Batman Arkham Knight by Marv Wolfman

Author:Marv Wolfman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Titan

23

From the cavern onward, the tunnels were strangely empty. Batman had expected to see more of Scarecrow’s goons working on the tanks, preparing them to move into the city, to take over neighborhood after neighborhood. And though the tanks were sitting there, waiting to be put into operation, Scarecrow’s workers were nowhere to be seen.

This must be a trap, Batman thought, so let’s spring it.

The control room was a small area cut off from the main tunnel. It, too, was deserted, and Barbara wasn’t there. But the main computer was, and it was already booted up. He fit a zip drive into a USB port, enabling Lucius to tap directly into its files and find the Knight’s GPS location, wherever he went.

He checked his scanner and there still were no heat signatures anywhere nearby. Small comfort, though—he hadn’t detected the tanks or their crews, and they’d been less than fifty yards away from him.

He searched the room for anything that might indicate the location of a holding cell or personnel quarters, in the hope that Barbara might be there. Batman was certain she was alive. If the Knight had wanted her dead he would have killed her in the Clock Tower, and left her body behind for Gordon and Batman to find.

No, like Scarecrow, the Knight wanted Batman and Gordon to suffer first. To know that they were helpless. This was a power play, pure and simple, and up until now the bad guys had been the ones flexing their muscles.

That was going to change.

“You and Lucius had a good idea, Bruce. What a shame it was never going to work.”

Batman spun and found the Arkham Knight rushing toward him. He started to raise his hand in defense, but the attack was too sudden, and the Knight was moving too fast.

He landed a jab to the face. Batman took only a moment to gather his wits and avoid a second hit, but as he leaned down, the Knight slammed him with his elbow to the back of the neck, in the space between where Batman’s reinforced cowl stopped and his cape began. He knew exactly where Batman was vulnerable.

His stance revealed that he knew how to box—his left foot was forward and his left arm extended. He held his right arm close to his body. Both arms were up, his fists close to his chin.

The Knight waded in again with an uppercut to the jaw.

“Come on, Batman. Why aren’t you fighting back?” His tone was cheerful, taunting. “I always knew I’d be able to kick your ass from here to Sunday, but I expected a little resistance. Don’t let me down.”

Batman held up an arm to protect his face, and the Knight moved in—just as he’d expected. His rear hand crossed in front of his body and slammed the Knight with a right cross to the face. But at the last moment the Knight turned and Batman’s fist grazed his cheek instead.

“Boxing 101, Bruce. Do you so disrespect me that you’re treating me like some sort of amateur? I’d be embarrassed if I were you.

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