Author: Annakatharina
Rated: PG
Note:
It all began as a gentle poke to remind me to answer my e-mail, but Annakatharina’s story has evolved into a delightful fantasy world where Superman and Peace are friends — how can I resist such a story?
Annakatharina is German, and asked me to correct her English in this story — I’ve tried to do so without changing the flavor of her writing. I hope you enjoy this fantasy as much as I have.
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I. First Contact
Tap … Tap … Tap …
It’s your window. Can you hear it? Tap … Tap … Don’t you want to see who’s at your window? Hey, you’re brave – do it. There’s a strong man with a red cape — you know him — let him in your room.
“Hello, Peace. May I come in?”
“Superman?!?!?! Sure.”
**What is he doing here? God, he is real! He’s supposed to be a fantasy! Have I written something he doesn’t like and now he’s angry? No, this has to be a dream — this cannot be real!**
“No problem, I’ll move the flowers …I’ll open the window. Now … be careful, there’s a figurine … oh your cape … there are papers … the lamp … uh … you got it.”
“Sorry. I don’t want to scare you. I’m doing a favor for a friend. Do you have five minutes of free time?”
“Five minutes?”
**His voice is amazing – wow – he is something. I need a chair. I have to sit down or ….**
“Can I help you? Can I offer you a drink? I’m .. I am … I will … Shall I…Oh, god …what are you doing here?”
**His smile is fantastic**
“First of all – I am real. You’re not dreaming. In this world all the humans I visit seem to believe that they’re dreaming. Nice to meet you, Peace.”
“Nice to meet you, too, Superman.”
**Wow, I’m shaking hands with Superman!**
“And you’ve already done a lot for me. You are helping me. Now – will you fly with me? I have to show you something. Trust me?”
“Fly with Superman?”**This is a dream – this is my favorite dream.**”Yes, if you can prove you’re real, I’ll trust you.”
“Okay, let’s see. When you fly with me at super-speed you need a blanket — here you are, directly out of hyperspace — and now, when I cover you, you feel warm.”
“Really, I can feel it – ”
“And now, when I take you in my arms, you can feel it, too, can’t you?”
“Oh yes.”
**His brown eyes so nearby**
“But I can’t move my arms – you’ve covered me like an Egyptian mummy. I want to have a grip so I can feel safe.”
“I won’t let you drop. At super-speed you have to close your eyes, too.”
“It’s nice here, in your arms, but when we fly …”
“Trust me now?”
“Yes. This is an adventure I’ve waited for. If I said no, I’d regret it the rest of my life. So go on. But please, use the front door. The window is too small.”
Whhoshshshshsh…
“You can open your eyes now, I’ll slow down. Peace, do you feel okay? Oh, god. Was it too fast?”
“Oh! Have we arrived already? I thought we were just starting. I only felt a tight grip – that’s all? Where are we?”
“That was super-speed. But now I’ll use a slower one. You can look around. See? I’ll remove the blanket. You can have the hold you wanted.”
“Oh, there’s a city … a river … oh, look, a nice market place. There’s an old church, a cathedral, a historic town hall, other buildings. They’re very old, aren’t they?”
“This is Bremen in Germany. Can you see the Roland Statue? It has symbolized Bremen’s freedom for over 600 years. The history of this city stretches back more than 1,200 years. But let’s fly near the university. That’s what I wanted to show you.”
“A flag? You fly me around the world to show me a flag?”
“Yes. Can you read what’s written on it?”
“Hmm … a red flag, the Superman symbol, some words … Hello Peace FORGET ME NOT ??”
“That’s all. I’ve completed my mission. Now we can fly back.”
“Who made a banner with this sign in Bremen for me? Who should I not forget?”
“Oh, this is the house of Annakatharina. I met her yesterday and she wanted to send you a ‘hello’ with my help. She doesn’t want to press you. She just enjoys writing.”
“Oh, wow …I can’t believe it. Oh yes, I remember. I’ve been very busy and I’d promised her to answer soon.”
“Yes, she knows, but she likes to write. And when people have fantasies in your world, the other worlds change. Let’s fly back slower, so I can explain it to you.
“First, I am Superman. Well, one Superman — there are others in other alternative worlds. You can call them fantasy worlds – for me they’re real. H.G. Wells lent me a time-travel machine which can also travel to other universes. I’m searching for my Lois. Tempus has sent her to another universe, and I don’t know how to find her. You know my world. Elvis is alive. Jimmy is a rich man. The Lois of another world changed my life and disappeared, and later I helped her and Clark in their world. I started to search for my Lois with the time-travel machine.
“Suddenly I arrived in this world, a world without Metropolis or Gotham City, a world where Superman is a fantasy. I noticed some of your fantasies become real in other worlds. Fantasy seems to be a key for it. That doesn’t mean that the other worlds aren’t real. I found here some fantasies about us or other worlds. Now I believe when I read your fantasies, I can find a hint for my search. You see?”
“Wow. I see.”
“Please don’t stop writing the fantasy stories! We need them. You remember last weekend with the nice guy? That was a fantasy of- oh, no! that’s a secret. But, here we are — back at your home.”
“What? My love-life is a fantasy? Stop it. I can’t believe this.”
“You don’t have to believe it – it’s your real life. At first, I also had problems with it. Can you imagine how difficult it is for me when so many women in this world know all about my love-life? Or that I haven’t had a love-life until now? I have to find my Lois … believe me.”
“How can we help you?”
“Go on writing stories. Go on having fantasies. Go on dreaming. That’s all. With your stories, you can turn on the fantasies of others. So you can and you already have helped me a lot. Thank you.”
“I don’t know what to say. There’s so much to think about. I’m very puzzled.”
“There’s no need so say anything. But now my time is over. I have to go. I’m very pleased to have met you.”
“Superman, I still have so many questions. I want you to stay longer … please…”
“Sorry, time is up. Have a great life.”
