The Fall of a Knight

8/12/2019 The Fall of a Knight

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txtBatman: Knightfall

By Dennis O'Neil

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This oo! "as scanne# in $%st %n#er a "ee!, &art time. "as ale to com&lete half the oo! in %n#er ( ho%rs.

)lean-%& too! ao%t half a "ee! of &art-time effort. mo*e# the ty&ical ++front of oo!'' st%ff to the en# of the file to increase

rea#aility.

This is the first oo! that ha*e scanne#, an# it "ent relati*ely &ainless.

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This oo! is o%t of &rint an# is &ro*i#e# as a ac!%& of the har#co&y of the oo!that yo% alrea#y o"n. f yo% rea# this electronic *ersion, &lease #onate (2 centsto the chil#ren's charity of yo%r choice.

TO 340104N,"ith lo*e an# no more s5%alor than is asol%tely necessary

)omics are gran# o&era.

--6arry ama7n#ings to e %sef%l m%st e inconcl%si*e.

--Sam%el 0. Delany The 7instein ntersection

)ontents8art - Knightfall

8art ( - Knight5%est

8art 9 - Knightsen#4fter"ar#

4c!no"le#gments)ontri%tors

Knightfall

e stan#s &oise#: "eight for"ar#, !nees ent, "aiting, almost rea#y. e scans the

area an# sees nothing has change#: the conical silho%ette of a "ater tan! a #oenyar#s a"ay, an# eyon# that the %l!ier silho%ettes of the ;otham )ity s!yline. 3any

ha*e calle# it the %gliest city in the "orl#, all shar& angles an# rigi# &lanes,

lac! against a s!y that is ne*er l%e, nor lac!, nor any color he can name, a s!y

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txtDo%gie 3an!lin, the smo!er, is gro&ing in his $ac!et, trying to &%ll an a%tomatic

from his insi#e &oc!et. 4 single lo" to the ase of his s!%ll stills him< he sl%m&s

ac! into his chair, %nconscio%s.S%##enly there is a last of so%n# from the other en# of the loft, an# a sl%g

ricochets off the =ni*ersal.

>Don't shoot, ya moron,> someone yells. >?o%'ll hit the 3an!lins.>> #on't care "ho shoot@>

The tele*ision "atchers get %& from their co%ch. The taller of them is hol#ing aA-millimeter a%tomatic, the c%rrent "ea&on of choice on the street. e has $%st

fire# it. e is saying, >hate*er that "as that come thro%gh that s!ylight, "ant

it #ea#.>is com&anion c%&s his han#s aro%n# his mo%th an# calls, >4ng%sC Do%gieC ?o,

)h%c!ie@> e "aits for an ans"er.

The g%nman fires again.>3oron@> his com&anion sho%ts.

>'m gettin' o%tta here,> the g%nman says.Both men sh%ffle to"ar# the front of the loft, to"ar# a #oor that is #angero%sly

close to the "ell. The shorter man lights a match an# ste&s ca%tio%sly for"ar#. eis %narme#. The g%nman is a half ste& ehin# him, "a*ing the a%tomatic, s5%intinginto the feele light.

4 !ic! s&ins the g%n from his han# an# into the #ar!ness. 4 &alm stri!e to the chin

o%nces him off the "all.>O"l> screeches the short man as the match %rns his th%m. e has glim&se# "hat has

ha&&ene# to the g%nman an# is &anic!ing. e r%ns l%rching into the lac!ness,forgetting ao%t the "ell.

The instant his left foot flails in em&ty air, he rememers, t"ists, trying to get

ac!, %t it is too late. e egins the long &l%nge, his li&s &arting to scream.B%t he #oesn't. 1ingers close aro%n# his forearm an# ha%l him %& to safety.

S%##enly there is light from a an! of fl%orescents that #angles from the ceiling.e lin!s an# sees his sa*ior, a to"ering fig%re "ra&&e# in a lac! cloa!, its face

co*ere# y a mas! "ith lan! eyes an# s&i!e# ears. The monster, "ho only a secon#

ago sa*e# his life, hits him, then lets him sl%m& to the floor.Then someone ehin# him s&ea!s. >?o% are the Batman.> The *oice is light, almost

m%sical, an# f%ll of a 6atino accent. The s&ea!er stan#s on the cat"al! ao*e the

loft, his han# still on a s"itch $%tting from a f%se ox. e is h%ge: se*en feettall, "ith an enormo%s chest an# sho%l#ers, a narro" "aist, an# thic! legs. e is

"earing leather: a lac! tan! to&, ri#ing reeches, an# oots. is hea# is co*ere#y a lac! leather hoo#. T"o t%es c%rl from the to& an# reenter the hoo# at the

ac! of the nec!.

>?es,> the Batman ans"ers.>o" strange. ?o% are a creat%re cloa!e# in nightmare. 4 thing of terror. ?et yo%

"ill not rea! the 1ifth )omman#ment. ?o% #o not !ill.>

>Ne*er co%nt on it.> is han# is %n#er his ca&e, %ncoiling his s&are, "eighte# line.n a moment, he "ill fling it li!e a olo at the cat"al! railing, &%ll it ta%t, an#

clim. >ho are yo%C>>?o% "ill !no" my name one #ay. On that #ay, yo% "ill eg for mercy.>

>?o%'re threatening meC ;et in line.>

>?o% "ill scream my name. Scream it@>

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txtThe ca&e &arts as the line is fl%ng. 1or a moment, %n#er the cat"al!, the Batman

loses sight of his 5%arry. B%t only for a moment. e is climing, *a%lting the

railing, seeing the o&en "in#o", #i*ing thro%gh it onto the tar &a&er roof an#rolling to his feet, all "ithin fi*e secon#s. e s&ins, loo!ing. Nothing %t the

familiar silho%ette of the s!yline. e loo!s %&"ar#. The hoo#e# man no" stan#s on

the &ara&et of the roof of the a#$oining %il#ing "here the Batman ha# stoo# only afe" min%tes earlier. e $%m&e#C 7ighteen feetC Straight %&C The Batman cannot

follo".Once again the o##, lilting *oice calls softly: >?o% "ill scream my name@>

4 moment later, Batman !no"s he is alone.

Three ho%rs earlier, the Batman ha# een "earing a t%xe#o, calling himself Br%ceayne, an# lo%nging in the ac!seat of a limo%sine next to a yo%ng "oman name#

;"enny. ;"enny "as "earing a Donna Karan e*ening go"n, an# altho%gh the night "as

"arm, a "hite sale stole "as #ra&e# aro%n# her sho%l#ers.>Do yo% ha*e any cham&agne, Br%cieC> she as!e#, sli#ing o&en the #oor of the limo's

&ortale ar.>Darn st%ff ma!es me gi##y.>

4lfre# 8enny"orth, in the #ri*er's seat, glance# into the rear*ie" mirror, &%rse#his li&s, an# a#$%ste# the tiny recei*er he "ore in his left ear.;"enny leane# ac! in the seat. >'ll et yo%'re f%n "hen yo%'re gi##y.>

>Not m%ch, really. 4ct%ally, ten# to *omit.>

>Oh.> ;"enny gae# o%t the smo!e# glass at the &assing street scene. Then she sai#,>4re yo% going to ta!e me to yo%r ho%seC 7*eryone says ayne 3anor is $%st #arling@

o" many roomsC>>;ee, '*e ne*er co%nte#.>

>1orty-three, sir,> 4lfre# sai# o*er his sho%l#er.

>That manyC hat #o "e #o "ith 'em allC>>)lean them.>

>Seems li!e a "aste, someho" . . . cleaning rooms "e ne*er %se.>

>Not a it, sir. The soa& an# "ater are tax #e#%ctions.>>Of co%rse,> Br%ce sai# #ecisi*ely. >Of co%rse they are.>

4lfre# a#$%ste# the tiny recei*er in his ear, leane# for"ar#, an# t%rne# a #ial onthe #ashoar#. >eather's 5%ite seasonale,> he sai#.

>Oh, #arn@> Br%ce s5%irme# to face ;"enny an# &%t a han# on her sho%l#er. > feel an

attac! coming on.>>4n attac!C>

>t's an ol# ayne &rolem. Been in the family for generations.>>hat !in# of attac!C>

> #on't !no" the me#ical term . . . my gran#father sai# it "as the

'ayne clan incontinence.' '# really rather s&are yo% the #etails, ;"enny.>>f that's "hat yo%'# li!e-->

>4lfre#, "e're near ;"enny's a&artment, aren't "eC>

>Three loc!s, sir.>>;"enny,> Br%ce sai#, >maye "e'# etter #ro& yo% off. hate to ma!e s%ch an early

e*ening of it-->>f yo%'re not feeling "ell-->

>0eally hi#eo%sly emarrassing.>

4lfre# g%i#e# the limo%sine to the c%r, got o%t, an# o&ene# the &assenger #oor.

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txtBr%ce !isse# ;"enny ris!ly on the chee! an# sai#, > shall call yo% next "ee!.

Sco%t's honor.>

>1eel etter, Br%ce,> ;"enny sai#, then h%rrie# to"ar# the #oor of her a&artment%il#ing.

>6o*e the sale,> Br%ce calle# after her.

>8oor 3s. ;"en#olyn. 4nother of the legion of yo%ng "omen "ho "ill #ie rather thantell their frien#s that notorio%s ro%e Br%ce ayne aan#one# them in the shan! of

the e*ening,> 4lfre# sai#, sighing. >o" many of them m%st there eC 4 tho%san#C>>'m &reser*ing their *irt%e,> Br%ce sai#. > sho%l# get a me#al. Or at least a

merit a#ge.>

4lfre# &%t the 6incoln into gear an# ease# it into the mi#to"n traffic stream. >?o%#i# in*o!e sco%t's honor, #i#n't yo%C B%t yo% "ere ne*er a Boy Sco%t.>

> meant n#ian sco%t, 4lfre#. 4n# they "ere notorio%s liars. '*e hear# it "as a

&oint of honor to lie. f yo% "ere an n#ian sco%t, mean.>>?o% "ere ne*er one of those, either.>

>4sol%tely right. The #efense rests.> Br%ce straightene# in the seat, an# them%scles aro%n# his mo%th an# eyes tightene#. t "as the eginning of his

transformation, from callo" &layoy to Batman. >?o% %se# the co#e. hat'# yo% hearC>4lfre# glance# at the &olice ra#io on the #ashoar# an# to%che# the recei*er heal"ays "ore "hen he "as &laying cha%ffe%r. t "as an ar-rangement that allo"e# Br%ce

to mas5%era#e as the han#some, %n-foc%se# "aste of a illionaire the "orl# tho%ght

him to e an# still stay into%ch "ith the mean streets that "ere his real #omain. 4 mention of the "eather

meant something &artic%larly %gly ha# ha&&ene#.>4 massacre,> 4lfre# sai#. >4t 3anny's Stea! o%se on Th%rston 4*en%e-->

> !no" the &lace. t's a front for No-Nose No*a!'s o&eration.>

>as. 3r. No-Nose an# se*en of his associates "ere a&&arently m%r-#ere#. There&orting officer so%n#e# 5%ite %&set. '4 slice 'n' #ice $o' "as the &hrase he

%se#. e're going to Th%rston 4*en%eC>>No. )ommissioner ;or#on "ill ha*e Sergeant B%lloc! an# Officer 3ontoya sec%re the

scene. They'll fin# e*erything there is to fin#.>

>8olice hea#5%arters, thenC>>0oinson 8ar!.>

4lfre# ma#e an ar%&t left t%rn an# accelerate#. Br%ce lifte# a tele-&hone, ta&&e#

o%t a n%mer, an# a moment later sai#, >The oo.>4lfre# #ro*e onto a "in#ing street %n#er a cano&y of trees an# into a #ar!, silent

&ar!. e sto&&e# near the entrance to the ;otham Eoo an# s"itche# off the engine. nthe ac!seat, Br%ce she# his t%xe#o $ac!et. e &%lle# on a lac! trench coat an#

sli&&e# on a lac! co"l that s%tly altere# the sha&e of his hea#, co*ering it

com&letely exce&t for a small area aro%n# his mo%th. 6ater, if necessary, he "o%l#&%t on the f%ll cost%me.

hen he s&o!e, his *oice "as a ras&. >?o%'# etter lea*e. ait for me at the )a*e.>

8olice )ommissioner Fames ;or#on "as in his car, &%lling a"ay from 3anny's Stea!o%se, "hen the &hone %e#. 7*en efore he &ic!e# it %&, he !ne" that he'# hear

the ras&. >The oo.> T"o "or#s, this time. e sho%l# ha*e sa*e# the >the,> ;or#ontho%ght. T"o "or#s "hen one "o%l# ha*e s%ffice#. e's getting to e a reg%lar

laermo%th.

