“F irst, I need to know where I’m going,” the chauffeur interrupts.
“London, of course,” the Pillar says. “Alice needs to find Carolus and kill him.”
“Oki doki!”
“I’m still not sure how I’m the one who’s supposed to kill him ,” I say.
“I’m not sure either. But I believe the Scientist. He didn’t tell us this last precious detail until we pushed him hard.”
“Yes, but how? I mean, just shoot him?”
“I doubt the likes of Carolus will die that easily. If only Alice can kill Lewis Carroll’s split persona, then there has to be a certain method to do it. Didn’t Lewis ever tell you how when you met him?”
“Not that I remember.”
“I guess he only wanted to give you the key.” The Pillar eyes it in my hand. I grip it harder. “Don’t worry. I won’t take it from you. We need the Six Keys all together anyway. I have one. You have one. That’s about fair.”
“Lewis told me not to show it to you in particular, in case you want to know.”
“I don’t.” He dismisses me. “But, I do want to know how you can kill Carolus before tomorrow night, or the world will be toast.”
“And how am I supposed to find that out?”
“Well, let’s start with the Scientist, the Executioner, or whoever he is.” The Pillar walks toward the body, about to pull the hood back. “I’m sure he hasn’t told us everything. Nice pants, by the way.”
I sneer at him. “Aren’t all Reds just hollow underneath the cloak?”
“He isn’t a Red, that’s for sure.” He grips the hood.
“How do you know?”
“Didn’t you see how the Reds nudged him to make him talk or stop talking?” the Pillar says. “My assumption is the Scientist was their prisoner. They just wanted us to think otherwise for some reason.”
“So pull it off, then.”
“Are you ready, children?” He acts like a magician again.
Along with the children, I nod eagerly.
Then he pulls the hood back.
It’s not the Executioner, and I am not surprised. I had a feeling the Reds were lying to scare us.
But I never guessed it would be the March Hare.