Flight of the Golden Harpy (45 page)

18

In her hotel bed, Kari awoke and stared at the ceiling. It was Monday, the day of the auction. The long, wrenching wait that decided Shail’s and her fate would be over. With the help of Doc’s antidepressant patches, she had remained calm and upbeat, positive her father would win back her mate. She smiled with the thought of being wrapped in Shail’s arms tonight.

She refused to consider the alternative; her father could lose the auction, sealing Shail’s fate, or that her abused and unstable husband could remain forever changed; his love for life gone. To dwell on those things might restore her depression, disabling her and making her useless. She had to stay strong for Shail and for her son, the future monarch of the harpy flock.

During her time in Hampton, Ted had been a great distraction. Ignorant that she faced life-threatening despair with her mate’s loss, he was cheerful and optimistic. He’d be back to work at the spaceport, but he promised to return this evening and be at her side for the auction.

On the other hand, her father and Charlie ambled about, sullen and worried, knowing the tragedy of a bonded harpy pair. Like one body, her life and Shail’s were completely connected. Cut in half, they had difficulty surviving without one another.

Kari climbed out of bed and went to the sink. She splashed water on her face, hoping to wash away her growing stress. I will get Shail back, and he’ll be fine, she thought. For a fleeting moment, her eyes welled up with tears when she realized he could be lost. She brought more water to her face in an attempt to squelch her doubts. A knock on her door liberated her from the ominous thoughts.

“Hi, Dad,” she said, opening the door and clearing her throat. All the water on the planet couldn’t wash away the worry on her face.

John saw it. “Kari, I’ll get Shail back. This morning I have an appointment with the bank, and I’m taking out a line of credit on everything I own. No one will be able to bid higher for a single harpy hunt. Tonight he’ll be with you.” He lifted her chin and stared into her teary eyes.

Kari nodded, afraid to speak, knowing she would break down and cry.

“Come down and have breakfast with Charlie and me. You’ll feel better. I know you’re doing your best to be brave and hide your fears, but believe me, everything will be okay.”

She hugged her father. “I know it will be. Thank you, Dad.”

“I’ll wait for you in the dining room,” he said and left her room.

*   *   *

John met Charlie in the downstairs lobby. “How is she?” Charlie asked.

“She’s holding up,” John said, “but if I lose him at the auction…” He shook his head. “She’s so damn in love with him. How could I have been so stupid and blind? For her sake, I’d gladly trade my life for his.”

“John, you have to stop this guilt. At the cabin, you made the right choice and let her mate live, knowing they loved one another and would be together again. The rest has been bad luck.”

“Say what you want, but the fact is he wouldn’t be trapped in the hunting range if I hadn’t stunned him, making him helpless. I wanted to protect her, and now I might have killed her just like I killed my wife. I’m guilty of all of this.”

“You’re confusing blame with fate. Shail’s fate was to be sought by hunters. That is who he is, and it was your fate to protect your daughter from danger and unhappiness. That is who you are. No one is to blame. We travel the path of life hoping to make good decisions, but the path is full of missteps and hazards that we must overcome, just as you try now.”

“Spare me your Indian philosophy crap. Fate, blame, whatever, all I know is I have to win that harpy, and not only for Kari. Shail can stop the swarms before thousands of people are killed.”

Charlie scratched the side of his face, pushing back his gray braid. “Do you really think he would save humans? He has killed three and nearly killed a fourth. This is unlike a harpy. They are gentle vegetarians like sheep and do not have the nature to kill, but the golden’s mind has been twisted. He is no longer the passive creature that once fled men. The hunted has become the hunter. Although he rules a meek band of harpies, once freed, Shail might turn his flock and the swarms against humans. He could be a nightmare, worse than the swarms.”

Kari ascended the stairs and approached them in the lobby. “What are you talking about?” she asked.

“Just wondering where we should celebrate tonight,” John lied. “Think Shail will drink some wine?”

Kari smiled. “Maybe he’ll try it.”

After breakfast, John rose from the table. “I’m going to the bank now, but I’ll swing by and pick you up before heading to the spaceport. I want to check my hover and make sure it’s fully charged.”

“Perhaps we’ll see Ted,” said Kari.

“He’s a nice guy,” said John.

“Forget it, Dad.”

“Hey, I know who you love.” John grinned. “Ted is literally not your type.”

