Thanks for your comments, everyone. I'm so glad to see that you guys are still reading. I know this part wasn't a lot of fun, but I will post more soon. It will hopefully answer a lot of questions and get you to think I'm slightly less evil.
LLWB, I'm sorry that this part has been so hard on Clark, I won't leave him like this forever, though.
Maria, thanks for your comments and for reading so faithfully. I know I'm really mean, I'll try to rectify that at some point, but it's not going to be a picnic. To answer your question, Talan is part of a search party, just moving alone. There are others all over the planet searching for Clark.
CrazyBabe and Tricia, thanks for commenting. As Talan has the ring, I don't think there's anywhere safer it can be at the moment (excepting, of course Lois's finger). There's still more Clark has to do on New Krypton, I'm afraid, but I'm trying to write more frequently these days.
Hi Jenni, thanks for your comments. Luckily, Lois and Nor are millions of miles apart, but I agree that it's troubling, especially to Clark.
Carol, thanks so much for your comments. It's always flattering to be complimented by a writer I admire so much.
Tank, there are few compliments that could be more meaningful than to hear that I've made you care (even a tiny bit) about some of the NKers. You're right that the psychological scars are going to be deeper and more permanent than any physical ones. Few people are strong enough to maintain their sense of self under those kinds of conditions, but when Jonathan said Clark was strong where it counts, I think that's what he meant.
AnKS and Daneel, thanks for commenting, more is coming soon!
