by Cameron Jace
Xian looks double shocked.
“What do you mean this is the clue?” I ask The Pillar.
“Lewis Carroll had a fascination with marking days on calendars,” The Pillar says. “And he always marked the happy day in his life with white stones.”
“Is that true?”
“I never lie on Tuesdays,”
“Wednesday.” I say,
“Then I never lie on Wednesdays,” he winks, staring at the calendar. “Now tell me you figured out the numbers already.”
“I can’t seem to get the connection.” But then I regret speaking out so fast, because one more glance helps me figure it out. All white stones of each month are drawn on the exact number of day in months. Starting from the third day, ninth, eleventh and so on. Sixteen numbers.
“Genius puzzle,” The Pillar says.
I punch the digits in while The Pillar distracts the monks, and hurray, the door clicks open. Xian helps me pull it back. It’s a bit heavy and inside there is nothing but wires and…
Wait. There it is. Another chess piece.
Chapter 34
World Chess Championship, Moscow, Russia
“Where are Alice and The Pillar?” the Chessmaster asked, just after making four consecutive moves with four different presidents. He seems to have a certain love for white knights in the game. He used them a lot, leaving world leaders in total awe of his brilliant moves.
“Untraceable so far.” One of his men told him.
“How is that possible? If they’ve found the White Queen chess piece, they must have been told of the next clue. And if so, I assume they will need transportation. The pieces are scattered all over the world.”
The Chessmaster’s assistant said nothing, afraid to upset him.
“Why do you need this Carroll’s Knight so much?” Uttered one of the world leaders. His name was Samson, declared dictator and sultan of Madderstan, a neighboring country to Looneystan.
“What did you just ask me?” The Chessmaster rose and rubbed his right mustache.
“You heard me.” Samson seemed full of himself, unlike most world leaders.
“You think you can just ask me questions because your country is a terrorism-spreading little land?” The Chessmaster knew Samson pretty well. The dictator ruled a small, but oil rich, country in Africa, and his small tribe of soldiers endorsed terrorism everywhere, just for the fun of it.
“Guilty as charged.” Samson raised his hands in the air. “I am such a bully. I love hurting other people and enforcing my ideologies on them by the sound of the gun. But how different are you?”
The Chessmaster rubbed his left side of the mustache and approached Samson. He could see the man had already made six moves, one move away from a checkmate, one move away from drinking the seventh cup and getting poisoned.
“You think I am just a low-life like you?” The Chessmaster said.
Samson laughed. “What else are you? Just another madman, thinking the world is not enough of a price for his ego.”
The Chessmaster reached for the knight on the chessboard and made the move. It was an easy one in his book, though not expected by any of his spectators.
Samson didn’t bother. He reached for his poisoned drink. “My men will slice you to pieces after I die, Chessmaster.”
Before he gulped, the Chessmaster gripped his wrist. “You have no idea who I am. You have no idea why I am doing this. All you are is a cockroach of a human being; a parasite, spreading chaos in the world and making it a terrible place.”
“And again, how different can you be?” Samson asked.
“I am the world’s salvation.” The Chessmaster said and forced the drink down the dictator’s throat.
The dictator dropped next to his table in an instant. The world broadcasted the scene, showing him wriggling and writhing before his death.
The Chessmaster turned and faced the camera. “I just killed another world leader. Don’t think I won’t go killing more. And let me tell you this: every one of you is responsible for finding Alice and The Pillar now. Find them, and bring them back to me, or your world leaders will not be saved.”
The words echoed the right way in the Chessmaster’s head. He demonstrated people’s worst fears and knew they would cooperate immediately. His message should have insinuated the desired effect, but then his assistant pointed at the news on TV talking about what just happened.
To the Chessmaster’s surprise, people, families, and children were leaving their houses in search for Alice and The Pillar. But not because they feared him. On the contrary, they have just declared their respect for the Chessmaster killing one of the world’s cruelest dictators.
It all left the Chessmaster bewildered. He sensed that warmth in his heart, the kind of warmth which had left him years ago. People suddenly believed he was their savior. He killed the world leader, which most of them wanted dead already. Not all of them of course, but enough people to help him catch Alice and The Pillar.
But the Chessmaster, being the dark being he was, also wasn’t fond of people’s love. He didn’t like to feel empathy or being admired. He’d transcended such weak emotions long ago. He needed to breathe anger and talk in vengeful syllables, or he’d weaken before completing his mission. The one he’d been planning since the 14th of January 1898.
Chapter 35
Tibet’s Autonomous Region
“It’s a rook.” I grip it and show it to The Pillar.
“Second piece of the puzzle,” The Pillar says. “I bet you can unscrew it open.”
“I can.” I am still looking at the mysterious piece. “Is this also made of Lewis’ bones?”
“Without a doubt.”
“You think it will lead us to Carroll’s Knight?”
“Eventually.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember when I told you I think I know what’s going on with the Chessmaster, back in the tomb in Marostica?” The Pillar says.
But before we have a chance to discuss his theory, I realize the monks are surrounding us from all directions.
“What’s going on, Xian?” I ask the old man.
