The Land of Dreams

7: A Feast

Their camp is more magnificent than anything I have ever seen, for the word 'camp' is an understatement to what I see before me. It's more like a small town or village at that, what with how many wooden huts there are scattered evenly along throughout the wide field.

There is a large oak tree that expands up to fifty to seventy feet in height and is in the middle of a large open yard, it's heavy green leaves drooping down towards the ten or so miniature huts scattered around in front of it, forming what looks like a loose U shape.

Their huts are made of sticks and branches held together by vines and clay, their roofs made of light pale yellow pieces of straw. In front of the massive tree is what looks like a wooden throne, with large sticks creating a crown behind its backing. But the most peculiar thing of all is that there are staircases and ladders hanging from every tree and disappearing upwards. I assume their lookout posts and guard must be up there, if they even had those.

Peter comes to a stop beside me, a huge grin on his face. "Gorgeous, isn't it darling?"

He says and I just smile at him, stunned to silence at its beauty. It's more than gorgeous...it's magical.

I see Smee and James run into one of the huts, James smiling like a gleeful little boy as Smee pulls him along by his wrist. Benny is nowhere to be seen.

We walk down the small hill and when we reach the table, a boy with red hair comes bounding up to us, crooked teeth on display. "Cara! Cara, we've made a hut for you!" They boy tells me and he looks to be around twelve years old.

"Oh, that's nice," I say, and smile down at him. "Why don't you tell me your name first and then you can show me?" I suggest, trying my best to sound polite. But how do you sound polite when you're a Ma and don't even know your new child's name? Child. Children. The words send a shiver down my spine. This is surely going to be something to get used to.

The boy smacks his forehead lightly. "Oh, silly me! I'm Curly," he smiles and I laugh. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Curly." I tell him and then to my shock, he takes my hand in his.

"Come, I'll show you your new home!" and then we're off, Curly pulling me around like Smee was pulling James: eager and excited. I glance back to Peter. He beams at me and my heart soars. This shouldn't be too hard, could it?

Curly tells me about the huts, pointing out the slight and minor differences it takes to tell the circulars shack apart – "We all have our own little.." he pauses, looking for word to describe the little decors that hang above each hut door (his is a blue flower that Smee and a boy names Ferris found) "thing above the door to set us apart. We also have to share with two other boys, to save wood, Peter says."

He tells me about the Oak tree, which looms hauntingly over the camp: "Peter and Tink spend a lot of time in there a lot, planning, I think. We also keep our food and medicines in there and we hold meetings and such down there as well." Curly informs me and I frown.'

"Down there? What do you mean?" I ask and he grins mischievously, as if he holds a great secret only I don't know. Which, I suppose, is quite accurate.

"There's a secret passageway to go down into the tree roots, Cara." Curly tells me and when I press for more information, he just shrugs. "Ask Peter. He created it." And that's the end of that conversation.

"What's up with the ladders in the trees?" I ask, pointing upwards. "That's a great question," Curly comments and then continues to show me around the huts more- there are thirteen total, with two as spares for storage and emergencies.

I want to know the answer to the question, but before I can push it any further, a loud whistle cuts through the air, sharp as a blade on a dagger (something, I was flummoxed to find out, that each Lost Boy possesses).