Read Online Flight of the Golden Harpy by Susan Klaus - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Susan Klaus
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my life was complete. I had the two most beautiful girls on the planet under my roof.” He smiled. He turned away from the window and stared at Kari. “A lousy golden harpy took all that away from me.”
He returned to his office chair and slumped into it. “The harpy swooped down and grabbed your mother. I pulled out my laser gun and fired at it,” he said, breathing deeply. “I missed and the blast hit your mother. She died instantly, but my second blast killed that damn beast. It was the first time I killed a harpy. I was foolish back then, believing harpies deserved to live in peace on my land. After your mother died, I invited every hunter to come to the estate and exterminate them. When I heard the dogs barking and saw you in the arms of another golden, it was like reliving the past. I wanted to protect you, Kari, but you were so crazy about these winged devils, and too young to understand the danger. Before long that blond male would return, and you’d go to him, no matter what I said or did.”
Kari knew he was right. “Dad, I wish you had told me this earlier.”
“How could I possibly tell my young daughter that I had killed her mother?” he asked. “I planned on telling you when you were a teenager, but that mogel incident escalated things. I couldn’t protect you on Dora. I’m sorry I sent you to Earth and for the pain it caused you, but I couldn’t risk losing my daughter to another harpy. The harpies’ numbers have declined, but they’re still a danger to women.”
“I was very miserable on Earth, but it was compounded by the fact that I thought you didn’t care about me.”
“Kari, I love you very much.” He got up and wrapped his arms around her. “I don’t know if I was right or wrong, but I was only concerned about your welfare. I hope we can start fresh and you’ll give me the chance to make things up.”
She embraced him. “Dad, I’m so tired of being unhappy. I just want some peace now. Telling me about Mom has helped me understand your motives. I do want us to at least be friends.” She pulled away and looked up at him. “I know you hate the harpies, but Charlie told me you banned hunting on the estate.”
“Yes, I stopped the killing. You asked me to protect that young golden—wanted me to promise. For a year, that gnawed at me, and every time I thought about the mogel pulling you under, it scared the hell out of me. Despite what he is, I owed the golden for saving my little girl. Some of the men spotted him last year, so he’s still alive.”
“Thank you, Dad, for protecting him but I know you also did it for my sake.”
“Yes.” He nodded. “It was the least I could do after what I put you through. Well, the golden has been a mature male for some time and probably has paired with a female, so I no longer consider him the threat he once was. But enough talk of harpies. I have something for you, a coming-home present.”
Kari followed him through the house and outside. A new terrain vehicle was parked in the drive. “It’s beautiful.”
“It has everything. In the compartment is a new laser gun,” he said. “Please keep it with you when you leave the house. I need to get to the mill, but I’ll see you at dinner. Kari, this is a lot to take in. If you wish, we could discuss it further tonight.”
“That would be fine.”
He kissed her on the cheek and strolled to his small hovercraft. “I’ll be home around five,” he called, hopping in the hover. In minutes the hover was airborne and disappearing beyond the first hill.
Kari slowly walked back to the house, reflecting on her mother’s death and the golden harpy that had tried to take her. Charlie had said that she was like her mother, and Kari now knew it had nothing to do with looks. It was the correlation that goldens sought her and her mother and understood Charlie’s and her father’s fears. But could Shail be evil? He loved her in her dreams. Maybe Charlie is right, she thought. Shail
He returned to his office chair and slumped into it. “The harpy swooped down and grabbed your mother. I pulled out my laser gun and fired at it,” he said, breathing deeply. “I missed and the blast hit your mother. She died instantly, but my second blast killed that damn beast. It was the first time I killed a harpy. I was foolish back then, believing harpies deserved to live in peace on my land. After your mother died, I invited every hunter to come to the estate and exterminate them. When I heard the dogs barking and saw you in the arms of another golden, it was like reliving the past. I wanted to protect you, Kari, but you were so crazy about these winged devils, and too young to understand the danger. Before long that blond male would return, and you’d go to him, no matter what I said or did.”
Kari knew he was right. “Dad, I wish you had told me this earlier.”
“How could I possibly tell my young daughter that I had killed her mother?” he asked. “I planned on telling you when you were a teenager, but that mogel incident escalated things. I couldn’t protect you on Dora. I’m sorry I sent you to Earth and for the pain it caused you, but I couldn’t risk losing my daughter to another harpy. The harpies’ numbers have declined, but they’re still a danger to women.”
“I was very miserable on Earth, but it was compounded by the fact that I thought you didn’t care about me.”
“Kari, I love you very much.” He got up and wrapped his arms around her. “I don’t know if I was right or wrong, but I was only concerned about your welfare. I hope we can start fresh and you’ll give me the chance to make things up.”
She embraced him. “Dad, I’m so tired of being unhappy. I just want some peace now. Telling me about Mom has helped me understand your motives. I do want us to at least be friends.” She pulled away and looked up at him. “I know you hate the harpies, but Charlie told me you banned hunting on the estate.”
“Yes, I stopped the killing. You asked me to protect that young golden—wanted me to promise. For a year, that gnawed at me, and every time I thought about the mogel pulling you under, it scared the hell out of me. Despite what he is, I owed the golden for saving my little girl. Some of the men spotted him last year, so he’s still alive.”
“Thank you, Dad, for protecting him but I know you also did it for my sake.”
“Yes.” He nodded. “It was the least I could do after what I put you through. Well, the golden has been a mature male for some time and probably has paired with a female, so I no longer consider him the threat he once was. But enough talk of harpies. I have something for you, a coming-home present.”
Kari followed him through the house and outside. A new terrain vehicle was parked in the drive. “It’s beautiful.”
“It has everything. In the compartment is a new laser gun,” he said. “Please keep it with you when you leave the house. I need to get to the mill, but I’ll see you at dinner. Kari, this is a lot to take in. If you wish, we could discuss it further tonight.”
“That would be fine.”
He kissed her on the cheek and strolled to his small hovercraft. “I’ll be home around five,” he called, hopping in the hover. In minutes the hover was airborne and disappearing beyond the first hill.
Kari slowly walked back to the house, reflecting on her mother’s death and the golden harpy that had tried to take her. Charlie had said that she was like her mother, and Kari now knew it had nothing to do with looks. It was the correlation that goldens sought her and her mother and understood Charlie’s and her father’s fears. But could Shail be evil? He loved her in her dreams. Maybe Charlie is right, she thought. Shail
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