From Part 22 ...
Lois nodded. She sat on the bed and offered him the plate. “Try one of these,” she suggested. “It is a Kryptonian specialty, known as a pudding.”
Kal brought the chair close to the bed and sat down. He took a pudding and bit into it. After he had swallowed, he said, “That *is* good.”
Lois took hers. “Yes, it is.”
“I lived within such limitations,” Kal said. Then he grinned. “Until you dropped onto my planet.” He leant forward and kissed the very end of her nose. “That was the best day of my life.”
Lois smiled back. “You know something, Mr Supreme Ruler?” she said. “It was the best day of my life too.”
Part 23
The expression on Lois’s face suggested she was joking, but Kal knew there was truth in her words, so he wasn’t sure how to respond. He could ask her for an explanation ... except he *really* wanted to discuss their marriage. “You said you would marry me,” he reminded her gently.
“Yes.”
“I know there are many things we need to discuss – many aspects that require clarity before our Marriage Ceremony,” Kal said. “I have done much research and I think I have answers to many of your questions.”
Lois smiled. “Then why are you looking so worried?” she asked.
He’d forgotten she could read his face. “Because there are things I don’t think you will like.”
“Such as your continuing marriage to Za.”
Kal felt the knot of his apprehension tighten. He took a deep breath, stared at his clenched hands long enough to attempt to organise his thoughts, then looked up and into Lois’s face. “Lois, when I first asked you to marry me, you said you wouldn’t because I’m already married. Then you agreed to marry me despite Za and I’m wondering if you’re ... if you’re hoping that I have ... I’m worried your expectation is that I will annul my marriage.”
“You have never given me any reason to hope that.”
It was true - he hadn’t, but Kal still feared he was about to disappoint her greatly. “I cannot annul my marriage to Za.”
Lois didn’t respond. He’d wondered if she’d be angry or frustrated or even if she’d cry, but he found her blankness more disconcerting than any of the reactions he’d imagined. “Legally you can’t?” she asked quietly. “Or morally, you won’t?”
“Legally I can,” he admitted, trying very hard not to flinch. “But if I were to annul my marriage to Za, she would pay a very high price for our love.”
“What would happen to her?”
“Even if I continued to supply her needs such as housing and food – which I would – the shame of being evicted from the Regal household would be immense – not only for Za, but for her entire family.”
“Is her family from the south?”
“Yes.”
“Could it start a civil war?”
Kal sighed. “It could – although almost any action could be the incendiary for Civil War.”
Lois capped her hands over his. “It’s OK, Kal,” she said. “I don’t expect you to do anything that would hurt Za.”
“You don’t ...?” he faltered.
“No.”
He had to be absolutely sure she fully understood. “You accept that, officially, Za would remain my wife?”
Lois nodded. “I don’t *like* it,” she said. “And I can’t imagine another situation where I would be willing to accept it ... but in this one, I am.”
His relief rolled through him, dousing his trepidation. “Thank you, Lois,” he said, knowing his words barely scraped the surface of his gratitude.
Lois lifted her hands from his and sat back. “What are the differences between being a wife and being a concubine?” she asked.
“A concubine usually lives in her master’s household,” Kal replied. “Whereas a wife usually has her own household.”
Her eyes sparkled. “What if I decided I wanted my *own* household?” she said. “Instead of moving in with you?”
This time, Kal was sure she wasn’t serious. “That would be fine,” he said blithely.
“It would?”
“Sure.” Kal grinned. “So long as I could move in with you.”
She smiled. “Sounds perfect.”
Kal took a few moments to relish her smile as he dwelt on just how perfect it was going to be.
“Any other differences?” Lois asked.
With effort, he reined in his rampaging thoughts. “Any child borne by a wife is considered to be the child of the father; any child borne by a concubine is considered to be the child of the mother.”
“What about a second wife?”
“That situation applies for any wife.”
“But if I, as your wife, were to have a child, he or she could not be accepted as your child unless we went the sample route.” Lois stared at him, face set. “Which we are *not* going to do.”
“No,” Kal breathed. “No, we are not.”
“Then what would be the position of our child? Legally?”
The words ‘our child’ sent a thrill through him, but it was quickly extinguished. “Lois,” Kal said sadly. “I don’t think that will happen. I don’t think I will ever father a child.”
