Chapter 191: “Alternate History”
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
After listening to the intricate tale recounted by the doll, Duncan’s eyes widened in sheer astonishment.
“Disappeared? Are you saying they just vanished into thin air right in front of you?” Duncan asked, his disbelief clear as he looked at Alice. His gaze then shifted to the rowboat nearby, which had just been lifted out of the water. The ropes that had been tied to the Enders were now abandoned, lying on the wooden plank.
“Exactly! One moment they were there, and the next, gone! Not a sound,” Alice animatedly described the strange event to Duncan. “It was as if the sunlight touched them and they evaporated, leaving no trace.”
“So, when the sunlight hits them…” Duncan’s brows furrowed in thought. He had imagined various scenarios in which the Enders might escape or evade capture, but vanishing into nothingness wasn’t one of them. This unforeseen turn rendered many of his plans useless. “I could understand if they had jumped into the sea. They could dive. But how do they just disappear with sunlight? Is there some unique property of the sun that prevents them from existing in our realm?”
“I have no idea,” Alice asserted confidently.
“I wasn’t really asking you,” Duncan said, his eyes turning to the puppet. “But before they disappeared, did they say anything? Perform any peculiar ritual?”
“They were mumbling some odd phrases about subspace, a prophesized land, and the cycle of rebirth,” Alice paused, then added as if remembering something, “And they mentioned ‘another day’ has concluded?”
Hearing this, Duncan’s face darkened, and he appeared deep in thought. He recalled a previous encounter with one of the Enders on the ship’s deck, where they mentioned hiding within a cursed history.
Though Duncan had considered many bizarre theories in the past, it seemed the reality was even stranger than his wildest speculations.
“Captain?” Alice’s voice had a hint of concern, noticing Duncan’s troubled expression. “You seem lost in thought. What’s on your mind?”
“It might be nothing,” Duncan mused aloud, almost as if speaking to himself. “But a wild thought just crossed my mind. What if those Enders hail from an alternate historical timeline?”
“A different timeline?” Alice responded, her confusion evident despite her limited understanding. “What exactly does that mean?”
“Ugh… It’s complicated. Even I’d struggle to explain it,” Duncan replied, glancing at Alice. After a brief pause, he added, “But now, something has clicked. I remember a book Morris gave me describing the Ender Missionaries as the most mysterious cult, hardest to uncover and apprehend… This whole situation is so bewildering.”
Hidden within an alternate thread of history, capable of fading from existence during the cycle of day and night. If both these assertions held true, how could anyone ever capture these zealots? You might set a trap and detain them under the cover of darkness, but by dawn, they’d vanish like shadows at noon.
Could their affiliation with ‘subspace’ be why they can step out of the main flow of time?
“Captain, you seem lost in thought again…” Alice observed, her face a mix of curiosity and concern.
“I’m fine,” Duncan replied, exhaling a tired sigh and pushing aside the whirlwind of ideas in his head. Overthinking wouldn’t help right now.
“Did you see the note I handed you earlier?” he asked, changing the subject as he looked at the doll.
“Yes, I did!” Alice responded enthusiastically. “At first, when I saw the box, I panicked, thinking you were signaling me to leave. But my worries eased when I found the note inside… I couldn’t understand the written words, but you drew some pictures on the back…”
A small, exasperated smile played at the corners of Duncan’s lips. “Of course, you can’t read.”
Unapologetically, Alice admitted, “True, I don’t know how to read! After being cooped up in that box for so many years, I think it’s quite an achievement that I even have a basic grasp of the world around me. How could I be expected to recognize letters or words?”
Duncan just shook his head, at a loss for words.
“Captain, what’s on your mind now?”
A playful thought crossed Duncan’s mind, “I was just thinking… perhaps I should start a tutoring service at either the Vanished or the antique shop. Considering you, I now know two people who can’t read. And if we include Dog, that makes three – enough for a study group.”
Alice tilted her head, puzzled, “What’s a tutoring service? And what do you mean by a study group?”
