Flight of the Golden Harpy by Susan Klaus

Author:Susan Klaus [Klaus, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781466835061
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2014-06-17T00:00:00+00:00

14

Turner’s two employees Jerry and Sam walked down the beach toward the hovercraft. “I can’t believe Turner is going to let those yellow wings rot,” said Sam. “They’re worth a heck of a lot of money.”

“Yeah, but Mr. Turner doesn’t need money,” said Jerry, “besides, his daughter would freak if he loaded the wings in the hover. Did you hear her? She’s already screwed up, loving a harpy.”

“Jerry, you realize a mounted golden pair is worth fifty grand in Terrance? That’s a year’s salary for the both of us, and we’re gonna be out of work soon, with the swarm. After Turner leaves with Charlie and the girl, we could double back through the mountains and grab the wings. No one would know.”

Jerry stopped in his tracks. “Are you sure they’re worth that kind of money? Turner warned you to leave ’em, and he’s one guy you don’t want pissed off.”

“Before he finds out, we’ll be long gone with twenty-five thousand in our pockets, and I’ve seen the price of old, beat-up yellow wings hanging in the gun shops in Terrance. We’ll just cure and stash them near the estate and then take ’em to Terrance this weekend. It’s sweet.”

Jerry thought for a moment. “It does sound pretty easy. All right; it can’t hurt anything, and I sure could use the credits.”

They reached the hover and took off, heading east over the mountains. After circling around, they landed on the beach, north of the cabin. They crept up to the cabin, making sure that Mr. Turner had gone south to his home. They neared the cabin, and a fledgling bolted out the door.

Jerry leaped back. “That thing scared the shit out of me,” he said, and watched the small harpy disappear into the tree branches.

Sam laughed. “Little jumpy, aren’t you?”

They went inside the cabin and gazed at the golden male on the floor. Jerry took out his knife and bent down. “Hold his wing back, and I’ll cut the tendons near the shoulder.” Jerry reached for the wing. “Hey, this sucker’s still breathing.”

“Well, cut its throat. I want to be back before we’re missed.”

Jerry grabbed the harpy’s hair and lifted its head. “There’s no blood under him.” He pushed the harpy over on its back. “Look, Turner didn’t blast it. He stunned the thing.” Jerry looked up at Sam. “It’s no wonder Turner didn’t take the wings; he wanted this harpy alive.” He placed the knife to the unconscious harpy’s jugular vein.

“Wait a minute,” Sam said.

“I want to kill it before it wakes up and stares at me with those big blue eyes. These harpies look way too human to suit me.”

Sam stood up. “We’re not killing this one. We’re tying him up and taking him to Terrance. I met a hunter in a bar, and he told me about his warehouse on the river. Said if I managed to bag a live harpy he’d give me triple the price of mounted wings. Alive, this baby is worth a hundred and fifty thousand.

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