The Adventures of Alice and Max
Chapter 27: Alice and Max Enter the Forgotten Forest
The kids ran down the dusty path, hand in hand, into the darkened forest. No light was seen as they scurried fast.
Alice pulled out her flashlight from her satchel and shined it on the way. Dead trees filled the forest, weakened by the Queen’s magic, forcing all living things to perish.
Eventually, they stopped and walked for some time. A crackling sound was heard and the two whipped out their weapons, staying alert. The rustling of leaves happened again and they approached, shining their light.
An old man with tattered clothing and ripped jeans was covered in soot and dirt. He had on gloves with the fingers cut off and wore a hat with warm flaps. He couldn’t see because the light shone in his face brightly. A shopping cart on a dirt path among the wild trees he pushed. Old clothes were flung on it, and garbage and rotten food were inside. Apple cores and banana peels, raisins, and raw meat were all moldy.
“Who are you,” Alice asked rapidly.
“Who. Am. I,” he said slowly.
“Yeah.” She pointed her gun at him. “Tell me.”
“Winston,” he said motioning to his chest.
“OK, Winston, where are we,” Max asked, his knives raised.
“You don’t know? Surely you must. The King’s Land or what is left of it.”
“I thought so,” Alice said under her breath. “Is the King alive?”
“Why do you want to know? And no, he isn’t,” he said quickly; terrible at keeping secrets.
“No reason, just want to meet him, that’s all,” Alice said.
“Oh, well, you two look awfully young. Do you even remember the King?”
“No,” Alice said. “But we’ve heard stories. Stories of his kindness and might.”
“Aye, he certainly was,” Winston said with dignity and power. He slowly became more of himself. “But that was a long time ago.”
“Did you know him?” Max asked.
The old man gazed off and then eyed the two from the corner of his eye.
“Perhaps, but that depends on where you stand.”
“Well, sir,” Alice began. “We’re evading the Queen as we speak.”
Winston jumped, “Evading the - Come along now. Quickly, don’t look back! Keep running. After me. Go!” Sprinting full speed ahead, it seemed he was a kid again. The children hurried after him as he ran full sprint like a teenager with a broad gait and strong legs never ceasing in speed.
Going for miles and seeming endless in the children’s minds, they passed oak trees, olive branches, and lemon trees, holding sweet fruits, and mangoes that hung low off of the drooping branches. Weird plants with huge flowers, purple and greens and reds, and yellows as bright as the kids had never seen before shone. Every bizarre kind of vegetable and fruit was seen. The forest became greener and more full of life heavy with a weightier glory than the Greek gods ever dared to have.
The scene was marvelous, the many pleasures of the wood stood out for all to see. Everything was coming together. Branches blossomed with flowers and trees were full of clusters of different pines all strange assortments hanging low for anyone to pluck. Then they saw elderly women picking and gathering apples, oranges, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants, squash, and anything else you could dream. They wore long gray dresses and sang and hummed a sweet tune ringing through the wood echoing out to the children, bringing them closer into its arms. It was the most sweetest melody the kids ever heard.
“What are they singing?” Alice asked mesmerized. It was haunting and brought a chill to their spines.
“That is the lost song of our people,” Winston said. “King Lucius the Grand had his minstrels create a song that would last generations binding our people together in times of woe and misery. These are the times of which he spoke.”
Passing them, the women nodded to Winston never noticing the two small ones. Winston stood tall and proud with a dignity that demanded respect for him but also for one’s self. Making the children feel secure, he unveiled a grassy patch that hung from a tall willow tree revealing a hidden Kingdom, a vast and noble community of followers of the Old King.
“What is this?” Alice asked.
“This is the Forgotten Kingdom,” Winston said mysteriously. “It is a place of secrecy against the dark powers of the Queen. Nothing will be safer than this place. I will take you to the King of Briarwood. This way.”
They journeyed long down a grassy path, with people of all different ages and sizes. Families of all different races were all spread out among the deep forest. Under trees, some sat and played instruments, while mothers held their newborn babies in swaddling clothes hung around their shoulders. Young boys played ancient games with sticks and stones. Old ladies bowed in brightly colored dresses dancing with their children as flowers stuck in their ears and long flowing locks. Young girls played tricks on their little brothers, attacking them and hugging them until they broke free.
