Chapter 15 - Fancy a brew?
The chemistry lab was very strange. It seemed like a lecture hall with benches on either side with many strange chemicals and ingredients stored in nearby cupboards with bizarre mixing equipment on the centre table. Almost anything could be brewed up here. Alice had made a shrinking potion with the help of the Elder before but what they were making now was quite different so Alice had brought the book along for reference.
They both stood looking at the mixing machine, neither of them knowing where to start.
"Tell you what," began the elder "I'll get the ingredients, you tell me what we need."
"Right, lets get started!" replied Alice as she opened the book. She began to read:
"The water of life is an especially potent telepathic enhancer so to counter-balance the effect, a strong suppressant is needed. The following mixture has been known to neutralise the water in certain people. (normal side effects include headaches, dizziness, nausea and temporary flatulence.
(Effects are in the extreme but last no longer than 20 minutes)
The ingredients and instructions in order are as follows:
One pint of water. (As a base.)
The seeds of 2 poppy plants (To sedate the affected brain centres.)
Apply heat
A small amount of citric acid (To improve the flavour.)
Ashes of a Boojum (To enhance the effects)
Translucent organic catalyst. (To act as an anchor to counter the instability of the water.)
Add all the ingredients in a litre beaker and add the catalyst when the mixture comes to the boil. When the potion turns white, it is completed. Not much is needed to counter the water of purity."
"I think we can get all of those ingredients." Said the elder. "After all water is pretty easy to acquire as there's a tap over there." He ran over to the sink, filled the appropriate beaker with water and placed it on the heater (Which was currently switched off).
"Poppy seeds?" he thought to himself wondering where they would find some. Alice knew there was a poppy in the nearby flowerpot so she plucked one of the flowers and begin to grind away the petals until she collected the seeds in a small cup.
"Do we put them in once at a time, or all together?" she asked. Alice's knowledge of chemistry was not altogether extensive.
"Just drop them all in I suppose!" he replied and she did as she was told.
The seeds plopped into the water and settled at the bottom with no immediate effect. The elder examined the beaker closely and noticed that a strange powder was emerging from the seeds and mixing in the water. "I think I'd better take care of this, you should go out and get those boojum ashes."
"Oh joy!" said Alice sarcastically as she picked up her ice staff and marched out of the lab.
"She should come back in one piece." Thought the troll to himself. "We'll need her alive!"
Alice began patrolling the corridors of the skool the same way an assassin would creep up on it's prey. The only difference being that the assassin would know where it's prey was and Alice had no idea. She had never deliberately come into the school looking for trouble and the last time she had expected trouble, her closest friend was taken away by civilians under the influence of the dammed water of purity. She wondered what they would be doing to Christopher at this minute, he had seen enough horrors in care of the hatter and he did not deserve to be treated badly. She suddenly caught herself feeling fondly for someone. It was surprising because during her years at the asylum, no-one had cared for her so she returned the affections (or lack of them!)
A sudden chill ran through the air and Alice felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end as well s the Goosebumps rising on her arms. She heard a breathing right behind her making her freeze in terror (and the breath was cold as well.) She gulped and turned around slowly, slightly expecting to be blasted when she met her eyes on a…………..
The Boojum screamed at the top of its voice hitting her like a steam locomotive and throwing her 20 feet down the corridor slamming her into the adjoining door connecting to the stairs. She shook her head to sober herself up from the impact just in time to see the boojum floating down the corridor getting ready for another one of its deadly choruses. It screamed once more but Alice threw herself on the floor allowing the shock-wave to pass harmlessly above her into the door which proceeded to burst into flames and melt away. She slammed the handle of her staff on the floor and fired in the direction of the boojum. Strangely enough, the boojum flew over the ice blast and disappeared through the melted door into the stairway. Alice got up and gave chase, ice staff fuming in her hands.
Alice had usually never missed a target, this boojum was quite agile for it's kind, that would make killing it a little bit harder, but it would die sooner or later.
