I think the split was basically for dramatic effect. I don't think Clark is in any imminent danger its just she had 10 parts and that was the natural break for this one. That and her normal desire to elevate the suspense a bit at the end of each part.
I really want to see how she wraps all this up since as we mentioned there are a large number of possibilities but after this chapter the number of possibilities just exploded (pun definitely intended).
Zara going to Smallville is a possibility but since it is such a small community she will certainly stick out and as you mentioned her presence at Superman's Farewell address which was probably seen in Smallville also could be an issue. She could certainly blend into the large population in Metropolis more easily but her association with Lois and Clark would draw more attention to her than might be comfortable. I have confidence that DC will come up with something beside making her and her baby hermits in the mountains of Montana or the like.
Part of the reason I like the Metropolis solution better is that I really loved the connection between Lois and Zara. It does make sense since one just gave birth and lost her husband and the other is about to give birth and thought she was losing her husband not even mentioning the whole arranged marriage thing that neither one of them wanted any part of. There is a major emotional link between the two and now that Clark has Ching's heart there will be an even greater one between Zara and Clark. Besides you know Clark would LOVE having a baby girl and a baby boy around. Of course Martha might make a Smallville push to set it up so Lois and Clark would visit more often with their baby.
It will be interesting and as I said in an earlier post plenty of material for another story if/when DC gets the urge...
Mike
RE: the split: Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! Whether or not I kill Clark, it was a natural break/natural cliffy to end the chapter. It would have been too long if I'd covered everything I did and then everything that's still to come.
As I said above, I don't go into much detail with where Zara and Kala end up. I left it up to the imagination, as well as the fact that it really didn't "fit" with the ending I wanted to accomplish.
A request for a sequel has been submitted to my muse, but she's been distracted by a couple of other stories at the moment.
