The Time Museum in Rockford, Illinois, houses an extensive collection of timekeeping devices from around the world. Highlights include decorative and novelty clocks, early American clocks and watches, an exhibit of important technical masterpieces and an atomic clock.
The Museum is located in the Best Western Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center. Sitting patiently in the outer office of the Museum's curator, is a distinguished looking gentleman, who appears to be in his mid-sixties. The man, slightly overweight, has swept-back graying hair. His neatly trimmed mustache is still dark. What one notices about him immediately, however, are his eyebrows. They look like two jet black caterpillars set at thirty degree angles over each eye.
An intercom buzzes on the receptionist's desk. "Mr. Guilford will see you now," she announces brightly.
"Thank you, my dear," answers the distinguished man. The receptionist opens the door to the curator's office.
"Ah, Mr. Walters," announces Auburn Guilford, curator of the Time Museum, as he reaches out to shake his visitor's hand. "What can we at the Time Museum do for you?"
"Well, Mr. Guilford, it is more like what I can do for you," the man identified as Mr. Walters responds, as he takes an offered seat. "I am prepared to make a donation of one million dollars to your Museum, on one small condition."
The curator practically fell out of the chair he had just sat in. "One million dollars!!" Flustered and surprised, Guilford blurted out, "What's the condition?"
"That the Time Museum send its entire collection for one week to the Gotham City Hall of Science and Industry for a special exhibition. I have already made arrangements with that museum's Board of Directors. Of course, I will pay the entire cost of transporting the collection to Gotham City."
Six months later . . .
It is evening at the Gotham City Public Library. A large crowd has gathered in the library's auditorium to hear a lecture by Dava Sobel, author of Lost at Sea - The Search for Longitude. With the cooperation of the British government, she has brought with her H-4, the clock made by John Harrison that in 1773 earned him the prize for being the person to solve the problem of how to determine longitude at sea.
Ms. Sobel has just been introduced by Barbara Gordon, when armed men wearing berets and shirts with clock faces on them appear at each exit and at stage left. From stage right comes, dressed in dark suit and tie, the distinguished man - The Clock King!
"Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm," Clock King announces to the audience. "If everyone will please just stay seated, no one will be hurt."
The Monarch of Moments strides up to Ms. Sobel. He extends his hand and politely grabs the author by the wrist. "If I may, madame." He gingerly kisses her hand. "I loved your book. Such exquisite research!"
While this is going on, Barbara Gordon slips behind the curtain serving as the backdrop for the lecture and makes her way offstage right. She ducks into a nearby closet and begins her amazing transformation into . . . Batgirl!
Meantime, Clock King has turned his attention to H-4. "Magnificent!" he declares. He seems to be in no particular hurry as he studies the famous timepiece.
Suddenly, Batgirl swings onto the stage, suspended from one of the stage ropes. Her feet crash into Clock King, sending him sprawling. From her utility belt, Batgirl grabs smoke bombs and hurls them at the Clock King's henchmen, obscuring their vision.
"She struck me! The witch actually hit me!!" the Sultan of Seconds unbelievingly declares. Quickly assessing the situation, Clock King orders, "Second Hands! It is time to fly!"
Batgirl announces to the crowd, "Everybody, please remain seated! The smoke is harmless and will dissipate in a few moments." Without her Batgirlcycle available to make an effective pursuit, Batgirl decides that her best course would be to change back into her civilian identity. She at least has the satisfaction of knowing that she forced the time-obsessed bandit to leave empty-handed.
The next night . . .
It is precisely ten minutes to midnight as Clock King and his second hands break into the Center of Contemporary Arts in the fashionable Gotham City suburb of North Park. Inside is the Clockworks traveling exhibition. More than forty nationally recognized artists are represented in the out-of-the-ordinary exhibit of timepieces in such media as metal, clay, glass, wood and paper.
Clock King hurries from exhibit to exhibit, adjusting something on some of them and indicating others for his assistants to take. He has just finished with the last piece in the room, when . . .
