The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Kevin J. Anderson Read Free Book Online

denies its actions, despite clear
evidence to the contrary and many witnesses that firmly place the blame on other
governments." He cracked his bony knuckles with a sound like gunshots. "Europe
is a tinderbox. A world at war is a genuine possibility." Then M calmly
remembered his duties as host. "Sherry?"
    "Always thought it a woman's drink," Quatermain said.
    M poured himself a sherry, despite the other man's deprecations. "I'll alert
the servants they should begin brewing gin in the bath for you, shall I?"
    "One doesn't brew gin. One distills it," Quatermain muttered.
    Captain Nemo stood straight and silent, watching and listening. M took the
folder from Quatermain's hands and spread the pages on the table so they all
could see. "Our boys abroad have been hard at work to obtain all this
information."
    "You mean your spies," Quatermain said.
    "They've discovered that, despite the accounts of witnesses, these widely
separated attacks are all the work of one man who calls himself the
'Fantom.'"

    "Very operatic. Does he wear a mask? Have a scarred face?" Quatermain
asked.
    "As a matter of fact, he does."
    The old adventurer's surprise and sarcasm deflated. He took one of the
leather seats around the table. "What's in it for him?"
    "Profit. Sheer profit." M pointed to the illustrations. "Those ingenious
machines are the Fantom's creations, the work of experts he holds imprisoned. He
has captured the greatest scientists and engineers from various countries,
forcing them to develop new methods of absolute destruction—and his sham attacks
may be little more than extravagant demonstrations of his wares."
    "Worse, the Fantoms' provocative strikes have every nation clamoring to
acquire the very weapons that assail them. England demands to possess them
before the Germans do. Portugal wants them before Spain. The French insist on
having them before the British. An endless circle."
    "Then it is a race for arms." said Quatermain.
    "While millions perish," Nemo said with an angry, resigned sigh. "My struggle
against War itself has accomplished little, after all these years."
    "There's one last chance to avert war. The leaders of Europe will meet
secretly in Venice. They will expose the Fantoms' plans and reach an accord
against him. This summit meeting must remain hidden from all the patriots and
local warmongers who are ready to go to war. The greatest threat, though, comes
from the Fantom himself."
    "Then you believe this Fantom will attack the conference?" Quatermain
said.
    "If he can find it—and I would not doubt his ability to obtain such
information. By striking the secret meeting and assassinating the leaders of the
anxious nations, he will surely trigger the world-scale war he desires so
much."
    "The I-types don't trust us, gentlemen, so we can't send in conventional
forces. We need a team to get to Venice and stop the Fantom." He closed the
dossier. "You have four days."
    "Four days to reach Venice? From London? Impossible!" Quatermain cried.
    "Let me worry about that," Nemo said.
    Quatermain glanced at Nemo's file and understood. "Well now, four days it
is." He looked at the Indian captain with new respect. "Extraordinary gentlemen,
indeed."
    "And in that four days you must also assemble the rest of your team." M
removed a pocket watch, flipped it open, and glanced at the time. "One of them
is late: Harker, the chemist."
    "Well, he'd better learn how to tell time," said an unseen man, a new voice
that seemed to come from the air itself. "Its not so much to ask."
    Quatermain looked about, mystified. The gaslight was bright, and he saw no
convenient shadows or alcoves in which a man might hide. "My eyesight must be
worse than I thought."
    A new dossier dropped out of the air onto the others strewn across the
tabletop. "Your eyesight's fine. Heh!"
    "No games, M," Quatermain warned.
    "I told you our members were extraordinary, Mr. Quatermain," M said. "A while
ago a talented—albeit