Themenhadnosmell.Itwasthepup'sjobtolearntolivewiththisabomination.

Themenwithnosmellknewthepuphadtried,buttryingwasimmaterial.Theyrequiredperformance

andproperperformanceinvolvedbitingdowneveryancientinstinctthepup'sancestorshadeverleftto
him.Theyrequiredthepuptoprovehecouldhaveafunctionintheworldofthemenwithoutasmell.
Havingtodosowasanabominationaswell.

Thepuphadnoname.Hehadnohome.Hehadnofamilyexceptfortheseothercagedbeastswho

smellednothinglikehim.Hehadnodreamsorhopesorhappiness.Hehadonlyaspecies—hewasa
"dog,"alittlewhiteone—andajob.Andhehadthetwinfearsoffailureandpunishment.

Inthisplacetherewereendlessrowsofcages,enclosedbyhotlightfromabove.Itwastheonlyplace

thepuphadeverknown.Butthepuphadmemoriesthatwerenotplacesinhisexperience.Therewere
sweetsmellsof&nbsp...something.Itwasnotmemory;herewaswherehewasdecantedsomemories
werestillgrowingandtheywerenotpleasantatanyrate.Itwassomethingelse.Itwasadistanthowl.

Itwasahowlwhosefarawaywhisperthepupheardonlyforamomentorsoatatime.Likenow,here

werethemenwithnosmellagaintogivehimpain.

Themennamedtheirworldafteritsice."Krypton"wasthewordtheirlanguageusedforthethickwhite

sheetsthatcoveredmostofthehabitablesurfacesofthebigworld.Centuriesago,whenanimallifewas
newonceagain—newforthelasttime—tothisoldworld,itwasthedogswhomadeitpossibleforthe
mentosurvivehere.Theysmelledouttheheat.

Kryptonwasafailedstar,anoafishlumpamongthebodiesofthefirmament,hardlyevenaplanetat

all.Inthechaseofstellarwindthatkickeduptheclotsofnovafruitlikedustdevilsintothegravitational
pocketsofthegalacticsector,thepuddleofnitrogen,oxygenandheavyelementsthatbecameKrypton
wasbarelyabelch.Offinthedistanceweretheyoungclutchesofburstingfire:thewhitedwarfs;the
bluesinchillconflagration;theorangesandgreens;theoneredgiantthatedgedcloserwithevery
millennium;allblowinglightandetherwindoutacrossthedustyvoid.Kryptonshouldhavebeena
yellowstar,aG-type,anditwaseversoclose.Forallthefireworksatitsmoltencore,Kryptonneverdid
gatherthecriticalmassnecessarytothrowoffitscoolingoutershellandtossitsburnoffoutamongthe
starwinds.Insteadofmeltingandburninginaborningburstofgoldenflame,Krypton'sshellfrozeintoan
irregularsurfaceofwhatcametobemountainsandseas.

Beforeabillionyearsofitslifehadgone,Kryptonwasnolongeraseethingrockfloatinginthevoid,

butfellintoawideorbitaroundadistantstar.Itbecameasubjectoftheredgiantthatwasthelargest
productofthenovainwhichKrypton,alongwiththelocalcluster,wasborn.Asitdoesonvirtuallyall
worlds,liferosehere.Then,asitdoesonvirtuallyallworlds,itdiedandroseagainahundredtimes.
Hereandthere,lifetakesholdandforashortwhile,insomeplaces,itflourishes.OnKrypton,itnever
tookholduntiltheplanetthatachedtobeastarhadnearlygivenup.

Thetwomenstoodoutsidethehotlightwithapailoffood.Itwasgoodfood:stripsofslaughtered

beast,roastedjustenoughforthescenttodriftlightlytothepup'snostrils.Themenworepaddedclothing
andfacemaskstoprotectthemfromthepup,andwhentheybroughtthefoodtheyworenoseguardsto
shieldthemfromthesmell.Eithertheywouldfeedthepupornot.Iftheyfedhimthistime,hewouldbe
happyenough.

Thepupleaptandslaveredwithintheconfinesofthehotlight.Oneofthemenwithnosmelltooka

stripfromthebucketandhelditjustbeyondthehotlight.Thepupsatupspiffily,wagginghistailbehind
himsohardhisbuttbegantoscrapeagainstthefloor.Then,insteadofextendingthemeatthroughthehot
lightsothepupcouldsnatchit,themanreachedhisotherhand—adead,odorlesshand;apetrifiedstick
ofahand—totryandtouchthepuponthefur.

Notlongagothepupwouldsimplyhavesnappedatthehandandhewouldhaveseennofoodforhours.

Nowhesimplydroppedhisearsandeaseddownhisforelegstoputhischindownbetweenthem.The
result,inthepup'sexperience,wasthesameandthepassiveapproachrequiredlesseffort.Perhapsthe
menconsideredthisprogress.Insteadofleaving,heretheyweresteppingrightintothecageofhotlight,
onecarryingthebucketandtheotherholdingouthissheathedhandinfrontofthestripoffragranttoasted
flesh.Slowly,theybothcameforwardandslowly,thepupedgedbackawayfromthemalongthefloor.

Theydidthissometimes.Ifthepup'sbehaviorstartedtogetpredictable,theywoulddosomethingnew.

Somewheredeepinhisbeing,thepupappreciatedthehumans'abilitytoinitiatenewtwistsonanold
conversationwhenevertheyfeltlikeit.Thatabilitywaswhatmadethemanthedominantpartnermostof
thetimeinthisdog-manduality.Thepupknewthis-ifnotinhisbraintheninhissoul—andhebittheone
withtheextendedhandanyway.Thistime,forthefirsttime,hegotrightthroughthegloveanddrewafew
dropsofredblood.Itwastasty.

Menanddogswerelinked,inaUniversalsense,toafargreaterdegreethaneitherthesemenorthis

dogunderstood.Therewererecurringpatternstocomplexlifethathadnothingtodowiththechanceand
circumstancethroughwhichmenfancythatlifearises.

Mendonotknowaboutit.Dogsdonotthinkaboutit.Itworksbetterthatway.

Thepup'sentireacquaintancewithJor-Elwasduringatimewhenthemanwasdesperate.Thepupdid

notknowJor-Elwhenhewasnotdesperate.HemighthavelikedhimbetteratsomeothertimeinJor-El's
life.Inhisyouth,Jor-Elwasratherpromisingandhopeful;rarelydesperateaboutanything.Inthebrief
timehelivedafterthepupknewhim,Jor-Elgraduatedfromdesperationtoresignation.Theresignation
cameatamellowtimeforJor-Elthatthepupnevergottosee.

Jor-Elcametothefacility,ostensiblylookingforapetforhiscongenitallyillinfantson.Infact,Jor-El

hadaninfantsonwhowasquitehealthyasinfantsgo,butthefacility'sfunctionwastotraincompanion
animalsforthecongenitallyill,andJor-Eldidnotdareriskarequisitionforalaboratoryanimal.Itwas
veryimportantthattheScienceCouncilremainunawareofanyfreelanceactivitygoingonatJor-El's
homelab.

"Icannotseemtofindtherequisitionjustnow,"theyoungwomanatthereceptionstationtoldthetall

dourmanassheplayedherfingertipsalongthegridworkofrecordsonherdesktopfilingcomplex.She
knewwhoJor-Elwas,ofcourse.EveryoneknewwhoJor-Elwas,sincetheincidentwiththesolidgold
airshiphebuiltwhenshewasstilljustagirl.Courtesyruled,ofcourse,thatshemustnotdoorsay
anythingtoindicatethatshewouldconsiderspecialtreatmentforthisrisingstarontherulingCouncil,he
certainlycouldnothopetomaintainanysortofanonymityinthispublicplace.EveryoneknewJor-El.

"ThenperhapsIcanexpeditetheprocessbyexplainingwhatIwaslookingfor,"Jor-Elsuggested,"and

youcanstraightenthedataworkatyourleisure."

Allright,theyoungwomanthought,nowhereisaproceduraldilemma.Doesthegreatmanwant

specialprivilegesbecauseofhisprominence?Certainlyhedoesnothavethetimetowatchmeriffling
throughmyclericalnightmare.Orishesimplyignorantofprescribedprocedureandmighthebe
embarrassedifitwereperceivedthatIwentoutofmywaytoslidehimthroughthisminorannoyance?

Behindher,adoorwayslidopenandthevoicefromitasked,"Miri,doyouhaveahealingstick?"It

wasRoy-Jofromthewranglingdetail,stillinhisdisposableisolationsuit,carryingthetanvisorhoodin
onehandandnursingtwobleedingfingershangingofftheother.

"Inamoment,"thereceptionisttoldthetechnician."Youweresaying,sir?"Apparentlyshehadmade

thedecisiontomakeiteasyforthecelebrityandlethercareerfallwhereitmay.

"Ineedasmallpetformyson,"Jor-Elsaid,"toprompthimtorespondtostimulimoreefficiently."

"Yes,"Mirisaidasthetechnicianrootedthroughacabinetlookingforsomethingtosoothehisdogbite.

"Somethingfurry,perhaps?Childrenlovefurrythings."

"Furry,"Jor-Elrepeated,thinkingonlyofhowhemightobtainacreaturethatfitsintoasmallspace,but

whosebiologywasroughlyamicrocosmofahuman's."Furrywouldbefine.Perhapsarodentofsome
sort?"

"Howaboutadog?"thetechniciansuggestashemanagedtostopthebleeding.

"Adog,yes.Arodentorperhapsasmalldog,"Jor-Elsaid."Agentleone,"hehastenedtoadd,"and

small,"beforeherealizedhehadalreadysaidthat.

"Gotjustthecandidate,"thetechniciansmiledanddisappearedbackthroughthedoorway.

Perplexed,thereceptionistlookeduptoseeJor-Elgatheringhimselfabouthimagain.Hewasaterrible

liar,hethought,butthenotionthatJor-Elmightbehidingsomethingneverenteredthereceptionist'shead.

"Wouldthatbeallright?"sheaskedtheprominentscientistwhosuddenlyseemedtobeasbefuddledas

she.

Thetechnicianreappearedwiththelittlewhitepup.Thepupworearestraintsuittohobblehislegsand

muzzle,andhewasinaclosedtranslucentbox.

"Childrenlovedogs,"thetechniciansaid.

"Allthesehindrances,"Jor-Elnoticedthelayersofprotectionbetweenthedogandtherestofthe

world."Idonothavemuchexperiencewithpets.Isthisnecessary?"

"Standard,"thetechnicianwavedoffthereceptionistfromanswering."Hewillbefinewhenyouget

himhome."

"Wewereinthepresenceofgreatness,"thereceptionistsaidwhenJor-Elleftwithhisnewcharge.

"Yes,Irecognizedhimtoo,"thetechnicianconfessed,wigglingandbendingthewoundeddigitsofhis

righthand."TheGoldenFollyman.HewasmybiggestherowhenIwasyoung."

"Andyougavehimaproblempetanyway?"

"What'shegoingtodo?Complainandreturnthething?"thetechnicianlaughed."Theworld'sgoingto

endsoonerthanthat."

