The hills outside Metropolis were a dramatic backdrop for some of more exclusive estates that bordered the newest and greatest city on the northern seaboard

Built to eclipse the last centuries historic urban centres unfettered by dated technology; modern planning had a built a city for the age automobile. Metropolis was a bright new urban utopia – the Twentieth Century's Golden Apple.

The Estates that nestled in the scenic countryside were from a different time, that aped the splendours of a bygone age, of European aristocracy. Great mansions sitting in landscaped parkland, built for and by the new worlds first families of industry and commerce.

One such palatial home was deceptively fortified; men and dogs patrolled the walls, huge gates were locked and guarded. This splendid home was the castle of a private man.

"Are you certain the operatives were successful?" The seated figure asked.

"Yes Sir. Although the superhuman who interfered with our acquisition of the Campbell Scott prototype apprehended them, it is confirmed by our source at Metro-PD that they are being held for murder."

With a hum from electrical motors the powered wheel chair turned and moved forward. From the huge bay window the dawn over Metropolis could be seen. The man framed in the light cut a tragic figure.

An oversize hat covered his head, wisps of fine white hair fell from beneath the brim. Gaunt and long faced he looked pale and sickly. His head was held in a brace, as if his neck was incapable of supporting it's weight.

Most of his body was hidden within the structure of the chair that encased his lower body. His over long arms rested on table like structure built above his knees. His chest in a loose fitting white jacket.

The chair whirred again rotating to bring him face to face with his agent. Behind the well dressed man a large panelled room was lined with book cases.

"Very good. Now our objective must be the acquisition of this superhuman interloper, this Superman, I must understand his origins."

"Sir I have been studying the security arrangements surrounding the surviving Flame Bird, and I believe I could still access the airframe."

"Reynolds your thoroughness is admirable, but unfortunately young Mr Luthor has suffered what appears to be a nervous breakdown, and no repairs have been completed, or are likely to be.

"Further after the embarrassment of losing one plane and seeing the second downed, Campbell Scott are cutting their losses and abandoning the programme; they are convinced that the paymasters of the US Air Corps are not going to order this aircraft after the debacle at Pegasus Field."

"Then the transaction with our friends in Germany is finished."

"Do not fear Reynolds, I am more than able to supply our contacts with compensatory technology."

"Sir may I ask.."

"Why I chanced exposing our organisation with such a bold adventure as the public theft of a prototype airframe?"

"Yes Sir, that was troubling me.

"Certainly it is true my own devices eclipse this child's design completely.

"Simply said,events have served my purposes Reynolds; had the plan succeeded I would simply exchanged the aeroplane for the artefact the Germans have secured. The technological balance of the world would have remained unaffected by my superior intelligence.

"As it stands I must briefly divert my energies into creating something appropriately primitive for the Third Reich.

"However my secondary objective; to draw out Superman worked perfectly. My remote devices concealed in the first plane transmitted interesting data, which I am still processing.

"When I am ready I will inform you of my conclusions."

Reynolds left his master's presence.

-'S'-

De Winters opened the door of the swanky apartment high above the uptown district of Troy State. Lois Lane breezed past her walking to the middle angular modernist styled living room.

"I see you got Clark's message."

"Evidently" she replied. "How is life treating you Dolores?"

The actress smiled. "Lois, how nice to see you again."

"Where's Kent?"

"Clark's out running some errands, the refrigerator was empty, cupboards bare – that kind of thing."

"As long as he remembers he's supposed to be Mr Smith." Lois commented. "What happened to your hiding out over in suburbia?"

"Clark's Uncle wasn't the warm and friendly type, besides he didn't like the fact fella's were shooting at me. So he came up with the keys to this place."

Lois walked over to the panoramic window. "I can see the West Way hoardings from here, this is a flashy address, Kent's been holding out on me, he's better connected than he let's on."

"Appearances can be deceptive Lois."

Lane sat down in a easy chair. "So how come this Bennett can rustle up a place like this on short notice?"

"I reckon one of his clients is taking a break in Sing Sing." Dolores said. "Basically we're enjoying the profits of crime; oh and a nice private elevator and underground parking no less."

"Naturally." Lois said. "Bennett is defence attorney, and most of his clients aren't innocents – and most of them are rich faces, white collar types. I did my homework."

"Can I get you a coffee Lois?"

"Sure. Thanks – hot and black."

Dolores nodded. "Should have guessed you were easy to please.

