Max and The Happy Prince

Max and The Happy Prince

by

Kimberly Kaplan

Copyright 2011 by Kimberly Kaplan

All rights reserved

Published by Kimberly Kaplan at Smashwords

For questions or more information visit http://www.kimberlykaplan.com

or contact tipsautismmom@yahoo.com

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THANKS

Michael and Jason

Louise Damberg

Mom, for writing before me

Ken Rotcop, for loving this story long ago

CHAPTER ONE

The largest area of corn fields in Galladafor Province lay to the north of the town of Troubadour. One large field spread out for six miles.

Farmer Tyke, the human who farmed this land, was nowhere in sight. There was no equipment to be seen. Worst of all, the fields were unusually barren.

In years past, the flush fields were ripe for the pecking by Sandhill Cranes. One flock in particular had come to this farm for their last stop before flying south for the winter many times. On this quiet morning, the large flock appeared and headed straight for Farmer Tykeʼs field.

After landing, the flock leader, Gilberath, saw the tragedy immediately. What has happened to the sweet, tasty corn? he thought. Did the human forget to plant the corn or care for it? Is this a trick of the human?

Gilberath observed the three hundred members of his flock approach the field. Their bodies formed straight lines while in flight. Many had perfect-looking gaits and well-groomed feathers. When they flapped, most had impressive wingspans six to seven feet in width.

Gilberath watched the young and old, tall and not-so-tall, circle in the air, hover, and then land gracefully. He loved to watch the impressive landing of sandhill cranes with their straight necks and streamlined bodies.

Sadly, Gilberath saw many of his flock notice the lack of corn, just as he had. He saw disappointment in their eyes.

Gilberath was equally disappointed. He knew the days were too cold and the flock had to leave for their wintering grounds. But, they needed a good meal of corn before traveling. Sandhill cranes typically ate less during the winter in the south; the food was restricted to insects, acorns, and snails. They rested often to conserve strength and survive on the less nutritious fare. But, this flock still had to get to the wintering grounds. What was Gilberath to do?

Gilberath was about to gather his flock to announce that they could not stay, but he stopped. He suddenly had to wait because the typical landing ceremony for Sandhill cranes had begun.

The landing ceremony was a beautiful sight to Gilberath, more impressive than a landing. A mated crane always began a call after landing. This call was a song cranes sang in a unique way to honor their mate.

Crane calling was happening all over the field. One half of a mated pair was standing on the ground with their postures upright, their heads back, and their beaks pointed skyward and singing to their mates. Each mate was responding with a call of their own.

Gilberath was amazed, not by the ceremony he knew so well, but that his flock could summon the strength to perform this ritual among a deserted corn field. The desolation could not deter their need to sing. Cranes were born to sing.

Gilberath decided to wait and listen. Let them sing, he thought. Even if there is no food, my flock has flown hard and long. They deserve to sing like cranes.

After a few minutes of calling, the cranes added dancing. Beyond the call of a crane, the dance of a crane was the highest honor and the most treasured way to strengthen a bond.

Dances began simply than evolved into specialized, artful sequences. The bows, leaps, and runs were coordinated and graceful. The field of cranes looked like a pool of synchronized swimmers. The view from above, looking down, was most definitely a thing of beauty.

As he watched the cranes dance their ballet, something in the sky caught Gilberathʼs attention. He looked up and saw the last member of his flock.

It was Max.

The flock leader shook his head at the sight of the awkward-looking crane. Max was the runt of his litter. His wingspan was short of six feet. His appearance was different than most other cranes because Max looked like he still had his juvenile plumage, even though he was a three-year-old adult. His coloring was not the typical shade of gray, either. Gilberath could swear Maxʼs coloring was white and his feathers unclean, thus giving Max a true dirty gray look. The flock leader had to repeatedly scold Max for improper grooming.

Max was less than three feet in height, which also made him look younger than his contemporaries. He did have the typical crane facial features—a short bill, white cheek patch, and reddish crown. To the leader of a large flock of elegant-looking cranes, Maxʼs facial features were what saved him from permanent banishment. Plus the fact that Gilberath was beholden to Maxʼs parents for long ago saving Gilberathʼs life.

