Flight of the Golden Harpy (55 page)

With his hate gone, he felt the sickness of guilt. He could have prevented so many deaths. Although the flocks were few, they still could have stopped the beetle growth two seasons ago, but he chose to release the swarms and drive out the humans. Aron accused him of lacking caution. If he had been careful, he wouldn’t have been captured, and he and his harpies could have slowed the swarms and allowed the humans to escape.

He bent over and placed his hand on a small skull. He had killed the child as surely as if he had snapped its neck. Feeling great remorse, he took Anna’s tiny pink flower from his sash and smelled its sweet scent. There was no gratification, no joy in this victory. His revenge had left him, and Shail was a harpy again, a protector of all life.

*   *   *

At dusk Shail spread his wings and slowly flew to the domed port. Governor Waters greeted him and explained they were thankful for the food.

Shail nodded. “The swarms have been removed from your city, and you may leave the shelter.”

“All the swarms are gone?” Waters asked.

“No, there are still many in the west. It shall take two round moons before we lower the numbers, but we do not seek to destroy all. Like us, the beetles served the land. Some creatures rely on them for food, and when a swarm eats the large trees, light and space comes to the ground. New trees appear, and the zel and other animals feast on their shoots and tender leaves. Without human hunters, my flock shall grow, and it shall be easier to control the beetle numbers, for we also are jungle creatures that play a role in nature. In time, all shall be balanced again.” Shail gazed across the wasteland.

“I talked to Mollie, the woman handler at the hunting range. She told me how terribly you were assaulted and tortured by those men. After something like that, why did you bother to save us, Shail?”

Shail turned toward him. “Harpies value all life, but after the range, I was willing to let you die. I had to put aside my bitterness, for I rule and am the guardian of my flock. Different types of jungle animals dwell together because of a need. This need came to the humans and harpies. Your humans are many, and my harpies are few. Even if your humans died, other humans would come from the stars and kill us. Eventually only the ghosts of a forgotten winged race would drift through the trees. We both needed to be saved.”

Waters stared at Shail. “You’re wise beyond your years, and shame us,” he said. “Despite all that man has accomplished, we could learn from you.”

“Maybe we can learn from one another, Waters. You have a good heart, and this eases my doubts.”

“I’m glad,” said Waters. “I haven’t been around you or your harpies very long, but it’s darned obvious the harpies aren’t animals. The hunters had to know this all along. It’s unforgivable.”

Shail talked with the governor into the dark. He trusted his instincts more than any treaty or law of words. Turner had said that Waters was a good and fair-minded man, and he had been right. Shail began to relax, knowing that peace had finally come.

Returning to his harpy flock, Shail found Aron waiting. “I told Waters that his humans can leave the port. You no longer need to bring the food.” Strangely, he detected disappointment in Aron, but Aron didn’t explain it.

“I have learned the number of our losses,” Aron relayed. “Three to the number of fingers, plus six, far less than we expected.” Thirty-six harpies had died in the attack on the swarms.

“It is less than thought, but one is too many,” Shail said sadly. “With the dawn we shall search for the scattered swarms in the area, and the distance to water shall be long. If the good weather holds, we shall be finished here. The next darkness we leave and the gathering ends. All flocks shall spread out and travel west killing only the queens as we go.”

“I shall tell the other flock leaders,” Aron said.

“When you brought the food, did you speak to Waters?”

“I forced my voice and spoke as you asked,” Aron said. “Waters is a worthy man, and as you said, the humans were grateful, longing for our friendship. Your choices were right, Shail. I no longer distrust your wisdom. I believe the truce shall last.”

Shail patted Aron’s shoulder. “This is good. Knowledge is power; remember this, Aron. I seek my mother now and hope to bridge our lost time apart.”

Flying to the mansion, he meet Windy, and they talked for several hours. Once the swarms were gone, his mother would travel west with Kari. She bid him good night, and he again coiled up on the rug in the front room and sought his mate in his dreams. They found one another and passionately embraced and nuzzled, but neither spoke. With the coming of dawn, they returned to the realistic world of the awake.