“Because you have bad seed?” Lois asked.
He could feel the focus of her displeasure as it centred on him. “Yes.”
“Kal, for Za to get pregnant, your seed has to actually get inside her.”
He did know that. “Yes.”
“Are you sure it does?” Lois asked. “What if Nor destroys it or replaces it with something else before it gets to Za?”
“I have considered that.”
“And?” she demanded.
“And I don’t think he does.”
“Why not?”
Her intensity was disconcerting, but it occurred to Kal that it may not be directed at him. “Because it is not only Nor,” Kal said. “Ching oversees the delivery to Za as well.”
“Couldn’t Nor and Ching be working together?”
“It is possible,” Kal conceded. “And Nor has much to gain if I remain childless.”
“He ... or his son ... would become the Supreme Ruler.”
“Yes,” Kal agreed. “But Ching has nothing to gain.”
“Meaning?” she fired at him.
“In some ways, Ching still carries the thoughts of the North,” Kal said. “He opposes Nor and Yent on many issues. I don’t think Ching would agree to something that would see New Krypton under Southern rule.”
“What if they have a deal?” Lois said. “Could Nor have promised Ching certain privileges if he, Nor, rules?”
“Ching is automatically the next in line.”
“And Nor already has a child, so Ching can’t just wait for Nor to die?”
“That is correct.”
“Do you think Ching has a plan to kill Nor? And Nor’s son?”
Kal considered. “That is unlikely,” he said. “Nor is a formidable opponent. And Ching is young. And if he were caught, he would be executed.”
Lois thought for a moment. “Is it possible Nor is blackmailing Ching?”
“That is possible,” Kal admitted. “But if Nor challenged, I believe his method of choice would not be blackmail.”
“You believe he would want all-out war?” Lois said.
That’s exactly what Kal believed, but it wasn’t Nor he wanted to discuss now. “Lois ... I can tell that you’re troubled,” he said hesitantly.
Lois’s smile appeared briefly. “I get a bit intense sometimes ... call it an occupational hazard of being a reporter.”
Kal understood enough to further suspect that her irritation wasn’t directed at him. He needed to be sure, though. “I’m sorry,” he said.
“Sorry for what?” Lois seemed genuinely surprised.
“Sorry that it is unlikely we will have a child.”
“I don’t think it’s unlikely at all,” she countered. “I think there is too much for Nor to gain by keeping you childless. I think the method you and Za were forced to use is ridiculously vulnerable to interference.”
Kal was still trying to process her first sentence. “You think it’s possible we could have a child?” he said in wonder.
Lois smiled. “I’d be willing to bet we have more chance than you and Za ever had.”
“You think so?”
“Yes,” she insisted. “At least for us, the *sample* will get to where it’s supposed to be.”
Kal felt his face heat, but recognised this as his opportunity to ask about something that had been worrying him. “Are you ... sure ... we will be ... compatible?”
“I can’t guarantee our *seed* will be compatible,” Lois said. “But our bodies will be.”
“How do you know?” A sudden possibility snagged his breath in his throat. “Have you looked?”
“Looked?” she gasped.
“If you can see through walls, you can probably see through clothes,” Kal reasoned.
“Yes,” she admitted. “I can.”
“Have you looked?” he repeated.
Lois laughed, propelled, Kal saw, by her discomfort. “Are you hoping I will say ‘yes’ or ‘no’?”
“I’m not sure,” Kal said. “But I *would* like to know.”
“No,” Lois said. “I haven’t looked. But I really want to.”
Kal grinned. “If *I* could see through clothes, I would really want to look through yours.”
Lois answered his smile. “Would you do it?”
“I hope not.” He grinned again. “But the temptation would be considerable.”
“Uhmm,” she said in a tone that said much more.
“If you haven’t looked,” he asked. “How do you know we will be physically compatible?”
“I’ve seen you in the black suit.”
The black suit. “Oh.”
“It doesn’t hide much.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Are you uncomfortable wearing it?”
“Less so now,” Kal said. “The first time I wore it was at the Report following my Investiture. I was very nervous about having to speak in front of all the people. And then they brought me the suit and once I had it on, I was even more nervous.”
“Why do you have to wear it?”
