The Brave and the Bold: Hawkman and Doctor Fate

The Deeds of the Disturber

by HarveyKent

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 1

“And before I adjourn this meeting,” Hawkman said to the assembled Justice Society, “I want to remind everyone that I will not be present for the next monthly meeting. I gladly turn the gavel over to our able second chairman, Green Lantern.”

“That’s right, you’re going on an archaeology dig, aren’t you?” Dr. Mid-Nite asked. “You and Kent and Inza.”

“Right,” Hawkman said. “Shiera would come, but you forbade it.” Hawkman said this good-naturedly.

“And she’ll never let me forget it,” Mid-Nite said. “But if she tries exploring ruins in the desert, she’s sure to aggravate that injury she sustained last week fighting the Human Fly Gang.”

“She understands, but she’ll find some way of getting back at you, I’m sure,” Hawkman joked.

“Taking along your usual crew, Carter?” The Huntress asked. “I’ve always been fascinated by Egyptology; my mother’s influence, mostly.”

“We’ve got a couple of newcomers this time,” Hawkman said. “Kent discovered a very brilliant student at Cameron University, and invited her along.”

“Shiera told me the museum sponsoring the dig is forcing someone on you, too,” Red Robin said.

“Yes,” Hawkman sighed. “Some dilettante English aristocrat with a fondness for mummies. I’d almost rather have the Gentleman Ghost along, but as Carter Hall I really can’t kick about it.”

“Well, enjoy the dig anyway,” Green Lantern said. “Everything will be OK in your absence, never fear.”

“I never doubted it,” Hawkman said. “And now… meeting adjourned.”

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 2

At a private airfield in Long Island, the museum expedition prepared to leave. Carter Hall and Kent Nelson supervised the loading of equipment and supplies. Inza was inside the plane, overseeing preparations for the long flight.

“Will His Lordship be traveling with us?” Carter asked his lifelong friend.

“No, I understand he’s taking a private flight,” Kent said. “He’ll meet us in Egypt.”

“I still think we should have exercised a little pull there,” Carter said. “This is the last place for tourists.”

Kent shrugged. “His money supports the museum,” he said resignedly. “Without his contributions, it might have to close.”

Carter heaved a sigh. “Reaganomics.”

“Dr. Nelson?” a timid voice piped up. Kent turned to look, and saw a mousy looking young woman staring up at him. Her dark hair was tied back in a severe bun; she wore large glasses, with lenses so thick they could probably stop X-rays. She was dressed sensibly; so sensibly, one could hardly tell her gender.

“Ah, Andrea,” Kent said warmly. “I’m glad you made it! Carter, this is Andrea Thomas, the student I told you about. Andrea, this is Carter Hall, a fellow archaeologist and a good friend of mine.”

“How do you do,” Andrea said meekly, extending her hand.

“The pleasure is mine,” Carter said, firmly shaking her hand. “Kent tells me you’re the most promising student he’s come across in years!”

“Oh, well,” Andrea said, blushing, “I hope I can live up to his praise!”

“I’m sure you will,” Kent said.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 3

The expedition arrived in Egypt, at the international airport in Cairo, with no difficulties. Two days after landing, their campsite was set up in the desert some eighty miles from the nearest city. The heat was sweltering; tents were set up to provide shade. In the main tent, the Nelsons, Carter Hall, and Andrea Thomas pored over a map laid out on a folding table.

“This is where the piece of pottery was found,” Inza said, indicating a red circle. “If our assumption is correct, it will lead to an even greater find. Possibly even the lost treasure houses of Hatshepsut!”

“Hello there,” a friendly voice with a British accent called from the front of the tent. “Hope you haven’t started without me.”

All heads turned to see a man in his early thirties, dressed in a white linen suit and holding a glass full of ice cubes and some bluish liquid. His straw-colored hair hung down to his neck, and he smiled ingratiatingly. This was Robert, Lord Sennet, the scandalous playboy whom society columns had taken to calling “Lord Arsenic”.

“We were beginning to think you wouldn’t show, Lord Sennet,” Carter said, with barely disguised sarcasm.