Gilberath was not surprised to see Max landing well after the flock. He knew Max had a hard time keeping up with the flock because Max was born with a crooked wing. When Max was born, the flock physician had told Maxʼs parents there was nothing he could do to straighten the wing. Maxʼs wing would be deformed and the wing strength weak. Because of his wing, Max could not fly straight. And, he was always last to land.

Gilberath watched Max land unlike a graceful crane. The flock leader frowned. He thought Max was a disgrace to the Sandhill crane.

Max looked around at the singing and dancing of his fellow cranes. Dancing among the other cranes, he spotted Leanne. She had recently been promised to mate with Wilton. The news had crushed Max, who was secretly in love in Leanne. Worse, since they were not yet mated, Leanne and Wilton did not have to partake of the song and dance. Yet, to Maxʼs horror, the couple danced like they were already mated.

Max watched Leanne dance with grass in her beak, another crane ritual that signified love. Leanne twirled around the much taller Wilton. Maxʼs stomach dropped as he watched Leanne fling the pieces of grass at Wiltonʼs feet, a gesture of honor and respect.

Max looked away from Leanne. Whereʼs the eats? he asked Gilberath.

Young lad, youʼre late, said Gilberath.

That head wind was really tough.

Never mind the excuses. Get prepared to take flight.

Fly? We just got here, said Max.

Thereʼs no food.

Max looked around. Are we late or something?

Gilberath held his temper. We are not late. The human did not plant the corn this year.

How come? asked Max.

Now how would I know that? Should I find the human and ask him? said Gilberath.

Max was dumbfounded. He stared at Gilberath. Uh, you donʼt usually talk to humans.

No, I do not. There is no talk. All they do is shoot, said Gilberath angrily. He was not sure if he was angry at humans or Max.

The call and dance of the cranes come to an end.

Max heard his stomach growl. Max said, We canʼt head south now without a proper meal.

Did you feel the chill this morning, Max? asked Gilberath.

Sure.

Did it crumple your feathers? Did it sting your beak on the flight?

Yeah, said Max.

What does that mean? asked Gilberath.

Max frowned. Time to go south.

Thatʼs right. Itʼs time to go south. Gilberath stormed away.

Leanne and Wilton joined Max. Well, thereʼs no corn, Max said.

We can see that, Max, said Leanne.

Max shrugged. Thought you were too busy dancing to notice, he said while masking the hurt he felt inside.

Wilton ruffled his feathers, straightened, and pointed his beak so that his six foot frame extended well over Maxʼs head. Wilton towered over Max. Weʼre going to have to go without our meal of corn and head south. Itʼs late and we must be leaving, he said.

What are you, the flock leader now? asked Max.

Wilton ignored him. The elders should get going. Weʼll have to stop more often for them. He flipped his wing out sideways, just enough to whack Max on the shoulder. You should start, too, Max. So maybe you can keep up for a change.

You got no business…

A loud popping noise interrupted Max. He looked around. Another popping noise was heard, and then another.

The cranes froze and listened to the sound of the human fire stick!

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Then, the cranes were no longer frozen, they were all panicking. The panic of a crane was well known in the bird world because of how good cranes were at it. The sound of the human fire stick caused instant mayhem.

A panic had its own call which was a loud guard call that warned of danger. The loud guard call was now pouring out of most of the cranesʼ mouths.

Even in a panicked state, the cranes knew they had to flee. Wilton was one of the first to take to the air, and Max noticed he took off without waiting for Leanne.

Leanne was about to take off. She looked at Max. Max, the human is shooting at us with the fire sticks. Take off.

Max and Leanne suddenly were distracted as Farmer Tyke appeared near them. They watched the farmer point his weapon at another crane and fire. Max and Leanne saw their fellow crane fall to the ground.

Cranes could never understand why humans shot at them with their fire sticks. The humans would plant the corn and tend the farm, providing cranes with tasty and nutritious food, but then they would shoot at them whenever they tried to eat it.

Famer Tyke understood it very well, or he used to. He had a vague memory of why he had to protect his corn. Deep down inside, he knew that if these cranes were allowed three hours in his corn fields, heʼd have nothing left to sell. He also vaguely remembered that he planted corn every year. He planted, tended the crops, harvested and then sold most it in town.

For some reason, Farmer Tyke did not plant his corn this season, yet he did not know why not. Farmer Tykeʼs thoughts could not focus on planting or farming this year. He couldnʼt focus on anything lately—even talking to his wife was difficult.

