"Palm reading? What clap trap!" Alfred Pennyworth's crisp English accent was fully laden with disdain as they passed the small green and black tent bearing the sign "Madame Olga's Palm Reading - 2 Dollars A Person -". On All Hallows Eve, Bruce had insisted they take the night off from their vigilante duties to attend the circus, for young Dick's sake as much as anyone's. The boy had only been in their lives for a little over two months, after having seen his parents killed before his eyes. Dick was still unaware of Bruce Wayne's double identity, and both Alfred and Bruce were taking great care to make the young man feel more comfortable in his new home. When the McClory & Wells Three Ring Circus made its late fall run through Gotham, Dick was more animated than Bruce had ever seen him. In fact, Dick pleaded with Bruce to take him for the special Halloween shows, which were advertised as "guaranteed to frighten and surprise." Wanting to make the boy feel more like part of the family, he took the night off, leaving crime to Commissioner Gordon and his men. The circus midway called to Dick Grayson as surely as the siren's song would lure a sailor. It was in his blood and it would not be denied.

"Are you sure you want to do that Dick?" Bruce was worried that the palm reader, although obviously a fake, could tell the lad something that might upset him, considering the recent death of his parents. He noticed a look of concern pass over Alfred's face as well. Bruce knew all too well the horror of losing ones parents. The feeling of complete vulnerability, the lack of loved ones to console you. Dick was adamant and would not be swayed.

"Sure Bruce, why not? These old gals are always good for a laugh. It's all fake anyway."

"Well, all right. If you really want to." The trio entered the tent, there was barely room for all of them inside. It didn't take long for them to take in their surroundings. Five candles burned brightly on a circular table, a large crystal ball sat at it's centre, and across the table from them, sat Madame Olga herself.

"Good evening, gentlemen. I have been expecting you, Mr. Wayne." Madame Olga was a woman in her late forties. A full mane of coal black hair fell across her shoulders, a colourful and decorative handkerchief held it all in place. She wore a black shawl over her shoulders and several gaudy pieces of costume jewelry on her slender fingers. When she smiled at them, she flashed a perfect set of teeth. Bruce knew that he was not the only one who liked to choose clothing that made an impact. As Madame Olga chose the look of a travelling gypsy, he chose the fearsome countenance of the bat.

"I suppose the spirits told you he is Bruce Wayne?" Alfred asked pessimistically, his nose somewhat in the air.

"No, the newspapers actually. Who would not recognize Gotham's most prominent citizen?" She replied, both Madame Olga and Dick laughed together at Alfred's folly.

Alfred harrumphed, "Yes..... quite."

"I want a palm reading." Dick said as he climbed into the chair opposite hers.

"Now Master Dick, what would a gentleman say?" Alfred interjected. Dick straightened his posture almost immediately and blushed somewhat. "I'm sorry. I would like it very much if you were to read my palm, please."

Madame Olga flashed him her perfect smile once more and took the young boy's palm in her hand. "But of course my handsome young friend."

She reached out and took the dark haired boy's hand in her own, pretending to examine it closely. Bruce watched her intently as she did so. He knew these palm readers had no special insight, and with his inside knowledge of the way a circus truly works, even Dick knew that, but he nonetheless wanted to make sure that Madame Olga said nothing to upset his new ward. When she finally did speak, Dick and Bruce hung on every word.

"I can see that you are a very good hearted young boy. There is something of the valiant knight in you." Dick beamed proudly as Bruce listened in, realizing that she was speaking in generalities.

"I see..................." she paused for dramatic effect. "I see..............a dark, flying creature. A crow, or perhaps............. a bat. Yes I believe I see a bat."

Bruce suddenly tensed and looked over at Alfred, who also had a curious look on his face.

"You have a great spiritual tie to that particular flying creature, young man. I see a road ahead for you unlike that of most men. Yours is a destiny that will lead to greatness." At that very moment, a chilly gust of October wind flooded into the tent through the partially open tent flap, causing a chill to shoot up Alfred's spine. Even Bruce couldn't help but suppress a shiver. Dick seemed unaware of any chill in the air, Madame Olga also remained stoic. Was it just Bruce's imagination, or did he hear the flutter of wings outside?