Whhoshshshshsh…
**Now close your window. You’ve forgotten it.**
II. Peace’s Visitor
It was a mild sunny afternoon in spring. Peace was sitting at her desk. She sighed and stretched. Finally she had time to read her private e-mail.
The Kerth Awards had been wonderful. The Saturday evening at the chat had been a great happening. Sometimes there had been nearly eighty visitors in #kerth_chat – all together following the ceremony in #kerth_awards. Laughing, applauding, teasing about the clothing of the others (nobody could really see anyone) and offering drinks – just like an Oscars ceremony.
After an envelope had been opened and the first of the nominees had been named, the happy and nervous winner had tried to type with trembling hands some thankful words to the readers and the others who had helped to write the story. The sounds had been perfect and all had been excited and happy. It had been the best evening she had ever had in the chatroom, but being involved in coordinating the Kerths had been really hard, and now she was happy it was over.
The following Sunday she slept exhausted til 1 PM. The next week was filled with cleaning, washing, and doing all the things there are to do when someone has had no time for weeks. She went to the hairdresser. She had been happy that nobody really could see her during the Kerth ceremony. Then she had a “date” with her dentist. Her freezer was empty; she had to fill it. All the time before the awards she had comforted her family with the words: “… after the Kerths …” so they had been waiting too. But now she was smiling. Before her nice guy arrived, she had some time to clear up her letters.
“Ding-Dong! Ding-Dong!” her doorbell rang.
Peace looked quickly at her clock – it was too early for her date.
“Coming!”
She rushed to open the door. She peeked carefully through the doorspy. In front of her was standing a large man wearing dirty blue jeans and a loose T-shirt. His long black hair was bound in back with a leather string.
“Who’s that?” she wondered.
“Hi, Peace! Remember me?”
She could only see friendly brown eyes. The rest of his face was mostly hidden under a beard.
“Eh, no, sorry. Should I?”
“I know. l look a lot different. Last time I had no beard and my hair was shorter …and I was wearing another suit too…” He held his hands up in a friendly gesture. “May I come in?”
Peace didn’t know anybody like him. She wanted to return to her computer.
“Maybe you remember our short flight to Europe?”
“Superman??” Peace couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Clark, please. I’ve had some problems and –”
“What’s happened? You look horrible … oh, sorry … sure, come in…”
Peace opened her door and led Clark in her living room. She was happy her spring-cleaning was finished. The day before her apartment had been a complete mess.
Clark sighed. “Never in my life have I felt so helpless. Sorry for disturbing you.”
“Supe… er, Clark, I’m happy to see you again. I’m very pleased.”
Clark smiled at her excited face. “Thank you. Thank you very much. I’m happy to see you too.”
“Can I help you? What about a drink? Are you hungry? Sit down, please. Make yourself comfortable …”
Clark looked down unhappily at his dirty pants. “I don’t want to ruin your couch … I’d better sit on the floor.”
Peace hid a grin. “Your outfit has changed a lot … and your hair …” She shook her head. “May I help you?” She looked up and down at Clark’s clothes. “I’ve got an idea. Not that it would be necessary, it really doesn’t matter – but I could wash your jeans if you have enough time. In the meantime … maybe you’d feel better after taking a shower?”
Clark’s face lightened. “A shower! That sounds wonderful. I haven’t taken one in two years. The spare water was too important for survival. I guess I’m offending your nose too?”
Peace laughed and asked curiously, “Two years? We saw each other a couple of weeks ago and … ah – I see – time traveling!”
Clark answered seriously. “Yes, it was a very long time. Sometimes I thought I would never be able to return.” He sighed, then he turned and asked, “Could I really take a shower?” He was suddenly very shy, and ran a hand through his hair.
“No problem – take it! My bathroom is on the left. I’ll bring some things you can wear while your clothes are drying.”
Clark looked ashamed into Peace’s eyes. He chuckled. “Usually this isn’t the first thing I do when I’m visiting a friend, but I cannot resist the offer of a shower. I guess my jeans need some cleaning too!” Clark smiled and followed slowly Peace in the bathroom.
“The towels are in the cupboard on the right. Do you need anything else?”
Clark scratched his chin. “Maybe you have some kind of shaver? My beard … I hate it. It makes me crazy – it’s itchy. But it will be enough to take a shower. I’m –”
“Sure, uh, I have a kind of razor.” Peace opened a cupboard and showed Clark some little disposable razors.
“Oh, that’s great. Maybe it’ll work.” Clark inspected the razors. “But first it will be better to use scissors.”
Peace frowned. “Superman needs a razor? I thought the razor would break when you used it. What about your heat-vision trick?”
Clark sighed. “Peace … I’ve lost all my powers. I’ve been at a terrible place. I stayed there nearly forever. I cannot use any of my powers – no super-hearing, no super-vision, no flying. My baggage is hidden in hyperspace – I can’t reach it. And last but not least, I’m not in the right universe. The time-travel machine doesn’t work. I could only return to the last point where I changed, and that was here … at your front door.” Clark stopped, lost in thought.
Peace was stunned. “Oh, Clark – that sounds awful. You know I’ll do anything to help you.”
“I’m hoping my powers will return again under this sun. I don’t know how much time it may take. A few days, a week or a month – I don’t know. Don’t worry. I won’t stay here all that time. I’ll find a job or something. That’s not a problem for me.”
“Oh my …” Peace didn’t know what to say. “Wow. That’s even worse than I expected. You know you can sleep on my couch.”
“I wouldn’t like to disturb you. No, I can sleep in a shelter until I get my first pay. I’ve done it before. No problem, believe me. I grew up on a farm, remember? Everywhere farmers need some help. I’m a reporter too, so I could write again. O.K.?”
“But today it’s late. Please, do me a favor and sleep here.”
Clark looked into Peace’s eyes. “No …hmm … I don’t know.”
