Chapter 17: Starlight Escape Part 2: Back on Track
As Eric had promised, the group was soon right back on schedule. As Kell went for a drink of water, an unseen pothole caused a good half of his bottle to spill all over him.
"Whoever heard of driving down a riverbed?!" Kell asked angrily after everyone had finished laughing. "Was this your idea, Eric, or did Nabu suggest it?"
"Very funny." Eric said sarcastically. "He's just a helmet."
Just then, the helmet glowed again.
"No, there's nothing wrong with being a helmet." Eric quickly added. "I'm just saying."
"One thing's for sure." Clark said as he leaned back in his seat. "Brainiac's guards will never find us down here."
"Exactly." Eric added. "Kid, I know these parts better than the back of my hand. There is no quicker way to New-New York than through this riverbed."
"But…" Garth said a bit nervous now. "We're going to New Gotham."
"I know that!" Eric said before covertly turning the car around and going the other way, causing Kell to roll his eyes. This was the man they were trusting to take them to the meeting?
"Lois, were you ever in Bethlehem?" Ayla asked as the ride went on.
"No." Lois answered. "But my parents once passed through Nazareth. That's the town in Judea where Joseph and Mary lived."
"But I thought Jesus was born in Bethlehem." Imra said.
"He was." Lois admitted. "But the story really begins before that.
"You see, in those days, Joseph worked as a carpenter. He had just become engaged to Mary, who lived nearby. Now, Nazareth is only a small town. For that matter, Israel is only a small country, and as any historian of that time could tell you, the people had always hated being ruled by the Roman Emperor. Just like with Brainiac today, they longed to be free and dreamed of the day God would send them a great leader. Some prepared to fight, and others, like Mary, prayed.
"Then one day, a bright light shone from her window, and a voice said, 'Peace be with you, Mary. The Lord is with you and has blessed you.'
"Mary was confused by the voice, and wondered what it meant until it added, 'God is pleased with you. You will have a son and will call him, Jesus. God will make him a king, and his kingdom shall never end.'
"'But,' Mary nervously asked. 'How can this happen since I'm still a virgin?'
"'There is nothing God cannot do.' The voice answered. 'His spirit will come to you, and his powers will rest on you. The child will be a holy child. He will be called the Son of God.'
"Mary knelt down and replied, 'I am the Lord's servant. Let it happen to me as you have said.'
"And so it did. Mary soon learned she was going to have a baby. Because they were not yet married, Joseph thought the right thing to do was break off their engagement quietly."
Just then, the wagon stopped, and everyone looked out to find that they were in the outskirts of Gotham.
"Hey!" Kell called out. "Why are we stopping here?!"
"You folks stay here." Eric said. "I'll be right back."
"Wait!" Kell said as he grabbed Eric's shoulder. "Where are you going?"
"Where's it look like I'm going?!" Eric retorted. "I have to talk with someone inside to get the location of this secret meeting of yours."
Eric then walked off into the tavern as a couple of people were watching them.
Ooh, tense… And short.