“Because it is tradition that the Supreme Ruler gives the Report wearing a tight black suit embellished with his family’s crest.”
“Do you know how the tradition began?”
He did. But knowing it didn’t translate easily to saying it. “Initially ... many, many years ago ... it was to show the people the physical strength of their leader to give them comfort and security in his protection.”
“So it is *meant* to be revealing?”
Kal nodded. “That is one reason why I do the physical exercise.”
“Really?” Lois said. “I thought it was because you knew that one day a woman would drop in from a faraway planet – a woman who is particularly partial to a superbly defined chest and tautly muscular shoulders.”
Kal coughed in a clumsy attempt to cover his embarrassment. “You ... ah ... like my chest?”
Lois nodded. “Not that I’ve actually seen it, but I’ve seen enough to know it is utterly drool-worthy.”
He didn’t understand much beyond her approval, but he concluded now was not the time for full understanding. He tried to clear the constriction from his throat. “Maybe we should work on the details of our marriage ... so we can ... ah ... get to ... that ... as quickly as possible,” he suggested.
Lois laughed, then sobered quickly. “Have you said anything to anyone else about our marriage?”
Kal shook his head. “My intention is to call a Cabinet Meeting tomorrow and inform them I will be marrying you.”
“Nor will oppose it,” Lois said with certainty.
“Probably,” Kal said easily. “But he can’t stop me marrying you, so there is no reason for concern.”
“Kal,” Lois said. “I just can’t see Nor sitting back and allowing us to marry, knowing it could lead to the birth of a child – a child who would almost ensure that he and his family will never rule New Krypton.”
“If Nor harms any of my household, he and ten of his family members will be executed,” Kal explained. “Then, if I were dead, the mantle would pass to Ching.”
“Are you concerned?” she said. “At all?”
He paused. “The people are disappointed there has been no heir. They may see my marriage to you as a second chance. That could be enough to keep some of the less rebellious ones from taking up arms. That may stall Nor. He will not initiate war unless he believes he will win.”
Lois didn’t seem totally convinced. “Kal, we need to decide what will happen if we *do* have a child.”
Kal couldn’t contain his smile at that thought.
Lois put her hand on his. “You *want* a child, don’t you?” she asked.
A child? With Lois? He believed it wasn’t possible, but ... what if ... it was? Kal allowed himself a moment to dream. “More than anything, I want to marry you,” he said. “But if we were to have a child ... that would be ... incredible.”
“Do you want a child? Or an heir?”
“With Za, I wanted an heir,” Kal said. “I wanted to honour my forefathers with a new generation. I wanted to fortify the future of my planet.” He took her hand. “And with you, Lois, it is all that ... but it is so much more. To have a child who is the mixing of you and me ... a child that is the result of our love ... a child that we can love together. *That* would be more than ... so much more than ... anything I have ever hoped for.”
Lois said nothing for a few moments and Kal wondered what she was thinking. “I have never wanted a child,” she said.
Her words pierced his dream and deflated it to nothingness. “You haven’t?”
“No.” Lois's hand gripped his more tightly. “But that was because I had never met someone I loved enough to have a child with.”
“So you would like to have a child now?” he asked. “With me?”
“Yes.”
The dream lived. Kal smiled. “Since meeting you, I have wondered so much more about my parents. I wonder if they wanted a child together or if I was never anything more than the solution to a political conflict – even to them. I wonder if my father loved my mother, or if she was merely the daughter of an enemy who had been thrust upon him.”
“It’s important to you, isn’t it?”
Kal nodded. “It is important and I don’t even really understand why. I would like to think that my parents shared a love like we have ... but I realise that it is unlikely.” He looked into her eyes. “I guess your parents loved each other?”
He saw her face change and regretted his question. “Maybe they did at the beginning,” Lois said. “But they separated when I was quite young.”
“Separated?”
“They felt they were no longer in love and they didn’t want to be together anymore, so they separated.”
“That would be awful,” Kal said.
“It was,” Lois said. “But it was probably better than the conflict and bitterness we endured when they were together.” Her hand lifted to skim along his jaw. “And it’s definitely better than having no memories at all.”
“Did you always hope they would re-discover their love?”
Lois hesitated. “Yes,” she admitted, as if she were slightly ashamed of her hope. “But I know that isn’t going to happen.”