She had trailed it back into the library where the hole in the glass roof had repaired itself blocking the entrance for boojums outside and her prey was attempting to shatter it once again using it's screams. The glass was beginning to crack however, now had to be the time.
The ice staffs range would not reach it's target so she unsheathed her vorpal blade and threw it at her assailant and it imbedded itself in the boojums chest, causing no significant damage but getting its attention. The knife disappeared from the boojums chest and reappeared in Alice's hand who then put it back in her pouch, readying the ice staff at the same time.
The atmosphere felt similar to one of a mighty joust. The boojum was charging towards Alice, its eyes burning with the fire it held inside its floating body, preparing to unleash a deadly scream at it's young target whereas Alice was standing perfectly still. She had pointed the fuming staff directly at the oncoming beast, her green eyes staring directly into her attackers as if trying to out stare her opponent until he broke. They grew closer and closer as the boojum flew faster and faster!
Alice fired her blizzard covering the boojum who screamed at the same time knocking her flying into the wall behind her, momentarily knocking her senseless but she was the victor once again.
The boojum stood screaming as the fire it contained erupted through it's mouth, roasting itself in the blaze of exorcism leaving a pile of ash on the floor, which Alice scooped up with a glass the elder had given her. She looked up at the creatures flying around outside screaming in their eternal misery but remaining outside. "Sorry gentlemen." Said Alice with a curious smile. "No screaming in the library please!"
She returned to the chemistry lab where a slightly impatient troll was stood, crossed armed tapping one foot. "Are you ok?" he asked
"Just a few bruises but I'll be alright" she replied and handed over the Boojum ash.
He had already added the citric acid to add flavour. After all, who would want to drink something that had boojum ashes in it. They were bad enough when they were alive! The liquid was a bubbling bright yellow and the troll added the boojum ashes turning it into a dark black liquid that had a sense of forbidding about it. The jar let out a sudden high pitched scream as it releasing the last essence of it's new ingredient. The last ingredient had them both stumped.
"translucent organic catalyst?" asked Alice. "What's that?"
The troll made a poor attempt to know the answer.
"Well," he began, unsure "a catalyst is something that speeds up a reaction and organic means it should come from a being or monster, but translucent? I don't know where to begin?"
Alice thought deeply. Catalyst. Cat? He could be quite translucent at times. Appearing at one minute and gone the next. Not exactly sound, but it was worth a try.
"Cat!" Alice shouted out. "Come here please, we need you!"
His tell-tale chiming rung out and his head appeared from out of nowhere. His stubborn simplicity and impatience was frustrating. "Yes?" he said, simply.
"Do you know anything about what we need as a catalyst?"
He knew the answer but he didn't like it.
"Yes, you must use one of my hairs to add to your mixture. Only one though!" and the rest of his body appeared on his silent command.
Alice plucked a short hair from his back which made him wince and cry out in a distinctly feline way and added it to the bubbling potion. A large explosion emerged from the top of the vial throwing all the people (and felines) off their feet. Alice and the Elder looked closely at the vial which (if they didn't know any better) seemed to contain normal water. The Cheshire cat rubbed his back and with a scornful look on his face. "Well done, but go and see caterpillar."
Alice and the Elder proceeded through the library into the Observatory where a portal stood above a large globe leading a path to the fungiferous forest. Alice prepared to jump through.
"Are you coming?" she asked.
"No," replied the troll. "I'm going to try and repair the balloon so I can help you in the attack soon. Just tell caterpillar and tell him what's happening."
"knowing him, he'll already know! But just to be on the safe side, I'll tell him anyway. And maybe he knows what they did to Christopher." Her face dropped at the mention of her, now lost friend.
"I'm sorry about what happened." Said the troll and gestured towards the shimmering portal.
Alice put the small vial of water in her dress pocket and lumped through the portal.
The troll walked back towards the wreckage of his balloon near the skools roof. "I'd better make a start, there's not much time!"