"Any way that's the only way I can make it, until Clark gets back at least."

"So Dolores." Lois took the proffered cup from her. "Tell me what you know."

-'S'-

Superman covered Metropolis, moving in a series of leaps he called sky-jumps. Flight was something he was adjusting too, undeniably he could resist the force of gravity, linger, and change course in the clouds above the city, and yet his feet yearned to rest on the solid earth, I am still a son of the soil, he told himself as he sailed over a sea of concrete and steel, inhabited by teaming shoals of humanity.

Today he was a fisher of men. He had a name; given up from the frightened lips of a gunman teetering in car on the edge of oblivion. He had an address, a seedy bar, the sort of place hoodlums and lowlifes could call home. It was a beginning.

"Reynolds?" the man gasped. His stomach was jammed against the bar, Superman dragged him up from behind it.

"He drinks in here. Hires men in here."

A shot gun exploded behind him, Superman reached back taking the barrel in his other hand, shoving the stock into the chest of the man who wielded it; the gunman tumbled backwards onto the floor winded, then bringing the shotgun forward he slams the weapon onto the bar, where it bends and twists between his fingers.

"We can do this the easy way, or the easier way. The easy way is I use you like wrecking bar to take this building apart until you tell me where to find Reynolds."

"Okay, Okay. Reynolds I know the fella, yeah he comes in here sometimes, when he needs muscle, pays well, but that's all I know."

Superman drives the twisted shotgun through the bar surface like a giant nail. "I thought you were wanting to take the easier way?"

"Look I don't know... wait his car, it's a big black foreign motor, custom limousine, come on buddy I don't know any more..."

"The auto? Your sure?"

"Yeah big German car, Mercedes I think, the kind with pipes coming out the side of the hood."

"Thank you. See being helpful wasn't that difficult was it."

Clark Kent knew his automobiles. Spotting a supercharged Mercedes Benz Grosser Limousine in a city of teeming with more mundane vehicles was going to be an interesting challenge.

-'S'-

"That's a tall tale Deedee." Lois declared. "Your telling me Clark has bought into this? That you were somehow mesmerised?"

"Lois I know that you and I didn't hit it off back at Matson's, but seriously sister like I told you - I was trying to talk you around."

Dolores drew on her cigarette. "I didn't want to see you wearing concrete stilettos."

Lois looked decidedly unimpressed.

De Winters lent forward insistent. "Besides, I'm not making any of this up, why should I?"

"I don't know." Lois countered. "How about to charm a green reporter from hicksville Kansas to get you out of trouble?"

"You are really down on Clark aren't you?"

Lois stood up and poured herself another coffee. "Maybe, he's just another guy who runs at the first sign of trouble. I don't need that kind of dead weight, but my boss has taken a liking to the Okies homespun cornball charm so I'm lumbered with him."

"Hey Lois, word to the wise, you remember the one about taking the plank out of your own eye first?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just that if Clark is the cautious type, then you might do a lot worse than learn a thing or too from his approach, as I remember you ended up in hot water with Matson precisely because you're so contrary."

"Hey if Kent grew a backbone I wouldn't have to fight his battles for him!"

Dolores seemed surprised. "Can't say I know that fella, the Kent I met was the kind of guy that threw himself on top of me when the bullets were flying in our direction?"

"You're kidding?"

"Right... I take it Clark didn't tell you about that, the small detail where he saved my life and all."

"No. Can't say he mentioned anything as dramatic; he said that you were shot at and dived for the floor."

"I'm on the level Lois; that's what happened."

"He really did that?"

"Sure he did, I don't know what he didn't do when he was around you Lois, but I know that when the chips were down Clark put himself between me and hot lead."

"I guess I might have misjudged him." Lois said after a short silence. "My Dad always says that you never know how a man is going to act under fire, until the bullets are flying."

"Well I guess now you know.

"How about me Lois? Do I get a second chance?" Dolores asked.

"Maybe. Let's say the jury is still out."

"Lois, it's just as I told you already." The actress snapped. Then she sighed. "Look sorry, I'm mad at myself - because I really can't remember, I'm missing hours and days of my time – and what I do remember about him, it's patchy – Clark thinks there is still a mental block in place."

"Putting Dr Kent's opinion to one side, I would find this whole thing more valuable; story wise, if you could remember anything useful about this Ultra-Humanite character?"

"To be honest I still find it difficult to say that name." Dolores said quietly.

