Chapter 31
The following day the citizens of Metropolis awoke to a gray overcast sky and crisp autumn temperatures. At the riverfront house, a tired Lois glanced at the bedside clock and realized she was way behind schedule. She forced herself out of bed and headed for the shower. In twenty minutes, Lois managed to shower, pin up her hair, don a dark cashmere sweater and comfortable gray slacks. Symbolically the outfit matched her mood and the cloudy gray weather.
After dropping Jason at school, Lois grabbed an espresso at her favorite coffee shop and had finished half of it when she entered the Daily Planet newsroom much later than usual. Thoughts of Superman and his whereabouts still plagued her and when Perry's office door opened, she flinched, fully expecting him to ask her where Superman was.
He didn't. Instead, he stepped into the newsroom and barked, "Ben! Jimmy!"
"Yes, Chief!" The two men jumped from their desks. Ben snatched up a pen and notepads, Jimmy scooped up his camera.
"You two will cover the towing of the USS Gallant. It's happening this morning. Pictures taken from Mercy Bridge would make a great front page along with a good article."
Ben quirked an eyebrow. "The World War II aircraft carrier?"
"Yes." There was a touch of admiration in Perry's voice. "You seem to know your ships."
"Well, I know a little," said Ben. "The Gallant is being towed to dry dock for refurbishing and repairs."
"That's right." Perry smiled, pleased with Ben's knowledge. "I've obviously picked the right man for the job. I expect a great background story about the Gallant and her World War II service. With great pictures." Perry looked at Jimmy who was straightening the cord of his camera around his neck, then at both men, and barked, "By tomorrow morning!"
"Yes, Chief!" Ben and Jimmy replied and dashed from the newsroom.
Perry noticed Lois just sitting down at her desk. He walked over, put his hands on his hips, and said, "A little late this morning aren't you, Lois?"
Lois didn't look up. "I'm sorry, Mr. White. I didn't sleep well last night." She sorted through a pile of papers on her desk. "I overslept . . . and . . . uh, I really need to speak to Richard." She glanced over at Richard's office.
"Seems he's late, too," Perry said, eyeing Lois suspiciously.
"Yeah," Lois mumbled vaguely and went back to sorting papers. Richard must have gone to the docks just like he said he would.
"Lois, you'll be covering the arrival of the York Diamond at the Metropolis Gem and Mineral Museum. You need to be there by eleven," Perry said sharply.
"But," Lois began to protest. Perry's stern expression stopped her. Checking on Richard and the Lexicon Corporation would have to wait. "I'll get right on it," she said respectfully.
Perry nodded and returned to his office. Once inside he lifted the slats of the window's mini-blinds and peered at the gray, cloudy sky. Would it be another day without Superman? Perry hoped not. Superman stories sold newspapers.
# # # # # #
At eleven o'clock that morning, Ben and Jimmy were strategically positioned on Mercy Bridge. They, and several other reporters and photographers, were gathered along the bridge's stone railing all eagerly awaiting the arrival of the USS Gallant. Jimmy adjusted, and readjusted, his camera lens while Ben used his phone to search for information on the Gallant.
"Hey everybody, here she comes!" a reporter shouted.
All eyes, and cameras, instantly focused on the USS Gallant gliding majestically through the river's choppy waters. Six small tugboats shepherded the mighty ship, three on each side, to her new destination.
"Wow," said Ben admiring the ship. "She weighs twenty-seven thousand tons and has served as a floating museum for the past ten years."
"Information for your story?" Jimmy asked lifting his camera and adjusting the lens yet again. "I'll try to get some great pictures for your article, but these clouds aren't helping."
"Do your best." Ben held up his blackberry. "I've got plenty to write about this war hero."
Reporters and photographers moved about the bridge jockeying for the best positions. The sound of flash bulbs and clicking cameras filled the brisk morning air.
The Gallant drew within six hundred yards of the bridge and an observant Ben pointed a dark finger at the ship. "Hey, what's wrong with the tug on the left, the one at the end? Looks like it's tipping towards the ship."
All eyes and cameras shifted to the tug Ben had indicated.
"This isn't good," a reporter said. "Looks like it might capsize. Hey, I think the towing line's too tight!"
As the Gallant glided ever closer to the bridge, the tug's tow line tightened evermore, further tilting the tug. Terrified onlookers realized the small boat would certainly capsize unless the line slackened. On the tugboat's deck, two harried sailors tried to remedy the situation with no success. Cameras clicked furiously memorializing the tug's precarious situation.
Then, in one horrifying second, the line tightened again. The tug jerked violently and one of the sailors was tossed into the rough icy river. The remaining sailor managed to grab hold of the deck's railing and clung to it as the tug savagely rocked back and forth tossing him around like a rag-doll.
Stunned by this sudden turn of events, reporters and photographers grabbed their cell phones and called for help.
The horrified crowd watched as the poor battered sailor was thrown against the side of the tug and knocked unconscious. He lost his grip on the railing and fell into the choppy water.
"Oh no. Oh no," said a terrified Ben. "That guy's out cold. He'll drown."
A fellow reporter yelled, "It's worse. It looks like the tug's going to capsize right on top of him."
The first sailor was splashing around in the icy water trying desperately to swim away from the tug and the Gallant. Unfortunately, the Gallant's wake kept pulling him back making escape impossible.
