Chapter 10 [An Hour Later]
[State Road 90—45 minutes west of the ravine]
Martha silently worried in the passenger seat. She knew Jonathan pressed the truck as fast as it could safely go under the conditions. She felt grateful that the skies had cleared overhead. She wished for a little more light to see by. But more so, she feared that Clark and Lana wouldn't make it through this particular mess.
For some reason, her gut told her that this mess wasn't like the others. That Clark wouldn't just be able to pole vault himself and Lana out of that area.
Jonathan sighed deeply. "It's going to be all right, Martha. You'll see."
"I hope so. What if Clark doesn't make it?" she fretted.
"He's tough, Martha. We have to believe in him," he asserted. Despite that though, he worried about Lex and the others pushing their son into some situation where Clark would expose himself.
Then might come the tests and questions.
And that was something neither farmer wanted to think about….
"I do, Jonathan. I just worry. It's just being a mother," she noted. Then her cell phone rang. "Who?" She looked at the display. "It's Lex."
He frowned but said nothing. Don'tyoutouchClark.
She ignored the reaction. "Hi, Lex. Any news?"
"The best kind, Mrs. Kent! We found Clark and Lana down here. He's dealing with the cold and some burns on his hands. Lana has some injuries too from the crash. I'm having them airlifted to Met General. The EMTs are strapping Lana onto a stretcher now for the flight."
Burnsonhishands?Clarkdoesn'tburn!She turned white while considering what he'd been exposed to. "We'll be there in about forty five minutes."
"You'll never get into the ravine, Mrs. Kent. There are pileups on both sides. You're at White Junction? I'd suggest taking 17 up to the interstate and using that to get to Metro. I'll make sure everything's okay," Lex assured them. "Take care."
"Okay, Lex. Thanks," she concluded before hanging up. She glanced at Jonathan. "That was Lex. Apparently everything's under control at the ravine."
He shook his head sarcastically. "I'll bet it is. Probably setting Clark up for tests. We'll be at the ravine soon enough."
"We need to get 17 and divert to Metro. He's having them airlifted to Met General. Clark burned his hands down there somehow," she reported. "What could be down there to cause that?"
"Clark doesn't burn his hands, Martha." He shook his head. "Lex did something."
"He's trying to help, Jonathan. At least Lana's all right. She crashed into the ravine but she's alive. We'll find out when we get to the hospital about Clark," she noted pointedly.
Jonathan turned left onto 17 and headed away from the ravine and toward the interstate. Clarkhadbetterbeallright,Luthor,orsohelpme….. Right now he worried about his son and Lana and hoped everything would be okay.
[Rester's Ravine]
Clark stood by the copter and scanned the ravine once again. The crème and bandages on his hands tingled slightly. His bruises ached a bit. He still shivered although he felt better with the EMTs' coffee and some breakfast inside of himself. A slight bit of pink had formed in the lowest part of the eastern sky telling him that the long night was over.
Still Lana lay quiet. She had been strapped onto the stretcher to prevent further potential damage to her arms and legs. She shivered under an electric blanket. She grimaced from her wounds.
He forced himself over to her side. "We're going to be okay. I'm here with you."
Lana cracked her eyes open and smiled. She weakly grasped his hand in hers. "That's…what gets me…through." She looked around. "Where…Miri?"
"She's over talking with Lex," he noted. "We're almost ready to leave." He saw the EMTs come over. "Can I fly back with you?"
"Absolutely, Mr. Kent. We'll take another look at those hands once we get to Metropolis. Meantime you and Miss Lang will be okay with us. Mr. Luthor said your parents will meet us at Met General," a paramedic responded pleasantly. "But you did your job already. Without that fire and shelter, it's doubtful Miss Lang would've made it through the night."
"That's…Clark for you. My hero," Lana whispered.
"We all should be grateful," Miranda declared. "I'm coming too."
"More…the merrier," Lana agreed.
"Sure," Clark concurred. "Did I do something?"
"No. I'm just stressed. Sorry, Clark," Miranda answered half-truthfully. Then she got into the copter and took her seat.
Clark did the same before watching the crew load Lana into the back and shut the door. His heart continued to lurch. Youcanpullthrough,Lana.I'mhere.He continued to stew over the persistent bluish tinge around the granite floor. Whatisthis?AmIpermanentlynormal?
The copter's blades spun faster and faster. Finally they lifted the craft off the ravine's floor and into the sky.
As they rose above the ravine, Miranda noted, "It's a beautiful sunrise at least."
"At least it's over," Clark agreed. "Thanks for the effort, Miranda. Lex told me you were going to repel in there."
"I wouldn't leave Lana or you down there to freeze," she responded as the sunlight flooded the cabin. "Wonder what that blue glow was?"
"I wonder too…" Then he felt a warm surge coursing through himself. He spasmed ever so slightly as if someone had given him a blast of energy. His bruises faded. The cuts healed themselves.
His abilities were back.
"Clark? What's going on?" Miranda wondered.
Once over the euphoria, he grimaced. Great.Shehadtonotice."Don't say anything to them. I'll explain later."
Miranda nodded although she wasn't convinced. As much as she could yell, 'Meteor Freak' and deal with the repercussions, she decided not to. After all, she understood the value of such secrets. "Okay, Clark." She leaned close. "This is your secret, isn't it?"
"Part of it," he whispered back. "I'll tell you and Lana when this is over."
"Fair enough," she agreed. "Let's just get Lana through this mess. Then we can talk with your folks."
Clark leaned back feeling relieved that the other girl was sensible enough to take that tact. He just hoped his parents would be able to deal with it as well…..