Flight of the Golden Harpy (23 page)

They started the upward climb, the light fading behind them. Kari had noticed the cold weather rarely affected Shail, but he wrapped his good wing around himself in an attempt to stay warm.

After a few hours, the same harpy flew down, landing in their path. He bowed and handed Shail a large woven cloth of the sash material. The harpy flew off, and Shail turned, placing the cloth on Kari’s shoulders. “This shall help.”

Kari instantly felt the warmth. They moved on in the darkness, Kari close behind Shail. His night vision was superior to hers, but she noticed since wandering the jungle with him that her instincts of hearing, sight, and smell had improved.

“You have the same senses as I,” he told her, “just unused. In time you shall be like me.”

They reached a high ridge, and wind fiercely blew. Shail sniffled toward the plastic cast holding his broken wing. Kari detected his frustration, wishing he could remove the cast and spread the latter half and wingtip to ward off chilliness. Many times she had explained that to remove the cast too soon would forever ground him.

Kari saw all plant life had vanished except for small patches of silver moss growing between the rocks. The sacred mountain of the harpies perplexed her. Why would Shail and the harpies treasure an inhospitable place, void of warmth, trees, and food? She realized its safety from hunters; the hurricane gusts would easily slam a large hovercraft into the jagged mountainside. She thought about their little bonding cave, wishing she were there. What drew her mate to this forbidding peak?

The climb became straight up. Shail could no longer gracefully leap from ledge to ledge using his feet that bent and grasped like hands. Scaling the sheer rock, he used his hands and flapped his wings for balance. Reaching an open ledge, he stopped and pulled her up by her arms. “I did not wish my harpies to think me weak, but it has become too risky for you.” He turned and sniffled into the wind. “I call them.”

After several minutes, three male harpies appeared out of the darkness. They frantically flapped their wings, fighting the blustery weather to set down. A brown-winged male a few inches taller than Shail approached. Kari recognized the handsome harpy as Aron. Shail and Aron embraced as the other two bowed. She watched Shail and Aron nuzzle and lick one another on the neck. Though in some human cultures, men kissed in greeting, she was surprised by her mate’s open display of affection to a male.

Aron pulled his face out of the golden locks and held Shail by the shoulders. “When shall your recklessness end?” Aron ranted. “You sent the cabin fledgling away when he should have brought your flock. You allowed the hunt with the lack of flight, risking your mate and your wings, and faced the peril of this mountain, rather than call for me; all for pride. I understand the golden way to prove courage, but think of your flock. We need you.”

“Aron, I am cold and hungry, as is my mate. I am too tired to challenge your disrespectful words.” Shail glanced at Kari. “He is displeased.”

Kari smiled. Aron did treat Shail like a troublesome kid brother.

Aron walked to Kari and bowed his head. “May I have the honor of carrying you?”

“You saved me from the grogins. It’s my honor,” she relayed. Aron swept her up into his arms and leaped into the draft. Two harpies took Shail. They flew higher up the mountain and finally landed on a sheer cliff, setting Shail and Kari down. The two males disappeared inside the sliver of a crevice. Aron, Kari, and Shail followed. Kari held Aron and Shail’s hands into the pitch-black cave, blindly walking between the males who saw in darkness. After some time, she saw a distant glow, revealing the shadowy walls of the narrow passage. The deeper they traveled, the brighter the light.

Kari was finally led into an enormous space with high ceilings. Small stone pits burned with fire, and surrounding each pit were hundreds of male harpies. When Shail entered, they fell to their knees and lowered their heads. She was in awe of the vast place and numerous harpies. She stared at the walls and ceiling, and became breathless, recognizing the place. Instead of black mountain stone, there were rivets and metal beams. The sacred mountain’s giant cave was an ancient spaceship.

11

After several discouraging weeks, John Turner returned home, fearing he had lost Kari forever. His resources were limited, having only three other hovercrafts and two freighters to aid in the search. In the hope of finding the old blue vehicle, he and his crew of men had flown over the nearest logging roads and woods, but the job was enormous. His property consisted of thousands of roads, trails, and paths capable of bearing a small vehicle. Old Doc White had obviously saved the golden’s life. Kari would have come home if it died.

