The Green, Green Glow of Home - Matchmaker style 7/10
Disclaimers: The characters in this story are property of DC, December 3rd productions and Warner Bros. No Copyright infringement is intended. I have just borrowed the characters for a short time.
Rated PG-13
* * denotes emphasis
< > denotes thoughts
As always comments are welcome. (ken.janney@kjanney.com)
Previously
Later, on the dirt road, near the Irig farm Lois pulled the Mustang off the road and parked. Before they exited the car, Clark asked, "What exactly is our plan?
Lois, knowing that she was flying by the seat of her pants, as usual, challenged, "You sound like you're one of those people who has to have his whole life worked out ahead of time before he can live it."
"Yeah, I usually do. So, you have a clear plan?"
"Oh, like you planned to trick me into marrying you last night?"
Clark reached for her hand and clasped it in his. "You know I didn't do any such thing. That was a happy accident."
"Does that mean you won't change your mind?"
"Not in a million years. That wasn't planned, but I'm happy that things have worked out this way, aren't you?"
Of course, I am and I do have a plan, sort of."
"Okay, let's hear it."
"Oh, harrumph, as soon as I figure it out, I'll let you know."
After they exited the vehicle, Clark led the way to a secluded area where they could see the Irig farm.
When the were finally able to see the farm, in the distance through the foliage, Lois said, "Okay, here's the plan. We know that whatever they say they're doing there is not what they're actually doing. So, we stay here until we see them doing it." Thinking of something Lois frowned, "Maybe we should have brought lunch."
In a very dry tone, Clark said, "Great plan. Look, as I see it, we need to find out who's behind this. We need to spy on them until we know who that is."
Lois turned on him and said, "Yeah, like I said, we spy on them, now if you have a better one, speak up."
Just as Lois finished speaking an individual in a camouflage uniform, his face painted in a camouflage pattern and holding a Colt .45 Automatic dropped out of a tree next to them.
Seeing this, Clark rushed the guy, shouting to Lois, "Lois, get out of here!"
A second agent appeared out of the bushes, this one was holding an M-16. Lois attacked him, getting in a kick that almost dislocated his knee.
One more, this one with a Mossberg 12 Gauge shotgun with a pistol grip sprang out of the bushes and shouted, "Freeze!" so Lois and Clark stopped moving.
The agent that Clark had been struggling with took the opportunity to vent his anger by punching Clark in the stomach.
Clark was bent over gasping for a few seconds as a result of the blow. When he straightened up he said, wryly, "Well, there goes the picnic."
Under guard by this crew, Lois and Clark were hustled away and into the back of a cargo van. Two of the guards climbed in back with them while the third drove. A few minutes later they stopped and the back doors were pulled open.
As they were climbing out, Lois said to Clark, "Just in case you were wondering, this wasn't in the plan."
The guards started to manhandle them, pushing them in the direction that they wanted them to go.
Clark replied, "I had a hunch."
Lois started shouting, "Who are you guys? Who do you work for? Do you know who we are?"
As the guards stopped shoving them, Lois stopped shouting. When they stopped, they were facing a tent. Suddenly, Trask stepped from the tent. His men were in a mix of uniforms which was another indication of the rogue nature of his organization. Some, like the ones that had captured them, wore the camouflage battle dress uniform while he preferred the olive drab jungle fatigue which dated to the Viet Nam War era. He said, "So many questions and from someone in such a precarious position." He laughed as he spoke.
In startled recognition Lois said, "Trask! What are you doing in Smallville?"
Putting his hands on his hips he replied, "Now, here I was, wondering the same ... thing ... about ... you."
In an irritated tone, Clark replied, "Our newspaper sent us to investigate an EPA cleanup. Our editor thought it could possibly be another Love Canal."
Smugly, Trask replied, "You're not here for your environmental virtue any more than I am. You know it and I know it.
The realization of just who they were up against finally hit them and they exchanged looks.
Clark challenged, "What have you done with Wayne Irig?"
Trask, with that malevolent grin said, "Why, I … let him go." He paused to let that sink in before he continued, "Yes, you see, small town ties mean a lot. Any other man would have given up their contact in a minute. But this man, this man took sodium pentothal and a couple of broken fingers and he still wouldn't talk. Then it came to me. Let him go."
