Erstin’s fingers worked the clay as he wrote letters in the five lined alphabet of his people. They shook so bad he kept stopping. His eyes set hard on the clay. Jakestin came in behind him, but he ignored her presence.

“Erstin, you’ve been at that for hours.”

“And it’s been the best time of my life. Now, don’t bother me.”

“When are you going to stop?”

“When I figure out what happens next.”

She looked over his shoulder. “Those letters look strange. Put it down and come to eat.”

“Jakestin, I cannot for such marvelous things happen on this planet. They have a being that flies like wind. He is faster than the light. If I could just figure out what this picture is!”

“You skipped the morning meal as well, come and eat.”

Erstin laid down the comic. “If I eat, will you leave me be for awhile?”

“Yes.”

Erstin rose from his seat, closed his working pad, and walked for the door. “Let’s hurry. I must know what happened next.”

Jakestin looked at the thin book. She reached for it only to stop. If he doesn’t stop next time, she told herself. The symbols stuck in her mind. The symbols spelled out ACTION COMICS NO. 1.