“What poem?”
At this moment, things become extremely surreal. The Pillar recites Carroll’s poem in a musical way that makes it sound like a soundtrack for Father Williams’ killings left and right. It’s a long poem, mentioned in few Alice in Wonderland copies. It describes an old man called Father Williams who has no worries about growing old. In fact, he eats like a young man. Plays like a child, and plays sports as if he is a nineteen year old athlete. Part of the poem says:
"You are old," said the youth, "As I mentioned before,
And have grown most uncommonly fat [Father Williams];
Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door—
Pray, what is the reason of that?"
It perfectly describes Father Williams, who is a miracle by all means. Even the Chessmaster’s men can hardly believe what’s going on.
Once we reach the bottom of the stairs, The Pillar guides me to a side door, which I kick open. Right there before us is the large chessboard of Marostica, bordered by the Chessmaster’s men in every direction.
I pull back my sleeves. “It’s time to use my None Fu.”
“No it’s not,” The Pillar tells me, but I can’t see him. Where did he go? “If anyone really knows None Fu, it’d be Father Williams, not you.”
“But he is still fighting the others by the stairs.”
“That’s why I am hoping you know how to ride a horse,” The Pillar says. This time I locate him, riding the horse, which the chess players originally used to resemble a knight on the large Marostica chessboard.
“I don’t know how to ride horses,” I say.
“Then hop on behind me,” he says, and I do, clinging to him from the back. “It’s about time we escape this place.”
The Pillar rides away, only we’re surprised when the horse doesn’t run in straight lines, but in L-shapes, just like a knight is allowed to move on a chessboard.
Chapter 22
World Chess Championship, Moscow, Russia
Not for a moment did the Chessmaster hesitate with his moves. On the contrary, the world leaders took too much time. Part of it was squeezing their thoughts for a winning move, but most of it was stalling, in case Alice and The Pillar could find Carroll’s Knight — whatever that was.
But the Chessmaster was losing patience and getting more furious by the minute, especially after Alice and The Pillar escaped with Carroll’s Knight in their pocket.
The Chessmaster faced the camera and warned the world of the consequences that would occur if he didn’t get what he wanted in a few hours. “This is a call to the world,” he began. “Don’t think I have no more rabbits under my hat. Killing your world leaders in a chess game is only the beginning. You don’t want me to go further with my threats.”
He walked with his hands behind his back and the camera followed him. “Everyone in Italy is responsible for catching Alice and The Pillar, this or…” he stopped before the Italian president’s table and grinned. “I will checkmate your president sooner than you think.”
People gasped in the auditorium and the Italian president swallowed hard, thinking about his next move.
“Listen to me, people of this world,” the Chessmaster faced the camera again, exercising his hobby of rubbing his moustache. “Like I said, you don’t know who I am, and you probably don’t want to,” he said. “I’m not a Wonderland Monster. That would be an understatement. I’m your last and worst nightmare. Bring me Carroll’s Knight or… trust me, I’ll checkmate the world.”
Chapter 23
Marostica, Italy,
The Pillar stops atop an abandoned green hillside and we get off the mad horse.
“I need this to be mentioned in Guinness world records,” The Pillar says. “Having managed to escape with a horse that only runs in L shapes.”
“That was weird.” I pat the horse. “You’re a weird horse. Beautiful but weird.”
I stare down below at Marostica, which is in a paranoid craze. The Chessmaster’s men are still fighting the Reds, people are scared, but Father Williams is nowhere in sight.
On my phone, I watch the Chessmaster’s speech and realize we’re in so much trouble now.
“Almost everyone is looking for us,” I tell The Pillar. “I think we should call Fabiola. She may help.”
“Trust me, she won’t help,” The Pillar says. “She thinks you’re the Bad Alice and wants to get rid of you.” he raises a hand in the air. “And please, let’s not discuss this now.”
“You’re right, we need to know what this is for.” I pull out Carroll’s Knight, the thing I picked up from inside the coffin. “How can Carroll’s Knight be a chess piece?”
“Not just any piece.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s made from Carroll’s bones.”