“Oh, never fear for that, old chap!” Sennet said amiably, missing the sarcasm (or choosing to). “Always count on a Sennet to come through! Just not always when you expect, eh?” The dilettante burst out giggling at his own joke. “Now then, when will the digging start? Anxious to get a look at those mummies, you know!”

Inza sighed audibly. This was going to be a long expedition.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 4

The dig began in earnest. Carter Hall and the Nelsons, rather than being mere supervisors, actively participated in the clearing of earth. Lord Sennet watched this with undisguised disdain, obviously feeling that they were setting a poor example for the laboring class.

“Professor Hall!” Andrea shouted enthusiastically, one morning two weeks into the dig. “Professor Nelson! Look at this!”

Carter and Kent came running to where Andrea was digging. They had been searching the area for a fortnight, and come no closer to finding the actual chambers they sought. Lord Sennet had never left the shade of his tent the entire time.

“What is it, Andrea?” Kent asked. “Have you found something?”

“I have!” Andrea cried triumphantly. “Look at this!” the young student held up a piece of pottery, a small urn or vessel, brightly decorated with symbols and hieroglyphs. It had a couple of small chips out of its rim.

“My word,” Carter gasped. “Unless I’m very much mistaken, that’s an early canopic jar. Sixth Dynasty at least! Quite a find, Andrea!”

“Indeed,” Kent agreed. “Look at the inscription, there around the rim. Can you translate it, Andrea?”

“I-I don’t know,” the student said, nervously. “I can try. Let me see.” Andrea held the jar up to the sun’s bright light, adjusted her thick glasses, and peered closely at it, turning it around in her hand. “It seems to be a standard prayer or invocation. Let’s see… ‘His sister was his protector, she who drives off the foe, who foils the deeds of the disturber by the power of her utterance. The clever tongued, whose speech fails not, admirable in the words of her command. Mighty Isis!’ ”

“Couldn’t have done better myself,” Kent said, beaming with pride in his protégé.

“A prayer to the goddess Isis, protector of her brother Osiris and enemy of Set, called the Disturber,” Carter added. “Andrea, you’ve made quite a find today! I wouldn’t be surprised at all if you’ve put us on the track to making the discovery we were hoping for!”

“Thank you,” Andrea said, lowering her eyes. She was unaccustomed to such praise.

“I say,” Lord Sennet said, coming up behind them, ever-present drink in one hand. “What’s all the fuss? I heard the young lady’s shout clear back at my tent!”

“Nothing to get alarmed about, Your Lordship,” Kent said, icily. “We haven’t come upon Christopher Lee in moldy linen bandages, or anything.”

“Dash it, Kent, I do wish you’d call me ‘Robert’, as I keep asking you to,” Lord Sennet said, choosing to ignore the sarcasm. “Here now, what’s this? Have we discovered something?”

“We think so,” Carter said, shortly.

“The professors think we’re on the right track at last!” Andrea gushed enthusiastically.

“Splendid!” Lord Sennet cried, returning her enthusiasm. “I jolly well can’t wait to open the crypt!”

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 5

Andrea’s find did indeed put them on the right track. Three days later, one of the diggers found the entrance to an underground chamber. Lord Sennet was all in favor of opening it right then and there, but Carter Hall and the Nelsons insisted it wait for further excavation and examination. Reluctantly, the nobleman deferred to their wishes.

That night, after the evening meal, Andrea was alone in her tent, reading a volume on pyramid construction by the renowned Professor Radcliffe Emerson. She was so absorbed in the book, she did not hear Lord Sennet enter her tent.

“Interesting book?” the nobleman asked, in a sibilant whisper.

“Oh!” Andrea gasped, sitting bolt upright. “L-Lord Sennet! You startled me!”

“My apologies,” Lord Sennet said smoothly. “I only mean to offer you my company.”

