Wonderland? I Think Not

Chapter Two

     When I woke, I heard the sound of busy people rushing around and a strange whispering from the trees. Hold on.  Trees can't talk! What was I hearing then?

     A bright beam of sunlight pierced the darkness in the tent as a tall muscled man strode in. When he lifted his face into the sunlight I could tell who it was Cole.

     "Alice, everyone would like to see you. The trees and flowers are singing of your arrival.  This is very happy news!" Cole sounded excited.

     "Yeah, right.  And I guess the rocks can sing too." I laughed sarcastically.

    He looked confused, "No, of course the rocks can't sing! Did you hit your head in the Pool? Come with me and meet The Aliissians."

        What is wrong with these people? I think to myself as I step into the bright sunlight, blinking furiously and stop suddenly. What I didn't notice in the rush of the day and the darkness that covered the camp was how big it was. How could they possibly conceal a camp that enormous? Mekhai walks up to me and answers my question like he could read my thoughts, " Yes it is huge isn't it, I'm very proud of the idea I came up with to hide it from enemy eyes. You see I thought to myself, Mekhai, how can you make a camp that covers so much land invisible to the enemy? Then I thought, of course! You make it invisible." He smiled like that explained everything. His face fell when he registered my blank stare, " You have no idea what I'm talking about do you?"

Just then General Garead walked up and said, " No one has any idea what you're talking about unless you explain it. You're easily one of the smartest people here." At this, Mekhai looked very proud of himself.

        "Would you like me to explain it? I'm sure I could explain it in words you might know." Mekhai said trying, and failing, to be modest about his intelligence. After waiting for me to nod he launched into an explanation with lots of words I don't know. All I could make out was it had something to do with mirrors, angles and lots of math.Confusing.

        After the long boring explanation of how the camp was hidden, we took a tour of camp. Every time someone got a glimpse of us they either froze staring at us or ran off to whisper about us to their friends in other tents. Except one person who was so fat he looked like a balloon with arms, legs and a head. He waddled, no kidding, up to our group and bowed. A full on bow complete with hand flourish in my direction.

       Then he took my hand and said, "My dear, the rightful Queen of Wonderland, it is so great to see you agian. I have missed you for so long, I thought the hole in my heart would never leave." Laying it on a bit thick, right? "It is I, Jack Spade."

        "I don't know you and I'm no Queen either so maybe you should see a doctor or something." I said, shaking my hand out of his grip. Glancing over at the group I saw Cole was barely holding his laughter.

Then when he finaly controled himself he smiled and said,"Alice, this is Jack Spade. he's your fiance." Then he really did break out in laughter when he glimpsed my expression. Complete horror.