The Secrets of Spirit Island

By Stephen E. Walker

Jack lives on the Minnesota and Canada border. His grandpa and father are lumberjacks, working for a big lumber company. His best friend is a big yellow Labrador dog named Duke, who plays an important part in his life.

An Oriental family from China moves to their neighborhood. Phan becomes his best friend, and Phan’s father teaches them ninja. During one of their adventures, Jack finds a cave on the side of the mountain where ancient medicine men live, who teach him the secrets of the island.

As the years go by, he marries his girlfriend, Jessie, and they have a family. Jack is drafted into the service and is sent to Vietnam, where he uses the secrets the old medicine men taught him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662450471

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The Secrets of Spirit Island

Stephen E. Walker

Copyright © 2022 Stephen E. Walker

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2022

This is a work of nonfiction. No names have been changed, no characters invented, no events fabricated.

ISBN 978-1-6624-5046-4 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-5047-1 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

About the Author

I dedicate this book to my older brother Earl Walker known best as Sonny who was always there when I needed him.

When Janet awoke, the morning air smelled good. She had overslept. Her husband had already gone to work. She could smell the coffee he had made before he left. She had canned strawberries late into the night. Her son had helped her pick them the day before. She knew she should get up before she just felt like lying there, listening to the sounds of the old log house she and her husband had bought in 1945, fourteen years ago. It was the second home she had known, but she knew every sound in it. She made herself get up, for she knew she had a lot of work to do. She went to the kitchen and could still smell the strawberry jam she made last night. She poured a cup of coffee and sat by the window and looked as the sun warmed her. She could hear the sound of the sawmill when the wind blew in the right direction. Her husband, Steve, was a lumberjack and worked for the sawmill. Her dad had been a lumberjack; that was how she met Steve. Steve and her dad worked together for several years. Her dad thought of Steve as a son. When they were married, it was one of the happiest days of her dad’s life. Two years following the wedding, her dad was killed when a tree split and had fallen on him. It was hard on Steve. Dad was the only dad that Steve had ever known. Steve had been raised in an orphanage and started working with Dad when he was sixteen. Mother had passed away five years earlier. Steve and her son, Jack, were the only family she had left. She thought to herself, What if something happened to one of them?

Where was Jack? By the plates on the table, he had gotten up breakfast with Steve.

She made herself get up and start cleaning off the table. She put the dishes in the sink, then filled the teakettle and put it on the stove for hot water. She was gazing out the window when she thought she saw something move. Old Duke, the Lab, was lying in the grass, sunning himself, all stretched out. She kept staring because she thought she saw something move on the other side of the dog. Nothing moved. The old dog was sound asleep. She went ahead and started washing dishes. She knew they had to be done before she and Jack left to pick blackberries. If they got there too late, the bears would have most of the berries eaten.

All at once, the dog came off the ground and tried to go three ways at once. He must have thought a big bear had him. It was Jack. He bounced on the dog, and they both rolled on the grass. Off they ran toward the old log house where her folks used to live, with the dog nipping at his heels. She thought to herself, He must be all Indian, like his grandmother. She was full-blooded Cherokee.

She finished the dishes, then picked up the pails for the blackberries. When she left the house and started down the path, she heard Jessie, the neighbor girl, hollering her name, wondering where she was going. She told her she and Jack were going to pick blackberries.

Jessie’s folks were their best friends. They lived just across the road. Jim and Steve had grown up and worked together since they were kids. May I go with you and help? asked Jessie.

Sure, you can go, Jessie, replied Janet.

Have you seen Jack? asked Jessie.

I saw him and the old dog run toward the old log house, Janet responded. That’s probably where he is. We will go that way. How is your mother, Von?

Jessie replied, She’s fine. She was working in the garden when I left. I told her I was coming over. I’ll go ahead and find Jack.

She ran up the trail and down the path to the old log cabin and hollered, Jack, where are you? There was no sound but the chirping of the birds. Jack, you better answer me! I know you are here, Jack. I’m coming into the house, Jack!

