2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page cvr1

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4 November 1864
Received confirmation from the Superintendent that I will be given
the opportunity to treat a very troubled and difficult patient.
Dubious honor! Her name is Alice, and her prognosis is not
p r o m i s i n g . A f t e r l o o k i n g a t h e r f i l e , I ’m a s t o n i s h e d s h e h a s
survived this long. She has been nearly comatose for a year.
ha d
11 November 1864 o u ld I h a v e a d m it te d ho wer n o w ?
W w ha t I k n
I k n o w n th en 0 / 73
M u t e o n a s t r e t c h e r , w i t h h e r h e a d c u r i o u s l y b a n d a g e d , A l i c e s e e m- 3s /1t o
cling precariously to life. Her burns have healed remarkably in the
year since the fire, but she languishes in a deep trance-like dementia.
I t s’ a s i f t h e b l a z e c o n s u m e d h e r s e n s e s . D e a f , d u m b , a n d b l i n d t o
all stimulation, she’s a fair match for the infirmary’s gloom.
In a frenzied instant, a cankered feline pounced on Alice while she
was about to be carried inside. Startled by the cat’s yowl, the
bearers lost their grip and dropped the wretched girl to the ground.
Most curious to behold, the cat stood atop Alice as if claiming
territorial right, or as if defending a rodent captured in the day’s
h u n t f r o m o t h e r h u n g r y p r e d a t o r s . Only when an orderly threatened
it with a stick did the creature scamper into a nearby hedge. Even then
the cat crouched beneath the shrubbery. With eyes agape, it fixed on
Alice as if it had some vital interest in our proceedings.
ys to he ed th e fel in e - som ething I v’ e learned
It pa over th e years. -21/ 10 / 73
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13 November 1864
In the twelvemonth since the conflagration, Alice has dropped
f u r t h e r i n t o a g r i m a n d d a r k l y q u i e t a b y s s . I t ’s a w o n d e r t h e
Superintendent didn’t bury her deep within the Bedlam catacombs.
T h e s u r g e o n s w e r e a b l e t o c u r e t h e f l e s h , b u t t h e y ’ v e done nothing
t o t r e a t t h e i n f l a m m a t i o n o f h e r b r a i n . I t ’s n o t s u r e w h a t h e e x p e c t s m e
to accomplish with her. I s u p p o s e h e t h i n k s t h a t i n m y t w e n t y - t h r e e
y e a r s w i t h i n t h e s e t r o u b l e d w a l l s I v’ e m a s t e r e d a c u r r i c u l u m n o t
taught in Oxford classrooms.
14 November 1864
Her one possession is a toy - a sooty, stuffed rabbit whose single
button-eye dangles from a loose thread. Plaything from her time
of innocence, and her only link to life before the fire, the rabbit is
now sentinel to Alice’s deepening dementia. a valuable
may prove
Th e rabbit for shock th erapy. I
8 December 1864 instr um ent ti ced it sooner
.
d h a v e n o
shoul 21 /1 0/ 7
-
3
When I hold a flame to her eye, nothing in her vacuous gaze
betrays the faintest glimmer of response. I clap a pair of blocks at
her ear. Nothing. Neither her sight nor her hearing appear to be
damaged; still she registers nothing at all. The rumor (passed
on by Reverend Mottle amongst others) alleges that she feels
nothing - not pain, or fear or other torments - is neither credible
nor kind. Still, she is far, far gone, this one.
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9 December 1864
I n m a n y w a y s i t s’ a s i f s h e ’ s i n t h e g r a v e a l r e a d y ; h e r c o u n t e n a n c e
so still she appears to be in training for the coffin. Indeed, if she
were to die today in this old hospital, nary a person would take
note other than those few who recall her name from the papers.
T h o s e f e w w h o ’ d m u t t e r t o t h e m s e l v e s “a h , t h a t ’ s a s h a m e - t h e
poor girl , " and then turn the page to learn more of the recent
stabbings in Notting Hill.
So quiet
sh e appeared. adness already coursing mind ?
m through h er -2 3 /1 0 / 73
10 December 1864 Was th e deep
Though she appears weak, she must have a strong
constitution to survive until now. Her fever persists,
her breathing heaves violently at times and, even after more than a
year of healing, burns so massive commonly cause great discomfort.
You’d never imagine she’s in any distress, though, the way she’s
stretched, as lifeless as a British Museum mummy. I daresay,
h o w e v e r , t h a t I l’ l s t i r h e r f r o m h e r d r e a m e r y , e v e n i f t h e r e s p o n s e i s
i n v o l u n t a r y . I ’l l b e g i n t o m o r r o w w i t h a s t e a d y t r e a t m e n t o f c o l d
plasters and bloodletting. The bleeding might cause some relief to
h e r d e m e n t i a . I a l s o h a v e a n e w s h o c k a p p a r a t u s t h a t I d’ l i k e t o
t r y o n h e r . I m’ c u r i o u s t o s e e h o w s h e r e a c t s t o t h i s t r e a t m e n t .
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14 December 1864
The physicians who treated her burns reported that she barely
noticed when they debrided and dressed her wounds. Indeed, she
rarely showed any agitation at all when they examined her over the
months. They also report, however, that on some nights, she howled
like a banshee. When the nurses responded to the screams, Alice
would hush, as if magically released from her demons.
Eventually, they stopped responding to these outbursts. And, after
a short while, she stopped uttering any noise whatsoever.
6 January 1865
A n o t h e r p a t i e n t d i e d i n t h e n i g h t . I d’ b e e n t r e a t i n g h e r w i t h t h e
same potion I intend for Alice. I had been quite certain she was
improving with each subsequent vial, so this development is quite
vexing. Perhaps the stronger mixture was too much for her
chronically weak chest. A little more experimentation is in order
b e f o r e I f e e d t h i s s e r u m t o A l i c e . little less laudanum
A
a l it tl e m ore camphor h er.
22 January 1865 and spared
might have 2 / 73
-13 /1
The bleeding doesn’t appear to be causing a significant change, except
for the increased pallor of her complexion. Contrasted against her
drab rags, she’s turned an uncanny shade of ivory. The bloodletting
will prime her constitution for my restorative potion.
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 5

