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 ...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.