Asprin, Robert Lynn – Catwoman – Tiger Hunt (With Lynn Abbey)

Alfred straightened the drapes stiffly. They didn’t argue, not after all the years and all the secrets. They knew what could be changed and what could not. And when there was nothing left to say, they said nothing.

“Will you need one of the cars, sir?” Alfred’s voice was carefully expressionless.

“No.” Which meant that Batman was going, not Bruce Wayne.

“Very well, sir.” Alfred paused by the door. “Good hunting, sir.”

The Batmobile always drew stares as it cruised down the highway, but here in one of Gotham’s peripheral, ethnic nieghborhoods—where Batman did not have a prepared safe house—it drew a crowd. The vehicle was impervious to theft or vandalism; the children who reached out to touch it did not leave so much as a fingerprint on its black matte surface. They retreated when the fully costumed Batman got out, but he had no sooner sealed the doors and set the alarms than he felt a tentative tug on the cap.

“Batman,” the dark-eyed moppet said, spreading his arms as he released the cloth. “Drakul.”

Batman was more accustomed to being surrounded by armed criminals than grinning children. He smiled awkwardly and looked for a path to the sidewalk. The other children chattered rapidly, then joined the bolest one in holding their arms outstretched. They all jumped up and down, flapping their arms, raising their voices, and drawing the attention of their elders. Feeling a little trapped, Batman imitated their posture, allowing the cape to billow from his arms and shoulders. They shrieked with delighted terror and ran away.