Tom Hallaway sits in his Keystone City townhouse. He ruffles through the newspaper. The social scene has been slow this year, and he worries about entertaining himself and Larry. If only he could use the notoriety he has acquired as The Spider, but of course that is out of the question. The door opens, and he looks up from the crime section. Larry Shafter comes in, smoking a cigar, carrying two 78's from the music store in the center of town. "Hey, it's hep, I've got swing!" He is gazing out the window, and suddenly he starts."Hey..."

Tom turns to Larry, "Hey what?" He moves up and over to the window. "Did you see something, Larry?"

Larry shakes his head. "Something golden...I don't know." He frowns, going closer to the window. "I don't see it anymore..."

Suddenly a cloud of gold dust gusts in through the window, temporarily obscuring his vision. He gahs.

Tom Hallaway says, "What!?...hey..."

A blonde woman wearing a golden minidress and golden slippers, wearing a utility belt, soars in through the window. She lands lightly on the tips of her feet. Larry coughs, "Pleh.."

Tom Hallaway says, "You okay Larry?" Then he notices the intruder ... "Golden Glider!" He recognises her immediately, and curses himself that he had not been alerted to her presence earlier; now surprise was on her side. She and her husband, the criminal who went by the name Gary Trouble, had been a bother to The Spider and The Bolt ever since the mysterymen had emigrated to Keystone. The last time she had uncovered their identities and sought to blackmail them to taking in her infant daughter; it had only been through the help of the Flash that they had been able to negotiate their way out of that trap, and find a safe adoption for the child.

Golden Glider says, "Hello Tom, Larry. You two helped my child once before, and we need your help again."

Tom Hallaway folds his arms over his chest and glares at her critically, "As ever you got a funny way of asking for help, Goldie ... There are other ways of getting in touch with us."

Golden Glider exposits, "Even though it violated court order, Gary and I moved to follow our daughter Lisa, to keep an eye on her and her new adopted parents, a Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Snart of New Orleans, Louisiana."

Larry Shafter blinks. "Snart? What?"

Tom Hallaway sighs. "I knew it was too much to expect that you two would go straight, Goldie ..."

Golden Glider nods to Larry, "They are hard working blue-collar types. The accordion-fold door factory is prosperous enough that it puts food on their table, and Lisa seems happy. Their building isn't so fancy, but it is clean. But ... well ... have you ever heard of something called Les Enfants Mangent?"

Larry Shafter blinks. "What is it? You're saying it weird. Les Enfants Mangent? French for Child...."

Tom Hallaway says, "Mangent ... that's French for 'eat'"

Golden Glider says, "It's from a Creole folktale. An insatiable night creature of supernatural origin which feeds almost exclusively on children"

Larry Shafter makes a face. "You've gotta be kidding. That's awful"

Tom Hallaway nods, "Grisly indeed"

Golden Glider nods. "There are local legends that tell of a clan of Les Enfants Mangent lurking in caverns beneath the swamps in Louisiana."

Larry Shafter looks totally shocked. "You guys *believe* this?"

Tom Hallaway says, "I have seen strange things, Larry, too many to question the validity of this"

Golden Glider says, "Supposedly, poor families and unwed mothers would bring their unwanted children there and leave them for the Les Enfants Mangent."

Larry Shafter says, "Sounds like they just exposed them on a hillside, like the Spartans."

Tom Hallaway says, "You don't think this Snart family are..."

Golden Glider shakes her head. "No ... the Snarts are good people. They wouldn't be responsible for such a thing. I am afraid Lisa and Gary are in trouble."

Golden Glider says, "One day, the Snart's apartment was broken into and Lisa was kidnapped. The door appeared to be torn apart by some ferocious animal. Gary ... well, I could hardly think before he zoomed off at 150 mph and I haven't seen him since."

Tom Hallaway says, "How long ago was this?"

Golden Glider says, "We didn't discover it long ago ... I flew here at top speed, for what that's worth."

Tom Hallaway says, "I'm sure you did. You must be frantic with worry. What more can you tell us of the kidnapping? What makes you believe Les Enfants Mangent are involved?"

Golden Glider says, "We don't know anything for sure ... we knew the local legends, and there certainly looked like there had been some sort of horrible creature there."

Tom Hallaway says, "I haven't been a monster fighter much, but I'm willing to give it a try."

Larry Shafter says, "Anything to protect the lives of children. And it couldn't possibly have been a normal kidnapper, trying to throw them off?"

Golden Glider says, "We don't know much, we're just afraid ... if it's normal kidnappers, Gary will take them down. And why kidnap from the Snarts? They don't have any money."

Tom Hallaway says, "Golden Glider, can stay here if you like, and rest. I am sure you must be tired"

Golden Glider says, "I'm going with you! I'm not abandoning my child!"

Larry Shafter says, "I don't blame her, Tom. Nothing would keep me back either."

Tom Hallaway nods, indicating the phone on a nearby desk. "Larry, call the airport ... tell them to have my private plane at the ready."

