by Susan Klaus
“Leave me alone, Doc,” John stammered. Charlie nodded to Doc and walked away.
“You’ll want to hear what I have to say,” Doc said. He and John’s father had been good friends, and Doc had watched John grow into a powerful man, but now, believing his daughter was dead, he appeared shattered. Doc wasn’t eager to tell John the truth: that his daughter was alive and with a golden harpy. John lowered his hands and his bloodshot eyes stared at him.
“She’s not dead,” Doc said, and John frowned in confusion. “Your daughter is not dead.”
John brushed away his tears. “That’s her vehicle, Doc, and she was with Carol Baker last night. You can’t identify those bodies by looking at the remains.”
“Kari wasn’t with Carol. She was with me.”
“With you? But her vehicle,” John sputtered.
Doc wearily rubbed his forehead. “I didn’t want to be the one to tell you, but I can’t let you believe that Kari is dead.”
“What is it?” John screamed. “Is she all right? Is she hurt?”
“Your daughter is fine. She gave Jake her vehicle in exchange for a wounded golden harpy. She brought it to my place last night, and I treated its laser blasts.”
“You did what? You let that damn thing live?” John ranted. “Charlie, we’re going,” he yelled to the Indian. The grieving father quickly turned into an angry man.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Doc asked.
John glared at him. “To your place and kill it. Something you should have done last night.”
“Go ahead and go, but they’re not there.”
“Where is she?” John said in a rage.
“Aren’t you at least glad that she’s not here?”
“Don’t play games, old man. That harpy is as deadly as a swarm.”
“With your frame of mind, that’s true,” Doc mocked.
Doc’s cutting words stopped John cold. This same rage had killed his wife.
Charlie walked up to them. “Kari’s not dead,” said John, “but she’s with the golden harpy. It was shot, and this crazy old fool treated its wounds.”
“I’ve got better things to do than listen to your insults,” Doc said. “Your daughter is alive. Be thankful. The Bakers have truly lost a daughter. I need to identify those bodies and learn what other parents will mourn this day. We’ve got bigger problems than one little harpy. The beetles have evolved into flesh-eaters, and everyone’s in danger.” He turned toward the red vehicle.
“Where is she?” John demanded.
“You’re one pigheaded man,” Doc snarled. “I don’t know where she’s gone, and even if I did, I sure as hell wouldn’t tell you. Take some good advice. Leave them alone. If you interfere, you’ll bring disaster.” He left John and Charlie as an ominous wind blew across the vacant land.
* * *
“Doc is right, John,” Charlie said quietly. “Be grateful Kari is alive, even if she is with the harpy. It was foolish thinking that they could be kept apart. There is no more to be done.”
“That’s bullshit,” John growled, and stomped off toward his hover. Charlie lowered his head and followed. They climbed inside the craft, but John didn’t start the engine. He placed his head against the wheel and shut his eyes. “I can’t let this go, Charlie. That harpy will destroy her life.”
“It was unlucky that fate brought them together, but Kari was warned of the risks,” Charlie said. “And still, she chose to be with him. You have done everything in your power to protect her, but it’s time to let her go.”
“Even if I stayed out of it, the harpies, and especially the golden male are doomed. I don’t want my daughter jumping in front of a hunter’s laser blast to protect him.” John glanced at Charlie. “You know she would.”
“Yes, she would not hesitate to save him, but if Doc is right about the swarms, we are all doomed.”
John held up his bandaged thumb. “Maybe that beetle was trying to tell me something.” He pushed the start button, and the hover rose from the ground. “Doc’s place may hold some clues as to where she took him.” They flew toward Westend, and John flipped on the communicator. “Maria, have you heard from Kari?”
Maria was crying. “No, Mr. Turner, but I was told of her vehicle.”
“She’s alive, Maria. She wasn’t in it, but I can’t find her. Call me if you learn anything,” he said, flipping the com off. Reaching Doc’s yellow cottage, he landed the hover on the street, and went to the porch. John opened the unlocked door and walked into the small hospital room. A bloody plastic wrap still lay on the operating table.