“First take your shower. Later we’ll see.” Peace was determined. “Any further decision can wait.” She smiled up at him. “What about pasta, mushrooms and salad?”
Clark’s resistance was melting.
“Take your time. You can put your clothes outside the door. I’ll start the washing-machine when you’re ready,” Peace offered. “Think my jogging pants will fit you? I have an extra large sweatshirt. I’ll see.” She turned and left the bathroom.
Clark looked in the mirror and was shocked. “No wonder she doesn’t remember me. I don’t even know myself. I look like a hippie.” He took his T-shirt off and laid a towel in the sink. He started to cut his beard.
When Peace returned with her clothing she burst out laughing. “Oh my … ” She held a hand over her mouth. “You look….”
Clark grinned and continued to shave. On one side his beard was still long, on his other cheek, it was short – at some places almost naked. He cut with scissors near his skin strip by strip.
When he had finished the last part, he smiled at Peace. “Better?”
Peace couldn’t answer; she was still giggling. Now his face looked like an old unkempt teddy-bear. It was time for the razor.
“Oh, maybe you’d like to brush your teeth?” She reached into the cupboard and gave Clark a new toothbrush.
“Peace, you know my most secret wishes!” He laughed, carefully folded the towel and gave it Peace. “Can you please take it …?”
“Oh, sorry … sure. If you need anything else, I’m in the kitchen.” Peace took the towel and disappeared.
In the kitchen she hid the towel in a plastic-bag. “Superman’s beard …” she sighed, ” …wow,” and started whistling “Fly Me To The Moon” as she prepared their dinner.
The pasta was ready, the mushrooms were heating in a pan. She only had to mix the dressing for the salad. Clark’s clothing were turning in the washing machine. Suddenly “Ding-Dong! Ding-Dong!” her doorbell rang again.
“Oh no! My date!! I’d completely forgotten it.” Peace opened the door.
“Hmmmm – that smells good! I thought we’d go out, but this is a very nice surprise!” Ed stood in her doorway.
“Oh, Ed … no … yeah … I’ve … uh … come in!” Peace was speechless. She could write wonderful stories and speak like a politician but this time she was lost for words.
Ed was stunned. In the living room stood a half-naked man, with only a towel around his hips, drying his long hair.
“May I introduce Clark? Clark, this is Ed, a very good friend of mine.”
Clark, now looking more like the Clark she knew, stretched out his hand
“Hi, Ed. Nice to meet you.” He winked knowingly at Peace. “Ah. This is Ed. I’ve read about him.”
“What?? Are you writing about me??” Ed cried, surprised.
“No, no, nothing like that.” Peace blushed.
Clark tried to help. “Oh, sorry, I’m still confused. I arrived this afternoon. Peace was kind enough to let me take a shower. I was so dirty … I couldn’t really wash myself the last few years.”
“You haven’t washed yourself? What? What’s going on here?” Ed was even more puzzled than before and shook hesitantly Clark’s hand.
Peace was opening and closing her mouth like a fish gasping for air.
“I’d better get dressed,” murmured Clark and turned to the bathroom.
“Could you please be so kind as to explain this? Who is your strange visitor?” Ed wanted to know.
“Sit down, please. Ed, please … calm down. I’ll try to explain.”
In the kitchen the mushrooms were steaming and the top of the pan started to tap. This was a very welcome excuse.
“My pasta sauce!” Peace raised her arms and rushed to the kitchen.
Clark returned. His brushed hair was bound at the back again. He wore Peace’s tight jogging pants and a crazy sweatshirt. On his feet he had white socks – too small to fit.
Ed looked curiously up and down at him. “Have we met before? You look familiar.”
“No, we haven’t … but maybe you’ve seen a picture or a movie of the actor Dean Cain? He looks a lot like me.”
“Yes, I get it. You’re right. Dean Cain – you’re his double! But you have longer hair.”
Clark chuckled. “I don’t know if I’m his double or he’s my double.”
“Peace has a many pictures of him and all his Superman shows. She’s still writing fan fiction stories about the series.”
“I know. I’ve read them.”
Peace returned with plates and cutlery. “Dinner is ready. Let’s eat and talk together. Ed, would you open a bottle of wine, please?”
The dinner was delicious. Clark and Ed had three helpings (Peace was too nervous to eat much) and now they were satisfied.
Peace and Clark had alternated trying to explain the situation. It had something to do with the Superman movies, fantasies, alternate universes, and the most important of all to Ed, searching for Clark’s girl.
Peace cleared the table and moved Clark’s clothes from the washing machine to the dryer.
Finally Clark started to talk about his mysterious adventure.
“I arrived at an area without plants, animals, humans or other signs of life. The whole territory was covered by a thick layer of dust. There had been buildings, streets and cars – but now it all was death. I flew higher to get a better view – it was all the same. There was a diffused light – the sky was dark gray. At this time, I was unaware that the sun couldn’t shine through the atmosphere.
“First I flew to Kansas – nothing – the whole continent, also Europe, Asia and Africa – all the same. In this universe a terrible catastrophe seemed to have killed all life.
“I came across a place with some signs of work being done. The dust had been cleared and fields were sowed with corn and young growing plants. It was in Lhasa, Tibet, at an abbey on a high mountain.
“I flew to the large building searching for humans and followed a sing-song sound. In a small hidden room I found a group of monks. They were very surprised and happy to see me. They started talking all at once. Suddenly one who seemed to be the leader offered me a hand, and asked me in different languages who I was and if he could help me. He was their Dalai Lama.
“After the introductions and the usual who, why, when, and where, he explained to me what had happened.
“An enormous asteroid had fallen and had started a series of incredible events.”
“The asteroid!” Peace cried. “But you stopped it!”
“No, Peace, not in that world. That universe had been without Superman and when I arrived it was too late.”
“Oh my. Terrible … horrible. And what happened next?”
