Katchina

By Kesri Maraj

Benkipp Tai-me is a Native Indian American Archeologist. This academic season he takes six of his best students on a field trip to Alaska, the mysterious frozen north. On an unforgettable journey that will change their lives forever.
The mysterious past of the ancient and cursed Katchina box comes to life. Will it protect two of its most precious ancestral guardians ,or will it unleash a nightmare on the world?
Devastation follows the box and its custodians as dark forces from the distant past are confronted. Will two Native American men one young and the other middle aged be able to form the team that could save themselves and perhaps the world from this ancient threat?
This book is a must for all those that enjoy a good mystery, travel, exploration and adventure with dollops of suspense, a healthy dose of horror and magic.
Readers will be biting their nails at the twist and turns of the story as their battle of good against evil takes something from every character as they struggle to overcome dark forces.
This book will keep you wanting more... Next time!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Release date: Jun 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781482807509

Kesri Maraj

Kesri Maraj likes to capture the readers’ attention of all ages and of different genres. She likes to motivate readers all over the world and to use their imagination to the best of their abilities. She wants the readers to step into the story line and of the characters. It makes reading all the more interesting.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Kesri Maraj.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

I dedicate this book to my loving husband Kem and baby Dhiyana Maraj.To my mum Ritha and Late dad, Ranjith Tirbani.Sisters Reena Patel and Anita Naicker.And to Steve Mallach my Editor.And to Philip John and Rebecca Carter. I thank all those that helped me get thus far.I will forever be grateful.

Chapter 1

A n Arizonian Archeologist, Benkipp Tai-me announces the names of six students who will accompany him on an expedition. But little do they know that what would start off as a field trip that offered the possibility of extra credit, would soon turn into one of the most harrowing experiences of their young lives. Enjoyment and excitement soon changed to horror and destruction as the reader joins the professor and his young charges in a rollercoaster journey filled with suspense.

Benkipp Tai-me is a lecturer with a specialty in Native American Indian studies and a world renowned archeologist. During the summer semester he made a public announcement - he would be taking along with him on his expedition several students selected from amongst the most promising of his graduate class. Excitement gripped the Archeology majors as they waited for the announcement of who would be selected. Each of the highly gifted students held their breaths as their names were read out. In the end the results were no surprise. They were amongst the best and the brightest - Amy Knight, Kim Landbrig, Tim Wood, John Lee, Jack Lopez and Eliza Hopps.

Benkipp Tai-Me is a rugged and well preserved forty one, all six foot of his lanky frame and ruddy complexion varnished by the desert sun and shaped by his Native American ancestry. His dark brown hair was non-descript, but for many, including some of the more adoring of his female students, his sea green eyes were without a doubt his best feature. The afternoon prior to the launch of the latest expedition, Benkipp headed home to say goodbye to his wife Ella and his three boys, Stewart being the eldest at eleven, James nine and Eric, seven. They were the apples of his eye, well behaved, if a little boisterous, little boys each of who brought great joy to him and Ella.

Once he completed all the usual packing and backpack stuffing that was by now second nature, he headed straight to the attic. This place held Benkipp’s little secret. A wooden box given to him by his Grandmother that he kept away from the prying eyes of curious children and a wife who took a great interest in keeping him safe and sane in the sometimes cut-throat world of academia. On this day he felt that he needed the comfort of a connection with the past, especially as he was shortly to set out to explore ancient secrets held in the frozen plains of Alaska. His Grandmother had said that that the ornate box held many secrets and should never be opened. For four decades he had respected her wishes but today the temptation not to do so was too great.

Once in the attic, he went to a stained and unremarkable upright wardrobe. Inside the wardrobe he lifted out the box which was covered in a faded piece of red cloth. As he raised the cloth, he saw the imprint on the lid. It was made with fine chisel-like instrument and had a carving of a doll on its lid. For some reason he felt the overwhelming urge to take the box with him on the planned expedition. He decided that the few hours he had left at home would be spent with his wife and children. After all he would be absent from home for a few months.

Next morning, he awoke early. Since he had packed the night before, he had some time to have breakfast with Ella and the kids. His flight was scheduled to leave at 8:45am from Phoenix International Airport, a short 20 minute drive from his suburban home. The students were to meet him at the airport. At the airport the excited students were given information packs by the professor. The packs increased the already high levels of excitement amongst the travelling contingent of students.

Kim Landbrig was twenty years old. She had long flowing hair which was a beautiful luscious red. Her emerald green eyes and a light dusting of freckles contributed to her striking good looks.

Tim Wood was also twenty years old. He was of average height and well built. The Tortoiseshell glasses he wore contributed to an intriguing mix of the scholarly and the athletic. At least Kim thought so.

Eliza Hopps was nineteen years old. She was short and petite. But boy, did she have a mouth on her. She had an answer for everything and most people found this to be annoying. Many found her small dark, beady eyes unsettling.

John Lee was twenty years old. At well over 6 foot 5, he was tall for his age. But like most large and powerfully built men, he had a soft heart. He had an avid passion for historical artifacts which he had inherited from his father and grandfather both of whom were avid collectors of art antiques and historical curiosities

Jack Lopez was nineteen years old. He had a hard life. He grew up with his aunt after losing his parents in an automobile accident when he was four years old. Quiet and reserved, the others in the group regarded him as a bit of a mystery.