And the door squeaked. She was scared but wouldn’t admit it. She looked in. It was just one big room, but no Jack. She turned around, and there stood Jack. She heard nothing.

Darn you, Jack! Do you always have to sneak up and scare me? Sometimes I think you’re half-ghost.

Jack just smiled and said, Are you going to help Mom and me pick blackberries?

Jessie nodded.

Jack said, I’ll race you!

She responded, I’ll beat you!

And off they ran.

As they ran, Jack didn’t make a sound. Jessie’s lungs were gasping for air, and her heart was pounding. Jack was just standing there with a smile on his face. She thought, Darn you, Jack, and that smile! Jack picked up his pail from his mother and went to pick blackberries. Jessie went about picking berries too. Janet just stood there and let her mind go back to when she was a little girl and her folks had lived here. She remembered how she and her dad planted the apple orchard and the blackberry patch. The deer loved the apples, and the bears loved the berries. She had always learned to look around to make sure there were no bears. She had seen no signs where there had been any. If there had been, Duke would have probably been barking by now.

She went ahead picking berries and remembered the good and bad times.

Everything was so peaceful and quiet. The ravens were busy building nests like the rest of the birds. She could hear the gray squirrel barking at the magpie that was probably bothering him. She had two buckets full when she heard Jessie scream. Janet’s heart jumped to her throat. She thought, My god, bear! She heard the bucket hit the bushes as Jessie came running toward her. Berries flying everywhere. She was chalk white. Jack and Duke came running up to her.

Jessie, what’s wrong? Janet asked.

All Jessie could say was, I just about stepped on it!

At that time, the hair on the back of Duke’s neck stood straight up, and a deep growl came from his throat. He started backing up. Janet thought, My god, a bear! Duke went behind Jack. This wasn’t like Duke; he had fought a bear before.

Janet said, Jessie, what is it?

And Jessie replied, Mrs. Blake, it’s a big old skunk, and I just about stepped on it! Janet breathed in a sigh of relief. All Jack wanted to know was where it was. Jessie said, Right over there by that bush.

Jack walked over to where the bush was, but Duke stayed behind him. Jack hollered at his mother and Jessie to come and look. There was a big black-and-white skunk lying there. She was dead. No marks on her. She must’ve died of old age or poison. Standing behind her was a baby skunk. He would stand on his back legs and come down on his front ones. His little tail was standing straight up. He was defending his mother.

Janet said, Jack, don’t you touch him. Even if he is the cutest little thing. In her heart, she felt sorry for him. Jack just walked over and picked the little feller up by the tail. He said, Mom, old Trapper Jones told me if I picked them up by the tail, they can’t spray. Jack put his other hand under his feet. The next thing she knew, he had him in his arms. Jack had always seemed to have a way with animals. The little one was licking his hands.

He must be very hungry, Mom. Can we get some milk for him?

Janet said, Don’t you take him in my house!

Jack said, We won’t, Mom. Maybe we can keep her up here at the cabin.

Janet said, Okay, but you better see if she will drink some milk first.

And off they went.

Duke was staying his distance; he had learned about skunks when he was a pup, and one lesson was enough.

Jack got up and ate breakfast with his mom and dad. He knew he had to go to the cabin to make sure Rose, the skunk, had enough food for four days. He took a couple of pancakes left over from breakfast, with syrup on them, because Rose loved them. She could eat her weight and then some. When he got to the cabin, he found Rose. She was really growing, so pretty and fluffy. They had named her Rose because Jessie had brought some of her mother’s perfume that smelled like roses and put it on her. That was what Jessie had said, though he couldn’t see where it smelled like a rose. He played with Rose a while, then he left. Dad had said there was a new family moving in down the road a little ways from them. Dad said they should go down and welcome them. Dad had heard they had a son Jack’s age. He wanted to do this first thing as soon as his mother could go, because Trapper Jones and he were going to take some food to one of Jones’s trapping cabins. This usually took two days. He always looked forward to going with him.