;or#on &ar!e# at the %s%al &lace near the ir#cage, got o%t, an# &atte# the

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txt#ate-"ent off to hea*en !no"s "here "ith that *%lgar footall &layer they'# met in a

thoro%ghly #isre&%tale roc! an# roll cl% some"here in the artists' 5%arter--of

co%rse, he co%l#n't e asol%tely certain they'# meant to #itch him, %t he #i# seethem !issing. 4nother cha&ter in the saga of Br%ce-the-6oser. alf the caies in

to"n "o%l# e la%ghing ao%t it y noon.

nsi#e the ho%se, he "ent to a gran#father cloc! in the foyer an# set the han#s at/:H: the exact ho%r an# min%te the "atch on his father's "rist ha# sho"n "hen Dr.

Thomas ayne ha# fallen "ith a %llet in his chest on that night t"enty yearsago--the night Batman "as orn. The cloc! &i*ote# on hi##en hinges, re*ealing a

#oor"ay lea#ing to a "i#e, %ne*en flight of ste&s he"n into the roc! that s%&&orte#

the mansion. 4 h%n#re# an# thirty years ago Solomon ayne ha# le# lac! men #o"nthese ste&s to a &lace "here they co%l# hi#e %ntil the =n#ergro%n# 0ail-roa# fo%n#

ha*ens for them. istorians agree that ol# Solly ayne "as gree#y, cantan!ero%s,

o&inionate#, egotistical, fre5%ently %nreasonale, an# &roaly a it ma#, %t theyalso agree that he ha# a &assion for $%stice. Only 4lfre# 8enny"orth !ne" ho" m%ch

Br%ce re*ere# his an-cestor's memory.The cloc! s"%ng close# ehin# him, an# Br%ce #escen#e# into the chill of a h%ge

ca*ern. hen yo%ng Br%ce, age eight, ha# #isco*ere# it he ha# calle# it >theatca*e>--reasonale eno%gh, since he co%l# see tho%-san#s of ro"n ats clinging tothe stalactites. O*er the years, he ha# mentally ca&italie# the "or#< to him, it

"as no" the Batca*e, an# it "as "here he really li*e#--the mansion ao*e "as a mere

#isg%ise. The )a*e ho%se# a fairly com&lete forensics laoratory, a small gym, atele&hone, a short"a*e ra#io, a &olice scanner, a tele*ision set an# *i#eo recor#er,

fi*e cars, a motorcycle, a !itchenette, a collection of so%*enirs, a #es!, t"ochairs, an# a so&histicate# array of com&%ters, t"o of "hich "ere net"or!e# to a

high-s&ee# )ray s%&ercom&%ter in the offices of ayne 7nter&rises in #o"nto"n ;otham

)ity.4lfre# "as "aiting. >Tea, 3aster Br%ceC>

>Not no", 4lfre#. Than!s.>Br%ce she# his street clothes an# most of the cost%me he "ore %n#er-neath. )la# only

in tights, he "ent to his collection of exercise e5%i&ment an# egan the lightest of

the #aily "or!o%ts he im&ose# on himself: a ten-min%te "arm-%& $%m&ing ro&e, atho%san# cr%nches, fi*e h%n#re# &%sh-%&s, fo%r h%n#re# concentration c%rls, fo%r

h%n#re# trice&s &resses, t"o h%n#re# ench &resses, a h%n#re# s5%ats, an# the

e5%i*alent of fi*e fi*e-min%te miles on a trea#mill. 4s he exercise#, he tol# 4lfre#of his fight "ith the 3an!lin gang an# his enco%nter "ith the hoo#e# man on the

roofto&.>4ny concl%sions, 3aster Br%ceC>

>The 3an!lins "on't "in any goo# citienshi& a"ar#s, an# 'm not sorry &%t some

misery on them, %t they "eren't res&onsile for the massacre at the stea! ho%se.4fter the man in the mas! got a"ay, "ent ac! an# loo!e# for cl%es. sa" no sign

that their "ea&ons ha# een %se# efore they trie# to %se them on me, no traces of

loo# on their clothing.The engine loc!s on their cars "ere cool. #o%t any of them ha# een o%t last

night at all, an# if they "ere, they staye# in the neighorhoo#. co%l# e "rong. co%l# ha*e misse# something.>

>They say there's al"ays a first time.>

>0ight, 4lfre#. 3aye misse# something, %t it's not li!ely.>

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txt>as the Batman forme# an hy&othesisC>

>?eah, %t it's not one 'm ha&&y "ith. t loo!s li!e the mas!e# man !ille# Fimmy

No-Nose an# com&any an# a&e# the 3an!lins' nasty style.>>hyC>

>This is the &art really #on't li!e. 1rom "hat the mas!e# man sai#, an# the

gestalt of the "hole inci#ent, ha*e to ass%me that he "ante# to get a loo! at mein action.>

>4nyone yo% !no", 3aster Br%ceC>>No. e might ha*e foole# me "ith the *oice-->

>That hy&othetical first time-->

>--%t not the o#y. e "as h%ge, an# co%l# see there "as no &a##ing any"here. 4n#he "as agile. examine# the "all tho%ght he'# $%m&e# %& on an# fo%n# a fe"

han#hol#s--missing ric!s, mostly. So he &roaly clime#. B%t still, he'# ha*e ha#

to get o%t on the roof an# %& the "all in less than ten secon#s. There &roalyaren't fi*e men in the state "ho can #o that, an# none of them is %ilt li!e a

%ll#oer.>Br%ce finishe# his ro&e $%m&ing an# #ro&&e# to the floor to egin his cr%nches.

>Do "e ha*e a concl%sionC>>Not yet. B%t 'm "orrie#. f 'm right, this g%y committe# "holesale m%r#er $%st tochec! me o%t. f he'# #o that, there's nothing he "o%l#n't #o. e're #ealing "ith a

*ery %gly c%stomer.>

> ha*e oser*e# that yo%r foes are sel#om ;irl Sco%ts. Do yo% ha*e a &lanC>>e can hac! into the &olice, fe#eral, an# nter&ol com&%ters in the morning. 'll

&%t on another face an# hit the hango%ts tomorro" night. 'll ha*e ;or#on lean onhis snitches. hen the co&s are #one coming the stea! ho%se, 'll ha*e a go at it.>

>The %s%al &roce#%res, then.>

>hich %s%ally "or!, "hich is "hy they're %s%al.>>n#ee#. 4ny instr%ctions, 3aster Br%ceC>

>Nothing.>

>Then shall lea*e yo% alone.>4n ho%r later Br%ce finishe# his "or!o%t, to"ele# himself, an# san! #o"n into a

cross-legge# &osition on a small ro%n# c%shion. e close# his eyes an# gra#%allyslo"e# his reathing. 1or three ho%rs he "o%l# sit motionless, an# "hen he arose, he

"o%l# e f%lly reste#. e "o%l# not nee# slee&.

9

is name "as Bane, an# a&&roximately ninety secon#s after his roofto& enco%nter "ith

Batman, he "as cram-ming his %l! into the rear of a 1or# 1airlane that "as &ar!e# a

loc! a"ay. 4 slen#er, "ell-m%scle# man shifte# ner*o%sly in the #ri*er's seat an#loo!e# o*er his sho%l#er. >;o o!ayC> he as!e#. >nteresting. e is all yo% sai# he

"as, this Batman.> The slen#er man starte# the car an# egan #ri*ing. >So yo% gonna

e ale to ta!e himC>>TonightC Tomorro"C t might e, yes, co%l#. 4lmost certainly, yes. B%t it "o%l#

e foolish to #o so, my frien# Bir#.> >hy's thatC> Bir# as!e#.>Beca%se of some reasons. #o not !no" this city as he #oes. ha*e seen eno%gh to

!no" he is reso%rcef%l. These are a#*antages of his. "ill not fight him %ntil they

are no more.> >o"'s that gonna ha&&enC>

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txt> ma!e them mean nothing. exha%st him. frighten him. Then rea! him.>

> g%ess yo% got a &lan, h%h.>

Bane's hea# #ro&&e# to his chest. e sighe# an# "as silent.>?o% o!ayC> Bir# as!e#.

Bane &resse# a small %tton stra&&e# to his right forearm. There "as a faint g%rgle.

4 moment later, he raise# his hea#.>Nee#e# yo%r fix, h%hC> Bir# sai#.

> #o not li!e this "or#, fix. am angry "hen yo% say it.>>ey, ta!e it easy. ain't #issing yo%.>

>DissingC>

>Ne*er min#, o!ayC So tell me ao%t yo%r &lan. ?o%'re gonna ex-ha%st Batman, yo%sai#. o" yo% gonna #o that "hen yo% #on't e*en !no" "ho's ehin# that mas! of hisC

t ain't li!e he's in the &hone oo!.>

>f !no" the enemies of a man, #o not nee# his name. ?o% "ill tell me hisenemies.>

>Not %nless yo% gi*e me all night an# half a' tomorro". mean, it's a long list.>>Some of them.>

>6emme see ... there's the Fo!er, T"o-1ace, the entrilo5%ist, the 8eng%in,)at"oman-->>4 "omanC>

>ell of a "oman. B%t noo#y's seen her lately. The rest of 'em are #oin' time-->

>Doing timeC>>n the slammer. =& the ri*er. n $ail. n &rison, Bane@>

>4h, &rison.> Bane ch%c!le#.>The 8eng%in's in Blac!gate, %nless he's %ste# o%t. The rest men-tione# are in

4r!ham 4syl%m.>

>T"o &risons in one cityC>>4r!ham ain't exactly a &rison. t's a loony in ... an insane asy-l%m. The real

craies go there.>>B%t it is li!e a &risonC>

>Tighter'n any $oint e*er hear# ao%t. 3axim%m sec%rity. 6isten, some of the cons

in 4r!ham "o%l# ma!e the cons ac! "here "e come from loo! li!e &et%nias. They saythe Fo!er alone has !ille# more than a tho%san# citiens. hear one

shrin!--&sychiatrist--that examine# him "ent n%tso himself, an# another $oine# a

monastery.>>e is an enemy of the BatmanC>

>Batman's the only one's e*er een ale to &%t him a"ay.> Bir# glance# in therear*ie" mirror at the em&ty street ehin# him.

>4n# these others, T"o-1ace, the entrilo5%ist-->

>4in't in the Fo!er's leag%e, %t not eca%se they ain't trying.>>4ll enemies of the Batman.>

>e &%t 'em in 4r!ham.>

>f they "ere to esca&eC>> g%ess Batman'# go after them.>

The 1or# &asse# the city limits an# t%rne# onto a small access roa# that ran&arallel to the high"ay. Bir# &%lle# into the #ri*e"ay of a small motel--a

collection of six frame cains, a#ly nee#ing &aint an# roofing. There "as a cr%#ely

lettere# sign naile# next to the #oor of a se*enth, e5%ally shay, cain:

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NO D0=;S

Bane an# Bir# got o%t of the 1or# an# mo*e# to"ar# the closest cain.>e got a &rogramC> Bir# as!e#.

>?o% call on the tele&hone. ;et me fi*e "omen for later. No, six.>

>SixC ey, Bane, !no" yo%'re a st%# %t-->>Six. 1or after slee&.>

Bane "ent into the cain an#, "itho%t %n#ressing, #ro&&e# himself onto the e#. estare# %& at the ceiling, at the rectangle of light from the single "in#o".

>No s%eno,> he sai# alo%#.