Lois wandered over to the big window, she sipped her coffee and thought for a moment.

"Okay Deedee, lets assume that is the case; so let's don't dwell on him, let's forget about the who he is – what does he look like, just relax and think about the background instead."

"How do you mean."

"I mean what can you remember besides the people. When you look back what can you see beside him, behind him, can you remember anything about the room, the house; anything about the location?"

Deedee closed her eyes. Lois waited, and waited a bit more.

"Well I remember a big window, and big lawn, and then in distance, Metropolis. A drive way maybe, lots of trees."

"A big house?"

"Sure it has to be. I think I remember that."

"I'm sorry I can't think of anything else."
Lois smiled. "You realise that there is really only one place that ties into that description. The Metro Hills."

"I guess so, but Lois there are plenty big places out in there in that part of the county, plenty that have views out towards the rivers and Metropolis?"

"I know that Deedee, but come on, what have we to lose."

"Wait Lois - what are you thinking?"

"Lets drive out there – it still early, we can spend the better part of today cruising the main roads around Metro Hills. Something out there might jog that imperfect memory of yours.

"Something that might point to where the Ulra-Humanite can be found."

"What about Clark?"

"What about him? Oh, sure – I'll leave him a note. He'll be fine."

-'S'-

Superman's odyssey across Metropolis finally bore fruit, aside from his timely intervention in a number of unrelated incidents. The Man of Tomorrow had happened upon many troubles as he passed by; road accidents had to be averted, street crime was interrupted, burglaries he prevented. Now Superman's enhanced senses zeroed in on the specific German auto; the rare model he sought.

The 1938 Mercedes Benz was a second series supercharged custom bodied sedan, it drove into city from the well heeled Metro Hills district, something that was to be expected given the exclusivity of such a high end machine. Inside a well dressed man that answered to the description Superman had of Reynolds, was being chauffeured down town.

There was something striking about the conceit and self assurance of choosing such an identifiable automobile that gave Superman pause for thought. He knew this was self same car favoured by the Nazi elite of the Third Reich, and he wondered where this German connection might lead.

-'S'-

Lois gunned the big yellow ford convertible along the high road above the Metro Hills, not only was this an interesting drive, but from this elevated position they could see clearly the lay of the land, the exclusive ordered estates that they had passed coming out of Metropolis could now be better seen.

Dolores looked out at the vista below them. Lois had given her a pair of dark glasses, and a headscarf to cover her hair; it was a passable disguise and a practical one; masking her features, and stopping the wind whipping up her hair.

Lois made do with a fedora secured with a hat pin.

"Do you see anything that helps at all." She asked.

"Sorry Lois, I mean I'm familiar with the main road we came in on, but I've not seen anything that ties in with what I can remember."

"Okay, we've plenty of gas, let's try some of the side roads."

The two women weaved they way around the feeder roads, sometimes boldly driving up private roads, but Dolores shook her head each time.

"I sure there were heavy gates, no I come to think of it, I remember the car stopping for these to open."

Lois frowned, and drove on. "At least that's something, we can forget about any places without them."

"I'm sorry Lois."

"Don't worry – it's only a matter of time, there are only so many of these houses that look out across to the city, I'm sure we'll come across something, investigative journalism is nine tenths legwork, we've got to just keep plugging away."

"Whatever you say – I just don't..." Dolores stopped mid sentence, she fell forward holding her head, letting out a moaning wail.

Lois jammed on the brakes, the car came to an abrupt halt. "Dolores? What's wrong?"

"I don't know I just felt terrible, like a migraine headache just came out of nowhere, but it's easing if anything." Opening the door she stood by the side of the road, bent over. "Sorry I'm still feeling sick, I didn't want to throw up all of a sudden."

Lois joined her. "Are you sure you are going to be all right? Do you need medical attention?"

"No – I feeling much better, just give me a minute." Dolores leant back against Lois's car; panting, she seemed to catch her breath.

"Is nausea passing?" Lois asked.

"Yes, it was really strange, it came out of no where, like a bolt out of the blue."

"Take as long as you need, then maybe we should head back into town, maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all."

Deedee nodded, she was pale, and sweating, but she seemed happier.

"Lois?" She asked.

"Uh uh?"

"Do you see over there, that there." Dolores pointed to the opposite side of the road a good few yards back up the road."

"No, what are you pointing at."

"There where that dark shadow is – do you see it?"

