Careful with the tea

Part 4

Hatter took me to another place. He didn't say a word all along, and also avoided to look at me. He made his efforts to find a way in the labyrinth of half-cut streets, gaps and houses built upon each other, where I wouldn't need his help to jump or climb. In this crazily built city it wasn't a piece of cake, but he managed. He never touched me, not even for a second.

We reached a building, at the ground floor stuck to the narrow pavement covered with dry-out lawn I saw dozens of doors. We walked along, and he hammered on one of them, randomly chosen. He whispered a few words to the man peeping out of the loophole, and he let us in.

I began to think for sure, that no buildings here were what they seemed. Inside this one for example all you could see was an elevator. That appeared to be an old bus actually. In another life I would've thought it's funny. Here and now my only problem was Hatter, who tried really hard to get rid of me once and for all.

The bus had a driver too. An old bearded man wearing a soilder's suit, with a pair of old-fashioned black riding pants. Hatter gazed out of the windows, into the great nothing, where the elevator walls covered with dirty paper were the only thing to see.

I'd give a fortune to have him look at me once again. To speak to me one more word. To take me in his arms for one more minute...

I shook my head. I hoped they hadn't seen my emptions sweeping through my face. I was run over by some strange heat, and my heart started to beat crazily. I didn't feel bad, on the contrary, but it was like having run a mile. It was a good feeling, though exhausting as well.

The elevator stopped, and I found myself inside an enormous building. Looking down from the gallery, where the bus stopped, it all looked like one giant hall. Chandeliers hang down from the ceiling, covering the whole place into some golden light. The gallery ran around the walls, the other corned almost disappeared in the distance.

Hatter showed me the way, to one door in the corridor. As he didn't wish start, I went first.

In the room an older woman was sitting right next to her large desk with books covered, and she was writing something.

As soon as we entered, she stood up smiling.

„Hatter, my dear son! Is everything all right?" she asked looking at me, so she couldn't see the painful look on his face. „She's that girl then? How is your hand?" she reached her arms to me.

„I am fine, thank you. Hatter cleaned my wound, so I'll be ok."

She took my forehead.

„Warm a bit. I hope you won't get a fever, Maybe you should have some more rest..."

I felt weird. It seemed nobody worried about introductions at this pace, so I had to make the step.

I gave her a hand.

„I am Kate. And thank you. I'm really fine. Only starving."

„Oh, I'm so rude." she apologized, and shook my hand.

„ You can call me Owl. I like this nickname." she added, as I rose an eyebrow.

I smiled at her, but I had to get to the point.

„Hatter told me you can get me home soon. But how long must I wait? And what's more important, where can I stay until then?"

Owl's looking at Hatter with a searching look, but he avoided her eyesight. She looked back at me, and answered after a short pause.

„Please don't take it personal, but it's better for all of us, if you know the least necessary. You are safe here, let this be enough. It's only about a few days."

I sighed deeply, and looked at Hatter.

„I see. And thank you. But I'm bored to death. Do you have a job? Let me help."

Hatter and Owl shared a look. Then she took my hand and escorted me out of her room.

„We'll surely find something for you – after breakfast."