“I believe Cao Pao Wong knows.” Xian hides behind the Deep Blue machine.
The monks look angry now, balling fists against fists, making creepy faces, and murmuring angry words I can’t understand.
“Pillar?” I say worriedly.
“Do you still know None Fu, Alice?” The Pillar asks, taking a strange marital arts position, reminding of Kermit the frog.
“Why are you asking?” I say.
The answer materializes in the monks readying themselves in warrior positions. All at once. They’re mastering the hardest position I once saw in Jack’s None Fu book.
“I hope you can deal with orange belts in None Fu.” The Pillar shrugs, taking a None Fu position himself now.
“I have reached the highest levels in the future, but right now I think I still am a blue belt.”
“Blue belt isn’t good enough,” The Pillar says. “Orange belts will kick your sorry little butt in the air, somersault you, and lay you down on a sword.”
“So what are we going to do? Why do the monks want to kill us? Don’t tell me it’s because of the visa.”
“Part of it,” The Pillar says. “They must’ve realized I played them.”
“Which makes it time to tell me what you were doing here before.”
“I know why he was here before.” Xian raises a hand from behind the machine.
“Speak up, Xian.” I demand
“Can Pao Wong is; I mean was our…”
“Your what?”
“None Fu master,” Xian exclaims. “He taught the village the art of None Fu years ago, so we could face our enemies.”
“You know None Fu?” I glare at The Pillar.
“Used to. Frankly, I can’t None Fu anything at the moment.”
“You forgot None Fu?” Xian is as shocked for the hundredth time. “That’s impossible.”
&nbs
p; “Stick with me, Xian.” I steady myself and breathe, eyes on the slowly approaching monks. “Why would they want to kill us if Cao Pao Wong was their None Fu master?” I am not accepting answers from The Pillar at the moment.
“Because it turned out not to be None Fu,” Xian says.
“Don’t confuse the fu out of me, Xian. I am not following.”
“I needed money, and I was lost in snow, being hunted down by an old enemy of mine,” The Pillar says. “I needed the monks to trust me and help me travel out of this frozen land, so I played them and taught them None Fu.”
“Which wasn’t really None Fu,” Xian elaborates, scratching his head. “When the monks used his technique against the wolves threatening our families each winter, they all died. That’s why The Pillar shaved his head; so they wouldn’t recognize him. He had hair then.”
“That’s why.” I sigh. “Why am I not surprised?” I tell The Pillar.
One of the monks approaches me and speaks in English. “None of this is why we’re going to kill you.”
“Your accent is great,” The Pillar flares a thumbs-up. “Pretty sure you’ll get the visa.”
“Shut up,” the orange monks say. “We know you fooled us, but we’re civilized and forgiving people.”
“That’s definitely a bonus for getting the visa with today’s hostility and terrorism.” The Pillar doesn’t stop. “America’s big on forgiveness – and mac and cheese, of course.”
“I told you to shut up,” the monk roars. “We’ll kill you because we’ve been waiting for someone to solve and open the machine and find the chess piece for years.”
“Now that’s truly civilized.” I scoff.
“She is badass, by the way,” The Pillar points at me. “You really don’t want to mess with her. She’s escaped an asylum. Killed her friends, her boyfriend, and a man who did nothing but sell muffins. She is brutal. A killing machine. No conscious at all. I dare you, if you can kill her first.”
“Pillar!” I clench my fists.
“No need for games,” the monk says. “Hand us the chess piece or die.”
“You mean we won’t die if we hand it over?” I question.
“No, you will die either way,” the monk shakes his head. “I just see them say it like that in the movies.”
Suddenly, The Pillar panics and stares at something in the sky behind the monks. “Look!” he points with all the fear of the world in his eyes. “A flying Buddha!”
“Really?” The monks turn for a second, and The Pillar kicks one of them unconscious in the back, then another.
The monks are still looking upward, and I wonder what’s so interesting about a flying Buddha, if there was ever one.
The Pillar bluntly flattens the two unconscious men on their stomach, and pushes them near a steep snowy slope, then sits upon one. “Sit on yours,” he hisses. “Time to ski. Kinda.”
I do, but the other monks have already figured out The Pillar’s silly Buddha trick. They start trotting after us in the snow.
The Pillar and I are already gliding down the slope of snow, too fast.
“We’ll get you Cao Pao Wong!” The monks scream behind us.
“Villains always say that in the end of movies,” The Pillar shouts back. “It never works, even if there’s a sequel.”
Chapter 36
Margaret Kent’s Office, Westminster Palace
“I want to know the connection between Fabiola’s poisoning and the White Queen chess piece, right now.” Margaret rapped on her desk.
Carolus shrugged, but the Cheshire didn’t. He had possessed a rabbit now. Enough with the politicians and humans, he’d thought. A talking rabbit amused him much more.
“We’re on it, Duchess,” Carolus said. “But it’s really hard to find a plausible connection.”
“I don’t take no for answer,” Margaret said. “This is too mysterious. I need to know what the Chessmaster is up to.”