"You've just run out of time, Clock King!" a deep voice interrupts.
"Batman and Robin!" Clock King gasps.
"And don't forget about me, Clock King!" states a feminine voice.
"You again! The Bat-Girl!" says the Time Tyrant, as Batgirl enters to stand, hands on hips, next to the Dynamic Duo.
"We knew you couldn't pass up this opportunity to add to your collection," pipes in Robin. "And now that we've caught you and your men in the act . . ."
"Not so fast, Boy Blunder!" responds Clock King. "I have an unseen ally here, that will make its presence felt in three . . . two . . . one!"
At the count of zero, the room explodes in a cacophony of chiming bells, whistles and coo-coos. Every clock in the exhibition capable of making a sound strikes the hour of midnight. The Terrific Trio is battered by the sound, while Clock King revels in it. He motions for his men to follow him out the door.
Clock King and one of his Second Hands enter a Ford Torino/Fairlane, the official pace car of the 1968 Indianapolis 500. The rest of his men enter a panel truck loaded with the clocks they managed to remove from the exhibit before the appearance of the Caped Crusaders.
The panel truck zooms ahead, while Clock King, looking at one of the many wrist watches on his right forearm, indicates with his left hand for the driver to hold their position. "Good thing you had us wear our earplugs, your Majesty," the grateful Second Hand compliments.
"Yes, it was. Of course, normally most of those timepieces would be in Silent mode while on exhibition. I surmised that we might have some unwelcome guests. That's why the first thing I did was to activate all of their chimes," Clock King explained. "Now, get ready . . . three . . . two . . . one!"
On this count of zero, the Criminal King drops his left arm and the pace car peels out. By now the Terrific Trio has recovered from the aural onslaught. They exit the Arts Center just in time to see the Ford Torino take off down the street. Batman and Robin jump into the Batmobile, while Batgirl mounts her motorcycle. Within seconds a high speed chase is underway.
The Ford Fairlane pulls ahead of the panel truck, with the Batmobile and the Batgirlcycle in hot pursuit. "Won't Batman, Robin and Batgirl quickly catch up to us?" the nervous Second Hand behind the wheel of the Clock King's getaway car wanted to know.
"If North Park's expensive system of synchronized traffic lights is working properly and as long as we maintain the speed limit, we should be able to have nothing but green lights until our turn," Clock King lectures. "Even if our pursuers decide to run the red lights, they will still have to slow down to safely navigate the intersections. That will give us the time we need to reach our appointment."
Clock King's analysis was correct. Following the pace car, the panel truck made it through each controlled intersection just as the light turned yellow. Even though the Batmobile had its red beacon on, Batman and Batgirl were forced to slow down to avoid the early morning cross traffic.
For almost two miles, the chase continued down the suburban city's main street. Then, the sound of a train whistle was heard through the night.
"Excellent!" the Clock King crowed. "The 12:06 Gotham City Transit Authority commuter train is right on time! Get ready to turn . . . now!"
The driver swung the Ford to the left, with the panel truck closely following. The two vehicles whizzed past the North Park train station. Just as the panel truck cleared the train tracks, the crossing gate swung down behind the truck. Before Batman could even think about going around the gates, the suburban train pulled into the station, blocking streets for several blocks in either direction.
"Holy Timetables!" Robin exclaimed in disgust.
"Yes, Robin," admitted Batman. "I'm afraid Clock King's precision scheduling was too much for us . . . this time!"
Batgirl pulled up to the Batmobile on her Batgirlcycle. "Well, what do we do now?" she asked.
"I'm fairly certain I know what Clock King's ultimate objective is," Batman answered. "The question is, what will he do next?"
About an hour later, Clock King is seated at a desk in his Prairie Style home and hideout. His elbows are on the workbench before him and his head is in his hands. Susan Foreman, an attractive, dark-haired girl in her late teens, puts a consoling hand on her leader's shoulder.
"Don't feel too badly, Grandfather. You did add a few nice pieces to your collection . . . and you made Batman and Robin look foolish with your well-timed escape!"