18 February 1865
Three amputations in a week - that’s a high number, for any
hospital. I dream of wiggling stumps and splintery crutches. I
mumble a prayer of thanks to Napoleon’s surgeon - how terrible
the screams must have been before he discovered the technique for
painless amputio amputation.
I c a n ’t s e e m t o e s c a p e t h e c h l o r o f o r m ’ s c l o y i n g o d o r .
23 February 1865
Through the windows of my laboratory, I can glimpse the garden
ward. Nurse D- is leading a group of children to the airing room. I
listen to the great shuffling of feet on the pebble path. Will Alice, I
wonder, ever stroll the grounds with the others? Will she ever regain her
senses? Or, for the rest of her days will she remain cloistered behind
these thick, grey walls? Based on her progress so far, it seems futile to
hold out much hope for a cure. ined her
le could I have imag L itt ly gambol in
24 February 1865 mind would eventual d gardens.
s an
unimaginable forest -27/1/74
In the first months of her treatment, a surgeon by the name of
Grantham took particular interest in Alice’s case. He viewed her
early reluctance to rejoin society as quite normal considering what
she’d been through. The all-consuming fire. The loss of one’s
entire family. The shattered and scorched body. I t’s quite natural
for anyone, let alone a child, to give way under such strain.
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Yet, as the months passed, and as Grantham became more familiar