“I say he is up to end the world as we know it,” The Cheshire said. His voice was squeaky and he sniffed between words. His rabbit nose was running as if he had a flu, and his eyes were curiously funny. He stared at everything in such excitement as if it were a miracle, especially the carrot in front of him.
“I didn’t permit you to speak, Cheshire.” Margaret roared.
“As you wish Duchess. Carrots?” He offered. “Good for the temper – and ugly looking women.”
“I thought they were good for the eyes.” Carolus said.
“I can’t speak because the Duchess told me not to,” the Cheshire said.
“But you are speaking,” Carolus argued.
“I could stop speaking if you stop asking.” The Cheshire grinned with the rabbit’s mouth, which was incredulous and creepy.
“Stop it!” Margaret said, reading a message she’d just received on her mobile phone. “I’m told The Pillar and Alice are in China. They found a second piece, part of the puzzle.”
“China!” the Cheshire said. “Never had Chinese carrots.”
Margaret dismissed him. “The next piece is a rook.” She told Carolus.
“A rook?” Carols wondered. “And a White Queen. Hmmm, I have no idea what this means.”
“Neither do I.” Margaret began, but then she suddenly felt ill, clinging to her stomach.
“You pregnant?” The Cheshire chewed on his carrot.
“She looks ill.” Carolus said.
Margaret had lost her speech. The pain inside her was too strong and sudden. She reached out her hands, but the Cheshire gripped tighter to the carrot and refused to share. She reached out to Carolus and he stuck his head forward, wondering if this was some kind of dance.
Margaret dropped speechless on the floor, with a thud.
“Is she dead?” Carolus said.
“I think she was poisoned,” the Cheshire puffed the carrot like a pipe and speculated. “In fact, I think what happened to Fabiola just happened to her, too.”
“Are you saying Fabiola’s poisoning has something to do with them finding the White Queen?” the Cheshire shook his rabbit’s foot. “And Margaret’s poisoning has something to do with them finding the Rook?”
Chapter 37
Tibet’s Autonomous Region
Gliding all the way down to the bottom of the snow, all kinds of questions present themselves. What’s really going on? Why are we supposed to find Carroll’s Knight, and why does the Chessmaster need it? Most of all, who is the Chessmaster?
I end up hitting a bump in the snow and skewing to the right where I hit into The Pillar. Both of us hang onto each other, balling up like a huge snowball that is rolling deeper into the pit of the hill.
The way down reminds me of my journey with The Pillar. We’re both unusual persons with secrets only few people know about — me with what’s still locked in my memory, and The Pillar with whatever grand plan he has in store for me and himself.
But in any case, and even when he proves to be a mad person by the minute, I am stuck with him, just like we’re stuck now. Not because I can’t do it any other way, but because behind all of the masquerade of being a one in a million nutty professor, I am sure he always has my back.
Speaking of backs, I almost crushed mine when we stopped right now.
“Better than a Disney roller coaster,” The Pillar comments standing up.
The monks at the top of the hill stand in a circle from above, scared to follow us down. As much as we’ve escaped them, I don’t see how we’re going to get out of here.
“We’re trapped down here.” I say.
“Pretty much,” he looks around. “Too bad gravity doesn’t allow people to fall up. Why do we all have to fall down and never up? I never understood.”
“Why would anyone want to fall up?” I smack the snow off my clothes.
“Are you kidding me? Fall up to the stars, to the skies, I’d love to fall up in another life.”
“Whatever.” I put my hands on my waist. “So, since we might never get out of here, at least
tell me what your theory is.”
“What theory?”
“You said you thought you understood what was going on with the Chessmaster when we were up there.”
“Ah, that. Look, it’s seems like we’re not just on a journey to find Carroll’s Knight.”
“Then what?”
“We’re collecting chess pieces, one by one, and the last will probably be Carroll’s Knight.”
“Sounds plausible. Are you suggesting we’re collecting Carroll’s whole set, the one he had Fabiola make from his bones?”
“I assume so. And since Fabiola can’t tell us what it was for, we’ll have to struggle with finding out why.”
“Are you sure Fabiola doesn’t know the Chessmaster.”
“No, I am not, but how can I be sure?”
“Are you sure you don’t know who the Chessmaster is?”
“Other than the rumor that they say his name is Vozchik Stolb; no, nothing.”
“It’s a Russian name, right?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure what it means.”
“So you think we’re really going to look for all the chess pieces?”
“Not all or it will take us forever.” The Pillar tries to make out what the monks’ shouts mean. “I believe we’re collecting the major pieces. Queen, King, Rook, Bishop, Pawn and Knight. One of each.”
There is a thud somewhere nearby, and the monks’ voices pitch higher.
“What are they saying?” I ask The Pillar.
“Giant,” The Pillar says. “The giant is coming.”
And that’s when a door in the snowy mountain’s side slides open and a huge man appears.
Chapter 38
The giant man has thick hairy skin like an ape. He is about seven or eight feet tall. His eyebrows are as thick as the bushy hair on his chest. He only wears shorts and the diameter of his leg is the breadth of me and The Pillar combined. His hand is huge.
“Sorry we woke you up,” The Pillar said.
“You know him?” I clamp my back against the wall.
“No, and I don’t want to.”