“Some groups of human beings were still alive. They were hiding in deep caves in the mountains or in military places. Nobody knew how many groups existed. Some of them could communicate with walkie-talkies, but the batteries were rare. Some expeditions were searching for food and medicine. The most important problem was drinkable water. After the shockwave all the continents had been flooded for weeks, all but the highest mountains. The water returned to the ocean or other holes and the land had dried. But now almost all water reserves were poisoned – a chemical pollution.”
He looked briefly at Peace. “Some people used poisoned water to take baths or for laundry. They got allergic reactions all over their bodies.”
“All the different groups around the world had difficult problems and couldn’t help each other. So I started a flight connection and helped out with all my powers. I blew the dust off the fields, carried young plants and corn, found important medicines in buried hospitals.”
Clark looked down his hands. “But one morning I couldn’t fly anymore. The next week, I lost my strength. I need a yellow sun — and it was hidden. The whole sky had been an enormous dusty cloud. The asteroid had caused gigantic volcano eruptions all over the world and they were still active.”
He sighed. “I hadn’t noticed before how much I need my powers. I’m used to doing all normal things in my super way. A simple example – I couldn’t shave myself. My hair was still growing as steel-hard as ever. No knives worked. I didn’t try to cut it anymore.
“At last I noticed that I could be hurt. It was time to go. I wanted to continue my search for Lois.
“Now I had a further problem. I had completely forgotten to fuel the time-travel machine. I had been so busy. Usually I could charge it with my heat-vision, as H.G. Wells had prepared it for me, but without my powers I had to find another way. All the others needed energy too. So we had to build new power stations.
“The Dalai Lama became my good friend over this time. We had talked a lot. It’s unbelievable how much he knew about everything. He could remember all his former lives. So he was able to help his people. His group had been hidden in a secret cave after the catastrophe. He explained about the first time his monks had used it — it had been the time of Noah and his ark.”
Clark sighed. “The remaining humans there now have a real chance to survive. They are all working together. If it weren’t such a terrible situation you could call it a kind of utopia – a world without war.”
He held up his hands. “Finally we could partly fuel my time travel machine, and here I am. That’s all.”
“Wow.” Peace glanced at Ed.
“Ditto!” he was able to answer.
Peace refilled the glasses with wine. It was late evening. Ed looked at Clark with a new respect in his eyes. If this all is true, he thought. It’s so hard to believe…
Peace whispered, “And … have you found Lois?”
“No. But I’m glad I didn’t find her because it was terrible. It was more like this universe before the asteroid arrived.”
All were sitting lost in thought. Peace heard the dryer ‘ting’ and fetched Clark’s clothes. “Here they are – clean and dry.” She smiled at Clark.
“Oh,” he said, startled. “Thank you.” And he disappeared in the bathroom.
Ed asked Peace skeptically, “Do you believe him?”
“Yes. I flew with him.”
“Really? The whole thing sounds like a science fiction movie.” Ed slowly shook his head. “And I have a strange feeling about him.”
“Do you feel like you’re dreaming? As if you’re outside and can’t reach reality?” asked Peace.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I feel,” answered Ed.
“I felt the same,” she continued. “I guess it’s because he doesn’t belong to this universe. He has a strange aura which touches everybody nearby.” Peace sipped her wine. “Poor guy. Even in his own world,without this aura problem, he feels lost. He’s from Krypton – an alien on earth. The only person who can give him a feeling of belonging and home is his Lois. She is his soulmate.”
Clark returned dressed in his own clothes. “Now, I’d better go. Thanks for your help, Peace.”
“But … Clark! You can sleep here tonight. It’s too late to find a hotel. I’ll …”
Clark looked at Ed and back to Peace. “I’ve said it already. I don’t want to impose. It’s not a problem for me.”
“You could sleep at my place. My couch is very comfortable,” Ed offered. “I’ll go home now. I have to go to work early. My brother usually likes to sleep on my couch when he’s visiting me.” He smiled at Clark. “So … ?”
Clark took the offer. After shaking hands with Peace and lots of hugs and smiles, they both left Peace’s home.
Next morning Peace was awakened by the crazy ringing of the doorbell. She looked at her clock – 7 a.m.
“Oh no, it’s in the middle of the night! And this is my day off!” She sighed and walked slowly to open the door.
Ed and Clark stormed into her living room. They were laughing, screaming, and jumping like guys whose favorite baseball team has won.
Peace leaned against a wall and shook her head. “You got it. I’m awake now. Could one of you guys explain what happened?”
Clark lifted her high up in his arms and swung her around. “We’ve found her. My Lois! We finally have a clue. Now we can start a real search. Lois is here!!!”
“Stop! Let me down!” Peace was puzzled. “Lois is here? Where is she?”
“She’s in this universe! Ed has a statue of her.”
Peace looked at Ed. “A statue of Lois?”
Ed grinned and showed Peace a small ivory carving.
“This is Lois? This is an inheritance from your grandfather. He brought it back with him from his trip to Africa.”
Ed nodded and grinned some more. “Here. She looks exactly like Lois!”
Peace looked at it. “Oh yes – now I can see it too. She looks a lot like Lois. But this statue is very old. It’s historic art. Your grandfather was proud to have found it.”
Clark explained. “Time is not a problem for Tempus, remember? He hid Lois in another universe and even more, at a different time.”
Ed said, “Can you imagine? Lois was an African goddess. They named her *Lolane*. She was a goddess of protection for a powerful group of natives in Central Africa.”
Peace was stunned. “Wow. That’s like Lois. Abandoned in a strange world and ends up as a goddess. Do you know which century?”
Clark answered, “No, not exactly. We have to investigate this. I need books about historical African religions. May I use your computer? Are you online? And I have to repair my time-travel machine too! I’M SO HAPPY!!”
Peace laughed. “First of all, Clark, go outside on my balcony. Sit down in the sun. You need all the sunshine you can get. You need your powers back.”