Theworldcouldendanyday,actually.AccordingtoJor-El'scalculations,thedisasterwasalready

aboutagenerationlate.Inthebeginning,Jor-Elthought-hoped—thathiscalculationsandhisconclusions
aboutthemmustbewrongbecausebyallindications"it"shouldalreadyhavehappened."It"washis
internaleuphemism,hispersonalcodewordforallthetearingandrippingandnoiseanddeaththathis
calculationsshowed:theendoftheworld.Theuncertaintyfactorinthemixwasthehumanelement:the
degreetowhichpeopleandtheirtechnologyhadunwittinglyextendedKrypton'slife.

IntheearlydaysofKrypton'shumansettlement,peoplehadtospendmostoftheirdaysonallfours,

compensatingforgravitationsostrongthatmuscleseitherhardenedorkilledtheirowners.Hearts
expandedandoftenburstwiththestrain.Legsbulgedandtoughenedandsometimesbecametooheavyfor
themusclesthemselvestocarry.Calciumtookrootinthejointsandthetendonsand,intherelatively
sedentary,fusedmotionlessinthenight.Naturalselectionnevertooksosevereahitaswhenthehumans
triedtoadapttotheairandmineralsandkillinggravitationofMotherKrypton,butonceagenerationof
humansstooduprightandsnatchedatabreathofairagain,itwasthedogswhofoundthepathtothe
future.

Thedogswhoaccompaniedthefirstshipwreckedsettlersonthisworldtooktotheplanetfarmore

quicklythandidtheirmasters.Dogsgrewstronghere,foragingamongtheforests,growingtheirlungs
fromoneshortgenerationtothenext,leapingtallshrubberyinasinglebound.Dogswereadaptable.They
hadtoteachtheirhumanstobethiswayaswell.Theydidthisontheicepack.

Itwasnotmanygenerationsbeforenaturalselectionamonghumansmadethemaswelladaptedtothis

bigdenseworldasdogs.Soon,humansbegantomovenorthwardandsouthwardfromthelower-gravity
equatorialregions,andtheytooktheirdogswiththem.Somewhereinthehistoryofdogsandhumans—
wherever,onwhateveroutpostacrossCreationthathistoryoccurs—dogsalwaysdistinguishthemselves.
OnKryptontheydistinguishedthemselveswhentheysavedthelivesoftheirhumanswhoexploredthe
icepack.Whatthedogsfoundontheicewasnotonlysurvival,butwealth.

Undersiteaftersite,allthewayupanddownKrypton'sicepack—aglaciermoremassivethanmost

habitableplanets—therewerehugepulsingreservesofthermalenergy,belchingupfromthemoltencore
oftheplanet.Whereflumesofplanetaryheatlickedupclosetothesurface,coloniesofenergy-feeding
microorganisms—liketheblue-greenalgaeofEarth'soceans,inquantitiesbothcomplexandextensive—
tookrootandgrew.Thedogssniffedoutthesoft,meatydepositsofmicroscopiccreatures.Wheneverthey
did,thedogs'humansacquirednotonlyfood,butapowersourcegreatenoughtofireupanewcity.

Fortenthousandyears,theKryptoniancivilizationgrewoverthewholeplanetincitieswhoseenergy

usage,intheend,nearlyequaledthevolumeatwhichtheplanetwasproducingthermalenergy.Humans
spenttheheatatanincreasingrateastheircitiesandpopulationswelled.Ultimately,theyburnedaway
thepulsingcoreoftheplanetenoughtodefuseKrypton'sdestructionforatime—apulsethatcompriseda
generationortwoinhumantermsbutananosecondinthelifeofaplanetthatalwayslongedtoglowasa
star.

HadthecaninesnotfoundandthehumansnotharnessedtheenergyofKrypton'score,thendestruction

wouldnothavebeendelayed,Jor-ElwouldneverhavebeenbornandcouldhavesparedtheUniversethe
painofthederisiontowhichhewassubject.Asitwas,however,Jor-Eldiddiscoverimpending,overdue
doom,butheneverrealizedhowsimpleitmighthavebeentodivertit.

"It."

Besidebeingsynonymouswith"ice"inthelocallanguage,theword"Krypton"camefromanold

legendandnooneeverfiguredoutauthoritativelywhichmeaningcamefirst.Folkloreheldthatthemale
andfemalehumanswhofoundedtherace,shipwreckedspacefarers,werenamedKrypandTonn,
respectively.TheinfantKal-Elneverheardthatstory,buthedidknowhowtosay"ice."Thepupwasthe
coloroftheworld'sprincipalsurface—beforetheswarmofcivilizationhit,atleast.Sothatwasthe
infantKal-El'sfirstresponsetothepup:

"Krypto,"thechildsaid,holdingoutahandtowardthelittlewhiteanimal'ssoftnose.Thepupwasthe

colorofice."Krypto,"thechildsaidagain,andKryptosniffedatthebaby-scentedfingertip.

Horrified,Jor-EltoldLara,thechild'smother,"Getthechildawayfromthatthing.It'sacarnivore."

"Aprodigy,Itoldyou,"Larasaidandwavedawayherhusband'salarm.

Beforethepupknewwhatanamewas,hehadone.

Babyscent,Kryptotastedthroughthebudsofhisnose.Sweet.Kal-El'sfingersfeltforthepup'ssoft

noseandjustbrushedthewhitefurofhisearasKryptobackedaway,butthecurlofhisupperlipnever
materialized.Thisoddlittleman-likethingwasmuchtoofascinating.Anditsmelledgood.

"Krypto,"Kal-Elsaidagainandleanedforwardoffthetripodofhislegsandbalancinghandand

tumbledforwardoverthefloorofthefamilyroom.

Jor-Elmadeamovetorescuehissonfromtheimpendingassaultoftheviciouscreaturethat,inalapse

ofjudgment,hehadbroughtintohishome.Instead,Laraheldbackherhusband'sarmandshrugged.

KryptowarilycircledKal-Ellimitedbyaradiusjustlongerthanthelengthofababy'sreach.Kal-El

rolledbackuptohisseatonthefloorandreachedforthepupagain.Thechildstoodhisground,reaching
outwardwithoutmoving,perhapshopingtogrowabitsothathishandreachedtowherethefurrybeast
stood.

ForperhapsahundredheartbeatsKryptocircledKal-El—alifetime,itmusthaveseemed,tobothof

them.Earnestly,seriouslythewayhumaninfantsareseriouswithoutbeingsolemn,thechildturnedhis
outstretchedhandasbesthecouldtothepuppy'sdirection,thebeasteverjustoutofreach.Andina
moment,atwhoseinitiativenonecouldtell,thepuppy'swetrednosebrushedagainstababyfingertip.
Deeplymoist.Milky.Thedognosecamebackforabetterinspection.Pulsing.Richhotbloodvessels.A
touchevensofterthanthesniffofthepup'snose.

Thentheboyleanedfurtherforward,againlostthebalanceofhistripodoflimbsandrolledontothe

pup.

Thepupyelped.Leaptbackward.AndKrypto'sfirstthoughtwasforthebaby'ssafety.It'sababy.

Helpless.Soft-boned.Sweet-smelling.Andthepupraisedhishead,meaningtofindthebaby'sscraped
skinandlickitsmooth,butsuddenlythepupwasintheair,lookingaroundinalldirections,andtheworld
wentdark.

"Enoughofthis,"Jor-El'svoicesnappedfromsomewheresocloseitmusthavebeeninsidethepup.

"Enoughofwhat?"Larawantedtoknow.

"Oursondoesnotneedtoconsortwithlaboratoryanimals,"themansaid,andKrypto'spawsandhead

reachedaroundforpurchase,foundsomethingcreasedandmalleableandusedhisteethtofindhisplace,
andJor-Elyelled,"YOWLLP!"

Andthepupwasontheflooragain,scurryingtowardthechild,lickinghisnoseandhiseyesandthe

pittedplaceunderhischinandhiseyesagainandforthefirsttimeKryptonoticedanothercreature'seyes.

"Thecreature!"Jor-Elspatout.

Andtheeyesweredeepandlight,andKryptocouldseehisowneyesinthem.

"It.Bit.Me."

AndKryptocouldnottakehisgazeawayfromthisman-child'seyes.

"Itdidnotbiteyou,Jor-El…"

Andcouldnotturnhisnosefromtheman-child'sscent.

"…itjusttouchedyou.Ithasnohands.Ittoucheswithitsteeth."

Andrubbedupthefurofhisbodyagainsttheman-child'sbelly.

"Touchedmewithitsteeth?Indeed…"

Andtastedthetasteoftheman-child'sfaceandtheperspirationonthepitofhisupperlipandthe

phlegmonhischin.

"…touchedmewithitsteeth!"

Andthebabysaid"Krypto,"overandoveruntilthedog'stonguecaughtintheboy'sthroatandhehadto

spitandgiggle.

"WellI'lljustputastoptothis."

Andthebabygotlittlestrandsofwhitehairoverhistongueandeyelashes.

"You'lldonothingofthesort."

Thechildlosthisbalanceagainandlandedontopofthedog'sbelly.

"Iwon't?"

Thechild'shairandthecollarofhiscoveralllandedinthedog'smouthandKryptochewedonituntilit

wasaswetasagnawedbone.

"Youwon't.Lookatthem…"

AndKal-ElbitdownhardonKrypto'snoseandKryptoscrapedatKal-El'sbottomwithhispawand

theybothhadredmarksdownthem.

"…theyloveeachother."

Andthechildcooed.Andthepupsnortedwithcontentment.Andtheylovedeachother.

Spacetravelinvolvednonewscientificdiscoveriesorbreakthroughs.Itwasstrictlyatechnical

problem.Also,itwasaculturalone.

Kryptonwaslavishwithresources,variedlandscapesandcheapenergy.Therewassomuchthermal

energybelchingupfromthehugeworld'scorethatitwasallaprofligatehumancoulddotospinhisor
herexcessoffworld.Themoons,repletewithpopularvacationspots,flewintightorbits-oneofthem

withintheplanet'sbreathableatmosphere,infact—andprovidedenoughexoticsurroundingtosuit
anyone'stastes.NoonestarvedonKrypton.Noonesuffered.Noonelackedforanymaterialthingorany
spiritualsupport.KryptonwasHeaven.WhyshouldKryptonianstravel?Theywerealreadyhere.

Thentherewerethepirates.Krypton'sstarwasontheedgeofaclusterthatlittheeveningskywitha

coarseconglomerateoflightsthatrivaledthebrightnessandfarsurpassedthesplendorofthelocalred
sun.Fewoftheworldswithinalifetime'stravelofKryptonsupportedhumanoidlife,butthetraderoutes
ofspacemarinersconnectedthestarsofthissectorinacomplexweb.Alwaystherewerehundredsof
freightersfullofteamstersofonehumanoidraceoranothercarryinggoodsfromonestarsystemto
anotheronmultigenerationalmissions.Andalwaystherewerethepiratesintheirtiny,dangerously
unstabledimension-hoppingclipperships,preyingonthefamiliesofspacetraders.Everyonceinawhile
apirateclipperwouldaccidentally—ordesperately—re-spacewithinthrowingdistanceofKrypton.