“A lot of blood,” Charlie commented “The harpy was badly injured.”
“There’s also some on the porch. With any luck, the little son-of-a-bitch might die,” John said, walking through the cottage to the back door. The stretcher still floated in the backyard.
Charlie examined the flattened grass. “She is in a small terrain vehicle, but not Doc’s.” He pointed to the vehicle parked under a tree.
“I wonder whose,” John said. “I need to get the color and description of it.” They returned to the cottage and entered the bedroom off the hallway. Scattered pillows and tangled sheets rested around the unmade double bed. “The harpy lay here,” Charlie said, motioning to a small blood smear on the sheet. He picked up a tiny yellow feather.
From the floor, John lifted a medical gown. “This wasn’t on the harpy, and from the look of that bed, she also slept in it,” he said, dropping the gown. John and Charlie were experienced hunters and knew that certain signs would tell a story about their prey, but the prey had become Kari and the harpy.
“I need to go back to the swarm site,” John said. “Someone from the beach party must be there, and they’ll know the vehicle she’s in.”
“You intend to pursue them then?”
“Better I find them than some hunter,” John said.
“If you succeed, will you kill her harpy?”
John nodded. “It should have been done years ago while Kari was gone and the golden was young and naïve, but he’s injured … he’ll be easier to find and kill. Kari won’t like it, but she’ll get over it.”
Charlie scoffed. “I don’t believe she would nor would she ever forgive you. You will lose her, John. There must be another way.”
John leaned against the doorjamb. “Let’s first find them. If he hasn’t touched her, I might let him live, under the condition that the little stud is neutered and no longer a threat. Hell, if Kari is so fond of that blond, she can keep him like a pet canary. I’ll even build the cage.” He walked out of the room.
Charlie shook his head. John knew to castrate or cage a wild harpy was a death sentence. They left the cottage and meandered out to the quiet, deserted street and the hovercraft.
* * *
A short flight later, they arrived back at the swarm site. The townspeople looked on as Doc supervised the men loading corpses into their vehicles. John walked to Doc as he knelt, examining a skeleton. “Must be Tom Spencer,” Doc said. “The red hair is a match.” He stood up and cringed, rubbing his back. He looked up at John and grumbled, “What do you want now?”
“I want to know about the vehicle Kari was in,” John said. “With or without your help, I’m going to find her.”
“Get used to the ‘without,’” Doc scowled, facing John. “Can’t you get it through your thick skull? Your girl loves that harpy and wants to be with him, and the harpy is equally committed to her. Let them have a little happiness. His yellow wings will be hanging on some hunter’s wall soon enough.” Doc turned away and began talking to another man.
“No sense arguing with him. He’s no help,” John said to Charlie.
“Even if you learn of her vehicle, it may be too late for a search,” Charlie said. “The light will be gone soon.”
John noticed two girls Kari’s age in the small crowd. One cried and the other held her. He went to them. “I’m sorry, but I’m trying to find my daughter, Kari.”
&nb
sp; “I was with Kari at the beach, Mr. Turner,” said one of the girls. “I’m Cindy Williams. My father works at your mill. Didn’t she come home last night?”
“No,” John said. “Do you know the color of the vehicle she was in?”
“Blue. It was Jake’s old vehicle,” said Cindy. “She swapped her new vehicle for a dying golden harpy, and Jake let her use his transport. The harpy attacked Hank on the islands and broke his arm. Jake, Carol, and the other guys flew Hank to the Terrance Hospital last night. They must’ve come back this morning and gone joyriding, when the swarm struck. I nearly went with them.”
“Did his vehicle have a communicator?”
“It might have, but I doubt if it worked,” Cindy said. “Hardly anything worked in that piece of junk.”
“Thank you, Cindy. You’ve been a big help.”
“Mr. Turner, once the harpy dies, I’m sure Kari will come home.”
“Was it in bad shape?” John asked.
“Oh, yes,” Cindy said. “Jake shot the poor thing twice, broke its wing, but even then, it fought the guys. They had to beat the life out it, before they could tie it up. When I saw the harpy, it was almost dead.”