*   *   *

Shail woke and went out among the harpies. “This light we seek the swarms that are half a light’s travel from the sea,” he said to the gathering from the tree stump. “The swarms beyond shall lose only their queens, and those beetles shall separate, no longer a threat. Today’s task shall be the hardest, for the distance is long and treacherous to the water. If your wings cannot endure the flight, you should not come. Be wise, not brave, in choosing, for I value all your lives.”

Despite the risk, all males stepped forward, indicating they would go with Shail.

Aron sighed. “Did you truly expect them to heed your warning? They would follow you with broken wings; such is their devotion. They have given you a new name and call you the prince of dawn.”

“Why?” Shail asked.

Aron affectionately touched his shoulder. “Your yellow hair and wings are golden like a dawn sky, and as the dawn chases the darkness from the land, your wisdom and courage have removed the shadow of tyranny and death. No other golden ruler has done this. They know you have also enlightened the humans. When bringing the food, the males sensed the human minds and felt their admiration for you. Do not question this honor, Shail. For me, you are like the precious gem that lies in the riverbed, covered with clay. When the men sought to crush you, they crushed only clay and exposed the bright, unbreakable gem. You outshine all of us.”

Shail gazed out into the flock and sensed their fear had turned to worship. He felt uncomfortable with the tribute. Days earlier he questioned his rule for the sake of his flock and preferred death. “When small, I was told a golden proverb by my father. He said, ‘That which does not destroy one, makes him stronger.’ I thought it meant if I survived the hunters I would become braver, but the saying was more. Destroying my fears and ignorance, I gained the strength of good judgment.”

Shail extended his wings in the morning light and announced to the flocks, “We finish what we start.” He flew toward the pale golden sky. The harpies burst into flight and followed.

Aron caught up and glided alongside Shail. “I shall pair with you on this last attack.”

Shail watched the giant flock disperse over the multicolored treetops in search of scattered swarms. “I plan to fly farther than the others.”

Aron unhappily huffed, knowing he and Shail would face the greatest risk with the long, fast flight to the ocean. “Then it shall be like old times when we were fledglings. I shall have to watch your back.”

They flew over small swarms, leaving them for other harpies, and traveled west for hours. With each mile Aron sniffled and flung his hair.

“We soon stop, Aron, so end your uneasiness,” Shail relayed. “Ahead is what we seek.”

In the distance Aron spotted the huge black void that marred the jungle, and he hesitated, slowing his flight to soar over them. “Shail, it is too big. The queens have merged like at the city.”

Shail’s eyes sparkled. “Then it shall take both of us to gather the queens. Tear some of your sash and place them within. We shall start at each end, meet in the center, and carry the swarm to the sea.”

“After taking two queens, they shall be upon us,” relayed Aron.

“Not if we fly fast, Aron. There are too many beetles to kill just their queens. All of these must be destroyed.”

“Again the death wish,” Aron growled, looking down at the massive swarm.

“I do not wish to die. I want to hold my mate again and see my son next season.”

“I, too, long for these things.”

Shail curiously stared at him. “So this is your disappointment for not returning to the humans. You have found a female harpy.”

“Yes, in the port. She was like a beautiful flower standing alone in a meadow among dull blades of grass. I asked her to bond, but I spoke too soon, for I shall be killed with your foolishness.”

Shail was accustomed to Aron’s ranting. “I love you, my brother, and would not do this if I foresaw failure. We are the swiftest of the harpies, and no swarm shall out-fly us. The sooner the swarms are gone, the sooner I return to Kari. It is her I seek, not a thrill or death.”

“Let us do this.” Aron sighed. “The crazy loca eagle must be strong in a golden’s veins, for this is loco.”

“When you see the beetles fly, you know I have my first queen.” Shail took off, traveling several miles across the monstrous swarm.

*   *   *

Aron flew down closer to the beetles and fluttered over a mound, waiting for Shail. Their attack had to be synchronized.

Shail became a gold dot against the black terrain, and then the swarm lifted into the air. Shail had captured his first queen.

