Finding Peace

By Raymond Greiner

This story is about a unique group of characters who became enthralled by Mildred Norman, and her long journey walking the highways of North America to promote peace. She would speak at schools, churches and community centers to influence those she met to follow a path of peaceful coexistence in their daily lives.  

The story takes many twists and turns beginning in the Brooks Range of Alaska, and eventually covering populated areas of Canada and the United States to fulfill their mission. 

Peace has been elusive among human expansion, as this story challenges our species to discover a more peaceful world. 

Hope remains steadfast as these modern day Peace Pilgrims have left their mark in history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: PTP Book Division
• Release date: Aug 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223666387

Raymond Greiner

He lived in Vienna, WV until 1951, moved to Marion, Ohio until 1957, attending Harding High School in Marion, Ohio moving to Utica, NY for his senior year of high school, graduating from Utica Free Academy public school in 1958. Greiner served four years in the USMC, honorably discharged in 1961. He attended Utica College and Wayne State University, married in 1964 to Nancy McClellan and raised three children. He started a restaurant and developed a consulting service as an advisor to investors. Retired at age 60, he pursued writing; prior to writing years, he was a dedicated reader.

Book preview

Prologue

Larry Stephens was a forty-year-old Wall Street investment banker. Stephens never married and lived in a luxury townhouse in an affluent section of Manhattan. Larry was small in stature, introverted and identified by associates as a loner. His personal net worth was in excess of twenty million dollars.

During college Stephens majored in finance and minored in biological science working summers for the National Park Service as a field guide to lead park visitors on scenic trails describing natural features the park offered. 

His profession as an investment advisor opened knowledge to global financial trends publically unavailable. He observed previous viable investments in decline. 

Global political unrest escalated and even obscure countries developed nuclear weaponry stockpiles escalating possibilities for these deadly devices to be activated. 

The year was 2050 and warfare’s destructive potential had no comparison to previous conflicts. Aircraft carriers were obsolete replaced by guided missiles with atomic warheads capable of reaching anyplace on the planet.

As Stephen’s contemplated global conditions the future looked bleak. He quit his job, sold his townhouse and cashed in investments. His net worth had dropped to fifteen million dollars. He purchased ten million dollars in gold coins; camping equipment and a new Chevy four wheel drive pick-up truck. He had studied Alaska for years and was familiar with prominent geographic areas. 

He was fascinated by the Brooks Range in Northern Alaska near the Arctic Circle. This area is among the most isolated regions in the world. He will drive the Alaskan Highway camping at night and let destiny take its course.

The long drive to Alaska created opportunity to ponder his objective to escape from what could evolve into the most catastrophic period in human history.

Humanity developed into a warring species as dead soldiers were identified as heroes. War was recognized as a glorious event.

Chapter 1

A New Home

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Larry continued toward the Brooks Range and came to a village and a house with an airstrip with a parked Cessna aircraft. A sign stated Bush Pilot Air Service.

He knocked on the door and a man appearing to be in his fifties answered.

Hello, I’m Larry Stephens from New York City and interested in purchasing a cabin in the Southern Brooks Range.

I’m pleased to meet you. I’m Walter Scott. Come in. I’ll make coffee and we’ll discuss your ambition. I was born and raised in Alaska. I’ve only been to the lower states a few times. My daughter Jenny is the primary pilot for our bush plane service. She assumed the position when I turned fifty. I frequently serve as her copilot. We perform a variety of services. We fly in hunters and fishermen, shuttle supplies to residents living remotely and school teachers to assign lesson plans to students paid for by the Alaskan government. We also transport medical patients when needed. Our plane is a superb low wing twin engine Cessna. I know the Brooks Range as well as anyone in Alaska, Walter said.

How do remote residents contact you and Jenny for air service? Larry asked.

We have satellite phones and Internet connections. It’s a miracle unavailable during my early years as a bush pilot, Walter said.

"My years in New York City were stressful. I feel the human species is slipping into a dark future. The quest for monetary status has overpowered core human values. It’s formed by a subtle brainwashing created by the social power of fiscal influence. While living in New York City I spent hours each day staring at a lighted board studying stock fluctuations. I can’t imagine a more boring life.

"Governments have too much control and military spending is off the scale of sensibility.

My most memorable times were summers when I worked for the National Park Service and directly connected to the natural world, Larry said.

Follow me, more discussion is needed. We’ll walk to my daughter Jenny’s house. You’ll love Jenny, everybody does. When she’s home we share evening meals alternating from my house to hers, Walter said.

They approached a small frame house on a slight rise with a dirt road access. Walter opened the door and walked in. Jenny was in the kitchen.

Hi, Dad. Who’s the visitor? Jenny asked.

Jenny this is Larry Stephens from New York City he’s a former investment banker. He resigned his position and drove the Alaskan Highway camping out at night. He wants to find a cabin in the Southern Brooks Range as a permanent home, Walter said.

Jenny was petite, and her appearance was in opposition of what one would imagine how an Alaskan bush pilot would be portrayed. She had keen facial features and a heart-melting smile combined with a bright mind.

"I’m pleased to meet you. I’d enjoy hearing what inspired you to come to Alaska. When I was a student at The University of Alaska I yearned to visit New York City, but the desire faded. Now I’m an Alaskan bush pilot.

‘We’re having roast duck with creamy white wine sauce. I’m a passionate cook. Food is fuel, and proper nutritional choices are important for overall health," Jenny said.

Larry was dumbstruck and forced himself not to stare at Jenny. He thought, "What are the odds of such a beautiful woman becoming an Alaskan bush pilot?"