"In those trees, you mean?" Lois squinted. "There's a dark shadow, wait is that a gateway?"

"That's a road I think." Dolores replied, "can't you see it?"

"Yes I can, I don't know how I missed seeing it."

Lois got back into the car, De Winters joined her, and Lane selected reverse and wound the car back to where the shadowy gap in the trees intersected the road.

"Okay, this is very strange, why didn't we see this coming down?"

Dolores frowned. She looked a little green again.

"Are you going to be all right?" Lois asked.

"Yes, I think so, it's just this place; that sounds nuts I know, but here is where I felt worse, just before, and now it's making me feel queer again."

"Are you going to be sick? Shall I drive you away?"

"No it's not great – but it's bearable."

The two women waited silently the car idling.

Dolores looked directly at Lois. "Sister are you thinking what I'm thinking."

Lois nodded. "I think so. I'm thinking that you're having some kind of reaction to this particular track."

Dolores nodded.

Lois grabbed her shoulder. "Look, if you want bail on me here I won't hold it against, well not much any way."

"Hey! You know I want to know what's going on as much as you do; hell more than you do Lois; the stuff I've forgotten – it's my life that's been stolen from me. I want to know how and by whom?"

Lois nodded, pleased by her determination. "Then it's agreed, we're going to check this out?"

"It can't hurt to look can it?"

"I don't know Dolores, it's your head."

"It's your car. If I yell stop, stop - because I'll be throwing up."

"Okay let's do this, but first sign of trouble we high tail it out of here."

"Agreed."

Lois selected a forward ratio, and crept onto the shadowy tree lined road.

-'S'-

The big Mercedes pulled into the side of the road. Superman swiftly dropped to earth hiding behind a stack of crates, the warehousing district sat adjacent to the larger of the two rivers that created Troy State Island, the wide river mouth lay a short distance down stream feeding into the Atlantic ocean and dredgers ensured a sea channel was kept open into Metropolis for ocean going vessels. Ducking under a heavy tarpaulin that lay over the crate stack Superman slipped out of sight. In the half light he opened his hidden super-compressed backpack, which he had attached to costume beneath his cloak, Superman unfolded a fashionable double breasted coat and pleated pants, two piece suit. A second smaller folding case contained stage make up, and a small mirror. Quickly he applied colour to darken the skin tone of his face and hands, and then using spirit gum adhesive Superman attached a moustache.

Pulling the new suit over his costume he first checked no one was around to see him as he emerged as Smithy. Superman immediately cut a different profile from his bespectacled reporter alter ego; he stood relaxed as his full height. A different hat completed the slicker look.

Smithy then sauntered past the foreign limousine, the driver sat with his radio tuned into Metro-wave, and Superman slipped past him unnoticed and into the dockside warehouse, where the man Superman presumed to be Reynolds had minutes before preceded him.

Crates and machinery littered the building, a pick-up truck and a line of cars bordered a neater workshop area on his left. Above this shop was a loft area; he made out an office, store room and a cloakroom. Superman's enhanced vision identified Reynolds and another much older white haired man were seated in conference. A third heavy set figure, sat quietly to one side; probably Reynolds bodyguard Superman decided. The other two men were smoking and discussing a contract; Reynolds spoke cryptically about the object.

"Hey! You lost fella. Need some directions, like turn around and get going for instance?" A big heavy set man emerged from behind a jacked up car, his dark coverall were grease stained, as were his thick hands. Stopping a few yards away the mechanic leant casually against a supporting pillar belonging to the staircase that ran up to the loft area.

"Name's Smith. People call me Smithy."

"Ok Smithy, good for you. Now why don't cha' get going." The mechanic held a wrench in one hand a tapped it slowly against another. "This ain't no place for gawking."

Superman pressed on. "Word is you're down a couple of guys."

"Really, Smithy? Is that so, well I don't know who you've been talking to - but do you see a 'help wanted' sign in the window? Because I sure don't. Take a hint bub, beat it."

Clark drew a knife from pocket. His throw was direct and with just enough force. It hit the supporting wood pillar just by guys ear.

"Hey... what's the idea?" The big man shouted, no longer leaning nonchalantly, instead he tensed and stood his ground, the wrench becoming a club in his hand.

"I can strip an engine down too. Fast."

The Mechanic raised his heavy tool. "I oughta'... You could have..."

