Chapter 24

The wilds of Alaska were tough on the flock. Even in the spring there is ice floating in the rivers, and the winds can make flying all but impossible for all but the strongest of birds. As the prevailing winds come from the west, Hector and his flock spent most of their time flying against the wind. Finally, after several days of flying, several near misses with Arctic Foxes and Wolves, and one instance where Geronimo almost got hit by a small iceberg while fishing, they managed to make it to the Bearing Strait at the farthest western reaches of the North American continent. There they decided to rest before attempting the fifty miles of rough seas between them and Russia.

Early the next morning, Hector again called a meeting of the ‘First Nine’ before most of the other birds awoke. He explained that they were to eat well and make up their mind whether or not they really wanted to continue the journey. He explained that even though this was the shortest ocean crossing of the entire voyage, it would still be hard as the weather would not be pleasant and they were going to be flying much higher than most of the flock was used to flying so that they could take advantage of slower winds and occasional updrafts that exist at higher altitudes. Then he asked the members of the ‘First Nine’ to call an assembly of the entire flock.

A short while later, Hector flew to the highest point he could find nearby and waited while the flock gathered below him. When all the birds had gathered together and settled down, Hector began to speak, “I want to thank all of you for believing in me. You have all supported me and believed in me thus far and I believe in all of you. This is going to be our first crossing and it’s going to be tough. If anyone wants to go home then this is the time to do it. You all know the way and no one will blame you should you decide that you don’t want to go any farther.”

All of the flock was silent. There was not so much as a peep, chirp, or squawk out of a single bird in the crowd. Hector wondered if any of them would change their minds and return home. He wondered if they would make it. He wondered why no one was saying a single word, then from somewhere war far in the back of the crowd they heard a singly voice begin to chant, “Hector, Hector, Hector, Hector,Hector...”

It was then the entire flock began chanting, “Hector, Hector, Hector, Hector, Hector...”

Hector stood proud as he witnessed over two hundred birds of many different species chanting, calling, squawking, and crowing his name, ”Hector, Hector, Hector, Hector, Hector...” It was a moment that will live forever in history so not wanting to let this great show of enthusiasm slip away, Hector took to the sky aiming himself westward as the entire flock rose from the ground to follow him!

Despite the fact that the winds were rough and the crossing hard, the flock landed on the east coast of Russia on the continent of Asia in just a few hours. “Just in time for lunch,” Desiree said as they landed on the distant shore. “I’m hungry enough to eat an oak tree.”

“You mean you’re hungry enough to eat an acorn, don’t you?” Geronimo asked.

“No,” Desiree replied, “I’m hungry enough to eat the whole tree.”

“Remind me not to perch in an oak tree,” Geronimo said with a laugh.

“I guess it’s fish and crabs for now,” Hector said. “I don’t see any oak trees.”

“I’m tired of fish,” Dorothy said. “I want some seeds.”

“I’ll pass on the crabs,” Randy crowed as they all began to laugh. “I ain’t eating nothin’ that eats me!”

“I’ll sure be glad when we find some more worms,” Octavo said. “I’m tired of fish. I think I got one swimming ‘round in my stomach.”

“Or your head,” Larry mocked, quick as ever to get in his jabs.

Their travels had now taken them almost five thousand miles in just a few weeks. Of course that included the little detour they had taken when Hector took that wrong turn back in Alaska. Thus far, their travels had taken them farther than most of the flock had ever traveled before. Even the annual migration from Minnesota to Mexico taken by Hector’s family wasn’t as long. Hector knew that many of the birds in his flock were tired and couldn’t continue to travel at the pace he was setting. He decided to push southward for just long enough to get to better feeding grounds then allow the flock several days to rest.