Behind Sanity

Chapter Forty-One

Behind Sanity

Chapter Forty-One

1

            The night seemed to be getting darker as Alice passed through the Wonderland Woods.  She’d felt remorse at realizing she’d left her new toy at the tea table when chasing Victor, but she hadn’t been inclined to go back and get it.  Oh well.  It wasn’t practical anyway.  At least she had gotten one good use out of it – and relieved some stress while she was at it.

            Her old toys were still of good use.  Her cards were plenty, her jacks loyal, her croquet mallet was lightweight, her dice were begging for a gamble, and her knife was still as sharp as it had begun.  She ran her finger down the blade, drawing a tiny sliver of blood.  

            Yes; still sharp.

            Alice had been following Cat for a while now, taking a steady pace.  He seemed to think there was no rush at the moment, which was good enough for her, though she wondered if his feline tendencies weren’t getting in the way of his better judgment.

            “You still haven’t told me where exactly we’re headed,” she said, speaking after a long while of silence.

            “We’re near the right spot, because he was supposed to find us here,” said the cat without turning.

            “He who?  I’m not much for surprises lately,” she said.

            “If the Tweedles are seeking him and they are smart enough – or lucky enough – they’ll be –”

            The Cheshire stopped short in his walk, leaving Alice wondering, but not questioning.  She stopped as well, a sound reaching her ears – obviously what had stopped the cat.

            “What do you suppose it is?” Alice pondered aloud, toying with the knife anxiously.

            “I don’t know.  But allow me to investigate.”

            With that, and a gleeful smile, the cat was gone, leaving Alice to stand alone.  She sat herself on the ground to wait, wondering just how long it would take Cat to make his report.  All the while, she continued to hear the sounds in the distance.  She could hear metallic clanks, along with what seemed like muffled voices, though she couldn’t hear the words.  Despite what was truly happening, Alice could already feel that someone was up to something they should not have been.  Someone was being naughty.  They would need to be punished.  And she would bet that it was those two very round twin brothers.

            At the sudden reappearance of a grin, she stood herself back up, awaiting the news.  The cat’s eyes twinkled happily.

            “There’s a party you should crash,” he said, beaming. “They’re having way too much fun.”

            “It would be my utmost pleasure,” she said, setting off to follow the cat through the brush.

2

            “Careful there, Dum!  You wouldn’t want to scuff him up!”

            The shorter brother in the red and white striped shirt moved back behind their capture to shove, trying to fit a large shape into a small cage.