The Last Days of Krypton - Kevin J. Anderson [93]
Less than two days later, like an invading army, heavy machinery rattled away from the refugee settlement and rumbled across dry grasslands to the open land Jor-El had chosen. The volunteer workers seemed glad to participate in such a significant project.
Constructors cleared the grasses, plowed new access roads, excavated foundations, and sank anchor pilings down to bedrock. At Zod’s command, foundries from the mines in Corril began producing the structural girders and conduits needed for the framework of the telescope dishes. Tyr-Us, the industrialist leader of Corril, complained about the imposition, but obeyed anyway. Anyone at the refugee camp who demonstrated an ability to perform skilled or technological labor was shipped away to help build the listening post.
Jor-El was amazed, even overwhelmed. In all his years of research, he had never been offered so much assistance. Previously, his projects had been mere experiments, prototypes to be submitted to (and usually confiscated by) the Commission for Technology Acceptance. Now, though, his dreams became large-scale practicality.
Lara spent the days beside him as his wife, his companion, and his sounding board. Though they had been married for only a short time, she could easily read his moods. Though the loss of her parents and little brother still weighed heavily on her, and she remained restless and agitated, she drew strength from Jor-El and gave it back at the same time. She wrote faithfully in her personal historical journal, recording firsthand all the activities around them; someday it would be a valuable—and accurate—chronicle of what had really taken place during Krypton’s most difficult days.
As she watched the construction continue, Lara was pleased to see so many people following her husband’s instructions. “You have an amazing second chance, Jor-El. Krypton needs you. I always knew you’d be found innocent.”
He turned away from the rising dust and rumble, unable to hide a troubled frown. “I wasn’t found innocent, Lara. I was pardoned. Those are two different things. People will still assume I’m guilty, but that Commissioner Zod simply needed something from me. A shadow of doubt will always hang over me.”
“I don’t think so, Jor-El.” Lara placed her fingers on his cheeks, turned his face to hers, and gave him a kiss. “Look around you. Krypton is forever changed.”
Unlike his brother, Jor-El had always held himself aloof from politics, avoiding the petty rivalries and arguments in the Council. Though he’d been repeatedly offered a seat among the eleven, he could imagine nothing more frustrating than to spend his days in bureaucratic quicksand. Better to let them worry that he could accept the appointment any time he wished.
The government had wasted time on decisions that improved one noble family’s personal standing rather than Kryptonian society as a whole; they had misplaced priorities. With his science Jor-El felt he was doing far greater work than a political career would ever have allowed. He had bypassed the Council when necessary, done what he believed was right, and completed his independent studies.
Now, however, he didn’t have to worry about Zod’s Commission seizing and locking away his greatest discoveries. Zod had once been his greatest rival and nemesis, but now he couldn’t help but feel a sort of grudging gratitude toward the intense man.
Together, Jor-El and Lara watched the first tall girders being installed into pilings for the listening dishes. At the speed these people were working, it would be less than a month before he could begin thorough, round-the-clock observations. While the Commissioner was primarily concerned about alien invaders, Jor-El couldn’t wait for the scientific opportunities this huge telescope array would offer. He could finally produce a complete sky survey in various wavelengths.
While his thoughts wandered, the ground suddenly began to shake, an ominous tremor building from deep underground. The girders of the partially built telescopes began to sway. Construction machines