The Foster Kid

By Will Andrews

Donald Foster is an extremely bright 14 year old who lives in the wilds of Northern Canada with his mother in the 1950's. While returning from visiting a friend, he is approached by a celestial entity, the Snow Star. He is offered the chance to help save civilizations across the universe. The Snow Star shares the knowledge of the universe and the secrets to space and time travel. He enlists the aid of his friends to discreetly assist him in the quest to bring peace and stability to the multitude of species throughout the galaxies. He finds love, adventure and new friends on his journey through the stars.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Oct 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9780228820345

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The Foster Kid

Copyright © 2019 by Will Andrews

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-0-2288-2033-8 (Hardcover)

978-0-2288-2032-1 (Paperback)

978-0-2288-2034-5 (eBook)

Table of Contents

Reflection

The Team

Tranquility Interrupted

A New Beginning

The Journey Begins

The Axos Odyssey

Axos Reborn

The Lull

New Friends

The Search Begins

A New Age is Born

Enlightenment

A New Year

Preparations Begin

Santa Claus in Blueberry Hill

The Unveiling

Stepping into the future

The Confrontation

Matrimony

Reflection

Don entered the large cave that lay under Antarctica’s three miles of ice. The polar land mass had been hiding a disturbing secret for some time. As Don made his way deep into the hidden natural bunker, his well-honed hunting instincts were on full alert. Suddenly, he could see what had been bothering him for quite awhile. Before him was a squadron of UFO’s and a small town unlike anything he had ever seen before. He was hidden behind a rock outcropping as he studied the scene. Twenty spacecraft were parked on top of square, one story structures built in a triangle with one slightly larger structure in the centre. He did not want to trip any alarms or somehow give away his presence. He had to be extremely vigilant in his approach. Don could clearly see human-like aliens walking around the grounds between the buildings. They were slightly larger than humans and had elongated skulls. The Anunnaki! The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. How had they had managed to stay hidden this long?

He had to make his way into the compound to complete his mission. Don had to get closer and get a better look. One of the aliens was walking the perimeter of the cavern. Using his hunting skills, he slipped in behind the unsuspecting Anunnaki. He quickly placed his hands on each side of the alien’s head. The alien immediately collapsed into Don’s arms. Don dragged him behind a rocky outcropping and gently laid him down. When Don had touched his quarry, he instantly knew everything about him. It was like a floodgate of information had been opened and flowed into his own brain. The alien was bored and frustrated and he had been taking a short walk as he did most days to clear his head.

Hopefully, Don could now infiltrate the Anunnaki compound with absolute immunity from discovery. He transformed from a physical being to an invisible phantom. He walked toward the control building, the one in the centre of the triangle. Don entered the building and walked directly to the control room. One alien sat in a chair blankly staring at some monitors while another sat at a console. Don knew they were trying to figure out why their monitoring system was not working properly. Something was blocking their access to four different sites around the planet. It was all very curious and suspicious. Never before had the Anunnaki been stymied like this when they were observing the humans. They had been following the growth and development of this primitive species for thousands of years and suddenly two years ago their surveillance systems had been unable to garner any useable data. Their leader was getting extremely frustrated at the lack of progress in correcting these blackouts.

The alien Don had put to sleep, Ak-ra, had just arrived from their home planet to help find a solution to these problems that had been plaguing their systems. Don walked over to the Anunnaki who was staring at the screens and touched the side of his head. A light blue spark from his fingertips caused the alien to immediately fall into a state of unconsciousness. He did the same to the second Anunnaki. Don, quickly, sat down and began typing into the foreign control console. The screens jumped to life as Don’s fingers flew over the complicated icons on the console. The Snow Star guided him through the intricate system, garnering important information with every keystroke. In fifteen minutes, Don and the Snow Star had completed their work. They now had complete control of the Anunnaki systems. The aliens would never know the depth and seriousness of the intrusion. Everything would appear to be working as it should but the readings were all just a smokescreen. Images implanted by the Snow Star would give the Anunnaki a false sense of security and accomplishment.

