Fabiola doesn’t tell me why the Pillar took the key. She doesn’t tell me what’s so special about those children. And it drives me crazy.
I can’t force her to tell me. The White Queen has this kind of aura that makes you trust her, no matter what. If she decided not to tell me she must have a good reason for it.
I watch Fabiola spend most of her time taking special care of the Columbian children – I realize not all of them are Columbian, but from all over the world -- while the March Hare tries to remember more about the plague.
“What boggles my mind is how I could cook such a plague.” He trotted across the church left and right.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“I mean, no matter what Carolus promised me, or forced me to do, I could never have designed something that could hurt anyone in the world. It’s just not me.”
I believe him.
“You think he drugged me so I had no control of myself?”
“I don’t know.” I shake my shoulders. “Maybe you’re like him and have a split persona.”
“That would be horrible.” He brushes his long beard. “I don’t think I’m horrible. Do you think I’m horrible?”
“Calm down.”
“I think I have to.” His eyes shot up again. “I think my light bulb flickered.”
I don’t know what to say.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t think much or someone will see my thoughts. Fabiola, do you think I can hide in your confession booth?”
“If it’ll make you feel better.” She approached me. “So still no idea how you will kill Carolus?”
“I went through all my meetings with Lewis and I still have no idea.” I look at my watch. “Shouldn’t you know something?”
“Why do you say that?”
“I don’t mean to interfere, but you looked like you were intimate in the vision I had about the Six Inklings.”
Fabiola looks like she’s suppressing a smile. “Well, he always talked about your umbrella. He liked that gadget, the same way he liked the Vorpal sword he gave me.”
“I remember that.” I chuckle. “I’d love to see you chop off bad guys’ heads with it again.”
“Don’t count on it. I’ve devoted my life to peace. That was the Pillar’s effect that day. He makes people dip into their dark sides. He’s good at it.”
“So what about the umbrella?”
“Maybe it’s the Bandersnatch teeth bullets, or the way it glowed when you shot the Cheshire with it in the cat throwing festival.”
“You think so?”
“It’s our last chance.”
All right.” I sigh. “I’ll have the chauffeur fly me to London.”
“Wait!” The chauffeur strolls over and shows us video footage from his phone.
“What is it?”
“It’s Senor Pillardo—I mean the Pillar.”
Chapter 83
BBC Report
A man in a blue suit seems to have succeeded in doing what no government has ever been able to accomplish.
The unnamed hero, flying an uncharted plane, raided all of the Columbian drug locations in as little as one hour. Reports are still unclear how he did this, but some locals say they saw him kill each and every member of the drug cartels owned by the infamous criminal called the Executioner. Locals reported seeing this man on his own with two machine guns, on foot, shooting them left and right.
Then, a few minutes later, he bombed Mushroomland, where the most expensive drugs were grown.
“This man come. Shoot all bad men. No mercy. One time,” one of the locals says. “He shoot. They die. Simple. He Jesus Christ machine gun.”
Another older Columbian woman says, “I see movie Men in Black. Good guys. Shoot aliens. This man better. He is man in blue. Shoot. Kill. No reply.”
“I have to admit I have never seen such a daring human being, reported an Englishman living in Columbia. “I mean he was Rambo on mushrooms. Terminator on crack. He shot them with uncanny accuracy, said nothing, got back on his plane, burned everyone else.”
The same instant the world is trying to survive the most lethal plague in history, a single man ends the reign of the drug cartels. Maybe he is part superman, wearing blue. Maybe he is heaven-sent to save us. In any case, maybe there is still hope in this world.
Chapter 84
St Peter’s, The Vatican
All of us watch the news in awe.
The children clap their hands, most enthusiastic about it, although I am against them watching it. It is Fabiola who insists they do. I can’t understand what the deal is with the children yet.
“Why did he go back to do this?” I ask Fabiola.
“You never know what’s on the Pillar’s mind.” She looks away. She is lying. She knows why. I’m starting to lose my patience.
“In spite of all his bad doings, he rid the world of those bad people.”
“Did he?” She looks back. “Or did he just promote more violence in the world?”
I am confused. She has a point, but the Pillar may also have a point.