雙語讀電影 《愛麗絲夢游仙境-2》第11章 :最棒的人都是瘋子

In the winding streets of Witzend, people and creatures gathered in clusters to whisper about the results of the coronation. Keeping her eyes f?ixed on the lanky frame of the Hatter ahead of her, Alice wove through the groups.
“Excuse me?” she called. “Excuse me? Tarrant!”
Hatter spun, his face still tight with emotion. Alice pulled him into a hug, wanting to comfort him after that terrible exchange with his father.
He was surprised, and his expression melted into bemusement.
“It’s you, isn’t it? It’s really you!” Alice said, echoing what Hatter had once said to her.
“I’m sorry,” Hatter replied. “Have we met?”
Alice stepped back, beaming up at him. “Yes! I mean, no. I mean, not yet. I’m Alice.”
“Funny. I feel I should know you.” Hatter’s voice had returned to its usual quirky cadence.
“We met once,” Alice explained. “When I was young.”
“I’m afraid I don’t recall,” Hatter said.
Alice smiled. “Because it hasn’t happened yet.”
“When will it happen?”
“Years from now. When you’re older,” Alice answered.
Hatter cocked his head to the side. “I’ll meet you when you’re younger ... and I’m older?”
“It doesn’t make much sense, I know.” Alice bit her lip as Hatter worked through the conundrum.
Suddenly, his face broke into the familiar grin Alice had missed. “Of course it does!” he exclaimed. He started walking again, his steps more buoyant as Alice kept pace. “You’re Alice—my new, old friend! You’re bonkers, aren’t you?”
“Am I?” Alice asked.
“All the best ones are,” Hatter said, leaning in conspiratorially. He plucked a ribbon from one stall, then a purplemelon fruit from another. “You must meet my friend Thackery Earwicket!”
As they passed a crooked house, Hatter reached out and snatched a few tail feathers from a borogove bird perched on the windowsill.
“He lives out by the old mill,” Hatter continued. His f?ingers busily wove the ribbon around the fruit and feathers, attaching them to some fabric he’d pulled from his vest.
As the two of them exited the village and strode toward Tulgey Woods, Hatter drew a pair of scissors from a holster on his hip and snipped at the ribbon.
“I’m hoping he’ll put me up for a bit,” Hatter chattered on. “Will you join us for tea?”
Before Alice could answer, he whirled, presenting her with a stunning purple-and-blue hat he’d fashioned from the fruit, ribbon, fabric, and feathers. Delighted, Alice immediately placed it on her head. Hatter produced a hand mirror from one of his pockets and held it up with a f?lourish so she could admire herself.
Linking arms, the two of them continued along the path until Hatter paused at an old oak tree with a hollow in its side.
“Can you keep a secret?” he whispered. Alice nodded and her friend’s face became wistful. “This tree is magical,” he said. “Every night when I was a boy, I would make a wish, and the next morning the tree would have granted it. Usually green-and-white Swizzles. Delicious! What a tree.” He patted its bark gently before ambling onward.
Suddenly recognizing their surroundings, Alice pulled up short. They were close to the Horunvendush Day fairgrounds. She’d been so caught up in having her old friend back that she’d forgotten her mission.
“Wait! Stop!” she cried. “Your family is in danger. You must warn them about Horunvendush Day!”
Hatter regarded her blankly. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” he f?inally said. “But if my father sent you to change my mind, you can tell him that I never will.” He turned his back and walked purposefully away.
“Tarrant, wait!” Alice called desperately. “Listen! You are right now creating a past you will never be able to change! Hatter!”
But Hatter didn’t turn around. His f?igure was soon swallowed by the shadows of the trees. F?linging up her arms in frustration, Alice headed back toward the village. Maybe the elder Hightopp would listen to reason.
She found Zanik Hightopp outside Witzend Castle, talking to a distraught Princess Mirana.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hightopp,” Mirana was saying as Alice approached. Her voice was sweet and sincere. “My sister wasn’t always like this. But something happened when we were small.”
“It was Fell Day, many years ago,” Mirana continued. “It was snowing that night ... she hit her head on a grandfather clock, in the town square.” Mirana gestured toward the center of Witzend. Her eyes took on a faraway look. “Right at the stroke of six. I’ll never forget.”
An idea sprang to life in Alice’s head. Not wanting to draw attention to herself, she slipped away quietly and headed out of town.
In Tulgey Woods the birds tweeted merrily and the sun shone down. But the Hatter didn’t notice. All his meager belongings were stacked nearby, just outside the house of his friend Thackery Earwicket.
Thackery, more widely known as the March Hare, and Mallymkun, the brave little Dormouse, emerged from the house. Thackery balanced a tall stack of cups and saucers in one hand and waved ateapot in the other while Mallymkun carried a pile of silverware in her tiny hands.
“Teatime!” Thackery called brightly.
Hatter tried to shake off his gloominess; he didn’t want to bring his friends down. He helped Thackery and Mallymkun lay out enough tea settings, cakes, scones, and sandwiches for a party of sixteen, even though it was just going to be the three of them—unless, of course, that delightfully strange Alice girl came along. Hatter felt bad for the way he had left things. It wasn’t Alice’s fault that his father disapproved of him. As Hatter turned to scan the trees for his new-old friend, a horrendous sound pierced the air.
From the sky, the Tempus Fugit whistled toward them. Time tried to steer his machine, but his arms were exhausted.
Boom! The Tempus Fugit crashed into the enormous sails of the windmill above Thackery’s house. “Owwww,” Time complained as the platform beneath him banged into the dirt.
Speechless, Hatter, Thackery, and Mallymkun stared at the strange machine and the bushy-haired man crumpled in the grass. F?inally noticing them, Time scrambled to get out of the Tempus Fugit.
Once he was f?inally free, he cleared his throat, then drew himself up to his full, imposing height. New wrinkles had formed in his forehead and there were bags under his eyes.
“Greetings,” Time said. “I am Time. The Inf?inite and Immortal. You may express your awe and wonder.” He peered down his nose at them.
Hatter merely tipped his head sideways to study the newcomer.
“I wonder, my lord,” he said, “why you have lowered yourself to mingle amongst us mere and mundane mortals.”
“Ah, well.” Time’s eyes shifted in his embarrassment.
“I am looking for a girl called Alice. Have you seen her?”
Hatter pursed his lips, considering. Alice, he liked, whereas this man seemed rather pompous. “What is your business with her?” he asked.
“She took something from me. I need it back as soon as possible,” Time said.
Coming to a decision, Hatter smiled widely. “You’re in luck, oh, Eternal One! Why, just today I invited Alice to tea. Have a seat. We can wait together.” Hatter bowed, one arm extending toward the tea table.
Time strode past him and selected a tall armchair. As he settled in, Hatter caught Mallymkun’s and Thackery’s eyes over Time’s head. He nodded slightly. This will be fun, Hatter thought.
“If you’re really Time itself, or himself, or whatever you are, perhaps you can answer me this,” Hatter blathered on as he served their guest. “I’ve always wondered when ‘soon’ is.” He set down the teapot only to snatch up a plate of scones and shove it into Time’s face. “Is it before ‘in a few minutes’ or after ‘a little while’?”
Time had to jerk backward to keep his nose clear of the pastries. Taking a moment to coldly study the Hatter, he clasped his hands.
“If you vex me, it’ll be an eternity.”

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