Don woke the two sleeping aliens, imprinting their brains with false memories of repairing their surveillance equipment. They would never know how they had been manipulated by the young human. Their leader would finally be able to relax and quit making their lives so unbearable.

Don made his way back to Ak-ra who was right where he had left him. Don sat him up and touched the alien’s forehead. Again, a light blue spark from Don’s fingertip appeared when he contacted the Anunnaki’s skin. He would awaken thinking he had resolved the issues he had been sent here to fix with the assistance of the other two members of his team. Their memories had been adjusted and would be forever ingrained in their brains. They would enjoy the accolades of their people for these accomplishments, even though they had no part in the events that had occurred.

Don watched him walk back to the Anunnaki compound. Don remained invisible and exited the large cave. He needed to have a meeting with Ben, Zolz, Gritek and the UN. He returned to the Snow Star cavern in the blink of an eye. His mentor and friend, I-kaj, was busy working with the Starscape, monitoring galaxies on the other side of the universe. Don informed him of his discovery on Antarctica. I-kaj appeared jittery and jumpy when he heard the news. What is bothering you, my friend? Don asked.

They are evil. They are destroyers of civilizations. This is not good, the little Katon stated. The Snow Star made me aware of them many, many years ago. We thought their short tenure on this planet was over. We have not been aware of their close proximity. We were sure they had left a thousand years ago. There have been no sightings and nothing to indicate their presence.

Oh, they were well hidden. I only happened on them by chance while I was assisting the crews on Antarctica a few months ago. I didn’t say anything because I wanted to check out what they were up to. Now we have the upper hand because they don’t know that we know. And we have total control of their technologies. They are in for a bit of a shock, Don advised. We are going to plan a little going away party for them.

Don would contact all the relevant principals and make them aware of the uncovering of the Anunnaki’s hidden lair and their objectives. A plan would be laid out and everyone would play a part. He sat in a chair and began to reflect on his journey of the past nine months. It had all started so innocuously. His life had taken such a sudden and mind altering turn that short time ago. His mind pictured the day it had really all started during a serene winter fishing trip……

Don had risen early that morning before sunrise, loading his sled with the equipment he would need and a light lunch. The two mile walk through the freshly fallen snow brought him to his destination just as the sun began its’ ascent in the Eastern sky. Donald looked out over the wind swept lake. The previous night’s snowfall had caused him some concern when he had set out that morning. If the snow had stayed in place, his job, of cutting a hole in the ice, would have become a little more difficult. But the early morning wind had done a good job of polishing the lake’s surface to a smooth, glossy sheen. He removed his snowshoes and stuck them upright into the snow along the shore. He stepped onto the slippery frozen lake, pulling his small toboggan behind him. He headed east to a reed bed where he knew the pickerel or walleye normally spent their time. He began to run, picking up speed, then diving onto the sled and gliding nearly two hundred yards over the slick surface. He repeated the process two more times until he reached his target. He lifted his five foot eight inch frame from the sled and pulled his axe from the small bundle of gear. Don began chopping a hole in the frozen lake covering, hoping the ice had not extended too far down. After a few minutes, he broke through the ice into the lake water below. It took him another couple minutes to create a one foot square hole, that would enable him to see into the water after he removed all the ice chips. He had timed his visit well, as the ice was only about eight inches thick. A nice safe thickness and requiring only minimal work to access the fish lurking below. In a few more weeks, the ice would become two or three feet thick, making his job a lot tougher. If he had a good day today he might not have to come back until spring.