B%t Bane #i# #ream, as he !ne" he "o%l#. The rectangle on the ceiling l%rre#, an#the e#ges t"iste# an# re-forme# into a "oman's face--

>3a#re,> Bane m%rm%re#.

--an# the face #issol*e# an# ecame a %il#ing "ith high stone "alls &erche# on thee#ge of a high cliff o*erloo!ing a &laci# sea--

>)asa. 3i casa.>Bane s5%irme# an# moane#. . .

e "as con#emne# to life in &rison efore he "as orn. is fatherha# committe# a serio%s crime--Bane ne*er learne# exactly "hat it "as --an# esca&e#"hile he "as eing ta!en to 8ena D%ro, a h%ge, high-"alle# &rison that #ominate# the

so%thern coastline of the islan# of Santa 8risca. 4 s5%a# of 6os 0om&os, the tiny

nation's green-shirte# military &olice, searche# for a "ee!, in *ain. Someho" Bane'sfather ha# manage# to get off the islan#< &erha&s he "ent to aiti, &erha&s to

8%erto 0ico, &erha&s he got as far as )%a. t ma#e no #ifference to Santa 8risca'sgo*ernor "hat ha&&ene# to him. hat "as im&ortant "as that someone &ay for his

crime. 4ccor#ing to Santa 8riscan la" only a male chil# co%l# ser*e the sentence of

the father. hen the green shirts came for his mother, Naria, Bane "as a "ee! a"ayfrom eing orn. =n#er the me#i-e*al co#es of this islan# nation, her %norn chil#

"as charge# "ith the crimes of his father. 4ltho%gh Naria ha# herself #one no "rong,

she "as ta!en to 8ena D%ro "here, screaming, she ga*e irth. The chil# "as orn tolife an# a life sentence. The la" ma#e Naria res&onsile for her son %ntil his

se*enth irth#ay< then she "as free to go. o"e*er, once she entere# the steel gatesof the &rison, she !ne" she "o%l# ne*er li*e to &ass thro%gh them again.

Bane "o%l# gro" to manhoo# there, in that &lace of misery an# #es&air, "o%l# learn

"hat he !ne" of life, an# "o%l# e gi*en his name y a fat, cr%el "ar#en. is firstmemories "ere of col# stone floors an# the rats that &eere# c%rio%sly at him from

eneath his mother's cot. Naria m%st ha*e n%rse# him, hel# him< &erha&s she e*encroone# l%llaies to him. B%t he #i# not rememer her #oing any of those things.

hen he trie# to recall her *oice, his min#'s ear hear# only "him&ers an# sos

coming from the next cell as, e*ery night, g%ar#s an# inmates ali!e sa*age# her.8ena D%ro's a%thorities felt their $o "as to ens%re that no one e*er got o%tsi#e

the "alls< they "ere in#ifferent to "hat ha&&ene# insi#e them.

hen Bane "as six, he "atche# his mother #ie. There "as nothing &artic%larlymemorale ao%t it. She st%mle# ac! into her cell after the nightly or#eal, sat on

the cot, her ac! against the ars, sl%m&e#, an# sim&ly sto&&e# reathing. Bane !ne"imme#iately that she "as #ea#. e "as familiar "ith #eath. is chil#'s eyes ha#

"atche# se*eral men eing stae# to #eath, se*eral more eaten to #eath. is

mother's #ying "as normal, ex&ecte#.

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txt;%ar#s "ra&&e# her o#y in a #irty sheet an# carrie# it a"ay. 4 fat man "ith a cigar

entere# the cell, grae# Bane's han#, an# &%lle#.

>)ome on,> he sai#. >;ot to "atch yo%r mama go to her re"ar#.>The fat man too! Bane thro%gh the gate. 4s they "al!e#, Bane gae# aro%n# c%rio%sly.

e ha# ne*er efore seen the en#less l%e s!y, the green grass, the &alm trees, nor

hear# the sigh of the "in# an#, in the #istance, the roar of the ocean rea!ingagainst a roc!y shoreline. Once he loo!e# %& to see "hat ha# r%ffle# his hair an#

"as s%r&rise# to fin# nothing< he ha# ne*er efore felt a reee. e an# the fat manfollo"e# the t"o g%ar#s earing Naria's cor&se %& a stee& &ath to the e#ge of a

cliff to a &lace the fat man calle# 8%nto #e Ti%ron.

The fat man s5%atte# an# &%t his face inches from Bane's< the stin! of his reathma#e the chil# gag. >?o% !no" "hat ha&&ens to yo%r mama no"C> the fat man as!e#.

>She gets eaten y shar!s.>

The g%ar#s fl%ng the cor&se, an# Bane "atche# it #ro&, riefly shatter the s%rfaceof the "ater, an# slo"ly sin!. Bane tho%ght he sa" a #ar! sha#o" gli#e to"ar# the

s&ot "here the o#y *anishe# into the green-l%e #e&ths.The fat man le# Bane ac! insi#e the &rison, to a large room "ith "hite "alls an# a

long "oo#en #es!. The man sat in a leather-co*ere# chair, %n"ra&&e# a cigar, an#sai#, >?o%r mother has left yo% 5%ite alone, little one. She has left yo% "itho%t asingle g%ar#ian %t the state. B%t the state is no one's mother. ?o% m%st fen# for

yo%rself, little one. am releasing yo% from &rotecti*e c%sto#y an# into the

general &o&%la-tion.>4 g%ar# too! the chil# ac! to his mother's cell an# loc!e# him in. That first

night, alone "ith the easts of 8ena D%ro, Bane #i# not slee&. e sat h%nche# on thecot an# listene# to the so%n#s--the screams, cries, moans, an# shrie!s--he ha# hear#

all the nights of his life %t ha# ne*er efore hee#e#. e s5%eee# his eyes sh%t

an# trie# to rememer "hat he ha# seen an# hear# earlier--s!y, grass, trees,"in#--%t he co%l# not.

4t #a"n the cell "as %nloc!e#, an# Bane $oine# the &rocession of con*icts sh%fflingalong the high cat"al! o*erloo!ing the mess hall. e felt a han# on his sho%l#er.

>e "ill ecome frien#s to#ay, ehC>

The s&ea!er "as a con*ict Bane ha# often seen $oining the cro"# thatha# gathere# aro%n# Naria, a %l!y, al# man "ith a ring thro%gh the left si#e of

his nose, $oine# y a chain to another ring in his left ear. >?o% "o%l# li!e to e

frien#s "ith me, "o%l# yo% notC>4 secon# con*ict ste&&e# from the cell they "ere &assing an# sai#, >The oy #oes not

"ant yo%r filthy han# on him, 8%erco.> This man, Bane !ne", "as Trogg--s5%at,co&&er-s!inne#, his h%ge sho%l#ers an# arms line# "ith %lging *eins. Bane ha# once

seen Trogg !ill another man "ith a single lo". >0elease him,> Trogg sai#.

>e's mine. One so small as this can sli& eneath the notice of the g%ar#s. e "ille %sef%l to me.>

itho%t "arning, Trogg str%c! the al# man %n#er the chin. > sai# release him@>

8%erco l%rche# ac!"ar#, his o#y slamming into Bane. S%##enly the oy sli&&e# o*erthe safety rail an# fell.

is eyes o&ene# to lac!ness. a# his sight een ta!en from himC e stoo#, an# "ithhis han#s exten#e#, he ste&&e# once, t"ice, then "a*e# his arms. S%##enly a circle

of the rightest light he ha# e*er seen a&&eare# in front of him an#, stan#ing in

the center of the circle, a fig%re that "as e*en righter than the light--a fig%re

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txtthat "as someho" familiar. Bane's li&s egan to form a 5%estion, to as! "ho the

stranger "as, %t efore he co%l# s&ea!, the fig%re sai#, >?o%rself.>

>3yselfC>>e are one. am as yo% "ill e many years from no".>

>?o% are meC>

>hat yo% "ill ecome. 4 &hysical an# mental &aragon. The li*ing emo#iment of h%mans%&eriority. The loo# of !ings r%ns in yo%. The loo# of yo%r father. The "orl# is

yo%rs an# "ill e yo%rs one #ay. 3en "ill e li!e cattle efore yo%. 6i!e shee&. 1oronly a fe" may r%le the many, an# yo% are one of a rare ree#. Only one #anger

stan#s in the "ay of yo%r mastering the "orl#.>

>hat is thatC>>1ear. The fear that lies at the heart. Only this can !ee& yo% from "hat is yo%rs.

)on5%er the fear in yo%r heart an# yo% may ha*e anything yo% #esire. ?o% "ill e

secon# to no man an# master of all.>1irst the fig%re's *oice, an# then the fig%re itself, an# finally the circle of

light--these fa#e#, an# in their &lace, something else a&&eare#--agiant "ith horns an# scallo&e# "ings that "as as #ar! as the light ha# een

right--a giant at.The oy screame# an# #ie#.4n# a"o!e. e "as sitting %&right on a e# in "hat he recognie# as the &rison

infirmary. e ha# een in a coma for thirty-one #ays.

The next morning, in the rea!fast line, Trogg $ostle# him. Bane felt Trogg's han#on his elly, sli&&ing something eneath his shirt. n a "his&er, Trogg sai#, >?o%

#o not ha*e to #o this.>>B%t "ill,> Bane sai#.

6ater, alone in his cell, Bane hel# %& "hat Trogg ha# gi*en him: an ice &ic!. 4fter

#inner, he "ent to 8%erco's cell. 8%erco lay face#o"n on his cot, half aslee&.>Do yo% still "ant me to e yo%r frien#C> Bane as!e#.

The g%ar#s co%nte# forty sta "o%n#s in 8%erco's o#y. They fol-lo"e# a trail ofloo# to Bane. They &%t metal c%ffs on Bane's "rists an# too! him to the "ar#en's

office.

>The chil# has t%rne# feral,> the fat man sai#. >6i!e father, li!e son.> t "as thenthat the fat man ga*e the oy his name. >e is *eneno. e is a ane. "ill not ha*e

s%ch aominations in my &rison.>

The c%ffs sli# #o"n Bane's thin "rists an# off< they clan!e# on the floor. The fatman loo!e# at them, exhale# a clo%# of cigar smo!e, an# sai#, >6isten to me, little

ane. ?o% "ill e thro"n into the ca*i#a# osc%ro. The c%ffs "ill fit sn%g efore yo%come o%t again.>

Bane stare# into the fat man's eyes. > s&o!e to my mother last night, my "ar#en.

She says they sto!e a s&ecial fire for yo%.>>Thro" him in the hole@> the fat man screame# to the g%ar#s. >e "ill ha*e hair on

his chest efore release him@>

The ca*i#a# osc%ro ha# een #%g y clergy nearly three cent%ries ago, "hen the&rison ha# een a monastery. Those sent there "ere tol# y the &riests to &ray for

#eli*erance. B%t the only #eli*erance any e*er fo%n# "as ma#ness or #eath. Bane"o%l# o" to neither. e "o%l# not s%rren-#er to fear. e "o%l# ecome fear.

The chamer "as only eight of his chil#'s &aces long, six "i#e. alls an# floor "ere

ma#e of stone ric!s. There "ere no sanitary facilities, no cot, only an iron grate

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txtset in the center of the floor, another in the ceiling, an# a narro" le#ge aro%n#

the "alls. e "as not alone. )ras "ere

sc%ttling thro%gh the grate, an# rats s5%eee# thro%gh a crac! in the masonry. Banefo%n# a loose ric! an# "aite#. hen one of the rats came near him, he smashe# its

s!%ll.

e felt "ater on his are feet. The cell "as elo" sea le*el at high ti#e< eachnight, the ocean "o%l# floo# it. )linging to tiny fingerhol#s in the "alls, Bane

rose "ith the "ater %ntil he co%l# reach an# gra the ceiling grate. atre# ga*e himthe strength to hol# on--hatre#, an# the &romise of the man he "o%l# ecome. e

learne# to "elcome the nightly *isits of the sea, to fill his l%ngs "ith reath an#

mo*e aro%n# elo" the "ater, sometimes ca&t%ring a fish that he "o%l# eat ra".D%ring the #ay, he sat on the le#ge an# %se# his min# to tra*el o%tsi#e the cell,

the &rison, to s&an a "orl# of s!y an# grass an# trees. e "as ha&&y there, in his

imagine# %ni*erse, %ntil he met--The thing he ha# seen in his *ision--the at-creat%re, the horne#, "inge# giant,

looming efore him, still #ar!er than night. B%t this time he #i# not scream, #i#not co"er in fear. nstea# he force# himself to attac!. e l%nge# at the east's

nec!, %t efore his fingers co%l# close on it, a leathery "ing sla&&e# him t%mlingac!"ar#. Bane scramle# to his feet an# again he l%nge#, %t the at fig%re rosestraight %& into the sha#o"s, higher an# higher, %ntil it len#e# "ith the #ar!ness,

%ntil all that "as *isile "ere its gleaming "hite fangs.