The chemistry lab was very strange. It seemed like a lecture hall with benches on either side with many strange chemicals and ingredients stored in nearby cupboards with bizarre mixing equipment on the centre table. Almost anything could be brewed up here. Alice had made a shrinking potion with the help of the Elder before but what they were making now was quite different so Alice had brought the book along for reference.
They both stood looking at the mixing machine, neither of them knowing where to start.
"Tell you what," began the elder "I'll get the ingredients, you tell me what we need."
"Right, lets get started!" replied Alice as she opened the book. She began to read:
"The water of life is an especially potent telepathic enhancer so to counter-balance the effect, a strong suppressant is needed. The following mixture has been known to neutralise the water in certain people. (normal side effects include headaches, dizziness, nausea and temporary flatulence.
(Effects are in the extreme but last no longer than 20 minutes)
The ingredients and instructions in order are as follows:
One pint of water. (As a base.)
The seeds of 2 poppy plants (To sedate the affected brain centres.)
Apply heat
A small amount of citric acid (To improve the flavour.)
Ashes of a Boojum (To enhance the effects)
Translucent organic catalyst. (To act as an anchor to counter the instability of the water.)
Add all the ingredients in a litre beaker and add the catalyst when the mixture comes to the boil. When the potion turns white, it is completed. Not much is needed to counter the water of purity."
"I think we can get all of those ingredients." Said the elder. "After all water is pretty easy to acquire as there's a tap over there." He ran over to the sink, filled the appropriate beaker with water and placed it on the heater (Which was currently switched off).
"Poppy seeds?" he thought to himself wondering where they would find some. Alice knew there was a poppy in the nearby flowerpot so she plucked one of the flowers and begin to grind away the petals until she collected the seeds in a small cup.
"Do we put them in once at a time, or all together?" she asked. Alice's knowledge of chemistry was not altogether extensive.
"Just drop them all in I suppose!" he replied and she did as she was told.
The seeds plopped into the water and settled at the bottom with no immediate effect. The elder examined the beaker closely and noticed that a strange powder was emerging from the seeds and mixing in the water. "I think I'd better take care of this, you should go out and get those boojum ashes."
"Oh joy!" said Alice sarcastically as she picked up her ice staff and marched out of the lab.
"She should come back in one piece." Thought the troll to himself. "We'll need her alive!"
Alice began patrolling the corridors of the skool the same way an assassin would creep up on it's prey. The only difference being that the assassin would know where it's prey was and Alice had no idea. She had never deliberately come into the school looking for trouble and the last time she had expected trouble, her closest friend was taken away by civilians under the influence of the dammed water of purity. She wondered what they would be doing to Christopher at this minute, he had seen enough horrors in care of the hatter and he did not deserve to be treated badly. She suddenly caught herself feeling fondly for someone. It was surprising because during her years at the asylum, no-one had cared for her so she returned the affections (or lack of them!)
A sudden chill ran through the air and Alice felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end as well s the Goosebumps rising on her arms. She heard a breathing right behind her making her freeze in terror (and the breath was cold as well.) She gulped and turned around slowly, slightly expecting to be blasted when she met her eyes on a…………..
The Boojum screamed at the top of its voice hitting her like a steam locomotive and throwing her 20 feet down the corridor slamming her into the adjoining door connecting to the stairs. She shook her head to sober herself up from the impact just in time to see the boojum floating down the corridor getting ready for another one of its deadly choruses. It screamed once more but Alice threw herself on the floor allowing the shock-wave to pass harmlessly above her into the door which proceeded to burst into flames and melt away. She slammed the handle of her staff on the floor and fired in the direction of the boojum. Strangely enough, the boojum flew over the ice blast and disappeared through the melted door into the stairway. Alice got up and gave chase, ice staff fuming in her hands.
Alice had usually never missed a target, this boojum was quite agile for it's kind, that would make killing it a little bit harder, but it would die sooner or later.