Don took a small blanket from his toboggan, placed it over his head, as he lay on the ice and peered down the hole to get a look at what lay below. Within seconds, he saw numerous beautiful walleye swim by about six feet below him. Perfect! He, quickly pulled an old fishing rod from his gear. The short 16 inch rod was rigged with brass wire through the eyes and a loop extended from the end. At this depth, he could snare the fish with his makeshift rig. He placed the rod into the hole, covered his head with the blanket and waited for his first prey to swim by. Soon, a nice large walleye appeared, slowly meandering by. Don slowly brought the wire loop into position, sliding it over the fish’s tail without spooking it. He yanked the wire, tightening the loop around the tail. He jumped up, pulling his prize through the hole. A beauty! This one would easily be four pounds. A great start to the day! He unhooked the loop from the fish and started the process all over again. A couple hours of intense concentration had netted him eight nice fish ranging from 3 to 5 pounds. He always targeted the bigger fish, leaving the smaller ones for next year when they would be that much larger.

The fish were getting a little skittish so he took a piece of squirrel meat from his pack, placed it on a treble hook attached to some fishing line that he tied to a sturdy branch he had gathered from the shore. He placed the branch across the hole and dropped the enticing bait about five feet down into the water. This should lure the fish to his location and give him the opportunity to snare a few more of the tasty prey. His bait worked as planned and soon he had another seven plump fish to take home to his mother.

The day had been rewarding. He gathered up his quarry that were lying on the ice, placed them in a large gunny sack and dropped the bag into a box secured to his sled. He started his trek across the lake towards his snow shoes, again sliding across the ice on the toboggan. After retrieving his footwear and strapping them to his feet, he began his three mile walk home. His mother would be waiting for him to return. There was only the two of them now. His father had suffered a fatal accident, the previous year when a tree, he had been falling, kicked back and struck him in the head, killing him, instantly. Don had become the man of the house at the age of 13. Now 14, he had applied everything his father had taught him to provide for his mother. He fished and hunted for meat and maintained a trapline to collect some furs for money. Don, actually, enjoyed the outdoors, winter and summer. He had grown up in the bush on the family homestead. Don’s physique reflected his hard working lifestyle. He had grown into a ruggedly handsome young man with short light brown hair and blue eyes. He actually looked slightly older than he was. He had inherited his father’s slim build and broad shoulders. It was 1958. Life was serene, here in the forest of northern Alberta.

Their closest neighbour lay to the East about 4 miles away. The Gordon family maintained a small ranch, about 400 acres, where they raised a dozen horses and usually about six cows on the 220 acres of pasture land. The remainder of their land was covered in spruce trees with a few small patches of white poplar and red willows. A small creek divided the trees from the pasture. Randy Gordon was Don’s classmate at school and they had ridden the school bus together every day. Occasionally, Don would stay over at Randy’s or vice versa. They both enjoyed the outdoors and would explore the countryside. They fished the small creeks that were in bike riding distance, usually bringing home some nice Rainbow Trout for supper.

Don was lost in thought as he rounded a corner in the trail and nearly ran into a burly, bearded figure clad in buckskins and furs. Well, I’ll be, the grizzled old man remarked as they both laughed about their near collision, I’m sorry Dan’l, I guess my mind was elsewhere. I didn’t even hear you coming. Must be old age, my hearing ain’t what it used to be. That or you’re getting a lot quieter in the bush, said the friendly figure.

Don laughed at the old man, knowing full well he had heard or seen him coming and just wanted to startle him. Don’t give me that line of malarky you crazy old fart, Don retorted. You knew exactly what you were doing. Trying to scare the heck out of me while I was daydreaming.

The old man roared, knowing full well that the youngster was dead on in his assessment of the situation. He stepped forward, thrusting out his right hand, grasping Don’s hand and pulling him toward himself so he could wrap Don in a big bearhug. What are you doing out here on this fine day, Dan’l? He queried.