Bane shrie!e# "ith fr%stration an# colla&se#, once again alone in his cell.3ore than fo%r tho%san# #ays, Bane "as in that &it. 3ore than ten years. e

emarrasse# the "ar#en y ref%sing to #ie. 1inally the "ar#en release# him, ho&ingthat someone "o%l# see! re*enge for 8%erco's m%r-#er. B%t the fat man #i# not

realie "hat Bane ha# ecome to the lost an# #amne# of 8ena D%ro.

e ha# ecome a legen#.3any "ante# his fa*or. 3any "ante# to ser*e him. One "as an 4merican calle# Bir#.

>?o% got the &o"er, !i#,> Bir# sai# to him. > seen it efore. ?o% nee# anything,

yo% call on me.>>4n# ho" "o%l# ret%rn these fa*orsC>

>?o% got the magic, !i#. co%l# %se some of that. See, 'm #oing life on this roc!. got scre"e# y some &artners %& in ;otham )ity. ;%y

name# No*a!. 'm !in# of anxio%s to get ac! there an# set things right. 3aye some

of yo%r magic co%l# hel& me fly o*er these "alls.>>e "ill tal!. ?o% "ill tell me ao%t . . . ;otham.>

Bir# #i#. e tol# Bane of the s&ires that stae# the clo%#s, the glittering carsthat &lie# the &in! an# green an# orange streets, the la*ish homes line# "ith gol#

an# money an# the "omen--*ol%&t%o%s "omen cla# in sil! an# f%rs, smiling, ec!oning,

"elcoming.>ho is the !ing of this ;otham )ityC> Bane once as!e#. >ho r%lesC>

>Noo#y, exactly,> Bir# tol# him. > g%ess if yo% ha# to name one g%y "ho's ahea# of

e*eryo#y else, it'# ha*e to e Batman.>>Bat-manC>

Bane rememere# his *ision--the horne#, "inge# giant that loome# o*er him all thoseterrile nights in the ca*i#a# osc%ro. The at thing he ha# not een ale to !ill.

>Tell me more ao%t this at-man,> he sai#, an# listene# as Bir# s&o!e for ho%rs.

Bane ecame a mo#el &risoner. The "ar#en, &ro%# that he ha# tame# this animal,

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txtallo"e# Bane to "or! in the lirary. hen &art of the &rison ha# een a monastery,

the mon!s ha# assemle# tho%san#s of oo!s< all of them "ere still there, an# a fe"

h%n#re# ne"er *ol%mes that ha# een collecte# o*er the years. Bir# ta%ght him torea#, an# the oo!s ro%ght the "orl# to him.

4s Bane im&ro*e# his min#, he also im&ro*e# his o#y. Tho%san#s of &%sh-%&s e*ery

#ay. Tho%san#s of sit-%&s an# &%ll-%&s. 4n# each #ay of each year ro%ght him closerto the image of &erfection in his min#.

is reign o*er the lost an# forgotten of 8ena D%ro #i# not go %nchal-lenge#. 3anyco*ete# his &osition an# his &o"er, an# occasionally some-one trie# to ta!e them.

=s%ally, Bane "as ale to #isco%rage the reels y rea!ing a fe" ones. B%t one

"o%l#-e %s%r&er "o%l# not e #isco%r-age#. e "as a ne"comer "ho calle# himself the3ic!. e "as as m%sc%-lar as Trogg an# as ig as Bane himself. e "as al# to the

mi##le of his hea#< the ac! of his hea# s&ro%te# stringy re# hair that h%ng elo"

his sho%l#er la#es. is eyes "ere the color of stone.The first time, the 3ic! came at Bane "ith fists. They fo%ght for an ho%r, %ntil

they co%l# fight no more. 4s he lim&e# ac! to his cell, Bane tho%ght he co%l# see#o%t in the faces of the con*icts "ho ha# een cheering him min%tes earlier. The

secon# time they fo%ght, the 3ic! %se# a "ea&on, a shi*, a $agge# shar# of glass"ith one en# "ra&&e# in ta&e to form a han#le. e l%nge# at Bane from the sha#o"san# ri&&e# a nine-inch gash in Bane's si#e. Bane ac!e# a"ay %ntil he hit the cell

ars. Then he lo"ere# his hea# an# charge#. is hea# crashe# into the 3ic!'s

stom-ach as the glass tore another "o%n# in his ac!. 6oc!e# onto each other, Banean# the 3ic! to&&le# to the floor. Bane grae# a han#f%l of the man's long re# hair

an# &%lle# his hea# ac!. The 3ic! straine#, *eins %lging in his nec!, forcing hishea# for"ar#. The hair came o%t in Bane's fist. Bane it the 3ic!'s ice&. e

#ro&&e# his !nife %t an instant later ro%ght his !nee %& into Bane's groin. Bane

rolle# a"ay an# got to his feet. The 3ic! "as alrea#y stan#ing. )o*ere# "ith s"eatan# loo#, they &%nche#, !ic!e#, go%ge#. This fight en#e# as the first one ha#, "ith

oth men too exha%ste# to contin%e.

Staggering a"ay, lee#ing an# arely ale to "al!, Bane "as certain of the #o%t inthe faces of those aro%n# him.

>Next time,> Trogg sai#, >yo% are his. Kill him tonight "hile he slee&s.>>No,> Bane sai#. > "o%l# lose res&ect. "ill !ill him "here all can see.>

Bane ret%rne# to the scene of the fight an# fo%n# "hat he so%ght: the han#f%l of re#

hair. 4t #inner that night, he ate hastily an# left the mess hall "hile the othercon*icts "ere still at their meals. e "ent to the "ar#en's office an# &%t his ear

to the #oor. Nothing. Slo"ly he o&ene# the #oor an# "ent insi#e. The room "as em&ty.e crosse# to the #es!, &ic!e# %& an in!"ell, an# s&ille# it on the car&et. Then he

#i&&e# a forefinger in the in! an# scra"le# on the "all, 7l #irector es %n canalla@

Then he #ro&&e# the 3ic!'s re# hair on the #es!to&.t "as cr%#e to the &oint of st%&i#ity. B%t the "ar#en "as a st%&i# man. St%&i# an#

*in#icti*e.

They &%t the 3ic! in the ca*i#a# osc%ro for three months. e might not ha*e s%r*i*e#if Bane ha#n't often #ro&&e# %n#les of foo# thro%gh the grate an# "his&ere#

instr%ctions to him.hen they ha%le# the 3ic! o%t, no longer m%scle# an# formi#ale, they o%n# him to a

&illar in the mess hall. The "ar#en himself lashe# him "ith a long lac! "hi& %ntil

the 3ic! #roo&e# in his on#s, %ncon-scio%s.

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txthen he ha# reco*ere# eno%gh to "or!, they ha# him #ig a trench in the yar#, an#

fill it in, an# #ig it, an# fill it in< he #i# that for ten #ays an# nights, "ith

little rest an# less foo#.On the ele*enth #ay, he egge# the "ar#en for mercy. The "ar#en grante# it, again

&ro%# that he ha# ro!en another one of the a# ones.

4fter #inner, Bane an# fifty other inmates came to the 3ic!. Bane &%lle# a shi* fromeneath his shirt, tosse# it s&inning into the air, ca%ght the &oint #elicately

et"een th%m an# forefinger, an# exten#e# the ta&e# han#le to"ar# the 3ic!.>=se it,> Bane sai#.

The 3ic! stare# at the "ea&on as tho%gh he ha# ne*er seen anything li!e it.

>Ta!e it an# %se it,> Bane sai#.The 3ic! gras&e# the ta&e# en#. > tho%ght yo% "ere my frien#,> he m%ttere#.

Bane sla&&e# him--a cas%al, almost in#ifferent s"at to the chee!.

> "ill rea! yo%r ones, all of them,> Bane sai#. >hen yo% can no longer mo*e, "ill then st%ff yo% into the hole an# "atch the rats feast on yo%.>

The 3ic! l%nge#, shi* for"ar#. Ste&&ing asi#e as the 3ic!'s momen-t%m carrie# himfor"ar#, Bane ste&&e# ehin# him an# &%nche# him t"ice in the !i#neys. The 3ic!

slamme# into a "all, an# Bane !ic!e# him ehin# the left !nee. The 3ic! fell,t"iste# aro%n# to a sitting &osition, an# s"%ng the shi* at Bane's shin. Bane #ance#ac! a half ste&, raise# a foot, an# smashe# it #o"n on the 3ic!'s han#. The shi*

sna&&e# in half< a loo#y shar# $%tte# from the 3ic!'s &alm.

Bane t%rne# to the others. >This is the man "ho ma#e yo% #o%t me,> he sho%te#.Bane grae# the 3ic!'s hair, no" "aist length, ha%le# him to his feet, s&%n him,

sho*e# him into the "all, an# ste&&e# ac!. Bane lo"ere# his hea# an# #ro*e asho%l#er into the 3ic!'s ac!. There "as a m%ffle# crac!, an# the 3ic! sli# to the

floor. e lay face#o"n, arms an# legs flo&&e# at o## angles. is o#y seeme# to e

em&ty.>Bro!e his ac!,> someone m%rm%re#.

Bane sai#, > ha# tho%ght to !ill yo%. ha*e a etter i#ea. "ill let yo% li*e.hen others loo! at yo%, they "ill rememer this #ay. hen loo! at yo%, J "ill

again en$oy this moment.>

B%t an ho%r later, the 3ic! #ie#. hen the "ar#en sa" the cor&se, he or#ere# a s5%a#of g%ar#s to fin# Bane. They attac!e# "ith cl%s an# tear gas. hen they finally

ro%ght Bane #o"n, the "ar#en ste&&e# for"ar#, too! a re*ol*er from his elt, an#

shot Bane in oth thighs.>Ta!e him to the holeC> a g%ar# as!e#.

>No. The infirmary.>The inmates "on#ere# if e*en Bane co%l# s%r*i*e "hate*er the "ar-#en &lanne#. B%t

there "as no tort%re. nstea#, each #ay for a month, a #octor from o%tsi#e came to

ten# Bane's in$%ries. 7ach #ay, Bir# ro%ght Bane foo# from the "ar#en's o"n!itchen. Bir# often sa" fo%r strangers, men "earing fine s%its, cl%stere# aro%n#

Bane's e#, tal!ing "ith the "ar#en. hen Bane "as f%lly reco*ere#, his arms an#

legs "ere chaine#, an# he "as ta!en to the "ar#en's #is&ensary. The "ar#en an# thestrang-ers "ere "aiting. Bane "as stra&&e# to an o&erating tale, his hea# an# right

arm "ere sha*e#, an# the #octor o&ene# a case of right s%rgical instr%ments.>hat is the &%r&ose of this ex&erimentC> the "ar#en as!e# one of the strangers.

>?o% are not eing &ai# to !no",> the stranger re&lie#.

B%t the #octor "as frien#lier. >4 techni5%e to create the &erfect fight-ing man. e

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txtegin "ith a #r%g>--the #octor $ae# a nee#le into Bane's "rist-->a steroi#

com&o%n# call enom. t also contains elements that stim%late the a#renal glan#s

an# others that affect the cor&%s callos%m &ortion of the rain.>None of this meant anything to the "ar#en.