John went to Doc’s cottage several evenings, pleading with the man to reveal Kari’s whereabouts. At first Doc stubbornly refused, convinced that Kari and the harpy loved one another and belonged together, and John should give up the hunt. Doc finally took pity on John, telling him he honestly didn’t know where they were.

The longer time passed, the more John’s hate grew, regretting not killing the golden male. John’s harpy wife had told him after their daughter’s birth that Kari was destined to bond with a five-year-old golden fledgling in the north. With his wealth and power, John thought he could change destiny and keep his daughter and the harpy apart. He sent Kari to Earth, figuring she would forget the harpy, and hunters would solve the problem of the arrogant teenage male, but his plans failed. She came back still loving the harpy, and the golden beat the odds, surviving the ten years and remaining faithful to their fledgling bond.

John couldn’t understand Kari. She was half human and a smart girl. Couldn’t she remove the blinders and see her future? There was no future with a male harpy. The harpies were a doomed species, teetering on extinction, and the golden male was the most hunted of all. When he died, she could be in grave danger; if he survived, what kind of life could they lead? They would have to run and hide constantly in fear, and her fledgling sons would face the same miserable existence. John thought about the sorrow she’d feel if her babies were butchered.

If she married a man, she’d live happily and securely with her daughters among humans. Can’t she see all this? he thought, making his way into the house.

Like Doc, Charlie had argued with him about the pursuit and sent John into numerous rages. “Too much time has passed,” Charlie had said. “The harpy has recovered from his wounds, and they are a bonded pair. They cannot be separated. If you kill her mate, it will destroy Kari.”

“There’re drugs that will make her forget him,” he had told the meddling old Indian. “She may be angry with me, but at least she’ll be alive.”

Charlie climbed out of John’s hover and trailed him to the house. He had finished the construction of the beetle-proof building at the mill and rejoined John in the hunt.

They walked silently to the house. Maria opened the door, her face worried. Charlie shook his head and walked past her. She put her hand over her mouth, fighting back her daily tears, common tears that flowed when a loved one was lost to the unknown. She went to the kitchen to serve John and Charlie a late dinner.

The communicator buzzed in the den, and John walked in and answered it. An unfamiliar young man appeared on the screen. “Hi. I’m trying to reach Kari Turner.”

“She’s not here,” said John. “I’m her father. Who the devil are you?”

“Hello, Mr. Turner. My name is Ted, and I’m a friend of Kari’s. We met on the ship from Earth. I was just calling to see how she’s doing. When can I reach her?”

“God only knows. She disappeared with the harpies, and for weeks I’ve been searching for her. I suppose you won’t have any useful information on where she went?”

Ted was silent for a moment. “No, Mr. Turner, I don’t know where she is, but we became pretty good friends. She said she planned to find the harpies and help them. She was very committed to the gold one that saved her life.”

“Yes, I know all about that damn golden,” John said. “She’s with him now. Her admiration for that animal is misdirected. He’ll ruin her life.”

“Mr. Turner, I can tell you’re upset, and I don’t know you, but I know Kari. When she talked about the harpy, her eyes lit up. She really cared about him. It sounds like she’s exactly where she wanted to be. Maybe it’s best you give her some space. I’m sure she knows what she’s doing.”

“You’re right, boy,” John said. “You damn well don’t know me, and you sure as hell don’t know what’s best for my daughter.”

John angrily pushed the disconnect key and walked into the dining room. He poured a glass of wine and took a gulp. Maria was setting a plate down in front of Charlie. “Goddamn it,” John said, throwing the full glass against the wall. “Some jerk in Hampton telling me how much my daughter cared about that stinking golden male. Did everyone know about this except me? Then this jerk tells me I should give Kari some space. The runt was lucky he was on the other side of a com.”

The communicator buzzed again. “The nerve of that bastard to call me back. This time he’s getting a piece of my mind,” John said, returning to the den and pushing the answer key. “Listen you,” he growled, not waiting for the screen to illuminate.

“Mr. Turner?” said a deep voice. A middle-aged man appeared on the com.

“Yes?” John said, collecting himself.

“My name is George McGill. I saw your reward for your missing daughter on a Web memo. Said she was in a late-model blue terrain vehicle and had a pet golden harpy with a broken wing.”

“That’s right. You know something?” John asked.

“I didn’t see her or the harpy, but I think I know where the vehicle is. Does that entitle me to your reward?” McGill asked.

