“No.” I cement my feet and make sure I have a clear shot of Carolus. “This kind of darkness in the world has to end.”
“Remember when you told me Fabiola told you about staring darkness in the eyes?” The Pillar’s voice is unusually soft. “Don’t let it stain you, Alice. Don’t let bad people turn you into an equally violent hero.” He hesitates then says, “Don’t be like me.”
Chapter 105
Carolus disappears in the rain, behind his floating balloons, just like the darker side in all of us. The Pillar says it’s better this way. That there is nothing wrong with having a dark side. It helps us know, and appreciate, our better side.
It’s hard to take moral advice from a serial killer, but Fabiola tells me the same when she arrives. It takes her a whole minute to pull my finger free of the trigger.
Hypnotized by this strange world, they show me back to the Pillar’s new plane. I get on. Fabiola makes me a cup of warm milk. The Pillar jokes that it reminds him of the man we met in Mushroomland who thought he was a bottle of milk.
His joke doesn’t resonate with me. I just let a monster go. The world is so dark right now I’d really like to sleep.
Some time later, we land in the Vatican. Fabiola brushes a kiss on my forehead. “At least you now know you’re the Real Alice.”
Then she disappears out of the plane. It occurs to me that the world sounds too quiet outside, but I’m too tired.
I fall asleep again.
The next time I wake up I’m in my cell back in the asylum. They’ve bought me a new bed. It’s clean. Comfy. I am thinking it’s too late for such luxury. The world will end in a few hours.
Next time I wake, the Pillar hands me that bottle of milk again.
“I’m not the Cheshire, don’t worry.” He jokes. “Drink it. You’ll be good tomorrow.”
“Wait. I thought there was no tomorrow?”
“I guess you didn’t hear it while you were asleep.” He stops on his way out. “The March remembered what happened exactly. It turns out Carolus instructed him to design a plague that would wear off in three days.”
“Impossible.”
“It’s true. Of course the world is left a bit damaged. A few million divorces, coworkers who never want to see each other again, and a few thousand dead. The same you read in everyday news. But we’re still alive.”
I try to smile, but my lips feel as rigid and fragile as china. I’m afraid if I laugh I’ll break in two.
“And nothing is impossible by the way,” the Pillar says before leaving. “Only losing hope is possible.”
Chapter 106
The Pillar’s Cell, Radcliffe Asylum, Oxford
A few days later
I am slowly tiptoeing my way up to the Pillar’s cell. There is hardly anyone blocking my way. I’m suspicious.
When I arrive, there are many Mushroomers lined up next to the Pillar’s cell. They’re craning their heads up, watching the news on the Pillar’s private TV.
Closer, I see Tom Truckle, and two teenagers beside him, sharing the Mushroomers’ stare at whatever is being broadcasted.
“Alice!” the Pillar chirps from his couch, a hookah hose tucked between his lips. “Come watch this.”
I walk among the Mushroomers. They all look happy I am better now. Even Tom makes way for me to step up into the Pillar’s cell.
“We’re wanted criminals, me and you, isn’t this amazing?” The Pillar points at the TV.
I read the headlines: A serial killer and his daughter invaded the UN’s headquarters yesterday, along with a strange-looking old man, trying to invoke chaos. It’s unclear whether they wanted to kill the American president or the Queen of England.
“It’s strange no one’s talking about the plague,” I remark.
“The plague is one day old. That’s too old for news channels.” The Pillar drags on his hose, wiggling his feet. “But us trying to kill the president, that’s news. They’re discussing if they should send us to Guantanamo.”
“We’re that dangerous?”
“I had no idea,” the Pillar says.
“I’m glad they didn’t drag Fabiola into this.”
“They can’t.” He waves his pipe. “Politics. It’s like saying Jesus Christ came down and peed into the Queen’s pot of nuts. Conflict of interest is what it’s called. Keep looking. It gets better.”
“Why are you so stoked about this?”
“Because I just saw it ten minutes ago. Just keep looking.”
I watch the host receive a bulk of papers, read and make a face about it. She says, “Apparently, only two of the criminals will be sent to Guantanamo. The elder man, Professor Carter Pillar, must have been there by mistake.”
“What?” I turn to him.
“Just keep watching. It’s so frabjous I’m going to vomit butterflies.”
The host continues. “Professor Pillar turned out to be a national hero, having ended the reign of drug cartels in Columbia on his own.”
“You’re a national hero?” I point accusingly at him.
“For only five minutes. Just keep looking.”
“Okay.” I look around. “Did you see Jack by the way?”