Soul of an Eagle

by Edwin Skinner

  As they were loading the last of the meat and hides onto the pack ponies they had brought, Kit paused and spoke quietly to his companion. "Can you take me to his aerie? If it is Flash, I have to know. Flash was a large, strong bird. I would love to have him for my very own. I know I could talk to him if I can get close to him."

  "We must take this meat to camp first," the nomad replied, "so that Helvon can preserve it and begin working on the hides. We will also need supplies for the night. We would need to camp at least one night for there will be barely time to reach the spot before sundown."

  The rest of that morning and most of the afternoon dragged by slowly for the excited youngster. Mounted on Satan and with Paint in tow as packhorse, he followed Chan and Fire for what seemed endless miles into some of the roughest mountains Kit had ever traveled. Finally, two hours before sundown, Chan halted in the middle of a narrow trail that traversed a cliff face. There was, at this point, a grassy ledge some twenty feet wide where the two could dismount and move about a bit. A clear mountain stream trickled out of the rocks above them, only to disappear into the ground at the back of the ledge.

  "This is, perhaps, the best view of his aerie that I can give you," Chan said. He pointed to a ledge at about the same height on the opposing cliff face several hundred yards or so across a narrow valley. "There it is but he doesn't seem to be home at the moment. We will camp here." Kit could make out a great nest of sticks at one side of the opposing ledge. It was empty.

  Five minutes later, Kit looked up from his task of pitching their camp tent. Chan had ridden down the trail a ways in search of firewood. Coming over the next ridge was a great eagle with a small animal hanging from his talons. Kit watched as the enormous bird circled down to land on the ledge next to his aerie. Chan had been right about the eagle's size. Even from this distance, Kit could see that he was extra-large even for the giant eagles of Randor and that there was something familiar about his shape and coloration. It could be Flash. Kit's heart raced as he watched the bird begin to tear at the flesh of its victim.

  Kit watched breathlessly for some five minutes. He stood rooted in place as he debated the likelihood of this being his friend's mount and of his being able to contact the bird successfully at such a distance. The eagle was apparently either unaware of or unconcerned with the boy's presence on the opposite side of the valley. He had not so much as glanced in the lad's direction since he had landed. Suddenly, the bird looked up and across the chasm. It was not Kit that he was peering at, however, but the returning Chan. Kit could hear the nomad pony's unshod hooves as he walked along the trail toward the campsite.

  By the time the rider had reached their ledge, the distant eagle was staring unblinkingly at Kit's small figure. Chan glanced across toward the distant aerie. "I see our quarry has returned. Have you tried to talk to him yet? This is the closest I will be able to get you to him unless he flies towards us. You now have his undivided attention. There may never be a better moment than right now to attempt it."

  Kit shifted uneasily. "I don't know how far I can project my thoughts. What if he can't hear me?"

  "Then you may not be able to contact him," the nomad replied. "Is it the eagle of your friend? Can you recognize him?"

  "It looks like him but I can't tell from this distance." Kit looked across into the eagle's piercing gaze. The distance between them seemed to melt away.

  "Go ahead," Chan urged, "reach out to him with your mind. It may be your destiny to capture the soul of an eagle."

  Kit closed his eyes and projected his thoughts toward the distant bird. "Flash, if that is you, this is Kit. If you hear me, spread your wings and fold them again." He opened his eyes and stared in wonder as the eagle's wings stretched out at full spread for a few seconds and then folded down onto his back.

  Once again, the boy projected words to the great eagle. "Would you fly over and land next to me, please?"

  The man and the boy watched with bated breath as the eagle lifted from the ledge next to the aerie.

  "Quick," Kit said to his companion, "Get ahold of the ponies and keep them back from the edge. He may spook them when he lands." The nomad rushed to comply as the great eagle winged slowly across the chasm toward them.

  With a great beating of wings, Flash lit upon the grassy ledge next to his former master's friend. Kit's warning had been well heeded. It was all Chan could do to keep the three ponies from turning tail in terror. As things finally quieted down, Kit turned his thoughts to the eagle once again.