Later, the trio arrives at the airport. Tom Hallaway and Larry Shafter assist Golden Glider out of the plane. Tom looks about, scanning the area, and checks his watch. "Come on, we're not here to chitchat. Let's get a taxi and he can take us to the Snart's. I think it would be prudent to search the crime scene"

Larry nods to Tom. He fans himself as he goes off in search of a car, unused to the Southern heat and humidity.

Soon, they pull up to the apartment. After Tom Hallaway pays the driver and sends him off, Golden Glider pulls a set of keys from her pouch. "These will let us into the building and the Snart's apartment. We told them it was safest to stay with friends until we were able to rescue our child. That way the apartment wouldn't be disturbed if we needed to look for clues."

Tom Hallaway raises an eyebrow at Golden Glider. She's lying, he realises. But it's not about her child ... she's sincerely frightened about her, and she wouldn't do anything to harm the Snarts,

Larry looks around as they enter the apartment. "Any ideas?"

Tom Hallaway scans the rooms with a practiced eye. "Those marks on the doors are certainly compatible with the story Golden Glider told us. They could very well be claw marks." He walks down the hallway. "And here, and here. This is the baby's room?"

Golden Glider nods. Tom Hallaway wrinkled his nose. "There is the scent of old blood here. Okay Goldie, I believe you. Where did Gary think the child had been taken?"

Golden Glider says, "He took off due west ..."

Larry Shafter says, "Hey wait fellows, I found something." As Tom Hallaway and Golden Glider turn around, Larry Shafter walks into the room with an elderly man on his arm, who peers at the couple. "You are looking for Les Enfants Mangent?"

Tom Hallaway nods, "Yes sir. We think a child may have been kidnapped by them. Do you know anything about where they might be found?"

The old man strokes his chin. "It is a foolish mission. But at the end of the Poydras Canal is a cyrpus swamp called the 'quarter of the damned,' the site of the old shanty where the old Creole John Gravier met his final end, having lost his reason along with his wealth. There you will find the entrance you seek, if you are really so foolish as to venture there."

Tom Hallaway thanks the old man. "Is there anything we can do for you, sir? You've been a great help."

The old man snorts and and shambles back to the hallway. "Dead men and fools can do nothing for nobody."

Larry Shafter wows. "I guess that'd be it, huh?"

Tom Hallaway removes his outer garments to reveal his Spider uniform, and Larry Shafter similarly wraps his bandanna around his face to conceal his identity and dons the outfit of The Bolt. "It's the only lead we've got ... follow the map."

Golden Glider nods. "I'll be right behind you, Tom."

Following their selection of maps and the old man's directions, they arrive in the swamp, the colors around them an amazing array of greens and browns. They find an outcropping of stone, in which there appears to be a natural cave, of which they can not easily see to the bottom.

Golden Glider says, "This fits the stories I've heard ... this must be it. I think...yes I think they lead to that cave."

The Bolt says, "It will at least get us out of this sun..."

Golden Glider shines a gold-light beam and The Spider and The Bolt descend.

They find themselves in a maze of twisty tunnels, all alike.

Golden Glider looks around. "Spider, can you sense anything? I can't make head or tail of this place."

The Spider reaches into his quiver and selects an arrow. Holding it over his head, he presses a small stud at the base. From a lens at the point of the arrow shines a beam of infra-red, which allows them to adjust their eyes to the light. The Spider looks left and right at the cave walls, trying to pick up the trail. He points, "This way..."

They find themselves in a maze of twisty tunnels, all alike.

The Spider looks around and sighs, attempting to find something to mark their path.

Golden Glider visibly frets. "Let me help with that." She removes the packets which she uses to arm her weaponry, and starts dropping a thin line of gold dust along the way.

The caverns seem to twist and turn in all directions, The Spider continues to lead the group through the maze, unwaveringly. The air becomes still, almost dead.

Golden Glider says, "Lord, I hope Gary was able to make it this far."

The Spider silently continues through the labyrinth, sensing as he goes, searching out for the heat registers left by Gary's passing.

The Bolt frowns, looking at his compass. "We've turned around an awful lot..."

The Spider says, "I know what I'm doing Bolt. This is the way."

They find themselves in a maze of twisty tunnels, all alike.

The Bolt checks his compass, nodding to his partner.

Golden Glider follows the others, trusting in their sense of direction.

The journey seems like it has lasted days. The Spider stops occasionally at forks to get his bearings, then moves on.

Golden Glider looks around. "Say, wasn't The Bolt right behind us?"

The Spider stops and looks about, "What ?

Golden Glider stops in her tracks, and flares her flame brighter to fill the passage with light Golden Glider says, "I think I can retrace our steps ... stay here."

The Spider says, "I think all we can do is go on ..."

Golden Glider says, "I will stand guard here in case he shows up."

The Spider says, "I don't think it is wise to split up."

Golden Glider says, "No, it makes sense ... if your partner shows up he'd have no way of knowing where we'd gone to ... I'll manage on my own."

The Spider says, "But right now only I am to guide us, without me, both of you are lost, Goldie."

Golden Glider shines her gold-beam light. "I'm not without resources of my own."

