Chapter Eleven – Riding to the Rescue
Hatter trailed Alice and Jack from a distance, watching their progress back towards the city. It was a longer route overland, but apparently Jack wasn't in as big a hurry as he'd said. Hatter begrudged Jack every moment of Alice's time that he was stealing. He also knew that he should turn his horse and head back to the forest, but he couldn't make himself do it. Hatter had told Alice he'd make sure she was okay and he meant it.
He wondered if they were talking, and if so what about. He was too far away to tell, though perhaps they were riding too hard for conversation. Hatter watched them get farther away and knew it was time to get moving himself. But then his attention was caught by something on the far hill glinting in the sun. Some of the Queen's men, perhaps, in pursuit of Jack and the ring? Hatter spurred his mare and went to investigate.
He should have known, even before the heard the familiar refrain of "hey, nonny, nonny."
"Charlie!" he said, startling the knight.
"Phaeton's Ghost, you nearly scared me half to death!" the White Knight complained.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm out taking…a little…jaunt," Charlie said. He tried for nonchalance and failed miserably.
"You're following them," Hatter accused.
"So are you!"
Hatter shook his head. What was he going to do now? Charlie wasn't exactly known for his subtlety.
"Don't you shake your head at me!" Charlie admonished. "When I gave you Guinevere you said you were going to hide out in the hills. Well, these are not the hills!"
Hatter sighed. He didn't have time to argue and he knew there was likely no way to stop the old fool from going anyway. There was nothing for it, except to try and keep their distance.
"Come on then," Hatter said. "Try to keep up!"
"No, Harbinger! I am the Knight. I will lead."
In the end, they rode side-by-side. And if Charlie became a bit chatty, Hatter was almost glad of it because it meant he wasn't singing that infernal song.
"Where do you think he's taking her?"
"I don't know. Somewhere in the city."
"It'll be easy to lose them there," the knight said thoughtfully. Hatter couldn't help but agree. Out here it was easy; there was really only one way they could go. But they'd be more conspicuous in the city; it would be harder not to be seen. Still, he resolved to get it done. He knew Alice was expecting him to let her down, as Jack had, but he was going to prove her wrong.
"If need be, I will use my skills in the…Black Arts…to find them," Charlie decided. Hatter stopped himself from rolling his eyes. After that show he'd put on in the Casino, who was Hatter to doubt his connection with the supernatural? They'd need every advantage they could get.
Charlie continued to chatter all the way to the city, though Hatter mostly turned a deaf ear to his tales of dragon slaying and inventing. When the city finally came in sight, he began to feel apprehensive. So much could go wrong now, there were too many variables.
From a distance, Hatter saw Jack and Alice leave the horses, and then they went inside one of the buildings and disappeared from view. Hatter tapped his fingers on his knees, trying to formulate a plan.
"Shall we also dismount?" Charlie asked.
"No," Hatter said. "We might need the horses. Do you think you can find out where they're going?"
"Ah!" Charlie breathed. "I shall lift the veil and…"
"Yeah, yeah, just get on with it."
Charlie shot Hatter a narrow-eyed look, then put his fingers to his head. "Galadoon….tapoosh…"
Hatter waited impatiently, hoping Charlie's otherworldly forces were still with them. And they were. Charlie jerked and his eyes snapped open.
"Hospital of Dreams," he said.
Hatter breathed a sigh of relief. He knew where that was, knew how to get there without being seen. Getting the horses up there might be a bit tricky, but he figured he could do that too. He needed to be on hand, just in case Caterpillar couldn't help. Just in case Jack wasn't on the level. Just…in case.
"Follow me, Charlie. And keep quiet."
Charlie nodded, and for once managed to keep from even humming. Hatter guided them ever upward, across grassy ledges and through abandoned buildings. There weren't many people about, and those that were barely spared them a second glance. People in Wonderland had a general rule about non-involvement.
When they finally reached their destination, Hatter set the horses to graze nearby and went in for a closer look with Charlie. They stayed around the corner from the entrance so as not to be seen, and he was working out a plan for getting inside when he saw them – Suits, a Club and Rabbit Head. They strode right in the front door, the ground fairly shaking from their steps. Hatter looked at Charlie, and they decided to wait.
And then there was a single gunshot. Hatter swore his heart froze in his chest. When none others followed, he hoped it was just a warning shot. He yearned to run in, to save Alice, but there were a lot of Suits and he needed to be smart now. So, though each second dragged on agonizingly slowly, he waited.
After an interminable period of waiting, the Suits came marching back out the front door of the Hospital. There were at least ten of them, plus the Club and Rabbit Head. Where was…Alice! She was led out with her hands tied behind her back, followed by Jack in a similar state of capture.
