Allan in Wonderland

Chapter 8: Meeting the King

"Watch it Five!" shouted the voice.
"Seven knocked my elbow." yelled another voice.
At the garden's entrance was a tree, covered with white roses, which three gardeners were busily painting red.


Before Allan could ask what they were doing, one of them called out, "The King!" and all three threw themselves flat on their faces. Allan looked around, eager to see him.


"Who bare there?" the King barked, spotting the gardeners.
"How should I know?" said Allan.
"Off with his head!" screamed the King.
"Nonsense!" Allan said, finally.
The King looked at the rose tree and turned to the gardeners. "Off with their heads!"
Quickly, Allan threw the gardeners into a pot.


"Come and play croquet," the King shouted at Allan next.
Allan had never played such a strange game.

Everyone played at once and the King stomped about shouting, "Off with their heads!"
Allan was wondering if he could escape when he saw a grin.


"How are you getting along?" asked the Cheshire Cat, as soon as its mouth was all there.
Allan waited for its ears before replying. "They don't follow any rules," he complained, "and as for the King..."

"...he's too good," Allan finished quickly, as the King walked by.
"Off with her head," the King snapped at the Cat.



Instantly, the Cat's body vanished.
"I can't cut off a head if there's no body to cut it from," declared the executioner.
"Anything with a head can be beheaded," the Queen argued.
"Everyone will lose their heads in a minute," said the King and sent for the Duke to sort out his Cat.


The game went on until the King's soldiers had arrested almost everyone. White the Queen was letting them go again, someone suddenly shouted. "Time for the trial!"