He always called Don, Dan’l after Daniel Boone, the great American frontiersman. This was Otto Schmidt. He was a legend around these parts. He had been trapping in the winters here for more than forty years. He knew more about the bush than the animals who lived here. He had a cabin about ten miles from where they were, where he and his dog, Jasper, two mules and a donkey resided during the winter. In the summer, Otto would pan for gold along the Athabasca River and the streams that fed into it. Rumour had it that Otto owned a large portion of the town of Blueberry Hill. He was very frugal and Don knew of three houses in town that Otto owned. Another school chum of his, Henry, lived in one of them, a big, yellow, two storey rooming house just at the end of main street. Otto would come into town twice a year for supplies. In the spring, he would be leading his two mules and donkey laden with furs from the previous winter’s harvest. He would stay at Henry’s place while he sold his furs and restocked with supplies for the coming year. He would be in town for about a week, then disappear back into the bush. He would usually appear again in the fall to complement his supplies for the winter and be gone again.

No one knew Otto better that Don’s father. They had been great friends and had the same affinity with the outdoors as each other. Otto had settled into the Alberta forest as a young man from Germany and absolutely thrived in the serene forest. His skills in the wild country were phenomenal. Don had learned so much from Otto, that he had earned the nickname Little Daniel. His father had taught him much of the bushcraft he now used on a daily basis, but the real lessons had been learned at a young age when he had been out with Otto, hunting, fishing or looking for food. Otto had taught him about the plants and their value as food or medicine. Otto in his younger days, had spent time with some of the local Indians, learning the value of the flora that surrounded them. He had enjoyed teaching Don everything he could. Don was a quick study and soaked up the information like a sponge. He never forgot any of it. He had a fantastic memory and could literally recall verbatim everything he had ever learned. Otto was amazed by the young man’s capacity for learning and he never had to tell him twice. At his age, he figured Don was more capable in the forest than any grown man he had ever met. That was why he had nicknamed him Lil’ Dan’l.

I was just headed home with some fresh fish for supper. Why don’t you join us? Mom would be glad to see you, again. Don replied.

Well, I was just headed home but a good feed of your mother’s cooking would be much appreciated. Otto answered.

By the way, where is Jasper?, Don inquired as he had never seen Otto without his loyal companion.

Aah, well that is another story. Let’s start walking and I’ll tell you the about his adventure, the old man replied.

Don grabbed the rope from the sled and they started the 45 minute walk to Don’s home.

Me and Jasper were out checking the traplines a few days back when a cougar surprised us. Jasper went after the cat and ended up getting scratched up pretty good before I could shoot that critter. I had to pull him home on my sled because he was injured pretty bad. He’s healing well but not fit for travel yet. I left him at home to guard the place while I went to town to get some medicine from the vet. He’s gettin’ old like me, and we don’t heal like we used to. He’s gonna be fine but we got that cat that’s been raiding my traps. What about you? Where’s Blackie? he asked referring to Don’s faithful part Husky companion.

Sorry to hear about Jasper. I have a surprise for you when we get home. Don answered.

They continued their trek towards Don’s home catching up on news and local occurrences. As they broke the tree line around the homestead, they were met with loud barking and a large black dog racing towards them. Blackie, with her tail wagging, greeted them both. They each gave her a big hug and a good belly rub and continued towards the two storey log structure that Don and his Mom called home.

Don opened the door and called out to his mother. She was bent over a small pen in the corner of the house, tending to a small pup. Look who I ran into, literally, on the way home, Don remarked.

Otto, you old scoundrel! What are you doing so far from home at this time of year? she asked as she gave the old friend a big hug.

Darlene, you just get more beautiful every time I see you, Otto stated as he returned the hug. The fact was, Darlene was indeed gorgeous, dark brown hair, beautiful brown eyes, great figure and moved with the grace of a cat. She offered Otto a seat at the table and they sat down while she poured out three cups of coffee from the pot on the wood stove.

Otto explained his story of Jasper’s encounter with the cat and running into Dan’l on the trail. He couldn’t refuse Don’s offer for supper and her great cooking. Besides, he wouldn’t have made it home until tomorrow because of the fresh snowfall, so a visit with old friends was much nicer than sleeping under the stars in the middle of winter.

