T he Dude tells me all about the Chessmaster, the best chess player in history, who’s just gone mad and killed the Pope’s representative while entrapping the world’s leaders in an auditorium in Russia.
Then he makes me watch the news covering the catastrophe.
“But they don’t mention why he is doing this,” I say.
No one knows yet. He didn’t say.
“Does the Chessmaster have a name?”
No one’s sure. He has been concealing his identity for years, even when winning chess championships each year. Some say his real name is Vozchik Stolb.
“Sounds like a Russian name.”
Who cares? You just need to stop him.
“So he is not a Wonderland Monster,” I say. “You understand I only catch Wonderland Monsters, right?”
That’s exactly why I am here, giving you orders, and not the Pillar.
“You know about the Pillar? Who are you?”
I’m the Dude. I told you that. I am here to teach you that you don’t only save lives by beating Wonderland Monsters. You’re obliged to save anyone harming humans in this world.
“And why would I do that?”
Because you have a responsibility to repent for the things you’ve done in the past.
“Seriously.” I glare at his hollow face under the hood. “Who are you?”
I’ll answer you when you know who you are .
“I know who I am, smartarse.”
Really? Bad Alice? Good Alice? Insane? Sane? Alice? Mary Ann? Orphan? Family? You don’t have the slightest idea.
I shrug. It’s hard to argue with the only person bothering to save my life, other than the Pillar.
We may not have time, since the Chessmaster is playing the game with the world’s leaders right now, and they are very bad at chess. Soon, another world leader will die—it’s already a mess at the Vatican. People are angry and worried for the Pope’s life.
“I thought it was the Pope’s representative who died.”
The Pope was forced to play the game after his representative died. He is present in Russia, endorsing the charity event. He happens to have no idea how to play chess. Now the Chessmaster is forcing him to play. Either win or die.
“This is getting serious.” I rub my chin. “Do you happen to know where the Pillar is?”
I thought you’d never ask. Then he writes down an address. I will drive you there, but then you’ll not see me again. My role ends here.
I don’t know why I feel a bit lost, realizing I want to see this mysterious Red again. But it seems weird to vocalize my interest in him. I am not even sure I can fully trust him, so I take the note and we descend the stairs of the abandoned building we’re in. Out on the streets, I immediately recognize the city of London.
The Red shows me to a Corvette in a vacant back street and opens the door for me.
“Must be rich,” I mumble, sitting.
I borrowed it from a rich guy.
“You mean you stole it from a rich guy.” I pull on the seatbelt.
He doesn’t write a note and starts the engine.
“I’m really worried about the Pope,” I comment, thinking about who this Chessmaster may be, and if he will end up being a Wonderland Monster. “You said the Chessmaster forced him to play and he has no clue how to play chess. What’s the Pope doing now?”
He writes a note with one hand while driving with the other. The Pope made his first move. It’s a very common move in the Vatican when facing a crisis.
“Which is?”
A note with a smiley face: Praying.