Jenny’s been flying a plane since she was twelve years old. Our first plane was a single engine Cessna 150. She soloed at age fifteen. Her mother Eleanor was also a pilot. Eleanor died two years ago after a long battle with breast cancer. We’ll never recover from Eleanor’s loss, Walter said. 

During my years as a bush pilot I’ve developed many friendships, Jenny said.

I think I should introduce Larry to Jim Ambrose. He’s eighty and lives alone since his wife Susan died. His gold claim is vacant and the cabin is in perfect condition. Larry could consider purchasing Jim’s gold claim, Walter said.

Excellent idea. Tomorrow I have a supply run and I’ll return in time for our evening meal. I’d enjoy hearing the results of your meeting with Jim, Jenny said.

There’s a sharp learning curve to adjust to life in the Alaskan arctic and nobody I know is more qualified to teach the intricacies of arctic living than Jim, Walter said.

Walter invited Larry to stay with him during his adjustment period. I’ve plenty of room and would enjoy conversations related to your decision to make this change. The house has been like a vacuum since Eleanor died, Walter said.

The next day Walter drove Larry to Jim Ambrose’s house. Introductions were made and Jim invited them in for coffee.

Jim looked fit for an eighty-year-old. He had a hearing aid in one ear and walked with a cane. His white hair and bright blue eyes accented his quick mind.

Larry described his journey to this point highlighting reasons for his decision to escape the chaos of New York City. 

I would’ve done exactly the same. I dislike cities with a passion. To think about how people function in cities in nauseating. My wife Susan and I established our claim and built our cabin forty years ago. Susan died last year from pneumonia. It was the saddest day of my life with memories exceeding my ability to describe. It’s as if she’s still with me, Jim said. 

I’m interested to purchase your claim and cabin to allow personal connection to the Brooks Range, Larry said.

I suggest Jenny flies us to Jim’s claim to evaluate and discuss possibilities. Jim can point out features the area offers, Walter said.

"We only visited occasionally during winter months. Winter’s more challenging but the place is a paradise with the snow clinging to spruce trees. I have two photo albums of our years at the claim.

A resident wolf pack would stop and stare when they passed by. Susan would wave at them. We loved those wolves, Jim said.

Jim showed his photo album of the cabin and the surroundings to Larry and Walter.

We’ll pick you up in the morning and stay two nights, Walter said.

I’ll be ready, Jim said.

Jenny returned and Larry and Walter were preparing dinner.

He cooks too? Jenny asked in jest.

They shared a laugh and the mood was pleasant.

I enjoyed meeting Jim. I’ll hire you to fly the three of us to Jim’s claim. We’ll stay two days to become familiar with the place. Jim showed me photos of the claim’s cabin and it looks ideal, Larry said.

I’d like to stay two days too. I’ve never been there, but my parents said it was surrounded by magnificent scenery, Jenny said.

It’ll give us an opportunity to get to know each other. Larry knows his way around the kitchen. He did most of the work preparing our meal. Beef stroganoff with sliced potatoes, green beans and spinach salad, Walter said.

Obviously, Jenny responded.

When I lived in New York City my kitchen and preparing meals was therapeutic to get my mind off money and investments. My townhouse was my refuge, Larry said.

It’s about a two hour flight and scenic, Walter said.

I look forward to riding in your beautiful plane, Larry added.

It’ll be pleasant to return to a place where the best segment of my life occurred, Jim said.

Jenny went to her house and Larry stayed with Walter. Jim returned home and they will meet at the airstrip at 9 o’clock for departure.

Jim brought boxes of food. The sky was clear with no wind as they prepared for departure. 

Larry’s eyes were glued to the window absorbing the scenery of the Brooks Range.

Walter was in the copilot’s seat and conversed with Jenny using headphones.

The cabin was on a hill between two small streams emptying into a larger river.

Jenny landed the Cessna and they walked to the cabin. The cabin was unlocked a common practice in the Brooks Range to offer emergency shelter in the event someone was lost or stranded.

It’s the same as we left it five years ago, Jim said.

After unloading Jim took them on a walking tour.

"Gold deposits are found in both streams. During mining years we extracted five million dollars in gold nuggets and dust. 

It feels good to be here. As age descended we stopped mining but visited to enjoy the scenery and photograph wildlife. Later years were our most memorable time at the claim, Jim said.

This is a magnificent place, Larry responded.

Jenny and Larry prepared the evening meal and the conversation drifted to Larry’s thoughts of purchasing Jim’s claim.

My financial status is solid. I worked diligently for ten years as an investment banker, but became disenchanted with the profession for multiple reasons. Several years ago my net worth was twenty million then came the big slide and I sensed this was only the beginning of a disastrous economic downturn. I sold my million-dollar townhouse, cashed in investments and purchased ten million dollars in gold coins leaving me with a net worth of fifteen million dollars and here I am sharing time with new friends. What’s your asking price for the claim Jim? Larry asked.

A distinct silence occupied the next few minutes.

I don’t know what the claim is worth. I don’t need money, but we can commission a professional appraiser to establish a mutually agreeable figure, Jim said.

"Good plan. I want to purchase this magnificent place. It reminds me of my college years when I worked as a trail guide for the National Park Service. I loved being in a natural environment and blending with terrestrial life forms. I’m unsure about sluicing for gold, but have thoughts on how this could prove beneficial. My priority is to personally adjust to the Brooks Range.

I love your cabin, and if I purchase it you’re welcome to visit anytime and stay as long as you want, Larry said.

It’s interesting how you cashed in everything to move to the Brooks Range. I feel you are on a better track toward your future than living in New York City, Walter said.

There’s more to it, Larry said.

During dinner Larry detailed