“Yes, you’re right. I’ll sit in the sun and search for my Lois .. tatatataaaa … duddiduddidum.” Clark was singing. He opened the balcony door and swung the statue like a dancer.
Ed laughed. “He is crazy, isn’t he?” He winked at Peace. “This morning was incredible. When my alarm clock rang, I tried to be quiet. I thought he was still sleeping. Suddenly he burst into my bathroom with this statue. Oh dear, I was frightened! But it’s good to see him so happy.”
“Yeah, that’s really good. He was so lonely,” Peace agreed. “What about breakfast? Have you had any?”
“No, but I’ve no time now. I’m late. See you soon, Peace. Look after this guy!”
“Bye, see you. Call me?”
“Yes, I’m curious about what you find out. Bye!”
A few hours later Peace’s balcony had changed. The computer was outside on a desk, papers and books spread over a table. Clark was sitting in the sun dressed only in his jeans. He was typing and reading, searching and writing. Peace offered coffee and fetched other books. She was cooking lunch and baking a cake.
She was busy again, but took a moment to send a quick note to her friend Annakatharina. She really shouldn’t have been so surprised that Annakatharina seemed to know so much about her visitor.
<You could send an e-mail? Wow! Clark was busy and you were able to use your computer for yourself? BTW … please send me a curl of his unique beard. The plastic-bag with the towel is in your kitchen-cupboard on the left of your freezer, remember?
Annakatharina>>
III. Well-Known In The Neighborhood
One week later …
Peace came home from her job and found a sack of potatoes and some eggs on her doorstep. She was fumbling with her key to open the door when a neighbor came along.
“Hello Peace. How are you! Nice to see you. Yesterday I saw Mr. Finch. Can you ask Clark if he could paint the fence around my garden, too? It would be such a help for me. I could offer three hours ironing – that’s not as difficult as painting for me. Clark is a very nice friend. I hope he can stay longer.”
“Yes, Mrs. Smith, I’ll ask him. But he’s very busy. Maybe he’ll come on Saturday,” answered Peace.
Mr. Hook, another neighbor of Peace, arrived with a suitcase.
“Peace, can you please give this suitcase to Clark? He had promised to be Ken’s baby-sitter tomorrow. We’re so happy. Ken is always so peaceful when Clark is with him. He’s such a helpful guy, but Clark doesn’t like to come to us. In the suitcase are some clothes, diapers, and formula. I’ll bring Ken at 8 a.m. and we’ll return at 1 p.m. I’ll give him a key to our house, too. Isn’t it crazy? He said he wants to be outside the whole day!! Ah, and I can repair Mrs. Blooming’s washing-machine on Friday. Good night … Ken is waiting!”
Peace sighed and entered her home. “Clark? Are you here?”
“Yeah … on your balcony.”
“The potatoes and the eggs are here. And clothes for Ken.”
“Coming.” Clark pushed the enter button and come into the livingroom. “Hi, Peace! Let me take that – sit down. Make yourself comfortable. Dinner will be ready in a minute.”
Clark rushed to clear up. Peace dropped her briefcase, slipped out of her shoes and lay exhausted on her couch.
“Mrs. Smith asked if you can paint her fence too, maybe Saturday. She offered three hours ironing!”
“Fine, but we have enough ironing time from Mrs. Miller – I did some gardening for her. I need more baby-sitters. Maybe we can change it.” He considered. “Mrs. Blooming’s washing machine has to wait until Friday. Mr. Hook can repair it.”
Clark had finally agreed to sleep on Peace’s couch, so he hadn’t had to leave her home. Her visitor had caused many changes in her life, but it was worth it. He did all their housework – cleaning, washing, cooking and clearing up without asking. Oh yeah, she could get used to this.
His first morning on Peace’s balcony he had watched her neighbors and had offered his help. He didn’t want any money; he exchanged favors. Maybe it was because he’d lived the last two years in a world without money? Or maybe it was because he was Clark Kent alias Superman? Peace didn’t know. But all her neighbors were thrilled by her visitor and who could blame them?
Clark returned with bowls.
Peace raised her head to peek in. “Ah Chinese night! Hmm, that smells good.”
Clark fetched plates and cutlery. “Would you like wine or beer?”
“Oh, we have beer? Sounds good!”
“Yes. Mr. Finch’s fence, remember? Twelve bottles of beer and two of his chickens. One of the chickens is in the freezer; the other is now the Chinese one next to the rice.”
“Fine. And what have you planned to do with the potatoes and eggs?” asked Peace.
“Surprise. Don’t ask!” Clark sat down and filled the plates. “Come on, it’s getting cold.”
Peace smiled. “What have you found out today?”
“The statue was definitely created by African natives. The symbols on the back proved it. Our fax to Dr. Suencie, Cairo National Museum, was answered. He guessed that Lolane’s Temple could be near Mbaiki. That’s near the frontier to the Congo. There are some lost and hidden old places.”
“Could he say in which century she lived?”
“He isn’t sure. Maybe 1600 to 1800. They haven’t any written proof – African history was told from grandfather to grandson all the time. But I’ll test the figure at a lab.” He grinned at Peace. “He’s very interested in going with my ‘expedition’.”
Peace giggled. “Oh dear, what if he’s afraid of heights!”
Clark laughed. “He also would probably take lots of baggage with him. How could I carry all of that in the evenings? I can do many things, but I’m not an elephant!”
Peace burst out laughing. “Welcome to Superman-Safari – interesting sightseeing and nice night flights included!”
Clark continued like a TV commercial announcer, “… And during the safari, you can sleep in your own bed! First class service.”
They laughed the whole evening.
Next morning Clark opened the front door. “Good morning, Ken! Good morning, Mrs. Hook.”
“G’morning, Clark” Mrs. Hook smiled and put her baby into Clark’s arms. “How did you know we’d arrived? We hadn’t rung the doorbell. I was just about to, but you were already here!”