"TheBigRettubzzash,"Jelassiancalledtheenormousgreenworld.Theterm"rettubzzash"defied

translation.Itstilldoes.

Jelassianwasoncecommanderofafleetofsixteenpirateclippers,butthedangerousprobabilityfields

surroundingtheminhyperspacemadeitimpossibletokeepthemincontrolofanoutsidecommanderfor
verylong.Oneofthemvanishedintoimaginaryspace,anotherintoaprivateproprietaryquasi-galaxyand
thirteenotherssimplyvanishedoneortwoatatimeundercircumstancesinvolvingvariousdegreesof
ambiguity.TheonlyshipremainingunderJelassian'scommandwastheTootz,oncetheflagshipofthe
fleet,anditseight-membercrew.Thiswasfine.Whatwithallthepayrolls,informationfilesandmineral
shipmentsJelassianhadtakenovertheparsecs,heandthecrewoftheTootzwererichbeyondthedreams
ofBrainiac.

Jelassianandhiscrewwerewealthypirates.Theywerewantedformurder,theft,violence,threatsof

violence,crimesofintention,sweatinginapublicplaceandwhateverelsemightbeunlawfulinanygiven
cultureamongthethousandsofculturesinthehundredsofstarsystemsandextraplanetaryoutpostswhere
theyhadpracticedtheirprofession.Mostoftheircomradesandcrewmatesweredeadorlostbeyond
recovery.Theyweretired.Theyneededtoretire,liveinalittlebitofluxuryandalotofsecurity,and
spendtheirwealth.If,however,youwereapursuedcriminalinvirtuallyeverycornerofthegalactic
sectorandseveralborderingdimensions,securityanywherewasatenuousoption.Theywerewanted
virtuallyeverywheretheyhadeverbeen—exceptontheBigRettubzzash.

Kryptonianssimplydidnotknowfrompirates.Theywerenevermuchofanissuehere.Onceinawhile,

likethelegendaryfounders,TonnandKryp,spacefarerswouldtrytomakealandingsomewhereandthe
craftwouldbesmashedbytheterrainorthereactionarygravitationoftheplanet,oracrevassewould
swallowthemwhole,ortheywouldbecomepartoftherootsystemofaforestoutofwhichtheycouldnot
gatherthestrengthtocrawl.Ifonceinawhileawanderingspacetravelercameuponanactualdenizenof
Krypton,hehadbetterhopeitwasahuman.Atleastthatwaythewanderermightbesummarily
imprisonedratherthansummarilyeaten.ButKryptoniansasaraceweresomuchhardierandstronger
thananyoneelsearound,itseemed,thateventhethoughtfulandintelligentcreatureswhodominatedthe
worldmightaccidentallyflailthroughthebodyofanoff-worlderasifthealienweremadeofsmoke.
Unliketheotherlife-supportingplanetsinthisstarcluster,Kryptonwasinnodangerofbeingplundered.
Exceptthatonetime.

But,Jelassianwondered,whataboutKryptonasaretirementcommunity?

"Theprototypecraftisreadyfortheanimaltotestit,"Jor-EltoldLara,asclosetoexcitementashe

wasgettinginthesetroubledtimes.

"Krypto.Iwishyouwouldcallthepoorcreaturebyitsname,"wasLara'sresponse.

"Itsname,"Jor-Elmumbledandrolledupontohisbacktomeditatehimselfintosleep.Thingshadgone

betterinJor-El'slifethantheyweregoingthesedays.

Jor-Elwasnotalwaysafamouscrackpot.WhenKandorwastheseatofplanetarygovernment,hehad

evenbeenarespectedvoice:thevoiceofnearlythemajority.Inthoseearlydaysalltheresourcesofa
strongeconomycouldbeturnedtowhatwas—evenwithoutJor-El'sapocalypticzeal-atleasta
preventivemeasure.Butoneday,themulti-generationalarkthatwasnearlysettolaunchfromthecapital
vanishedwiththecityitself.ThiswasadisasterthatevenJor-Elcouldnothavepredicted.Neither
Krypton'sgovernmentnorJor-ElhimselfeverrecoveredfromthecrateringofthecityofKandor.
Authoritativesourcesnevercouldagreeonanadequateexplanationfortheanomalousdisaster.Krypton's
geologicalhiccupshadalwaysbeenunpredictableanddramatic.Thiswasprobablyjustanother
parentheticalbelchoftheplanetthatcostthosemillionlivesandtemporarilystaggeredtheworld's
economy.

Still,afterKandorvanished,peoplehaddreams—thevividkindthattheancientsonceassociatedwith

prescience—ofthevoicesofKandorianrelativesandfriendscallingouttothemfrom...somewhere.The
storieswereeerilysimilar.Tinyvoicescamefromaverysmall,tightplace.Thenthedreamerwould
wakeandtellthedream'sstoryornot.Perhapsinanothertimetherewouldbesomecredenceplacedon
theseinstantfolktales,butthesedaysitwaspsychologiststowhomthepublicturned.Massdelusion,the
psychologistssaid,understandableundertheextraordinarycircumstances.WhenJor-El"heard"froma
Kandorianfirstcousinandwokeinacoldsweat,hedismisseditasreadilyasmostoftheremaining
publicnowdismissedhisfullyverifiablepredictionsofplanetarydoom.Bymorningitwasjustanother
lostreverie.

"Krypto!"thebabycalled."Krypto!"andanywordsKal-Elofferedafterthatweredrownedinaflood

ofslobberandslurpingandwrestlingonthenurseryfloor.

MorningsonthesedarkdaysinJor-ElandLara'shome,ironically,werepunctuatedasneverbefore

withplayandlaughter.NeitherKal-ElnorKryptoknewthatthiswouldbethelastoftheirmornings
together.

Jelassianhadahabitofassigningnicknameslike"TheBigRettubzzash,"butpiratesingeneralhadan

avuncularnicknameforKrypton.Itwas"TheBlack-HolePlanet."Nothingeverleft.Itwasasdenseasa
newbornstarandasdarkasthepit.Fromamoreconventionalplanetwithcrustedfrozenoceans,life
shouldattheveryleasthavereflectedsomuchthatastronomersinnearbysystemsmightatfirsthave
mistakenitforastar.Itwassoheavythatspaceitselfcontractedaroundit.Adullgreenglow,the
backwashofstarlightthatcollectedinitsatmosphere,reflecteddownwardtostreakKrypton'sdaytime
skywithred-shiftedluminouscloudsandlightitsnightswithaphosphorescentpink.Thelightradiated
fromeveryhorizon.ThedayswerebarelybrighterthanKrypton'snights.

Ittookanenormousexpenseofenergytolaunchanythingfromtheworld'ssurface.Evenanuclear-

poweredvesseldesignedtoaccelerateacrosslightyearsofspaceneededtotapthethermalenergyofthe
planet'sundergroundinordertotriggerareactionbigenoughjusttoescapeKrypton'sterribleattraction.

Evenonaworldwhosepopulation'sprofligateuseofenergyhadactuallyslowedtheplanet'sself-
destruction,Jor-Elrealizedthathisuseofsomuchpowerinoneburstwouldcertainlyattractattention.
Hegavehimselfthechancetomaketheonlytestofhisprototypestarcraft.

KryptodidnotlikeJor-Elverymuch,buttheboydidandthatseemedtomakeitallrightwhentheman

pickedthepupupfromanapthatday.BythetimeKryptowasfarenoughpasthisgrogginesstorealize
thatJor-Elwaswearingthesamegloveswithoutanysmellthatthemenwithoutasmellworebackinthe
cagedplace,hewasalreadyinanothercage.

Thiscagewasnothotlight.Itwashard,likesweetrock.ItclangedwhenKryptopawedatit.Hecould

curluponasmallpadandwatchoutawindownarrowerthanKrypto'shead.Throughit,hecaught
glimpsesofJor-Elwalkinghereandtherepastthecage.Itwasmustyhere.AirblewpastKrypto'sface
fromaholesomewherenearthepads.Jor-Elwasfeedinghimair,butitdidnotsmelllikerealair.This
wasnogood.Kryptowantedtobewiththeboy.

Jor-Elsealedshutthetinyspacecraft.Allheneededtodowaslaunchitoffworld,monitoritshigh

orbit,andguideittoasoftlandingwherehecouldverifythepassenger'slifesigns.Ifthebeastleaptout
andbithim,thatwouldbeverificationenough.Ifthecreaturesimplyhadapulse,however,thefamily-
sizedcraftwouldbeabettergamblethananextendedstayonKrypton.

Itwascoming.

"YouwanttoretireonKrypton?"Sharenawantedtoknow.Therewasincredulityinhervoice.It

seemedtherewasusuallyincredulityinhervoice.ShehadcometorealizethatnomatterwhatJelassian
decided,itwasrarelysomethingshecouldreasonablyhaveexpected.Andnomatterhowhardshetried,
shecouldnotfigureouthowtoeditouttheincredulity."Noone'severcomebackfromKrypton."

"Whatdoyoumean‘noone?'"Jelassianrumbled,sittingatthepilotingconsolewithhislimbsoccupied

intheplasmapools."Somebodymust'vebeenthereandback.Elsehowdoweknowwhat'sthere?"

"Legend."

"Legend,"Jelassianrepeated."Firefallsandglassforests.Anadvancedscientificcultureofpeople

whohavenoambitionstoleave.Andmoregoldthanabodycouldfindonahundredworldsanda
thousandteamstershipments."

"Gold.Ofcourse.Youbelievethestoriesaboutthegold,"Sharenasnorted-orrathershedidwhata

beingwithairgillsratherthananosedoesinsteadofsnorting.

"Youhaveriddentheprobabilityfieldswithmetheseparsecs,"Jelassianinsisted."Youknowthatall

legendslive.Somewhere."

"Somewhereagain.Somewhereyourlostcrewmembersliveinluxury.Somewhereelsetheyrotina

dungeon.Somewhere."

"Exactly.Itisallamatterofwhatyoumakemostprobable."

"Andyouareprobablyacutthroatpirate."

"Andyouprobablyenjoyit."

AndJelassianshiveredhislimbsthroughthelabyrinthofhisplasmacontrols.Spacerippledbefore

them,andintheirpathappearedKrypton.Probably.

Kryptofelttherushofaccelerationtearathisbody.Hefelthisbreathleavehislungsandhefoughtto

snatchitback.Hecrusheddownneatly,evenlyagainstthematinthefloorofthetinycageasthoughabig
Krypto-shapedhandwerepressinghimfromabove,flatteninghim.Thesoundstartedoutdeafening,then
faded,asthoughitwerecomingfromveryfaraway.Kryptoworriedthathewaslosinghisabilitytohear.

Thensuddenlyeverythingwasstill.Thecrushingended.Thesoundwassilent-butKryptocouldhear

thegentlehissoftheaircomingfromtheholebyhismat.Hecouldraisehishead.Hecoulduntwisthis
neckandstretchhisbones.Thewindowshowedonlyblackness,andtherewasbarelyroomforthepupto
standandtheairsmelledlikeithadalreadybeenbreathed,buthewasallright.Probably.