with Alice, he began to comprehend that her problems were a
manifestation of a far graver trauma. Bones eventually mended, as
did the seared flesh; yet Alice remained locked away in her cocoon.
Unfortunate chap, this Grantham. Seems like he had a collapse of
his own. One day he was going about his hospital routine,
perambulating amongst the feeble and infirm. The next day, though
no one knows why, he turned up every bit as diseased as one
of his patients, speaking gibberish and smashing apothecary jars.
I ’v e s e e n i t h a p p e n h e r e w h e r e d o c t o r s p a s s o v e r t o t h e o t h e r s i d e ,
a n d , f r a n k l y , I m’ s u r p r i s e d i t d o e s n ’ t h a p p e n m o r e o f t e n . A t a n y
rate, Grantham’s tale concludes with a particularly grisly
accident with a surgical implement.
23 March 1865
N o t h i n g s e e m s t o a g g r a v a t e t h e g i r l . I v’ e t r i e d r e s t r a i n t - h a n d c u f f s ,
l e g - l o c k s a n d s t r a i g h t j a c k e t s . I v’ e t r i e d s o l i t a r y c o n f i n e m e n t . O n t h e
other hand, I v’ e a l l o w e d h e r t o s m e l l f r e e d o m , l e a v i n g h e r f o r h o u r s a t
a time unattended in the garden. Yet nothing stirs her. I still have a
number of methods, some of which I haven’t engaged in since the old
days, but I m’ b e g i n n i n g t o d o u b t a n y t h i n g c a n b r i n g a b o u t a c h a n g e
in this one.
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1 April 1865
Each year on this peculiar day I pause - exactly at noon
according to my pocket-watch - to ponder the absurdity of such a
day. Is it not ironic that we here should celebrate a holiday
dedicated to fools?
T h e g i r l h a s s h u t d o w n c o m p l e t e l y . I f i t w e r e p o s s i b l e , I d’ s a y A l i c e
has retreated even frther further into what the European practitioners
o f p s y c h i a t r y c a l l h e r " p s y c h e . " I l’l k e e p t r y i n g d i f f e r e n t m e t h o d s , b u t
unless there’s some sort of marked improvement, there’s no reason reason
t o h o p e . I l’l d o c u m e n t p r o g r e s s .. . i f i n d e e d t h e r e e v e r i s a n y p r o g r e s s .
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 8

7 September 1873
After years of slumber, she chooses to speak to us with a picture,
a drawing of some sort of cat. Really, it’s nothing like any cat
I ’v e e v e r s e e n .

Even a o
s
drawing
bizarre
couldn’t
foreshadowings
n
th e i magi
to com e. 74
- 29/3 /
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9 September 1873
I a d m i t t o a c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f e x c i t e m e n t o v e r A l i c e ’s s e m i - a w a k e n i n g .
I have to be careful, though. At this point, it’s difficult to tell what
t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t - w h a t I m’ p l e a s e d t o c a l l h e r “ p r o g r e s s ” - s i g n i f i e s .
10 September 1873
While Alice napped following her afternoon sedation, Nurse D-
took it upon herself to replace the rabbit’s missing eye. Even after
living so many years in an infirm population, it can still surprise
me when a seemingly trivial act so can trigger such a remarkable
reaction.
Alice woke from her nap and began to sob hysterically.
"Tell me, child, what’s wrong ? " pleaded Nurse D-. "What is it, dear ? "
In an instant of semi-awareness, Alice spoke a sort of poetry.
I
nto the hole again, we hurried along our way
Into a once-glorious garden now seeped in dark decay
She continued to cry, and it was only when Nurse D- plucked the
newly-stitched eye from the rabbit’s face that Alice fell back into her
customary state.
it
b eh a v io r, maybe
Wit h such k e to stir t h ese
ta
was a mis ken h er.
awa
waters and -29/3/7
4
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 10

I compare her response - and my reaction to it - to the person who

daily tosses a pebble into a pool of still water. Day after day, the
pebble plunges to the murky bottom, causing a few nearly imperceptible
ripples. One day, however, the pebble miraculously strikes a fish.
What are the odds other than incredible to ponder? And what are the
effects - compared to the ripples. Nurse D-, to follow the analogy,
struck a fish in the pond today.
I don’t know whether to cheer at this response - any response - or
grow alarmed over the intensity of her emotional outburst. At least
we discovered one thing: she can speak.
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 11

