Flight of the Golden Harpy Read Online Free PDF Page A

intelligent are on the bottom of my list.”
    Watkins wearily rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s impossible to get an accurate count on the flocks, and the few harpies that are sighted, caught, or killed are always males. Their females and breeding grounds have yet to be discovered. It’s rumored they nest on the western islands. Our zoo’s fledglings came from there.”
    Pausing to take a deep breath and control his frustration, he continued. “And now I’m dealing with a pair of loca eagles that the zoo recently acquired. I learned that harpies have fifty percent of the same DNA as locas, proving they’re related. The other fifty percent of a harpy’s DNA is human. This gives credibility to the stories of harpies stealing and molesting women. Since no female harpy has ever been found, it’s conceivable that male harpies used female locas, women, or both to create their offspring. These harpies are so baffling it’s hard to know what is truth or fiction when studying them.”
    “I’ve never seen a loca eagle,” Kari said.
    “You won’t, unless you visit the western islands. One hundred years ago they covered the continent, but overhunting reduced their numbers to a few remaining flocks. That’s always the trouble with endangered animals. By the time a study is done, it’s almost too late.”
    Kari lowered her head. “Is it too late for the harpies?”
    “I hope not.”
    Kari glanced at the time. “I must go or I’ll miss my flight. If I can help you in any way, please let me know. I do owe the golden my life.”
    “My research is stalled here, and I can’t learn much from these captive fledglings,” said Watkins. “I may come to the outback for my answers. Perhaps you could show me this lake.”
    “I’ll do anything if it ends the hunting,” she said, leaving the office. The old zookeeper accompanied her up the path toward the harpy cage. The fledglings were curled up on the branch, sound asleep.
    The old man motioned to another aviary. “The loca eagles are over there.” Kari rushed down the path to the huge cage. The two large winged creatures were perched on a tree limb, but they looked nothing like an eagle. Their six-foot bodies were covered with small brown feathers, and they resembled a furry ape with wings. Only their large, green eyes and elfish facial features were similar to a harpy’s. She hurried toward the exit to catch the shuttle.
    *   *   *
    Reaching the street, Kari hopped aboard the shuttle. A short ride later, she arrived at the port. She gathered her things and walked toward the large circular ship. Before stepping inside, she heard a familiar voice calling her name. “Kari,” Ted yelled from beneath a small spaceship. “I’ll miss you.” She blew him a kiss and stepped inside the hovercraft.
    A stewardess confirmed her ticket and said, “You can sit where you wish. This flight does not have assigned seating.”
    Kari took a window seat across from an older businessman. She looked out the window in anticipation. The hovercraft rose through the port doors and moved rapidly west. Within minutes, the city of Hampton and surrounding small farms disappeared from sight. Beneath the ship lay the vast jungle. Like a giant painting, the landscape exploded with the multicolored trees. She had been starving for this feast of beauty. The breathtaking view became overwhelming. She swallowed the lump growing in her throat and fought her moistening eyes. She truly was home.
    As the jungle drifted past, she settled down, her gaze glued to the scenery. Glimpses of the highway appeared beneath the thick underbrush. The road ran from coast to coast across the continent. “That’s my road,” she thought, considering her journey. After Terrance, the highway would become a narrow, ill-kept path through the true jungle. Periodically, she saw a store with nearby homes and farms—remnants of civilization encased in the wilderness. Several small towns briefly appeared but were