Chapter 15
Jonathan stalked in the door. He'd spent most of the day at Dodge City's feed store and Grange. Votes and forecasts didn't go his or the other farmers' way to be honest. Now, Martha's cooking raised his mood. "Hi, Martha! How…? Well! Look at who's here! Full house for dinner?" Surprise raised his eyebrows. Concern focused on Lana's pale appearance. Miranda's attention remained focused on Lana. Clark helped Martha with dinner.
"Hey, Dad! Mom's got a great dinner going. How did the run go to Dodge?" Clark grinned from where he stood by the stove.
Jonathan smiled. "It was a feed run, Son. I guess it's like the others." He studied Lana. "What's going on with you, Lana? Are you all right? You didn't get sick."
"Mr. Kent, I…I guess I had the same thing Clark has with a new ability. My telepathy went into overdrive around the Talon this morning. I've been here all day just relaxing and trying to get some peace." Lana rubbed her forehead. "It's here too but not as bad."
"Telepathy?" Jonathan cleared his throat. "Isn't that like doing things with your mind?"
It sure is, Mr. Kent, Miranda interjected. "Don't worry. I don't go snooping around in people's heads. Our duo here though need to figure out how to blend in better. I know all about them. Clark…or whoever he was at that point…I saw at a gas station using speed, super strength and heat beams from his eyes. Lana had her mental issues. She spilled boiling hot coffee all over herself after crushing a ceramic cup like an egg in her hands. Sorry, Lana, but you didn't feel it." She rubbed the back of her neck. "I just want to come clean with Mrs. Kent and you, Mr. Kent. I haven't said anything to anyone. By the way, Captain Plaid, you owe me for that gas and go on 35." She flicked an eyebrow at Clark.
"Wait! Gas and Go? Does that mean he stole gas?" Jonathan rubbed his forehead. "Clark…"
"Dad, Miranda covered it. We just have to pay her back." Clark shrugged.
"Clark, the owner's not going to say anything. Still, I'm sure the cameras at the station caught you on film. Someone will see that. You and Lana have to be careful!" Miranda slapped the table with her hand. "It's just like Dr. Swann said, people know about you two!"
"They know…what?" Paranoia raised Jonathan's back like an angry cat. "What do you mean they know? And Dr. Swann's talked with you again? How come I didn't hear about this?"
"Jonathan, you just came in the door." Martha shook his argument off. "He called this morning. You weren't here. At least he shared what he knows with me. Look at what he did for Clark just three days ago. He just wants to help Lana with her issues. Jor-El trusts him for what that's worth."
"Jor-El?" Jonathan narrowed his eyes. "He changed Lana! For all we know, he could have done this to her too! I don't like lying to Gabe Sullivan about this, Martha. We don't need trouble with Nell or him over this."
I DID NO SUCH THING, JONATHAN KENT!
Rainbow shading illuminated the walls and furnishings. Kryptonian symbols glowed along each colored streak within that lighting.
"Wait! The symbols! Aren't those like the ones in the caves? I…" Lana studied them. "I understand them! I…I can read them?" She stiffened.
THEY ARE KRYPTONIAN SYMBOLS. THE NATIVE POPULATION'S LANGUAGE IS BASED UPON OURS. AS A KRYPTONIAN, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THEM. SO CAN KAL-EL IF HE APPLIES HIMSELF.
Really? Miranda marveled at the pictographs and colors. "Wow. So they're really a language?"
"A language and a culture, Miranda." Clark took a deep breath. "We don't know its exact location. Dr. Swann has an idea based on radio waves and a lot of other stuff that makes my head hurt. He'll tell you more when we talk with him."
KEEP YOUR EARS OPEN AND LISTEN! Jor-El went silent. The rainbow hue faded. The lighting returned to normal.
"Clark…" Martha motioned toward Jonathan. "Sorry, Jonathan. Dr. Swann offered to have us all go up there to talk with him this time. He's been really open and honest. He didn't want to hide anything."
"So, he says." Jonathan bristled. "How are we going to do that, Martha? Lana and Miranda need to work at the Talon. Gabe Sullivan's going to want to know what Lana's doing. I don't want Chloe learning about Clark or Lana. We were lucky again. At least, Miranda's here and talking with us rather than going off on her own or spreading it to other people. So, thank you for that. We appreciate it."