“Company?” Andrea squeaked, confused. “I-I don’t know what you…”

“Oh, come now,” Lord Sennet said, sidling close to her cot. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you, hiding behind that severe hairstyle and those ludicrously thick glasses which I’ll wager you don’t even need. Obviously you’re in terror of your own femininity. You need someone to introduce you to the finer concepts of hedonism, my dear. How lucky for you, a very experienced instructor is readily at hand…”

Andrea’s eyes were wide in terror behind her glasses. She was so horrified, she could not speak, as Lord Sennet settled himself down on the cot next to her.

“Yes, that’s right, my gel,” Lord Sennet whispered. “Don’t speak. No words are necessary…”

But when Lord Sennet placed his clammy hand on Andrea’s thigh, she let out a scream. His expression changed from a leer to a scowl, and he clapped his hand over her mouth.

“You silly little bint!” he hissed. “Do you want to wake the entire camp?”

Andrea struggled, but could not escape Sennet’s grasp.

“Ah, that’s it,” Sennet whispered in delight. “Fight back! I do so love a woman who fights back!”

“Then turn around, Sennet,” Inza Nelson’s harsh voice barked from the tent entrance.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 6

“Mrs. Nelson!” Sennet gasped in surprise, then quickly recovered himself. “Do you mind, madam? Miss Thomas and I wish to be alone.”

“That’s not how it sounds to me,” Inza said, firmly. “Get up, Sennet.”

The young nobleman looked genuinely surprised. “What did you say?”

“I said get up!” Inza barked. “There’s a lot we’re willing to put up with, for the sake of the museum. A lot. But this isn’t among it, it doesn’t even come close. I’m sure I speak for Carter and my husband when I say we want you off this expedition right now! Be on the first camel out of here, Lord Arsenic!”

Sennet stood up, anger written large across his face, incensed at the use of the hated nickname. “Now see here–”

“No, you see,” Inza growled. “If I tell Carter or Kent what just happened in here, fancy title or no, they’ll butter you all over the dig site like clotted cream, or whatever it is you English eat on your muffins. And make a formal complaint to the museum authorities, the English press, and whomever else will listen. You’ve got until sunrise to be anyplace else, or I’ll do just that. Capeesh?”

Lord Sennet stood there, fists trembling in impotent rage, for a full two minutes before replying. “You know, a hundred years ago, nobody would give a tinker’s dam about the welfare of a — a commoner like her!” He indicated Andrea, who still cowered in fear, with a nod of his head. “Anyone would have thought her honored that a nobleman chose her for his pleasures!”

“Sadly, you’re right about that,” Inza said coldly. “And thankfully, it isn’t a hundred years ago. Now get out.”

Without another word, Sennet stormed out of the tent.

Inza went to the horrified Andrea, and sat down beside her. “Are you OK, honey?”

“I — I guess so,” Andrea stammered, lower lip trembling. “Thank you, Mrs. Nelson. Thank you so much. I — I don’t — I don’t know what I did to encourage him like that!”

Inza gasped in disbelief. “Encourage him? Andrea, he’s a pig! This wasn’t your fault! Don’t believe for an instant that it was!”

“I try to dress down, to make myself unattractive,” Andrea said, staring at her hands. “I wear my hair like this, I chose these big clumsy glasses instead of contacts. I’ve tried to gain weight, but my metabolism is too high or something. But still–”

Inza took Andrea by the shoulders and gently shook her. “Andrea, listen to me. You’re a vibrant, intelligent, special woman. You don’t need to hide your light under a bushel, or dress down, because of a few pigs like Sennet in the world. Most men aren’t like that, believe me. You owe it to yourself to make the best of all your gifts. And don’t ever blame yourself for the actions of a few two-legged reptiles like him, OK? If it hadn’t been you, it would have been someone else. You might as well blame yourself for getting struck by lightning.”

Andrea smiled a little. “Thank you, Mrs. Nelson. Thank you so much.”

Inza smiled widely. “Make it ‘Inza’, dear.”

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 7

The next morning, Lord Sennet was gone from camp. Nobody questioned could recall seeing him go. When Inza told Kent and Carter what had happened, they were furious and wanted to find him, to make him answer for what he had done. But at Inza’s insistence, they let it go.