John left the hotel and climbed into the rented terrain vehicle, his mind worried about his credit line. Though he was the largest landowner in the western outback, he wondered about the land and timber’s value with the swarm threat. In minutes the beetles could devour the trees, making his property worthless for years. The harpies protected the estate, and it remained undamaged, but a bank official would never believe the harpy tale. To make matters worse, Westend Harbor had been demolished, making it impossible to sell and ship his lumber. Parking the vehicle in front of the bank, he’d soon find out his wealth in credits.

As John walked through the bank door, he realized he had never asked for a loan. He and his father had worked hard, and every credit made went toward more land and running the estate, leaving him land rich, but credit poor.

In an office John met with a bank official at his desk. “Have a seat, Mr. Turner.” The official smiled. “I’ve pulled the file on your assets. You have a remarkable spread in the outback. It takes up a good part of the west coast.”

“I know what I have,” John said. “Let’s get straight to business. How much are you willing to loan on it?”

The official raised an eyebrow. “I’ve estimated the value. With the transport trucks, freighters, four hovers, plus the mill, its laser saws and the out-buildings, home, and the land, we can give you two million.”

“Two million!” John said, jumping up from his seat. “That’s not even one percent of its value. You’re not even considering the timber? It alone is worth billions.”

“Two years ago that would be a fair assessment, but not in these times. The swarm attacks have virtually made it and your property worthless. We’re basing the two million on your equipment and the fact that you’re a good customer with an excellent credit rating.” He pointed to a stack of files. “Those are outback land deeds that we were forced to foreclose. Honestly, Mr. Turner, you’re lucky. Our policy has become ‘no loans in the outback.’ With a swarm strike, we’ve estimated it could take ten years before the trees grow back and can be harvested, and that’s a gamble. Who knows if Dora will ever recover from this plague? I’m sorry.”

John knew there was no sense in ranting. Business was business. “Give me the two million and add the half I have in my account.”

“Are you buying off Dora?” the official asked, drawing up the paperwork.

“If I told you what I was buying, you’d think I’d lost my mind and wouldn’t give me any credits,” John mumbled.

“What you buy is your business, but I’m sure it’s a wise investment.” The official handed him the voucher.

After signing off on everything he owned, John stuck the voucher in his pocket and left the bank. Two and a half million, he thought. Would it be enough? It was inconceivable, but possible that the harpy price could go higher. Only an undefeated champion racehorse with a pricey stud fee and a reputation for producing winning colts, would fall into that price range, but a harpy? Shail was a game animal who would be killed in minutes; his only value was a feathered mount hanging from a hunter’s wall. Would men pay millions for the thrill and to gloat? Some would, for the right trophy, regardless of the cost.

John pulled up in front of the hotel. Kari and Charlie were waiting by the curb. “How much did they give you?” Kari asked, getting in the vehicle.

John breathed deeply “Two and a half million credits.”

“That’s plenty.” Kari grinned. “I’ve heard golden wings are worth fifty thousand.”

“They start at fifty, and that’s for old, moth-eaten mounts,” John said. “I don’t want to worry you, but this is different, Kari. Most of Shail’s price is based on a challenging hunt, not his wings. A hunter will travel, face hardships, and spend a fortune to bring down big game. If they only wanted a trophy, they could purchase it cheap in a shop. Unfortunately your mate killed those men and has become a unique and dangerous game animal. Hunters will want him.”

“How high could he go?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but this is all I could get for my entire estate. With the beetle scare, the banks aren’t lending,”

“You could possibly lose the estate for only two and a half million?” she asked.

“Half million is mine, but I’m not concerned. Shail’s harpies are protecting the timber. We’ll make it up, but I’d happily lose the estate if I won your mate.”

They arrived at the port for incoming and outgoing spaceships. Ted helped John inspect his hovercraft for a long trip. They agreed to pick up the hover at six and fly to the auction. Ted said he would drive, having no intention of leaving Hampton with them. Despite the hurt, Ted behaved like a gentleman. “Be with your harpy husband, Kari,” he had said, “and be happy.”

*   *   *

Kari stared out the vehicle window at the gathering dark clouds. It began to rain as her father drove up to the hotel so they could pack and check out. Shortly before six o’clock, John, Charlie, and Kari picked up the hover and flew to the hunting range, landing a few blocks away in the small park.

