The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Most of the Escapist’s villains operate on the battlefields of Europe and North Africa, but the Saboteur lives in Empire City. The Saboteur “is every bit the dark obverse of the Escapist, as skilled at worming his way into something as the Escapist is at fighting his way out” (328). As the Escapist’s power increases, so does the Saboteur’s. The Saboteur shares a canopy bedroom with his girlfriend, the Spy Queen, Renata von Woom. She is a founding member of his evil group, the United Snakes of America.

On a Saturday afternoon, the Saboteur wakes and gets ready for his menial job that serves as his cover. He removes his night-black uniform bearing his symbol, a crimson crowbar, and changes into a waiter’s outfit. He then goes to his laboratory to collect the dismantled parts of the Exploding Trident, which he has cleverly concealed in a pink cake box. He waves goodbye to Renata, who is lying on the bed underneath a portrait of the Führer. She tells him to “knock ‘em dead, big boy” (330).

The Saboteur takes the bus to Fifth Avenue and then another 20 blocks uptown: “Ordinarily he dislikes taking the bus, but he is late already, and if you are late, they take it out of your pay” (330).