PROLOGUE Bruce and his friend Rachel were playing hide-and-seek hide-and-seek Rachel knew her way around the large rambling Wayne estate because her mother was its housekeeper But Bruce still had places where Rachel wouldn't find him Beyond the greenhouse there was an old stone well that hadn't been used in years A few feet below the lip of the well was a platform of strong boards just enough room for him to disappear Bruce didn't want to make a sound as he hopped into the well 9
Crack Bruce shrieked as he plunged into the darkness and landed hard at the bottom of the pit His leg throbbed Far above he could hear Rachel screaming for him and he wished she'd hurry A frenzy of muffled screeching and movement filled Bruce with fear The creatures that crowded the cavern and teeth like needles and they descended angry eyes had on him in an explosion of black When Bruce awoke it was night Only Alfred the family's butler was in his room Took quite a fall didn't we Alfred asked in his light cockney accent And why do we fall Master Bruce Bruce winced He knew the answer but was unwilling to reply Alfred gave a patient smile and answered the question himself So that we might better learn to pick ourselves up His leg aching Bruce closed his eyes and nodded When his broken bone had healed Bruce and his parents took the train into the city The family stopped 10
for a moment under the vaulted glass ceiling of Wayne Station Everything in Gotham City even the great Wayne Tower that rose above them in the center of it all seemed to bear Bruce's last name Bruce was proud of his family and what they had done for Gotham He did not love the opera his family was attending in honor of his mother's birthday however The music was interesting and Bruce liked the witches gathered around the smoky cauldron But the bats bursting from a hole on the stage were an unwelcome surprise Bruce knew they were fake but it didn't matter He felt light-headed He could feel the claws go Grabbing his father's arm Bruce begged Can we His father guided the family out of the theater through a side exit Bruce what's wrong his mother asked as they entered the alley I just needed a bit of air Martha his father quickly cut in A bit of opera goes a long way Right Bruce Bruce was grateful for his father's excuse He wanted strong but it was just so difficult His father gave to be 11
