“In the past year alone, I have perfected wonders that will revolutionize mankind . . . fertilizers that will grow crops five times their normal size. With my wonder serums, I will eliminate hunger and disease. Give me five years and I will cure cancer. Ten more and heart attacks will be something of the past.”
Reed Richards examined a strange circular device sitting on a worktable. “I’ve never seen anything like this before, Doom. It seems to be an element converter for transmutation, but—”
“Excellent, Richards. I see you were able to analyze my device properly. You are right, of course. I am experimenting in elementary transmutation. So far success has been limited.” Doom paused, as if an idea had struck him. “If you wish to join in my research, Richards, I am sure the equations I have been unable to work out will soon be answered. Are you interested?”
Reed smiled. “I’m sorry, Doom, but my research is taking me in other directions. I can’t afford to take time away from my own discoveries.”
“Of course, I understand, Richards. So be it. A shame, though. You and I are the two most brilliant minds this world has ever known. To work together would be an assurance of success. I understand you have your . . . pride, however.” Doom paused before continuing. “Let us move on, if you don’t mind. However, you may feel free to linger. My laboratory and my notes are open to you.”
Ben grumbled. “I don’t like this, Stretcho. He’s playin’ ya fer the fool. What’s ’is game?”
“I wish I knew, Ben. I’ve never seen Doom like this. He’s open, polite, courteous beyond expectation. Unless he’s actually changed, he must be supremely confident in himself. There’s no other explanation.”
“Frankly, Reed, I’m not at all interested in this stuff. You think Doom’ll mind if I scoot around town as the Torch? See if anything’s going on? Maybe I’ll find a girl.” Johnny was bored; he wanted to move on.
“Reed, I have an idea,” Sue said. “If Doom’s willing to show us his castle, then whatever he has planned can’t be here. What if I became invisible and scouted around some? Check things out in a way that wouldn’t anger him.”
Reed nodded. “Good thought. Just be careful, Sue. Stay alert. I know something’s dreadfully wrong, and I don’t want you to fall into any of his traps.”
Sue grinned as she whispered. “How can he set a trap for an Invisible Girl? Besides, if anything happens, I have my energy powers. And I won’t forget my belt radio.
“Face it, Reed, I can handle myself, even if I am just a girl, eh?”
Reed grimaced in reply. “All right, so I’m the last of the chauvinist pigs. I can’t help myself, honey. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Sue bent over to kiss him on the cheek. “Worry about yourself, brown-eyes. I’m not exactly a sitting duck.”
Sue’s eyes closed as she concentrated, and a moment later her body faded from view. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, Reed.” Her voice faded as she left the room.
“Don’t worry it, Stretch, Susie can handle herself. She’s got powers that make us look like Howdy Doody.”
Reed knew Ben was right, but he still didn’t like it. True, Sue could turn herself invisible, or turn anything else invisible if she wished to—although when she did, she couldn’t use her powers on herself. Sue also possessed the ability of forming energy shields, and through practice she learned to shape the energy powers into convenient forms. She could focus her powers with pinpoint precision, or spread them wide enough to shield them all.
There was little Sue Richards was incapable of doing; she had mastered her powers long ago, yet she was Reed’s wife, the woman he loved more than anyone else. If she was hurt in battle, if she were to die, it would be his fault. Because of him she had been given her abilities, and he felt responsible for whatever happened to her now.
Sue quietly approached a sealed door and analyzed the lock. It was bolted from within, but it wouldn’t be hard to pick, not if she could slip her force field through the controls and slide the trip-lock to the right.
No one was around; no one would see her. She’d have only a few moments before someone might come strutting down the corridor. She had to work quickly. Materializing, she concentrated her energy powers at the lock. An invisible beam of pure force snaked through the delicate instrument. Then a faint click was heard. She’d done it.
Smiling, she faded from view again and opened the door, shutting it quickly behind her. She was safe, but she’d best remain invisible. With Dr. Doom, you could never be too sure.
The room seemed to be empty: no furniture, no lights. Nothing. Yet, why was it bolted?
Quietly, she rapped on the wall closest to her. Solid. She tapped the second wall across from her. The same. But the third wall echoed with a dull thumping sound. Hollow. A secret panel?