Oddly, his wife was experiencing the same lethargy and lack of energy as her husband. And the couple was incapable of talking about the problem. It was almost like they didnʼt care. All they did was eat, sleep, and walk around aimlessly.

This year, Farmer Tyke had watched the cranes land in his field. He noticed his rifle by the door. He picked it up, but did not really know what he was going to do with it. As if in a dream, he went outside and walked into his field. Then, he began to shoot the cranes. Shooting at the birds seemed right to him, even if he couldnʼt figure out why.

He pointed his gun at Leanne, aimed, and pulled the trigger.

Max reacted quickly. With his crooked wing, which pointed more downward than typical wings, he pushed Leanneʼs leg just enough to cause her to go off balance and fall to the ground. The shot missed her.

Go! screamed Max.

Leanne took off from her unbalanced position. It was the worst take-off the graceful crane had ever had, but it did not matter. She was in the air.

She looked down. Max had yet to take off. With horror, Leanne saw the human aiming the fire stick at him.

Gilberath also saw Farmer Tyke aim the fire stick at Max. He knew what he had to do—he had to save the crane. He owed it to Maxʼs parents.

Years ago, a young Gilberath had been trapped by two humans. He had foolishly left his flock to explore what looked like an unusual treat. It was the smell that had drawn him to the treat. Once he was close to treat, he reached forward to snatch it in his beak.

It was at that instant that the wood above his head had fallen and enclosed him…in a trap!

Being trapped was maddening to a crane. Gilberathʼs panic attack had been colossal. He had flapped his wings and squawked with his loudest voice. He had bashed his body against the walls of his prison. It was hopeless, he could not get out.

Gilberath heard laughter from the two approaching humans. He felt hopeless.

Unknown to Gilberath, his best friend, Petrick, Maxʼs father, had followed him into the woods. Petrickʼs mate, Wendorina, Maxʼs mother, was with him. They had watched what happened to Gilberath. To save their friend, they had to attack.

The two cranes had rushed to the human with wings flapping. The startled humans did not know what to do, they were young and inexperienced. And, fortunately, they scared easily. Only minutes into the attack, they had run away.

Petrick and Wendorina freed Gilberath. He thanked them and promised to someday return the favor.

As flock leader, Gilberath was big and strong and could push a surprised human to the ground. With all his might, Gilberath threw his bird body into Farmer Tyke at the exact moment the human fired. The human and Gilberath crashed to the ground, and the shot that was supposed to hit Max missed.

Gilberath, sprawled on top of Farmer Tyke, looked at Max and said, Get out of here, you idiot!

Max kicked at the ground and took off.

* * *

Max landed among his fellow cranes a few miles away from Farmer Tykeʼs field. Most of the cranes were discussing this recent human attack. They found it astonishing that the human would attack them in a barren field.

Max found Leanne standing next to Wilton and joined them. Once Max arrived, Wilton said, I convinced her to leave, in case there was another one around.

Who? asked Max.

The flock leaderʼs mate, Priscilla. She was near the back of the field and did not know we were being shot at by the human. I had to inform her she was in danger.

You took off! I saw you! said Max.

But, then I landed to help Priscilla. That is all you need to know, Max. As an exclamation point, Wilton assumed the posture of a crane who wanted to make an important point—straight back and tightly closed but pointed beak.

Max sighed.

How did you get away, Max? Leanne asked Max.

Gilberath. Max looked around. Is he here?

You know Gilberath is always the last to leave a dangerous situation. He has to make sure his entire flock is accounted for, Wilton said. Or maybe youʼre always too busy whining about your crooked wing to ever notice?

Max swiped at Wilton with his bad wing, trying to whack him in the head but missing badly and hitting him in the leg instead. Wilton wobbled but did not fall.

Leanne quickly jumped between them. She had a lot of experience breaking up fights involving Max. She knew Max was often teased or drawn into a confrontation. Max had trouble walking away. She also knew Max was full of pride, but also embarrassment. She understood his anger, and was usually on his side, even though Max would often get mad at her for intervening.

Max, stop it, she said loudly.

Leanne, that fool took off without you, Max said, with equal volume. Then, he makes this outlandish claim about ʼsavingʼ Priscilla. Maybe he flew over her on his way here.

You are calling me a liar? Wilton said to Max.

Damn sure I am.

