Inside the cage.
The Atom's left hand glowed a faint green as he looked at Clark without expression.
But his gaze would occasionally flick toward the cage opposite.
Clark sensed something and followed The Atom's gaze.
Clark noticed one particularly conspicuous cage.
It appeared empty, but there seemed to be a crude iron crib in the middle.
The Atom's deliberately lowered voice came from beside him.
"I'm sorry..."
Clark realized something.
Just then, Lex Luthor appeared at the far end of the passage between the two rows of cages.
His face full of arrogance, Lex Luthor walked over with a brazen laugh, like a cat that had caught a mouse.
"Welcome to my world, Clark." Lex Luthor was delighted.
Startled, Clark asked him, "How do you know my name?"
Lex Luthor stood before the cage and spread his hands. "Was it difficult? You never cover your tracks."
"Even your Lois could figure it out. Why couldn't I?"
"Oh, I forgot the introductions." He pointed at the man sitting beside Clark. "This is Mr. Atom."
Then he turned and gestured toward the cage opposite.
"And his young son."
"I went to considerable trouble to make your stay in this cage more pleasant."
Lex Luthor paused, making faces as though considering the right words.
"Yes, considerable trouble to 'persuade' Mr. Atom to add some fun to your life from now on."
Lex Luthor snapped his fingers.
Looking thoroughly unwilling, The Atom turned his glowing green right hand into a large green stone and approached Clark at a signal from Lex Luthor's eyes.
The green stone gave off a faint light, but the closer it came to Clark, the brighter it shone.
Eventually, the green light illuminated the entire cage.
"Aaargh...!!!"
Clark cried out in pain.
"Oh... that feels good. Who would have