11 September 1873
When she is so inclined, Alice can draw. This morning I was greeted
by another of Alice’s artistic phantasmagorias. What is it she’s
rendering? I can only think it’s a depiction of her nightmare of Hell.
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 12

12 September 1873
Two demented youths hung themselves side by side in the ward
last night. As a result, I couldn’t devote any time to Alice or any
other patients. There was some dissention from the townsfolk about
not wanting these suicides to be buried within city limits. After some
discussion, they relented. It was agreed to bury the boys separately
in a clandestine fashion. One will be buried far behind
Ramsbottom church, the other in Ribchester.
15 September 1873
It takes two to feed her, one to wedge open her mouth and the other
to funnel food and medicine down her throat. Her jaw, it seems, is
clenched in a death’s grip.
1 October 1873
For the past fortnight, I have labored until dawn in the laboratory
preparing a new potion. Her recent activity has reinvigorated my
research. I discovered last night, quite by accident really, that the
smallest infusion of prussic acid and strychnine brings about a curious
reaction. At least it seems to work well on the rats.
Too much of either ingredient could prove quite lethal of course.
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 13

15 October 1873
A p p r o a c h i n g A l i c e ’s r o o m , I h e a r d t h e m u f f l e d s o u n d s o f
laughter. A pair of orderlies were cursing at her and threatening
h e r w i t h l e a t h e r s t r a p s . I t s’ e a s y t o s e e t h a t t h i s p a i r w a s w e a n e d
from the same teat.
Alice didn’t respond to their tomfo
tomfoolery; and the orderlies were not impressed by my
reprimand. Good help is so hard to find.
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 14

18 October 1873
The Superintendent paid a visit. The smell of his perfumed
handshake is still in my nostrils. He doesn’t visit often, but when he
does he arrives unannounced and remains overlong. Typically, he
flounces through the infirmary pretending to be interested in this case
or that. This time he requested to see Alice and asked for the
leeches. When she refused to stir, the Superintendent stretched wide his
mouth in a yawn of infinite boredom.
When I displayed some of her recent artwork, the Superintendent’s attention
was caught again as if someone jabbed his fatty palm with a hot poker.

He was in a
very agitated
state wh en h e
departed.
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24 October 1873
Nurse D- has been listening from outside the door. Alice, it
seems, has been muttering inarticulately. Though no one can
u n d e r s t a n d h e r , i t ’s l i k e l y s h e ’ s a d d r e s s i n g t h e o n e - e y e d h a r e .
26 October 1873
Her case is not overly remarkabl e .. . at least not when compared to
the countless other patients who live within these walls. I am not
minimizing her tragedy - the undeniable strain is enough to set
a n y o n e ’s m i n d a s k e w . I m a g i n e t h e h o r r o r o f h e a r i n g t h e p i t e o u s c r i e s
of your entire family - trapped in their burning bedrooms - and
being unable to help. Alice certainly heard such screams. I imagine
s h e ’ s b e e n h e a r i n g t h e m f o r t e n y e a r s . L ooking back ,
m ent. Her
I retract this state
28 October 1873 arkable.
case IS most rem
-7/4/74
I wedged a spoon into her clenched teeth while Nurse D-, serving
as my reluctant assistant, poured the newest potion down her
throat. When the convulsions commenced, I double-checked the harness,
t u r n e d d o w n t h e f l a m e , a n d l e f t t h e r o o m . I t s’ a m a t t e r o f
waiting now.
Sh e l’ l h a v e a f i t f u l s l e e p t o n i g h t .
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3 November 1873
I h e a r t h e c l o c k t i c k i n g o n w a r d , p a s t m i d n i g h t , a n d t h e n I ’m
suddenly aware of other sounds. In the barren pit of the night, the
m o s t d i s t u r b e d m i n d s a r e a l i v e t h r o u g h o u t t h e a s y l u m . A l i c e i s n ’t
stirring, so I listen to the blood-curdling shrieks, the haunting clank of
shackles, the insane groaning, insufferable babble, and lunertic
lunatic mutterings.
After the initial convulsions, Alice’s body again appears lifeless.
I f i t w e r e n ’ t f o r t h e s p e r a d i c s p o r a d i c u t t e r a n c e s i n h e r s l e e p , I d’
h o l d t h e m i r r o r t o h e r m o u t h . I t s’ i m p o s s i b l e t o c o m p r e h e n d w h a t
she says. It sounds like "too glum" or "through him" or "boo-jum."
N o n s e n s e r e a l l y . I s i t a p e r s o n ’s n a m e ? A p l a c e ? O r s i m p l y
some conjuring of this raving delirium? I yell the utterance into her
ear and prick her shoulder with a needle - she gasps, but her
speech does not become any clearer.
m ! The potion courses through her blood. Sitting in this cold room
B o o ju
But ho r e m i n d s m e o f t h e l a s t t r e a t m e n t h e r e . T h e s h r e d d e d p a d d i n g r e c a l l s
w
to my mind the patient who believed rats spoke to him - they lived
does sh e
constr uct
in the padding, he said. Indeed, he believed the spirits of his ancestors
such spoke to him through the rats. After the surgical drilling, he stopped
s ?
fantasie having such delusions and was removed to the Dormitory.
/74
-11/4 Alice remains quiet.
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 17

