The Legacy of the Stewardship

By N.R Bergeson

Several months after their unexpected adventure in the Amazon, Ike is not happy. He's tired of being picked on and treated like a baby. But when the kids learn that Anatoly has kidnapped a group of innocent children and is holding them ransom in the forests of Siberia, Ike knows he has to do something. But Anatoly is demanding a steep price that they hand over the globe.When Grandpa suffers a heart attack, Ike, Mary, and Helen know that if they don't do something to help, the other kids will be in danger. Reluctantly, they determine to use the globe once again. Only this time they leave better prepared. Or so they thought. When they arrive in Russia, they quickly learn that their problems are much bigger than just Anatoly. When a mysterious group of people appear using a second globe, Mary is kidnapped, and now it is up to Ike and Helen to cross the vast country and find her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Independent Publishers Group
• Release date: Mar 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781948671033

Book preview

world.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Epilogue

Author’s Note

About the Author

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Gathering Mushrooms

May 14, 1971—Near Divnogorsk, Krasnoyarskiy Krai, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic

Are you leaving again? Mother asked, pushing through the door with a bag of potatoes. You always leave just when I need you most.

She scowled at the buckets sitting next to Anatoly. He didn’t look at her as he continued to stuff a blanket into his knapsack.

I am going mushroom gathering, he answered. It just rained, so now is the perfect time.

Well, I need you here, she said. What kind of son leaves his poor mother all alone while he goes off into the woods for days at a time?

Anatoly didn’t respond. He refused to get dragged into another one of her lectures.

Besides, she couldn’t stop him anyway.

Finished packing, he slung his knapsack over his shoulder and grabbed his buckets.

When will you be back? she asked, resignation in her voice.

Anatoly was already halfway out the door. He paused but didn’t turn to face her.

I do not know, he said. When I am finished.

Just like your father, she said angrily. If he were still alive, it would be both of you leaving me! I cannot take this much longer. Anatoly, I—

He didn’t stick around long enough to hear any more. He slammed the door behind him and took off toward the trees with a determined stride.

If she really wanted me around, she wouldn’t keep driving me away, he thought. I cannot wait to get away from this place!

As if to further remind Anatoly of why he wanted to leave so badly, a familiar, unwelcome voice called out to him.

"Nichevo sebye, there goes Anatoly!" jeered Sergey.

Right on cue, Anatoly thought.

Anatoly’s doughy next-door neighbor sat leisurely on a woodpile, wearing no shirt and clutching a can of vodka.

Off into the forest again, eh Baba Yaga?

Sergey was only a year or two older than Anatoly, but he was already fat like an old man. Like every other youth in Divnogorsk, Sergey spent far more time lounging about than working.

I need to keep myself in good condition, Anatoly shot back, not breaking stride. I would hate to grow soft and flabby like you!

Sergey’s bulging face turned red, and he made a half-hearted, wobbly attempt to get up and chase after Anatoly. But before he could even gain his balance (assuming that was even possible), Anatoly was well out of reach, safe beneath the cover of the forest.

Finally, he took a moment to close his eyes and breathe deeply.

Ignore them. Someday you will never have to see them again, he promised himself.

As he inhaled, the mixed scent of pine, birch, and damp earth filled him. As he exhaled, all his worries about life melted away.

At last, he thought.

If only he didn’t have to eventually return. For what was likely the millionth time, he considered simply staying in the forest and never turning back.

It was a beautiful spring day, only a few weeks since the last traces of the bitter Siberian cold had finally melted away. New warmth permeated the land, and the forest was awake and alive. A bird chirped from the trees above.

Perfect.

Perfect for mushrooms. Perfect for life.

I could make it out here, he thought. It would serve them right.

Even this early in the season, he’d be able to find good mushrooms. And Anatoly knew where to look for the very best. Deeper and deeper he went into the forest. He stopped at a fallen tree and used the heel of his boot to break through the rotting bark in a shaded spot. Sure enough, he found big, thick mushrooms clustered together. He tossed the best ones into a bucket.

Must I go back? he considered again. Mother would be better off without me anyway.

Soon the sky grew darker, and Anatoly began searching for a camping spot. Mother swore that Anatoly would get sick and die sleeping exposed to the cool weather. He figured it was nonsense, but even if she was right, he wasn’t about to follow her advice. He chose a dry patch of pine needles below a massive tree. Putting down his buckets, he curled up in his blanket and effortlessly fell asleep.