Clark was startled and tried to hide behind a very big bright smile. “Uh … hmm … I was looking for the newspaper … bye, Mrs. Hook. Have a nice day. Ken and I’ll have a great day – promise. Don’t worry … take your time.”
“Bye, Clark. Thank you very much for helping us. I have to go. Say hello to Peace.”
Mrs. Hook left the doorstep. Clark turned and took the baby to his stroller. “Ken you’re tired. Aren’t you?” He smiled at Ken. “You’d like to take a nap. When it’s your lunch-time you can wake up. After that we’ll walk to the park. What do you think, Ken?”
But Ken didn’t answer. He was already sleeping.
Clark pushed Ken’s stroller into Peace’s bedroom and sat down at the desk on the balcony. He tried to hear Ken’s breathing or tiny movements and … he had his super-hearing back! He could hear it. He was so happy. This was the first of his powers which had returned, so he had been able to hear Mrs. Hook and Ken on the doorstep.
He read his e-mail and answered Dr. Suencie’s fax. He didn’t want any company during his search. It would be complicated. He was waiting for his powers – then he could start. He wrote that he hadn’t planned a large expedition and he had asked about the goddess Lolane for a curious friend. The statue was an inheritance from his grandfather. And in a way that was all true.
Suddenly he noticed a familiar disturbing smell. He raised his head and … aha … it was definitely coming from Peace’s bedroom. He crossed the living room and opened the bedroom door.
“Hi, Ken.”
Ken looked with big eyes at Clark and answered with a toothless smile.
“What about a clean diaper?” Clark looked back the whole way to the balcony. He had smelled through the living room, the door, the bedroom, a blanket, and pants? “Ken, do you know that never before in my whole life have I been so happy to smell this?” He laughed and took the baby out of his stroller to change the diaper.
After Ken’s lunch bottle, they strolled in the direction of the park. They crossed Mrs. Smith’s garden. She was standing in front of her apple tree.
“Hi, Clark!”
“Hello, Mrs. Smith! May I introduce Mr. Ken Hook?” he asked and smiled at Ken. “Peace told me about your fence. I’ll paint it Saturday, but could you exchange your offer for ironing to baby-sitter-time? This little guy sometimes needs company.”
“Sure. He is so cute. That’s much better than ironing. I love babies. It will be my pleasure.” Mrs. Smith was excited. “I’ll bake an apple-cake for you. It will be more fair for your painting work than just baby-sitting.”
Clark’s mouth watered. “Thank you. I love your apple-cake. Hmm… with currants and nuts. And you put rum in the dough. I tasted it last time.”
Mrs. Smith blushed. Finally a man who appreciated her recipe!
“See you later, Mrs. Smith. We have to go.”
“Bye, Clark, bye, Ken!”
“Bye, Mrs. Smith,” and Clark walked further down the road.
On his way to the park he met different neighbors and handled their requests. Sure, sometimes they had helped each other, but never in such a planned way. Now they were wondering why — it was so easy.
Step by step Clark’s powers returned. He tanked up on the sunshine in Texas every day. When the others tried to stay in shady places, Clark sat directly in the sun.
One evening he surprised Peace with his glasses. “I have my super-speed back. I took my baggage out of hyperspace. I thought that it would be better to use my glasses again … my x-ray vision has returned.”
The neighbors wondered at how fast he could put up wallpaper. More and more he had to control himself as in the years before.
Peace was happy for him, but also sad. It meant that her visitor would leave this world in a short time.
The morning that Clark awoke floating above the couch bed, he stopped accepting jobs.
Even with so helpful a houseguest, Peace was busier than ever. Ed was still her best friend, but romance had blossomed with a young man named Karl whom Clark had introduced her to, and she spent many hours in his company. Still she occasionally found time to write notes to her friend in Germany and to read and enjoy the replies.
<Many thanks for your English-lesson. I hope I haven’t mixed something.
I see: The American word for disposable nappies or napkins is diapers, and their babies are wearing them
The British people use American napkins to clean their mouths after a great meal. And because their French neighbors are wondering why the British people do that – are they offering serviettes.
It’s always useful to have neighbors – isn’t it?
Annakatharina>>
IV. The Diary
*****
During the last few days Clark had been in Africa searching for Lolane’s Temple. Bit by bit, he flew over the jungle near the Congo frontier, using his x-ray vision to look for unusual hidden buildings. Some lost temples he found were for other gods or goddess. He even saw the grave of a native king.
Finally he discovered the only place which was interesting to him. Lois’s home a long time ago — Lolane’s Temple.
Over the centuries it had been destroyed. It was hidden under sling-plants and orchids, inhabited by monkeys and snakes. Clark carefully cut free the entrance. He followed a small way to light and stood stunned.
In a large hall stood a tremendous golden statue like Ed’s small ivory carving – Lois Lane! She was wearing a knotted shawl. In her left hand she held a golden scroll, in her right a kind of small stick. On her back she carried arrows and a bow.
Clark gazed at the statue. He had searched for her for years. He had had such difficult and horrible problems finding her. He had visited so many universes – so many worlds. Sometimes he had believed he could never return. Once or twice he had given up. Then he remembered the other Lois, who had inspired him to search for his own. The other Lois … who loved the other Clark. It had hurt so much to see what was possible and not to have it. A life without his Lois, without love and the feeling of belonging, that wasn’t a real life. And … what if she was in trouble, or in pain, a prisoner? He had to help her. So he had continued.
His eyes filled with tears. Oh, Lois was so beautiful. The statue was placed on a huge stone-platform. Clark flew slowly up and stroked trembling fingertips over the cheeks.
“I’ll save you. I’ll find you. I promise to rescue you out of the past and bring you back to Metropolis. Soon … very soon.” His feelings overwhelmed him and he closed his arms around the statue. Clark stood softly crying a long time.
Finally he was able to look around. Maybe there had been wooden furniture – all was gone. Only gold and stones could resist the power of the jungle.