  "Lower your head and I'll scratch it," he projected. As his fingers found the familiar itchy spot on the back of the bird's head, an idle thought came into his mind. "What are you doing out here with nobody to care for you."

  Almost immediately a strange voice answered in his head, "waiting."

  Kit was startled even though the eagle had talked to him once before. "What are you waiting for?" he thought.

  Again, the answer was a single word, "you."

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  The impression of Flash to Kit was nearly an instantaneous occurrence. It may have been the strength of the boy's telepathic powers or it may have been the fact that the eagle was fully trained and used to obeying the commands of a human Rider. Kit wondered long and hard about why the eagle had not self-destructed upon Heron's death. His mother had told him about the telepathic bond which ties an eagle to his Rider. It can only be severed by death. When that happens, the feeling of loneliness in the eagle's consciousness becomes unbearable and the bird desires nothing but death. Finally, Kit decided to find out by asking Flash, himself.

  "Flash, the bond between Heron and you was broken by his death," he projected. "What kept you from wanting to die, yourself."

  The bird's answer, as usual, was a single word, "another."

  This only puzzled the boy. "Another what?" he thought. "Another eagle, another bond?"

  “Yours.” was the answer. Kit looked at the eagle in astonishment. The realization came to him that the very act of talking to Flash that one time, which had so infuriated his Rider, had eventually saved the great eagle's life. He wondered if a 'backup bond' could be used to save other birds whose Riders might die in the future.

  The next morning, Kit and Chan had started the long journey back to their base camp with Flash soaring lazily overhead. They arrived at the waterfall in the early afternoon and Flash dropped down into their hidden valley upon Kit's command.

  The boy had been given plenty of time to consider his next course of action during the ride home and had discussed it with his nomad companion. That very afternoon, Chan began to gather the materials to construct a covered roost for Flash's comfort. Kit explained the events of the evening before to the mystified Helvon as he began to cut out strips of strong hide. He was determined to finish his project as quickly as possible and, after he explained to Helvon what he wanted, the old hunter, being an expert leather worker, pitched right in to help.

  Both projects took the rest of that day and most of the next to complete. Luckily, it had not rained in the meantime even though the eagle would have been no better off in his open aerie if it had. Chan's unceasing labor managed to erect a snug thatched roof over the chosen spot by mid-afternoon. A short while later, the modified novice saddle that Kit had devised with Helvon's help was ready to test.

  "Do you mind if I fly you, Flash?" the boy asked telepathically.

  The bird's answer, "please," had sounded eager.

  Kit had copied as much of the standard saddle design as he could remember from the times that he had flown with Heron and Flash. The saddle went on the bird's back and fit relatively well. The old hunter had, on several occasions, requested that Kit take measurements of the eagle's back, wing width and girth during its manufacture. One of the biggest differences between this saddle and those used in the Aerie was in the design of the stirrup, a change that Helvon had suggested which gave a more secure footing. Another change was that, instead of buckles, which they did not have enough of on hand,
the straps which secured Kit into his saddle were just long thongs which could be tied on with slip knots and would be much more easily released.

  When the saddle had been adjusted and secured on the big bird's back, Kit climbed aboard and strapped himself in. He took with him his Ganton model crossbow and quiver of bolts as well as his knife. Carrying the long, heavy sword from his belt was awkward at best. Upon Kit's command, Flash took to the air with ease. As they circled around to climb out of their secure little valley, Kit experienced again the tremendous rush of flying with an eagle. He knew he had come home to the skies.

  In the next few days, the three hunters realized the tremendous value of Kit's ability to fly. Helvon had healed enough to accompany them on hunts although he was still unable to lift heavy objects due to the healing wound in his left shoulder. It was beyond the point of infecting now but was still a little sore and itched a lot. The leg wound was already giving the tall hunter little trouble although he still walked with a slight limp.