After much careful planning and preparation, the chamber was opened. Carter, Kent, Inza, and Andrea entered it cautiously. The men led the way, checking for traps which were common in treasure houses. None were found, however, and the party made it safely into the inner chamber.

“Andrea, take a look at this,” Inza said, shining her flashlight on something. Andrea came to look. There was a magnificent painting on the wall of the chamber, depicting a woman wearing the double crown and holding the crook and flail which were symbols of the pharaonic office. Obviously a female pharaoh, most likely Hatshepsut. A man in the garb of the royal court prostrated himself before her.

“It’s magnificent,” Andrea whispered, breathtaken.

“Can you make out the inscription?” Inza asked, shining the light on the hieroglyphs beneath the painting.

Andrea stared intently at them. “I think so. It says, ‘O my queen, with this amulet, you and your…’ I can’t make out that next word… ‘are endowed with the powers of the goddess Isis. You will command the animals and elements. You will soar as the falcon soars, run with the speed of gazelles…’ ” Andrea shook her head. “Fantastic! Apparently this was some kind of court magician promising Hatshepsut some kind of mystical powers! I’ll bet he was beheaded when his gift failed to produce the expected results. Maybe this is his burial chamber.”

“Why so sure his gift didn’t do what he said it would?” Carter asked, coming up behind the women.

“Well — come on, Dr. Hall!” Andrea scoffed. “Flying like a falcon? Commanding the elements? Does that sound logical to you?”

“Ever heard of Hawkman, Andrea?” Carter asked, briefly glancing at Inza. “Or Doctor Fate?”

“Oh, well, certainly, but that’s today! This was ancient Egypt! If there were super-humans around then, don’t you think we’d of heard of it by now?”

“Maybe not,” Kent said thoughtfully. “It was only recently that we learned to translate Egyptian hieroglyphic writing. Perhaps we’ve just never come across the references before.”

“That’s right, Andrea,” Inza said. “This could turn out to be a major find! The first evidence of super-powered humans in ancient Egypt!”

“Superman would be a bit put off if he finds out he wasn’t the first,” Carter chuckled.

Andrea giggled at that. “You sound like you know him!”

“Er… we met once,” Carter said.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 8

The exploration of the chamber went on. The inscription on the panel seemed to speak of an amulet, but none could be found anywhere. Carter suggested tomb robbers, and yet the rest of the chamber seemed intact. Giving up on the amulet for now, the four archaeologists continued their search.

In one anteroom, Kent found a small statue of the god Set. The leering god of discord seemed to stand guard over something, but just what was unclear.

“Amazing likeness,” Inza said, running her hand over the fanged jaw of the god. “Highly polished mahogany wood, if I’m not mistaken.”

As Inza’s hand ran over the lower jaw, it bent down under the slight pressure of her fingers, the mouth opening. As it did so, a panel in the floor at the statue’s feet slid open, making Andrea yelp in surprise.

“Inza!” Kent cried. “What’d you do?”

“I think I’ve found something,” Inza said, pointing to the hole in the floor. “Look there!”

The panel had slid away from a square-shaped hole about three feet deep. Inside was a wooden chest, inlaid with gold and studded with precious gems. Hieroglyphs covered the chest’s lid. Carter hauled the chest out, and held it up for all to see.

Unbidden, Andrea began translating the picture writing. “It’s some kind of warning,” she said. “I think it says, ‘Woe be to he who frees the mad god Set from his prison. May the deeds of the disturber never again be set loose upon the Black Land.’”

“Sounds like Set himself is in this box,” Kent said. And at that, a frisson of nervousness ran through the party of four.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 9

The archaeologists decided to take the chest back to their camp to open it. It sat on a table around which the four of them stood silently; tension crackled in the air like electricity.

“Well?” Inza asked. “Who’s going to open it?”

No answer for a moment. Finally, Carter broke the silence.

“Here goes,” he said, reaching out to the chest. With a putty knife he gingerly broke the wax seals, and opened the chest.

