Trip of a Lifetime
Usual Suspects — the People in Our Story
By Tamia Nelson
tamia@paddling.net
A Note to the Reader
Whether you've been with Trip of a Lifetime since day one, or are stopping by for the
very first time, this guide should help you keep both principal and supporting characters
straight. Within the groups, they're listed in the order of their appearance. Don't expect to
meet any of these folks on the street, though. Trip is fiction. With the exception of
Chuck Heston — who is NOT President of the United States — all our characters are
figments of our imagination.
One more thing: If you ever lose the thread of the story, just take a look at Chapter by Chapter. That
should get you back on course in no time. See you on the water!
Principal Characters
Ed Fletcher and Brenna Trent Joint proprietors of the Book Locker,
Ed and Brenna have been dreaming of far-away places with strange-sounding names for a long time.
Now their luck's about to change. It's their Trip of a Lifetime, after all!
Jack Van Dorn It's a long, hard road from a Labrador schooner to an SRO
hotel in Fort Hudson, and Jack knows every painful step along the way. Then, one day, he walks
into the Book Locker. Ed and Brenna's life will never be the same again. Neither will his.
Pete and Karin Neary Pete and Karin are into felines, finance,
fitness, and Feng Shui. At first, a canoe trip to northern Ontario sounds pretty good.
But later…?
Molly Saunders There's many a fine tune played on an old fiddle, and Jack
would love to show Molly the score. Molly could probably teach him something, too. She's a
librarian, after all!
Sergei The Red Army's seen better days, and so has Sergei: the former
Spetznaz commander is now a smuggler. Fortunes of war? Maybe, but Sergei is still looking for
ways to improve the odds. And he hasn't forgotten how to keep his head down, either.
Pavel A descendent of Avar horsemen, Pavel's been living on borrowed time
since Sergei saved his life somewhere in the Afghan hills. Now he's planning to relocate to
Montana.
Nikolai Son of a Russian banker and one of Sergei's "associates," Nikolai
lives for the moment.
Supporting Characters
Shirley Shirley's a Fort Hudson baker. If you've never sunk your teeth into
Shirley's World-Famous Buns, you've missed a real treat.
Chuck "Ape" Crapaud A newly-hired clerk in Deane's Hardware store, Ape's
got his eye on the prize — and the customers.
Craig Deane Ape's boss and Ed and Brenna's friend.
Brian "Brick" Johnson A mason (with a small "m") and a hotshot kayaker,
Brick's got something going with Linda Carney, and maybe it's going north.
Linda Carney and Fenris Linda's a martial artist. Fenris is her
wolf-dog, and Brick's her boyfriend. Two's company, but three…?
Ken Grimes One of Ed and Brenna's friends, high-school math teacher Ken
lives to paddle.
The Reverend Fergil MacGregor Minister of the Shushan Presbyterian Church,
the Reverend bags quite a trophy with his heirloom Parker A-1 Special.
Sam A clever kid with a good eye, Sam learns how to shoot the sun from
Jack.
Specialist Cockburn An old Army buddy of Ed's, Cockburn's a gourmet with a
taste for exotic meats. He's also the reason why Ed doesn't eat bacon.
Max Grainger A County Court Judge and former Navy man, Max sells Ed and
Brenna the canoe of their dreams.
Sonny Marco Ken Grimes' friend and housemate, Sonny's a cabinetmaker, a
fine craftsman, and a tireless driver.
Bobby Raiffe V The host of Backcountry, a long-running PBS
sportsmen's show, "Bustin' Bobby" always bags his buck — or else.
Zoe Grimes Hatch Zelinsky and Abby Grimes Twin sisters, Zoe
(left-handed chain-smoker with shoulder-length salt-and-pepper hair) and Abby (right-handed
non-smoker with short hair) have just moved into Ken Grimes' farmhouse, where they're about to
start a new business, Earth Goddess Organic Vegetables and Free-Range Chickens.
Dieter and Helga Vogel A German engineer, Dieter and his wife have
recently relocated to New York. They take every chance they can get to explore Lake George in
their double Klepper.
Deputy Sheriff Royal "Bubba" Buck The short arm of the law on Long Lake,
Bubba's always keepin' his eyes peeled for perps.
Deputy Sheriff Cody Twomblay Bubba's main man.
Carl Head of a large family out for a weekend ride in a pontoon boat.