"Whatwasthat?"Sharenawantedtoknow.

"Krypton,"Jelassiantoldher,adreamofopulenceinhisvoice,"theBigRettubzzash."

"No,"Sharenasaid."Imeanthelittleflashoflightalongthesouthwesthorizon."

"Kryptonliesbeforeyou,andyouconcernyourselfwithaflashoflight?"

"Seewhatitssignatureis."

"Whatdoyouthinkitis?Thereareallsortsofbizarrenaturalphenomenainthisplanet'sgravityfield."

"Whatdoesitlooklike?"

"Ithasathermonuclearsignature.Toosmalltobeacraft.Probablyasmallprobe."

"Rememberthestoriesaboutthegoldspaceships?"

"Goldspaceships?"

"GoldwassupposedtobesoplentifulonKryptonthattheybuilttheirtravelvehiclesoutofit."

"Idon'tbelievethosestories."

"Youbelievealltheothers."

"Ibelievethey'repossible."

"Soitispossiblethatlittleprobeismadeofgold."

"Ortheycouldbelookingforus."

"Good,Jelassian.Nowyouturncautiousonme."

"Whatdoyouwantmetodo?"

"Gogetit,"Sharenasaid.Andtheydid.

Kryptowasweightless.ForacreatureofEarthtobeweightlessforthefirsttimeisalittleupsetting

anddisorienting.ForaKryptonian,usedtogravitationlikethatofasmallstar,itislikedyingandgoingto
heaven.Kryptohadnotimetobedisoriented.Hewastooeuphoric.Therewasnoplacetofloat,thecraft

wassosmall,butthepupfeltnoweight.Hefeltnocares.Hecouldgoanywhere,beanything,allherein
thistightlittleplace.

Thentherewasajolt.

"Istheresomethingwrong,Jor-El?"Larawantedtoknow.

"Notyet,"Jor-Elsaid."I'llgetit."Hepunchedaswitchandspunadialandstudiedamonitor."Or

maybenot,"hesaid.

"What'swrong?"

"Ilosttheprototype."

"Whatdoyoumean‘lost'?"

"Ican'tfindit.Itwasonthetrackerandnowitisgone."

"Doyouhaveanytelemetry?"

"Sure.Lotsofit.Itallstopswhenthecraftvanishes.It'slike…"

"Likewhat?Whatdidyoudowithmyson'slittledog?"

"OhLarastopit.Wecannotargueaboutthis."

"Youcouldhavegottenarodent.Butinsteadyoubringhomesomethingfurryandfriendlyandyoushoot

itintospaceandloseit."

"Wemustnotfight,Lara."

"Whynot?"

"Becausewehavenotimeleft."

Andthegroundshook.

ItwasallJelassiancoulddototransporttheprobeaboardanddraghimselfintoaprobabilitypocket

beforethepullofafreakshootofKryptoniangravityyankedhimunder.

"Whatwasthat?"Sharenagasped,wipingthesurpriseoffherselflikeaspill.

"Theprobeortheconcussion?"fromJelassian,shovinghisforelimbsbackintotheplasmasoupto

stabilizetheship.

"Theprobeisinthetransportbayaccordingtotherunningcargoreport.Theship'ssystemsare

classifyingitasballast."

"You'dbetterchangethatclassificationbeforethesystemdumpsthegarbageagain."

"Damn,"Sharenasaid—orsaid,inherownnamelesslanguage,somethinglikeitthatdidnot

particularlydefytranslation."That'showwelostthatwholeschoonerfullofmolybdenumorethatonce,"
andsherolleddownamenubesidethe"ballast"designationandreclassifiedtheprobeas"harvest,"just
intime.

ThentheTootzspunaboutandJelassianandSharenaonthebridgeandthesixothercrewexceptfor

Thummplosttheirfootingandsawtheplanetanditsstaranditsenvironsallrumblebythenearest
portholes.Thummpdidnotlosehisfooting,afterall,becausehehadnofeet.Hedidgetpleasantlydizzy,
though,asheadheredhisliquidstructureagainstawallofthecargoholdandtheUniversespunaround
andaround.

"We'regoingtojump,"Jelassiansaid.

"When?"Sharenawasabouttosay,butsaidonly"Wh—?"orrathertheequivalentof"Wh-?"inthe

languageshesharedwithJelassian.Intheirlanguage,tobefair,theequivalentof"Wh—?"takesquitea
bitlongertosaythandoesitsequivalentinanycurrentlanguageofhumansonEarth.Itwasstillashock
whentheship'semergencysystemssuddenlytookcontrol,dumpedallwasteandballastandothernon-
essentialmassoutatransportlockandintothevoidandrupturedtheequanimityofeverysentientand
beastaboard—includingThummpthistime.ThenanoutlandishrogueprominenceofKryptoniangravity
lickedofftheplanetandwouldhaveshatteredthepiratecraft.ButtheTootzshiftedrandomlyalongatime
channelthatvariedbetweenaboutamonthandaboutthreecenturies—byEarthmeasure—andre-formed
somewhereoutofdanger.

WhentheTootzrematerialized—whatseemedlikeamomentlater—thebigredstarwasstillthe

dominantlightsourceinthesky.

"Odd,"Jelassiansaid,gettingupfromthedeck.

"Odd?"Sharenawantedtoknow."Isthatallyoucansay?Odd?‘Howareyou?'youmightask.Andby

theway,‘Howareyou?'andI'mfineIthink,thanks."

"Veryodd,"hesaid.

Afterawhile-afterwatchingJelassianregatherhispersonalsystems,focusontheplasmacontrolpools

likeaneutronbeam,tryanynumberofpermutationsofanynumberofexplanationsofwhatwas
perplexinghim—finallyshesaid:

"What'sgoingon,Jelassian?Wanttotellmebeforetherestofthecrewcomeinandyoudon'tnotice

they'rehereeither?"

"Theplanetisgone,"Jelassianoffered,absently,continuingamonghiscalculationsandprobability

charts.

"Howlikelyisthat?"Sharenawasskeptical.

"Prettymuchinevitableatsomepoint.It'sjustaquestionofwhere."

"Howcoulditbegone?"

"Gone.Tryingtodeterminethis."

"Doesithavesomethingtodowiththeharvest?"

"Thinknot.Notdirectly.Ah.Here."

"Ah.Where?"

"Here.Lookhere.Kryptonisnowherealongtheorbitalpathitfollowed,thoughtheGalactictimestamp

sayswemovedaheadlessthantwo-and-a-halfyears-"two-and-a-halfEarthyears,approximately,which
isaboutthelengthofastandardGalactichalf-century,ifitmatters—"theBigRettubzzashisnowhere

nearby.ButItriedaSystemicmasssurveyanditcomesupwithanamountofmatterintheorbitofthered
starthatisalmostidenticaltowhereitwasaccordingtothetelemetrybeforewemadeourleap."

"Whatareyousaying?"

"WhatIjustsaid."

"Whichmeans?"

"Krypton'smasshasbeenredistributedtotheouteredgesofthisstarsystem.It'sblownupanditisall

headingacrosstherestoftheGalaxy.Inlittlechunks."

Sharenathoughtaboutthatforamoment,thensaid,"Wow-"orwhateveritisherspeciessaidinsteadof

"wow."

Kryptogrewupasapiratedog.Itwasfun.Hesniffedoutbootyamongthesettlementsandtransport

craftthathismasterscameupon.Hefoundmeatandstoneandpreciousmetals.Heevenscopedout
chunksoftechnology,whichwasespeciallyvaluabletoJelassianandhiscrew.Kryptowasanasal
genius,andovertimeJelassian,Sharenaandtheothersevenbegantotakeinotherdogsfromamongthe
communitiesfromwhomtheyexactedtribute.Nip,YowlandBoofwereeventuallyKrypto'sthree
comradesinthesmallcargolockontheaftoftheTootzthatbecametheirkennel.Therewasfood,there
werecompanionstoscratch,andaroboticgroomingrigsuckedoffthesweatandverminofahundred
worldsandships.Lifewasgood.

ItneveroccurredtoKryptotoquestiontherightorwrongofpiracy,oftakingthepossessionsofthe

peoplelivingouttheirlivesongenerations-longinterstellarflights.TherewasroominKrypto'slittledog
mindforonlyoneprinciple.

Kryptoknewonlyloyalty.Loyaltyaboveall.

Thatwaswhyheneverforgottheboy.

Thencamethedayofthefire.Jelassianwasverycarefultokeepaheadofhislocaltechnology.The

troublewithprobabilitytravel,however,wasthelikelihoodthatyouwouldeventuallystumbleinto
somethingyoucouldnotpossiblyexpect.Inspace,theunexpectedisrarelygoodnews.

Unexpectedly,thegoodpeopleoftheplanetBurgosdecidedtocrackdownonpiracy.Usuallythe

adventurouspeoplewhosetoutacrosstheheavenshavelittlechoicebuttodothis.Theyareadventurous
bydefault.Onworldswhoseprimarydeterminantofeffectivenessisancestry,thespacemarinersare
generallypeopleofuncertainorquestionablelineage.Onplanetswhosemajorconcerniseconomic,they
areusuallypeoplewhowouldbequitepoorweretheytoliveouttheirlivesontheirhomeworld.Among
civilizationswhosegreatestpreoccupationiswithworldlyaccomplishment,travelersandteamsterswho
firstsetoutareinvariablythosewhohaveaccomplishedlittleintheirlivesandhopeforbetteronbehalf
oftheirdescendents.Andsoforth.Onceuponaneon,wordreachedBurgos-aplanetwhosepeopletend
tobepreoccupiedwithcelebrity—thattherewasbornaboardaBurgosianteamstertransportalittlegirl
ofsuchoverwhelmingbeautyandcharmthatshebecameaniconicfigurebackontheplanetofhergreat
grandparents'birth.

HernamewasRayna,notthatitmatteredtoanyonebuttheassembledmultitudesofBurgos.Shedidnot

liveverylong.AsubspacepirategalleondetectedtheenginesignatureoftheBurgosianteamstertruck
andsummarilysackedit.Thepirates—anot-very-capablecollectionofcutthroatsofwhomJelassian
neverapprovedatanyrate—slaughteredmostoftheinhabitantsaboard,tookwhoeverwouldsubmitinto
slaveryandenrichedthemselvesonthetruck'scargoofgeneticsamplesandhistoricalmemorabilia.It
seemed,atthetimeRayna'sancestorssetoutontheirvoyage,thattheBurgosianculturewouldsoon
succumbtoanoutbreakofahighlycommunicabledisease.Rayna'sforebearshadansweredthecallfor
peopleoflittlenotewhowereasyetuninfected,tofoundanewBurgosiancivilizationinthelightofsome
distantstar.Burgosianscientists—ateamofthem,ledbyanewcelebritywhononethelesswascredited
byhistoryforsingle-handedlylayingwastetotheplague—developedacurelongbeforeRaynawasborn,
butbythenseveraldozentruckshadgoneoutacrossthestarstosalvageaculturethatwasnowquite
healthy.