"I could have done a lot of stuff; but missing isn't one of them." Superman smiled holding his hands open, palms up, as much to say I'm only messing with you.

The mechanic glanced back at the quivering blade, and then he stared uncertain at Smithy.

"Thing is Suggy told me this was professional outfit, but if you can't appreciate my particular talents, well... that can't be helped." Smithy wandered slowly over and reached out for his knife. The Mechanic laughed apparently unconcerned. "Finally getting the message are we chum?" The big man moved to one side, as if he meant to walk away before snapping around aiming his heavy wrench directly at Smithy's extended arm. Superman ever ready, twisted in instant, catching the mechanics hand in his.

"Yeah, I deserved that." Smithy said, appearing for appearance sake to struggle against his attacker; it was like some hand held high arm wrestling match. The burly mechanic tried to force the aptly disguised Superman back, but Smithy worked the moment, appearing to struggle with him; but he did not give ground. Instead with his free hand he reached across and pulled the knife free; slipping the blade back into his pocket.

Once the weapon was taken out of play the Mechanic sensing an impasse had been reached relaxed, and pulled free. "Okay buddy, so you're a tough guy, I get it. So come on how's y' know Suggy; how's he's never mentioned you's?"

"We hung out together back in the day, just got into town, looked him up last night, saw him as it happens not long before he and Nails got picked up by the Cops."

"Dunno buddy – as I said Suggy, he never mentioned you."

"Yeah? As I said, I just got into town."

"Where's you know Suggy;s from? New York?"

"Well sure I've been to New York, but Suggy and me, back in the day we're Chicago boys."

Superman could see the other man was satisfied with that answer.

"Harry George, the boys, they call me Hairy." He offered his hand. "Still can't say whether the Boss is hiring.

"Still you're in luck kinda – if you wanna call it lucky; because you get to ask him y'self, given that he's here.

"Though a word of warning it really would have been much better if Suggy were here to vouch for you."

Superman shrugged. "He's kind of occupied ain't he? But that's life I guess."

"It will be for him." Hairy Harry said coldly. "Last chance to bail out bub, if the Boss don't like you he'll sooner kill you than look at you."

Superman didn't flinch.

"Straight up Smithy, that's the way it will be; your choice."

"I didn't get to be me without taking a few chances Harry. Lead on."

Reynolds looked happy enough when Harry wrapped on the door. He was shaking the other guy's hand in the office.

"Yeah, what's up Hairy?"

"Fella here, reckons he ran with Suggy." The Mechanic called through the door.

"One minute." Reynolds replied. He passed over a locked case to the second man. Superman's 'x-ray' vision could see that it contained thousands of dollars. Whatever transaction they had been discussing was now complete, and from what had been said between them, Superman knew the as yet unidentified object of the transaction was packed inside one of the crates currently sitting inside the warehouse below them.

Superman scanned the various crates a second time. His first reconnaissance had been looking for weapons, but the only metallic objects he had seen were ubiquitous machine parts. Now he considered narcotics, but again the other crates seemed to contain nothing untoward. Checking each wooden box he found that the only usual object, carefully contained and thoroughly well packaged was a statue in marble. Beautifully carved the female figurine was Greco-Roman in style; and although he recognised that much, Superman realised he wasn't sufficiently versed in art or archaeology to make any judgement as to it's true nature or value.

Could this transaction be simply be a straight forward purchase of a work of art – if so was such a statue worth a case load of money? Superman wondered this as Hairy Harry showed him inside Reynolds office.

The interior was well appointed, in stark contrast to the more rough and ready exterior, Reynolds kicked back on deep buttoned leather sofa. He drank bourbon from a lead glass crystal glass.

Harry stood outside, not crossing over into the carpeted room in his greasy overalls, quickly summarising his conversation with Smithy for Reynolds.

"He's good with a knife, and strong enough to hold his own." The Mechanic concluded.

"Why a knife Mr Smith?" Reynolds asked.

"Sometimes it pays to do thing's quietly."

Reynolds nodded. "That wasn't Suggy's way."

Superman smiled in character saying. "Yeah, well that was one of the reasons we haven't worked together for a while; he went his way, I went mine."

"But your way brought you to Metropolis?"

"Can't a man want a change a scene Boss?"

Reynolds drank down his liquor. "Okay Smithy, it's true - I am two men down; so I'll take a gamble on you; but I warn you I have ways of finding out about a man's true character, so don't disappoint me, because well, if you do that'll be the last thing you'll ever do. Are we clear?"

