Hatter turned, and without waiting to see if Alice was following, stalked off through the city. He took care to keep to the back routes, out of sight of the few city dwellers that would be about. Most folk preferred to find internal routes as far as possible, leaving themselves exposed for as little time as possible. Numerous short cuts and tunnel like highways had developed, become smooth and well-trodden like the well-used burrow of a mole, hiding from the light.
As he walked Hatter mused about what had happened and the strange oyster that had walked into his office. It was a long time since anyone had looked into his eyes with such trust, even for an unguarded moment. Not since she had abandoned him for the lure of the casino. Just once, since he found himself out on his own had he let his guard down. Although, he should have known better than to trust that affection would last. He wasn't about to make the same mistake again. Alice was a commodity, no point in getting attached, she would be gone soon.
As he reached the end of the current building he paused, checking behind to see Alice was keeping up. He gave the briefest of smiles, the warmth never quite reaching his eyes, before turning to survey the street beyond the corner.
He felt a slight brush across his back as Alice moved behind him to look too and his arm shot out automatically to keep her sheltered. In the distance he could see two figures retreating into the haze, distinctive clothing marking them out clearly, even at this distance.
"Suits," he murmured to Alice. He edged back into the lee of the building, shepherding Alice with his outstretched arm. As he glanced at her he noticed a frown clouding her face as she watched them.
"Going where?" Alice asked.
She waited, but Hatter chose to ignore her yet again.
"The casino?" she hazarded.
"Forget it! Casino's not in the city," he admonished her, determined to wipe out all thoughts of heading off on her own. "The Looking Glass is here, that's what's going to get you home."
She observed him closely as she stated, "I need to find Jack first."
Hatter held her gaze, poker face in place as he dismissed her chances of finding her friend, he was long gone and her best chance was to leave as soon as she could. No doubt, once the facts were made clear she would readily save herself, self-preservation always won in his experience. But that task would fall to Dodo, not him; he just needed to play her along for now. Get her to cooperate.
"You can't just barge into the casino demanding they let him go you know. They'll put you on the floor and then you're no use to anyone, least of all this Jack," he replied scathingly
"So how do we get him out?" she demanded hotly, stepping back and pulling him round to face her fully.
"My contacts…," Hatter hesitated, unsure what to say. He sighed before finding himself quietly confiding, "They loathe the teas and oyster catches. They'll help." Alice listened, that habitual frown creasing her brow once more as she was reminded of her earlier unanswered questions.
"What's wrong with the teas? Is this about what you said earlier, oysters – you mean people like me right? Being drained?" Alice challenged, her voice getting louder and more forceful.
Hatter retreated from her, his back pressing against the wall of the building as he raised his hands in a recognisable gesture of conciliation.
"Yeah, okay, the teas come from the oysters. They're emotions, extracted and strengthened," he confirmed.
"And you sell them? To people?" she stated incredulously. "Why? Don't you think about where they come from?"
"Look!" Hatter interrupted defensively, "I have to make a living. In case you hadn't noticed Wonderland isn't exactly all that warm and cosy. The casino supply the teas, I sell them and stay out of trouble with the suits." He stopped and then added as an afterthought, "and I hadn't met an oyster till you walked into my office," his voice trailing off to a whisper.
"And that makes it alright?" Alice censured. "What if it was your family or friends disappearing?" she challenged him scathingly, her eyes meeting his in fierce contest.
"Hey! We've all lost people; Wonderland's no safer for us. Why do you think Ratty didn't want to hang around? Why does everyone avoid the suits? Why do you think people are so desperate to get hold of the teas? It's not because this is such a lovely safe place!" Hatter stopped, shocked at the anger she had provoked in him. He scanned their surroundings, conscious that they were still exposed and in the open.
Alice stood open-mouthed in surprise following his outburst, watching his actions mutely and gathering her thoughts. Hatter glanced back, rolling his shoulders and cricking his neck to ease the tension that had built up. He puffed out a long breath and tried to explain.
"Alice…" he wondered where to begin, how to explain the nuances of life in the city. "The suits and Agent White work for the casino, they don't run it," Hatter paused, conscious that they needed to get moving.
"So who does?" Alice asked, taking advantage of the opening.
Hatter smiled ruefully, knowing she wouldn't let it go.
"We need to get out of the open. This way," he led off once more, twisting sideways so she remained in his sight. "The Queen of Hearts is in control, she lives up at the casino, surrounded by her courtiers. You'll never see her in the city."
"And the suits work for her?" Alice asked as Hatter scanned along the street at yet another junction. He slipped through the gap left in a rusted gate and continued down the side street concealed behind the wall. He checked Alice had found her way before continuing.
"Yep! The suits keep the peace… and round up anyone who opposes the Queen." He continued regretfully.
"Oppose her? Why?"
"She's not the rightful Queen; she took the throne by force. She uses the teas to control people, keep them in line and the suits are her muscle."
They reached the end of the room they were walking through and Alice spotted another derelict gate. Hatter peered through it before darting across a street bridge and down a narrow alley between two buildings. Alice gazed up, mesmerised by the immense height rising away, the sky a thin slither of light in the distance. She felt closed in and hurried to keep up with Hatter.
"What if you don't want to be part of it all? The teas, I mean?" Alice prompted Hatter.
"The suits and the casino!" Hatter replied over his shoulder, not turning this time but scanning ahead, searching for something. "Or you hide, like the man we're going to see." He stopped and Alice had to stifle a groan when she spotted the ladder leading down through a hole in the floor. "Next bits a little tricky. Take care and watch me," he instructed, before swinging himself onto the rungs and slowly sinking out of view.
Alice took a deep breath and fixing her eye firmly on the wall in front of her she reached for the first rung.