Part 6: In which Alice has her identity questioned multiple times.
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Since someone asked, according to
my resources, "Alice in Wonderland" was released in 1985, the year after "Below the Root". I've also decided that, since the penalty for making a wrong conversation choice isn't gripping gaming (you have to come back some game hours later), I'll just show the results of a wrong conversation choice, if any, then pull a Prince of Persia and do it the right way. Thanks for your input!
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When last we left our heroine, she was about to take the plunge into a conveniently labeled Pool of Tears.
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I've only just gotten dry from the last time!
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That wasn't so bad, actually. It was certainly warmer than the Thames. I'm glad this island is here, though; my tiny arms are tired.
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That cave looks eminently explorable.
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If you say so.
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Oooh, a
secret seashell!
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There's no way I'll be able to reach that.
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Fortunately, you have a solution in hand, or rather in pocket.
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Let me get closer to it first, so I have the room to grow...
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...and then I can eat some cake. Ah, it's still out of reach!
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Got it!
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You see a large seashell rather like a whelk.
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I love collecting seashells on the shore. You can put them to your ear and hear the sea!
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If you liked this game, you'll love 'Below the Root.'
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Or a shameless plug. I wasted two cakes on this?
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And an elixir so you can get out again. But it's not a waste; you'll need that seashell later. (Incidentally, the seashell actually plays a rendition of the 'Below the Root' theme when used.)
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Of course I will. At least I can crawl out and don't have to get small again.
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And it'll be easier going swimming at this size.
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Ah, land! Fairly substantial land, at that. Hopefully I won't have to go swimming again for some time.
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Oh! It's the White King!
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Red King.
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Are you sure? He looks white.
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Everyone looks white. Trust me on this.
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Well, I suppose he is sleeping. But he's in the wrong book! What's he doing here?
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You could ask him...
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ZZZZZZZZ
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Uh, excuse me, but are you the Red King?
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ZZZZZZZZZZ
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Hello? I was wondering if you could tell me--
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ZZZZZZZZZZ
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Hey, wake up!
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ZZZZZZZZZZ
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Curious. He won't wake, no matter how loud I am.
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It's probably for the best. (Incidentally, there's an amusing glitch here; he gives the same generic responses to singing or offering that all NPCs do. A limitation of the engine, I think.)
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I suppose I'll just move on. Ah, a poster!
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Come to the caucus!!! Hear the Dodo say two clever things. Also mermaids, firewalkers, and tax refunds.
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As one of your countrymen said, multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of a diseased mind.
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I wonder if he wrote it himself?
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Well, here's your chance to ask.
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Harumph. As the Lord High Mayor of this fair beach, I can tell you that a vote for me is... um... a vote for me.
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Hello there. Are you the one who wrote the poster I just saw?
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Pleased to meet you. I'm his Honor, the Lord High Mayor Dodo.
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My name's Alice. Where am I, anyway? I've gotten a bit lost.
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That's a very good question. I'll give it to a blue-ribbon panel so they can come up with an answer.
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You don't even know where you are? What kind of mayor are you?
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Then vote for the Lory, but you'll be sorry. I'll be back at eight o'clock.
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He vanished!
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Wait, that's not what happened.
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(Whoa, deja vu.) Um, what are you doing on that podium, if you don't mind my asking?
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I'm running for re-election.
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(What election? He's got no constituents.) You seem kind of tense. Is winning the, uh, election worth this kind of stress? Maybe you should take a break.
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Why? We're all creatures in the Red King's dream. When he wakes up, we'll all disappear. Yes, even you.
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I will not! He's part of my dream, if anything!
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How rude!
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That's not a very nice way to treat a potential voter!
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According to the polls, fifty per cent think that I am nice. I don't have to do anything for you.
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Well!
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Now now, Alice, we need to get something from him. Let's try a gentler tack.
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If you insist. Ahem. Excuse me, Mister Dodo, but is there anything I can do to help your campaign?
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Harumph. My throat's a bit dry. I could use something sweet to soothe it.
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I have just the thing. It's a tin of comfits. Don't worry, the tin's kept the salt water out.
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Take this campaign souvenir.
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You see a stout stick of oak with a golden dodo at the top.
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Um, thank you, I... think. (What a curious souvenir. But I imagine I'll need it later.)
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I believe in good government and full employment for dodos.
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(I can't imagine why.) Moving on...
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Uh. Hi?
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I'm sorry, dear. I don't think we look a bit alike. I'm the pretty one.
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Who are you supposed to be?
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The brighter Alice.
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What a thing to say! I'm Alice! You're just some... frightful Wonderland facsimile!
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My hair is your hair so if it's a fright, it's your fault.
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Of course my hair is a fright after all that swim... what am I saying?
You're not me!
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You heard the dodo. We can't dillydally.
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The dodo's an idiot, and so are you for believing him!
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Alice! You're not supposed to use words like that. I'll be back at eight o'clock.
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She vanished!
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...
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...
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...
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...aren't you going to rewind time again?
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Nah, you don't get anything useful out of her. Let's keep moving.
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All right. (Goodness, my temper's gotten frayed today.)
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Egad, how awful. How catastrophic. I've lost my gloves. Oh, it's you, Mary Ann. Fetch me another pair.
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(I'd best try to keep it under control.) Excuse me, Mister Rabbit, but I'm not Mary Ann, whoever that is.
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Is your union putting you up to this? I'll be back at eight o'clock.
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And now he's vanished! They're all so easily offended!
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Let me start over.
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Um, hello. Who are you?
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Your employer. Have you been practicing tumbling down the stairs again?
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I don't think so, but things have been so strange lately. Why are you dancing around like that?
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I shouldn't have to do everything myself.
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I'm very sorry, Mister Rabbit. Can I help you with that, er, glove problem?
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And I shall want the teacup too. The Mad Hatter may be there and I can return it then.
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Now, the first time I played this game, I somehow missed the appropriate action here-- I don't know how, exactly-- and got something like 90 percent of the way through the game before getting stuck on a puzzle I just could not solve, because the solution was the item he gives you here. When I played through the game again to get a fresh perspective and try to find what I'd missed, getting this item was a bit of an 'aha' moment combined with a 'd'oh' moment. At any rate, the correct action to take here is to tease the rabbit.
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Are you sure? That's what made the Dodo so cross...
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I'm sure. Go for it.
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All right... um, excuse me, mister Rabbit, but... uh... (now that I want to be rude, I'm choking!)
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Hey,
Rabbit! Is your pocket watch running? Then you should catch it!
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Is it really that time? The Queen's going to have my head.
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He vanished again! And this time he didn't even say when he'd be back!
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But look, he dropped something! When people don't say they're coming back, it's a good thing they've left.
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It is a large ivory and silk fan with a picture of picnicking rabbits painted on its surface.
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It's so pretty! Oh, and I could use this right now.
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The breeze feels pleasant, but nothing else happened.
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Be sure to hang onto that; you don't want to repeat my mistake.
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Don't worry, I will. My pockets seem to have grown quite large of late.
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This must be the White Rabbit's house. I wonder why he didn't just get his gloves himself?
I have a theory about that.
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I need to take a break. Is it all right if I just sit down here for a moment?
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Sure, you do that. Next time on 'Alice in Wonderland', Alice raids a giant rabbit's lair for fat loot!
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I have no idea what you're talking about.