She had trailed it back into the library where the hole in the glass roof had repaired itself blocking the entrance for boojums outside and her prey was attempting to shatter it once again using it's screams. The glass was beginning to crack however, now had to be the time.
The ice staffs range would not reach it's target so she unsheathed her vorpal blade and threw it at her assailant and it imbedded itself in the boojums chest, causing no significant damage but getting its attention. The knife disappeared from the boojums chest and reappeared in Alice's hand who then put it back in her pouch, readying the ice staff at the same time.
The atmosphere felt similar to one of a mighty joust. The boojum was charging towards Alice, its eyes burning with the fire it held inside its floating body, preparing to unleash a deadly scream at it's young target whereas Alice was standing perfectly still. She had pointed the fuming staff directly at the oncoming beast, her green eyes staring directly into her attackers as if trying to out stare her opponent until he broke. They grew closer and closer as the boojum flew faster and faster!
Alice fired her blizzard covering the boojum who screamed at the same time knocking her flying into the wall behind her, momentarily knocking her senseless but she was the victor once again.
The boojum stood screaming as the fire it contained erupted through it's mouth, roasting itself in the blaze of exorcism leaving a pile of ash on the floor, which Alice scooped up with a glass the elder had given her. She looked up at the creatures flying around outside screaming in their eternal misery but remaining outside. "Sorry gentlemen." Said Alice with a curious smile. "No screaming in the library please!"
She returned to the chemistry lab where a slightly impatient troll was stood, crossed armed tapping one foot. "Are you ok?" he asked
"Just a few bruises but I'll be alright" she replied and handed over the Boojum ash.
He had already added the citric acid to add flavour. After all, who would want to drink something that had boojum ashes in it. They were bad enough when they were alive! The liquid was a bubbling bright yellow and the troll added the boojum ashes turning it into a dark black liquid that had a sense of forbidding about it. The jar let out a sudden high pitched scream as it releasing the last essence of it's new ingredient. The last ingredient had them both stumped.
"translucent organic catalyst?" asked Alice. "What's that?"
The troll made a poor attempt to know the answer.
"Well," he began, unsure "a catalyst is something that speeds up a reaction and organic means it should come from a being or monster, but translucent? I don't know where to begin?"
Alice thought deeply. Catalyst. Cat? He could be quite translucent at times. Appearing at one minute and gone the next. Not exactly sound, but it was worth a try.
"Cat!" Alice shouted out. "Come here please, we need you!"
His tell-tale chiming rung out and his head appeared from out of nowhere. His stubborn simplicity and impatience was frustrating. "Yes?" he said, simply.
"Do you know anything about what we need as a catalyst?"
He knew the answer but he didn't like it.
"Yes, you must use one of my hairs to add to your mixture. Only one though!" and the rest of his body appeared on his silent command.
Alice plucked a short hair from his back which made him wince and cry out in a distinctly feline way and added it to the bubbling potion. A large explosion emerged from the top of the vial throwing all the people (and felines) off their feet. Alice and the Elder looked closely at the vial which (if they didn't know any better) seemed to contain normal water. The Cheshire cat rubbed his back and with a scornful look on his face. "Well done, but go and see caterpillar."
Alice and the Elder proceeded through the library into the Observatory where a portal stood above a large globe leading a path to the fungiferous forest. Alice prepared to jump through.
"Are you coming?" she asked.
"No," replied the troll. "I'm going to try and repair the balloon so I can help you in the attack soon. Just tell caterpillar and tell him what's happening."
"knowing him, he'll already know! But just to be on the safe side, I'll tell him anyway. And maybe he knows what they did to Christopher." Her face dropped at the mention of her, now lost friend.
"I'm sorry about what happened." Said the troll and gestured towards the shimmering portal.
Alice put the small vial of water in her dress pocket and lumped through the portal.
The troll walked back towards the wreckage of his balloon near the skools roof. "I'd better make a start, there's not much time!"