17 November 1873
She didn’t stir for two weeks after the last treatment. Day after
day, the orderlies force the medicine-laced broth and other necessary
gruel into her. Perhaps, again, I was mistaken; perhaps
nothing can save the girl.
She signaled a return to semi-consciousness with yet another sketch.
are confirm ed.
My suspicions
21 November 1873 derlies are th e
Those oafish or uperintendent’s
S
Once again, the orderlies were up to their usual misbegotten
p r a n k s . W e a r y o f p r y i n g o p e n A l i c e ’ s m o u t h , t h e o r d e r l i e s s t a r t e d neph ews!
" f e e d i n g " A l i c e ’s t o y r a b b i t , s p o o n i n g p o r r i d g e o n t o t h e s t u f f e d t o y . -13/4/74
While engaged in this feeding, the orderlies learned an essential
l e s s o n i n a s y l u m p r o t o c o l - n e v e r t u r n y o u r b a c k o n a p a t i e n t . . . no
matter how docile she seems.
From information I’ve gathered, Alice woke from her comatose state
and attacked the orderlies. Quite venomous in her outburst, she
pursued one of the twins with a spoon. Even in her condition, she
was able to deliver quite a gash. She clutched the spoon like it was
a butcher knife, gouging into his fleshy cheek. Ceasing in mid-attack,
she turned the spoon on herself, digging it into her wrists, trying to
open up her veins. I stitched her wounds and tended to the orderly.
A l i c e s h o u l d n ’t s u f f e r a n y p e r m a n e n t p h y s i c a l s c a r s ; i t ’ s t o o e a r l y
to say the same about the orderly. th is sh ou ld n ’t
An ou tb ur st su ch as -1 3 /4 /7 4
ha ve su rp ri se d m e.
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 18

She has returned to her dormant state. Nothing I say or do can

entice her to relive her early morning animation.
7 December 1873
There’s been a slight change. Her mouth is now relaxed, and
we can feed her without force. When it’s time for her elixir, she
seems to part her lips slightly as if she’s inviting the new potion
into her belly.
Hardly a cure, but any change symbols progress.
8 December 1873
A mangy cat was licking at Alice’s cheek. It hissed when I entered,
and pounced onto the windowsill - it must be flesh and bones only
to squeeze through the grate. I could almost perceive a smile on its
scabbed face. It’s curious how an animal’s countenance can appear
almost human.
There are so many feral cats on the grounds. I wouldn’t be
surprised if they outnumber the patients. ced on Alic e
e of th e ca t that po un
11 December 1873 I t reminds mrived here. More emaciated though.
wh en sh e ar -2 6/ 4/ 74
Six insane children escaped today - no word has come yet regarding
t h e i r a p p r e h e n s i o n . I h o p e t h e y d o n ’t h a r m t h e t o w n s p e o p l e .
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 19