"You're welcome. I have their backs, Mr. Kent. Maybe I can ask you questions here if I have to? I'd like to have someone to talk to if I need to. I can also keep watch in the Talon," Miranda offered.
"That'd be fine, Miranda." Jonathan relaxed. "I'm glad someone's paying attention. I saw something on the news earlier about Lex?"
"Chloe saved his life earlier, Dad. He was poisoned. It just happened really fast." Clark shook his head. "He was fine at the cemetery. He gave me a ride to the Talon after dropping off some flowers for Sarah. Then, we were about to have coffee when he started sweating. He passed out."
"He should've died, Clark. Something happened in that hospital room." Miranda frowned. "Mr. Luthor recovered too fast. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy to see him like that. The energy…then there was a chill and a stench like…I don't know…rotten eggs. It's been a long time since I felt or smelled anything like that. It's a good thing you weren't there, Lana. It was just like at the Talon earlier. I feel it here too."
"It is here. It's really weird but you're right!" Lana glanced about the house. "It's really faint but I can feel it in here. I really felt it up in the Loft earlier. There's something outside." She got up from her chair. With slow halting steps, she crossed the room toward the back door. Then, she opened it and looked outside. "It's up by the wall. You know where the trees are?" She pointed.
Martha and Jonathan stared at each other and then at her. "Lana, everything you just named. There was a person like that. I didn't believe in magic or witches before he came around here. He's responsible for the Talon being here. He…" Jonathan squirmed letting his voice trail off.
"That man was the magical version of Byron Moore, Kids. He had some big issues. He died a long time ago." Lament hung Martha's shoulders. "That man never had a moment of peace."
"He may have had issues, Mrs. Kent. If I'm right, I knew him too." Miranda tapped her fingers. "Since you've trusted me with a secret, can I trust you all? This really can't get out. If it does, Arighatto and Mr. Luthor's Dad could try and have you killed too." She looked at each of them. Skittishness caused her to be jumpy. She glanced out the window as well.
Lana raised an eyebrow. She noted Out of Character Paranoia in Miranda's voice. "Miri, you're scaring me. Mr. Luthor wouldn't…"
"Lionel Luthor's done a lot of other things, Lana. Listen to Miranda. She's right." Jonathan ground his teeth. His Distrust of All Things Luthor seeped into his tone and facial gesture. "This is why I am constantly reminding Clark and now you, Lana, to be careful. We don't know who's watching or where they are. Look at what happened to Lex. He let his guard down. You both can't. Anyway, Miranda, I'm sorry. Clark, Mrs. Kent and I will keep your secret. Lana?"
"As if you have to ask me? Of course! What's so bad that you're like this?" Lana looked to her best friend. "It can't be that bad."
"Depends on who you ask." Miranda mulled over her next words carefully. "The man that Mr. and Mrs. Kent were describing was my Uncle Dave. My birth name was Miranda Dubois. Mr. Luthor and the Step Monster changed it after he kidnapped me. Mr. Lex doesn't know."
"Wait!" Martha slapped her hands over her mouth. "So you're that Miranda? You're his brother's daughter! I remember David talking about you! Lex never figured it out? Really?"
"We never would have, Martha. Granted, Lex and David were like brothers. Still, Lionel and David hated each other." Jonathan turned to Miranda. "Your uncle was like a member of our family. As if you weren't before, you are now, Miranda. If you have questions, Mrs. Kent and I can answer them. I don't know what else Swann can tell you. If Lex wants to answer questions, we can let him do so here if he wants to. What I said to them applies to you as well. Be careful what questions you ask, when you ask them and to whom you ask them. Are we clear?"
"Perfectly, Mr. Kent. Thanks." Miranda relaxed. Granted, Arighatto's threat still remained outside. Still, within the farmhouse's walls, Safety and Strength seemed to bolster her resolve.
"I wish your parents were here, Lana. Your Mom knew him really well." A twinkle danced in Martha's eye. "In fact, he got your father to talk with your mother at the Talon's concession booth." Wry smile creased her face.
Lana shook her head. She glanced at Miranda and then at Clark. Once more, her world seemed smaller and more interconnected than ever. Preconceptions and Imagination couldn't have predicted such things.
As the saying goes, it was a smaller world after all….