Flight of the Golden Harpy Read Online Free PDF Page B

west, and there’s no consistency to their movement. It’s only a matter of time before they head east. So far, no town has suffered a direct hit, but people are plenty concerned.”
    Kari shook her head and stared out the window. Her father would be one of those concerned about something so devastating that it could destroy everything he and her grandfather had sought to protect. Her thoughts turned to her grandfather. She remembered trailing him through the forest with his bag of seedlings. For every tree cut, he’d replace it with a seedling. When they entered an area scheduled for harvesting, he’d mark the massive thousand-year-old trees with red ribbon so they’d be spared.
    Tying a ribbon around the wide trunks, he’d say, “These old ones have stood the test of time through hurricanes and drought. They’ve earned our respect, Kari. And mankind doesn’t deserve their wood.” Saving nature was a religion to him.
    After her grandfather’s death, her father had continued the practice, so the Turner Estate was different from other timberlands. The trees were harvested, but the jungle remained. Other timber companies practiced clear-cutting. Every tree, young and old, was taken, leaving the land as marred as if a forest fire had struck. Like her father and grandfather, her passion for trees was bred into her.
    Her father faced a battle to save what she also cherished. Feeling sympathetic for him, she decided to put her bitterness aside and give him the opportunity to rectify their damaged relationship. He didn’t need additional trouble from her.
    Out the window, the northern mountain range appeared and sloped southward. The sleek black peaks jetted out of a kaleidoscope jungle, piercing a grayish-green sky. The large hovercraft was nearing the outback. Mr. Roberts had gone back to his reading, and Kari kept her vigilant watch of the ground. As they approached Terrance, she saw more barren places created by the swarms. Some areas were vast and miles wide and others encompassed only the equivalent of a few city blocks. With man’s advanced technology, why hadn’t anyone found a solution to the destructive beetles? Man had beaten nature on Earth, but sadly, at a terrible cost.
    Mr. Roberts closed his reading machine. “We’ll be setting down soon, Miss Turner. It was nice meeting you.”
    “Same here and thanks for the information.”
    “You be careful in that jungle when you head home. You’re far too lovely to be lost.”
    She nodded and looked out the window as Duran, Dora’s sun, was setting in the west. The sky filled with pinks, oranges, and gold. The warm-toned rays shot through the wispy purple clouds on the horizon. In the distance, Kari saw the mighty river that snaked its way through jungle camouflage. The hover slowed, passed the river, and descended toward Terrance. Large barges loaded with precious lumber floated on the wide body of water and journeyed southward toward the ocean, then on to Hampton. From Hampton, the exotic wood would travel the galaxy to other planets.
    Terrance rose from the riverbanks with a display of colorful Victorian buildings. Kari saw the meadows and farmlands merging into distant hills. A large black void of barren land rested to the north, and she recognized the swarm’s deadly mark. The town had barely escaped a strike.
    The hover set down on a large paved lot. A building stood nearby and off to its side were assorted small hovercrafts parked in no particular order. Farther out, were two large timber freighters. Hearing the hover doors open, Kari and Mr. Roberts picked up their belongings and moved up the aisle. “It’s not as fancy as the indoor port at Hampton,” he commented.
    She reached the exit. “I think I like it better. This town has a lot of charm.”
    He smirked. “Well, this open port is not so charming during the rainy season.”
    Kari walked toward the building with the other passengers. Once inside, she went to the information desk to inquire