In the background was an opening to a place, a kind of garden. It was filled with trees, birds, plants and other greenery. The other rooms of the temple were all the same – plants, snakes, spiders, birds and bats. He returned to the entry hall and used his x-ray vision.
The statue was massive golden art but the platform was hollow with a place for hidden relics. There he found three sealed jugs, the remains of an old briefcase – only the buckles but, thank god, no signs of bones. In the jugs were some golden writing scrolls. He took the jugs in his arms and with a last gaze at the statue returned to Texas.
At Peace’s home, he carefully opened the jugs. Peace called Ed to see what Clark had discovered. In each jug they found a few soft golden scrolls which showed a feminine hand-writing. They were Lois’s Diary.
*****
” … My name is Lois Lane. I’m reporter at the Daily Planet. If anyone finds this message, please send it to Perry White, Chief Editor, Daily Planet, Metropolis, USA.
“For the last six months I have had the biggest nightmare of my life. I believe I’m in a coma in a hospital and hope I’ll awake soon.
“The mosquitoes are very real and the natives offer mud to protect against them … ugghhh. I need shampoo!! I would kill for a pizza. If anyone brings chocolate ice cream – I’ll marry him!”
Ed whispered, “This is really her diary. It’s unbelievable! Wow, it was smart to write it on golden parchment, so it couldn’t be eaten by the termites.”
Peace grinned. “Maybe there was nothing else to write it on? I’d like to write on golden scrolls too. It looks great — but I’m not a goddess. I have to use ordinary paper.” She picked up another scroll and continued to read
“I was here to investigate a smugglers’ ring. I traveled to the Congo, in Africa, following a lead. One day in the jungle I became separated from the others of our group. Suddenly a crazy man appeared, playing with his Gameboy, an evil grin in his face. He was dangerous. He seemed to know me. He threatened me with strange words. ‘Super-man will never find you. You’ll never be able to build Utopia.’
What was he thinking? I tried to calm him down but he only laughed. He was probably ill — a malaria fever. He said ‘You’re thinking super man can save you? That he’s flying around and will protect you? HAH! Never! Forget it. This time you’re hidden so far away nobody can find you.’
“Who is this super-man? I couldn’t understand this. I didn’t know a man who was super in any way. But this crazy guy thought I would know one and also that this super man could fly!! I started to run away. The last I could hear was his evil laugh. Maybe he had hit me on my head and I was unconscious. I don’t know.
“The next thing I remember was even crazier than before. I was feeling dizzy. I stood within a large group of painted natives. They were holding spears and blow-pipes with poisonous arrows. Some of them danced around a fire. I could hear drums. Suddenly they started to scream and pointed at me. A huge man raised his spear and attacked me. Thank god I had practiced my jujitsu lessons. I kicked with my foot at the sensitive place on his chin, turned around and hit his legs away so he fell to the ground knocked out. I placed myself in a fighting position.
“Now there was silence. The scared natives stood frozen. An old man, holding up his empty hands, approached hesitantly. He had a dirty feather hat, all over his body were tattoos, and he wore only a string with some bones. I stared hypnotized at him. He bowed and kneeled down. Now all the others also kneeled down. I didn’t know what to do.
“Never before had I been with such a group of dangerous, crazy, and … naked men. They were waiting for something. What could I do? So I held up my arms, turned around, and tried my biggest smile. I said, ‘Hi guys! Don’t do anything that may upset me. I can also kick the next man into neverland! By the way – you all could stand up, the show is over. Who’s your director? Where are the cameras? What movie is going on here? Your costumes are unbelievable. Haven’t your mothers told you how to get dressed?’
“They didn’t understand me. Finally the feather-hat man talked to the others. Slowly the men stood up and looked at me. The feather-hat man had found a solution. He waved his hands and indicated to follow him. So I arrived at this settlement in the middle of the jungle…”
*****
They read the whole night, laughing, crying and giggling together, following Lois’ life with the natives. Then Clark left the room, returning in a very short time.
Peace and Ed were sitting on the couch still reading. They looked up and down at him, speaking at the same time.
“You’ve cut your hair!” and “You’re wearing your suit!” and “Turn around!!”
Clark raised up his arms and circled slowly so they could get a full view of him.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, turning his head.
“Super!” and “Sensational!” were the answers.
“It’s my last suit – I hope there aren’t stains I’ve missed.”
“Nope …seems clean. I don’t notice a stain or even a wrinkle. It’s perfect,” Peace assured him.
“And the boots?” Clark wanted to know, looking down his legs.
Peace and Ed inspected his feet. His red boots shone without any disturbing fleck of dust.
“Santa Claus would be jealous!” Ed teased.
Clark smiled uncertainly. He was very nervous. “She doesn’t even know me. What if she gets the giggles when she sees me? Would it be better to wear safari clothing?”
“No.” Peace tried to cool him down. “She’s expecting a flying god, a super man. Remember, she thought she was in a coma. She’ll think you’re part of her dream!”
“I know, but that doesn’t make me feel better!”
*****
Superman headed back to Africa. He landed at Lolane’s Temple and turned on his time-travel machine.
He felt dizzy as he always did when he had changed the time or the universe. He recognized a small lake encircled by some plants. He heard heavy water rushing and followed the noise. At a hidden place a high waterfall flowed into the lake. But Lolane’s Temple wasn’t there.
Suddenly he heard a rustle. Turning his head he saw the back of a small boy rushing away.
“Hello! Please stay!” he called, but the child ran even faster.
Superman turned his eyes upwards in a typical gesture and flew in front of the fugitive child. The boy was startled at the sight. Superman was floating several feet above the ground, holding his arms across his chest and shaking his head.
He said, “Stay! Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you. I just want to ask you some questions!”
The boy, who seemed to be about five years old, opened his mouth and fell with a bump on to his backside.
Superman landed and slowly sat down. “You see? I’m not dangerous,” he said with a quieter voice. “Where are your people? Your mother and your father .. can you take me to them?”