Just then Ms. Sherman emerged from the tent behind Trask. Spotting her, Lois said, "You're not as clever as you think. I knew she was a fake all along."
Surprised by this remark, Trask asked, "Really? How?"
Lois spat out, "Too competent to work for the government." Lois directed her next question to Ms. Sherman, "How'd you get into this, Sherman?"
Trask moved over directly in front of Lois, so close that Lois could smell his bad breath. His exasperation was showing as he said to the guards, "You are really starting to get on my nerves. Get her out of my sight, now, please."
Lois glared daggers at him.
Trask started to raise his hand as if to strike Lois. Clark was almost mad with anxiety about Lois' safety and he struggled against his captors as he shouted, "Leave her alone, Trask. Don't you touch her, or …"
Lowering his hand, Trask asked, "Or what, Mr. Kent? Huh? What will you do?"
The guards were hustling Lois toward the tent and Clark continued to struggle against the ones holding him, but was powerless to break free.
As Lois was being led away she shouted to Sherman, "Did they recruit you? Did you think you were getting into government work?"
Trask shouted at her, "Shut up!"
Lois continued to shout at Sherman, "Instead, you're a thug. Is that what you went to college for? To be a thug?"
Trask, losing his patience completely, gestured at the holding tent and Lois was shoved inside.
As Lois disappeared into the tent, Clark, in anguish, shouted, "Lois!"
Trask stepped closer to Clark and said, "Relax, Mister Kent. My business is with you, not her."
And now:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 07
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A few minutes later Clark found himself sitting at a table in another tent, separated from Lois. Worry about what was happening to her was eating him up and the fact that without his powers he couldn't even hear her heartbeat to know her emotional state had him in a state. Looking around and taking in his surroundings he saw that there were several of Trask's agents scattered around, each of them bearing weapons. Once he was seated and the guards had backed away, Trask had moved in and was leaning over the table at his side, his face close enough that when he spoke Clark snorted and almost sneezed to clear his nose of the offensive stench of his breath. Trask, using what he thought to be an ingratiating tone said, "I'm going to make you a deal, Mr. Kent, trusting that your stay in Metropolis has put some sense into your head. Give up the alien and I'll let you live."
Clark, heaving an exasperated sigh replied, "What makes you think I would do that even if I could?
Trask, as if proposing a solution to a puzzle said, "Superman came to Smallville around the time you were born. There has to be a connection. Tell me and you live."
Clark's reply was disappointing to Trask, "There's nothing to tell. I'm learning all this for the first time right now."
Unexpectedly, Trask slammed his hand down on a stack of folders that littered the desk. Startled, Clark jumped and Trask almost shouted in his exasperation, "I'm trying to
save humanity from an
alien invader, Kent!"
Clark's reply was succinct, "You have no proof of that Trask!"
To Clark's relief, Trask moved around so that he was on the opposite side of the table from him. Trask pointed a finger at him and said, "There's another possibility. Perhaps this alien has taken over your mind. Perhaps it has infused you with its power."
Clark shook his head in disbelief, "Nobody's infused me with power. Nobody's taken over my mind, Trask." The depths of the insanity of this man continued to amaze Clark.
As Clark finished speaking, Sherman entered through the tent flap. Trask noted her arrival and walked over to receive her report.
When he approached, she said, "We got a location on Irig." She looked significantly at Clark before she continued, "He's heading down the access road to the home of a Jonathan
Kent."
Trask turned and looked again at Clark. He addressed him, "Clark, why didn't you
tell me this was a family affair? I would have gone easier on you." Trask swung into motion, shouting orders, "Put him in the van with me. Make sure the phone lines are cut at the Kent house. I'll take two men with me. The rest of you break camp. Meet at Delta rendezvous at 1800."
Sherman addressed Trask with a question, "What about me?"
Trask was contemptuous as he replied, "What about you? You'll stay and help move the operation."
Sherman, with a resigned expression, turned and left the tent.
Turning to his guards and selecting two of them, he said, "You and you, let's go. Bring him!"
All the time that the guards were applying the shackles Clark had been wishing for his powers and worrying about Lois and her welfare. Trask had said that he was the one he was interested in, but based on what he had seen of Trask, that was no guarantee of her safety. However, Clark had no options. Without his powers he was utterly powerless in the hands of his enemy.