“Thanks,” John said, and walked to his hover and Charlie. “She’s in an old blue vehicle,” John said, “and the harpy was bad off with a broken wing. I’m betting she’ll look for a place to hole up so it can heal.”
“A broken wing takes time to mend, and a grounded harpy is very vulnerable,” Charlie commented, climbing into the hover with John.
They flew over the highway late into the night, but eventually gave up and headed for home. “We’re shutting down. I want the men pulled from the mill and put in every available hovercraft. We’ll start our search again at daybreak,” John said, landing at the estate.
8
The tired blue vehicle struggled up the steep cliffs, constantly rattling from ocean breezes. Sporadic strong gusts made the hovering transport sway and rock, making Kari nervous. She clung to the wheel and slowly maneuvered the vehicle around the massive boulders and trees. The dim headlights lit the narrow path, and she strained to see ahead, knowing with one wrong turn, she could plummet one hundred feet below, crashing on the rocky beach. She briefly glanced at the instruments, counting the miles. “Please hold together, old girl,” she whispered to the vehicle. The northern journey was taking forever.
She stopped several times to check on Shail, but he continued to sleep. The sedative kept him out, plus he had to be exhausted. The last three days his slight body had been pushed to its limits, needing time to rest and heal. She was thankful he didn’t add to her problems.
As the night wore on, the nocturnal animals emerged. Hit by the headlights, countless pairs of illuminating white eyes stared back from the thick brush and trees. Some animals were caught by surprise and dashed across Kari’s path to hide in the jungle. To take her mind off her worries, she kept count of the different species. She drove around an immense downed tree and slammed on the brakes. A herd of raydons grazed on shrubs, blocking the passageway. The eight-foot brown lizards were equally startled, rearing on their stocky back legs, growling and snapping at the vehicle. Kari waited patiently for them to relax and move on. Although plant-eaters, raydons had big sharp teeth and would attack if threatened. When the last lizard disappeared into the bushes, she continued her journey.
* * *
Kari rubbed her eyes and yawned, trying to recall her last full night of sleep. The pale eastern light crested through the trees, and the black sky turned hazy gray. The shadowy foliage took color as morning ascended on the frontier. She looked at the vehicle gauges. “The cabin has to be close.” She then saw the large boulder jetting out from the trees. On its side was a washed-out painted “X,” her grandfather’s mark that had allowed him to locate the cabin by hovercraft. Veering off the coastal path, she entered the jungle. A short drive revealed a small clearing surrounded by imposing trees. The humble log cabin sat to her left, and she breathed a deep sigh of relief.
She parked the vehicle several yards from the cabin door. The vehicle settled on the ground, but when she killed the engine, it sputtered for a moment before becoming silent. She patted the machine’s dash and smiled. “Good girl. You got us here.”
Kari stepped out and stretched, removing the weight of worries. They had made the hundred-mile journey and without being seen. Shail stood a chance of recovery and freedom. Walking to the cabin door, she pulled on the handle, but it wouldn’t open. She looked down at the tree roots growing in front of the doorjamb. After tugging and digging at the rubble, she opened the door and stepped inside.
A pair of flying dell squirrels leaped across the rafters, noisily chastising the intruder for entering their home, before making their escape through a broken window. Kari glanced at layers of dirt and leaves on the floor, knowing her grandfather and Charlie were the cabin’s last human occupants. Comforted by this knowledge, she knew it unlikely that a hunter or her father would discover the harpy here.
She returned to the vehicle and opened the back door. Shail stirred with the smell of fresh air and attempted to open his drowsy eyes.
“You’re safe now,” she said, stroking his head. She stepped to the front of the vehicle, gathered his medicine, and returned. Like Doc had showed her, she treated his wound and placed a new antibiotic patch on his back. “You must be thirsty.” She went back to the cabin, and in the cabinets she found outdated food packets and a water jug. Turning the handles on the ancient faucets, she found no flowing water. She grabbed the empty jug and headed outside.