  The two earth bound men would ride below, leading a spare mount for Kit and several pack ponies. The boy would be soaring above in search of game and possible nomad bands. When suitable game was spotted, he would signal the hunters below. Depending on the game and the terrain, Kit would either land and join the other two, or come screaming down behind the startled animals and scare them into a trap which would be sprung by his partners.

  On several such occasions, he was able to swoop low and fell one or two beasts by firing his crossbow from the air. The straps which secured him to his modified novice saddle allowed him to fly without the use of his hands, freeing them up to use the weapon. Seeing the advantage of such a skill, the boy began to practice his aerial marksmanship using a target laid flat on the ground. He found that accuracy required good eagle/Rider coordination as well as that of the hand/eye variety.

  After a kill, of course, Kit would take one last, hard look around for nomad intruders and order Flash to land. He had no intention of leaving all of the skinning and loading chores to his partners. It was at one such moment that Helvon looked up at his partners with a grin.

  "Looks like we needs ta make 'nother trip ta town, boys," he noted. "These beefalo will give us plenty ta sell. Our meat store is 'most too large fer th' ponies ta carry. I'm feelin' well 'nuff, now, t' travel. Ya want ta ride Flash in this time Kit?"

  "I've been thinking about that," the boy said. "I'm afraid that Daron might get angry because I taught myself to fly. I've got his dead son's eagle, too, and I don't know how well that would go over. Besides, wouldn't it be easier on you if I help you with the pack ponies?"

  "I s'pose it would," the man admitted, "'course Chan could hep get me as fur as the pass jest like he did fer you. Ya could fly if'n thet's all yer worried 'bout."

  "No, I'll leave Flash at the valley and ride in on Satan. I think it should be business as usual when we go in tomorrow, don't you?"

  The hunter nodded, scratched his beard and eyed Kit speculatively. "D'ya think you'll join the Aerie now if'n yer asked? I'd hate ta lose sech a dandy partner."

  "You wouldn't miss me much," the boy protested. "You'll still have Chan. He's worth two of me any day and he's even better than you are at living off the land."

  "Mebbe so," admitted Helvon, "but when he's on a hunt ya cain't get a word outn him an' in camp, ya cain't shet him up." The hunter shot a grin over at the nomad in order to disarm the remark. Chan merely grunted.

  The next morning, their eight remaining pack horses were loaded high with meat and hides and the old hunter led Kit through the waterfall, leaving the nomad back in camp to tan the latest hides and dry more meat for their winter store. By noon, they had entered the crater and were riding down toward the town.

  "Hev ya got any special items ya want ta get this trip?" the hunter asked.

  "Well," the boy considered, "I'd like to start using one of those scabbards that strap to your back for my short sword. I feel kind of naked without it when I fly with Flash. We need a few more bolts for the Ganton models too. They are hard to find later if you miss the quarry from the air. Oh, and we can check to see if your Ganton model is in yet. I bought the last two they had for Chan and myself but I ordered another for you. They're expensive but well worth the money, especially if you're in a fight where you need to reload quickly."

  The old hunter's face had lit up with pleasure when he realized that his young partner had thought of his welfare in such a manner. "Wal," he drawled, "If'n it ain't in yet, mebbe I could borry yourn ta practice a mite when we're in camp of nights."

  "Sure, that would be a good idea." Kit paused, debating whether he should ask the question that was on his mind. Finally he decided to throw caution to the wind.

  "Helvon," he continued, "I asked Chan once how he learned to speak our language so well. He told me his mother was a captured Eagle Rider and that she had taught him. What I can't understand is how you came to talk so differently. I've never heard an accent like yours."

  "I talk like my pappy done and he like all th' others whar I come from," the hunter replied with a shrug.

  "I've talked to Gypsies and people from all of the known craters," the boy pointed out, "but I've never heard anyone with an accent anything like yours."

