beating down on my dad, he’s a really nice person, I think he’s just too smart for me. My mother’s name is Cecily- she’s a scientist as well, both of my parents work together, & they operate the rescue center-along with an old-sweet veterinarian lady we affectionately call: Nanna. My mother accompanied by two fellow Earth-Watchers, also a husband & wife team-Hansel & Emily Carpenter; went on this amazing trip to the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil to release Isabel-a huge Harpy Eagle back into the wild!

Now days went by, & my mother & the Carpenters seem to be late in returning home, this worried my father tremendously, but he struggled with a brave-face as if nothing was wrong when I was around. One afternoon something spectacular happened that I’ve never witnessed before!

I’ve heard about Micah the pilot, & Falconer, who uses an intelligent snowy owl named: Airmail-to deliver hand-written messages to nearby Earth-Watchers, but I’ve never seen this event for myself because I was always in school, but today that changed! I heard my father outside talking, & it seemed like he was talking to himself because I didn’t notice anyone else present, but Nanna rushed over to me & exclaimed: Come & see this quickly! No matter how many times I witness this, it is still fun to watch. Nanna was right! All that time I thought the snow owl story was made-up by my parents because I’ve never seen it happened until today; witnessing Airmail for myself was truly breathtaking!

After Airmail flew away, my father read the letter aloud to Nanna & I, this time my dad didn’t try to hide his concern- he admitted to us that something is not right with my mom & the Carpenters. Micah wrote in the letter Cecily & the Carpenters are missing, they were not at the airstrip at the time that was given to them to catch their plane, even the indigenous Guana Indians are worried about them. My father said in a low yet, worried voice. I must meet Micah in three days-four days the latest at-Port Hardy in Queen Charlotte Strait, where a seaplane awaits, I need to travel to Brazil to find Cecily & the Carpenters! My father exclaimed.  Anxiety started to peak in me as well, my father rarely got worried or looked sad to me, even though he was boring at times, but we all had a valid reason to be concerned.

The summer days went by, & there was still no positive report from nearby Earth-Watchers in Brazil who searched for my mother & the Carpenters, even the Guana