Aron dove down and seized a queen but didn’t wait for her clicking or for the swarm to rise. He flew toward the swarm center and snatched another queen, and then a third. The queens were clicking, and he glanced back. Like a rolling ocean wave, a sea of beetles ascended from the ground, but they were confused by numerous calling queens and attacked one another. Taking advantage of the baffled beetles, Aron flew on and grabbed several more queens. The whole swarm suddenly rose, and Aron tilted his wings skyward and flapped out of their reach. Looking down, he saw the boiling black air. He frantically soared above the chaotic beetles and searched for the gold wings. A frightened sweat dripped from his brow as seconds ticked by without seeing Shail. No living thing could survive the madness below. His heart raced as doubt crept in. He knew the beetles would soon locate his clicking bag and fly upward. He’d be trapped between the swarm and the cold, thin-oxygen sky.

He saw a flash of yellow in the thick black cloud. The creamy wings darted toward him. The swarm followed Shail a few feet beyond his heels. Aron swooped down to draw them off Shail, but he faced the beetles that heard his bag.

“We go,” Shail relayed and pointed east toward the ocean. In a frenzy they beat their wings, the pursuing swarm only a stone toss away. Clearing the black, they reached the untouched edge of the jungle and fell into a sharp pace slow enough for the beetles to follow, yet fast enough to stay out of their reach.

Shail flung his long hair. “Feel your heart, Aron. Its fast beat tells you that you are alive, and tomorrow is precious.”

Aron became infuriated. “This taunt with danger pleases you. The swarms were upon you, and you should be dead.”

“The beetles were so alarmed with many noisy queens that they failed to bite. Do not be angry, Aron. Soon we shall be at peace and lazily lie with our mates and surrounded by fledglings. We shall look back on this memory of when we challenged the giant swarm and were young, fast, and fearless.”

Aron turned and glanced at the enormous trailing swarm. “I only hope it is a memory.”

The sun was low in the afternoon sky when Aron saw the ocean in the distance. “The port is north,” he relayed. “We must not get too close.”

“The swarms seek their queens, not human flesh. There is no worry.”

“We go south,” Aron barked. “I am tired of your risky games.”

“Shall you ever give me the respect of a golden ruler?” Shail asked.

“Perhaps not since you act like an unruly fledgling with no common sense.”

Shail’s lips curled into a slight smile. “I sense you are not sincere.”

*   *   *

The people of Hampton were outside the domed port and wandered the streets, looking for salvageable items. A dark shadow blotted out the rays of the setting sun, and they looked up. On the horizon they saw the approaching mammoth swarm. Some people screamed in panic and raced back to the port as others crouched and froze with fear.

Governor Waters stood beside Starla when they saw the swarm. “Everyone back to the port,” he yelled.

“No, Governor,” she said. “I can see two harpies in front of the swarm, and they control its movements.”

Waters stopped and stared in amazement. “Just two?”

“Yes, but one has yellow wings. It is our ruler. He takes the swarm to the ocean, where it shall drown.”

“Shail certainly has courage.”

“Yes. No other harpies would risk moving such a swarm,” said Starla.

The immense swarm passed south of Hampton and continued out over the ocean, and the humans breathed a sigh of relief.

*   *   *

“We have no wood for the queens,” relayed Aron.

Shail held up the bag. “The material shall float long enough to hold them.”

They increased their speed and moved slightly ahead of the beetles to allow their own escape. Fluttering over the water, they opened up the material pouches and let the wet queen float on top of the waves. Before darting to the sky, Aron noticed the number of Shail’s queens. He had collected twice his amount. Aron and Shail madly dashed upward and reached a safe height in the atmosphere.

Gazing down, Aron watched the swarm settle on the water. “Gathering so many queens delayed your getaway. Is all a harpy game for you?”

“If a game, I won,” Shail relayed. He tilted his wings and flew over the water toward the shore.

Aron followed him. “You are welcome to the victory. I am glad to still live.”

At the beach, Shail landed. “Are you as tired as I?” Shail asked and waded into the cool water until knee deep.

“More,” Aron said and joined him.

Sweat covered their bodies, and their wing muscles were exhausted. Shail tightly folded in his wings, and like a seabird, he dove into the waves. Aron took a calmer approach. He sat down and splashed water over his head and watched Shail swim back to shore.