AswordoftheprogressoftherescuemissionsbegantocomebacktoBurgos,however,charminglittle

Raynacametosymbolizethehard-driving,admirablespiritofthosewhoputtheirlivesandthefuturesof
theirdescendentsatriskinordertosavethespiritofBurgosandeverythingBurgosian.Whenpiratessold
Raynaintoslaveryandshewaslosttohistory—andseveralcenturieslatertheworldofherancestry
foundoutaboutit—allofBurgoswasenraged.Acrashprogramdevelopednewtechnologybasedon
whatwere,onBurgos,thetheoreticalnotionsofprobabilitynavigation.Bytheendofanothergeneration,
thelawenforcementtroopsofBurgoshadthecapability—aswellasthewill—toseekoutanddestroy
thoseitdefinedaslawbreakersthroughadeeprangeofpossiblelocationsintimeandspace.Theirtarget
wasinterstellarpirates,sotheycameafterJelassian.

NoneofJelassian'screw—certainlynotKrypto—hadanyideaofthesociopoliticaldynamicsthat

motivatedtheparamilitaryforcesoftheplanetBurgostoseekouttheTootzindeepspacesomewhereoff
theshoulderspiraloftheMilkyWayGalaxy.TheBurgosiansfoundthepirateclippercruisinginthelight
ofayellowstar.Withouthailingtheshipforapossiblesurrender,theydeliveredavolleyoflate-model
sublightcrudeenergyartilleryinthedirectionoftheTootz'hullandtheship'sautomaticdefensesystems
kickedinjustfastenoughtoavoidallbutthefirstround.

Theconcussionrattledtheship,butitssystemshadalreadyjettisonednonessentialmass.Thatincluded

anythingshortofshelterandlifesupportsystems.Throughsomeinsightorinstinct,KryptograbbedBoof
bythenapeofhisneckandyankedhimoffthekenneldeckwhentheentireloftofthedecksealeditselfoff
andwentcareeningintothedarkness.Theothertwodogsweresafesomewhereamongthecrew.

Theshipspunwiththeconcussion,andKryptosawincomingfireoutaportholeashedraggedthe

startledBoofdownahall.Thoseheatwaveswouldneverreachtheship.Otherswould.

TheTootzshiftedtoarandomacuteangleofitselfwithindimensionalspaceandmaterializedinan

analogofthespotithadleft.Jelassianbroadcastanall-clear,andoutthatsameportholeKryptosawa
volleyofcrudeenergyidenticaltotheonetheyevaded.Itmaterializedandattackedtheshippreciselyas
ithadamomentandadimension-shiftearlier.

OnlyKryptoeversawwhathitthem.

Nip,YowlandBoofweregone,andherewasKrypto,wonderingwhyhewasalive.Kryptohadthought

aboutthissortofthingbefore.HehunginspaceamongthewreckageoftheTootz,drifting.Boofwasnear
him,givingoffnolight,nosmell.AndasBooffrozehiscolorschanged.

Colors?

Kryptocouldseecolors.Dogscouldnotseecolors.Didthatmeanhewasnolongeradog?Kryptodid

notknowwhatcolorswere,exceptthathecouldseethemhere.

Hewaitedamoment.Hethoughtmaybetheywouldgoaway,thewaywhenahumanwakestoseethe

aurabathingalover,thehumanwaitsamomentandtheauravanishesandthehumanthinksitwasjust
imagination.Butthecolorsdidnotgoaway.Thevoiditselfwasthesame:asthickwithdarkasaglacial
pool.Thatwascomforting.Butthestarsweredifferent,dullandbrightandclown-faced,exhaling
translucentringsofcolorovertheirimmediatespacelikeoverfilledlungs.Thecloseststar,thissun
blowingsuchanabundanceoflightacrossthecold,dancedingreatprominencesinacolorthatsomeday
hewouldunderstandtobecalled"yellow."

Hewashanginginspace.Washebreathing?Helookedathimself.Therewasnothingtobreathe.

Probablyhewouldneedtobreathesometime,butnotanytimesoon.Helookedatthebigyellowsunand
thoughttodrawcloser.Itdidnothurthiseyes.Hecouldlookrightatit.Intoit.Ithadtexture,asurface
likeanyotherobjectinthesky.Hehadnotthoughtbeforeofsuchfireballsasthingswithsurfaces;hehad
neverbeenabletolookatthembefore.Ithadshootsofflamelikeapoolofrollingwaterfiringupinto
space.Ithadcanyonsandgulliesandsubtlevariationsincolorandnevermindseeingcoloranyway,but
Kryptowantedtoknowhowhisperceptionsgotthissubtle.Hewasrememberingthingshedidnot
understandwhenhefirstexperiencedthem:thepatternsofthewiringundertheconsoleofhisdestroyed
spacecraft;thesizeoftheUniverse;thewaythefolliclesinhisnostrilslinedupwhenhesmelledtheskin
ofthebabyKal-El.

Wheredidthesethingscomefrom?Washedead?Andifhewasdeadandoutofhisbody,thenwhere

washisbody?Andifhewasdead,thenwhywerehisdeadfriendsnotdeadthesamewayhewasdead—
floatingaroundherewherehehaddied,waitingtoseewhatwouldhappennext?

ForawhileKryptodrifted,lookingatthesun.Hehadbeenthinkingidlythathewouldliketolookatit

moreclosely.Thenherealizedhewaslookingatitmoreclosely—thatitwasbiggerthanithadbeen
before.

HeknewnowthattheUniversewastoobigtounderstand.Heunderstoodthat.Itwouldnolongerbea

matteroffindingareallyhighhilltogettotheedgeofit.Butthenherealizedthatsunwasgettingbigger.
OrKryptowasgettingcloser.

Noonehadpredictedthephotonucleiceffect,notthatKryptowouldhavepaidattentionatanyrate.In

thebillionsofyearsoftheUniverse'shistory,despitetheongoingdistantpossibilityofsuchthings,there
stillarequiteafewthingsthathaveneverhappened.Despitethefactthatatomsarecomposedmostlyof
emptyspaceandtheirelectronsshiftwilly-nillyfromonequantumleveltoanother;anddespitethefact
thatitistheoreticallypossible,nocannonballshotatafortresswallhaseverquantum-shiftedinsucha
mannerastocausethecannonballtopassharmlesslythroughthewallasthoughneitherwaseverinthe
wayoftheother.Thiswaspossibleonatheoreticallevelandmightstillhappen,butitneverhas.Itstill
might:theUniverseisscheduledtosurviveforquiteawhilelonger.Thelikelihoodthatacannonball
somewherewillpassthroughafortresswallsomewhereonce,however,goesupdramaticallyastheage
oftheuniverseextendsintothequintillionsofyears.Anotherthingthathadneverbeenobservedbefore
wastheconsequencesofthephotonucleiceffectonalivingcreature.

Thephotonucleiceffectisaveryspecializedastronomicalphenomenon.Ittakesplacewhenanobject

nativetotheinfluenceofaredgiantstarenterstheinfluenceofasmallG-typestar.Everyobjectinthe
Universe,organicorinorganic,hasadistinctivesignaturebasedonthegeologicalandcosmological
characteristicsoftheenvironmentinwhichitwasformed.Rockfromaplanetwhosegravitationislight
wouldbelessdensethanrockofthesameatomicstructure,butfromaworldlikeKryptonwhose
gravitationisgreater.Similarly,themusculatureandcellulardensityofananimalbornononeworldmust
bedifferentfromthatofthesamespeciesofanimalbornonanother,orindeepspace.Thegravitationand
magneticfieldsactingonacreatureduringitsgrowthnecessarilydefineitseventualformassurelyas
doesitsgeneticcode.Infact,iftwinswithidenticalgeneticcodeswereborninspace,andonewas
raisedondenseKryptonandtheotheronEarth,theoneraisedonKryptonwouldbefarstrongerthanthe
oneraisedonEarth—assumingtheKryptoniantwinsurvivedatall.Thisisall,ofcourse,nomorethana
thoughtexperiment.Italmostneverhappens.

InorganicmatterthatoriginallyformedintheorbitofaredgiantlikethestarofKryptonalmostnever

makesitswayaroundinterstellarspaceintothesystemofayellowstar.Itissimplyunlikelyinthe
extreme.When,rarely,itdoeshappen,ittendstodevelopanunstableandunpredictableradioactivityat
themolecularlevel.Rockssprayoffasteadystreamofisotopicparticlesthatmayhaveunpredictable
effectsontheirsurroundings.AparticleoftheremaindersoftheworldofKryptonmightglowwithwhat
appearstobearainbowlightanditsradiationcouldcauseaplanttomutateirrationally.Organicexilesof
aredgiantstarsystemareparticularlysusceptibletotheinorganicradioactivityofelementswiththe
samecosmologicalsignature.Butorganicmatterfromthevicinityofaredgiant—thelivingchemistryof
plantsandanimals—hasawhollydifferentresponsetoyellowstar-suninfluence.

Wherenon-livingmatterbecomesunstableandradioactivewiththisdislocation,livingthingsdevelop

anenhancedstability.Thefirstthingthathappensunderthephotonucleiceffectisthatthenucleusofeach
ofanorganiccreature'scellsgrowsacarapace—atemporaryshellthatshieldsitfromexternalharm.
Thishappensveryquickly,fromtheoutsideoftheorganism-thecellsindirectcontactwithyellow
starlight—tothemostinternalcellsoftheorgans,inlessthanthetimeittakestodrawabreath.Fora
moment,theorganismissuspendedinacomatosestate,butthemomentistoobrieftonotice.Inthat
moment,thenucleusofeveryatomintheorganismquakes.Eachelectronineverycarbonorhydrogen
atomineverymoleculeofitsbodyjumpsoutwardbyonequantumlevel.Thenucleusunbinds,itsprotons
andneutronsandothersubatomicparticlesloosening,expandingthebindingspacebetweenthembythe
merestfractionofanangstrom.Themoleculesofthetransplantedbeing'sbodydonotactuallygrow,but
thephysicalspacethatthesolidpartsofthemtakeupthusincreasesexponentiallywithoutincreasingthe
organism'sactualmassorproportions.Theorganismbecomesharder,tougher,moredurable,betterable
tonavigatethechangedenvironmentinwhichitnowfindsitself.

Perhapssomethinginthebiologyofthoserarehumansandcaninesandotherchunksofbiomassthat

wereabletosurviveandeventuallyflourishintheviciousenvironmentalsoupofKryptonallowedfor
thisresponsetosuchadisplacement.Maybeitwassimplyacosmicjoke.Certainlythephotonucleic
effectwasoneofthosedeliciouslittlebonusesbuiltintotheUniversalcircumstancebackbeforethat
instantofCreationthatEartherscallthePlanckEpoch:theconception,underasupremelyimplausible
nexusofevents,ofatheoreticalsuper-being.This,againstalllikelihood,iswhathappenedtothelittle
dogKrypto.

Hewasflyingthroughspace.

Itdidnotfeelcomfortable.

Itfeltgrosslyunnatural.

Itwas.