As a child, Kari remembered a meager mountain stream that was a short walk through the jungle. Pushing the colossal ferns and vines aside, she ambled down the overgrown trail. She reached the crystal-clear stream that tumbled over smooth stones. Farther up from the stream, a sheer cliff created a waterfall surrounded by a mosaic of vivid flowers. She relived her youth when she had cooled off under the falls after hot treks through the woods. The place was still magical. A bounty of wild berries grew between the rocks, and she nibbled on them, before splashing the cool water on her face and filling the jug. Concerned with Shail, she tore herself away from the heavenly spot and walked back to the vehicle.
Shail still dozed, but when she placed the water jug to his lips, he swallowed several times in a groggy state. He opened his eyes and glanced at her, but his eyes widened as he realized where he was. He struggled to rise, but she held him, hoping to control his panic. “Easy, Shail,” she said. “Don’t be scared.”
The sedative drug had worn off and he was fully alert and active. He pushed her aside, scrambling out of the vehicle and falling onto the ground. He made a feeble attempt to stand, but his wound and broken ribs forced him to double over, and he collapsed in the dirt. Staring up at the vehicle, he shuddered and panted, then began to crawl away.
“Stop this now,” Kari yelled, pushing him down. “The vehicle won’t hurt you.” He gazed up at her, and his eyes conveyed uncertainty and fear. “You don’t have to go back in it,” she said, and petted him.
* * *
Shail sensed her frustration as she anxiously ran her hand over his head. Though she loved him, she did not understand a wild harpy. He sniffed the air, and, not detecting the scent of men, he curled up and surrendered to her wishes. Her agitated voice became a low song, and her shaky hands gave way to gentle stroking. She was obviously pleased he was calm.
“Good boy, Shail,” Kari said, rising. “Lie still and I’ll be back.”
She went to the cabin and opened an old trunk that stored bedding. Pulling out a tattered blue quilt, she returned and spread it on the ground alongside him. “I want you to lie on this. It will keep the dirt out of your wounds.” He leaned over and smelled the material. His nose wrinkled, and he kicked the quilt away into a heap. “No,” she yelled, reopening the quilt and pushed his back and wings toward it.
Shail would’ve been content in the dirt, rather than on the musty human rag, but he w
anted to please her. He poked the cloth before reluctantly climbed onto it, wondering how long he must yield to this female to keep her happy.
Her next test became a toxic-smelling object she retrieved from the human structure. Filling it with tempting water, she placed it to his mouth. He hissed at it, preferring to stay thirsty.
“Shail, it’s only a cup.” Kari took a sip and offered it to him again. He skittishly sniffed it and carefully sucked up the water in the center, his parched lips never touching the plastic rim.
“You really are wild.” She sighed, noticing he didn’t drink like a human. “I’m going in the woods to get you some food. Stay here.” She grabbed a pail from the cabin and left him.
Once she was gone, Shail labored to rise. He couldn’t afford to be helpless. Hoisting himself up, he cringed with the pain, and after a few steps, he was out of breath. Walking any distance was out of the question. He flapped his wings, but saw the lower half of his broken wing was bound between the wing tip and middle joint. He seethed at the plastic cast and tried to pull it off.
“Shail!” Kari screamed, walking from the trees. She dropped the pail of berries and rushed to him. She wrapped her arms around him and gently forced him back down on the quilt. “Don’t do this, my beautiful bird. You’re safe. There are no hunters here,” she cooed. “Lie still. The cast must stay on your wing or you’ll never fly again.” She sat next to him and rested her back against the vehicle. He placed his head in her lap, and she ran her fingers through his hair. “I guess this is the only way to keep you quiet. I don’t want to drug you.” After a few minutes, she fell asleep.
* * *
The chatter of squirrels in overhead branches woke Kari. She was lying on the quilt, and Shail was nowhere in sight. She jolted forward and looked around. Behind the vehicle, she heard his soft sniffle and saw he had crawled off the quilt and was nesting on a cluster of dry leaves. His bright eyes twinkled, displaying contentment, and he held a half-eaten red fruit in his hand. Near him lay a pile of assorted fruits and nuts.