>f he li*es thro%gh this,> the #octor contin%e#, >"e "ill im&lant &olyacrylami#e

shiel#s s%c%taneo%sly o*er his most *%lnerale &arts-- heart, l%ngs, !i#neys,tem&les. e "ill e in*%lnerale to e*erything short of a %llet fire# at close

range. e "ill e 5%ite the s%&erman.>Bane co%ghe#. is ac! arche#, an# he straine# against the stra&s.

>The #r%g is ta!ing hol#,> the #octor sai#, forcing o&en Bane's mo%th an# sho*ing a

&lastic tong%e &rotector insi#e. >None of the other s%$ects laste# more thanfifteen min%tes after the initial in$ection.>

Bane's ac! lifte# f%rther from the tale. 4 front tooth crac!e# off at the g%m. is

eyes "ere o&en an# %lging, the "hites s%##enly lace# "ith re# lines, an# thic!,gray tears s&ille# from the lo"er li#s. is s!in #ar!-ene# to crimson, an# the

m%scles eneath it t"itche#.>6oo!s li!e he's ha*ing a real tri&,> one of the strangers sai#.

Bane's reath ex&lo#e# from him in short gas&s. The stra& on his right arm toreloose from the tale, an# the arm shot %&"ar#< the elo" loc!e# an# the fingersc%rle# into a fist.

Then the arm #ro&&e#, an# Bane relaxe#. is eyes close#, his reath-ing ecame #ee&

an# reg%lar, an# his crimson s!in fa#e# to its normal oli*e color.>ell, "ell,> the #octor sai#. >O%r s%&erman li*es.> e st%c! a Syrette into Bane's

right forefinger an# "atche# it fill "ith loo#. > shall r%n some tests, an# if allis "ell, "e "ill contin%e tomorro".>

The next #ay the s%rgery egan. Slits in the s!in an# m%scle, first, an# the sli#ing

in of the &olyacrylami#e shiel#s--sim&le st%ff. Then the more com&licate# &art: t"oholes ore# in the ase of his s!%ll an# the inser-tion of metal t%es. The metal

t%es "ere attache# to &lastic t%es, en-aling the #r%g--the enom--to y&ass the

loo#-rain arrier an# e intro#%ce# #irectly into the rain. 4fter each o&eration,the #octor ex-&ecte# Bane to #ie, an# instea#, after each, he reco*ere#. B%t not

"itho%t cost. Only fo%r months ago, "hen he ha# een ha%le# from the hole, he ha#een as slim an# har# as a &o!er. No" his o#y "as a mass of l%m&s an# %lges--the

shiel#s, of co%rse, %t also the effect of the enom on his m%scles.

e "as no" h%ge an# grotes5%e< ho"e*er, he #i# not min#, for he "as also close tohis i#ea of &erfection.

n the sixth month of the ex&eriment, Bir# fo%n# the o&&ort%nity he ha# ho&e# for.The #octor ha# een careless, lea*ing a *ial of enom on the tale next to Bane's

e#. Bir# #i# not %n#erstan# all that "as ha&&en-ing to Bane, %t he ha# o*erhear#

some of "hat the #octor "as trying to accom&lish an# he !ne" the #r%g "as anessential element in it. S%ch a #r%g ha# to e enormo%sly *al%ale. hen he "as

ta!ing a"ay Bane's #inner #ishes, Bir# grae# the enom an# hi# it %n#er the tray.

Bane sa" the mane%*er an# smile#.f he e*er got o%t, Bir# co%l# sell the #r%g for a small fort%ne. f.

4t nine in the morning, they came for Bane. 1o%r of the strangers arme# "ithtran5%ilier g%ns. They han#c%ffe# an# le# him to"ar# the gate. Bane realie# that

if they e*er got to "here*er they "ere ta!ing him, his chances for esca&e "o%l# e

greatly #iminishe#< he "o%l# e on %nfamiliar t%rf #ealing "ith enemies m%ch smarter

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txt#irectly o*erhea# no", an# fat rain-#ro&s egan to smac! him. 4t first the storm

#ist%re# him, %t after an ho%r, he a#mire# its im&ersonal f%ry. Occasionally, the

lightning re*eale# the silho%ette of the &rison. t too! him most of the night toreach one of the "alls. e lay flat against it. e !ne" the ro%tine of this &lace as

"ell

as he !ne" his o"n hearteat. This "as Sat%r#ay--act%ally, S%n#ay morning. OnSat%r#ay night, the "ar#en left 8ena D%ro to *isit a *illage neary. e ret%rne# at

#a"n, al"ays #r%n!, sometimes accom&anie# y a "oman.Bane "aite#. e co%l# see clo%#s no", ashen against the &ale s!y. e hear# the gro"l

of an engine: the "ar#en's ancient station "agon, str%g-gling %& the roa#. The

station "agon sto&&e# in front of the gate, an# the "ar#en clime# o%t an# s"aye#,cl%tching a ottle in oth han#s, the st%m& of a cigar clenche# in his teeth.

>O&en %&,> he sho%te#.

Bane ran. e &%nche# the "ar#en in the face an# ca%ght the sagging o#y as theottle an# the cigar hit the gro%n#. e gro&e# eneath the "ar#en's raincoat an#

fo%n# the re*ol*er. 4 s&otlight s"e&t &ast him, sto&&e#, s"e&t ac!.>6et him go,> someone calle#.

The "ar#en s5%irme# in Bane's gras&. Bane's lo" ha# not een har#.Bane &resse# the arrel of the g%n to the "ar#en's tem&le an# sho%te#, >Sen# o%tBir# or the "ar#en #ies.>

There "as no re&ly.

>Tell them,> Bane sai# into the "ar#en's ear.>?o%@> the "ar#en gas&e#. >?o%'re #ea#@ 3y men sa" loo#-->

>Tell them@> Bane re&eate#, &ressing the g%n arrel har#er.>Do as he says.> The "ar#en's *oice "as shrill.

Still no ans"er.

Bane lo"ere# the re*ol*er an# shot the "ar#en in the left leg. The "ar#en screame#.Bane let him fall. Bane shot the "ar#en's right leg. e &resse# the g%n arrel to

the "ar#en's hea# an# loo!e# %&.1rom the to& of the "all: >4ll right.>

3in%tes &asse#. The gate s"%ng o&en. Bir#, Trogg, an# an inmate name# Eomie trotte#

to Bane an# the "ar#en.> !ne" yo%'# come ac! for %s, 3agic 3an,> Bir# sai#. > ho&e yo% #on't min# my

ringing some &als. These g%ys'll e &lenty %sef%l, elie*e me.> e t%rne# to his

com&anions. >Di#n't tell yo% he's got the magicC>Bane no##e# to"ar# the station "agon. >?o% #ri*e,> he sai# to Bir#.

>No goo#, 3agic 3an. They'll ha*e this islan# seale# %& tight. e nee# a cho&&er.>>4 cho&&erC>

>4 helico&ter. 4n air&lane.>

>Tell them.>Bir# sho%te# instr%ctions, an# then they got into the station "agon.

>t'll ta!e 'em a "hile to get here,> Bir# sai#. >B%t they'll come, #on't yo%

"orry.>The "ar#en "as h%##le# in the ac!seat, &alms &resse# to the loo#y holes in his

legs. e "as soing.>)an't "e sh%t him %&C> Trogg sai#.

> li!e to listen to him,> Bane sai#.

4 fe" min%tes later they hear# the ch%& ch%& ch%& of an a&&roaching helico&ter. t

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txt#ro&&e# from the clo%#s an# lan#e# a fe" feet a"ay.

Bane han#e# Bir# the g%n. >;et %s o%t of here,> he sai#.

>?o% got it, 3ister 3agic.>There "as only the &ilot in the aircraft, a yo%ng man "earing a military %niform.

Bane, Trogg, an# Eomie %n#le# the "ar#en into the rear com&artment< Bir# sat next

to the &ilot an# aime# the re*ol*er at him.>=&, %&, an# a"ay,> Bir# sai#. >Ta!e 'er so%th. got connections in ene%ela.>

> . . . ha*e al"ays treate# yo% "ell,> the "ar#en sai# to Bane et"een sos. >?o%rmother, too. itho%t me, "ho !no"s "hat "o%l# ha*e ha&&ene# to yo%C>

The l%r that "as Santa 8risca "as rece#ing in the #istance. 4hea# of an# elo" them

there "as only the sea. Bane sli# o&en the #oor an# grae# the "ar#en y the collarof his raincoat.

>?o% !no" "hat ha&&ens to yo% no"C> Bane as!e#, his han# on the ac! of the fat

man's hea#. >?o% get eaten y shar!s.>The "ar#en fell, flailing an# screaming.

D%ring the three months it too! Bir# to arrange tra*el north to the =nite# States,Bane 5%estione# him contin%o%sly ao%t ;otham )ity. 4ltho%gh Bir# oaste# of the

glories of other &laces--Ne" ?or!, 6os 4ngeles, )hicago, St. 6o%is, 3etro&olis--Baneal"ays ro%ght the con-*ersation ac! to ;otham.>hy yo% so hi&&e# on the Big ;C> Bir# once as!e#.

> #o not !no",> Bane re&lie# slo"ly. >B%t tell me again "hat yo% tol# me in 8ena

D%ro.>Bir# s&o!e for an ho%r. hen he "as #one, Bane sai#, >This Batman. hat of himC>

>Noo#y !no"s "ho he is or "hat his game is. B%t ;otham after #ar! is his. e'sta!en #o"n e*ery ma$or &layer in the city. The only ones "ho aren't scare# of him

are cray.>

4n# no" Bane !ne" "hy he "as so osesse# "ith ;otham. 8erfectly logical: it "as"here fear r%le#. )on5%er fear--con5%er the at--an# yo% o"n the city.

>hen the 3ic! challenge# me ... if he ha# "on, he "o%l# ha*e r%le# the &rison.>

>?eah, 3agic 3an, %t there's no "ay yo%'re e*er gonna lose.>>t is so-->

Bane groane# an# o&ene# his eyes. e "as #isoriente#, as he al"ays "as "hen he camefrom his &ast. Slo"ly, he ecame a"are of the room aro%n# him--the motel room $%st

o%tsi#e the ;otham )ity limits. The rectangle on the ceiling "as right an# shar&:

s%nlight. e m%st ha*e sle&t for ho%rs. e "as h%ngry. 4n# "here "ere Bir# an# the"omenC

Fames ;or#on ha# #ri*en o%t of the &ar!ing lot e-hin# &olice hea#5%arters an# "asentering the free"ay efore he ecame a"are that he "as not alone in the car. Batman

arose from the ac!seat an# sai#, >;oo# e*ening, )ommissioner.>

>'*e finally fig%re# o%t ho" yo% #o that. ?o%'re one of those nin$as, aren't yo%C?o% learne# it in Fa&an.>

>)orres&on#ence co%rse,> Batman sai#. >t "as either nin$a or air-con#itioningre&air, an# alrea#y ha# a lac! s%it.> >O!ay, as!e#. hat's on yo%r min#C>

>hat's ha&&ening "ith the armyC>

>o" #o yo% !no" ao%t thatC> ;or#on loo!e# at his &assenger in the rear*ie" mirror.

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txt>6ots of ra#io transmission in co#e on the military an#s. Too m%ch smo!e for there

to e no fire.>

>Someo#y ri&&e# off a s%&&ly of roc!ets,> ;or#on sai#. >The little !in#, the onesyo% aim from yo%r sho%l#er.> >4ntitan!C>

>Something li!e that. The fe#s aren't telling %s #%m flatfoots m%ch, %t gather

the o&eration "as slic! as ice.>>o" many, )ommissionerC>

>4s sai#, o%r fe#eral rethren aren't into sharing. 3y g%ess is a lot. 3ore than a#oen.>

>4nything else %n%s%al ha&&en latelyC>

>Same ol# same ol#,> ;or#on sai#. >Six hoo!ers t%rne# %& #ea# this morning. Nec!sro!en. The la#ies of the night are al"ays getting !ille#, %t %s%ally not six at a

shot.>

>4n# they %s%ally #ie of g%nshots or sta "o%n#s.>;or#on no##e#.