“Never mind, I’ll explain later,” Duncan said, dismissing the idea. His demeanor then turned serious, “Let’s focus on the earlier ‘experiment.’ Those three cultists – they seemed fine before they disappeared, right? Even after you handed over the box, there were no signs of harm?”
“As far as I could tell, they were whole, heads still attached and everything.”
Duncan stroked his chin, deep in thought.
Though the nature of these Enders was unusual, they didn’t show the legendary resilience of saints. For example, Shirley was able to knock out three of them in a single swing using Dog as a makeshift weapon, proving they weren’t invincible. Their physical forms were still susceptible to damage. Maybe they just had a high pain tolerance. But given that the three Enders survived their encounter with Alice unscathed, he wondered: had Alice’s once-lethal touch truly lost its potency?
Alice intently observed Duncan’s shifting expressions. Despite her often slow reactions, she was astute enough to discern the implications of this moment for her future. “Captain… based on the results of my ‘test,’ will you consider taking me to the city-state?”
Weighing his response carefully, Duncan began, “Regarding the test… it seems you did pass. Those Enders had unusual traits, which gives me pause. Yet, the outcomes suggest…” He trailed off in thought but then decisively confirmed, “The test was satisfactory. Your guillotine-like ability seems under control.”
However, before Alice could revel in this affirmation, Duncan added, “That said, I can’t take you to the city-state just yet. You seriously lack basic knowledge of human societal norms. Plus, there are parts of you that clearly expose your non-human nature, like your finger and wrist joints. The former may need some adjustments, while the latter will need disguising.”
Alice nodded emphatically, her spirits undampened by Duncan’s caveats. “I understand! Mr. Goathead also mentioned this. He warned me about the complexities of human society, highlighting even something as simple as buying vegetables comes with its etiquette. I am determined to bridge my knowledge gap by diligently learning and asking countless questions.”
“No, don’t consult HIM!” Duncan interjected hurriedly, visibly agitated at the thought of Alice seeking guidance from that peculiar sculpture. The potential mishaps from such tutoring made him shudder. “His grasp on human nuances is as flawed as yours. You turning to him for education on the human world? Where’s your logic?”
Feigning innocence, Alice replied, “Well, I don’t have one!”
The absurdity of her response left Duncan momentarily speechless. After collecting himself, he retorted, “Well, you have a point there.”
“Hehe…”
“Listen, don’t learn anything from him going forward. He’s not the best mentor for you.” Duncan lamented the limited educational resources on the ship. “I’ll set aside some time to personally educate you. I’ll also devise a strategy to conceal your more obvious non-human features. But for now, let’s focus on preparing breakfast.”
Alice, ever eager, readily agreed. But just as she headed to the kitchen, she hesitated, “And what will you be doing, Captain?”
“I have matters to discuss with Mr. Goathead,” Duncan responded, rubbing his temple in exhaustion. “Rest assured, it doesn’t concern you.”
With a nod, Alice moved towards the kitchen, her steps energetic and poised after a night’s tasks.
Watching her receding figure, Duncan mused aloud, “She carries herself with such grace when silent. A shame her persona is somewhat… quirky.”
Can’t win a logic fight with a puppet lol. I love Alice personality
Normally I don’t really like female characters but Alice is lovely xd
Normally I don’t like dumb comic relief characters. Loathe them, in fact. But I don’t mind Alice for some reason. If she slowly starts becoming more serious, knowledgeable, and capable, it would be very nice and add more depth to the story.
maybe, theres a real chance with how things are going
Wasn’t she able to read the name of the different doors on the Vanished?
Man, I love Alice so much. She’s just so silly. It’s really comforting whenever captain have a conversation with her.
everything might seem hopeless, as they yell about “the inevitable.” but if things were truly hopeless, you wouldn’t see them fighting so hard. the most scary change in history would be all those people just disappearing without further interference without any major change in the world. that would truly be terror.
Stop, you’re scaring me.