Morning arrived, and first light appeared in the forest. Anatoly stirred, feeling refreshed as always after a night in the open air. Damp with morning dew, he took a long drink of spring water from his canteen, ate a mushroom and a handful of blackberries, and made to stand.

Anatoly caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of his eye. He guessed it was a deer darting through the trees. When he turned to look, however, he started in alarm.

A person? Out here?

It looked like a person. Anatoly rubbed his eyes, wondering if he’d accidentally eaten a bad mushroom. The clearing had just been empty. But now, there was this person standing clearly in front of him, as if materialized out of thin air.

Unless it isn’t a person. Anatoly thought.

As if responding to his thoughts, the figure disappeared again, as quickly as it had appeared.

A wave of fear washed through his body, and Anatoly pressed back against the tree trunk.

What was that? he thought, trying to steady his breath.

Suddenly, the person appeared again, this time a few steps closer to Anatoly.

It can’t be real, he told himself, shutting his eyes tight and pushing tales of ghosts and wood spirits from his mind. Those are just children’s stories. They’re just superstitious nonsense.

The light breeze blowing through the trees suddenly sounded like spirits whispering all around. He shook his head, trying to silence the imagined voices.

Just superstitious nonsense, he told himself again, keeping his eyes shut.

After a moment, he mustered up enough courage to open his eyes, hoping the mysterious figure would be gone.

Another wave of fear paralyzed him as he saw the person again, this time even closer than before.

Anatoly’s heart pounded as he looked at the mysterious apparition.

Just leave! Anatoly silently urged the person, or spirit, or whatever it was. Leave this place and leave me alone!

The person shifted slightly. Anatoly couldn’t see a face, as it was covered by a dark hood. They held an object that appeared to be a small sphere of glass, like a globe, shining like the sun and spinning rapidly. The person peered deeply into the object, as if seeing something there in the light, then reached out and touched the globe’s spinning surface. And once again, the figure vanished into thin air.

Anatoly couldn’t take it anymore. He had to get as far away from this place as possible. He carefully crept around the tree trunk, trying hard not to make any sound, afraid the person would reappear at any second and catch him.

Once clear of the tree, Anatoly turned and bolted, leaving his knapsack and buckets behind.

A moment later, he passed through another clearing. Without warning, the figure appeared right in front of him. Anatoly tried to stop but tripped over his own feet and tumbled to the forest floor. His head was spinning, but he had to get up.

Before he could make it to his feet, a man was standing over him. He pushed back his hood and locked eyes with Anatoly.

Anatoly screamed. This man had dark skin!

Anatoly knew that people with dark skin lived in other parts of the world. But not here.

It’s not a person, he realized with a terror he’d never known before.

Was it some forest demon? Or something worse?

Run! Anatoly urged himself.

Somehow, Anatoly was able to scramble to his feet, and he found himself once again running through the woods as quickly as his feet would take him. Fear pulsed through his body as he dodged around trees. He didn’t know which direction he was going. He just had to get away.

Faster! Faster! he urged himself.

Anatoly’s foot caught on a root, and he crashed again to the forest floor. His head knocked against a tree trunk, and he felt himself black out for a moment. As he groggily came to, he found the—well, whatever the apparition was— kneeling over him.

Are you okay? he asked.

Anatoly felt his head spinning.

What? he thought, hazily. It sounds like a man.

As his head cleared, Anatoly suddenly realized he was trapped. He lashed out, his fists swinging in a desperate attempt to get away.

Let me go! Anatoly cried out. Whatever you are, just leave me alone! Please, I have nothing!

Be still, the being said calmly, as he deftly blocked every one of Anatoly’s attempted punches. I promise I’m not trying to hurt you. You took a nasty fall, and I wanted to make sure you were all right.

Anatoly started to calm down as he realized that it had to be a man after all. Anatoly blinked, staring stupidly at the man.

I’m guessing you’ve never seen a black man before? the man said with a smile.

N-no, Anatoly said, shocked as he realized that this man was speaking flawless Russian.

Well, it does tend to cause some strange reactions around these parts, the man said. But don’t worry. I don’t bite.

He held out a hand to Anatoly, to help him to his feet.

What do you want from me? Anatoly pleaded, not taking the man’s hand. I only have mushrooms!

I’m not trying to take anything, the man said in a soothing tone. I just want to talk to you.

Anatoly didn’t know what to say.