Kal covered her hand and brought it to his lap. “We will never lose our love,” he vowed.
Lois smiled, but only briefly. He could see her thoughts had already moved forward. “I have a question,” she said.
“This sounds ominous,” he said with a small smile.
She squeezed his hand. “I don’t wish to embarrass you, Kal,” she said. “But this is something we have to decide.”
He nodded.
“After we are married, will you continue to give Za the sample every month?”
Kal shifted uncomfortably under her direct gaze. “You don’t want me to, do you?” he guessed.
“Kal, if Za were to have a child ... you would be so excited and so proud and I know you would want to be very involved in the raising of your child. And that would draw you and Za closer together ... and I’m not sure I could control my jealousy.”
“The provision of a sample is usually a short-term obligation.”
“Why?”
“As soon as the heir is conceived, the obligation ceases.”
“Most Supreme Rulers have only one child?”
“With his wife, yes,” Kal said. “It’s done to stop a younger sibling from challenging the birthright of the firstborn.”
“What if the first child is a girl?”
“A suitable marriage is arranged with a high-ranking family.”
“Her husband would be the Supreme Ruler?”
“Yes.”
“Are there a high number of girls born to the Supreme Ruler’s wife who mysteriously don’t survive the birth?”
“They are not recorded,” Kal said. His eyes dropped low. “But that is possible.”
“Lucky you were male, hey?” Lois said grimly.
Delving into the murky history of Krypton was not going to help answer the questions about his future with Lois. “If we *were* to have a child ... would you have concerns about a child of yours being the heir?”
“I can’t see how that would be possible.” Lois grinned. “Given our preferred method of conception.”
“The people are eager for an heir – an heir that has blood from both the North and the South.”
“With a little alien blood mixed in for good measure?”
Kal couldn’t discern if Lois was serious or joking. “Just as I am accepted as the Supreme Ruler because of my mixed blood, so any child of mine would carry that mixed blood.”
“You believe that if the people had to choose between no heir and a child born to your alien wife – a child without official verification of his or her paternity – they would accept the child as their leader?”
Kal nodded.
“I wouldn’t allow any child of mine to live in the isolation you were subjected to.”
“*We* would not allow that,” Kal said. “We would be a family. You, me and our child. Our child could have all the things I didn’t have – the love of a mother and the love of a father ... guidance and training and stability and knowing how to laugh and to have tears and to love.”
“How would Za feel about that?” Lois asked. “It would mean that she would never have a child and that I truly had replaced her, not just joined her as your wife.”
“I don’t know how Za would feel,” Kal said. “I have never spoken to her. I don’t know if she wants a child ... I don’t know how she feels about the samples. She had no choice in this either. She was forced to become my wife because she was the first female baby born on New Krypton.”
“Has she ever tried to contact you? Ever asked to meet with you?”
“No.”
“What happens regarding the sample between now and when we may have an announcement of a coming heir?”
“There is provision in the Law for me to refuse to give the sample for a short time – a few months,” Kal said. “Any longer than that and the Cabinet can issue a Demand for an Explanation against me.”
“Could you lose the leadership if you refuse?” Lois asked.
“No,” Kal said, “Not if I give an alternative method of providing the hope of an heir.”
“That’s going to be an awful lot of pressure on us to conceive,” Lois said disconsolately.
Kal could think of no suitable reply. “I will inform the Cabinet tomorrow that we will marry the following day – is that suitable to you?”
She let out a long breath. “Yes, that is suitable to me.”
Kal needed to get back her happiness. A discussion about their marriage should not end on such a weary sigh. He caressed her hand. “Will you marry me, Lois?” he asked. “I *can* marry you. You can have every legal right due the wife of the Supreme Ruler. Officially, you can be my wife.”
Lois grinned suddenly, her gloom gone. “How about *not* officially?”
He grinned with her, relieved. “*Not* officially, you will get many things – the whole of my heart, my everlasting love, my profound gratitude, everything I am.”
Lois cradled his face in her hands and looked deep into his eyes. “Then that will be enough,” she told Kal. “I will share you officially, but unofficially, you will be all mine.”
“Yours,” he agreed. “Only yours.”
Her mouth moved closer and she kissed him.
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Lois was about a second away from losing herself in the lure of Kal’s kiss when she remembered the aquifer. She pulled away rather abruptly. “Can you show me a map of New Krypton?” she asked.