>That itC> Batman as!e#.>One more o## one. 7ight mo*ing *ans "ere stolen from a rental o%tfit.>

>The &rostit%tes are &roaly a coinci#ence, %t the roc!ets an# *ans might econnecte#.>>o" soC>

>Terrorist "ea&ons.>

>)o%l# e, g%ess,> ;or#on sai#. >=se the *ans as giant oms.>>7xactly. 1ill a tr%c! "ith ex&losi*es or magnesi%m sha*ings, #eto-nate it y remote

control, an# yo% can ta!e o%t a ri#ge or t%nnel--or almost anything else.>>'ll &%t o%t the "or#.>

>)ommissioner, '#> li!e yo% to #o me a fa*or.>

>No !i##ingC ne*er tho%ght '# hear yo% say that.>>Someone "as at the 3an!lins-->

>So it "as yo% "ho &%t them a"ay. o"'# yo% !no" "here to fin# themC>>8eo&le sho%l# e caref%l "hat they say in sleay ars. The sc%all on the next

stool might e me.>

;or#on shoo! his hea# in "on#er. >hat can #o for yo%C ?o% sai# there "as someone. . .>

>Big. 4o%t se*en feet tall. Strange o#y--too l%m&y to e either an athlete or

o#y%il#er. '# say there "as s%rgery in*ol*e#. e's *ery fast an# he s&ea!s "ith aS&anish accent. '*e come %& "ith ilch on him.>

>Then &roaly "on't #o any etter, %t 'll see if it rings a ell for anyo#y.>>Than!s.>

>This g%y im&ortantC> ;or#on as!e#. > thin! he #i# the $o at the stea! ho%se.>

>Not the 3an!linsC>>1or once in their fo%l li*es, they're innocent. They'*e een frame#.> > almost

"ish ha#n't hear# that.> >?o%'*e still got &lenty of &ast crimes to hang on them.>

;or#on ra!e# at a re# light. >)an #ro& yo% any"hereC O&era mayeC Bas!etallgameC )ost%me &artyC>

e t%rne# aro%n# to loo!, %t the ac!seat "as no" em&ty.

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txtBane "atche# Bir#, Trogg, an# Eomie eating, st%ffing themsel*es "ith &ia,

ham%rgers, &otatoes. There "as no con*ersation. The cain "as silent exce&t for the

so%n#s of their che"ing an# an occasional rattle of a "ra&&er. e "as &lease#. Theroery at the mili-tary #e&ot ha# gone "ell. e no" ha# three #oen excellent

military roc!ets.

t ha# een Eomie's i#ea, an# Eomie ha# s%&&lie# the information they ha# nee#e#to carry it o%t. Eomie "asn't the man's real name, of co%rse, nor "as it a &rison

nic!name. t "as a military co#e name. Eom-ie ha# een a co*ert o&erationsofficer--a former na*y S746 "ho ha# gone into %siness for himself. e "as an ex&ert

in #emolitions, co%nterterrorist tactics, saotage, assassination. e ha# een &%t

in 8ena D%ro after he "as ca%ght trying to mine the haror at ;%antanamo Bay, the =Sna*al ase in )%a. o%n#e#, he ha# een st%&i# eno%gh to see! hel& in Santa 8risca.

e ha# een etraye# y men he tho%ght "ere allies an# ta!en to the go*ernor, "ho

elie*e# that Eomie might e tra#e# to the gro%& that ha# hire# him, a ca#re of3i##le 7astern terrorists. B%t the terrorists "eren't intereste#. The go*ernor ha#

or#ere# Eomie im&risone# "hile he negotiate# a #eal "ith the 4merican )4. Bane "asgrate-f%l to Bir# for intro#%cing him to this *ery %sef%l fello".

Bir# "as himself extremely %sef%l. is former career as a sm%ggler, thief, an#extortionist ha# gi*en him extensi*e !no"le#ge of the criminal comm%nity in the=nite# States an# the )ariean. The h%n#re# tho%-san# #ollars in Bir#'s S"iss an!

acco%nt ha# finance# the tri& from ene%ela, the motel hi#eo%t, an# the s%&&lies

nee#e# to ro the military #e&ot. 6i!e Eomie, Bir# ha# ma#e the mista!e of tr%stingSanta 8riscans. n &artnershi& "ith a man name# No*a! an# a gro%& of Santa 8riscan

nationals, he ha# arrange# to #eli*er a loa# of cocaine to ;otham )ity. is &artnersha# #eci#e# that Bir#'s share of the &rofits "as etter s&ent else"here. t too!

only a rief meeting "ith a &olice chief an# a riefer meeting "ith the islan#'s

chief $%#ge to &%t Bir# ehin# the gray "alls. t co%l# ha*e een "orse. The $%#geha# een &erfectly "illing to &%t Bir# in front of a firing s5%a#, %t Bir#'s former

associates "eren't cr%el men.

Trogg "as the thir# &ia eater an# the only one "ho ha#n't een frame#. e "as alsothe most innocent of the three. e ha# een im&ris-one# for the crime he ha#

committe#, %t it "as the only serio%s crime he ha# e*er #one. 4 #r%g #ealer's#ri*er ha# #eci#e# that Trogg's niece "o%l# ma!e a nice tro&hy an# trie# to #rag her

o%t of the cafe "here she "or!e# as a "aitress. Trogg hit the #ri*er once, crac!ing

his chee!one com&letely in half. The case "asn't im&ortant eno%gh to ta!e toco%rt-- not &r%#ent to "aste *al%ale state's time on an illiterate laorer. n

Santa 8risca, &olice ca&tains ha*e limite# $%#icial &o"ers. So a )a&itan F%aresentence# Trogg to t"enty years in 8ena D%ro. e ha# een insi#e exactly fo%r of

those years the #ay he &%nche# 8%erco an# ha# ser*e# $%st o*er sixteen the #ay, fo%r

months ago, he ha# acce&te# Bir#'s in*itation to ste& thro%gh the front gate an#$oin Bane.

>1inish yo%r meal,> Bane sai# to the three. >Then "e &lan the next &hase of o%r "or!

tonight.> e t%rne# to Bir#. >Tele&hone yo%r frien#. Six "omen for later.>>ey, 3agic, is that a goo# i#eaC )onsi#ering the . . . &rolems yo% ha# last

"ee!-->>J ha# no &rolems. They #i#. They "ere %nale to #o "hat &ai# them for.>

Bir# "i&e# his mo%th "ith a &a&er na&!in an# sai#, slo"ly, >This is "ac!o, %t yo%

#on't thin! the #r%g maye . . . got in yo%r "ayC>

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txt>t "as their fa%lt. 3a!e the call.>

>?o% got it.>

hile Bir# %se# the tel&hone, Bane refille# the *ial stra&&e# to his right forearm"ith enom. e ha# a large s%&&ly of the greenish li5%i#, again than!s to the

reso%rcef%l Bir#. The first thing Bir# ha# #one "hen they arri*e# in ;otham "as to

*isit an ac5%aintance in the &harmace%ti-cal %siness. Bir# &ro#%ce# the enom heha# stolen from the "ar#en's infirmary an# as!e# the chemist if he co%l# analye,

an# then #%&licate, the form%la. hen Bir# an# Bane ret%rne# the next #ay, thechemist "as grinning.

>ey, #%#es,> he sai#, tossing his hea# an# fli&&ing his long lon# hair o%t of his

eyes. >This st%ff is righteo%s. 4ll those steroi#s an# colloi#s an# shit . . . o".?o% !no"C>

>?o% ha*e the form%laC> Bane as!e#.

The chemist hel# %& a sheet of com&%ter &a&er. >4ll &rinte# o%t an# e*erything. 3an, "as so im&resse# ran off t"o co&ies.>

Bir#, stan#ing ehin# Bane, &%t a forefinger to his li&s, signaling the chemist tosto& tal!ing. B%t the chemist ha# snorte# six lines of co!e earlier an# "as not

rece&ti*e.>T"o co&iesC> Bane as!e# 5%ietly.>One for myself. Not that nee# it. 3an, "as so im&resse# memorie# it. 6ast

night, man, #reame# that 3a#onna came to me "earing nothing %t a steel i!ini

an#, #ig, she sang the form%la to me. To the t%ne of '3aterial ;irl' thin! it "as.?eah, an# then she too! off her steel ra an# there it "as tattooe# on her aongas.

?o% thin! there is a "ay am e*er gonna forget thatC>>n ao%t a min%te,> Bir# m%rm%re#.

B%t it too! Bane m%ch less time--only a fe" secon#s--to sna& the chemist's nec!.

4nother chemist frien# of Bir#'s, ca%tione# to e #iscreet, act%ally synthesie# as%&&ly of the enom. Bane's trial-an#-error ta%ght him that he nee#e# t"o hits each

#ay, s&ace# t"el*e ho%rs a&art. The a&&arat%s im&lante# in his o#y at the &rison

"or!e# &erfectly: "hen he &resse# a %tton on the *ial stra&&e# to his "rist,sen#ing a &remeas%re# #ose thro%gh a t%e to a con#%it s%n! in his s!%ll an# into

his rain, he "as fine. f he #elaye# &ressing the %tton y so m%ch as an ho%r, heecame ner*o%s, his mo%th #rie#, his *ision l%rre#. f he #elaye# longer, his lims

s&asme#, an# the "orl# aro%n# him melte# an# he hall%cinate#--

--the at-thing, looming o%t of the #ar!ness, moc!ing him--Bane &resse# the %tton, felt the "armth s&rea# from the to& of his hea# #o"n to his

$a", an# from there to the ti&s of his fingers an# toes. e relaxe#.>... sent for the girls,> Bir# "as saying. >Be here at mi#night. That o!ayC tol#

'em to ring some oysters. 6otta oysters.>

>6et %s get to "or!,> Bane sai#. e s"e&t the &ia cartons from the tale an#s&rea# o%t a l%e&rint.

>This is a schematic of 4r!ham 4syl%m,> Bir# sai# to Eomie an# Trogg. >They re%ilt

it a co%&la years ago 'ca%se the ol# &lace ha# re*ol*-ing #oors. orse sec%rity thanthe co%ntry cl%s at 4llen"oo# an# Dan-%ry. This area here>--he &ointe# to a sha#e#

area on the schematic-->is "here they store the real n%tcases. The Fo!er, T"o-1ace,4attoir, some others. 3ostly, these g%ys #on't see the light of #ay. Their foo# is

sent thro%gh #%m"aiters. The corri#or o%tsi#e the cells is line# "ith heat

#etectors, motion #etectors, &ress%re-sensiti*e flooring. 3onitors in the se"er an#

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txt"ater lines. T cameras. 4 mo%se gets in there, the alarm goes off, the "hole $oint

is floo#e# "ith gas. )o%&la #oen g%ar#s "ith ngrams are here>--he &ointe# to

another area-->on t"enty-fo%r-ho%r alert. Signals sent to the co& ho%se #o"nto"n an#the marine ase. Oh, an# there are attery-o&erate# ac!%&s in case the electricity

goes o%t.>

>ery nice,> Eomie sai#.>hat is in the "allsC> Bane as!e#.

>ell, 3agic, "hate*er is in "alls,> Bir# sai#. >Steel. 3asonry. That !in# ofst%ff.>

>The roc!ets "e too!, they can #estroy steel an# masonryC>

> #on't !no" "hy not,> Bir# sai#.>They can,> Eomie sai#.

>;oo#,> Bane sai#. >e "ill nee# a helico&ter, &arach%tes, an# gas mas!s.>

>?o% going to stage a &rison rea!C> Eomie as!e#.>?es,> Bane sai#.

>6oo!, 3agic,> Bir# sai#, >this is gonna cost ig time, an# the stash got in theS"iss an! is $%st ao%t gone.>

> ha*e money,> Eomie sai#.>?eahC> Bir# as!e#.>3ore than eno%gh.>

>6ea*e me,> Bane sai#. >)all "hen the "omen arri*e.>

Trogg "ent into an a#$oining cain "here he sle&t. Bir# an# Eomie "al!e# across the&ar!ing lot to a *en#ing machine near the motel office #oor an# got colas.