When he got home, Mother was finishing the dishes. He said, Mom, are we going to visit the new neighbors?

She said, It will be just a few minutes. I want to finish the pie and take some strawberry jam.

Mom, I’ll be at Trapper’s house, Jack said. He then went across the road. The old trapper was getting his stuff together. Jack had known the old trapper since he was four years old. The trapper lived by himself. Dad had told Jack once his house had burned down and he had lost his wife and daughter in it several years ago. The trapper had moved into the old log cabin. The roof leaked something terrible. Dad had told him to go down by the sawmill. There was an old tin building he could have. Trapper Jones and Dad had taken the tin off the old building and put it on the cabin for the roof. One time, Jack was in the cabin when it started to hail. He had to cover his ears—it made so much noise. Old Trapper Jones just smiled and said, At least it doesn’t leak. And thank God it doesn’t hail very often.

What time are we leaving for the outline cabin?

We should leave by ten o’clock in the morning in order to reach it before dark.

Mom’s taking a pie and some jam down to the new neighbors.

Trapper Jones said, I heard they are from China.

Jack hadn’t heard this before. He wondered if he, the boy his age, would be able to understand him or talk his language.

Mother hollered and said, Come, Jack, we better be on our way!

I’ll be here at ten o’clock, Trapper Jones.

Outside, Jack said, Mother, did you know these people may be from China?

Janet replied, Dad had mentioned it. The father works at the sawmill. He is an inventor, working to make a new kind of paper. Your father stated he was a very nice man.

Jack said, Is that the house, Mother?

Janet said, Yes, that’s it. They bought the old Franklin Place. Janet knocked at the door, and a short dark-haired lady answered. I’m Janet Blake, and this is my son, Jack. We are your neighbors down the road. My husband, Steve, works for the same company as your husband. You may have heard your husband speak of him.

Yes. I’m Ching King. My husband has spoken of Steve and mentioned you might be coming down. My son, Phan, is here. Phan, would you like to come out here a minute?

Phan was a short dark-headed boy.

Phan, this is Janet Blake, and her son, Jack. She then turned to the visitors. Would you please come in?

Jack looked around. Their house didn’t look any different from theirs, except for more rooms. Phan just stood there. Jack said, Hi! I’m your new neighbor. We’ll probably be going to school together. Have you always lived in the United States?

Phan said, No, I was born in China, but I have been in the United States for the last ten years.

Jack said, I have to leave now. Maybe we can get together Saturday, if it’s all right with your mother. Duke, my dog, and I will go up and show you Rose.

Phan said, Mom, may I go with Jack Saturday?

Yes, you may, but who is Rose? Ching asked.

It’s my pet skunk! Jack replied. She is very pretty.

Are you sure the skunk won’t get upset? Ching said.

As long as Phan is with me, the skunk won’t bother him, Jack said.

Janet then said, You don’t have to worry, as long as Duke is with them.

Jack said, I have to go now. I need be at Trapper Jones’s at ten o’clock. I’ll see you Saturday, then. Mom, I’m leaving. Is there anything you want me to do before Trapper Jones and I leave?

Janet said, No.

Jack ran up to Jones’s house, where Jones was getting things ready. Jones asked, Jack, would you take that box of canned food and put them in the canoe?

Jack took a box down to where the canoe was tied. There was a small aluminum boat with a small gas motor on it. The canoe was tied behind it. The canoe was half-full of new traps and supplies that Jones was taking to the cabin.

Jones came down with another box, trying to put it in the canoe. Jack asked, Where are we going to sit?

We’ll find a place, Jones said.

Jack called Duke and told him to get in the aluminum boat. Jack crawled in, and Jones started the old motor. Slowly they went across the big lake.