He covered his surprise well and brought the map to the bed and spread it out.
“Where are the current drilling operations?” Lois asked.
He showed her.
Lois pointed to the eastern edge of the island. “This is the cliff face?”
“Yes.”
“When I was on the cliff, I looked under the ground.”
Kal’s eyes sparked with sudden hope. “And?”
“And there is no water under any of the drills.”
“Oh,” he said, disappointed.
“But there is a big underground lake ...” Lois indicated the map between two of the drills. “... right about here.”
“There is?”
“There is.”
“Is it a long way below the surface?”
“Moderately so, but no deeper than you’ve already reached with the drills.”
Kal studied the map. “It is far enough from the ocean that it could possibly be fresh water.”
“We can hope so,” Lois said.
“I will order the drills be dismantled and moved,” he said.
“You aren’t going to consult with the Water Committee?” Lois asked.
Kal shook his head.
“You’re not feeling in the mood for consultation?” she teased.
Kal didn’t respond to the lightness of her tone. “Lois,” he said solemnly. “You know I love you and you know I will love you whatever happens?”
“Yes,” Lois said, unsure of his point.
“And you know I am not disconcerted that you can see through things ... but ... maybe it would be best if others don’t know.”
Lois hadn’t thought about that.
“Please don’t think I am ashamed of you,” Kal said. “I could never be that. But I would hate it if people thought of you as an oddity.”
“You mean even weirder than being an alien from another planet?”
Kal nodded cautiously. “Please understand, Lois. Take the time to think about it ... and if you decide that your ... differences ... need not be kept a secret, I will support you in that. But should you decide they are best kept between us, you will still have that choice if we say nothing about how we know there is water underground.”
Lois gathered him into her arms. “Thank you, Kal.”
He kissed her quickly. “I need to order the two working drills be moved,” he said. “Then I want to do some of the things from my schedule for the days following our marriage.” He flashed her a wide, bursting-with-anticipation grin and left the room.
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Lois collected her book from Ard, again delighted by her pictures.
“Will there be another one?” Ard asked. “Soon?”
Lois was about to tell her there would be a break of a few days when she hesitated, her mind spinning with a new idea. If she could borrow her earlier books back from Riz’s children, they could make copies – copies which would extend the gift of stories beyond Dom and Kip. “Yes,” Lois said. “Soon.”
Ard returned to her desk – happy - as far as Lois could guess.
Lois took the new book to Riz’s and read it to the two children.
Then, Riz placed the beverage in front of them and sat down. “There are rumours that you and the Supreme Ruler are becoming increasingly closer.”
Lois chuckled. Riz wasn’t one to waste time with small talk when she wanted information. “Yes.”
“Are you going to marry him?”
“He’s already married,” Lois said.
“He’s the Supreme Ruler,” Riz said. “He can have as many wives and as many concubines as he wishes.”
“Do you think the people of New Krypton would accept an alien as his wife?”
“Some will,” Riz said easily. “Some won’t.”
Lois gulped. “Oh.”
“Many Kryptonians appreciate the last ten years of relative peace. They understand that if New Krypton is to live as a united people, it is important that the Supreme Ruler is of blood from both sides.”
“Is it possible some people won’t accept Nor as the Supreme Ruler?”
“If Nor decides to push his claim for the mantle, I don’t think he will be particularly concerned with the wishes of the people.”
“If the Supreme Ruler were to have a child ... would that be considered a good thing?”
“For the sake of unity, it would be the best thing.”
“Even by the means of an alien?”
“Yes.”
Lois paused, unsure, then decided she could trust Riz. “I *am* going to be married in two days,” she said.
Riz smiled – not with her mouth, but with a lightening of her eyes. “That is good news.”
“Will you come?”
“Do you want me to?”
“Yes.”
“I will come.”
“I’ll let you know the exact time.”
“Tek will officiate, so I will find out from him.”
“Why would Tek officiate?”
“The Marriage Ceremony is usually conducted by a family member of the male who is being married. The Supreme Ruler has no family members, so Tek is the closest, being a member of the household.”
“That is sad ... sad that he has no one from his family.”
“It has been sad for a long time ... but now ... now everything will be better.”
