Kitabı oku: «Alice in Zombieland / Алиса в Стране зомби», sayfa 10

“The Rot spread relentlessly, infecting not just bodies but the very soul of Wonderland. My castle became a refuge for the frightened and the grieving, yet its walls could not hold back despair. In time, even it proved not enough. The Rot crept in, silent and insidious, and the people – my people – chose to return to their homes, believing themselves safer surrounded by what little familiarity remained. The sanctuary I offered could no longer ease their fear. The land turned on itself, beauty withering into ruin. And now… now the Rot has festered for so long it threatens to swallow everything we have ever loved.”

Her fingers trembled slightly as they brushed the armrest of her throne. “I myself have not been left untouched by its grasp,” she admitted, her voice heavy with shame. “The Rot has weakened me, sapped my strength until I can scarcely rise from this throne on my own. What once was a seat of power has become my prison. I feel its weight with every passing moment, a constant reminder of how far we have fallen.”

The Queen paused, her gaze fixed on Alice, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “You were chosen, Alice, because you are untainted by this land's sorrow. Your strength lies in your clarity, your ability to see Wonderland not as it is, but as it could be.”

Alice took a step back, her hands trembling as she clutched at her sides. This was all so absurd – so very much. They wanted her to save a kingdom, fight off some ghastly Rot, fulfill prophecies and whatnot? Was this the “path” everyone kept talking about? Because if it was, she would've much preferred one with fewer eyes and a lot more clear instructions. “But… what if I can't do it? What if I fail? You keep saying I'm your saviour, but how can I save you?”

The Queen's face grew somber, her voice lowering to an almost reverent tone. “There is a prophecy, Alice. It will show the way.”

She recited with a measured cadence:

 
“Where shadows creep and echoes chime,
The truth lies buried under time.
Hands that point yet cannot move,
Mark the path that you must prove.”
 

Alice blinked, trying to make sense of the cryptic lines. Her brow furrowed, and she muttered, “That sounds awfully like the writing on the Red King's clock cap.”

The Queen froze, her eyes narrowing as her lips thinned into a sharp line. A flicker of restrained anger passed over her otherwise serene features. Her gaze darted briefly toward the throne room doors, her voice ringing out, “You bumbling fool, come at once.”

Alice stiffened, unease crawling up her spine. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she recalled the Hatter's odd warning about names that carried echoes. At the time, she'd thought it nonsense. Now, she wasn't so sure. The Queen's change in demeanor had been swift and sharp, and Alice felt its sting like a slap she hadn't seen coming. Then, just as swiftly, the Queen's expression softened at the sight of Alice's alarm, shifting into something almost motherly, as though hoping to soothe the tension she herself had stirred.

“Oh, my dear child,” she said, her voice suddenly soothing. “You must not worry yourself with such notions. The Red King is but a poor, lost soul – a relic of stories meant to frighten and confuse.”

The White Rabbit appeared moments later, his fur disheveled and his movements hurried. He hesitated at the threshold, his ears twitching nervously, before shuffling forward to stand beside Alice in front of the throne. The Queen's gaze fell on him like a blade. “It appears, my skittish little hare, that Alice has encountered not only the friendly society of the tea-party,” she said coldly, “but also the lost souls of the forest.”

The Rabbit began trembling violently, his large foot tapping nervously against the floor, causing a faint thudding sound. Alice glanced at him, her confusion growing, a disquieting tension gnawed at her nerves and left her struggling to make sense of the Queen's sharp words and the Rabbit's trembling fear. The Queen's lips pressed into a thin line of irritation. “How could you let her face such horrors, you trembling coward? She is a child, unarmed and unprepared, and yet you allowed her to endure such a nightmare. Is this your idea of service?”

“No, Your Majesty,” the Rabbit stammered, his voice quaking with unease. “I deeply regret my failure, Your Majesty. I shall do everything in my power to ensure it does not happen again.” As he bowed deeply, his sore leg gave way, and he stumbled forward, falling awkwardly to the floor. His ears drooped low in embarrassment as he scrambled to his feet, brushing himself off hastily. The Queen's eyes narrowed slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Pitiful,” she murmured, not cruelly, but with the cool disappointment of someone expecting better. The Rabbit flinched all the same.

Alice, who couldn't help but feel a flicker of compassion for the humiliated creature, moved cautiously toward him. She hesitated, unsure how to help, her mind racing. Then, as if struck by an unexpected thought, she remembered the pocket watch she had tucked away earlier. For a moment, she wondered if it might help, and though uncertain, she decided to try. “I still have your watch,” she said, pulling it out carefully. “Here.”

The Rabbit snatched it quickly, clutching it as though it were a lifeline. “You should not have taken it,” he muttered, his tone curt. Though he did not meet her gaze, his ears stood upright with irritation. “Do you have any idea the trouble you've caused?”

Alice exploded with a sharp retort, her hands clenching at her sides as she stepped toward the Rabbit. “I didn't take it!” she snapped, her voice tight with hurt and disbelief. “You dropped it, and I simply picked it up. It's not my fault if you can't keep track of your own things!”

The Rabbit made a feeble motion toward Alice as though to continue arguing, but the Queen's icy gaze pinned him in place. The unspoken threat in her eyes made him freeze mid-gesture, his ears flattening as he recoiled slightly. “You will escort Alice to her room,” she commanded, her tone cold and unyielding. “And you will attend to Alice's every need. Do not fail me in this.”