“If it’s hers, you got the reward,” John said.

“I saw it two days ago on your estate. My hover had mechanical problems and barely made it to Terrance before it quit. The solar strips won’t hold a charge. Darn hover put me out of business, but I figure might as well call and collect on the reward. Get something for my trouble.”

“I understand, Mr. McGill,” John said, knowing he was talking to a seasoned harpy hunter. “So you were poaching on my property and planned to harvest my daughter’s pet? I’ll still send you the reward if your information is accurate. I keep my word.”

“Yes, I’ve heard you’re tough, but honest. That vehicle is about a hundred miles north of Westend, just off the coast by a small cabin. I spotted the cabin and flew down for a closer look. The vehicle is hid pretty good under bushes, but luckily some glass caught the light, giving it away.”

“I know the cabin,” John said. “I’m faxing you the ticket for the twenty grand. You can collect the reward from the Terrance bank.”

“Thanks, Mr. Turner. Maybe we can do business again,” said McGill.

John scribbled on a voucher and jammed it into the fax. “I don’t think so, McGill,” he said, “and if I ever catch you poaching on my estate, I’ll hunt you down like a harpy, and remember I keep my word.” He disconnected the communicator and rushed back to the dining room.

Charlie was bent over, helping Maria pick up the broken glass.

“I’m sorry, Maria,” John said.

“It’s okay, Mr. Turner,” she said. “I know you are very worried.”

“I have good news,” John said. “That was a harpy hunter, and he’s found her vehicle. I’m going.”

“Let me pack the chicken,” Maria said. “You may eat it on the way, and I’ll throw in some fruit for Miss Kari.” She hurried to the kitchen.

Charlie wearily rubbed his forehead and remained quiet.

*   *   *

While working on the beetle-proof building, Charlie had visited Doc one evening. John was gone, hunting for Kari and the harpy. He figured one old man to another he might learn something from the doctor.

Doc welcomed Charlie, and they sat on the cool dark porch, sipping a glass of scotch.

“At first I was skeptical,” Doc had said. “The poor girl was on her knees, crying and begging for my help. I thought she was a fanatic, one of those crazy animal-rights people. I then learned the harpy was the same golden that had saved her as a kid and used the licing moss. I told her I’d try to fix him, but honestly, Charlie, I believed it was a lost cause. A laser blast had seared his intestines, and he was in shock from blood loss, not counting a broken wing and a hell of a beating from those hunters, but the little guy surprised me and pulled through the operation. The following morning, he was full of spit and vinegar, but what impressed me was his devotion to that girl. Despite weakness and pain, he was ready to jump me if I hurt her … knocked my medical scanner clean out of my hand. Those two are totally committed to one another.”

Doc took a sip from his glass. “You know, Charlie, it’s the darnedest thing. That young golden looks identical to the one John killed twenty years ago. I bet he’s a son.”

“I never saw that harpy,” Charlie said. “I was with John’s father in the high country, cutting timber when Kari was born. We rushed back, learning of Mrs. Turner’s death. John had already buried the thieving golden. I only saw the wings.”

“Well, I saw the whole live harpy,” Doc said. “Mrs. Turner had given birth in the upstairs bedroom and was holding the baby. John and I were admiring his new daughter when, from the balcony, a big golden male walked into the bedroom. He acted like he belonged there. He looked at the baby for a minute and strolled out, as pretty as you please. John and I were so shocked we couldn’t move, but Mrs. Turner was smiling. Two days later, she and the harpy were dead.”

Doc glanced at Charlie. “There’s a connection between what happened twenty years ago and Kari and her golden today. What young woman wants to be with a harpy? Not only that, Kari claims the harpies speak to her, and she can understand them. I think at birth she was promised to the dead golden’s son.”

“I believe you’re right, Doc,” Charlie said. “But how will this end? If John finds them, he’ll kill Kari’s golden, believing he is protecting his daughter. He doesn’t want her to live in the jungle and face hunters. I understand his fears.”

“If he kills the harpy, he could be killing his own daughter. When she brought me the dying golden, I wanted to euthanize it. She said I might as well kill her, too. You could see it in her eyes. That girl meant it. She truly loves the creature. If John persists, the tragic event twenty years ago might be repeated.”