“Do you think his wife will be offended by her husband marrying another woman?” Lois asked.
“She has no course to be offended.”
“Why?” Lois asked, still struggling with the concept of a wife who would be unconcerned by her husband’s upcoming marriage to another woman. “Because he’s the Supreme Ruler and he’s allowed to do anything he wants?”
“Yes, but more than that.”
“More how?”
“The Lady Za has had ten years to show an interest in her husband. She has chosen not to.”
“So she deserves to lose him?” Lois said, impossibly conflicted by the weird feeling of indignation on behalf of her fiancé’s wife.
“It isn’t that she deserves to lose him,” Riz said. “But that I doubt she will care what he does. She has never shown any inclination to be close to him.”
“Is she blind?” Lois asked.
“No, she is not,” Riz answered seriously.
Lois subdued her smile. “Will someone even *tell* her?”
“She will hear. She is probably already expecting such news.”
“It is very strange to me to be marrying a married man,” Lois said. “It is even stranger that there will be no opposition from his wife.”
“It will not be considered strange on New Krypton.” A spark of interest showed on Riz’s face. “Can I help you prepare for the Marriage Ceremony? What does a woman do on your planet?”
“Often she wears a white dress and carries flowers.”
“Will you wear the concubine dress? Or the Report Gown?”
“I haven’t decided.”
“We have minimal flowers on New Krypton,” Riz said.
“That is all right.”
“What else happens in an Earth Marriage Ceremony?”
“The man and woman swap rings.”
“Finger rings?”
“Yes – worn on this finger.” Lois indicated her left ring finger. “It signifies that they are married.”
Riz swung her leg from under the table and lifted her gown a few inches. Lois saw she wore a copper coloured band around her ankle. “This signifies I am married.”
“Does Kal wear one of those? Does Tek?”
“Tek does. The Nobles do not.”
“Oops,” Lois said with a half-formed smile. “I forgot the rule about not being allowed to mention the Supreme Ruler.”
“The Rule does not apply to a wife.”
“It doesn’t?”
“She usually has no contact with her husband, so there is nothing to tell.”
This was indeed a strange planet, Lois reflected. Strange that the normal people accepted such bizarre behaviour from those considered superior to them. She stood. “I’m sorry this is a short visit, Riz. I have lots to organise.”
Riz stood and approached Lois, stopping very close to her. “I am very pleased by your news,” she said. Lois concluded she had just experienced the Kryptonian equivalent of a hug.
“Thank you,” Lois said. Then she remembered the other purpose of her visit. “I would like to make copies of the books so other children can have them,” she said. “Could I please have the early books back for a day?”
Riz turned and gathered a pile of about fifteen books from a shelf. She offered them to Lois.
“What are all these?” Lois asked.
“I made copies of your books,” Riz explained. “I did the writing in both Kryptonian languages and as soon as I had checked if it were all right with you, I planned to get Tek to take them to Ard to draw the pictures.”
Lois smiled. “Thank you, Riz.”
“When they are done, I intend to loan them to any child who is interested.”
“Just like a library,” Lois exclaimed.
“That word doesn’t translate,” Riz said.
“It doesn’t matter what you call it,” Lois said. “It is a wonderful idea.” Impulsively, she gave Riz a short, barely-there hug, then turned and left without waiting to see her reaction.
She walked back to Kal’s gates, feeling ridiculously buoyant. Lois Lane, reporter, Daily Planet, would never have experienced such satisfaction over a few picture books constructed rather roughly from paper and twine.
And Lois Lane, Daily Planet, would never have considered marrying a man who refused to give up his current marriage.
But her life had changed – so very, very much.
And so had Lois Lane.
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Kal stared at the closed door.
He still had grave reservations about the wisdom of coming here.
He could have had Tek arrange this meeting in his Chambers.
That would have been the Kryptonian way.
Actually, the Kryptonian way would be not to do this at all.
But Kal felt he should.
And he hadn’t felt comfortable about summoning her to his residence.
So now, he was here, staring at her door. He knocked – although he wasn’t compelled to.
He waited – still unsure what he was going to say.
The door opened and she was there.
Neither spoke for a long moment.
Then she broke the silence with the first words his wife had ever spoken to him. “Lord Kal-El,” Za said. “I’ve been expecting you.”
