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This post is a companion piece to The Phantom 8: Just going for a stroll from a year ago, in which I described "two deceitful women: one crooked and the other downright treacherous".
The Ghost Who Walks has already dealt with the crooked one, which leaves the worse of the two...
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The Machiavellian behaviour of a manipulative mother constitutes a special kind of evil, and -- in some ways -- despite all the challenges they would go on to face together, Diana and Kit never tackled an enemy more formidable than Mother.
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Realising how serious Diana's relationship with The Phantom has become, Mother decides to go into action, "for Diana's own good".
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Diana travels to Marseilles to meet Kit at the appointed time -- accompanied by Mother, who knows very well that The Phantom has been delayed and will not be on the boat.
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In the face of Diana's faith that Kit is still coming for her, Mother decides to elicit more of a commitment to the cause from her companion, Doctor Ned.
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Like most women of her type, Mother has a subservient male as an ally. Despite feelings of guilt, the spineless Ned goes along with her schemes.
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After Diana, Mother, and Ned have departed on a ship bound for the United States, Kit arrives in Paris, and a desk clerk gives him the note.
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WRITER: Lee Falk
ARTIST: Ray Moore