"What's Carpenter doing here?" Hatter murmured aloud. He clearly wasn't a prisoner, but he'd also not come in with the Suits. Had he already been at the Hospital on some kind of Oyster business?
"Oh, black day," moaned Charlie over Hatter's shoulder.
"Okay," Hatter said, his mind racing. "Okay. I know there are a lot of Suits out there, but if we let them get to the Casino there'll be a whole lot more. We have to take them now."
Charlie nodded, then paused. "Are you serious?"
Hatter turned back round to look at him, eyes narrowed. "Yes."
Charlie looked confused.
"We've got surprise on our side," Hatter explained. "And we've got horses. You see the bottleneck over there?"
The White Knight merely muttered.
"If I go in swinging and keep the Suits busy for a few seconds, that might give you just enough time to get in there, grab Alice and gallop away."
Hatter knew it wasn't his best plan. He was essentially handing over Alice's protection to Charlie, because he knew he'd be captured. He'd merely be acting as the diversion. But he didn't care, not as long as Alice got away. Charlie could hide her in the forest and she'd be safe there.
"Bottleneck?" Charlie muttered. "Swinging?"
"I'm going to need a sword," Hatter said.
Charlie looked down at the one strapped to his side. "No…I…"
"Okay. Show me what knights are made of." With that, Hatter strode away to get the horses and take up his position. This time Charlie didn't complain when Hatter took the lead, Guinevere in front as they waited for the Suits to come through the narrow alleyway and around the corner. Hatter swung the sword, trying to get a feel for it. Clutched in his right hand, he hoped it would make a formidable weapon.
"This is it," he said. He was nervous; worried he'd screw it up somehow. "You ready? One, two…hyaaa!"
Hatter kicked Guinevere in the sides, urging her forward into the Suits. He swung the sword, taking down two of the Queen's men.
"Hatter!" Alice cried.
And then the sword was useless; the Suits were pulling on his arm and he couldn't get another swing in. They were trying to pull him off the horse and he knew there were only a few seconds left to do anything useful.
"Charlie!" he shouted, looking back for the knight. Where the hell was he? And then Hatter saw him…riding hard and fast in the opposite direction.
"What the…?" Hatter couldn't believe it. Charlie was running away, and had very likely just killed him and Alice both. The Suits pulled him off the horse and he landed with a painful thud on the ground, several pairs of arms restraining him.
"Get off him!" Alice screamed. Hatter wanted to tell her he was sorry, that he'd tried, but there was a knee pressing into his stomach and he couldn't catch his breath. Rabbit Head walked over, looking down at him while he lay there gasping.
"Hatter!" Alice cried again.
"What a nice surprise," the porcelain head said. And while the voice was electronic, Hatter finally knew who this creature was. He'd been right after all. He redoubled his efforts to get away even though he knew it was useless.
Mad March was alive. Well, as alive as someone can be with a porcelain rabbit for a head. The Queen's assassin. Hatter had no question what would happen to him now. There would be no leniency for the Queen's favorite Tea seller. She probably wouldn't learn of his death until long after it had occurred.
"Take her to the Casino," Mad March ordered the Club. "I'll bring this one along…directly."
Hatter noticed that not even the Club wanted to argue with Mad March, though he looked like he had a lot to say. He gave Hatter a pitying look, then nodded at the Suits.
"No! Hatter!" Alice screamed as she was led away.
"Don't hurt her!" Hatter begged. "Just let her go home!"
Mad March responded by kicking Hatter in the ribs, not hard enough to break anything but so very painful all the same. Hatter grunted and grit his teeth. If Mad March was going to kill him, he wished he'd get on with it. He couldn't stand hearing Alice screaming his name, knowing that he failed her when it really counted. He should've known better than to put his faith in Charlie. He should've made a better plan.
"Tell me where the Library is and maybe we can work a deal," Mad March said. He squatted down, and Hatter felt quite disconcerted looking at that eyeless head. He struggled but the Suits held him tightly.
"Go to hell."
"I was hoping you'd say that," Mad March said, his electronic voice sounding just a touch gleeful. "I have some friends who will be happy to meet you. But first…"
Hatter closed his eyes as the fist headed towards his face.
AN: Thank goodness for Charlie and his Black Arts! I somehow think Jack might've noticed Hatter and Charlie tracking him through the city on horseback! I also wanted to show again that Hatter knew Carpenter by sight, but that he didn't make the connection of him being Alice's father. I'm saving that revelation for in the Game Room. ::grins::
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Up next…some fun and games with the Tweedles! Oooh! Thank you for your continued support! I love you guys!