OUTSIDE THE GARDEN OF COSMIC SPECULATION, DUMFRIES, SCOTLAND
TIME REMAINING: 13 HOURS, 44 MINUTES
T wo men in red cloaks, part of the Reds clan who had once chased the Pillar and Alice in the Vatican, stood atop a green hill overlooking the Garden of Cosmic Speculation. They wore red robes but stood far enough away that no one saw them at the moment. Underneath the robes, their faces weren’t visible.
But their voices were audible enough.
One of them, the taller one with a golden number nine sewn to the fabric of the robe, held binoculars. He was watching Alice leave the limousine and meet with Inspector Dormouse.
“Can you see them?” the shorter one, Number 7, asked.
Number 9 nodded. “Inspector Dormouse must have gotten permission to enter the garden.”
“And the girl?”
“She is with the police force,” Number 9 said. “It’s not the Scottish police, though.”
“Must be Inspector Dormouse’s team,” Number 7 said. “The Department of Insanity.”
“Poor Inspector Sherlock. He thinks he is doing a real job. Should we make the phone call now?”
“Nah,” Number 7 said. “I’m sure everything will be recorded with the garden’s surveillance cameras. Besides, the big moment hasn’t arrived yet.”
“You keep talking about the big moment ,” Number 9 said. “When is that exactly?”
“The moment when she is closer to the circus.”
“The circus?” Number 9 chortled. “That would be a slithy borgrove and totally mishmash moment.” He laughed from under his cloak.
Number 7 laughed too. “Oh, man. This girl is in for the surprise of her life.”
“I wonder why she is so eager to enter.” Number 9 still watched Alice through his binoculars. “Why does she care so much? I mean, it’s only a rabbit that will explode, along with a few people. It’s not like it doesn’t happen every day.”
“She is insane,” Number 7 said. “Insane people think they can save the day. If she only knew what’s in store for her.”
Number 9 and Number 7 watched Inspector Dormouse open the main gate to the vacant Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Everyone seemed to hesitate to enter, but not the girl. Alice stepped forward, standing by the threshold.