The Looking Glass Wars Read Online Free PDF Page B

dawn of the queendom. They served the Heart Crystal and didn‘t much care who occupied the throne so long as the crystal remained safe.
    It was said that they could see the future because they refused to judge it, but lately more and more members of the suit families were shrugging off the caterpillars‘ prophecies, claiming a reliance on them was nothing more than silly superstition, a remnant from more barbaric times.
    The caterpillars didn‘t actively interfere in the workings of the government or in the rivalries among the suit families, but they weren‘t above letting Genevieve glimpse the future if it concerned the safety of the Heart Crystal, so that she might take action to protect it.
    ―Thank you for coming today, Caterpillar,‖ she said. ―It‘s an honor to play host to one so wise.
    We are all humbly grateful—especially Alyss.‖
    ―Ahem hum hum,‖ grumbled the caterpillar, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
    The smoke formed the shape of a butterfly with extended wings, then metamorphosed into a confusion of scenes. Genevieve saw a large cat grooming itself. She saw what looked like a lightning bolt. She saw Redd‘s face. Then the smoke again formed the shape of a butterfly. The butterfly folded its wings and Genevieve awoke on a couch with the smell of stale tobacco in her nostrils. The caterpillar was gone. Hatter Madigan and a walrus in a tuxedo jacket two sizes too small were standing over her.
    ―You must have fainted, madam,‖ said the walrus-butler. ―I will get you some water, madam.‖
    The walrus hurried out of the room. The queen remained silent for several moments, then—
    ―The blue caterpillar was here.‖
    Hatter Madigan frowned and put a hand to the brim of his top hat. His eyes scanned the room.
    ―I‘m not quite sure what he showed me,‖ Genevieve said.
    ―I will inform General Doppelgänger and the rest of the Millinery. We will prepare a defense for whatever‘s coming.‖
    Just once, Queen Genevieve would have liked to relax the watchful vigilance she was forced to maintain every hour of every day to ensure Wonderland‘s safety. The caterpillars‘ prophecies were always so vague. Sometimes their visions reflected only possibilities, the dark wishes of those who never planned to carry them out. But she couldn‘t take a chance, not when it concerned Redd.
    ―Make sure not to alarm our guests,‖ she said.
    ―Of course.‖ Hatter bowed and left the room.
    Genevieve was lucky to have such a bodyguard. Hatter Madigan could swing a blade (or several at once) faster and more accurately than anyone alive. He was nimble, acrobatic. He could flip and tumble through the air without getting hit by a single cannonball spider in an onslaught of cannonball spiders. But even with all of his skills, he could not protect the queen forever. How could he have known that the precautionary measures he was about to take would prove useless, that it was already too late?

CHAPTER 8
    T HE PARTY had moved to the South Dining Room for tea and most of the guests had returned home. The walrus made his way around the long table, at which sat Queen Genevieve and the suit families.
    ―Lump of sugar for your tea, madam? A drop of honey for your tea, sir?‖
    Genevieve smiled politely, not paying much attention to the goings-on. Because of the caterpillar‘s warning, because King Nolan should have returned hours ago and yet she had received no word from him, she couldn‘t concentrate. Ah, but here were Alyss and Dodge. What misadventures they‘d been getting up to only the spirit of Issa knew.
    ―Well, well, if it isn‘t the girl of the hour,‖ she said. ―And where have you two been?‖
    ―Nowhere.‖
    Doing her best to look innocent, Alyss took her seat. She flashed Dodge a warning glance—say nothing—and he manned his guardsman‘s post as composedly as he could, across the room from his father. Jack of Diamonds, with tarty tart crumbs on his cheeks, down the front of his waistcoat, and in his