“Oh my word!” Andrea gasped, peering inside. The others bent their heads for a closer look.

It was a mask, a full head mask apparently carved of ebony wood. The mask depicted the wolfish face of Set himself, snarling in evil rage.

“Such workmanship!” Carter said in admiration, lifting the mask from the chest. “I’ve never seen its like!”

“It certainly is a beautiful piece,” Kent said, a trifle uneasily. There was something about it that made him… cautious.

Later that night, as the camp slept, the mask rested in its chest, guarded by one of the two soldiers who accompanied the expedition at the insistence of the Egyptian government. It was late, and the soldier was bored. He leaned on his rifle, staring up at the stars, humming to himself. He did not notice a shadow stealing across the moonlit sands, creeping toward the tent.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 10

Inza had been unable to sleep that night; something kept nagging at the back of her mind, keeping her awake. Kent was sleeping peacefully, so she left their tent for a stroll in the cool moonlight of the desert night. She was walking past the tent where the mask of Set was kept when she noticed a light burning inside. That shouldn’t be. She looked around for the guard, and quickly found him: lying in the sand, a pool of blood by the base of his head. Inza repressed a gasp, and bolted into the tent.

“You!” she shrieked, as she threw open the tent flap. Lord Sennet, momentarily startled by her appearance, turned a wicked smile on her, as well as a small snub-nosed revolver. “Ah, Mrs. Nelson,” he said in an oily smooth voice. “How delightful to see you again.” Without any further preamble, Sennet pulled the trigger. The gun roared and spat flame, and Inza inhaled sharply as a needle of fire ripped into her upper arm. Her left hand flew to the wounded spot, and her teeth gritted in pain and rage.

“You’re a fool, Sennet,” she hissed through the pain. “That shot… will bring the camp… running.”

“Ah, but by then it will be too late,” Sennet said calmly. He lifted the mask of Set out of its chest. “I have never been far from camp, you see. I’ve been watching, spying you would probably say. Waiting for you to find this. And now you have. My thanks, Mrs. Nelson, my deepest thanks.”

Inza watched in morbid fascination as Sennet pulled a cut-crystal flask from his pocket and unstoppered it. “My own concoction,” he explained, as he began pouring the liquid into the eyes of the mask. Inza’s own eyes widened as the mask began to glow, to pulse with a sickly green light.

“Ah, the god is awakened,” Sennet breathed lustily. “And now, the power of Set shall belong to the only one worthy to possess it… to the thirteenth Lord Sennet!”

“Inza!” Kent’s voice barked, as he burst into the tent. Just in time to watch Sennet place the mask over his head.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 11

Kent and Inza stared in mute horror as Lord Sennet placed the glowing mask over his head. Instantly his entire body was engulfed in a nimbus of green glowing light; two blazing orbs of red pulsed from the mask’s eyes.

“At last!” the transformed Lord Sennet roared in an unearthly voice. “At last, the power of Set is mine!” As he spoke, green energy rippled from his body like waves. With a gesture of his hand, he blew the roof of the tent into atoms. He lifted into the air, a bright green star burning over the desert night.

“I shall remake this world in my image!” Sennet declared, his voice rolling like thunder. “I shall take my rightful place in the ruling class! Once more, the lower classes will know their true place in the world, and give me and mine the fealty we deserve by right of birth!”

“Not if we can help it, you lunatic,” Inza hissed through clenched teeth.

“Darling, you’ve been shot!” Kent gasped. “Did he–”

“He did,” Inza grimaced. “I think I need a Doctor. What say?”

Kent smiled grimly, and extended his hand to his wife’s.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 12

The transformed Lord Sennet floated over the camp, watching everyone scurry out of their tents like ants and gape up at him in awe.

“That’s right, you loathsome insects!” His voice boomed. “The Disturber has returned! I mean — I have gained the power of the gods! Kneel down before your rightful ruler, or die in the flames I command!”

In illustration, Sennet’s left hand pointed at the largest tent, and it burst into brilliant green flames.