My name is Ephraim, the man said, again offering a hand to help him stand.

This time Anatoly took it, and a moment later, he was on his feet.

I’m an American, Ephraim continued, and I’m here exploring the forest. I’m sorry I frightened you. I truly didn’t expect to find anybody in these parts.

An American! Anatoly said in surprise.

His head had been filled with warnings about America, a country with the sole objective of destroying the Soviet Union.

Are you here to spy on us? Anatoly asked.

Ephraim chuckled.

No, I’m not here to spy, he said. I’m here looking for historical objects. I work in a museum.

Historical objects? What could possibly be this deep in the forest?

My name is Anatoly, he finally said. I live in a village a day’s walk from here.

I see, Ephraim said. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Anatoly. Again, I am truly sorry to have startled you.

Ephraim paused for a moment, stroking his goatee.

You didn’t, by chance, see me when I arrived, did you? Ephraim finally asked.

Anatoly’s instinct was to shake his head. But he thought about that shining globe. What was it?

I … He was unsure how to proceed. I must have been seeing things. It seemed like you appeared out of nowhere.

Ephraim didn’t seem so dangerous anymore.

Right, Ephraim said. Maybe you hadn’t seen me coming through the trees.

Anatoly knew this couldn’t be true. He’d seen the man appear and then disappear right before his eyes. It was obvious that the man was hiding something.

What was that glass ball you held? Anatoly questioned, hoping to find some answers.

As he asked, it suddenly hit him. That little globe must be the way the man had traveled. He couldn’t explain it, but somehow Anatoly knew it was some sort of travel device. As soon as the thought occurred to him, new, wonderful possibilities opened in his mind.

This is it, he thought. My ticket out of here. I can finally get out of here for good!

Oh, that? Well, that’s just a compass, Ephraim answered.

He must be lying, Anatoly thought.

Anatoly decided not to press further for now. Maybe if he won Ephraim’s trust, the man would show him how it actually worked.

I will do whatever it takes.

Do you know what you are looking for out here? Anatoly asked. Maybe I could help you?

Ephraim looked at him for a moment, contemplating.

How well do you know these woods? he asked.

Better than anybody, Anatoly replied.

I’ve been searching for a specific place. All the information I’ve been able to find suggests that it has been hidden and long since forgotten. I only have a few clues, but so far I haven’t been successful.

What is it? Anatoly asked.

Well, Ephraim said, that’s just the thing. I’m not exactly sure.

Ephraim pulled out a book from his bag. He opened to a page with several notes, written in English, as well as a sketch of a map.

It says I should start at this natural spring, Ephraim said, pointing at some of his notes and translating into Russian for Anatoly. All I know are the general coordinates, but it could be anywhere within fifty kilometers of this place.

I know the spring! Anatoly said, energized. We can walk to it within two days.

This is my chance, he thought.

Ephraim’s eyes lit up.

Can you take me there? he asked, eagerly.

I will, Anatoly said, but on one condition. You must take me with you, away from this place, once we find what you are looking for.

Ephraim looked troubled. He glanced back and forth between the book and Anatoly.

Anatoly, he said at last. I can’t take you with me, but I can at least promise that if you help me find the spring, I’ll find a way to help you in return. If you want to get to away from here, I’ll do what I can. Would that be enough?

Yes, Anatoly said.

It was at least a start. He’d take what he could get. For now.

He led Ephraim into the forest, his head full of questions. He couldn’t stop thinking about the globe. He had to know if it really did what he thought it did.

Soon, he thought. Earn the American’s trust first. Then you will find out.

For the entire day they walked, Anatoly leading the way.

Eventually night came, and the two settled down to camp. Ephraim made a small fire and pulled out some cooking gear and a tin can from his backpack.

Do you like American food? Ephraim asked.

I do not know, Anatoly admitted. I have never tried it before.

It turned out, he did like it. A lot. Chili was what Ephraim called the stuff. He liked the taste of the spicy meat and beans so much that Ephraim pulled out a second can.

Thank you for your help, Ephraim finally said, before laying down to sleep. It might have taken me years to find the place I’m looking for. I’m in your debt.

You are welcome, Anatoly said. If we rise early tomorrow and walk all day, then perhaps we can reach the spring by nightfall.

That would be splendid, Ephraim said. Good night, Anatoly.

Ephraim used his backpack as a pillow, and like Anatoly, wrapped himself in a camping blanket on a patch of leaves near the fire.

As