After a brief conversation, catching up on things, Don walked over to the small pen, reached in and retrieved a little ball of fur with a curly fluffy tail. Surprise! he stated joyously as he handed Otto the cute furry pup. I picked him out for you a few weeks ago. The rest have all been spoken for. Blackie got tangled up with the Wagner’s Elkhound and the result was six of these rascals. I was going to bring him up to your place next week, but now he can keep you warm on your trip home. He’s been weaned off momma and is on solid food. The vet came out and gave them their shots, so they are good to go. The vet has picked out the grey female for his family. I figured you and Jasper could use some youthful energy at your place. That was before I knew about Jasper’s injuries.

He placed the pup in Otto’s hands and thought he saw a tear well up as Otto snuggled with the affectionate little fur ball. The pup was licking his face and cuddling up with his nose tucked into Otto’s armpit. They had hit it off just like Don had hoped. Now what am I going to do? Jasper’s nose is going to be out of joint when I show up with this one, Otto remarked.

I am sure Jasper will have a ball with him and enjoy training him how to look after you, Don laughed.

You two, look and act like a couple of old Grizzlies but you’re both just a pair of old softies, Don’s mom chimed in grinning. But enough of that, I better start supper.

I’ll start cleaning those fish, mom. I’ll be right back with some fillets, Don said as he headed out to the shed where he could work on the table in the heated outbuilding. He hoisted his day’s catch off his sled and hauled it into the shed. Before he had finished cleaning the first fish, Otto walked in, shedding his heavy coat and rolling up his sleeves. Figure I better earn my keep. Hand me one of those fish and let’s get to work, the older man insisted. With Otto’s help, they cleaned and filleted all the fish, stacked them in a metal tub on wooden racks and set the tub in a locked shed where the meat would freeze for future use. The two of them cleaned up in a wash basin warming on the top of the airtight wood stove and headed in to eat supper and enjoy each other’s company. When they opened the cabin’s door, the aroma’s of Don’s mother’s culinary exploits, wafted into their nostrils, causing their mouths to water. Otto’s new pet came bounding over to him, looking for attention. Seems like he has taken to you, Otto, Don remarked.

Darlene had outdone herself, serving the walleye lightly breaded with a lemon sauce, wild rice, carrots, parsnips and some fresh baked cornbread. Don was always amazed, at his mother’s abilities in the kitchen. Somehow, she could whip up an incredible meal out of thin air. To top off tonight’s meal, she had somehow baked a peach pie while he and Otto had cleaned the fish. They devoured the delicious fare Darlene had provided, helped her clean up and sat down to enjoy a nice cup of tea. They relived old times and current rumours and enjoyed each other’s company. Otto couldn’t stop complimenting Don’s mother on the great supper they had enjoyed. It was not often, he got to eat cooking other than his own and the peach pie had been a real treat for the old trapper. Darlene made up the spare bed for Otto and the last thing Don saw before falling asleep, was Otto and his new puppy cuddled up together, both snoring lightly.

Morning came quickly. Don woke to find his mother making breakfast while Otto was enjoying a cup of coffee and playing with his new friend. Don dressed quickly and joined Otto and his mother in the kitchen. As he poured himself a hot coffee, his mother asked him to go get a couple rings of the Elk sausage, from the cold storage. He donned his coat and went across the yard, to a door, in the side of the small hill. Don unhooked the three latches on the door and pulled hard on the heavy, metal door. This was where they kept their supply of meats, fruits and some baking. They would stay frozen for the winter and cool in the summer. Inside the storage area was another door which led deeper into the hillside. That door opened, leading to another door. Don’s father had made sure this area was well insulated and kept the food stored there cool, year round. Here, they stored all their vegetables, canning and dry goods on shelves or in the built in bins. The bins were full of root crops: potatoes, carrots, turnips, radishes, onions and parsnips. The shelves were full of sealers filled with canned fish, chicken, fruits, berries, jams, jellies and vegetables like peas, beans, mushrooms and corn. In one corner sat two ten gallon crocks. One contained cabbage that was being turned into sauerkraut, which was nearly ready to be transferred into sealers and placed on the shelves. The other was empty right now but was used to hold a brine, that Don mixed up, to marinate meats before smoking them in the summer months when freezing the meat was not an option. This is what Don and his mother lived on year round, All the produce was harvested from their garden and the fruits and berries from the surrounding countryside.