It was a beautiful day. And it was a special time for Jack. He had always loved going out to the cabins. He saw the loons building their nests along the shoreline and heard them calling to one another as they went by. Jones was content, humming to himself. Jack had never heard the song before. It took a couple of hours to reach the last point of land that reached out into the lake. Then it took four more hours to reach the Big Island. That was where they’d leave the aluminum boat and take the canoe onto the line cabin.

When the boat touched land, Duke bounced out, tickled to be on firm ground again. He didn’t really care for boats. Jones stepped out and pulled the aluminum boat onshore. Jack thought, My, he’s strong! When he straightened up, he stood about seven feet tall.

Jack had overheard his dad and Jessie’s father discussing an incident that happened at Bud’s. That was where everyone went for a beer and to play pool. A man by the name of Lee, who was a big man, had drunk one too many beers. Jones was sitting there and talking when Lee said, Jones, isn’t it about time for you to find another Black woman?

Jones stood up and grabbed Lee by the front of the shirt with one hand and the other hand on his throat, lifting him off the floor. He said, Lee, if you ever say anything about another Black lady, I’ll tear your throat out. Lee’s eyes were about to pop out. Jones let him back down and walked out while Lee was gasping for air. The next morning, Lee had walked over to Jones and apologized to him. Lee told him he had no right to say those things.

Jones asked, Shall we have a sandwich now and a drink, or do you want to wait until we get to the cabin?

Jack said, Let’s wait until we get to the cabin. Maybe I can catch a couple of fish and we can have a shore lunch. Jack could feel the canoe lunge ahead as Jones paddled up. Duke was standing on the canned goods, trying to keep his balance.

Jones said, Jack, watch for signs of beaver as we go upstream. I’ll mark them.

Jack had seen several beaver signs before they reached the cabin. They had seen a couple of deer come out to drink too.

When they reached the cabin, there was still plenty of daylight. Jones asked Jack to help carry some of the boxes of canned food up to the cabin. They found the cabin the way Jones left it. Jack thought not even a bear could tear it down, the way it was built. It was just a small cabin with one bed on one wall and one wood-burning stove in it. The traps were hanging just like Jones had left them last year.

Jones said, Jack, if you would catch a couple of fish, I’ll get the fire going.

Jack got the fishing pole and ran down to the lake. In a matter of minutes, he had two fish. He thought you could catch fish with a bare hook. He had just put a little piece of red cloth on it. When he arrived back at the cabin, Jones had the fire going. They fried the fish and ate.

After supper, Jack walked down to the lake and was listening to the loons. He could hear Jones’s ax ringing in the stillness. Jones wanted to have firewood stored for the winter. Jack asked Jones if he wanted some help, and Jones told him no. But you look around the lake for mink and beaver signs, he added.

It was dark when Jack got back. Jones had a nice bonfire going already. Jones stated, I wondered when you were coming back.

Jack said he was listening to the loons. It is so beautiful up here! Jack went over and sat down by the fire. Jack said to Jones, What was that song you were humming coming across the lake? I had never heard it before.

Jones said, It was a song my father and his father and his father before him sang. They would sing it when they went out to the Big Island to talk to their gods. My father and his father were medicine men. Every spring they would go out to the island and talk to the ravens. The ravens would tell them where the best hunting and food would be. In exchange, they would give the ravens part of the food for telling them. You know where the big cabin is? That was where my father’s home used to be. You know the big rock on the little blue lake? That was where he would talk to the gods and give food to the ravens for their help. He paused. We’d better turn in. I want to cut a lot of wood tomorrow, and you can catch some more fish.

Jack said, I’ll help you stack the wood tomorrow, and we can both fish on the way home.

They got up early the next morning, had breakfast, and cut wood all day. That evening, they sat around the campfire and Jack asked him more about the Big Island. The Big Island had been given to his father by the government settlement. So the Big Island was really Jones’s. The Big Island, years ago, was where the young men who had reached a certain age would go to learn the ways of their culture. They would live there by themselves for several months.