“Hold, villain!” another voice challenged. If Sennet’s voice was a thunderclap, this one was the roar of a tidal wave. Sennet’s face, enshrouded in green flames, turned to see Doctor Fate flying toward him.

“Doctor Fate!” he exclaimed. “So, we meet again, Nabu!” Sennet shook his head, as if brushing off a fly. “You dare to challenge me, Fate? Then die as you deserve to!”

Twin bolts of crimson light lanced from Sennet’s eyes. Doctor Fate barely had enough time to erect a golden shield to counter the beams.

Carter Hall watched this for just a moment, before darting back into his tent, and the special gear he had foresight enough to pack.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 13

Doctor Fate returned Sennet’s fire with some of his own. A blast of pure golden light issued forth from his gauntlet. Sennet caught the bolt on his wrist, turning it aside and laughing.

“Foolish one,” he chortled, “your puny order magic is nothing compared to my chaos might! Prepare yourself for the judgment hall of the dead!”

“Not today, green-gills,” a new voice taunted. Sennet turned his glowing head to see Hawkman soaring toward him through the night sky, brandishing a mace.

“What is this?” Sennet demanded. “A soldier of Horus, come to challenge the Disturber? Be you gone!” Sennet waved his hand, and a gale-force wind whipped out of nowhere, buffeting Hawkman as he flew. The winged wonder strained his muscles to the breaking point, but at last the wind won out, sending him tumbling head over heels backward.

Andrea Thomas watched the scene with growing horror. Finally her fear won out, and she ran blindly across the camp, not knowing where she was going, only that she wanted to escape.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 14

Doctor Fate caught Hawkman in a hand of mystic energy, righting him in air.

“Thanks, Doc,” Hawkman said. “I guess my own abilities won’t be of much good here!”

“Your courage and resourcefulness are always needed, Carter,” Fate said. “Perhaps now, more than ever.”

“Roger that. So what’s the deal? That mask had the power of an Egyptian god in it?”

“Far more than that, I am afraid,” Fate said. “I believe that mask is Set himself.”

“What?” Hawkman didn’t know what stunned him more; the statement, or the icy calm with which Fate uttered it.

“I believe the being who manifested himself to the Egyptians as Set was a Lord of Chaos,” Fate explained. “Somehow, his essence was imprisoned within the mask, even as the Lord of Order Nabu dwells within my helmet.”

“Oh, swell!” Hawkman groaned. “So we have a mad Lord of Chaos to contend with!”

As the battle raged in the night sky, Andrea continued to flee in terror. When she could run no more, she stopped for a moment, panting for breath. She looked around, and noticed where she was.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 15

Andrea, without thinking, had run into the treasure chamber where they had found the mask. Sennet’s body was glowing so brightly, the eerie green light penetrated even here. Andrea found herself looking up at the painting of Hatshepsut. She forgot her fear for a moment, gazing on the ancient queen. Her beauty, her dignity, her royal bearing, all showed in the painting. Andrea reached up and touched the painting with the tips of her fingers.

Suddenly there was a brilliant flash of white light, and when it cleared Andrea saw nothing. Darkness all around her, above and below. Andrea could no longer feel the chamber floor beneath her; she felt weightless, suspended. She wondered if this were death. But strangely, she was not afraid.

“Welcome, my daughter,” a kind voice spoke in the darkness. A woman’s voice. Andrea had never heard it before, but she recognized it instantly.

“Hatshepsut,” she breathed in awe.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 16

“Many years have I waited for your coming, daughter,” the voice of Hatshepsut spoke to Andrea. “It was foretold to me by my royal astronomer, on my deathbed. Only one of my own bloodline would possess the Amulet of Isis.”

“I? Of your bloodline?” Andrea asked. “Can that be true?”

“It is,” Hatshepsut said gently. “You are my descendant, and heir to the secrets of Isis. And I sense the power of the goddess is sorely needed in the outside world, now.”

“But I am no heroine,” Andrea protested. “Surely there is someone more deserving than I! Inza Nelson–”

“Inza is not of the bloodline,” Hatshepsut said. “She touched my image, but she was not taken to my side, as you were. The Amulet and the power are to be yours. Do you accept them?”

