Chapter 191 “Alternate History”

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After hearing the complex account of that peculiar situation from the doll, Duncan’s eyes grew wide in sheer amazement.

“Disappeared? You mean, they just vanished into thin air right in front of you?” Duncan looked at Alice with disbelief evident in his eyes. His attention then shifted to the nearby rowboat that had been recently lifted out of the water. He noticed the ropes previously attached to the Enders, now abandoned and lying on the wooden plank.

“Exactly! They were there one moment and gone the next! No sound or anything,” Alice animatedly explained her uncanny experience to Duncan. “It was as if the moment the sunlight touched them, they evaporated, leaving no trace they ever existed.”

“So, when the sunlight hits them…” Duncan’s brows furrowed in thought. He had speculated various scenarios in which the Enders might escape or fend off capture, but disappearing into nothingness had not been one of them. This unexpected turn rendered many of his contingency plans pointless. “I could grasp it if they had jumped into the sea. After all, they could dive into the water. 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, standing tall with pride.

“I wasn’t really directing that question at you,” Duncan remarked, his gaze drifting to the puppet. “But before they disappeared, did they say anything? Was there some peculiar ritual they performed?”

“They were mumbling some odd phrases. Something about subspace, a prophesized land, and the fated cycle of rebirth,” Alice paused, then added as if suddenly remembering, “And they mentioned ‘another day’ has concluded?”

Upon 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 had mentioned hiding within a cursed history.

While Duncan had considered many bizarre theories in the past, it seemed the actual truth of the matter was even stranger than his wildest speculations.

“Captain?” Alice’s voice carried a hint of concern, noticing the troubled look on Duncan’s face. “You seem to be lost in thought. What’s on your mind?”

“It might be nothing,” Duncan mused aloud, almost as if he was 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 face reflecting her confusion despite her limited cognitive abilities. “What exactly does that imply?”

“Ugh… It’s complicated. Even with my understanding, I’d struggle to elucidate it to you,” Duncan replied, glancing at Alice. After a brief pause, he added, “But now, something has clicked in my head. I recall a book Morris gave me that described the Ender Missionaries as the most mysterious cult in our world and the hardest to uncover and apprehend… This entire 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 hope to capture these zealots? You might successfully 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 this concept of ‘subspace’ be the reason they possess this ability to step out of the main flow of time?

“Captain, you seem lost in thought again…” Alice observed, her face showing 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 things this early wouldn’t benefit him.

“Did you happen to see the note I handed you earlier?” He inquired, changing the subject as he looked towards the doll.

“Yes, I did!” Alice responded with enthusiasm. “At first, when I saw the box, I panicked, thinking you were signaling me to leave. But my worries were eased when I found the note inside… I couldn’t understand the written words, but luckily you drew some pictures on the back…”

A small smile tinged with exasperation, played at the corners of Duncan’s lips, thinking, “Of course, you can’t read.”

Unapologetically, Alice admitted, “True, I don’t know how to read! After spending so many years cooped up in that box, 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, lost for words.

“Captain, what’s on your mind now?”

A playful thought crossed Duncan’s mind, “I was just pondering… perhaps I should start a tutoring service at either the ‘Vanished’ or the antique shop. Considering you, I now know of two people who can’t read. And if we include Dog, that makes it three – a sufficient number for a study group.”

Alice tilted her head, clearly puzzled, “What’s a tutoring service? And what do you mean by a study group?”

“Never mind, I’ll fill you in later,” Duncan replied, brushing the idea off. His demeanor then shifted to a more serious tone, “Let’s focus on the earlier ‘experiment’. Those three cultists – they seemed alright before they disappeared, didn’t they? Even after you handed over the box, there were no indications 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 undoubtedly unusual, they didn’t exhibit the legendary resilience of saints. For instance, 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 heightened tolerance to pain. 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 quite unusual traits, which does give me pause. Yet, the outcomes suggest…” He trailed off in thought but then decisively confirmed, “The test was satisfactory. Your guillotine-like ability appears to be in check.”

However, before Alice could revel in this affirmation, Duncan interjected, “That being said, I can’t take you to the city-state just yet. You seriously lack foundational knowledge of human societal norms. Plus, there are still parts of you that clearly expose your non-human nature, like your finger and wrist joints. The former may require some tweaks, 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 mundane as purchasing 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 mere idea of Alice seeking guidance from that strange sculpture. The potential mishaps that could arise from such tutelage made him shudder. “His grasp on human nuances is as flawed as yours. You turning to him for education on the human world? It begs the question, where is your logic?”

Feigning innocence, Alice replied, “Well, I don’t possess one!”

The absurdity of her response rendered Duncan momentarily speechless. After collecting himself, he retorted, “Well, you have a point there.”

“Hehe…”

“Listen, refrain from learning anything from that one 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 in the future 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 began heading towards 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 gait energetic and poised after a night’s worth of tasks.

Watching her receding figure, Duncan mused aloud, “She carries herself with such grace when silent. A shame her persona is somewhat… quirky.”

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