To become a medicine man, you had to learn the way of the forest, water, ravens, etc. In order to become a real medicine man, however, one would have to crawl up and touch a deer while he was sleeping. Very few did. His grandfather had, and he was a great medicine man. Jones had tried many times but never touched one.

When Jones’s cabin burned down, he lost the deed. He had been told there probably would be one at the courthouse. He never checked on it. Maybe someday.

Jack listened to the loons late into the night and then fell asleep. Then, he felt someone shaking him, and when he opened his eyes, Jones told him breakfast was ready. He hadn’t slept this late in years. They ate and started downstream. They caught more fish than they needed, so they threw them back.

When they reached the lake, Jones just pulled the canoe up and put it in among some trees where he could use it this fall when he trapped. Jones started the motor on the old aluminum boat. It spit and sputtered and sometimes sounded like it was going to quit. But they made it home. Jones said, Someday I will have to buy a new boat and motor.

Jack took off for home. He wanted to let his mother know that he was home. She already knew it, though, because Duke beat him home. He was at his bowl, cleaning up the food. Jack said he was going to check on Rose. Mother said, Jessie wanted you to holler at her when you got home. Jack thought he would; even if she was a girl, she was his best friend.

He went over to her home and Jessie was in the front yard. She wanted to know what he was going to do. Jack said, I’m going to feed Rose and then see if Phan is home. He’s the new neighbor boy. Have you met him?

Jessie said, Yes! Mother and I met him. Do you care if I go with you to feed Rose and meet with Phan?

Jack said, No, come along.

They fed Rose. She seemed to be tickled to see them. Jessie said, I’ll race you down to Phan’s! Jessie knew she could never win but kept on trying.

When they got to Phan’s, he was standing in the backyard, doing some odd movements. He would hold one arm up and one arm out. Something like a boxer but still wasn’t. Then he would seem to throw one arm out and kick with one leg. Jack and Jessie had never seen anything like this. They stood and watched. Phan realized someone was watching, so he turned and walked over to the fence, where they were standing. Jack was going to ask him what he was doing but figured that if Phan wanted him to know, he would tell him.

Are you still going with us tomorrow? We’ll probably be gone most of the day. Jessie and I were talking about going up to Split Tree Lake. It is a nice lake above the old cabin. Maybe you better tell your mother we’ll be gone most of the day, Jack said.

Phan said, Both of you come in and I’ll ask Mother. Then he said, Mother, Jack and Jessie are going to be gone most of the day tomorrow. Is it all right if I go with them?

Mrs. King said, Is it safe for him to be up there?

Jack said, Jessie and I go up there quite often. It is beautiful this time of year.

Phan said, What should I bring?

Jack said, Nothing. Jessie and I will bring lunch. You may bring a fishing pole if you have one.

Phan said, Yes, I have a fishing pole Dad helped me make.

Jack said, Okay, we will see you in the morning. Then he turned. It’s been nice talking to you, Mrs. King. Thanks! See you in the morning, Phan."

Jack awoke and heard his mom singing in the kitchen. She had breakfast ready and his lunch packed for the trip. He asked her if she had any pancakes for Rose. She always had an extra one. Janet asked if he would like honey or syrup for her. Jack said, It doesn’t matter. She likes either one. He finished eating and heard a knock on the door. It was Phan and his mother.

Jack said, Come on in, Phan and Mrs. King.

Mrs. King said, If you’re not busy today, I’ll visit with you while the children are gone.

Janet said, No, that would be great. I haven’t much to do. Maybe we shall walk up and see Rose. That was where my mother and father lived. There is an orchard there. This fall, if you would like some apples, you are more than welcome.

Jack said, Phan, we better be leaving. Jessie will be waiting on us. Did you bring your fishing pole?

Phan said, Yes, I brought it. It’s outside.

Jack stepped out and looked at a big long pole. He had never seen anything like it. It was at least six feet long, and on one end, it had a block of wood with an orange juice can fastened to it. Around the can was the string. The string went up the pole through three wire eyes fastened to the pole. Jack asked, Phan, will that thing work?

