Ian stood where he was and watched the two children run across the lawn, pass the edge of the yard, round the corner of the barn, and disappear from sight.
Their laughter gradually faded in the wind before being swallowed by its sound, and silence soon returned. He did not look at the children again, turning his gaze toward the farmhouse instead. He did not know in what form that Superman would appear before him, nor was he sure whether, when he stood within this universe's field of view, it could accommodate an existence without a counterpart as an external reference point.
But he had already crossed that low wall with the Monitor and now stood on land he had never set foot on before. He did not ask what lay beyond this door, because he knew the answer would emerge on its own once the door opened. Before then, all he needed to do was follow closely behind the figure moving ahead, keep pace, and wait for the next node to emerge from the background in its own way.
"I think I know this universe." Ian continued walking beneath the sunlight. The outline of the farmhouse grew clearer in his sight, while the wind continued sweeping across the fields, carrying the scent of soil and vegetation. Time passed steadily in his perception. The farmhouse door was slowly opening, and though the light inside had not yet fully revealed itself, it was spilling outward at its own pace.
Like a door about to receive visitors.
Ian and the Monitor crossed the lawn and headed toward the farmhouse. The wind was still blowing, and the crops in the field swayed gently in the faint light, like layers of green. The farmhouse door was not fully shut, warm light spilling through the