The guards manacled Clark before taking him out of the tent. They didn't know it, but as they were hustling him into the back of the van, Jimmy was in the bushes at the side of the clearing. He had been eating an apple as he was taking pictures using a long telephoto lens. When he saw the guards bring Clark out he shoved the apple on his mouth to hold it while he took pictures. He got snaps of Clark wearing shackles and being hustled into the back of the van. He also got a shot of Trask as he came out of the tent. When Trask appeared Jimmy recognized him immediately, his mouth dropped open in shock and the apple he had been eating fell to the ground. He now realized that this situation was worse than it appeared on the surface and he knew he had to get help.
After the van pulled away, Jimmy grabbed his equipment and high-tailed it for his rental car. Jumping in he drove with abandon for town.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jonathan and Martha were standing in the shed. The old tool box was sitting atop a bale of hay, open and the green crystals were visible. Even with sunshine streaming in through the windows the sickly, evil green glow of the crystals was still evident.
Jonathan was staring at the offending rock as he addressed Martha, "I don't know what to do with it. I can't give it to anybody but I sure as heck don't want to keep this anywhere near Clark."
Martha expressed her confusion, "Sometimes I don't understand why things happen. How all his life he's always talked about being 'normal.' Now he is. It's what he says he wants, but ..."
"Martha, it doesn't feel right, because Clark's not normal. Normal for him is being super. Until I opened that box ..."
Martha picked up on just what her husband was feeling and moved over to comfort him, "Don't blame yourself, Jonathan. You didn't do this to him."
In a gesture of disgust, Jonathan flipped the top of the tool box closed.
The echoes of the sound of the box closing bouncing off the walls of the shed had barely died when suddenly they were interrupted by a banging on the window and a shout, "Jonathan! It's Wayne Irig!"
Surprised at suddenly seeing his friend and feeling some relief at actually seeing him after having been told by Lois and Clark that they thought he was in trouble, Jonathan shouted, "Wayne! Where have you been?"
Wayne entered the shed and that's when Jonathan got a good look at him. He looked battered and beaten. There was a bandana wrapped around his hand which he cradled in his other hand. He was obviously in a lot of pain. Jonathan blurted out, "Wayne! My God, look at you. What did they
do to you?"
Typical of Wayne Irig, a man of few words, he cut right to the chase, "We've got a problem, Jonathan. A bad one."
Jonathan was very solicitous of Wayne's condition and tried to assist him to sit on a bale of hay.
Instead of sitting, Wayne started to pace with nervous energy, Jonathan was sure that if one of his hands hadn't been injured somehow, Wayne would have been flinging his arms around.
Trying to calm his friend down, Jonathan said, "Okay. All right. I'm with you. Calm down, Wayne." Then aside, he said to Martha, "Martha, get a doctor."
Before Martha had a chance to move toward the door, Wayne, in an agitated tone said, "No, I'm all right. But, there's men up at my place. Men with
guns. They're looking for that
rock I gave you." Looking around in something as close to panic as Jonathan had ever seen in Wayne Irig he continued, "We've got to get to the police,
now."
Jonathan didn't like this turn. He had just been talking about disposing of the rock in order to protect Clark and keep it a secret, now Wayne wanted to bring in the police. He had to use what influence he had with Wayne to control the situation. "Wayne, we've been friends for years. You trust me, don't you?"
Wayne looked at Jonathan with a question in his eyes. He couldn't figure out why Jonathan would ask a question like that. There was actually only one answer he could give, "Sure."
Nodding at Wayne's answer, Jonathan pressed ahead, "Then believe me. That green rock is
dangerous. But we
can't call the police and we
can't let those men have it either."
Wayne was confused. Jonathan was saying something, but it didn't match up with what he had seen. "What do you mean, 'dangerous'? What does it do?"
"Wayne, you're gonna have to trust me when I say it makes some people sick, that's all I know. So no more red tape, you and me, we're going to go destroy it right now. Somehow ..."
They had been so concentrated on the conversation they were having, that they hadn't heard the van drive up and the first indication that they were not alone was when Trask kicked in the door of the shed. He was followed by a couple of his agents as he stepped in.
He took in the tableau and then, obviously having overheard, said in response to Jonathan's statement, "I don't think so."
