45

"So what happened to all the Amazons?" asked Phyllis/Diana to Artemis as she dressed. They had retreated to a small anteroom while George and the kids explored the museum.

"It happened after the explosion. We all came back as soon as we could. There was nothing left of anything but a crater. We searched the area and found no remains, nothing. By the time we put out to sea, there was no sign of the liferaft you said you escaped in. It was discovered later that the explosion affected Paradise Island's phase variance..."

"The dimensional shift in reality that keeps the island hidden from the outside world. Yes, it caught my husband and daughter by surprise when we went through it."

"Due to that anomaly, time ran at a slower rate for us than the outside world for awhile. We didn't know that at the time, of course, and you must have been found by the Coast Guard long before we were even able to look for you. We still didn't worry, though. We believed that if you had survived, you would come back to the island on your own. After days, weeks, months, and finally after two years, it was decided that you must have died in the explosion."

"That explains why no one came looking to find me, but it doesn't answer my original question: What happened to the other Amazons?"

"It became total chaos on the island, Di. There was no leadership. Those you had placed in control couldn't get anyone else to follow. Half of us wanted to remain an influence on Patriarch's world, half wanted to go back into total seclusion in light of the attack that took you from us. The factions split between themselves with petty bickering. Everyone seemed to think she was the one with the answer. Soon, it almost came to civil war, but thank Hera, we realized that would solve nothing. Finally, with our home far from being the paradise it once was, there came an exodus of sorts. Groups of women left the island to join the rest of the world and become a part of it. What few that were left of us here erected this shrine to you as a memorial for all you had done for us. We've tried to keep this building maintained if none other."

"How many amazons are left?"

"Only a handful, but they will be overjoyed when they find out you're alive and returned to us."

"I... don't know if I can stay. I have a family now. It's become so very complicated..."

"Diana, you must come back! We need your leadership! If word gets out that you're here, the amazons that left the island will return as well and we will be able to return to the greatness that we attained once before!"

"But, it would split up my family. My husband and son wouldn't be able to live here with us..."

"Your Amazon family has already split up, and you can heal the disease that opened the wound!"

"I would have to leave my home and friends in Texas..."

"Texas! Talk about going from Paradise to Hades!"

"Oh, please! It's a nice place! I love it there."

"Diana, you always seem to love anyplace you are at the time! Look, I know you have a job to do that is more important than this right now, but when it's over - successfully, we hope - please, please, please think over what I've said. This may the last hope for us as a people."

Phyllis and Artemis emerged from the anteroom and re-entered the main hall where they met up with the rest of Phyllis' family. Phyllis was now wearing her 'working clothes' - the red, white and blue uniform of Wonder Woman.

George whistled. "That's impressive, Hon! I wish we had time to meet your people, but the clock is running out on us. You have everything you'll need?"

"Almost. I need to give Jim a flying lesson."

"You know, I always thought I would get to do that!"

It wasn't long before the super family found themselves out in a clearing on a remote part of the island.

"Remember, Jimmy," said Phyllis. "The Earth is basically a giant magnet and we are all smaller ones. And if you remember your physics..."

"Opposite poles attract, while like poles repel."

"Exactly. What you have to do is basically reverse your polarity and balance it in such a way as to repel the gravity of the Earth. It's the same principle of an anti-gravity transport. Like the one we came in on to the island."

"Okay, I got the principle, now all I need is the how...?"

"Well, it's kind of a chicken and egg thing. Once you've done it, you'll never forget it... unless of course, you've had amnesia like I did. You have to sort of... visualize it and then it becomes second nature. Try!"

Jimmy thought about a moment and raised his fist in the air. And suddenly... absolutely nothing happened. "Maybe if I said something dramatic like, 'Up, up, and away!' or 'Shazam!' or something?" He looked at his sister who was watching the flying lesson with intense interest. "What do you think, brat?"

Noel simply shrugged her shoulders. It wasn't like her to pass up a chance to razz her big brother.

Phyllis snickered, "I don't think Kal ever said, 'Up, up, and away' in real life, and 'Shazam' was Captain Marvel. Nope, it's something that you do - not say."

George came over and spoke up, "Listen, son. Close your eyes."

"Okay."

"Good, now imagine that you're outside in the Kent farm in Kansas."

"Uh... okay, I guess."

"No, not 'I guess!' You have to really picture it!"

"Okay! Mmmm... Okay! Got it!"

"All right. Now you know that apple tree just south of the barn?"

"The golden delicious? Yeah, those are great."

"Well up high in the tree is best, most delicious looking apple you have ever seen and you just have to get that apple. So reach for it, but it's out of your reach! So maybe if you could just get a little higher..."

Jimmy's hands reached up above him.

"Higher, son! It's still just above your reach..."

You could see the strain on Jim's face as he stretched higher and higher and then...

"Momma! Daddy!" squealed Noel. "He's floating! He's floating!"

"Jimmy! Open your eyes, son." He obeyed and found himself a foot off the ground being suspended by no visible means of support. At the sight of his levitation, he suddenly came crashing back down in a thump!

"You did it!" were the cries from everyone watching the lesson.

"Yeah, but he fell back down once he opened his eyes," his sister dejectedly pointed out.

"Doesn't matter, honey!" said Phyllis, obviously proud of her son. "Try again, son. This time with your eyes open."

Once again, Jimmy raised his arms but nothing happened.

"Remember what you felt when you were reaching for that apple, son," said George.

All of a sudden, Jim's feet left the ground and he began to rise higher and higher.

"Look!" screamed Noel, who was now so excited that she was jumping up and down like a six year old would do on Christmas morning. "He's doing it! He's really flying!" Soon Jim was a hundred feet above the ground, but as he began to level into a forward motion, his trajectory became erratic. He began to lose control and finally, he tumbled back to the ground about fifty feet north of where he took off.

"Jim, are you hurt?" shouted his father as his parents and his sister neared him.

"Oh, nothing but my pride, thanks to this invulnerable body that crystal gave me. You know, I always thought I would enjoy that more."

"Well, at least you got up there," said his mother. "Now that you know you can, you'll just need to practice, but you don't have time to do it now. The rumblings are coming at shorter intervals now. I think our zero hour is approaching."

"We should go back to Metropolis and get any updates from Chester," said George. "By now, Guer-On should have been able to supervise the creation of the emitters you'll be using."

"Right! I need to get a few things and then Noel and I will meet you and Jimmy back in Metropolis. I have alternative transportation I think she'd like to experience, and it justmay come in handy," said Phyllis. They were silent for awhile as they walked together and then Phyllis turned to her husband with a soft smile and added, "'Reach for the apple,' huh? Not bad, Mr. Kent!"

"Told ya I always thought I would be the one to teach him to fly."

Noel looked at her brother as they both followed their dad to the transport. Jimmy couldn't help but notice.

"Okay, brat! What? I'm waiting!"

"Waiting? For what?"

"For the inevitable insult or pun or whatever. I know that it's coming! Let's get it over with!"

But Noel's smile was genuinely warm as she said, "You know, when you kinda crashed, I wanted to make fun of you, but I couldn't."

"Cause Mom and Dad were there? That's never stopped you before."

"No, because I was really a little worried that you might be hurt." If there was one thing Jim was not expecting it was an expression of sisterly love like this. He was truly touched by Noel's confession.

"But I shouldn't have worried," she continued. "Deep inside, I knew you would be fine."

"Why's that?"

"Because you're my brother... and you're Superman."