12 December 1873
Nurse D- lifted Alice into a wheelchair and rolled her, along
with the one-eyed rabbit, into the airing courtyard. Perhaps a
change of scenery might entice a bit of cooperative behavior. The
nurse favors the latest doctrine espoused by the Commissioners.
Compassion is creed of the day.
I watched from the window of my study. Alice didn’t twitch.
13 December 1873
Something in the outdoor air may have stirred her imagination.
On her return she produced an intriguing sketch. Once again she
proves she is capable of doing something other than staring at the
yellowed paint on the ceiling. talent in
A t ti m es th er-2e’s6/4/74
15 December 1873 h er madness.

I t s’ b e e n t h r e e d a y s s i n c e I r e m o v e d t h e r a b b i t f r o m h e r r o o m . W e
can hear her screams growing louder through the closed door.
16 December 1873
The missing children were found in the abandoned schoolhouse near
Milton Cross. Five were returned to infirmary bruised and bloudeed
bloodied from their excursion to the world outside. One was found
at the bottom of an abandoned well.
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 20

18 December 1873
She raves on, worse today than ever before, as her latest drawings
all too clearly indicate.
21 December 1873
When I entered her room today, Alice screamed at me to leave. I
called for Nurse D-. We strapped her down and increased the
g
morning dosage. r ep a
ea te d ly whisperin
b m eans
W hat sh e "d rink m e " s
till
25 December 1873 e" an d
"Eat m -23 / 7 / 7
4
eludes m e.
She has returned to her trance -like state, with one notable exception
- her mouth stretches very wide whenever anyone enters the room.
Wh e t h e r i t ’ s f o r t h e p o t i o n o r f o r t h e f o o d , s h e ’ s d e f i n i t e l y i n v i t i n g m o r e .
4 April 1874
Months pass and again nothing.
I ’v e i n c r e a s e d t h e p r u s s i c a c i d b y t w o d r o p s p e r d a y . I w o n d e r i f
I m’ w a s t i n g m y e f f o r t s . P e r h a p s a n o t h e r p a t i e n t w o u l d b e a b e t t e r
choice for this treatment.
17 April 1874
Nurse D-, having lost patience with my treatments, insists on
trying a "cure" of her own. She stitched the rabbit together and
tucked it into bed with Alice.
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 21

18 April 1874
Interesting development! Alice has returned the gift, presenting Nurse D-
with a drawing of a rabbit, though it’s quite different than her toy.

atch ?
My w / 5 / 74
-10
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 22

1 June 1874
Out of nowhere, and as shocking as a bolt of lightning across a
sky of purest azure, Alice greeted me with a strange grin.
And then, lightning bolt upon lightning bolt, she began to converse
quite freely as if we’d been speaking to each other like this for
decades. I’ll include just a smattering of remarks as evidence, not
that the burden of proof is with me in this foul courtroom.
" B e w a r e t h e s n a r k ’ s p o i s o n o u s s p i t .. . r o l l t h e D e m o n D i c e w i s e l y o r
t h e g a m e t u r n s o n y o u .. . n o t e t h e C e n t i p e d e h a s a t e n d e r u n d e r b e l l y .. . I
e n j o y t h e t a s t e o f m u s h r o o m s , b u t n o t t h e o n e s t h a t b i t e b a c k .. . "
Regrettably, I cannot regard this as an imprvement improvement in
her condition.
2 June 1874
I t s’ a w o r l d o f s h e e r , c h a o t i c t e r r o r a n d u n m i t i g a t e d b l o o d s h e d -
that’s the world she inhabits. So severe are her delusions, so
fantastical and absurd, that at times it’s difficult for me to listen.
She speaks of a nightmare realm where everything seems bent on her
destruction. Gigantic bayonet-toting ants and flesh-rending flowers.
Carnivorous fish and fire-spewing abominations. The range of
hellish creatures populating her world is dizzying. They are, on
balance, more deranged than the most demonic Bosch painting.
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 23