The Senior Citizen Super-Villain leans back in his chair and sighs. "Yes, you're right," he says sadly. "But there was so much more within my grasp! And I failed to acquire H-4 because of the interference of that Bat-Girl!
"On all the occasions I've battled Batman and Robin, they've at least shown me the respect not to hit me! The very first time I meet this Bat-Girl, she knocks me flying! I can't get over it!"
"Well, your Majesty," Susan answers, "perhaps you should teach the bitch some manners."
"Susan!" Clock King bolts straight out of his chair. "You know I do not approve of such language!!"
"I'm sorry, Grandfather," she responds, ashamed. "It's just that the image of Batgirl striking your royal personage gets me so upset!"
Clock King sits back down, mollified. "Well, my child, I do appreciate your concern . . . and you know, maybe I can modify the trap I had planned for Batman and Robin to include their new partner.
"Yes . . . Yes! . . . Leave me now, dear, so I can work out the details. Then, before the crowning caper of my career, we will get Batman, Robin and Batgirl out of the way . . . as well as create a unique clock indeed!"
One week later . . .
At precisely one o'clock in the afternoon, identical videocassette tapes are delivered to all of Gotham City's television news departments. The tape starts with Clock King seated at his workbench. Behind him are several grandfather clocks. The Clock King looks right into the camera as he speaks -
"Citizens of Gotham City. I, the Clock King, have placed several time bombs at different locations throughout the city. If my demands are not met, they will go off, one by one, at great cost in terms of both property and lives.
"To prove to you, Police Commissioner Gordon, Batman, Robin and Batgirl that I am not bluffing, the first bomb will go off tomorrow morning at exactly 7 a.m.. This bomb should not cause much damage or any loss of life, but it should go to prove that I am serious. I will call Commissioner Gordon one hour later, to present my demands."
Several copies of the tape are forwarded to Police Headquarters. Commissioner Gordon, Chief O'Hara, Batman and Robin have just finished watching Clock King's threat.
"Mother McCrea, Batman!" Chief O'Hara says in his thick Irish brogue. "Do you think he's really going to set off a bomb?"
"I'm not sure, Chief" replies the Caped Crusader. "Clock King has never threatened human lives before . . . except Robin's and mine . . . but there's no doubt that a life of crime does tend to erode one's moral standards!"
"Several of the TV stations have asked if they should play the tape on their news programs," states Commissioner Gordon. "What do you think, Batman?"
"I'd say they might as well, Commissioner. The citizens of Gotham City have become rather used to such threats, unfortunately. Not only will the broadcasts of the tape serve to alert the public to the danger, they should also prove to be a way of notifying Batgirl of the situation!"
Early the next morning, Gotham's four male pillars of law and order meet once again in Commissioner Gordon's office at Police Headquarters. Joining them is the Female Fury, Batgirl. All five of them are watching the clock as the seconds tick off to 7 a.m..
BOOM! A loud explosion rattles the windows of the Commissioner's Office. Batman races to the window, Bat-Binoculars in hand, to try to locate the source of the blast.
"Look!" shouts Robin. "A big cloud of smoke rising from Central Park!"
Commissioner Gordon's intercom buzzes. "Yes, Bonnie!" speaks the Commissioner. "Put him through."
A few seconds later the Commissioner reports to the others, "A patrolman in Central Park reports an explosion on one of the ball fields. Apparently second base and a good part of the infield was blown sky-high. Thankfully, at that hour, the diamond was empty."
"Well," summarizes Batgirl, "Clock King was true to his word. All we can do now is wait for his eight o'clock phone call."
Less than an hour later, Commissioner Gordon's telephone rings. Turning on the speaker phone, James Gordon answers, "Police Commissioner Gordon speaking."
"Hello, Commissioner. You're having a pleasant morning, I trust?"
"Get on with it, Clock King," the Commissioner angrily responds. "What do you want?"
