Where Swims the Serpent

(“Thus Comes the Spider” part three.)

By Jeff Baker

September 5, 2025

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Continuing the superhero serial from last week.—-jeff

“Over there” Bryan said, taking to the sky with Arn bounding after him.

As Lifewave and Grasshopper they cleared the trees at the edge of the park and quickly saw the river that cut through it.

“There” Grasshopper said pointing.

“Yeah, I see it” Lifewave shouted from above.

Just past the bridge the rowing team was on a practice run. But now the coxswain was shouting directions at the team, the women rowing frantically, a coach in a nearby motorboat shouting through a megaphone “Don’t worry! I don’t think it’s real!” and a metallic-green sea serpent following their boat. Long neck, humps sticking out of the water, glass eyes glistening in the sunlight, mouth wide open, rivets showing all over what ever part of it was above water.

“Holy, uh…maybe Holy Loch Ness, I guess” Grasshopper said from the riverbank.

“Let’s stop that thing and handle your Burt Ward infatuation later,” Lifewave said hovering over him. He streaked toward the sea serpent letting out a burst of light directly at the mechanical monster’s glass eyes. The monster didn’t even flinch.

“Thought that would be how Phobos and Mechanical Man were guiding their scare-serpent,” Lifewave said. “But I guess those eyes are just for show.”

“Gimmie a minute,” Grasshopper said. He bounded across the river, bounced off the bridge and landed on the serpent between two of its humps.

“Wanna eat something Metal-Face? Try a grasshopper!” The monster didn’t react to Grasshopper’s taunts or to his pounding the serpent’s back with his powerful legs.

“And let’s try this!” Lifewave said, zipping in front of the sea serpent and throwing a blast of light and heat straight into the serpent’s open mouth.

The sea serpent started to slow down and wobble off-course, heading to the riverbank on one side as Grasshopper delivered several kicks to the monster’s head. In another moment, the metal beast was on the edge of the bank looking more like an out-of-commission amusement park ride.

Lifewave landed on the bank and cautiously stuck his hand down the monster’s throat.

“Let’s see if I’m right about…aha!”

“What is it?” Grasshopper asked.

“I’m guessing this thing feeds on fear, like from the rowers and transmits the energy back to Phobos,” he said. “I read an article about possible two-way encephalic transmission outside the brain through artificial means.”

Grasshopper stared at him.

“Electronics major,” Lifewave said with a shrug.

“That one probably doesn’t have much range, meaning that our bad boys aren’t too far from here.” He shrugged. “Science major.”

“Get this going and we could probably track the signal to its source, namely Phobos and Mechanical Man. I’ll just power it up.” Lifewave said. He glared at the device in his hand and there was a crackle of electromagnetic energy. Grasshopper felt the hair on his arms stand up.

The device began to peep.

“All right, let’s track this signal to its source,” Lifewave said.

“After you,” said Grasshopper.

They took to the air, bounding and flying. After a few moments, Lifewave pointed.

“Down there! The old Kurtzberg Pavilion at the center of the park!”

(The thrill-packed conclusion comes your way next week, true believers! Same Grasshopper-Time, same Grasshopper-Channel! Watch this space!)