Supergirl (19 page)

Ethan exchanged a half smile with Supergirl. He, for one, didn't regret the loss of Selena. Now, if only Supergirl would take the liberties with him that Lucy had taken with Jimmy. . . .

"Ethan . . . there's something I have to tell you," Supergirl said.

"Yes?" he said eagerly.

"That is, it's not about me, but Linda . . . that is . . ." She stumbled uncharacteristically over her words, not feeling at all in control.

"Oh, yes! I know what you mean. You and Linda—"

". . . are friends," Supergirl finished quickly.

"Riiight." Ethan decided he was off-the-wall thinking that Linda Lee and Supergirl . . . No, no, no. Just because they were both fantastic kissers?

"Linda Lee left me a message for you, Ethan . . . that she had to go away . . . but—"

"But?"

"But . . . she cares for you very much, and, well, that's it. She hopes you understand and . . ."

"I do understand . . . I only wish—" Her eyes were so warm he was sure she understood what it was he didn't know how to put into words. Dimly, he remembered a time when he was following Linda Lee around and spouting words like a boiling kettle. How strange. Not at all like him.

"I really have to go," Supergirl said.

"Listen, I'll tell Lucy about Linda Lee."

"Thanks, Ethan. . . .Take care of yourself."

"You too, kiddo."

They held hands for a moment, then Supergirl touched her fingers to his lips. "Ethan—be happy." Holding the Omegahedron close to her, she flew up and circled once around the room, saying a last silent farewell to her friends. Ethan's eyes followed her as she flew out a window. Lucy and Jimmy were still kissing.

Lucy and Jimmy kissed for a very long time.

When they separated, they looked around them in a daze. They were on Main Street at the intersection of Oak. The mountain was gone. The monstrous palace was gone. Cars passed through the streets where the mountain had been. Shoppers hurried in and out of the stores. Life in Midvale was back to normal, and no one seemed the least bit surprised.

"Whaaat a kiss," Lucy said.

Jimmy aimed his camera at the place where the mountain had been. "I gotta get a shot of that . . ."

"Oh, Jimmy! Were you thinking about that while we were kissing?"

Jimmy blushed. "No, Lucy."

"Just remember, Jimmy, a great philosopher said: There's a time for kissing and there's a time for taking pictures."

Jimmy looked impressed. "Golly, did he?"

Lucy tucked her arm through his. "She certainly did."

Nigel, too, had found himself on the corner of Oak and Main. After a moment of indecision, he walked toward Midvale School, telling himself that life goes on; one of these days, maybe in six months or a year, he'd feel good again. Meanwhile, he just had to brave it out. . . . Turning the corner, a young woman in a red dress grabbed his arm and said, "Hello! Remember me?" It was Virginia, the young woman who had spun on her head at Selena's party. "I'm I glad to see you! Nigel, the name? You were telling me something about this bone in the right side of a frog, and ever since, I've just been so intrigued by the subject."

Nigel patted her hand. Odd how his spirits had just za-zoomed. "It's a toad, dear. A red toad, and the little bone is in its left side." They walked down the street together.

Alone, Ethan looked up into the sky, shielding his eyes. A blue-sky day. In the distance, he saw a streak of deeper blue. . . . Yes! He had time only for the swift thought; then the blue streak disappeared over the horizon.

Good-bye . . . Good-bye . . . Linda, good-bye. Supergirl, good-bye. Good-bye, good-bye . . .

The sun was setting, the sky was banded pink and purple and streaked with green.

Couples walked along the beach arm and arm. Joggers pounded on the sand. Dogs chased each other, and a fisherman, his pole dug into

the sand, decided he'd stay there all
night
if necessary, but he wasn't going home without fish.

Flying faster than the speed of sound, Supergirl passed over their unknowing heads and plunged into the lake.

Faster and faster she sped through the green waters . . . deeper and deeper into the dark world . . . the Omegahedron lighting her way . . .

On and on she flew, always with the glow of the Omegahedron ahead of her.

When at last the doomed, domed city came into view, it was dim and cold.

Argo . . . Argo . . .
For a moment Supergirl's resolution faltered. Then she sped on. Slowly, the great dome brightened. Closer and closer she flew . . . The city became brighter and brighter . . . and brighter still, until it glowed like a jewel in the darkness of Inner Space.