Max pushed Leanne to the side and moved closer to the much larger Wilton. They were about to fight when Gilberath suddenly landed between them.

Stop! he said.

Gilberath looked at his flock. The human has killed four of our brethren.

Silence fell over the entire flock. Max and Wilton lowered their beaks. Sadness engulfed all of them. A flock was large by some standards, yet the loss of four—of even one—had a major impact on the tribe.

We must leave now, announced Gilberath.

Max shook his head. But what about the corn? Shouldnʼt we find another field?

The silence continued with the exception of groans coming from two or three older cranes. They knew a younger crane like Max never questioned a decision by a flock leader. Maxʼs behavior was crossing a line and he was standing on dangerous ground.

You speak out of turn, young one. Gilberath glared at Max, a look meant as a warning.

But, we gotta eat, Max said.

Gilberath decided to turn Maxʼs brashness around to teach the crane a lesson. Our scouts informed me that a strangeness has come over this land, he said. I do not like how it feels here. We will leave this place. Immediately.

How do you know itʼs not strange at our southern stop? continued Max. How do you know theyʼll be insects there for us to eat? Maybe theyʼll be gone like the corn.

Max did not notice the open beaks of the other cranes. None of them could believe what they were hearing, nor could Leanne as she suddenly got in Maxʼs face. Max, what are you doing? Youʼre only thinking about yourself...and your stomach.

Gilberath always says itʼs better for us to consume a large meal or two before flying south, said Max. I feel really full after a good corn grazing. Itʼs hard to fly on an empty stomach, you know that. If thereʼs no food in the wintering grounds, then weʼll definitely be in a pickle, now wonʼt we?

Max, we will not know until we get there, growled Gilberath. Something has come over these northern lands of late. I feel it in my tail feathers. We will leave now!

But the corn here was always so good. Perhaps the human just moved it to another location to try and trick us, said Max. We should look around. Maybe we can walk....

Walk? interrupted Gilberath. His booming voice echoed off the hills.

Each and every sandhill crane gasped, they could not believe their ears. Even Leanne was in shock. What was Max saying? she thought.

Max kicked at the dirt. He knew he was in trouble, but he could not stop himself. Not this time. Yeah, well, he said. I did say walk, didnʼt I? Why do I always get myself into these predicaments? he thought. Like all those fights. I donʼt like to fight. I just canʼt stop myself.

But, this time, Max didn’t want to stop. His secret was out. It was a secret he had kept his entire life. He had told no one, not even Leanne. But, now what was he going to do?

How exactly do you want to look for food, Max? asked Gilberath.

A brisk walk over those hills might....

We do not walk, interrupted Gilberath. We fly! We are cranes. Birds, Max. Birds fly!

It was now or never. Max knew this wasn’t just another pickle he had found himself in. This was like a dream he had had for a long time. But, could he really do it?

Everyone was looking at Max, including Leanne. The time was now. He had to say what he needed to say, and it had to be now. Itʼs just that I...I donʼt want to fly. Itʼs such a long way to the wintering grounds....

Listen to me, said Gilberath, again interrupting Max. He got in Maxʼs face—his body towered over the smaller crane. Fly! Now!

No crane had ever disobeyed a direct order from a flock leader. But, Max had to disobey, his secret was out and he could not stop was what about to happen. I...I think Iʼm going to stay. Iʼm not going to fly anymore. Iʼm going to walk, he said.

Max? Leanne said.

Max shook his head and ignored Leanne. I want to walk. Thatʼs what I want.

Max looked at Leanne. He had dreamed of mating with her, but now she was promised to Wilton. Let him have her, he thought. Iʼm no good to her anyway. Iʼm a crane with a crooked wing who wants to walk rather than fly.

Do you know what youʼre saying, Max? asked Gilberath.

Max nodded. I canʼt fly anymore.

Leanne looked deep into Maxʼs eyes. Max, youʼre not coming with us?

Max smiled at Leanne. No, I’m not. Iʼm going for a walk, he said. He turned and walked away from his flock.

Gilberath, Leanne, Wilton, and all the rest of the cranes silently watched Max go. Leanne took two steps toward Max but was stopped by Wilton, who blocked her with his wing.

Max could not look back. Instead, he continued to walk away from the only life he had ever known. Did he have the strength to keep walking? He wasnʼt sure, yet that was what he did.

CHAPTER TWO

Sometime earlier...