"Crystal clear Boss."

"Okay give Harry a hand downstairs.

"Harry you and Smithy load up the truck with Mr Ioannou's crate, y' know the one - and be careful. Both of you.

"Then Smithy I want you to take the truck and follow my car; consider this a trial run. Then when we're done with that, you and I can have another talk."

"Sure thing Boss." Smithy replied.

"Get to it boys." Reynolds dismissed them.

"You took that new face on kinda of quickly – didn't ya, if don't mind me saying Mr Reynolds?" Ioannou said, moments after the door closed behind Smithy.

Reynolds stood up, smiling confidentially at the older man. "Sure, and I know it – but the way I see it either this fella knows that dumbo Suggy or he really just knows too much, either way I want him close until I can establish which it is.

"Any way Poppa let me worry about the likes of Smithy, you go spend your money, and go find me some more of the same class of item; you have the list, and you know what is wanted."

Downstairs Harry tossed Smithy a pair overalls. "Here. No need to dirty your threads, take one of my spares – I got plenty."

"Thanks."

The big man coveralls fitted Superman's frame and together the two men lifted Ioannou's crate onto the back of the truck. Harry lashed the crate in place with sturdy ropes.

Superman climbed in. Reynolds, and Ioannou, parted company at the bottom of the stairs. They exited the Warehouse and climbed into their respective automobiles. The third man - Reynolds body guard joined Smithy in the pick-up truck.

"You know where we're going?" Smithy asked.

"Just follow the Bosses car, and you'll be right."

"You got a name?"

"Yeah."

Superman waited for a more forthcoming answer, it was apparent that wasn't going to happen. "Right. I see." He said.

"Nothing personal buddy, just it's early days yet. No point in getting pally until you've passed the test."

"Test?"

"You'll see soon enough." He replied pointing outside. "Look the Boss is on the move."

"Fine." Smithy said. Superman started the engine and followed the limousine back out towards the Metro Hills."

-'S'-

Lois abandoned her car just out of sight of the large wall that encircled the landscaped gardens of the estate. Reversing she backed away from the imposing gate house, the way forward was barred by an impressive display of sculptured ironwork. Pulling her vehicle off the road she slid in behind a denser clump of trees; it was enough to camouflage the roadster from the casual eye.

I can still see the car." Dolores told her.

"Yeah but you are looking for it. Someone who is just driving past, isn't going to be looking for a hidden car."

"You hope."

"Yes pretty much."

The main house sat on a elevated position that lifted it above the woodland that separated it from road.

"We better go forward on foot – use the trees for cover; that way we won't draw attention to our selves."

"In these heels?" Dolores asked.

Lois acknowledging the problem, opened the trunk of the car, it was full of bags, boxes, and clutter; she grabbed a pair of boots and some flat shoes.

"Here take whatever you want, you and I look a similar size." De Winters took the shoes. "How's your head?" Lois asked as she swapped over her footwear.

"Sore but I'll live."

"Okay lets make our up there and along the wall."

"Make like soldiers you mean?"

Lois looked at the actress and asked with a wry smile. "You know anything about soldiering sister?"

"Only what I've seen in the movies, but I can hold my own, I can ride and swim laps regularly so if we are going to hike through these woods let's get too it."

The two women skirted around the perimeter, and for a long while there was no obvious way through, until the came upon doorway, but this was secured; blocked by iron railed gate, fixed with a heavy chain and padlock.

Lois inspected it, her black leather gloves tainted by the heavy coat of rust.

"That hasn't been opened in long time." Dolores observed.

Lois tried the gate, more out of curiosity than anything. "That was a long shot." She said. Unsurprisingly it didn't move.

Through the railings they could just make out one end of the sprawling property, then cresting the rise between the raised gardens and the wall came two figures, they were some distance away, but the dogs with them immediately fixed their attention on the women and began to bark loudly, dashing down towards them.

The men shouted out, had they seen them?

Lois and Dolores had dived out of the way, but as they hid it became clear that at least one of them had been seen.

"Hey you! Stop!" The men bellowed over the raucous noise of their dogs.

Lois grabbed Dolores and bolted. "Come on!" She said.

The two women began laughing as they sprinted back towards Lois's car. Like naughty school girls caught playing a prank. They could hear loud rattling and louder curses coming from the direction of the rusted gate.