Hispawsandhindquartersbegantoflailinalldirections,asthoughunconnectedtotherestofhisbody.

Hischestheaved,inareflexivesearchforairthatwasnotthere.Thestarwasgettingcloser.Wasitthe
starthatwaspullinghimtoitorsomethingelse?Hebegantoshiftbackandforthashemoved.Hethought
hewouldstarttumbling,falling,buthedidnot.Instead,hejustshiftedfromsidetosideirregularly,his
weightrollingasthoughhewerestandingstill.AndKryptorealizedhewasincontrol.

Hepulledhisfrontpawsinandbenthisrearlegstowardhimasthoughheweresittingup.Hecocked

hisheadinthedirectionawayfromthebigyellowfire.Foramomenthefeltthetug,likeabigwind,of
thestar-butheresistedit.Helookedoffinthedistance.Therewasaplanetthere.Itwastoofartolook
likeanythingbutasmalldistantstar,butheknewitwasaplanetanditwasjustbeyondthehorizonofthe
star.Hedidnotknowhowheknewitwasaplanet,buthedid.Heknewhehadtogothere,andhefelt
himselfmovinginthatdirection.Hefelthimselfmovingbeforeheknewhewasdoingit.Thenhewas
movingtherefast.Hefeltthepullofthestaroffhisrightshoulder,pullinglikeahowlingfire,butitmeant
nothingtohim.Hedidnotevenhavetoresistitsgravitationforittohavenomoreeffectonhimthanhe
wantedittohave.

AwaveofenergysuffusedKryptoinanexcitedrush.Hehowledanenormouswaveofsoundinaspace

wheretherewasnomattertovibrateintosound.Andthevibrationfromthedog'ssteelythroatwasso
powerfulthatamoleculeofdustintheneighborhoodofthebeastvibratedliketheaftendofahound
shakingofftherain.Anditfoundothermoleculeshangingoutinthevacuumandsetthemaflutter.And
underneaththereverberationofthehowlvibratingthroughhisheadtohisears,Kryptocoulddiscernthe
slightestofdistantbellowsunderneath,asthesoundcamebackthroughspacetohimintherelayamong
isolatedmoleculesamidthenothingness.Hisbarkwassoloudthathecouldhearitthroughthevacuum.

ItisfortunatethatKryptohadnotyetstudiedelementaryphysics.Thiswouldhavestruckhimasweird.

Itwasnotweirdness,butrathertherushofsensationthatfascinatedKryptojustnow.Therewasthe

senseofmovementyetnoneofthesweepofwindonhisskin.Herealizedthat,tosomethingwatchinghim
movethroughspace,hewouldlooklikeastatueofadog.Nothingonhim,notahairoralash,flutteredas
hemovedatthisunspeakablespeed.Therewastheslightpullonhisskininalldirectionsastheinternal
balanceofhissystempressedoutwardagainstthevacuumofspace.Therewasthethinglikehungerinhis
chestwhenhesimplyopenedhismouthabitandtheresidualairinhislungsblewout.Therewasnopain
inthis.Therewasnopaininanything.Itwasastrange,uncomfortablefeeling,though,andKryptosucked
inwardatthevacuumtotryandgetbackawhifforevenamoleculeoftheairhehadlost.Thatwaswhen
hefirstpickedupthescentoftheboy.

SomewhereinthedarkrecessesofCharon,amoonofPlutothatEarthboundastronomershadyetto

discoverorname,ClarkKentsatonanoutcroppingofmethaneicethatwasroughlytheshapeofachair.
There,heworried.Todayhewasworriedaboutbiology.Hisbiology.Hehadchanged.

Clarkhadjustsavedaplanetandthistroubledhim.Hewasnottroubledthatthehundred-thousand-odd

intelligenthydra-likebeingsontheplanetwouldnowliveratherthanbeingfertilizerandvolcanicash.

Thatwasthegoodpart.Thetroublingpartwasthathewasabletodosuchathingatall.Hewondered
whetherhewouldbeabletodosomethinglikethisagain.Hewonderedwhetherhewouldtry.

Itwasasfarawayfromhomeashehadeverbeen.Thatwas,asfarawayfromEarthashehadever

beenawareofbeing.HehadtoldMaaboutitthefirsttimehewentintospaceandshewashorrified.
WhenPacameinandfoundherpacingbackandforthandwringingherhandsandPaaskedwhatwasthe
matterhemanagedtocalmherdown,butthenextdayClarkfoundPaathisdeskporingoverapileof
newlyborrowedlibrarybooksaboutthewaytheSolarSystemisbuilt.

"It'snotreallythatway,"Clarksaid,tentatively.

"What'snot?"Pawantedtoknow."Yourspacetraveling?"

"No,"Clarksaid,"space.It'snot."

"Youmeanthescientistsarewrongafterall?"

"No,they'reright.Asfarastheygo,Imean.Butit'sbigger."

"Bigger?"Paaskedhim."Biggerthaninfinite?"

"Yeah."Clarktoldhisfather."Infinityisalotbiggerthantheseguysthink."

TheKenthomewasmodest.Theroll-topagainstthewallofthediningroomdoubledasJonathan's

officeandstudy.Hesatinaratty-lookingbutcomfortableswivelchairwithabigbookcalledTheGrand
Touronhislap.Thebookwasthesizeofageographytext.Itwasfullofartists'renderingsofthenine
planetsoftheSolarSystem,alongwithdescriptionsoftheplanetsandtheirsatellites—asfaras
astronomersknew.Nexttothedeskwasawide,endlesslyreupholsteredchairwhereMarthagenerally
cametositaftershefinishedthekitchenwork.Jonathaninsistedthathedidthedishesorthedryingorthe
reorderingofthekitchenaftertheoccasionaldinner,butMarthacouldneverquiteputafingeronwhenthe
lasttimewasthathedidthis.Jonathanclosedthebigbook.

"Domeafavor,Clark,"Jonathanleanedovertotalksoftlywithhisson.

"Sure,Pa.What?"

"Yourmagetsallhetupaboutthisstuff.Iknowyou'vegottostretchyourselflikeanyboyyourage.Just

you'vegotfarthertostretchthanmostboys.Butdon'tbetalkingaboutallthisspacestuffwithyourma,all
right?"

Clarknodded.

"Justanotherthing,though,"Jonathansaid.

"YeahPa?"

"Whenyougetthechance,wouldyoupleasetellmeeverythingyouthinkIcanhandle?"

Clarkgrinnedawidegrin."HeyPa,"hesaid,"seethatpictureofEuropainthere?"

Jonathanturnedtotheratherspareartist'sconceptionofoneofthefourbigmoonsofJupiter."That

one?"

"Yeah,forgetthat,"Clarkclosedthebook."Thinkofabigfrozenoceanwithicydunesrollingallover

thesurfacelikeveryslowtides.Andbelowit-maybejustfiftyorseventyfeetinsomespots—acolony
underwateroflikeanemonekindofanimals.Nofeetandpracticallyallmouth.Andlittlepseudopods

hangingoutallaroundthem,drivingthemthroughthewaterliketheoarsofagalleon."

"OnEuropa?"Jonathansaid,hiseyeswidening."Anemones?Alive?"

"Likeanemones,onlyalittledifferent.Butbigones.Millionsofthem.Andtheseplantthingswith

spinningwingsthatpropelthemfromplacetoplaceinthewater."

"Realwater?Withstrychnineorammoniaorsomething?"

"No,realwater.Cleanerthananartesianwell.Youcoulddigdownanddrinkitifitdidn'tfreezeasfast

asitdoes.Idugoutsomeofitandtookabite.Tastesalittlelikelime."

"Europa,"Jonathansaidandsmiled,"thePopsicleplanet."

"Nojoke.Theseguys'llgotheresomedayandboywilltheybesurprised.Andthere'sthisdifferentkind

oflifethere.Aplasmathing."

"Plantlife?"

"No,notplants.Notanimals.Somethingdifferent."

Theytalkedinwhispers,Pa'seyesgettingwiderandwider,untilMarthafinishedputtingawaythe

dishesandcamein,smiling,withthelatestissueofHarper's,andsatinherchairtoread.Jonathantook
herhandasheturnedinhisbooktothepageonGanymede.Clarksatatthewindow,lookingoutacross
thecountrysideandbegandaydreamingaboutthegrainofpollenhesawfour-and-a-halfmilesaway,
caughtupinthebackwashofasparrow'sflightasitwasabouttolandonthefaceofacallalily.Afew
hundredyardsthroughthefieldfromthatcallalilythereigningmonarchofahoneybeehivethrewouta
podofnewlyhatchedqueenbees.Againstallodds,oneyoungqueensurvivedand—againstallinstinct—
adronefromhermother'shivetookuponherwhatpassesamongbeesaspity.Thedronenudgedherunder
abladeofthistle,matedwithher,anddied.Richwiththegenesofaroguedrone,perhapsshewould
motherahiveofstrongerbees.Anythingwaspossible;itwasspringintheHeartland.

"There'sanewVonnegutout,Clark,"Marthasaid."Haveyouheard?"

"Excuseme?"

"YousaidyoulikedVonnegut.He'sgotanewnovel.Wouldyoulikemetogetyouacopy?"

"Ireaditalready,thanks,"Clarksaid."Thisafternoon.Atthebookstore."

"Really?"Mawondered."Itjustcameout."

IthadnotyetarrivedinCharlesStone'sbookstoreinSmallville,butClarkread,withx-rayand

telescopicvision,acopythatsatonashelfinScribner'sonJeffersonAvenueinTopeka.Clarkwassitting
ontheschoolbusheadinghomeatthetime.Helikedthebook,buthefounditabitself-conscious.

"Thewholebook?"Marthaasked."Thisafternoon?"

"Yeah,Ma"Clarksaid."Ireadprettyfast."

"Suchabrightchild,"MarthasaidtoJonathan,whosqueezedherhandinthanks,andtheywentbackto

theirreading.

Krypto'svisionofcolorsthathehadneverseendidnotbotherhim.Itwaseasiernowtodistinguishone

thingfromanotheratagreaterdistance.Itmadehimmorecomfortablenegotiatingthesegreatdistances

thathisnewspeedmadepossible.Andhiseyeslitupfromtheinside.Intheinkyblackofspacetherewas
somethinglikelightandsomethinglikemore-than-lightthatguidedhiseyes.

Hisnew-foundsenseoftouch,shieldedbythethin,steelycoatingofwhitefuralloverhim,was

manageableaswell.Hecouldstillfeeltheoccasionalmoleculesofthenear-perfectvacuumasthey
bouncedrandomlyagainsthim.

Thetasteofthedryroofofhismouthonthebeast'sultra-sensitizedtonguewassomethingforwhichit

lookedasthoughKryptoneededtowatchout,buthecoulddealwithit.Whenhegotsomewherethere
wasfood,hehadtokeephismouthfull:notadifficultpreoccupationforadog.

Theflyingwasnotbadatall.Infact,evenwheretherewasnoair,itwasfun.

Theproblemwasthesmells.