Trask spotted the oversized tool box where it was sitting atop a hay bale. He stepped over to it and opened it. The sickly green glow permeated the entire shed once again.
Jonathan and Martha shared a worried look.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
After Jimmy left to get help the camp became a flurry of activity. The workers started packing up equipment. Flat beds started arriving for the bulldozers and other heavy equipment to be loaded on. Guards started removing tables, chairs, file cabinets and other office paraphernalia from the tents and loading them onto trucks.
Ms. Sherman entered the tent where Lois was being held and addressed the guard, "You need to help pack up. We're leaving."
The guard glanced at Lois and seeing that she was bound securely nodded and headed out. When the guard glanced in her direction, Lois stopped moving, but as soon as he left she returned to her attempts to get free of her bonds.
Lois addressed Sherman, in a sarcastic tone, "Social call or business?"
Sherman could see Lois was trying to escape her bonds, but didn't move to assist and at least didn't try to prevent her as she replied, although reluctantly, "You talk like someone who doesn't understand the trouble she's in."
Lois replied, sarcastically, "I know exactly what's going on. I know that if Trask hasn't killed somebody yet, he's about to. And that'll make you an accessory to murder."
Sherman, had been in the process of arranging the files that were scattered over a table prior to putting them in a box for transport, she stopped, turned to Lois and said in a defeated tone, "You're right. Trask is a madman, but I
can't go against him or he'll kill me too."
Lois challenged, "You just now figured this out?"
"No, but I have a daughter to worry about. Look, I'm no thug, but I can't help you. Trask
is a madman. You want to know just how mad he is? He has your friend's parents. He's going to make it look like a fire burned the place down with them in it."
Horrified at this prospect and thinking of the older couple and the man that she had so recently come to love so deeply, in an anguished tone, Lois almost shouted, "Martha and Jonathan! And Clark?"
Nodding her head, Sherman said, "Yes, but Trask has other plans for him."
"Like what?" She needed to know if Trask suspected Clark's true nature.
"Trask thinks that he knows how to find Superman. He thinks some rock they found here can kill him."
Trying to cover her knowledge of it, Lois challenged, "Can it?" <OhmyGod, that's the rock that Clark told me about. If it can steal his powers, it probably
can kill him as well. I've
got to get to him.>
"I don't know. I doubt it. But Trask thinks it can. And he's a killer. Look, I'm sorry, I can't help you. I have to think of my little girl. Goodbye." Sherman boxed up the files that were scattered over the table and carried the box out of the tent.
As soon as the tent flap fell behind her Lois started to struggle even more desperately with her bonds. <I've got to get to Clark! He
needs me!> A few seconds later she felt a presence behind her. Turning her head to see who it was, she saw the dapper little man that she had met in the elevator at the Planet as they were leaving on this assignment.
As he cut her bonds, in a British English accent, he said, "Miss Lane, you need to take a vehicle and return to the Kent farm, immediately. Clark and his parents are in deadly peril."
She was startled and blurted out, "What? How do you know?"
"Miss Lane, you must trust me. If you do not immediately go to the Kent farm Clark and his parents could very well be killed."
That was all the confirmation that Lois needed to galvanize her into action. As she was standing she asked, "Just who
are you? How do you know what's happening?"
"There will be time for explanations later. Right now you must go to Clark. He needs you, but be careful!"
Lois nodded and started for the tent flap. He stopped her and said, "Please. This way. There are guards out front. There is a small truck waiting for you out here."
"Are you coming with me?"
With an enigmatic smile he said, "I have my own means of transportation."
She gave him a queer look as he held up the canvas of the side of the tent and then ducked under the side of the tent and out into the open. He followed immediately after her and pointed her in the right direction. She took off through the brush and once she emerged she found the truck, with the keys in it. Jumping in she was surprised to find her cell phone on the seat. Picking it up she dialed ‘911' and was connected to the local Sheriff's Office. Hurriedly she asked for Rachel. In her haste she actually gave the operator more information than needed because of their prior experience with Trask.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Unbeknownst to Lois or Clark, Jimmy Olsen had been sent to get pictures and had seen a manacled Clark being man handled into the back of a van and had recognized Trask. He had high tailed it in to town to alert the Sheriff.