"Looks like they can't get that open." Dolores gasped, as they took a breather; it seemed the chase was over before it had really begun.

"Lucky for us." Lois replied. "You remember anything more?"

"No, and I'm feeling a lot better too, maybe it was just stress?"

Suddenly a couple of shots rang out, loud the sound of bullets striking against metal.

"They're shooting the lock off!" Lois exclaimed.

Sprinting harder Lane and De Winters ran once more, alarmingly the chase was very real again, and it had become more serious, this wasn't looking like an over reaction to a case of simple trespass, behind them they could hear the dogs baying as the hounds began their pursuit.

Lois leapt into the car, Dolores followed, a dog smacked against the closed door excitedly, its feet scraping the bodywork, Lois saw it's tooth filled snout slobber against the glass of her window. For the first time she regretted not having bought a tin top.

Gunning the engine she tore away sliding out onto the road, gunshots sounded out. Lois accelerated hard, dirt spewed into the air as she tore back down the woodland track.

The road passed a steep embankment, a cutting where a fast flowing river had worn it's way down from the higher ground.

Dolores shouted out a warning! Coming towards them in the middle of the track, showing no signs of slowing was a big black sedan. Lois dived into the left, the side of car scraping noisily against the shrubs along the road side, the big car side-swiped at her as it tore past catching the rear of the Ford as Lois squeezed past, sending her into a slide towards the opposite side of the road and perilously close to the steep, almost vertical gradient that ran to the river below.

Smithy recognised the women driving towards the truck immediately, Lois's canary yellow convertible was hard to miss, enhanced vision took away any doubt. Lane had corrected the skidding car, but she was now bearing down on the pick-up.

Reynolds enforcer pointed a finger at Lois. "Run that car off the road."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"You're kidding right?"

The other man drew a gun. "It's what Mr Reynolds wants." The Enforcer had a some sort of radio phone in his bag, it was nothing like Superman had ever seen before. He also knew that Reynolds had given that exact order – he had heard the exchange but he was now stalling for time.

Lois barrelled past him, her outside wheels perilously close to the edge and the lethal drop below.

Superman felt his companion attempt to wrest control of the steering wheel, to turn into Lois's auto, to bump it side ways off the edge. Superman however held the vehicle steady.

The other man growled. "Big mistake." He levelled the gun, but Lois was now safely past them. Superman swiftly pushed open the drivers door, in the same moment the gun went off, but as it did so, Superman dived out across the road and over the edge into the steep sided river valley.

The Enforcer lunged for the wheel, correcting the vehicle's direction before the truck followed Smithy to oblivion. Swearing loudly he slid over into the drivers seat and regained control. Coming to a stop, he got out, gun in hand. The yellow convertible was almost out of sight. Walking over to the edge of the ravine, he looked over the banking for any sign of the man he knew as Smithy, but Superman had vanished.

Angrily cursing some more he returned to the truck, and drove off towards the main house.

Lois laughed, as she left the other vehicles behind her in a cloud of dust. She felt exhilarated. "We showed them!"

Dolores said nothing, but convulsed, before bending over and groaning.

"Are you okay?" Lois asked, glancing down, whilst keeping up her speed.

"Yes, just keep going." De Winters mumbled.

"There is something really fishy going on here for sure." Lois commented; she was planning her next move when Dolores interrupted her thoughts.

"Stop the car, Lois, turn around. Go back to the house." Dolores pointed a tiny Derringer pistol at Lane.

"What are you doing? Are you nuts."

"Go back now Lois."

"What's got into you?"

"Lane I will shoot you; then take this car and drive it myself. The choice is yours, make it fast."

"You double crossing witch." Lois spat.

She jammed the brakes on, hoping to unsettle De Winters. Seconds later a fist connected with her face.

"Just drive Lane, I won't warn you again."

Lois rubbed her chin, then yanking the wheel around she accelerated back the way she had come.

Superman watched the truck make it's way up the drive to the house, the big limousine had pulled over and two men with dogs were speaking to Reynolds.

He could hear Lois automobile returning towards them, casting a surprised glance behind him he saw Dolores holding a gun on the reporter. This did not make sense, were they playing some sort of dangerous game, or had De Winters been a double agent all along. Uncertain but determined to discover the truth, Superman chose to bide his time.

The yellow Ford shot forwards through the open gate way, followed directly by the big Mercedes. High above the clouds Superman watched the vehicles process towards the palatial dwelling of the Ultra Humanite.