Themomenthehitthefirsttracesoftheplanet'scoatofairKryptofeltit.Thescentoftheworldhitthe

wallsofthedog'slungslikeanavalanche.

Therewaslifehere.

Andgrowth.

Anddecay.

Andfear.

Andfire.

Andmagic.

Anddishonesty.

Andviolence.

Anddesperation.

Andhesmelledit.Allofit.Themomenthetouchedit.

Thevariety.Thevolume.Hecouldnothandleit.Hearchedhisneckupward,shotintospaceagain,

bellowedalltheairhecouldoutofthedepthsofhislungsandwrunghisheadandchestbackandforth
untilhecoulddetectonlythemostminuteresidualtraceofthescentofanything.Buttheresidualscentof
whateverwaslefttroubledhim.Itwasfamiliaranddistant.Anoldsmell,anditseemeddaysbeforeitleft
thefloorofhislungs.

Itwasonlythedog'shungerthatforcedhim,manymealcycleslater,toapproachaworldwithlife

aboarditagain.

Theboywasgrowingstrongandhismothercouldnotignoreit.Andthecropsthisyear:alltheheavy

liftingandthespeedwithwhichClarkfinishedhischores—alltheweightheliftedfromJonathan's
shoulders—couldnotaccountforthesecrops.

WhenMarthascoldedClarkthatdayforspittinginapottedgeraniumheapologizedandsaidhewould

notdoitagain.Thenthenextdayshenoticedthatthegeraniumblossomedsoitlookedtohavesprouted
wings.Maybetheboymoveditsothesunhititbetter.

ThentherewasJonathan'sangina.Itwasgone.Sheworriedwhenthebabycamethat,heavenforbid,

shemighthavetoraisethechildherself.Jonathanwasgettingchestpainshereandthere,andpopping
thoselittlepillsunderhistongueandwakingwithsweatsinthenight.Oncethechildappeared,though,
Jonathanseemedtohaveanewleaseonlife.Now,morethantenyearslater,herhusbandwastearing
aroundthefarmwithoutathoughtofhisageoranyhelpotherthanhisyoungson.Heevenlookedyounger.
ItwasasthoughjustbeingaroundClarkiscurative.

IftherewasapatchoftoughlandinKansas—granted,adifficultthingtocomeby-thenshethoughtit

hadtobetheKentfarm.Jonathanandhisfatherbeforehimseemedtopulleveryradishandsoybeanfrom
theearthbybruteforce.Martha'sfather-in-lawwasgonebythetimeshemarriedJonathan.Sheknew
longevity—orthelackofit—wasinthegenes,butJonathan'ssmilemadewhateverfewyearstheywould
havetogetherworthit.Still,thewheatcropwasgettingtalleranddensereveryyear.Alfalfagrewhere
likeweedsthesedays.

Eventheacre-and-a-halfMarthasetasideforherselftogrowvegetablesforthefamilyandfruitfor

canningwasproducingbumpercrops.Shehadblue-ribbonwatermelonsatthecountyfairthepasttwo
yearsinarow,andClarkhadtosetupaproducestandonHankinsRoadattheendofthelanetotryand
cajolevisitingcityfolkintotakinghomeanoverflowloadofsquashorcarrots.Thosecarrotsweretwo
feetlong,withlushleafytopsthatgrewshoulder-to-shouldernomatterhowfarapartMarthasetthemin
theirrows.

Jonathanwasbeginningtotalkidlyaboutsettingasideadozenacresorsoforgrapes.Avineyard.In

Kansas.

Sincehewasababy,Clarklikedtowalkthroughthefieldsandthegardens,breathingdeeply,playing

inthesoil,slobberingwiththedogsandthehorses,growingtoo.Andsincehearrived,therewasnomore
gripingoverthesorryfateoftheKentsonthissingularlyuncooperativefarm.Itwasasif,idly,helefttiny
tracesofhisownvigorousselfamongthelivingthings:abreath,aflakingcellofhisskin,abeadof
spittle-andforthat,theywerestronger.

Marthanoticedthesethings.Thenshedismissedthem.Itwasdifficulttodismissthemwhenthechild

begantofly,butshemanaged.

Kryptocouldnotshakethescent.Itwasnotunpleasant;itwasjustthere,isall.Withthenewpowerthat

surgedthroughKrypto'sbody,theoldsmellswerenotsopleasantanymore.Theotherdogs,chowat
wakeuptime,thesnappingbackwashoftheelectronicinteractionsintheTootz'machinery:itwasalla
blur,abuzz,adisjointoverpoweringodorwithoutanycharacter.Whenyoucouldsmelleverythingat
onceallyouwantedwastheoblivionofspaceandthememoriesofwhatthingssmelledlikeonce.But
therewasthislingeringscent,thisroguemoleculekickingaroundKrypto'solfactorypipesandhecould
notshakeitloose,notforyears.Itbecamepartofhim.

Thenfromspaceheespiedahillofthebonesofsomeextinctbeasts.Divingtowardthemthrougha

mountainofclouds,amongthedisorientingsmellsofaworldcrawlingwithlife,hecaughtthescentagain.
Itwasafreshscent,bouncyandalive,notatallwhatyoumightexpecttodetectintheupperatmosphere
ofaplanetwhoselifeismostlyonthegroundandinamethanesea.

Kryptofeastedonthebones,wrungouthisheadfastandhardenoughtocreateasmalllow-pressure

patternalongthecorridorthroughwhichherosebackintospace,andtriedtokeepthefamiliarscentfrom

reachinghislungs.Hewasunabletodothat,andbeforetoolongtherewereapairoflittlecellsof
biomasskickingaroundKrypto'solfactorypipes,trippingoffunsought-outdormanttendrilsofmemory
synapsesinhisbrain,tuggingathisconsciousness.

Hecrashedheadlongthroughashowerofmeteoroids,playingatseeinghowdeeplyhecouldflyand

howfastwithoutshatteringanyoftherocksonhishide.Hespiedacometwhosetailwaswaningasit
recededfromitsprimarystar,andwhippedincirclesarounditsaftend,yippingsoundlesslyinthevoid,
toseewhetherhecouldgetthetailtogrowforamoment.Heshuthiseyesandlaunchedhimselfinto
interstellarspaceandfeltfortheghostlypocketsoffaintheatthatlethimknowthehuskofaformerstar
hadpassedby.Hefeltforthetugofablackholeinspaceandswamthroughtheemptinesstowardit,
sniffingforthetracesofshort-livedparticlesthatittossedoutlikecrumbsfromthemouthofaravenous
beastsointentonconsumingallarounditthatitmissesamorselhereorthere.Thesuckinggravitationof
theformerstarsoothedhim,massagedhisskinandfurashepulledawayfromitandlethimselfdrift
closer.Itkneadedhisbones,feltlikeatouchheonceknewofaboywholovedhim.

Thenherealized.

OnEarth,ClarkKenttookupamantlethat,hehadhopes,wouldcometorepresentsomethingofa

traditiononeday.Asduskgatheredthatday,onthehilloverlookingthelittlevillagetherewasasightno
onehadeverseenbefore.

TherebesideTottenPondRoadstoodablack-hairedboyinacostumeofprimarycolors.Aredcape

billowedbehindhim.Redboots,bluetights,andablueshirtstretchedoverpowerfulmuscles.An
irregularpentagoncontainingastylized"S"blazedovertheboy'schestandcape.Onthathill,silentlyand
solemnly,hepromisedhimselfandwhateverelsemighthearhisthoughtsthathislifewouldbedevotedto
thepreservationoflife;thathewouldusehispowerswheneverpossibletosaveandimprovethe
conditionsoflifeandoflivingthingseverywhere;thatundernocircumstanceswouldheeverbe
responsibleforthelossofasingleconsciouslife;thatfailingintheseaffirmations,hewouldrenouncehis
powerforever.

Therecouldbenonoblermissionforasuperman.

Theboywasalive.Somewhere.Kryptocouldsmellhim.

Kryptofeltforthethick,persistentscentinthegutsofhislungs.Itwasthesamechild,therewasno

doubt.HeknewthescentofJor-ElandLaraandalltheshieldedpeopleatthehotlightplace,andtheboy
andeveryonewhocameintoorevennearJor-El'shome.Andthedoghadgrownevenmoreableto
distinguishsmellssincethen.TherewereallthepiratesofalltheirracesandthebeastsintheTootz,and
theconstellationsofracesandpersonalitiesanddistinctivescentsofthebeingswithwhichthepirates
cameintocontactoverallthattime,andofcoursethereweretheheightenedsensibilitiesandthegreat
manyworldswithwhichKryptohadcomeincontactsincethedestructionoftheship.Kryptoknewfrom
smells.Thisscentwaspersistent,liketheheartbeatoftheGalaxyitself.EvenKrypto'slungscouldnot
expelit,notevenindeepspace.Itwasfromsomewhereextraordinary,somethingoverpowering.Andit
wassuddenlysofamiliar.

NomatterhowbigtheUniversewas,nomatterhowdeadKryptonwas,nomatterhowdivorcedthe

dogwasfromhisorigins,nomatterhowdefinitivelyunlikely,thisKryptoknew:theboywasalive.

Somehow,hehadbeenhere.Somehow,hehadgrownstrong.

Kryptoneedednofoodorairandcouldliveinspaceplayingwithhisamazingabilitiesforever,asfar

asheknew.Theneedtosurvivenevertookholdofhismotivationsthewayitdoeswithotherdogswho
taketothewild.Heateonlyforfun,exploredonlyforcuriosity—curiosity,nowtherewasanewidea
growinginhimonlysincethecomingofhispowers—andfearednothing.Butnowtherewassomethinghe
wanted.

Hecaughtthescentagain.Alwaysitwasonaworldwithlifeonit.Mostlyhecouldwalkonthese

worldsandnocreaturewouldthinkitodd.KryptofoundthatfewcreaturesintheUniverseotherthan
humans—evenhighlyintelligentcreatureslikeyeastpeopleanddogs—everthoughtmuchofanythingwas
odd.Tomostdenizensoftheworldsofhistravels,Kryptowassimplyanothersniffing,growling,
occasionallynippingcolleague.Tosomehewasadog.Dogsseemedtoappearwhereverhumanoidsdid,
afterall.IfKrypto'smindwenttoascientificbent—whichitdidnot—hemighthaveponderedthis,but
evenwithhisstepped-upsensibilities,hewasnotmuchforpondering.

TherewereahandfulofplanetswhereKryptofoundtracesoftheboy'sscent.Theywereallfar-flung

anddisparate—exceptforthepresenceoflife.Thenonedayhecaughttheboy'sscentonadesolaterock
thatspunoffintheouterdarknessmanylight-hoursawayfromitsprimarystar.

Kryptocouldnotimaginewhyalltheplanetsonwhichhehadfoundtracesoftheboywerehomesto

someformoflife.Hedidnotconsiderwhy,buthedidnoticethatthisworldwassomethingdifferent.It
wasabigrockcoveredbychemicaliceandsodarkthatKryptokeptsmashingintostrangeicebergs
floatingintheairdespiteconstantlykeepinghiseyelightson.

