Chapter IV: Time and the Rabbit
The Doctor and Ace walked on a mile or so, until they came to a cliff, and then looked down below. Equally sized, square-shaped patches of land were everywhere; some patches looked red, while others looked more golden in tone; it must have been autumn.
"Blimey!" Ace exclaimed. "I-it's all marked out like a chessboard!"
"Well, of course it's a chessboard! What's life but a game?"
Ace pointed out toward the distance, smiling. A large, crimson castle was easily visible, its towers and spires piercing the sky like daggers.
"Professor, look!"
"Yes, I see it, Ace," the Doctor said, umbrella tucked under one arm. "That would be Card Castle." He then muttered, under his breath, "Out of the frying pan, and into the fire..."
"What's that, Professor?"
"Nothing, nothing," the Doctor muttered, and looked down, crouching on one knee. He pointed with his umbrella. "See the river down there?"
"Yeah..."
"That's the River of Tears. There's a shortcut to Card Castle around there. We'll take that route."
"The River of Tears?"
"Yes."
"As in the tears Alice cried in the books?"
"Not at all."
Ace tilted her head.
"Well...then, why is it called that?"
The Doctor shook his head and started to walk back down the hill—which was set on a plateau—it seemed, thus explaining their current height.
"I'll explain late-"
"Professor!" Ace snapped, pleading, and grabbed his arm.
The Doctor looked at his sleeve where Ace held him, then at her, and sighed.
"Very well...it's not a pretty story."
"Trust me, I'm used to that."
The Doctor bit his lip, then, after a moment, began...
"You see, when this institution was founded, creatures from all corners of the universe were brought here to the Madhouse, as a sort of temporal asylum. However, some patients quickly showed themselves to be beyond any rrrehabilitation.
"The sounds in some regions of the Madhouse are said to be almost deafening, enough to drive anyone even crrrazier than usual, and the rapid waters of the river seem to be the only escape one can ever know. So soothing is this siren, that it is said that some patients plunge to its call where the only tears they shed are those of joy and freedom. It's the only freedom one can know in Wonderland."
Ace shuddered.
"Ugh...I can see why Carroll left THAT out..."
The Doctor nodded gravely, and then continued back down the hill. Ace adjusted her backpack, and followed.
"But, Professor, you still haven't told me how he-"
Just then, something whizzed into view, and slammed into the Doctor, both of them falling to the ground. Ace whipped out her baseball bat.
That "something" squealed and curled into a frightened ball, shaking in fear.
"Ohh...please, don't hit me with that...that...whatever that is!"
Ace blinked, and lowered the bat.
"You...you're the White Rabbit!"
"Indeed he is," the Doctor groaned, standing up, and dusting off his suit and hat. "That's the trouble when you're always in a hurry; you always miss the most important details, in this case, two big ones standing in front of oneself."
"Apologies. My name is Sir William B-Black," the Rabbit stuttered, nodding fast, ears still flat, clearly still afraid. "Royal Page, at your s-s-s-service!"
Ace put away the bat.
"Sorry...so many things have been trying to sink their teeth into us..."
"By which you mean yourself," the Doctor grumbled.
"...I wasn't sure what to expect."
The Rabbit gulped, and nodded again, cautiously rising to his feet, and fastidiously brushing off his own waistcoat, before taking out a handkerchief to clean his monocle.
"O-o-once again, m-m-my apologies for my r-rush. I...I have urgent business at Card Castle..."
The Doctor's eyes glittered. He grinned.
"Do you, now?"
The Rabbit nodded yet again.
"Yes, sir. Now, if you would k-kindly just step aside, so I can continue on my way..."
"Why not just go around us?" Ace asked.
The Rabbit stared at her as if she'd grown an extra nose.
"I wouldn't dare!" he said, shaking his head fast. "One MUST keep things in line around here!"
There was a brief pause, the Doctor eyeing the talking lapin like some far-off star through a troublesome telescope, or else an exploding muffin that had somehow gone into an oven without blowing up.
The Rabbit bit his lip, and straightened his tie. He then took out his watch, anxiously gazing upon it.
"P-please, I have to get going...they'll punish me if I'm late..."
"Royal Duties, I presume?" the Doctor asked calmly. The Doctor leaned on his umbrella, with his free hand in his lower coat pocket.
"Yes, now, please, just-"
"Who's in charge?"
The Rabbit looked at him as if he'd grown TWO extra noses.
"The Queen of Hearts, of course!" he said, then eyed him, skeptically. "I say...are you from around here?"
In an instant, his ears flattened back, and the Rabbit trembled.
"Y-you're not...predators, are you? Please, the Cheshire Cat makes the way to the Castle hard enough for everyone...I-I don't r-really want to be stew, or-"
"We haven't an appetite."
The Rabbit sighed with relief.
"Oh! Oh, thank you, I...I'm sorry, I..."
He checked his watch then, and let out a shrill, "rabbity" scream.
"Goodness gracious me!" he cried out, and turned to the Doctor and Ace again, almost pleading. "Oh, please, excuse me! I-I don't know HOW I know I'm late, but I am, and if the Queen-"
"You know, you seem rather tense," the Doctor interrupted, and leaned down, placing a hand on William Black's shoulder. "Why don't you settle down?"
The Rabbit blinked, and, before Ace's eyes, suddenly seemed much less afraid. His arms were still, no longer fidgeting and wringing around as they had been. His ears were back, but not out of fear so much as "neutrality."
"Yes," the Rabbit said softly. "I suppose I have some time to spare...just a little."
"That's right," the Doctor said, smiling gently.
"How did you do that?" Ace whispered.
"A magician never reveals his rabbits," said the Doctor with a wink, and then returned his gaze to the White Rabbit. "Now, how is your day? How's the weather? More importantly, Mr. Black, how are things here in Wonderland?"
"The weather is fine, but the other two are atrocious," the Rabbit said in a slow, quiet voice, eyes never leaving the Doctor's. "The Queen of Hearts controls the population by chopping off heads. Recently, the executions have slowed down..."
"Well, aren't you relieved?"
"No," the Rabbit said calmly. "I was sent here due to a heavy case of nerves. 'Neurosis,' they called it. I can barely risk crossing the stream; I'm terrified the fish may bite me. The Queen has such a terrible temper...and her servants and Sentries don't help the issue. Every second, I'm afraid my head will be sliced, torn, or chewed off by someone, or something, if not Her Majesty herself."
The Doctor nodded thoughtfully.
"Now, what are you going to do?"
"I want to get back to Card Castle," the Rabbit said in a monotonous voice.
"No, you don't," the Doctor said.
"You're right; I don't."
"You hate it there."
"I hate it there," the Rabbit said, with no emotion to his voice.
"You are going to find the Cheshire Cat. Tell him that Time has asked for his assistance at the Castle. He's bound to be hungry, even if he's eaten already, so make sure you tell him right away."
"What if I am eaten, and fail to deliver your message?" the Rabbit said; the question lacked any sense of fear. It was simply a question.
"He'll get indigestion. Better hurry, my bunny friend."
The Doctor snapped his fingers, and the Rabbit blinked rapidly, as if awakening from a dream.
"Oh...Oh, I just remembered: I-I have some important business to attend to before I head to Card Castle. P-pleasure meeting you. Goodbye!"
And, without another word, the Rabbit bounded away.
"Why did you send him after the Cat?" Ace asked, once she thought the Rabbit was out of earshot.
"Because I suspect trouble," said the Doctor. "And Cheshire is nothing but that."
He turned on his heel, and, spinning his umbrella around, continued on his way.
Ace rolled her eyes, and followed him.