>Eomie, ol# %##y, gotta as!,> sai# Bir#. >hat're yo% getting from thisC mean,Santa 8risca is history. ?o%'re a free man. ?o% co%l# ta!e that money yo% say yo%

got, ho& a &lane, an# am--yo%'re in Tahiti or some&lace chec!ing the action. hy

stic! aro%n#C>> once tho%ght "as a geni%s. once tho%ght "as the a*atar of the great

con5%erors of history: 4lexan#er the ;reat. ;enghis Khan. )aesar. on )la%se"it.;rant. 0ommel. 8atton. B%t "as "rong. )aesar "o%l# not ha*e otche# mining

;%antanamo Bay. 0ommel "o%l# not ha*e tr%ste# fools. 8atton "o%l# ne*er ha*e allo"e#

himself to e &%t into 8ena D%ro. am of high com&etence, %t in the en#, amor#inary. Bane is not. Nietsche sai# that man is a ro&e stretching et"een animal

an# s%&erman. Bane is the s%&erman. "ant to "itness his ecoming. "ant to ser*e

him.>t "as the most Bir# ha# e*er hear# Eomie say. > gotta tell yo%, it so%n#s goo#.

So%n#s right.>4 lac! limo%sine t%rne# into the &ar!ing lot from the access roa#. Bir# an# Eomie

"atche# six "omen in short s!irts clim from the ac!seat.

> ho&e those aes got a lotta life ins%rance,> Bir# sai#.

G

Tim Dra!e entere# the she# ehin# his father's man-sion an# "ent to the cistern. e

t"iste# a !no, an# as the "ater #raine# a"ay, he remo*e# his s"eatshirt an# $eans.e loo!e# #o"n at "hat he "ore eneath them --oots, ca&e, green tights, an# a re#

t%nic emla-one# "ith a stylie# 0. One of Br%ce's r%les: once yo% #escen#e# into

the Batca*e, yo% left the name an# i#entity yo% "ere orn "ith ehin#. n the )a*e,

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txtTim "as 0oin, an# he ha# to #ress a&&ro&ri-ately.

> #on't get it,> he ha# once sai# to 4lfre#. >hat #ifference #o clothes ma!eC

Br%ce isn't . . . "eir#, is heC Some !in# of fetishistC>>Not as yo% mean it,> 4lfre# re&lie#. > am y no means certain ha*e all the

#etails clear in my min#, %t can gi*e yo% the gist of it. Sometime in his early

tra*els, Br%ce enco%ntere# a trie of Nati*e 4meri-cans--in 4las!a, if memoryser*es. 6i!e many if not most trial &eo&le, they ha# rit%als in*ol*ing mas!s of

go#s. hen they &%t on the mas! an# raiment of a go#, they ecame that #eity. They#onne# the mas! not to hi#e, %t to re*eal something greater than themsel*es that

"as "ithin them. The mas! "as a trigger, if yo% "ill. To "ear the mas! in the "rong

context "as to ca%se conf%sion, &erha&s to ren#er the go# im&otent. To&artici&ate in the rit%al "itho%t the mas! "as to moc! the go#, "ith terrile

conse5%ences.>

>Br%ce elie*es in that st%ffC>>e elie*es in the &sychological &rinci&les ehin# it.>

>as this a r%le for the first 0oinC Dic! ;raysonC>>?es. 4n# Fason To##, the secon# 0oin.>

The cistern "as em&ty. Tim clime# in, &lace# his &alm against a stone, an# &resse#.The ottom of the cistern sli# asi#e, an# Tim--no" 0oin--#ro&&e# to the floor ofthe ca*e elo". e too! a small flashlight from his elt, s"itche# it on, an#

follo"e# the eam for a mile to "here the t%nnel "i#ene# to the h%ge chamer %n#er

ayne 3anor. 3o*ing to"ar# the an! of com&%ters, he ste&&e# onto a section of theca*e floor that "as act%ally &lastic camo%flage# as roc!< this, he !ne", "o%l#

acti-*ate an alarm in the ho%se, altere# to so%n# li!e a noisy refrigerator motorstarting. =nless 4lfre# "as %sy "ith a tra#esman or r%nning an erran#, he "o%l# e

#o"n shortly.

0oin sat at the com&%ter console an# ta&&e# the >message> !ey. The smallest of thescreens in front of him rightene#: SO=T africa. So Br%ce "ante# him to hac! into

the So%th 4frican emassy's #ata system an# fee# its co#e into the ;rays. O!ay, that

meant Br%ce ha#n't gotten a line on the g%y he met after the 3an!lin ta!e#o"n. 0oinha# alrea#y gotten into systems of eight other emassies, the 1B, the )4,

nter&ol, na*y intelligence, the army's )riminal n*estigation Di*ision, Scotlan#?ar#. 4lso, rel%ctantly, the ;otham )ity 8D: it "asn't li!ely that ;or#on "o%l#

"ithhol# information, %t it "as at least &ossile that the commis-sioner ha# misse#

something. 0oin starte# ta&&ing !eys.>4re "e ma!ing &rogressC> 4lfre# sai# from ehin# him.

> #on't !no" ao%t "e, %t 'm not. ey, 4lfie, gi*e me a rea!. $%st got here.>>)an get yo% some refreshmentC '*e $%st a!e# some fat-free ro"nies.>

>n a "hile, maye.>

>o" is yo%r fatherC>>No change. e's mostly *egge# o%t. Sits in his "heelchair staring at nothing.> Fac!

Dra!e ha# een #es&erately ill for more than a year, e*er since he an# Tim's mother,

elen, "ere im&risone# y aitian terrorists.Fac! ha# emerge# from the or#eal "ith a torn o#y an# a ro!en min#< Tim sometimes

en*isione# his father's s&irit as a so##en, inert l%m&. elen ha# #ie# in a filthyh%t.

>hat #oes the ne" #octor sayC Dr. Kinsol*ing, is itC>

>Shon#ra Kinsol*ing. She says not to ho&e too m%ch, %t she might e ale to ring

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txthim ac! at least &art of the "ay.>

>6et me reiterate that if there is anything can #o-->

>Than!s, 4lfre#. 4&&reciate the offer. hat's %& "ith Br%ceC ha*en't seen him in"ee!s.>

>e has een concentrating on his #%ties at ayne 7nter&rises. The &olice ha*e een

managing "itho%t Batman's hel&. 4s yo% may ha*e notice#, the city has eenrelati*ely 5%iet of late. thin! that may ha*e 3aster Br%ce a trifle "orrie#.>

>hyC>>1or all his rationality, he has his s%&erstitions. One of them is that after e*ery

l%ll there is a storm.>

>aiting for the first th%n#ercrac!, h%hC ?o% elie*e he's rightC>>6et %s say that elie*e he is sel#om "rong.>

>No arg%ment there--hey, "hat is thisC> 0oin &eere# at the closest of the screens.

> thin! may ha*e $%st fo%n# a crac! in the So%th 4frican armor. ?eah, this has toe the &ass"or#.>

0oin ty&e# an# "aite# for the com&%ters to #o their "or!.

H

The inmates at 4r!ham 4syl%m ate "ell. No gray in-stit%tional glo& on &lastic trays

for them. 4r!ham #i#n't ha*e a coo!, it ha# a real chef. is name "as 7#"ar#

)heatley, an# he ha# learne# his art in 8aris an# 0ome. 4 fe" years ago, he "as"i#ely haile# as >the olfgang 8%c! of the 7ast )oast.> That "as e-fore he ser*e#

his girlfrien#'s h%san# a #elicio%s foie gras seasone# "ith strychnine. The h%san#s%r*i*e#, %t 7##ie's career #i#n't. e'# #one a nic!el at Blac!gate an# fo%n# that

%&on his release he co%l#n't get a $o coo!ing at a taco stan#. e ha# een resc%e#

from a $o cleaning rest rooms at a #o"nto"n %s #e&ot y Feremiah 4r!ham, theexec%ti*e #irector of the asyl%m.

Feremiah "as calle# y ic!i ale of the ;otham ;aette >a iarre comination of

!nee-$er! #o-goo#er an# Tor5%ema#a>< he elie*e# in ins%lin shoc!, electroshoc!,isolation, &rolonge# confinement in strait-$ac!ets, slee& #e&ri*ation, an# s%ch

original meas%res as &%tting three inches of "ater in a are cell, remo*ing aninmate's clothing, an# t%rning off the heat. B%t he also elie*e# in secon# chances.

e ha# ta!en 7##ie a"ay from the rest rooms an# tol# him, earnestly, >These men in

my care ha*e gra*e &rolems. B%t, #ammit, they're h%man eings, regar#less of ho"sic! an# #e&ra*e# an# #isg%sting they might e, an# they #eser*e the enefits of

fine c%isine.>Tonight, 7##ie ha# &re&are# something sim&le: roaste# )ornish game hens "ith a

stra"erry com&ote, #ille# &otato sala#, steame# green eans, an# for #essert,

chocolate tr%ffles. e arrange# each meal on a china &late an# glance# aro%n# the!itchen to e certain that the g%ar#s "ere a#hering to Feremiah's #ict%m to >lea*e

7#"ar# alone. e is an artist, #ammit, an# artists ha*e to e tr%ste#.> Then 7##ie

sli&&e# a fol#e# &iece of &a&er into each game hen. 8roaly a fe" of his #iners"o%l# get a ite of &a&er efore they fig%re# o%t they "ere recei*ing messages, %t

that "as all right. is ol# $ail %##y, Bir#, ha# &ai# him t"enty large in %se#ills, an# for that !in# of money he "as "illing to com&romise a little &o%ltry.

Br%ce ayne "as tooling his scarlet 6amorghini "ith a #ente# right front fen#er

a"ay from the otel 1rancois, "here he ha# atten#e# a chic!en #inner in honor of

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txt3ayor 4rman# Krol, "hen his &olice scanner re&orte# a >s&ecial fo%r-nineteen.>

>S&ecial fo%r-nineteen> "as one of ;or#on's co#es. The commissioner "ante# to see

Batman imme#iately. Br%ce %se# the car &hone to arrange a ren#e*o%s an# &ar!e# inan all-night garage. >Don't !no" "here the #arn tree came from,> he sai# to the

atten#ant, staring r%ef%lly at the #ent, "hich he ha# caref%lly &o%n#e# into the

metal a "ee! ago< it ne*er h%rt to reinforce the city's image of Br%ce ayne'sine&tit%#e.

e too! a riefcase from the &assenger seat, ti&&e# the atten#ant a h%n#re#, an#strolle# to the ri*erfront. )onceale# y a stan# of trees on the stri& of &ar!

et"een the ri*er an# the street, "ell a"ay from the "al! an# its merc%ry *a&or

lam&s, he remo*e# a ca&e an# mas! from the riefcase an# &%t them on. e &%lle# theca&e aro%n# him to conceal his t%xe#o an# "aite#.

;or#on arri*e# fi*e min%tes later.

>hat's on yo%r min#, )ommissionerC> Batman as!e#.>3ore hoo!ers. Six more #ea# hoo!ers.>

;or#on %s%ally #i#n't other him "ith or#inary street crimes. >Some-thing s&ecialao%t themC>

>They all ha# ats car*e# into their o#ies.>> see.>>Noo#y's reacte# yet, not officially, %t yo% can imagine "hat !in# of "or# is

going aro%n#.>

>hat #o yo% thin!C>>?o% #on't really "ant me to ans"er that. B%t someo#y's ti&&e# the &ress. The

;aette "on't &lay the story ig, %t the Star an# the his&er "ill an# so "ill)hannel Six. ?o% ha*e any i#eas, '# etter hear 'em.>

>Nothing tangile, )ommissioner. F%st a h%nch.>

>S&it it o%t.>>The man on the roofto&. 1in# him an# yo% ha*e yo%r !iller.>

>hat's the connectionC>>Only this: these m%r#ers #on't ma!e sense, an# neither #oes he.>

The con*ersation "as o*er. ;or#on t%rne# to gae at the ri*er, confi-#ent that

"ithin secon#s he "o%l# e alone.Bane "as &lease# "ith himself. )%tting the ats into the "omen's flesh ha# een an

ins&iration. t "as an ancient strategic &rinci&le: t%rn yo%r enemy's frien#s

against him. The &olice ha# to e the Batman's allies< it "as logical. 4n# Bane'scaref%l st%#y of ;otham )ity ha# ta%ght him that altho%gh the &olice "ere slightly

corr%&t--com&are# to the Santa 8risca militia--they "o%l# not ignore "holesalesla%ghter. 7s&e-cially not "holesale sla%ghter lin!e# to someone m%ch #isli!e#. Not

e*eryone elie*e# Batman existe#, an# among those "ho #i# he "as not %ni*ersally

&o&%lar: the %n#er"orl# feare# him, as "as to e ex&ecte#< the lierals among&oliticians an# ch%rchmen #ecrie# him as a *igilante, "hich he most certainly "as?o% ain't no Batman> "as often among the $eers they hear#. No" they ha# anexc%se to "ithhol# coo&eration, if not h%nt him #o"n.