"My first demand is very simple. I want you, Batman, Robin and Batgirl to be standing by the pay phone in the middle of Times Square at precisely 11:45 this morning. Don't be late!" Click!
Chief O'Hara, a bit offended that he was omitted from those summoned, declares, "Saints preserve us! Terrific Trio . . . it must be a trap!"
"It well may be, Chief," says Batman, "but at this point we have no choice but to do as he wants."
Just short of three and three quarters hours later, the party of five crime fighters are standing by a pay telephone in the middle of a very busy Times Square. The phone rings. Commissioner Gordon answers.
"Police Commissioner Gordon here." The white haired law enforcement official listens for several seconds, then hangs up the receiver while turning, ashen-faced, to the semi-circle around him.
"He says that Batman, Robin and Batgirl are to proceed to the exhibition hall on the third floor of the Timex Building immediately . . . and if you are not there within ten minutes, he will blow up the building and everyone in it!"
The words were barely out of Commissioner Gordon's mouth when the three costumed heroes were off at a dead run, headed for their destination, less than two blocks away.
Scant minutes later, the Terrific Trio burst into the lobby of the Timex Building. They race to the escalators and run up them to the third floor. Once there, they sprint to the doors of the exhibition hall. A sign that says Closed hangs across the double doors, which are secured by a padlock. In seconds Batman picks the lock and the three enter the dark exhibition hall.
Suddenly the lights come on. A bizarre scene greets the Gotham Guardians.
In the wall at the far end of the two-story tall room is a camera. Mounted next to it is a speaker . . . but what immediately draws the attention of all three of the super-heroes is what lays before them.
Built up some six inches from the original floor is what appears to be a giant clock face! The face consists of a giant circle, made up of three concentric rings. The outer-most ring is made up of twelve pie-piece shaped wedges, numbered from one to twelve, with 12 at the top, the top being the end of the room farthest from the camera.
The middle and inner-most ring both have sixty wedges, with the number 60 at the top.
The room is large enough so that it would take a good-sized stride to get from one wedge to the next in the inner-most ring. Also, built into each wedge of the inner-most ring, there is a light about two inches in diameter.
"Welcome Batman . . . Robin . . . Batgirl!" announces the voice of the Clock King through the speaker. "You're right on time!"
"What next, you Demented Demarcator of Duration?" Batman demands.
The Clock King chuckles before answering, "You are to take your places on the giant clock in front of you. If you are not in place before twelve noon . . . you, this entire building and everyone in it will be blown to pieces!
"Batman, you are the hour hand - please stand on the twelve in the outer circle. Boy Wonder, you indicate the minutes - take your place on the sixty in the middle ring."
Clock King's voice turns icy cold as he addresses the Dark Knight Damsel, "And you, Batgirl, as your reward, since you saw fit to strike me, you get to be the second hand! Stand on the sixty in the inner-most path."
"Now, Batgirl, at exactly high noon, the light will come on within the number one before you. You will have one second to advance to that space. If you do not . . . the bomb will go off, destroying the Timex Building. A second later, the next light will come on, and again, you will have one second to advance and defuse it. And so on and on and on . . .
"When she gets to 59, Robin, you will also have one second to advance to number one. And Batman, when Robin and Batgirl are both on 59, you will have one second to advance to the number one in your ring.
"You see . . . I have created the world's only . . .
Living Crime Fighter Clock!"
"While you three are marking time, I will be off capturing my main goal. Oh, and by the way, if you, Dynamic Duo, should step off the proper wedge prematurely, the bomb will also explode . . . likewise, if anyone else enters the room and steps upon the clock.
"Don't worry. I haven't set any other time bombs. And I'm sure the Gotham City Police Department will be able to evacuate the building . . . before Batgirl either missteps or collapses from exhaustion!"
"Oh! Get ready, Batgirl. Five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one . . ." At the count of zero the light inside the wedge numbered one within Batgirl's ring lit up. She stepped onto it, the light went out and a second later the light within number two came on. The Terrific Trio's, but Batgirl's in particular, ordeal had begun.