2003 Starwinds Howl The Epic Story of Krypto The Superdog

background image
background image

background image

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.

background image

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."

background image

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."

background image

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."

background image

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!"

background image

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

background image

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?

background image

"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.

background image

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

background image

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

background image

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.

background image

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

background image

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

background image

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.

background image

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.

background image

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.

background image

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.

background image

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

background image

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

background image

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.

background image

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

background image

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.

background image

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.

background image

"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."

background image

"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.

background image

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?"

background image

AndKrypto'sboycametohimandgingerlypettedhimalongthegrainofhissteelyfur.Thentheboy

pettedhimharder,roughlysohecouldfeelit.

Theboy'shairandtheredcapehangingoffhisnecklandedinthedog'smouthandKryptochewedonit

untilitwasaswetasagnawedbone.AndtheboynippedatKrypto'snoseandKryptoscrapedatthe
boy'sbottomwithhispawandtheybothhitandscrapedandsqueezedateachothersomemorebecause
theycouldnothurteachother.

"Theyloveeachother,"theboyheardsomeonesayinhismemory.

Andtheboyrumbledsomethingunintelligiblefromthedepthsofhischangingvoice.Andthedog

snortedwithcontentment.Andtheylovedeachother.


Wyszukiwarka

Podobne podstrony:
Elliot S Maggin Superman 01 Starwinds Howl The Epic Story of Krypto the Superdog!
Epic The Story Of The Waffen SS
Betsy Powell Bad Seeds, The True Story of Toronto's Galloway Boys Street Gang (2010)
All?out Nothing The Story of My Life
Betsy Powell Bad Seeds, The True Story of Toronto's Galloway Boys Street Gang (2010)
Dan Mills Sniper One The Blistering True Story of a British Battle Group Under Siege (rtf)
William Pelfrey Billy, Alfred, and General Motors, The Story of Two Unique Men, a Legendary Comp
Left by the Indians Story of My Life Ethan E Harris & Emeline L Fuller
Genesis Secrets of the Bible Story of Creation Ten Lectures by Rudolf Steiner
The Story of Harry Hoxsey
The Untold Story of State Medicine Robert Henry Williams
The Story of Cinderella(1)
The Story Of Two Friends And The Bear
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche The Story Of Nyama Paldarbum Songs Of Milarepa (Buddhism, English)
The Story of Miss Moppet by Beatrix Potter
Dr Gary L Glum Calling Of An Angel The True Story Of Rene Caisse And An Indian Herbal Medicine Cal

więcej podobnych podstron