Jimmy ignored a dozen traffic regulations on his way into town and once in town he spotted a police patrol car parked at the town square. He skidded to a stop and jumped out of the car, barely remembering to shut the engine off, he sprinted to a man in uniform and addressed him, "Sheriff, we got an emergency!"
Rachel, who was nearby overhearing this said, "Over here."
Jimmy did a double take as the deputy pointed at Rachel.
Rachel stepped over and took the keys from Jimmy's hand and flipping them to Deputy Cooper said, "Coop, would you put this car somewhere legal, please?"
Coop nodded and headed for the car to move it.
Turning back to Jimmy, Rachel said, "If this is some kind of emergency, you'd better start talking … fast."
Jimmy was so excited he was almost totally incoherent as he launched into a Lois-like babble, "Okay, right. There's a guy, his name's Trask, he thinks there are UFO's, I mean, there
are UFO'S, but this guy collects them. Anyway he's here in Smallville and he's got my friends and we gotta go save them now or they're gonna be toast. Do you know how to call the Army? The National Guard? We're gonna need some kind of helicopter ..."
Rachel gave this very excitable and excited young man a close appraisal trying to decide whether to believe him or arrest him. She was torn. Finally she decided to get more information. "You're not from around here, are you?"
Jimmy, calming down somewhat replied, "My name is Jimmy Olsen. I'm from Metropolis. I'm with the Daily Planet and my friends …"
Rachel interrupted him at this point and her face brightening up said, "Clark Kent."
Jimmy brightened up, she knew them, he added, "and Lois Lane."
Rachel's face fell as she said, "Oh. Her," her face looked like she had just bitten into a particularly sour lemon as she did.
Not picking up on Rachel's attitude, Jimmy continued, "The guy who's got them, Trask, he could do anything, including murder them."
Rachel, seeing how agitated and yet sincere he was decided that immediate action would be needed. She turned toward the patrol car and said, "Get in."
As soon as Jimmy was in and the door closed Rachel pushed down on the gas pedal and peeled away. As they started to head out of town, Rachel asked, "Where are they?"
"They were at the Irig farm."
Rachel picked up the microphone of her two-way radio and keying the mic said, "Unit one to Base. This is the sheriff. I need back-up. Have all cars report to the Irig farm, ASAP."
After receiving acknowledgements from her deputies, Rachel put the mic in its clip and then said to Jimmy, "By the way, my name is Rachel Harris."
"Pleased to meet you, Sheriff."
She paused for a few seconds before she asked, "How well do you know Clark Kent?"
Jimmy smiled and said, "Me and CK? We're best buds."
"Has he ever mentioned me?"
If Jimmy answered it was drown out by the roar of the engine. Seconds later, before she could ask him to repeat his answer, a call came in on the police radio for the sheriff. The dispatcher said, "Sheriff, I've got some woman talking about UFOs and the government and Superman. It's probably a crank. Should I blow her off?"
Rachel realized, from the description, just who it was and said, "No, it's okay, patch her through." Then keying her mic again she said, "Go ahead Lois."
Lois was frantic as she said, "Sheriff, you have to get to the Kent farm, immediately."
Rachel replied, "Copy that. I'm on my way to the Irig farm to check out the disturbance there."
Lois said, "Forget that! That's where I am. They're packing up to leave. You need to get to the Kent farm …
now. The Kents are in danger."
"I'm on my way!" Rachel put on her lights and siren because to this point she had been code 1, no lights, no siren. A short time later she was halted at the railroad crossing by a long slow freight train. Rachel knew that it would be useless to try to go around. She knew the rail schedule, this was a regular run and it would have all of the alternate routes blocked as well.
She picked up her mic and keying it sent, "All units respond directly to the Kent farm. The freight has me blocked. I'll get there as quick as I can."
Jimmy, seeing that they weren't moving and probably wouldn't be for some time thought that now would be an appropriate time to try the signal watch and try to get Superman's help. He leaned out of the car window and holding his wrist up triggered the signal while muttering to himself as if speaking to the superhero he said, "I'll apologize later, big guy.
While they are waiting, Rachel removed her revolver from its holster and began to load it.
Jimmy could see that her hands were shaking somewhat so he asked, "You ever fired that before?"
Rachel had a nervous smile to go along with her shaking hands as she replied, "Of course I've fired it. But, only on the range."
Jimmy quipped, "Not exactly a confidence builder."
