Behind Sanity

Chapter Twenty-One

                                                                   Behind Sanity 

                                                              Chapter Twenty-One 

                                                                               1 

                  Safely back in the empty lobby of the Fortress, Alice slammed the book shut behind her and snapped the lock back in place.  She had trusted Jack.  How could she have trusted him when every bit of good sense in her head was telling her not to?  It seemed her good sense had been right, and she’d not listened.  What had she thought once about always giving herself good advice but very seldom following it?  This was certainly one of those instances.  She had not grown out of that, it seemed.

                 Out of breath and frustrated beyond measure –and being sopping wet did not help her mood – she moved toward the fireplace with the crackling green blaze and tossed the book inside.  The pages seemed to scream as they curled – or perhaps it was just the land inside them – but Alice was done with it.  The one who had done her wrong would not escape.

                 Sighing loudly in agitation as well as relief, she sank to the floor.  Her hand slid into her apron pocket and retrieved the three demon dice.  Such tiny little things.  Were they truly worth all her trouble?  She would find out later, she supposed.  For now, she tucked them away once again.  She needed rest.  Yes, rest would be lovely.

                  “Alice!  There you are!  What has been keeping you?  And why on earth are you wet?”

                 The tired and shaken girl was not so troubled that she didn’t look confusedly toward the White Rabbit.  He was glaring at her disapprovingly, certainly with no knowledge of what she had just been through, but on top of that fact, he had just appeared out of nowhere! 

                 “Where did you just…?”

                 “Never mind that,” he said hastily, tugging at his split whiskers. “What is keeping you?  We have to get you to Caterpillar!”

                 Caterpillar.  Yes, right.  Alice could hardly remember what she’d been meaning to do before she’d gone after the book.  It seemed so long ago!  She was on her way to Caterpillar, Morgan was in trouble, and she’d been left in this room to pick out the proper door.

                 “Yes,” she said finally, still a bit breathless as she rose to her feet. “Cat said I was supposed to become small.  I don’t quite know how to do that.  I think I am a bit lost.  I hoped you would come along to-”

                 The rabbit shook his head.  “You are not lost!  Cat told you the way, didn’t he?”

                 “No,” she protested.

                 “Of course he did!  Not even he would leave you here without directions!  What did he tell you?”

                 He had told her something?  Oh dear, what had it been?  But he must have, because shortly after she’d chosen the wrong door that had led her into the library, he’d been taunting her about her inability to solve riddles.  He’d said something to her.  What was it?  Shortly, it came to her.