Thescentoftheboywasstronghere.Hehadbeenhererecently,andtherewaslittleatmosphereandno

interferencetowipeawayhiscoming.Kryptocircledtheworld,sniffing,andtoucheddownonan
outcroppingofice.Theboyhadbeenhere.Righthere.

Thedoghoppeduponaplatform.Ifhecouldmeasuresuchthings,hemighthaverealizedthatthis

patternintheicehadtohavebeencutbysomeone.Itwasregularandflat,unliketherestofthejagged
world.Kryptodidnothavetorealizethis,though.Hissensestoldhimotherthings.

Livingthingsleftamarkerbehind,notjustoftheirscent.Therewasanelectromagneticpulsethat

Kryptocouldnotnamebuthecouldfeel.This,hecouldfeelfarmorestronglyeventhanasuper-human.
Alldogscan.Whenthemastergoesawayforawhile,adogwillsleepwherethemastersatorwherethe
masterlay,notjustforthesmell,butforthefamiliarityinthewhisperofspacearoundhim.Here,onthis
crystalpetrochemicalshelf,frozenashardasiron,Kryptofelttobethepuppyfrolickingwithaman-baby
onagiantdyingworld.

Hespentalongtimethere,lyingontheice,longafterthecondensationofthetraceatmospherebeganto

freezeathinfilmaroundhim.ForawhileitgotslightlydarkerandKryptorealizedthatthedistantsunhad
setbeyondthisworld'shorizon.Itwashardlyasunatall;morelikeabrightstaramongaclusterofother
stars.Whenitcameup,though,Kryptoidlyraisedhiseyestowatchitsjourneyacrossthefirmament,and
inthefirstmomentsoflightrisehenoticedanoddphenomenon.Athintrailofionsdustedtheirwayup
fromthespotwherethedoglay,andstretchedthroughtheskyasfarashecouldsee.

Littleparticles,nearlyimperceptibleevenbythedog'sstepped-upsenses,drewapathfarintospace,

inthedirectionofthatlittlestar.Therewasnoscenttofollowthroughspace,buttherewasatrail
nonetheless.

"Areyousurethiswasagoodidea,Jonathan?"Marthawantedtoknow.

"Whatideawasthat,honey?"Jonathanrolledoversohismouthcouldfacethenightratherthanthe

pillow.

"Thiscostumething.Thisherothing"

"Hero'swhatotherpeoplecallhim.He'sjustourboyisall."

"Disguised,though.Maybeweshouldgethimawhitehorseandsilverbulletstoo."

"NowMartha."

"Andamask."

"Martha."

"Wellwhenhestoppedthosepettythieveslastweek—"

"Andweren'tyouproudofhimforthat?"

"OfcourseIwas.Butitseemedundignifiedsomehow."

"Notmuchdignityingettingrobbedneither."

"NoIdon'tsuppose."

"Notbyaloadofcrackpotsinaten-year-oldBuick,'specially."

"Buttheflyingandthe…thegrandstanding."

"You'dratherhescoredtouchdownslikenormalboys?"

"Well,it'dbenormal."

"He'snotnormal."

Shewasquiet.Shedidnotwanttohearthat.

"He'sjustnotfromaroundhere,"hesaid,rollingovertowardher.

"Iknowthat.Butwedon'tknowwhere."

"Where?"

"Wherehe'sfrom."

"Ithoughtyoustoppedworryingaboutthatwhenhefirststartedtotalk."

"Idid.Ireallydid,Jonathan.I'mjustafraid,that'sall."

"Nodon'ttellmeyou'reafraidoftheboy."

"Noofcoursenot.HowcouldI?I'mjustafraid…"

"Of?"

"Oftheenemieshe'llmake.Ofthatbigred-and-yellowtargetonhischest.Ofhowlonghe'llbewith

us."

"Shh.Martha,calmdown.Iknow.Shh.Comehere."

"I'msorry.Ineedhim.Idon'twanttogivehimaway.IneedhimlikeIneedyou.Andhe'salone."

"Whatdoyoumeanhe'salone?He'sgotafamily."

"Ohwhat'sthereforhimfromoldfolkslikeus?He'sallalone,andnowwe'remakinghimsomekindof

…ofsymbol.Idon'tlikeit."

"We'reallalone,Martha.We'refarmfolks.We'vebeenaloneallourlives.That'sthewaypeoplelive.

It'swhatwe'reheretodo."

"Ohdon'tbegettingalluniversalandreligiousonme,JonathanKent.Youhaven'tbeentochurchsince

thelasttimeyouwashedthedishes."

"Youknowhecanhearus,right?"

"Whywouldhelisten?"

"Howcouldhehelpit?"

InhisroomdownthehallClarklayawake,listeningandcryingalittle.Hetriedtorememberthelittle

spacecraftandhowitmighthavefelttobeinsideit.Hetriedtorememberhowlonghewasinitand
whereitmighthavecomefrom.Allhismemorycouldsummonupweresmells.Afterawhileheslipped
outawindowandwentflyinguntildawn.

Hehadneverseenaplanetsolousywithlife.HeneverreallysawmuchofKrypton,butthedogwas

sureitcouldnothavebeenlikethis.Itwasasmall-tomedium-sizedplanet,tooclosetoitssunfor
Krypto'staste,mademostlyofmeltedwaterpatchedwithland.Eventhecloudshadthingslivinginthem.
Tinyanimalslivedinthedewdrops.Herewerebiganimalsandsmallanimalsandplantsontheground
andintheseaandfloatingfreeinthesky.Thereweretinybacteriaandvirusesmadeofjustonemolecule.
Hugethingsswaminthewaterandherdingthingsrumbledonthedirtandtheyhadenormousheartsand
brainsandfamiliesandidentitiesandtheyallcameathimingreatswarms.Eventhelifehadlife.Little
animalslivedwithbiganimals.Insectsgrazedfromthehidesofmammalsandthepetalsofflowers.And
everythingbigenoughtohavemorethanonecell,nomatterhowsmall,hadsmallerthingslivinginthe
cells,liketinymachinecitiesprocessingnutrientsandpumpingoutgoodsandservices.Anywherethere
wasairtobreatheorwatertosuckuporafootholdtowishforsuchthings,therewaslife.Itwaschaos
here,andforthesmelloftheboythatwasineverything,itwasdogheaven.

Itwasdifficulttodistinguishthesmells.Todistinguishthesoundswasimpossible.Anditdidnot

matterwhetherKryptocouldpickoutthesmellofonethingoveranotherherebecausetheboysmellwas
inallofit.Itseemedthewholeplanetwastheboy'shome,andeverythinghadtheboyinit.Itdid.
Everywherehewent—andbynowthatwasvirtuallyeverywhereovertheEarthanditsenvirons—Clark
leftpiecesofhimself.Acell.Abreath.Anidea.Thestrengthofthelifeofthisworldwasgrowingfor
thosepiecesofClark.Itwouldgrowmorestill.Kryptocouldfeelit.

Therewasavitalityherethatthedoghadfoundnowhereelseinallhistravels.Thiswasaplanetin

rebirth,anditwasnotevenawareofityet.Itwasababynotyetmovedtoyelp.Itwaseuphoria.

Buthecouldnotfindtheboy.Thescentoftheboyineverythingwasoverpowering.Tofindtheboy

himselfamongallthiswouldbelikefindingastrandofhayinahaystack.

SoKryptowenttotheplacewherelifewasthickest.Hewenttoaplaceontheedgeofthelandandthe

waterwhereman-madestarslitupawarrenofhumans.Ahugecolonyofmillionsofmenscurriedthrough
theirliveshere,beingborn,buildingthings,dyingandbeingbornagain.Thelittlewhitedogroseintothe
nightskyofthiswarren'sharborandhehowled.

FewpeopleremembertheMetropolisAirRaidofthatyear.Portionsofthecitylosttheirpower.

Hundredsofwindows,especiallyinnewbuildingsnotyetsealedtotheelements,blewoutwardintothe
streets.Homesrattledandbooksfelloffshelves.Childrenwokecryinginthenight.Alarmswentoff
spontaneously.Thepolicedepartmentcalledupalltheiron-callofficers.TheGovernorgotarequestfor
aNationalGuardalert,butitpassedbeforetheGovernorpeeledhimselffromhisbed.Andahuge
wailingfromtheskyblanketedthecityanditssuburbsfornearlyaminute.

TheFederalgovernmentlaunchedaninvestigationintopossiblecauses.Therumorwasthataforeign

satellitewastestingoutanewoffensiveweapon,andmanyintheNationalSecurityAgencybelievedit
andstilldo.Whenthegovernmentissueditsfinalreportonthesubject,itcontainedanauthoritative
accountofhowashortcircuitinthepowergridupstatesetoffachainreactionofemergencyshutdowns,
anditallprovedthatawholebunchofsecretcrisis-managementsystemsworkedthewaytheywere
supposedtowork.

Thedisturbancewasnothingofthesort,butbythetimethereportcameoutnobodyreallycaredvery

muchanymore.Peoplewerejusttoobusy.

Whathappenedwasthattheboy,floatingidlyaboveKansasonahotsleeplessnightheardthehowland

turnedeastward.

Hesawthebeasthangingintheskyhighabovethecity,itsmouthpursedasthoughtowhistle,witha

mournfulbellowcomingfromdeepinitschest.Itwassosmall,thislittlewhitething,anditmadesucha
loudnoise.

"Shh,"theboysaid,approaching,andthebeastsuddenlystoppedhowlingandstared.Anditsniffed.

"Shh,"theboysaidagain,insomethingliketheboy'svoiceandwithasmellliketheboy'ssmell.

"What'swrong?"

Thebeastlookedathimforamoment.Hewasbigger,butsowasKrypto.Andstronger.Andhovering

inthesky.

"Youcanfly?"theboyasked.Hewastooincreduloustowonderatthetugginginthedistantreachesof

hismemory.

Kryptocircledaroundhim,inspectinghim.Wasitreallytheboy?Hisscentwaseverywherehere,soit

couldbeanyone.Flying.

IttooklongerfortheboytowarmtoKrypto,longertoreachbeyondthewonderintothetracesof

recognition.ButKryptostoppedcirclingand,hoveringinthesky,crouchedwithhisforelegsstretched
forward,asifonthegroundandinvitingaplaymate.

"You'readog,"theboysaid,"right?"Thenhewonderedwhatanswerhemighthaveexpected.

"You'remydog,right?"

AndKrypto'sboycametohimandgingerlypettedhimalongthegrainofhissteelyfur.Thentheboy

pettedhimharder,roughlysohecouldfeelit.

Theboy'shairandtheredcapehangingoffhisnecklandedinthedog'smouthandKryptochewedonit

untilitwasaswetasagnawedbone.AndtheboynippedatKrypto'snoseandKryptoscrapedatthe
boy'sbottomwithhispawandtheybothhitandscrapedandsqueezedateachothersomemorebecause
theycouldnothurteachother.

"Theyloveeachother,"theboyheardsomeonesayinhismemory.

Andtheboyrumbledsomethingunintelligiblefromthedepthsofhischangingvoice.Andthedog

snortedwithcontentment.Andtheylovedeachother.