I t s’ a s i f I h a v e b e e n w a i t i n g a n d w a i t i n g f o r w a t e r t o p o u r
from a spigot. Now, the water has finally started pouring,
and I cannot staunch the flow, nor discover its poisoned source.
7 June 1874
More and more, she confides in me. She drones on and on.
I think the elixir is at the proper dosage now. At times, she
seems to fear and loathe my presce presence, yet she speaks as
if she can’t help herself.
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 24

8 June 1874
She spent the afternoon telling of a grisly siege between life-size
chess pieces. Having been hounded by a cyclopic pawn, it seems she
dispatched the one-eyed monster only to be chased mercilessly over
the living chessboard by a pair of renegade rooks.
As usual, her description was vivid beyond comprehension, a
chronicle decidedly more compelling than anything in Froissart.

11 June 1874
Dozing for a few minutes only, I woke to the sight of Alice’s
freed hands tugging at my watch fob. Shackles might be required
for future sessions - at least until she behaves. I’m taking her
pencils as well. Let’s see if this punishment provokes a response.
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2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 26

12 June 1874
I should have predicted this. Without pencil, she turns to poetry.
Mange-ridden to the core, he leads me through the fray
With the toss of a Jackbomb, I clear abominations from our way
I asked her to describe a "Jackbomb . " Cunning and clever girl, she
asked me to return her pencil.
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 27

15 June 1874
Her conversation contains flashes of lucidity. Certain powerful words,
however, cause her to dip back into her fantasy world. And a word like
"fire" can, for obvious reasons, set her tumbling into an abyss of sadness.

ersation
Her conv
ear,
can be cl
but h er
s
drawing
show no
gress.
such pro
/ 74
-20 / 7
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17 June 1874
Alice hurled the teapot across the room.
"How many times must I tell you? I only take tea with friends!"
18 June 1874
At times, she can be quite civil, and sometimes disgustingly vile. As
an experiment, I’ve decided to suspend all medication, except for a
heavy dose of laudanum when she’s in the foulest of tempers.
25 June 1874
Perhaps more cold saltwater treatments will cleanse some of the chaotic
thinking from her mind. She has been ranting. In particular, she’s been
spouting violently against someone she refers to as the Red Queen.
From day to day, her moods run the gamut from despondent gloom
to vicious anger. The ancients believe that a strong wind blows
through the minds of the chronically unstable. If a student of
Hippocrates examined Alice, he might diagnose there was a tempest
with the force of a thousand mistrals raging through her head.
m in at es m uc h
Tho ugh th e Q ue en do de sc ri be
se s to
conv er sa tion, Ali ce re fu
.
or dr aw th e m on ar ch li m it w he n sh e talk s
th ou gh , kn ow s no
H er an ge r,
to do to th e Q ue en ./ 7/ 74
ab ou t w ha t sh e’d li ke -20
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 29

19 July 1874
In her most disturbing outburst in quite some time, Alice attacked
one of the nurses while being bathed. Called her "Duchess."
22 July 1874
From a recent conversation with Alic e :
"What have you been doing, Alice ? "
"Attending the tea party of course . "
"Was it a grand part y ? "
"Oh most grand, dear doctor. I fear nothing and soon the Keep
will be in reach . "
25 July 1874
Her sleep is very restless one night and then calm as an infant’s the
next. She’s become consistently unpredictib unpredictable.
27 July 1874
Alice delivered another verse to her puzzling rhyme.
They taunt me about the burning as if I were to blame
I clear them from my conscious with the eloquence of my blade
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 30

