### Chapter 12: Backdraft
**At the Corner of Fifth and Child**
Lois and Clark arrived at the scene by taxi, greeted by the sight of a burning building. Firefighters, already on site, were struggling to control the blaze, using ladders to reach the lower floors, while occupants from the upper floors signaled rescuers by waving white handkerchiefs. The sirens of emergency vehicles filled the air, creating a deafening din.
Ultrawoman reappeared, carrying two people in her arms. She quickly placed them on stretchers prepared by paramedics on the ground. Then, she approached the fire chief, with Lois and Clark moving closer to question the firefighter:
- "Captain, I’ve counted 210 people between the 10th and 15th floors. The stairs are impassable, with fires starting in each one. I’m the only one who can reach the occupants, but I’m worried I won’t be fast enough," Ultrawoman explained, looking concerned.
Clark, still determined to find a solution, suggested:
- "Are the upper floors affected by the flames?"
- "No, not yet. The fire is currently on the 8th floor but spreading rapidly," Ultrawoman replied.
- "Is the East side of the building still intact? It might be possible to evacuate people from there. I heard Superman used a similar technique in Montreal last year," Clark added.
- "Yes, you’re right, Mr. Kent. He mentioned that rescue," she said, scanning the building with her x-ray vision, formulating a plan in her mind, then looked at the Captain. "Can I take your men with me? We’ll need to gather everyone. There’s a window on the 8th floor of the adjacent building that leads directly to this one. Do you have an evacuation slide? I could set up a bridge between the two buildings and evacuate people through there. There’s a 4-meter gap between the buildings. Do you think that’s feasible? I’ll make sure the slide is secure and stable."
The Captain, though skeptical, agreed to the proposal. He gave instructions to one of his men:
- "Bobby, gather your team and accompany Ultrawoman. She’ll guide you above the fire. You’ll need to gather everyone and evacuate them through the..."
- "11th floor, East side," Ultrawoman completed. "There’s an alternate staircase that connects the 10th to the top floor. It’s not affected by the fire. That should be a safe access."
- "... and you’ll set up an evacuation slide. You’ll need to get everyone out through there once the passage is secure. I’m counting on you to follow her directions precisely. We need to ensure a total success!"
- "Understood, Captain," replied Lieutenant Bobby, who got to work.
Ultrawoman, with the help of the firefighting team, began to implement the bold plan to rescue the people trapped in the burning building. Meanwhile, Lois and Clark stood ready to assist and manage the situation as best they could.
After a few minutes, shouts from the crowd of onlookers could be heard. The first evacuees emerged from the neighboring building, still in shock but physically unharmed. Clark, feeling a tension he had been holding, finally exhaled.
Since the beginning of this ordeal, he had put aside his own emotions to protect *his* women with all his might. But deep down, this situation was hard for him as well. The situations Ultrawoman faced every day demanded extraordinary mental strength and the ability to shield oneself from others’ distress. Clark had taken time to understand this reality. The Superman costume, much more than just a suit, acted as a shell that allowed him to endure pain and sorrow. Although he was frequently moved by what he encountered, returning to Lois and his life as a journalist allowed him to unload his feelings and prepare for the next rescue. But here, he felt powerless in several respects:
- He could not directly help the people in distress.
- He had to let Lois face all these tragedies and horrors without the same protective shell. While everyone saw Lois as a force of nature, the famous "Mad Dog Lane," Clark knew better than anyone that behind that facade was a deeply sensitive person unable to bear misery and injustice. Truth and justice were Superman’s credo, but they were just as much Lois’s.
He wasn’t yet able to find a solution to restore Ultrawoman’s unity.
There were still two arson cases, two murders, and one suicide unresolved.
In summary, every aspect of Clark’s life was marked by difficulties: his role as a journalist, as a superhero, and as a husband. He felt a deep discomfort in this situation where all his roles seemed entangled in complex challenges. However, he was happy to have contributed, even modestly, by suggesting the idea of evacuation through the adjacent building. It had saved lives and given Ultrawoman a bit of hope, thus strengthening her determination to overcome this ordeal.
At that moment, as he observed Ultrawoman’s heroic efforts and Lois’s determination to face this desperate situation, Clark realized that despite the difficulties and the temporary inability to resolve everything, every small victory counted. And he knew that together, they could confront and overcome the obstacles in their path.
Lois continued to work despite the surrounding chaos. As soon as she found a moment of calm during the evacuation maneuver, she turned to the Captain for more information.
- "Captain, what can you tell us?" Lois asked.
The Captain, taking a moment to catch his breath, explained:
- "We were called for a fire starting in a stairwell. By the time we arrived, all the stairwells were on fire, and the flames had reached the first two floors. Many people were able to get out, but above that, everyone was trapped. Fortunately, between the 3rd and 8th floors, there was no one; the building is under renovation. My men evacuated everyone up to the 9th floor, but our ladders are too short to go higher. Ultrawoman helped my men set up extinguishing measures and conducted reconnaissance of the floors. You arrived for the next part."
- "Is it usual for all exits to be blocked by flames?" Clark asked, well aware of the answer as Superman.
- "No, emergency staircases are designed to be safe. If the flames have reached them, it’s definitely intentional."
- "Like at the Baker Orphanage?" Lois continued.
- "I wasn’t there, but from what I heard, it sounds similar. But you didn’t hear that from me; the investigation hasn’t even started yet."
- "Thank you, Captain," Clark concluded.
They stepped back a few paces, with Lois taking some photos for her article.
- "Clark, I think we should go write the article for the next edition. The night will be long, and unfortunately, there’s nothing more we can do here."
- "But..." Clark hesitated, reluctant to leave Ultrawoman "alone" at the scene.
- "I know, Clark, but she’s a big girl," Lois, knowing her husband well, added quietly. "You often say that Superman doesn’t have a partner, and neither does Ultrawoman. Our place isn’t here. Don’t you want to avoid having her and your gazes crossing every time she leaves the building, ending up as the headline of the National Inquisitor?"
Clark nodded, realizing the validity of Lois’s words.
They headed towards the exit, Clark saying aloud:
- "Alright, Lois, let’s go write the article and then we’ll head home. I hope Ultrawoman and the firefighters have a welcoming home to return to." — This last sentence was, of course, directed at Ultrawoman.
Clark and Lois left the scene, leaving Ultrawoman and the firefighters to continue their work. They knew the night would be long and that the extent of the events would require a detailed report for the Daily Planet.