  Helvon chuckled. "Ain't from no crater. I was raised in th' Blue Valley settlement northwest of McAllister some hundred mile 'r so. Th' area's kinda remote an we don't see many nomads thar. Th' ones what happen 'pon us seldom gets away and never returns. 'Round them parts, I'm considered an av'rage shot an' even th' wimmin is tough as nails." He scratched his head as he considered something. "Doan know why I left thar. Guess I jest wanted ta see th' world 'r somethin'. I don't rec'llect any others from Blue Valley goin' out o' th' home area. They'd all become hunters, I 'spect, and I ain't run 'cross nary a one in nearly forty year o' wanderin'."

  The world was full of surprises, Kit reflected. He had never heard of the Blue Valley settlement and he doubted if anyone else had either. He wondered if Helvon had ever told anyone else about his home place. It never occurred to Kit that the tall hunter could be pulling his leg about it. He had never known the man to tell a lie and doubted if he was capable of it.

  After a visit to the butcher shop and two taverns to sell their meat, the two hunters had been considerably enriched. They made it to the outfitter's shop with an hour and a half to spare before closing time. Helvon's crossbow had not arrived yet, but even after buying all of their "necessaries," getting another four dozen bolts and putting half price down on the new crossbow, the two partners were still in possession of a considerable profit.

  "Why can't we stay at a tavern for the night?" Kit was asking the old man as they left the outfitters. "We've been camping for the last three weeks. I'd like to sleep in a real bed for a change."

  "Taverns costs money an' thet cuts inta our profits," Helvon reminded him. "If'n ya can find one what don't cost nuthin' I'll gladly stay thar."

  "I know one with prices like that," a voice behind them said, "and it's not too far from the passes either."

  Kit stopped and turned around. "Hello Grandfather. Where did you come from?"

  Jaron smiled at his only heir. "One of your friends from the pass guards let me know you had come into the crater. I figured this would be your last stop before bedding down the fates only know where so I hurried down to find you. It looks like I got here just in time."

  "Have you talked to Daron lately?" the lad asked.

  The old man nodded. "Just yesterday, in fact, I told him I would think about it and I'm doing just that. He said you were attacked by nomads. Is that true?"

  "'Twere jest a leetle fracas," Helvon put in. "Shoot, they was on’y ten of 'em. 'Sides we got us some hep from a passin' outcast named Chan. Mebbe ya heard of 'im. Anyway, yer grandson fights better'n any two men I ever run 'cross in all twelve craters, 'ceptin me an Chan, I guess."

  Jaron's face showed a wide assortment of emotions, the chief of which was alarm. "They said someone was wounded
in that fight. How many do you have in your party anyway?"

  Again the hunter fielded the question. "I was the one what got nicked a mite," he said. "My shoulder's a tad sore still but m' leg's almost healed. Ya wanta know how many of us they is, includin' Chan, Kit and me?" The farmer nodded mutely. "Why I guess thet makes three of us but it adds up ta a pack o' trouble fer any nomads thet comes our way."

  Jaron smiled grimly and turned to Kit. "Look, I know we got off to a bad start and I treated you like an unwanted third cousin. I'm really sorry about that. They say 'you don't know what you have 'til it's gone.' Well that is just how I feel right now. I know I cannot talk you out of leaving my house to go out into the wilds. I promise I will not even try if you will promise to stay at the house with me whenever you are inside the crater. Your partner is welcome to stay there too, of course." The look he gave to Kit was almost a plea for mercy. "What do you say?"

  Many thoughts ran quickly through Kit's mind. Now that he had Flash, nomination to the Aerie was not nearly so important to him. At his grandfather's he would have a secure place to leave his valuables. Also, his grandfather's cook, Deena, was excellent and his beds were comfortable but what swung the balance was the sudden realization that this old man was all of the family he had left in the world.

  "If Helvon doesn't mind," he said, "I'll just go get my hidden store of money and other things and we'll be at the orchard in about an hour." He turned to the tall hunter. "My grandfather's house is comfortable and his cook is one of the best in Washington. She's a good looking widow too. I think you'll like it there."