25

Jor dug around the immediate area and found more traces of the purple element almost everywhere. This may be nothing, he thought, or it may be the key to the entire puzzle.

"This may be the key to the whole thing," said Chester to Professor Infantino. "If this purple stuff is in every crevice opened up during these quakes, I think this is our link."

Infantino appeared willing to believe if not totally convinced. "Just what makes you think this is the catalyst? Other than the phosphorescence, it doesn't seem to be that different from the rest of the soil samples. And other elements are common to all the quake zones as well. What makes this one special?"

"Well, first off, I think any element that has never been recorded in geologic history certainly bears watching. And the fact that it suddenly appears in every instance of these tremors is pretty darn suspicious. Have any of the other crew come up with anything else that seems to point to why these quakes have been happening or why now - one after another?"

"As you are aware of, my boy, earthquakes do not punch a timeclock. You can never really predict when they are going to occur. The fact that these all occurred in succession, however, is to say the least... intriguing if nothing else. And the other members of our team, I must admit, are baffled. Your "link" does seem to be the best lead we've found so far, but until we know more about this... whatever it is... it is still just something we've found at the sites and doesn't explain a thing."

"We are conducting extensive tests to learn what exactly we're dealing with, Professor. I hope to find some answers before another quake hits. By the way, have you contacted the folks in Sydney?"

"Your 'Superman' theory...?"

Chester cringed a bit as he recalled putting his credibility on the line not long ago. "Yes, sir. I think we... you... saved a lot of lives in Cairo. We may be able to save a lot more in Sydney if we could..."

"...Evacuate the city? No, Mr. Carr. We will do the same thing for Sydney that we did for Cairo, only we will be more at the ready when anything happens. Can you imagine what would happen if we were to tell everyone in a city of that scope that they were about to undergo a disaster of this magnitude and to leave immediately? The panic would be immeasurable. I believe we might cause more deaths than we would save. No, we are sending extra emergency crews to stand at the ready, and the authorities there have been put on alert that Sydney is high on a list of possible sites for another quake, but that will have to be all we do until the situation calls for more."

After Infantino left, Chester pondered what he had said and decided he was probably right. A revelation like that could cause a panic that would be more dangerous than the threat itself. At least he believes me enough to send emergency teams down there, he thought. And he's right about this stuff, too. Just because it's there doesn't mean it caused anything. He went back to the petri dish where he had left one of the samples and looked at it carefully. The phosphorescent purple streak was still surrounded by ordinary soil, some pebbles, and other debris just as he had left it earlier, but something seemed different about it for some reason. He couldn't, however, place what that difference was... yet.

George continued to pilot the ship in an evasive fashion, dodging the energy bursts and torpedoes that kept exploding nearer and uncomfortably nearer with each burst.

"I don't know how long we can keep this up," he mumbled to Guer-On, who seemed more annoyed than frightened by the recent turn of events. "I've never had to do any of this kind of flying before. They've got to be missing us more because of luck than my piloting skills."

"Your piloting skills are quite adequate, George. I don't think you give yourself enough credit. It appears to me that you're doing just fine."

"Thanks, Guer-On. You know, it's great to have you along, but right now, I wish you were my size. I could sure stand to have you run weapons on this bird. It's kind of hard to..." George pulled back on the wheel hard and the ship changed direction just in time to avoid an energy burst from behind them, "...pilot and run defenses!"

"I understand how you might feel that way." replied the Kryptonian as George jerked the wheel hard counterclockwise. The glint of weapons fire flew harmlessly past the ship and to its right. "How far from the asteroid belt are we?"

"Another three Earth minutes if we were going in a straight line, but due to our present circumstances it seems our route will be somewhat... circuitous." Another torpedo rocked the ship as it exploded just meters from its port side. "If we get there in five, I'll be absolutely ecstatic! Whoopsy-daisy!" At George's command, the ship performed a corkscrew maneuver and avoided yet another shot.

"How far behind us are our pursuers?"

"Close enough to hit us with weapons fire, but far enough that it's difficult, why?"

"I understand they're following us in part to recover their cargo...?"

George began to grin. "Yessss..."

"I propose that we give some of it to them."

"I like the way you think, friend. But I'm kind of tied up with this wheel... Hold on!" He banked the ship hard to starboard and another torpedo just missed them. "...and you're - pardon me for bringing this up - to small to handle the cargo."

"Small, yes, but you seem to have forgotten something, George."

Another weapons surge rattled the ship. The explosions were getting closer with each salvo.

"Forgotten what?"

"I am from Krypton!" With that, Guer-On leaped out of his shelter in George's ear and flew to the cargo hold and returned carrying one of the cases of explosives. As small as he was, the bomb package appeared to be flying by itself. In a split-second the package was opened, buttons engaged, and the lethal parcel was armed. "I suggest we release this in our wake. The ship pursuing us will surely hit it or at least come close enough to trigger the bomb. Even if it doesn't destroy them, it should at least slow them down enough to enable us to reach the asteroid belt, don't you think?"

Kent's face lit up. "I do think! Yes, if you can put it in the airlock..." Almost as fast as thought, the tiny man from Kandor coupled his flying ability with his super strength turning the hatchway's locking wheel and pulling open the massive door as if it was as light as cardboard. In another blink of the eye the dangerous container was placed in the airlock and the door resealed and locked.

"I believe you can open the outer door from your panel, George." Kent said nothing as he powered the ship into a dive to elude another burst of weapons fire, then straightened his course. "This is going to be the tricky part, Guer. I have to make sure that they are right behind me or we miss them. The only problem is once they realize I'm not changing course, they can easily draw a bead on us and... Well, I guess it wouldn't be too good for us, huh?"

"How long can we..."

"Not yet..."

"But they're gaining..."

"Not yet..."

"George! I think they're locking on and..."

"NOW!" And George pulled the airlock release. Two and a half seconds later, all hell broke loose.