Don grabbed two rings of the elk sausage, closed the heavy door and secured the three latches that would keep any animals out. He stopped at the lean-to that was attached to the South end of the cabin. Here, his dad had built the structure for the purpose of keeping a dozen chickens year round. He had insulated it very well and provided heat via a duct that allowed heat from the main house to infiltrate the lean-to. Baby chicks needed a very stable environment, temperature wise, to survive in the early stages of their lives. In the spring, they would also raise a couple of turkeys to add to their larder in the fall. They would get the young turkeys from the Wagner’s in exchange for some smoked venison, fish or elk. The Wagner’s had a farm a couple miles south of the Gordon’s, where they raised a few hundred turkeys, about fifty hogs and a couple hundred head of cattle. The rural community relied on bartering goods and services. Every family in the county had a product or skill that could be obtained for a price, with no money changing hands. Everybody helped their neighbours when it was required. His father had taught him that small communities were built on the goodness of others.

Don found eight eggs in the straw nests, placed them in his toque and headed inside to give them to his mother, along with the sausage. Again, his mother outdid herself with breakfast, cooking up one ring of the sausage, fried eggs and potatoes and fresh biscuits. They ate heartily, finished their coffees and prepared for Otto’s departure. The sun would be up soon and he would need to get started soon to arrive home at a reasonable time. Darlene handed Otto a flour sack and said,I have packed you some goodies to take home with you. There’s a ring of the elk sausage, some cornbread and biscuits and two pieces of that peach pie you keep raving about. I also threw in some puppy food to tide him over for a while and a couple jars of preserves. Otto was overjoyed with the gift pack Darlene had provided him with, which she always did when he stopped in. You know this will just keep me coming back for more, he joked. And you know our door is always open to you, you crazy old coot, she rebutted.

Otto tied the sack to a tree branch, that he had cut off a poplar and placed it over his shoulder. There it balanced nicely for the long walk home. His new friend poked his nose out of Otto’s coat, let out a sharp bark, as if to say goodbye, and disappeared back inside the warm garment. Dan’l can you walk with me a bit, I want to talk with you, he asked. Don agreed and after his mother gave the old trapper a kiss on the cheek and said their goodbyes, they were on their way.

Dan’l, began the old trapper, I have something very special for you at my cabin. Can you come by in the next two weeks or so when the weather is favourable.

I sure can, Don replied, his curiosity piqued.

How’s your mom been doing, since your dad’s accident? She seems fine but I don’t see her as often as I’d like. An incident like that can take its toll on people, even strong people, like your ma.

She has her moments. Sometimes, I catch her crying and try to comfort her as best I can. Time is a great healer but there will be no replacing dad. They had a special bond you don’t find in many couples. She is coming around, getting back to her old self.

Well, if there is one thing I do know, she couldn’t have a better person to look out for her than you. Your father taught you well and you are a Foster, through and through. Joe would be extremely proud of you, son. Extremely proud! This last year had to be very tough on you, too. If you two need anything at all, just ask. I have never known a better family or individuals than your ma and pa and you. You have a special place in my heart and always will.

For a tough old bushman, you can sure be a sappy, old coot, can’t ya, Don remarked.

Otto turned and looked Don in the eye and replied, Ya, I guess I can. But you are the closest thing to family I have ever had.

With that, Otto gave Don a big hug and a slap on the back and said, Remember, two weeks. I’ll see you then. And he was off. Don watched him slowly disappear into the distance, along the trail, as the sun began its ascent in the eastern sky.

Don was perplexed as he made his way back to the house. Otto was usually very open and forthright about everything. This mysterious, Special Gift had him at a loss. The more he thought about it, the more