Oblivious to the possible second meaning to Madame Olga's words, Dick urged her to continue. "I see you as a teen now, surrounded by very powerful friends. Friends both noble and true, they look to you as their leader. Together, you and your friends will face great adversity, but you will always band together, and it is together you will triumph."

Dick was obviously enjoying hearing this lady speak, even though he was not truly believing a word she said, he ate up every word. Behind him, Bruce and especially Alfred shuffled their feet uncomfortably, still unnerved by Olga's reference to a bat. Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled. Or was it another trick of the wind?

"I see a great love in your future, love for a woman with hair as red as fire. With her will you find happiness, but not before you find friendship. Many women will come and go, but the one with the red hair.......... she is forever, I think."

Dick's eyes widened as she spoke of a love he would have forever. That was when Madame Olga's eyes narrowed into tiny slits and she appeared to be in some distress. "Now I see a dark period beyond that." She paused as Bruce shook his head to clear it, he could have sworn he had heard an animal howl in the distance. "One where you will have a hard time finding yourself and your purpose in life. I see the bat once more, a strong kinship you have with the bat. It is a very powerful creature. I do not quite understand what I am seeing, but for a time you will become the bat, or at least like the bat, before you embark on a quest of your own, a quest of honour. A quest fraught with danger and intrigue, but a quest for justice nonetheless." Fearing that the soothsayer would upset Dick as she spoke of dark times, he decided it was finally time to speak up.

"I think that's enough, Madame Olga, you don't want to frighten him. He's only a boy."

Bruce reached out to take Dick's hand and lead him from the tent only to have his hand slapped away by Olga. "No, it's all right! I foresee a happy ending for the youth." Her full lips curved upwards into a smile.

"Yes I see this quite clearly. Eventually, you will overcome all the obstacles in your path. You will be as a knight in Arthur's court. Happiness is yours for the taking." She smiled as she said the words, and then her look became serious once more. "You must always be wary young man. Yours is the path of the hero, and a hero faces many trials, if you persevere, you will overcome."

"Wow!! Thanks Madame Olga. You're really great. Thanks for the reading."

"Yes, thank you." Bruce added as he handed her a ten dollar bill and told her to keep the change. Madame Olga thanked him kindly and told them all to return any time. As they exited the tent and returned to the midway, Alfred managed to speak quietly enough to Bruce so that Dick did not hear them over the noise of the crowd.

"My word, sir. That woman was hitting a little close to the mark don't you think?"

Bruce just chuckled. "Not really. The Bat is a very common and well used symbol in all kinds of religions and beliefs. Not to mention that it's Halloween. She was just putting on a good show, which is what she is supposed to do. As long as Dick got some fun out of it and no harm was done, I think it's fine."

"As you say sir, I just found myself unnerved by it all."

"Come on now Alfred, you of all people should know women like that are fake. Even Dick knows that. Besides, Dick becoming ‘like the bat', and ‘embarking on a heroic quest'? It's rubbish, pure and simple."

The following day:

"I'm not sure why you're so interested in the McClory & Wells Circus, Bruce." Lucius Fox's pleasant, yet businesslike voice echoed through Bruce's study over the intercom.

"No reason in particular, Lucius. It's just that Alfred and I took Dick there last night and we really enjoyed ourselves. I thought maybe they could use an investor to make sure they stay in business. It would also be a nice tribute to Dick's parents. We had a great time getting his palm read by Madame Olga."

There was silence on the other end of the line. Lucius made no reply. "Lucius?" Bruce said, "Are you okay?"

"Bruce, did you say Madame Olga?"

"Yes, I did. What's wrong?"

"You wouldn't know this Bruce, because you were away in Europe travelling at the time, but there was quite a famous psychic named Madame Olga, I believe she travelled with that very circus. She was murdered just outside The Gotham City limits a few years ago while the circus was in town. It must have been somebody else."

Bruce leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed in deep thought. There must be hundreds of palm readers who call themselves ‘Madame Olga'. It must have been somebody else. Bruce didn't believe in ghosts.

"Pure rubbish." He murmured to himself.




..................... or is it?

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