The boy became even more anxious and started to scream, but this was a kind of help for Superman, for in a short time a group of men, armed to the teeth, burst into the place.
“Ah, there are your people. Thank you!” He winked at the boy and stood up.
All the blow-pipes of the warriors raised up. One of them screamed to the boy. “Mgumba! Akka ta lgnogi!”
But Mgumba couldn’t move. He was frozen where he sat.
Now all the men were calling, “Mgumba! Mgumba!” and waving with their hands to come. Still Mgumba didn’t move.
Superman smiled. “Mgumba, your people are worried about you. They’re thinking you’re in danger. Come on! Stand up.” And he waved his hands, too.
Mgumba came slowly to his feet, but he didn’t go to the warriors. Instead he approached Superman. Hesitantly he stretched out a hand and smiled cautiously up at him. He wasn’t afraid anymore. This stranger was looking so friendly and smiling so kindly at him that he had decided he couldn’t be an enemy.
The natives nervously babbled all together, and all the time Superman listened to the men, trying to learn their language at superspeed.
He took Mgumba’s hand and brought him to one of the excited men. He smiled at him and said, using simple words in the native language, “May I introduce myself? I’m Superman and I hope to meet my girlfriend. Has she already arrived?”
One by one the warriors put their blow-pipes down.
“You’re here to meet your girl? Is she like you? We haven’t ever seen a white-skinned woman, and only a few men.”
“I’m searching for her. Maybe she will arrive later. I don’t know the exact time point,” Superman answered.
The native continued. “No one could speak our language till now, so we don’t know much of white men. They were very shy, hiding in the jungle, and they disappeared some days later. Only one of them stayed a time longer. He tried to learn our language, but he was very old and died. He was friendly but a very strange one. All the time he was wearing a long warm dress … a different color from yours, and a different kind.”
“Yes,” another native filled in, “and he had a long beard. But he cut his hair like a circle on the top of his head. We always were wondering about that. We don’t have much hair on our chins. When anyone notices any like that on his chin, he cuts it … but not the hair on the top.”
Superman hid a grin.
Mgumba pulled on the arm of the first native. “Nganko, he can fly! I’ve seen it. He can fly!”
“Mgumba, shut up. You’re crazy.”
“No, I swear, he can fly!”
“Stop it.”
“I saw it!”
“That’s enough.”
“But…” The little boy looked up at Superman and begged. “Please. Can you fly again? I’m not a liar. They don’t believe me.”
Superman grinned. It was always the same. There was no difference – at every time, in every universe, in every land – all people liked to see him fly or to fly with him.
“Okay, in a moment. I’ll take you to your mother.” He looked at the adults and asked, “In which direction is your settlement? I’ll give him a ride home.”
Mgumba answered excitedly, “I know it. I can lead you.” And he raised up his little arms.
Nobody can resist such an invitation from a child – even Superman. He took the small boy in his arms and flew slowly upwards. He smiled down at the stunned men.
“See you soon. Don’t worry. My friend and I are going on an small outing. I’ll bring him safe home.”
Mgumba was happy. “Do you see? I fly with him. You didn’t believe me. See you laateeeeer…” he called down, waving with one hand to the frozen men below.
Superman and his passenger flew high up in the air. He flew a big circle around the lake. “Now home?” he asked.
“No, it’s too early … More, higher!!” Mgumba shouted, and Superman continued their flight.
After several rounds, he asked again. “Enough?”
The child answered, “More! Faster!”
“Faster? You are a brave man.”
“Yes, please! Much more faster!”
And Superman sped up.
In the meantime under them on the ground the group of natives watched amazed at this spectacle. Mgumba was laughing loudly and obviously happy at the ride of his life.
Superman finished the show with a high point … a big loop … and landed slowly near the round huts of the natives. “That’s enough.” He smiled and set Mgumba back to the ground.
Mgumba jumped around, clapped his hands and screamed, “Could everyone see me? Mother, did you see me? I was flying with him.”
Superman touched his head and calmed him down. “Mgumba, don’t worry. All your people could see you. You are a very brave warrior.”
He brought him to a proud looking woman who had just arrived. “He’s your son?” Superman asked.
“Yes, he always does crazy things!” she answered. “Oh, that doesn’t mean I would think you are … I never would say …”
Superman nodded and smiled. “I know. Don’t worry. It looks crazy. You’re right.”
He turned and looked around. He was searching for the place where he knew in the future Lolane’s Temple would be. He murmured to himself, “Well, let’s construct a home for Lois.”
He went to Nganko, one of the men he had met before. “I told you that I was searching for my girl. She hasn’t arrived yet, so I’ll come back in future. May I build her a home where she can await me?”
Nganko looked surprised and answered, “Surely, if you want to.” He showed Superman around. “We can help you! The mud is at the lake and straw is at the steppe half a day away.”
“Where are stones?”
“Stones? You want to build a home with stones? It’ll break down!”
Superman gave the waterfall hill an inspecting look. “Hmm. Let’s see.”
He started to clear a big place near the waterfall. After that he flew away and returned with a stone block. With his heat vision he had cut it out of the rock. Stone by stone the temple went up at superspeed. One hour later, the stunned crowd could admire an unusual building in the jungle, a great temple.
Superman flew around it, improved here, added something there, until finally he was satisfied.
Crossing his arms, he stood in front of the temple. “That should be adequate for her. Could you take care of the furniture? Maybe it will be a few years till she arrives. If I made some furniture, it might be gone before she gets here.”
The overwhelmed natives were only able to nod. It had been too much. A flying god arrived, asked after another one – his girlfriend – did some super-stunts in the sky. After that the temple thing, and now he said it could be a few years till she arrived. No problem for a god. He has a date – who cares about the exact time? If he should come too late, she could enjoy herself in a new temple. All was well.
“Ah …” Superman turned. “Have I mentioned her name? Her name is Lois Lane.”
The End