When she finished loading she replaced the gun in her holster and returned to the other topic, "This, Lois. Does she love Clark and does he love her?"
"Gee, Sheriff, I don't think so, unless something has changed, she pretty much loves her work. He might have some feelings for her, but who can tell?"
Rachel smiled and nodded her head.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As soon as Lois closed her cell phone she started the truck up and headed for the Kent farm.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Trask had ordered his agents to bind the three people that were in the shed. He picked up the case and after he had removed the container with the greenly glowing rock, he deposited it where he felt it would be safe.
Eventually the back doors of the van opened. Clark blinked in the sudden light. His movements were very restricted because of the shackles on his wrists and ankles. To top it off the wrist shackles had been thrown over a brace in the ceiling of the van before being closed about his wrists so that he was literally hanging by his wrists. It was fortunate that the low overhead of the van allowed him to sit on the floor. Trask confronted Clark and said, "Your situation grows desperate, Mr. Kent. I now have your parents." He was emphatic, but as he continued he became frantic, "What I
want is Superman. If you want to save them, you'll tell me what I want to know. I'll make a deal with you, a trade. You give me Superman and I'll let them live."
Emotions flitted across Clark's features, fear predominating. Fear for his parent's welfare and fear for Lois' life. His personal danger never entered his mind. His only concern was for those he loved. In a flash he weighed his options and knew that there was only one answer. He stated, "You have to promise that you'll let them go. Do I have your word on that?" He had decided on a desperate ploy. He just hoped it would work. The fact that right now he was vulnerable could make or break the situation, but, he had to try.
Eagerly, almost like a child with a toy being dangled in front of him, Trask said, "Oh, I do. I do. I absolutely do. Of course … you have my word."
Clark said, "Okay then, he's right here. I'm Superman."
Trask just stared at him. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. What Trask was seeing put the lie to Kent's words. Clark Kent was shackled and helpless, unable to free himself and he was claiming to be Superman. What if he was only acting weak?
When Trask didn't answer or even move, Clark tried again, "Really, Trask, I'm Superman."
Trask finally responded by asking in a skeptical tone, "Are you now?" His face didn't change from one of disbelief as he pulled his sidearm. He preferred a cross-draw holster so his weapon was on the left side of his belt. In this case he used his left hand to pull the weapon out. It was more awkward, but he wanted to emphasize what he was doing for Kent's benefit. Once the weapon was in his hand, Trask jacked the slide back apparently to chamber a round and then he quickly brought the weapon to bear, pointing it at Clark.
Seeing this action Clark was afraid that he had overplayed his hand. Being vulnerable, if Trask shot him he could actually be seriously injured or even die. Fear took over and Clark cringed back and shouted, "Wait! No, Trask, no!"
With that malevolent grin on his face at Kent's response to his threat, Trask pulled the trigger and all that they heard was the metallic click of the hammer falling on the firing pin. There was no explosion because he hadn't loaded a round into the breach. Clark slumped back as far as the chains would allow, gasping for breath the fear having rendered regular breathing problematical. Trask laughed as he said, "That was
fear, Mr. Kent, stark terror. This gun wouldn't harm Superman so
he wouldn't
be afraid. So much for you being noble and trying to shield Superman. It was a nice try, but I want the real thing. Now, where is he?"
Clark kept his mouth shut even in the face of Trask's raging menace.
Trask, seeing that Clark was being less than cooperative decided that additional motivation was needed. He decided to give him some time to think about the situation and slammed the doors of the van closed.
Trask went to the shed to check on the job his underlings had done. He noticed that Wayne Irig appeared to be unconscious, probably a result of all that he had been through and the pain of his broken fingers. Satisfied that they were secure Trask moved over to the van again and opening the doors again, Trask said, "Maybe you won't talk on your own account, but what about your family?" Seeing that Clark remained uncooperative, he jacked the slide on his automatic again after seating the magazine. "This time I'm not kidding. Now, you tell me just where Superman is or I start on you. First the knees, then the elbows. Do I need to draw you a diagram? If that doesn't work …" He pulled out a matchbook and held it up for Clark to see.
Counting on the fact that even Trask wouldn't commit cold blooded murder of innocents in this way Clark kept silent.
In frustration, Trask slammed the doors shut again.
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