October 25, 2005
Week 26 - Impossible Dreams 9
Episode 2
Powell and Lamont talk in the dusty shed behind Lamont's Long Island home.
"Oh. Um... This was the talisman of his tribe?" Powell asks. "I... I didn't know there were coyotes this far East. I thought they were mostly in, um, places like Nevada..."
Lamont shrugs. "Your information is obviously incomplete."
"Can I, uh, see it?"
"I don't like to remove it. It is the source of much of my strength." Lamont considers. "But you have proven yourself an able squire. You've earned the right..." Very slowly, he pulls the chain from around his neck. As he does so, his whole body slumps. His face turns pale and he seems to shrink.
"Are you all right?" Powell asks.
"I'm fine," Lamont says softly, his breath labored. He hands the chain and tooth to Powell. "Without... without the Mystical Talisman, I'm not myself. It's the only thing that keeps me from just being... just being a pathetic old man. The shaman gave it to me so I'd have the strength to fight my brother and his illusion ray. When I remove it... I can't see any more clearly than normal people.... Like... here..." He waves his arm at the walls of the shed. "When I'm wearing the Fang... I know this is the Coyote Cave, a well equipped, state of the art, crime lab... But now... it... it just looks like a broken down old shack..."
Powell examines the tooth. It is made of plastic. There are small letters carved into the side. He brings it to his eyes and squints. The letters spell "Museum of Natural History Gift Shop". He lowers it and holds it out to Lamont. "Here... um... thank you."
Lamont quickly grabs the fang and pulls the chain around his neck. His body stiffens and a cloud seems to lift from his eyes. "Thank you, my young friend," he says in a firm voice. "I'm myself again now."
Powell stares at him. "Uh... so... your brother Michael invented the Illusion Ray that Captain Camouflage uses?"
Lamont laughs. "It is far worse than that! Haven't you realized, yet, the terrible secret?"
"I'm... um... What do you mean?"
"Dear boy... My brother is Captain Camouflage!"