Delicate fingers spread across the wall. If there was a secret door somewhere, she’d find it.
Her hand touched the molding that bordered the room at waist level. One small section slipped as she brushed by it, and the wall seemed to suddenly shudder.
A black line appeared at one corner. The wall was opening inward at that point. Holding her breath, she ran toward the black space. She entered the opening, and waited for her eyes to become accustomed to the darkness.
Staircase leading to where? She reached out and grabbed a narrow metal railing. Nice of Doom to think of this, she thought. Easier to climb these steps in the darkness.
The wall slid back into place as she reached the bottom of the stairwell and stepped onto a stone floor. Must be spring-controlled. When my weight left the staircase, it closed.
There was complete darkness here, and she used her hands to probe the way. The stone corridor was chilly, damp. She could smell the musk and it nauseated her. This could really be nothing. Old castles always have secret corridors.
There was a squeal behind her, and, somewhat frightened, she whirled around. Something small and hairy brushed past her. Lord, it must’ve been a rat. Oh, God.
It took a moment for her breath to return. I may be torturing myself here for no reason. She felt the breeze come from her right. Must be a tunnel. She turned and saw a faint glimmer of light ahead of her. Well, can’t turn back now. C’mon, Sue, let’s go on.
She reached a large cavern with a small table in the center. A candle resting in a cup sat on the table. A chair tucked neatly between the table legs seemed a good place to rest, if only for a moment. Someone was here, just a few moments ago. There’s no melted wax in the cup.
She called out, “Anyone here?” No answer. Her eyes adjusted to the faint glow and she could see the corridor she had come through. It continued on past the cavern on the other side. Whoever it was had to go that way. She scratched her neck, pushed the hair out of her eyes, and stood up again. May as well go on.
Suddenly there was the scraping sound of steel. A heavy door slid down from the roof of the cavern and sealed off one of the tunnels. She turned toward the other. It was still open. She ran toward it, fear beginning to take hold of her. A second steel door descended.
A bolt of energy shot out from Sue’s temples as she rushed forward. It formed a cushion between the floor and the lowering door. The door jammed into the force cushion with a loud crackling noise. It held. Have to expand the shield. Force open the door. This is a trap. I’ve got to warn the others.
She felt herself grow heavy, tired. Her eyes searched out the candle on the table. Oh, my God . . . of course. It’s burning a sleep gas. That candle was set there to stop me.
Instinctively, she threw a force globe around the candle, and the buffer beneath the door faded from view. The door slammed down, and the echo of steel against stone seemed like sarcastic laughter.
Her hands groped for her belt radio. Damn it, static. I’m too far underground. Either that or Doom had this tunnel especially created to prevent radio waves from piercing it.
She was breathing hard now. What do I do? Invisibility won’t help here. If I remove my force shield from the candle, the gas will put me to sleep. My powers are useless.
She felt utterly defeated and sank to the chair. Reed warned me, but like a proud fool, I didn’t listen.
Then, from the ceiling, she saw the glint of steel. Small openings appeared in the rock. Five tiny openings that began to glow red.
A thin beam of light streamed from one opening. It flashed across the chasm and bounced off the floor, ricocheted off the stone wall, and continued its zig-zag pattern. A second beam from a second opening followed it. Then a third, a fourth, and finally the fifth.
Lasers!
Heaven help me, lasers everywhere—Sue dived off the chair a moment before a ruby beam splintered it. Instantly, the chair disintegrated. A second beam hit the table and bounced off. It must be coated with something. She saw the candle still lit atop it. Of course, Doom doesn’t want the candle snuffed out.
The beams criss-crossed the room in a random, helter-skelter pattern. One of them would strike her at any moment—unless she surrounded herself in a force field.
An invisible ball of energy formed about her as a laser blast struck the shield and skidded off into the wall. Safe, but for how long? I can’t keep the shield in place for more than fifteen minutes. Then what?
Sue Richards had a reason to worry. She had a quarter of an hour to effect an escape, or she would be sliced to so many ribbons.
What do I do? What the hell do I do?To Be Continued...Tomorrow at
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