After dashing through the sheets of rain, they entered the building. Kari walked to Shail’s cage and found him calmly sitting in the straw. His arms held his bent legs and his head rested on his knees. His long wings draped around his slender frame. When he saw her, he moved to the cage bars.

“Why are you still here?” he relayed.

“You know I’d never leave you,” Kari relayed. “Aron waits outside and will take me to a place of safety whether you’re with me or not. I have promised him.”

“If Aron is here, then the young harpy spread my words with the feather, and the flocks gather.”

“Yes, Shail, they’re in the north and will destroy the swarms and save the planet.”

“Tell Aron I am very pleased,” Shail relayed, “and though I wish you elsewhere, I am happy to see you this last time.”

“You can tell Aron yourself when we free you.”

Shail lowered his head. “I dare not hope for such things, and even freed, I am not the same mate you loved. I am ruled by a blind rage to kill men. My family, flock, and jungle home are less important. My death would better serve those who care for me.”

“Your death would only serve the men you hate,” Kari relayed. “Your rage will fade and be replaced by peace of mind. You must trust me on this.”

The room was filling with men, and Kari took a seat next to John and Charlie in front of the cage.

Ted came in and sat down next to Kari. “How is he?”

“About the same,” Kari answered.

“Who is this man who sticks by your side?” Shail silently asked.

Kari silently communicated, “His name is Ted. I met him on the spaceship.” She turned to Ted and said, “Shail wants to know who you are.”

“I’m just a friend,” Ted said.

Shail glared at Ted. “He lies. His eyes betray his longing. He is no friend, but loves and desires you as a mate. It is plain to see.”

“You’re jealous, Shail,” Kari relayed. “Since a harpy can have several mates, I didn’t think you had this emotion.”

Shail stood and paced the bars, ending the men’s chatter in the room. The hunters gazed at the long cream-colored wings that drifted across the straw and his elegant frame; six feet of tense, lean muscle. Agitated, he flung his shoulder-length hair. He stopped in front of Kari. “I know not this word ‘jealous,’ but if it means I would attack a male who lingers near my female hoping to replace my seed with his, then I am jealous. Females can share a male mate, since the males are fewer, but no male shares his female with another male.”

“But you told me to go with Ted the other day. You were breaking our bond,” she relayed.

Shail wearily gazed at her. “Why do you torment me, Kari? I would say anything for your safety and to make you leave this place. With my last breath, I shall always want and love you.”

“I needed to hear that,” Kari relayed. “I was afraid with all that’s happened to you…” Kari looked down and chewed her bottom lip. “I love you, too.” She glanced at Ted. “Ted is no threat, but a good friend who helped me fight off despair. He knows you’re my mate.”

Ted leaned toward Kari. “He doesn’t look happy with me.”

“He’s a little jealous,” Kari said, “and says you’re a liar and want to be more than a friend.”

“He’s very perceptive,” Ted said quietly to Kari and gazed up at her handsome winged husband. “I’d be lying to say I only wanted her as friend,” he said to Shail, “but from the day we met, she’s only wanted you.”

“I’m sorry, Ted,” said Kari. “I never meant to hurt you.”

Bill Simpson entered the room and walked on the stage. “Welcome, gentlemen,” he said into the microphone. Seeing Kari in the front row, he added, “And ladies.”

Shail turned away from Kari and Ted and moved toward the end of the cage and Bill. He seethed and flipped his hair, and Kari saw loathing in his eyes and detected his rising anger. Shail truly hated the man.

“We’re here tonight to auction off the rarest and most spectacular game animal in the galaxy, a golden harpy,” Bill said to the audience. “Some of you might not be aware, but three days ago this harpy brutally killed my brother and two other men who had entered its cage to save a female handler. The woman was severely beaten and raped.” Bill pulled down his collar, exposing his neck wounds. “Yesterday morning the harpy nearly got me, and this afternoon it attacked an employee and broke his arm. I bring these facts to light so you’ve been warned and know exactly what kind of animal is up for bid. He is unlike any harpy you have ever seen or hunted, a beauty and a deadly beast in one package. His wings are sixteen feet, ten inches, and are the typical powder-puff yellow of a young golden. With his teeth and the wing length, we’re guessing he’s is in his mid-twenties and sexually mature. His aggressive nature suggests that he is a stud, possibly having a mate, and hopefully the female has offspring for a future golden hunt.”