Enemies & Allies Read Online Free PDF

either side of the keel, pushing his shoulder against the metal hull. The whole ship shuddered as he heaved with all his strength. He had never lifted anything so large before, had never tried, but he didn’t allow doubts to enter his mind. He would lift this sinking ship because he had to. There was no other option.
    Holding his breath, Kal-El exerted himself, shoving the huge hulk high enough to raise the gaping engine-room hole above the waterline. If nothing else, holding it here would stop the Star City Queen from sinking.
    But that wasn’t good enough.
    Kal-El kept straining. Slowly—like a spoon being pulled out of Martha Kent’s jar of thick molasses—the passenger ship rose out of the water. He pushed higher and higher, until the vessel itself was airborne. Salt water streamed from its sides in a drenching downpour, falling with a whisper-roar back into the waves.
    The passengers on the deck were astonished. Some cheered; some hung on for dear life.
    With the ship suspended in the air, rocking slightly as if in heavy seas, Kal-El turned its bow and flew off toward the harbor in Metropolis Bay. The damaged vessel groaned and creaked with the strain, but it held together as he carried it along.
    He passed directly over the Coast Guard rescue ships, which still churned across the open water as fast as they could go. Uniformed crewmen stepped out of the wheelhouses and onto the decks, shading their eyes and looking up into the sky at the astounding sight. Releasing the Star City Queen with one hand, Kal-El waved at them as he flew past. Surprised and confused, the crews stared, then began to cheer. The Coast Guard captains turned their ships about and began chugging back toward the harbor.
    Excited and tense crowds had already gathered on the docks in Metropolis harbor. Smaller boats moved out of the way, clearing a spot in the shallower water as Kal-El came in and gently set the damaged vessel down at an unoccupied slip on the wharf. He surfaced again, dripping wet, and landed on the wooden dock. The elated captain of the Queen threw him a thick hawser, and Kal-El pulled the boat closer to the pilings, lashing it firmly in place.
    At the edge of the crowd he saw Jimmy Olsen dutifully taking photograph after photograph. Lois pushed to the front, eager to be first to talk with the rescued passengers and crew. Kal-El was glad she would get her big story, and he raised a hand to greet her. Their eyes met, and when Lois returned his wave, he would have sworn that she seemed much more interested in interviewing him than the captain or crew. Though he would have loved to do her a favor, he didn’t consider it fair to give her such obvious special treatment. She was an excellent reporter and could do very well by herself. Later on, Clark Kent would be sure to congratulate her.
    Emergency crews arrived to help the shaken passengers. All of the rescued people applauded Superman. Many began jabbering about their experience; some of them cried. Kal-El stayed on the docks long enough to receive their thanks, smiling politely but uncomfortable with all the attention. He had done his good deed, and that was all that truly mattered to him. Although it was difficult to show modesty after carrying a giant passenger ship across the sky, the Kents had taught him to be humble.
    With a wave—and a last wink at Lois—Kal-El flew into the sky. He had to get back to the Daily Planet, change clothes, and return to his desk before anyone noticed he was gone. Clark Kent had an article due.

SIBERIA ARIGUSKA GULAG
     
    C OMMUNISM IS THE GREATEST MENACE WESTERN CIVILIZATION has ever faced,” declared Lex Luthor, prominent American industrialist and one of the world’s richest men.
    Leaning across the rough pine table inside the administration cabin, the brawny Soviet general chuckled. “And you capitalists want to destroy the working class by denying the fair distribution of wealth.” He grinned, exposing square teeth.
    “I prefer to