"Jerkin' Jake" Slaughter WFLU disk-jockey, Jake loves puttin' the pedal to
the metal in Floozie — his Hacker inboard runabout — almost as much as he loves
his job spinning CDs.
Brad Schmo A WFLU reporter, Brad discovers what it's like to be part of the
story.
Ryan Manley Head of WFLU's Adirondack News Bureau, Ryan and his little
Rushton Feather Duster are serious contenders in the Memorial Day canoe race.
Jill Slaughter Jerkin' Jake's wife and WFLU staffer, she's just along for
the ride.
Sara Oyley News Director at WFLU, Sara's going along for the ride, too.
Lili Bolero WFLU Station Manager, Lili's as laid-back a boss as you're
likely to find anywhere.
Hap Weiner, OD Host of Dr. Hap's Happy Health Hour, the doc's a real
cut-up, not to mention a big WFLU supporter.
Joe Sergeant Joe left both legs behind in a foreign country. Now he's on a
collision course with destiny.
Chaddwicke "Chadd" Wellington Star of Bug-eyed Monsters,
Jakarta, and Old Glory, Chadd has a summer home on an Adirondack island. Jerkin'
Jake bumps into her on the water, but he doesn't make a very good impression.
Stu Clayfoot A man of mystery, Stu still has a lot to say for himself.
Mary Smoke A Cree woman, Mary gives Ed and Brenna some very good advice.
"Colonel" Lesserson Null Leader of the Innisfreedom Fighters, a breakaway
faction of northern New York's Innisfree Separatist Movement, Colonel Null is planning to
celebrate Independence Day with one hell of a bang.
Billy Swamp Cree hunter and trapper, and brother to Mary Smoke, Billy hires
out to guide the Nearys back to civilization.
President Chuck Heston Much-loved President of the United States, President
Heston stands tall, walks proud, and calls 'em like he sees 'em.
Prime Minister Pierre LeClerc Prime Minister of Canada, M. LeClerc is
best known for his deathless campaign slogan: "LeClerc, c'est moi!"
Sarah Jock Receptionist at the Fort Hope Community Center on the Albany
River, Sarah fields an urgent inquiry from Molly Saunders.
The Very Reverend Jefferson Williams A former American President, the "Rev.
Jeff" is now a minister in the Church of Eternal Redemption and the newly-appointed President of
Frontenac Lowlands University.
Monika Darling President Williams' publicist and personal assistant, Monika
is always ready to give the Rev. Jeff a helping hand.
Senator Hilaria Dorman Williams The Rev. Jeff's wife, "Commodity" Williams
is a successful futures speculator and a rising star in the Senate.
Dr. Anthony Scarlotti A New York State Science Service seismologist, Dr.
Scarlotti has reason to regret giving interviews to the press.
Private Collamer A young member of the Army National Guard, Private
Collamer is standing guard on the border of northern New York.
Sergeant Burke Private Collamer's immediate superior. It's a hard job, but
somebody had to do it, and Sergeant Burke's the man.
Jacob Ransom Environmental officer with the Mohawk Nation of Handsome Lake.
Matthew Hunter Son of Joe Hunter. Matthew's father is an old friend of Jack
Van Dorn.
Joe Hunter Former merchant seaman and semi-retired smuggler, Joe lives on
the river in the Mohawk Nation of Handsome Lake.
Mary Hunter Joe's wife. Mary loves her husband, but she has mind of her
own.
Ann Laughing Deer Joe's sister, Ann Laughing Deer lives across the border
in Québec. She helps her brother out from time to time.
Philip Helicopter pilot for the Hydro in northern Ontario.
Crazy Dog (Adam Beauchamp) A Métis waterman, Crazy Dog lives in Fort
Albany, but James Bay is the place where he feels most at home.
Moses He's patient, observant, and curious. Nothing that happens on the
Albany River escapes Moses' attention.
Red Moon A Cree who lives on the Albany, Red Moon keeps her ear to the
ground — and an eye on Moses.
Singing Wolf Red Moon's grandson, Singing Wolf is the bearer of glad
tidings.
Solomon Bartholomew Chief of the Fort Albany Band.
Ronnie Awashish Floatplane pilot flying out of Fort Albany.
Copyright © 2003 by Verloren Hoop Productions. All rights
reserved.