Phan said, Dad showed me how to work it last night. I have never been fishing before. Dad said it will work.

Jack said, We’d better be off. Jessie, are you ready? We are leaving.

Jessie said, Yes, I just finished fixing our lunch, and I would like to take my drawing paper. Is that all right? What is that pole Phan has?

Jack said, It’s a fishing pole Phan’s dad made.

Jessie said, I’ve never seen anything like that before. Phan’s face turned red. Jessie said, I have a pancake for Rose.

Jack said, So do I, so she’ll be glad to see us. Jack took the lead and off they went. Rose was glad to see them.

Phan thought she was beautiful when she ate out of his hand. He said he had never seen one before. Jack said, Come on in and I’ll show you the inside of the old cabin, which is our clubhouse. It isn’t much, but we have a lot of fun up here. They could smell the apple trees in full bloom as they walked on up the path. Phan was having a good time. He had never seen anything like this before.

On their way, they stopped and watched the beavers working on their dam.

Jack told Phan to walk over and talk to them. Phan walked over to them, and when the beaver saw him, his tail splashed down on the water with a crack. Phan jumped back and looked at Jack and broke into a laugh. So did Jessie and Jack. Then, they headed on up the path, talking and having a good time. When they reached the lake, they had to crawl over some big rocks. Jack stopped suddenly. Jessie bumped into Jack, and Phan bumped into Jessie.

Jack put his finger to his mouth and whispered, Be quiet. Then he lay down on his stomach and told Phan to leave his pole there. They crawled up on the big rock on their stomachs. Just across the lake, at the edge of the timber, lay a doe giving birth to a fawn. They lay and watched. Finally, she got up and the baby tried several times to follow. But his legs were so wobbly. Finally, he was standing up on all four legs. The mother was cleaning him. She was so alert, afraid something or someone would come. Phan lay there with a big smile, and they all felt joy in their hearts. They slid down off the rock, and Phan got his pole and they slowly backed away. They would have to go upstream and fish by the old beaver pond. Jack had seen fish there before.

Jessie said, Let’s stop and eat lunch. I’m hungry!

While they ate lunch, Jessie asked Phan where he lived before. Phan said, I was born in China. When I was four, we moved to New York. I don’t remember much about China, but New York is one big city.

Jessie said, I would love to go to New York!

Phan said, You would only be there a little while and would then be ready to move back here.

Jack said, Well, if we’re going to do any fishing, we better be on our way. Jack took the lead and up to the beaver pond they went.

Phan asked, Jack, where is your fishing pole?

Jack said, I’ll just cut me a big long pole and put a string and hook on.

Phan said, Maybe that is what I should’ve done, but Dad wanted me to try this.

Jack said, That’s all right. You go ahead and start fishing while I cut me a pole.

Phan reached into one of his pockets and brought out something white that looked like a small bird with a hook on it. Jack just looked at Phan and said, What is it?

Phan said, Dad calls it a lure. He made it. He tied it on the end of the string.

Jessie was sitting on the old beaver dam, drawing a sketch of the beaver pond, when Phan walked up. He raised the pole straight up and back and slung it forward. The string came off the can, and the lure went out into the deep water. Jack just stood there and looked. All of a sudden, Phan said, I got one! The water exploded, and out of it came the biggest northern Jack had ever seen, with his head swinging in the air. Phan was hollering, I got one! I got one! Jack ran over to Phan and asked him if he needed any help. The fish was about to pull him in. About that time, the can broke loose from the nail and went flying up the pole. Making a clickity, clackity sound. The wire eye held, and the fish was coming out of the water, still fighting, with his head swinging in the air. Phan was still hollering, I got him! I got him! Jessie is sitting there with her mouth open, with Jack hollering, Hang on, we’ll get him! The fish was still swinging his head in the air and fighting.