Andrea swallowed, and steeled herself. “I do.”

There was another brilliant flash of light, golden this time. When Andrea’s eyes cleared, she found herself back in the chamber. She looked down at herself, and found she was wearing a beautiful amulet of Egyptian design. She stroked it with her fingertips; felt ambient energy pulsing within in. Somehow, she knew what it would do, and what she must do. She walked, with a firm and quick step, out of the chamber. She looked into the night sky and saw Doctor Fate and Hawkman in pitched combat with the Disturber.

She spread her hands wide to the heavens and uttered two words in a clear, proud voice:

“Mighty Isis.”

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 17

Sennet, or Set as he now truly was, hurled twin bolts of green energy at Doctor Fate and Hawkman. Fate parried one with a golden beam from his gauntlet; Hawkman let the other strike the shield on his mighty forearm.

“Fate — the people!” Hawkman cried. “We’ve got to take this battle away from here!” For the members of the archaeological dig had not fled, but had paused to watch the battle. Most of them had never seen super beings before, and were mesmerized by the spectacle.

“So, you care for those human insects, do you, Akh-Horus?” Set snarled. With that the glowing monster opened his canine jaws. A stream of green flame poured from his throat, and surrounded the spectators with a ring of flame. They began screaming in abject terror.

“The Disturber seeks to divide our attentions,” Fate declared. “He knows we will rescue the innocents he has threatened, and hopes in the meantime to either escape, or press his attack!”

“Um, Fate — I think reinforcements have arrived!”

Doctor Fate followed the pointing finger of his friend, and beheld a beautiful woman in white Egyptian dress, a royal tiara on her head and a lapis lazuli collar about her throat, sailing toward them on the air currents. He did not need to ask how Hawkman knew she was on their side; he, too, could sense the nobility and purity about her, as clearly as her alabaster skin.

“Water attend me, now conspire to quench and conquer thy enemy, fire!” the woman commanded, holding her hands wide to the sky. Suddenly a torrential downpour broke out, only above the spectators. The ring of fire died in a sizzling hiss.

“You!” the Disturber snarled, his voice rolling thunder.

“I,” the woman agreed, regal bearing in every syllable. “Isis has come, Disturber, to cast you down into darkness again!”

“OK, now it’s a fight,” Hawkman growled gleefully.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 18

“Let the battle be joined!” The Disturber cried, hurling his arms forward. Green lightning lanced from his fingertips.

“Land of my ancestors, rise and protect thy daughter!” Isis cried. A column of sand instantly rose from the desert floor, blocking the lightning.

“Fate — who is that?” Hawkman asked.

“I do not know, my friend,” Fate admitted. “By all appearances, it is a mortal manifestation of the goddess Isis!”

“Is that even possible?” Hawkman asked.

Fate turned the face of his golden helmet to his longtime friend. “You of all people ask that — Khufu?”

Hawkman opened his mouth to reply, then closed it again. “Are we going to let her have all the fun?”

“I suppose not,” Fate said. Hawkman wondered if he were smiling behind his helmet.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 19

Isis pressed her advantage. Raising her arms, she cried out, “Desert winds, now faster blow, obey thy mistress and smite her foe!” Instantly a gale-force wind whipped along the desert floor, sending a mass of sand particles plowing into the Disturber at sandblast force. The mystic being shielded his face with his glowing arms, muttering curses under his breath.

“The time to strike is now!” Doctor Fate declared. While the Disturber was occupied, unable to parry an attack, Fate launched a spell of deprivation. A beam of golden light lanced from his amulet, striking the Disturber. Gradually, the golden beam grew brighter, and the Disturber’s green aura, dimmer.

Isis saw what Fate was doing, and lent her own power to the task. “Gods of Egypt, above and below, let my enemy’s power from him flow!” A scarlet beam of light lanced out from the gem in Isis’ collar, striking the thrashing Disturber. It, too, glowed brighter and brighter as the Disturber’s aura dimmed.