"An ambulance is on the way!" shouted a reporter. "They're also contacting the Coast Guard and police and fire departments!"
Another reporter voiced everyone's concerns, "I don't think they're going to get here in time to save that guy."
Anxious reporters and photographs exchanged fearful glances and said silent prayers as the unconscious sailor's body slid under the icy water. Then, a sonic boom shattered the dark sky above their heads and shook the bridge beneath their feet. All eyes turned skyward just in time to witness the arrival of a blue and red streak speeding straight for the capsizing tug. Spontaneous cheers and shouts of joys erupted from the crowd.
As Superman neared the tug, he severed the taut line with his heat-vision. He grabbed the tug's railing and righted the small boat, then scooped the unconscious sailor out of the river and flew him to the bridge. The loud wail of sirens announced an approaching ambulance.
Cameras flashed all around the Man of Steel as he landed on the bridge with the unconscious sailor clutched in his arms. The ambulance stopped in front of the crowd and extinguished its sirens. Two medics sprang from the rear of the vehicle and rapidly removed a stretcher and medical equipment. The crowd parted, allowing Superman access to the waiting stretcher and medics. Superman laid the limp, soaking sailor on the stretcher and stepped back. The medics gathered round and immediately started CPR.
In a flash, Superman returned to the river and retrieved the other sailor. More medics rushed forward with a fresh stretcher when Superman landed on the bridge with the second soggy sailor. Superman gently lowered the man onto the soft white sheets of the stretcher.
Through chattering teeth, the exhausted sailor said, "Th . thank . thank you Superman . . . I, I, I don't think I coulda lasted much lo . long . longer."
"You're in good hands now," Superman assured the man and stepped aside allowing the medics to take over. Superman noticed the first sailor was now breathing on his own and an oxygen mask aided his efforts. Certain the men were no longer in danger, Superman returned to the river once more.
Two escort tugs were already making their way to the drifting tug. Superman helped by gently pushing the tug toward them. Once the tug was securely tied to its rescuers Superman rose in the sky and waved to the sailors on the tugs and the USS Gallant. Shouts of "Thanks, Superman" came from all directions.
Photographers seized the opportunity for another awe-inspiring photo. Cameras flashed capturing Superman silhouetted against the gray sky with a cool autumn breeze perfectly splaying his cape as he watched the ambulance speed away. Super-hearing detected gunshots and Superman rocketed away leaving the reporters and photographers to wonder what the next emergency was.
The tall stately Metropolis Gem and Mineral Museum came into view as Superman neared the sound of the gunshots. Parked at the building's entrance was an armored car containing the York Diamond. Two police cruisers were parked on either side of the armored car. Four police officers had escorted the armored car to the museum. Two men in each cruiser. The officers were crouched outside their cruisers and pinned down by gunfire from two robbers in ski masks. The police officers used their patrol cars as cover as they returned fire.
The armed robbers also used vehicles as cover. One robber had a revolver and the other had an assault rifle set to semi-automatic. He sent a blistering barrage of bullets at the crouched police officers keeping him pinned down.
Superman's eyes swept the scene, picking out details. Outside the armored car lay the driver, face down and bleeding. Inside the car, he heard a guard moan.
A pretty blonde female photographer, working for the Metropolis Star, spotted Superman in the sky. Hoping for a better picture, she fumbled with her camera as she inched closer to the armored car.
Superman swooped down and landed a few feet in front of the robber with the assault rifle. The robber, momentarily surprised, stopped firing at the police officers and stared at Superman. Then a devilish gleam replaced his surprise and a depraved smile spread across his lips. He shifted his aim and fired point-blank at Superman. Bullets ricocheted off of Superman's chest. He caught the bullets and lightly pushed the man with his hand, sending him flying backwards. The shocked robber flew ten feet before hitting the museum's stone wall and sliding to the ground in an unconscious heap. Superman dropped the sizzling bullet pellets on the pavement
All gunfire abruptly stopped. It was eerily silent. Superman turned slowly, his sensitive ears tuned to a woman's shaky breath, racing heartbeat, and soft whimpers. He came face to face with the other robber. The robber held the pretty blonde reporter tight with an arm across her chest and a revolver pressed hard against her neck. The reporter's bright blue eyes were wide with unrestrained terror. She had foolishly gotten too close and the robber had grabbed her while Superman confronted his partner.
The robber, feeling cocky, grinned at Superman. "Hi, Supes."
Superman took a step toward the robber and his hostage.
"Uh, uh, uh. Not so close there, big blue." The robber pressed the revolver harder against the reporter's neck. "I want to walk out of here with the diamond and my hostage." The robber's eyes narrowed. "If I pull the trigger, I don't think even you are fast enough to save her."
In the blink of an eye Superman grabbed the robber's arms, pulled them apart, and the pretty blonde slumped to the ground. Superman's right hand closed around the robber's neck as his left hand caught the falling revolver.
"Think again," Superman said peering into the robber's eyes.
The robber struggled against the steely hand locked around his neck. He looked into the angry eyes of the Man of Steel as his feet dangled an inch above the ground.
Superman held up the revolver for the robber to see and closed his hand around it. The robber, gasping for breath, heard the sound of crunching metal. Superman opened his hand and let the mangled metal drop to the pavement where it clattered softly.