28 July 1874
She spoke at length of a place called the Fungiferous Forest. It’s
a place filled with mushrooms the size of large trees; fungus and
foliage that grabs those who trample it; cavernous wastes filled with
creatures who are as disturbed as any I’ve ever heard of.
r a w n a p icture of a
10 August 1874 S h e ’s ikde this, I seem to recall7. 4
place l -2 / 8 /
I t ’s d i f f i c u l t f o r m e t o c o n n e c t t h e m a s s i v e l y p a s s i v e A l i c e t o t h e
aggressively assertive, powerful person she describes in her dreams.
Her exploits with the knife conjure images of a musketeer’s
swashbuckling panache; her acts of courage those of a selfless hero.
These are not "delusions of grandeur." This is no simple
madness. But what? e r eally see
o es s h
How d
h ersel f t h ?
12 August 1874 en
74
-2 4 /8 /
"Off with her head ! "
Those were her only words today. She wouldn’t explain what this
meant, though her face betrayed the violent anger that is usually
associated with her tales of the Queen of Hearts. at I v’ e grown
y about m e th
W hat does it sa ur st s ? -11/9/74
13 August 1874 ch ou tb
accustom ed to su
Everything I can think of, I have done. Treatments, remedies,
disciplines and pleasures - nothing makes a difference. Alice speaks
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 31

when and about what she wants, recites poetry on a seeming whim,
draws pictures at her own pleasure. She does nothing at my
command, instruction, entreaty or request. She’s become very willful,
and nothing I do or say makes a difference.
I truly do, however, become immersed in her fantastic tales of
Wonderland. I wait for the day when she claims victory over the
Red Queen and her minions, when Wonderland will be restored.
Perhaps by this Alice will cure herself, regain her balance, and
leave this place of her own volition.
Sometimes she appears to be so close, but at other times I’m certain
i t l’ l n e v e r h a p p e n a n d s h e ’ l l s p e n d t h e r e s t o f h e r l i f e h o u s e d b e h i n d
R u t l e d g e ’ s g a u n t b r o w n w a l l s .. . w i t h m e .
24 August 1874
I f i t ’ s m y k e e n i n v e n t i o n y o u ’d l i k e t o d e s t r o y
I l’ l w i t h s t a n d y o u r b e s t s h o t ; I ’ v e g o t t h e r i g h t t o y
2 ALICE_manual_Zothique V3 4/15/02 10:53 AM Page 32

Casebook Written by Greg Roensch

Cover Design: Joel Thomas
Design: Big Idea Group
Sketches: Ben Hall
Special Thanks to all who contributed to this Casebook, including R. J. Berg, American
McGee, Rogue Entertainment (especially Rich Fleider, Ben Hall, and Joel Thomas),
Ede Clarke, Genee Higgins, Julie Clark, Dave McCormick, Mike Kaiser, Justin Holst,
Andrew Young
All songs composed and performed by Chris Vrenna
( P ) 2 0 0 0 © 2000
Publishing courtesy of Almo Music Corp. (ASCAP) for itself and on Behalf of
Pink Lava (ASCAP)
F o r a c o m p l e t e l i s t o f A m e r i c a n M c G e e ' s A l i c e ™c r e d i t s , s e e t h e c r e d i t s s e c t i o n i n t h e g a m e .
For technical requirements and gameplay information, please refer to the Install Guide/Basic
Gameplay Guide included with American McGee's Alice.
Software and Documentation © 2000 Electronic Arts Inc. All rights reserved.

Software Portions © 2000 Rogue Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.

This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software, Inc. Id Technology ©
2000 Id Software, Inc. All rights reserved.

Electronic Arts, EA GAMES, the EA GAMES logo, and American McGee's Alice
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other
countries. The Rogue Entertainment logo is a trademark of Rogue Entertainment, Inc.
Quake is a registered trademark of Id Software.
Special Thanks to Ritual Entertainment.
™
EA GAMES is an Electronic Arts ™ brand.
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