“NO!” the Disturber howled in a shriek like lightning and wind. “This cannot be! I am Set, the mighty Disturber! I am the scourge of Heliopolis! I — I am–” As he wailed, the Disturber’s hands flailed in air, throwing green bolts every which way. But they were weak, little more than light beams. His aura was so dim now, Hawkman’s keen eyes could see the human body and the ebony mask through it. He set his lips in a grim smile, took careful aim, and hurled his mace with deadly precision.

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Part 20

Hawkman meant for the mace to crease the Disturber’s skull, knocking him out. But as the heavy stone ball struck the magic mask, the artifact shattered into three fragments. An inhuman scream rent the night, as the remnants of the green glow flew apart like a dazzling fireworks display. Robert, Lord Sennet fell to the desert floor, screaming all the way.

The three heroes gathered at the place where the fragments of mask had fallen.

“Is it over?” Hawkman asked. “Is that the end of the Disturber?”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not,” Fate said in a sepulchral voice. “It is possible that the evil of Set lives on in each fragment of his mask. We should take care that they never come together again.” Fate gestured at one fragment, the one holding the left eye. A golden light shimmered around it, then it vanished from view. “I have banished that fragment to a pocket dimension, where hopefully the eye of man will never behold it again.”

Isis pointed at the fragment holding Set’s wolf like muzzle. “Sands beneath which pharaohs sleep, swallow this fragment and bury it deep!” No sooner were the words spoken than a hole opened up in the sand beneath the fragment, quick as a trap door. The fragment fell into it, and the sands closed over it.

“Well,” Hawkman said, picking up the third fragment, “with those two pieces so far off, I guess this one is safe in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER: Conclusion

Doctor Fate, Hawkman, and Isis walked across the sand to where Lord Sennet lay. His eyes were wide open, staring at nothing. Drool slowly dripped from his slack mouth into the sand.

“So, this is the greedy mortal who tried to usurp the power of the Disturber,” Isis said with contempt. “What will become of him now?”

“Nothing evermore, I fear,” Doctor Fate intoned. “His consciousness had been thoroughly supplanted by that of Set, when the connection was broken by Hawkman’s mace. The resulting psychic explosion has shattered his mind. He shall live out the rest of his days in an asylum.”

“I wish I could say I’m sorry,” Hawkman said grimly, “but he brought it on himself.”

Fate turned his golden helmet to Isis. “And what of you, Isis? From whence do you come? You fought well and bravely this night, but how is it we have not heard of you before this?”

“I cannot answer that, Doctor,” Isis said with dignity. “But I can promise you this. You will hear more of me from now on. Much, much more.”

Hawkman smiled warmly. “All I can add to that, Isis, is… welcome.”

The proud woman returned the smile. She then raised her arms, and gracefully lifted into the night sky. In a moment, she was gone from sight.

“Perhaps it is best we go too, friend Hawkman,” Fate said. “Certain parties in the expedition are bound to be missed, now that the excitement is over.”

“Right,” Hawkman agreed.

It was less than twenty minutes later that Carter Hall was on the radio to the authorities in Cairo, while Kent and Inza Nelson were assessing the damage in camp.

“What happened?” a familiar voice behind them asked. “Is everyone all right?”

Inza spun on her heel to behold Andrea Thomas. “Andrea!” she cried joyfully. “Thank the gods! When we couldn’t find you, I feared the worst!”

Andrea chuckled slightly. “Nothing so dramatic, Inza. I’m afraid I ran in blind panic when the fireworks started; I must have tripped and hit my head. I just came to, a couple of minutes ago.”

“Well, it’s all over now,” Kent said. “Why don’t you go to your tent, get some rest? There isn’t much you can do here.”

“I guess not,” Andrea shrugged. “OK, I’ll try and catch some shuteye. Inza, call me if you need me, OK?”

“OK,” Inza agreed, and watched Andrea turn and leave. There was something about the young student that seemed different. Inza couldn’t put her finger on it, but if asked to name it, she might have said that Andrea seemed more confident, more sure of herself. Yes, almost… regal.