The Spider says, "And The Bolt might need someone to help him if he *does* show up ... I don't think he's just lost. Something has happened to him, and I don't want him alone down here with Les Enfants Mangent. Let's head on ... we are here to rescue a child after all, not argue tactics. I think we better head out now. The trail is getting cold!"

The Spider continues to move on down the cave. Golden Glider's light shrinks, becoming a pinpoint and then disappearing altogether as the impromptu team rounds a bend

They find themselves in a maze of twisty tunnels, all alike. Their passage is quiet and uneventful, save for the occasional blast of light from Golden Glider as she marks the trail. They hear, off to one side, odd sounds ... vaguely animalistic ...

Golden Glider whispers, "shhh! What is that?"

The Spider says, "I hear it! Off that way!"

They find themselves in blackness. The smell of dead flesh assaults their senses. They hear in the background the odd sounds of things moving, and half-human half-bestial growls. They can barely make out a pile of objects, their whiteness reflecting back at them the small amount of light they have brought: the whiteness is from skulls, and from their size they belonged to children no older than four, some clearly infants. There appears to be a field of them, going back an indeterminate amount into the caverns.

In the far corner a man dressed all in red ... red shirt, red tights, red boots, and wearing a red helm of Mercury (sans wings). The outfit is ripped in various places, and almost conceals spots of blood from his wounds. He is carrying a baby nestled in one arm; with his other, an iron post. He looks up at The Spider and Golden Glider.

The Spider says, "Looks like Trouble," points toward the man, "There"

Golden Glider flinches. "Gary!"

From afar, a bodiless voice yells, "Ia! Ia! Nyarlathotep! Ia! Cthulhu p'thangn! Ia! Shub-Niggurath! Ia! F'tang!"

The Bolt yells, half-hysterical, "Spider!"

The Spider says, "Bolt!"

Golden Glider attempts to shed some light into the cavern.

The Bolt is unable to move, chained by his ankles to the interior of a subcave and suspended over a noisome bubbling mass ... some sort of disgusting larder? and he looks like he's about to be dinner to a bunch of unspeakable things.

Ia!

A mob of creatures notice the pair's arrival, and turn to them, teeth and claws bloody.

Golden Glider says, "Looks like we interrupted their dinner!"

The Bolt arghs, "Yeah, Goldie! That's a *good* thing!"

Gary Trouble gives another swing with the pole at a creature. He looks exhausted and near to fainting. "Iron! Iron kills them!"

The Spider says, "Silver will do just as well." He cautiously aims low at a monster ... drawing his bow and firing. One of the creatures grunts in pain at The Spider's attack, but others approach and swing their claws at him.

Gary Trouble starts to be bowled over by the creatures ... he sees that many of the creatures are distracted by the newcomers and, shielding his child, tries to make his way to the exit.

The Spider, bleeding from the claw attack, presses onward, firing his Spider Seal at the monsters ... "You won't be eating any more innocent children, demons!" He releases a volley of arrows and starts to plow a path between him and The Bolt.

One of Les Enfants Mangent opens the larder door and stuffs a clawed hand around The Bolt's mouth so that all he can do is moan. Another notes Gary Trouble's attempted escape and follows him and his child.

Gary Trouble swings with hysterical strength as he is at his last ebb.

Golden Glider struggles, "Ack!", she says, as she is grabbed from behind. "...umph..."

From afar, a bodiless voice says, 'Ia! Ia! Hastur!'

Gary Trouble raises his spear. "Goldie!" he cries, as he sends the spear rocketing at high speed, killing the two creatures that were attacking Golden Glider. He zooms out of the cave with his daughter in his arms.

Golden Glider grabs the spear and attempts to impale one of the critters.

The Bolt tries to elbow the freak that's got him in the ribs. Maybe it'll make him go off balance before he gets bitten. He hopes. Maybe.

Les Enfants Mangent start to fall to the concerted attacks, whether it be by gold or arrow or spear. The brute dragging The Bolt is discomfited by his elbow, but starts to gnaw on it anyway.

The Bolt's yell of pain is muffled by the creature's hand over his mouth. He bites the monster's hand. "I'm not even a child, you smelly sack of ... " The Spider leaps to The Bolt's protection, impaling the monster's throat with an arrow.

The Bolt collapses to his hands and knees, breathing heavily. He tries to get up and away, out of the fight. He's bleeding pretty badly.

The remaining Les Enfants Mangent disappear howling into the caves, fleeing from the ferocious attacks. One or two of the stragglers are slain by Golden Glider, iron in hand.

The Spider picks The Bolt up. "Come on Goldie, let's get out of here!"

The Spider heads back to the cave following the path of glowing golden sands. As Golden Glider leads the way, he lays down another volley of arrows behind them, trying to take down as many as he can and discourage them from following. They eventually make it back towards the light.

The Spider breaths the clean, sweet air.

Golden Glider looks about, "It's like waking from a long slumber."

The Spider says, "God, that was a mess ... but I think we ended a real menace."

Golden Glider says, "Indeed. How's The Bolt?"

The Spider gently carries his partner. "I think he's passed out ... blood loss. We'd better get him back home."

THE END

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