Once they were aboard the small plane, all of them, including Benkipp, were excited to be embarking on a journey that might change their lives forever. Aboard the plane Jack was the only one having problems staying in his seat. He was very nervous flying and at the back of his mind was the thought of the horrific deaths of his parent’s. Unable to control his stomach he unclipped his seat belt and headed for the bathroom to throw up. Jack knew this experience was far from over. It was just the beginning.

Chapter 2

O nce the plane landed at the remote air strip deep in the Alaskan wilderness, they were allocated their cabins. The girls had one cabin to share and the boys had another to themselves.

At breakfast the next morning, the students were given instructions on the routines that would order their days for the next few months. They were also given maps and booklets on all the places they were to explore. Since they were in Alaska in late autumn they were to keep very warm to avoid the potentially lethal effects of hypothermia and frostbite.

Their first excursion was to learn overland skiing using equipped sleds. The sleds would be obtained from Mr. Jim Odessey, an old friend who owned a warehouse further north from the lodge. The quality of Odessey Sleds was well known. Jim Odessey had been building handmade sleds for the past twenty years. A confirmed bachelor, Jim was quite happy with his life. Benkipp got all his supplies from Jim, including safety equipment overalls, hand tools and lanterns.

When they reached the Odessey warehouse the students were informed that they would be building their own sleds instead of obtaining the finished product from his warehouse. All members of the student expeditionary team had reservations about their ability to construct a complex piece of equipment that might very well mean the difference between surviving the harsh conditions of the Alaskan wilderness, and perishing in the frozen wastes. Benkipp approached the grizzled sled expert and asked, So Jim do you have the supplies I ordered? Jim replied, Come with me this way Benkipp and I’ll show you.

Jim had at least a dozen sealed boxes arranged on the warehouse floor. Each box contained safety gear, day glo overalls, saws and all the raw materials required to assemble the sleds. Benkipp told the younger members of the team, "You will be supervised at all times and guided through the assembly process. Ladies, do not be worried, those manicured nails will not be going just yet – although I think that you’ll be missing them by the end of the week. Everyone kit up – remember to put on your gloves and safety goggles please.’

Jim Odessey cleared the tables and removed the metal parts from the boxes while the others went to get dressed in their overalls.

Odessey looked around and said I’ve made life easier for you all, as you can see I have left instruction manuals with step by step numbered diagrams for you to follow. I wish you all the best of luck.

Jim left the warehouse to go out for lunch, but he had left word with his workers to assist Benkipp and the students if needed.

Amy Knight displayed the attitude of a professional sled maker and she built her sled as though it were a giant three dimensional puzzle or erector set - bit by bit she managed to fit the multitude of different sizes and shapes of metal parts together, completing her sled first. Other team members were still struggling with some of the more complex diagrams in the instruction manual by the time she had slipped the last piece into place and tightened the final screw. They were all amazed at her abilities.

Benkipp took down notes as he observed the other students’ abilities.

Benkipp and Amy each took turns to help Tim Wood and Kim Landbrig with the metal strips. John’s eyes opened wide in amazement as soon as he turned and saw Eliza Hopps’ sled, she had placed the strips of metal connecting the body of the sled to the ski’s Runners was the correct term, Benkipp explained, upside down.

John quickly helped her reverse the assembly, before Benkipp noticed and adjusted her marks on the clipboard he now carried constantly. Kim watched Tim and Benkipp build the remainder of her sled, as she removed her gloves and glared at her now chipped, glossy nails. Tim was annoyed that he and Benkipp had to carry his and Kim’s sled off the table while she sat with Jack - with whom she had developed a budding relationship in the short time of the plane trip and first night in the cabins. Now she sat behind him with her arms draped around his shoulders.

Benkipp stood in the corner of the room and evaluated each sled. He was about to give them a grade but then laughed to himself as he tore the sheet at the thought of embarrassing Kim and Eliza as much as they had already embarrassed themselves.

John came out of the change room and asked, Are you not giving us points? Benkipp whispered in his low, slow Arizonian drawl, Nah, there’s going to be enough time for competition later, but thank you for reversing the metal strips on Eliza’s sled, it was like seeing a reindeer skiing on its back. The two of them chuckled as Benkipp told John that he never misses out on details, especially when the safety of the whole party could depend on their equipment.

They were ordered by Jim Odessey to test their sleds out on the increasingly deep snow which was becoming even more treacherous as the snow began to fall more heavily in the darkening autumn landscape. The students were directed to test without the help of the husky dogs. Benkipp assisted each team member as they pushed the sleds out onto the snow and away from the warm comfort of the centrally heated warehouse. Benkipp suggested that they go down the steep slope a short distance from the warehouse. Each student attempted the short run as Benkipp yelled out precautionary instructions. Amy went first, secured her position and screamed as her sled careened down the slope and came to a rest against a snow bank. John was next and he too yelled as his sled went of the slope high into the air. Benkipp was surprised, given John’s supposed athleticism. Jack hesitated at the top of the slope once it was his turn. Although it wasn’t a full blown panic attack like his fear of heights had caused on the plane, it was close. Once he was down the slope,