The "omen ha# ser*e# a &%r&ose, after all.>;et me six more,> Bane tol# Bir#.

>4frai# no-can-#o, 3agic,> Bir# sai#. >?o% #amage the merchan#ise. The oys aren't

letting yo% ha*e any more.>

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txtBir# "as ref%sing himC Bir# "as #aring to ref%se himC Bir# co%l# e ro!en li!e a

t"ig--Bane realie# that the time for his #ose ha# &asse#. e &resse# the %tton on

his arm an#, a moment later, felt "armth. e relaxe#. e "o%l# e genero%s< he "o%l#ignore Bir#'s insolence--for no".

>8erha&s yo%'re right,> Bane sai#. >8erha&s the six last night "ere eno%gh.>

>e got a &rogramC>>3a!e certain the helico&ter is rea#y. a*e Eomie chec! the "ea&-ons. n less than

t"enty-fo%r ho%rs, "e "ill stri!e at this 4r!ham 4sy-l%m.>>)onsi#er it #one, 3agic 3an.>

Bir#'s tone "as ser*ile, almost fa"ning. Bane #eci#e# to forgi*e him.

I

The first alarm so%n#e# at eight the next e*ening--an ex&losion in front of thear*ester's Ban! an# Tr%st near 0oinson 8ar!. ithin the next fi*e min%tes, there

"ere six other ex&losions, all near an!s. 8olice #is&atchers s&o!e ra&i#ly intotheir micro&hones, an# sirens egan to "ail in the streets. 4t I:9/, a school %s

&ar!e# in a garage %rst into flames, igniting se*eral other %ses neary.4t I:2, the h%ge 0e%ter 6%meryar#, the state's largest, ca%ght fire.Sitting in a helico&ter at a &ri*ate airstri& near the motel, Bane listene# to the

&olice an# fire #is&atches. e t"iste# in his seat to face Eomie, "ho sat in the

&ilot's seat. >?o% ha*e #one excellent "or!,> Bane sho%te# o*er the roar of theengine. >t is time to *isit 4r!ham 4syl%m.> Eomie &%lle# at the controls, an# the

aircraft rose into the air. Bane sa" the gro%n# #ro& a"ay. e stifle# an %rge tola%gh "ith sheer &leas%re. e "as "here he sho%l# e, high ao*e the earth an# its

tiny creat%res. The horion tilte#, an# Bane leane# for"ar# in his seat, filling his

eyes "ith a go#'s *ie" of creation.Batman &a%se# to listen to the ra#io re&ort the l%meryar# fire. Then he contin%e#

c%rling the t"o-h%n#re#-&o%n# #%mell.

>Sho%l#n't yo% e reactingC> 4lfre# as!e# from his chair near the com&%ters. >t'smost %nli!e the Dar! Knight to ignore latant criminal acti*ity.>

>'m not a '#ar! !night' exce&t to thir#-rate $o%rnalists "ith t%rgi# &rose styles,>Batman re&lie#. >4n# 'm not ignoring anything. 'm "ait-ing. 1ires in a garage an#

l%meryar#, ex&losions o%tsi#e an!s . . . o*io%sly #i*ersions.>

>ho is #i*erting "hom from "hatC>>Someo#y's #i*erting the co&s from "here*er the real action is going to ha&&en.>

>4n# "here might that eC>> #on't !no". B%t "ill.>

>. . . ex&losion at 4r!ham 4syl%m ...> the *oice on the ra#io s5%a"!e#.

>That's it,> Batman sai#. e &%t #o"n the #%mell an# &%lle# his mas! into &lace.>The limo%sine, 3aster Br%ceC> 4lfre# as!e#.

>No. 'll go alone. ?o% alert 0oin.>

>B%t isn't it a it earlyC> Br%ce's firmest r%le: Batman ne*er a&&eare# efore #ar!,an# sel#om efore ele*en.

>)an't e hel&e#, 4lfre#.>Batman left the gym area an# stro#e to the cl%ster of *ehicles. e got into a lo",

matte-lac! s&orts car, a *ehicle 4lfre# ha# once #%e# >the Batmoile.> t "as

asically a 3aserati, m%ch mo#ifie#, "ith a racing engine, one-"ay %llet&roof

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txtglass, %llet&roof tires, a sec%rity system that incl%#e# a small thermite om,

"hich "o%l# melt the car to slag if anyone &enetrate# its other #efenses, an# a lot

of electronics. Batman settle# into the seat, "hich "as ma#e from a mol# of hiso#y. e to%che# a s"itch. )onceale# tele*ision cameras "ith infrare# lenses scanne#

e*ery &ath an# roa# "ithin t"o miles of ayne 3anor. Batman &eere# at a tele*ision

screen on the #ashoar#: nothing. e starte# theengine an# g%i#e# the car along a "in#ing ram& an# o%t of the )a*e into an e5%i&ment

she# a#$oining the tennis co%rts ehin# the ho%se. 1rom there he #ro*e to a small#irt roa# that "o%n# aro%n# the estate, glancing often at the tele*ision monitor,

an# finally onto the elt"ay. e t%rne# a"ay from ;otham )ity< 4r!ham 4syl%m "as in

the o&&osite #irection.7arlier, the "orl#'s most notorio%s ma#men ha# en$oye# some light rea#ing "ith their

excellent )ornish game hens. The note "as rief: 7x-&losions at ao%t nine tonight.

7xit from the rear. ;%ns "ill e in the yar#. Be &re&are# to #eal "ith the gas.ar*ey Dent--!no"n as T"o-1ace--to%che# the horrile scars ca%se# y aci# thro"n at

him "hen he ha# een a #istrict attorney. >7sca&eC ?es@> Then he to%che# the si#e ofhis face that "as not #isfig-%re#. >Not a goo# i#ea, ar*. The #octors are hel&ing

yo% here.>e too! o%t his t"o-face# sil*er #ollar an# gae# first at the si#e that he ha# oncescore# "ith a !nife an# then at the si#e that "as still mint. Feremiah 4r!ham ha#

allo"e# ar*ey to !ee& the coin. >t &ro*i#es a r%minati*e foc%s for him an# sho%l#

hasten his &rogress,> Feremiah ha# ex&laine# to his fello" &sychiatrists, "ho ha#gae# at the floor an# sha!en their hea#s.

ar*ey s&%n the coin in the air, ca%ght it in his right han#, an# sla&&e# it ontohis left "rist. The scarre# si#e "as %&.

n an a#$oining cell, the Fo!er rea# the note an# cla&&e# his han#s. >;oo#y goo#y

goo#y,> he sai# in a falsetto *oice, an# giggle#. >3ayhem an# m%r#er an# maye m%chmaleficent mischief.>

The right re# li&s slashe# across his "hite s!in c%rle# %&"ar# into a smile. >Of

co%rse,> he sai# in a lo" aritone, >h%rting &eo&le really isn't #one in the estcircles.>

is li&s c%r*e# #o"n. 4n# %& again as the Fo!er sai#, falsetto, >So 'll #o it in astraight line.>

3ost of the other inmates in the %ltramaxim%m sec%rity loc!--the Scarecro", 3axie

Ee%s, Killer )roc, 3r. Esas, 8oison *y--rea# their notes 5%ietly an# "on#ere# if"hat they rea# co%l# &ossily e tr%e.

The note meant nothing to 4myg#ala. e co%l#n't rea#.To 4attoir, the note confirme# "hat he alrea#y !ne", that it "as his #estiny,

&reor#aine# y the %ni*erse itself, to flee incarceration an# fin# his remaining

family memers, "hose loo# "o%l# no%rish an# em&o"er him.The entrilo5%ist remo*e# one of his soc!s, &%t his han# into it, forme# a crease in

the cloth "ith th%m an# forefinger, an# sai#, >hat is yo%r o&inion, Soc!oC>

>t's the real goo#s,> Soc!o sai# as the entrilo5%ist's li&s mo*e#.The corri#ors of the asyl%m "ere 5%iet--none of the %s%al ho"ls, gr%mles, la%ghter.

The entire instit%tion seeme# to e "aiting.Bernie ntaglia m%nche# his &astrami an# rye an# eye# the an! of monitors in front

of him an# his &artner, arry %mes. e an# arry "ere "or!ing the eight-to-fo%r 4.3

shift in 4r!ham's main sec%rity com-&lex.

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O'Neil, Dennis - [Batman] -Knightfall.txt#iffic%lt to see e*erything, %t he registere# that there "as an in*erte# sha&e in

the "all of the yar#. 1ig%res "ere t%mling thro%gh it an# into the street. 4

helico&ter "as rising o*erhea#.T"o men in inmates' $%m&s%its "ere r%nning %& the si#e"al! to"ar# him, hol#ing

carines at &ort arms. e ra!e# the car. The inmates &asse# it. Batman sli# o%t an#

ca%ght them from ehin#. e slamme# their hea#s together, an# efore they ha# hitthe si#e"al!, he "as "hirling in the o&&osite #irection, r%nning for 4r!ham.

e ha# gone only a half loc! efore another inmate lea&t at him from et"een t"o&ar!e# cars, s"inging an em&ty eer ottle at Bat-man's hea#. Batman ca%ght the

man's "rist on his left forearm an#, &i*oting, g%i#e# the ottle aro%n#, &ast its

target. e contin%e# the &i*ot, ringing his right elo" %& into his attac!er'schin, an# "as again facing the asyl%m, contin%ing to r%n.

O*erhea#, Bane "as oser*ing the scene thro%gh night glasses.

>e is here,> Bane m%rm%re#.>0ight accor#ing to &lan, h%h, 3agicC> This from Bir#, "ho "as aiming a 9/./G #eer

rifle #o"n at the asyl%m, occasionally s5%eeing off shots at g%ar#s "ho #are# sho"themsel*es.

n the t"in green circles of the glasses, Bane sa" Batman gli#e thro%gh the hole inthe "all an# lea& at an inmate "ho "as stan#ing o*er the "ea&ons crates, han#ing o%tg%ns. The man fell imme#iately. B%t "hat ha# this Batman #one to himC hate*er it

"as, it "as too 5%ic! for the eye to follo".

Bane s"e&t the glasses a"ay from the yar#. 4 tactical s5%a# *an "as ro%n#ing thecorner an# screeching to a sto&. )o&s "earing armor &o%re# from the #oors in the

rear an# s&rinte# to"ar# the asyl%m.Bane ret%rne# the glasses to their original &osition: Batman "as no" facing t"o

4r!hamites. One s"%ng at him. Batman loc!e# the lo" "ith his forearm an# ste&&e#

for"ar# to #ri*e his stiffene# fingers into the man's solar &lex%s< in the sameinstant, his leg le*ere# o%t to catch the secon# man in the elly.

>e is tr%ly formi#ale,> Bane m%rm%re#.The tac s5%a# co&s, no" "earing gas mas!s, "ere &o%ring thro%gh the reache# "all,

firing tear gas canisters.

Batman ha#n't recognie# the men he'# #ro&&e#. They "eren't among the #oen he ha#hel&e# &%t in 4r!ham. hich "as not goo#. Those t"el*e--they "ere the most

#angero%s. The only reason some of them "ere !e&t ali*e "as that they "ere so

#erange#, &sychologists #e-man#e# to e ale

The Fall of a Knight

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