Winston led them along for miles until some folks stood up and pointed whispering.
“This might be the time of fulfillment.”
“Is that?” one gasped.
“No? Not in our lifetime!”
“Ah, will it be true?”
“The song says, doesn’t it?”
Murmuring was heard and the children looked confused because it seemed everyone was staring at them in wonder but they trudged on along a small hill through low-hanging willow trees.
In the center of the massive camp, a giant old oak tree where hundreds maybe even thousands dwelt up in the caverns and in the rock of the earth, it took root. The valley of mountains stretched high above fifty feet as the kids saw the many families and young people all skipping about on the rocky paths, leading up and down along the rock community of the Old King’s People.
“So, this is what the King’s Palace looks like,” Max whispered to Alice.
Continuing, they journeyed up to the highest point of the structure. They passed buckets of water being passed by trolleys and rope. Food was handed from wooden ladders all tied together by twine. Everyone helped each other out as the entire tribe put food into their own little huts carved out of the cliff. The tiny children were most nimble and climbed the rocky parts with bare feet. They ran high and fast like monkeys smiling with glee.
Speeding up their pace as Winston was quick on his feet, Alice and Max saw how strong and graceful he was. Filled with the energy the children wanted to obtain, they continued up the dirt path.
Finally, they reached the top as Winston helped up Alice and Max and knocked loudly on a wooden door with a star etched on the front.
“Who is it? I’m busy!” a rough and hoarse voice spat.
“Grub, it’s me, Winston!”
“Winston?” Grub opened the door roughly. “Why you back so early? Master needs you fetching supplies near the gates.” The old balding Mr. Grub looked down with his small eyeglasses and noticed the children angrily. “No, No, no! No more orphans, Master won’t like it!”
“You don’t know what he wants,” Winston said softly.
“Yes, I do, servant,” Grub spat. “He is very busy making preparations and planning our next move and then you come and bring more children. Just what the world needs!”
“I think it needs them now more than ever.”
“This is why he hesitates to strike because of you, Winston,” Grub poked at his chest. “And children like these! Always the children, he’s got a soft spot just like his father. That was his downfall.”
“Our role is not to speculate but to serve.”
“That’s your job! Mine is military training and delegation to anyone who is below me. I care for soldiers, feed them, keep them agile and strong! Keeping an eye on you. Don’t you lecture me!”
“I need to see, Edward,” Winston said.
“That’s King to you,” Grub said curtly. “I don’t care how friendly you are with him. Show some respect.”
“What’s all the fuss,” a young man strutted out wiping his hands. He had an old weathered, but handsome face. “Hello, who is this?” He peaked his head out, beaming at the children.
“King, this is Alice and Max,” Winston said.
Grub rolled his eyes, “Here we go again.”
“Pleasure to meet you, my mighty warriors,” King Edward said happily. “So the songs are true? Come in, come quickly there is much to discuss!” They were led in as an old woman, who was Edward’s aunt, clapped her hands together merrily and hugged the kids tightly.
“Oh, hello, my darlings! What do you want to eat?” The children were shocked by her hospitality.
“Don’t fatten ‘em up, granny,” Grub complained, eating a smoked sausage and chomping without closing his mouth.
“Please, Grub, manners! Children, don’t mind him. He’s alright when you get to know him. He’s just cranky because he’s locked up like a criminal.”
“We all are tired of these conditions,” Winston said regally and gently. He took two pies out of the ovens. “These, Aunt Cherry?”
“Oh, yes, dear, put them down here! Thank you! They have to cool!”
Aunt Cherry sliced the dinner pie and put them on plates giving everyone a moist, giant slice. The spinach and cheese all oozed out of the egg pies filled with sausage, bacon, and bits of cinnamon.
It was the most delicious meal the children had ever eaten. After their forks were thrown into the dish everyone gathered at the table as the King asked them of their adventures.
The children told him of their journey thus far. He laughed at the appropriate moments and was silent at the terrible others.
After they told him everything, he sat back and used his knife to pick his teeth. “Well, that was greatly done, I suppose, Alice.”
“Yes, I think so,” Alice said quickly.
“And you speak true and right. Do you know the Song of My People? The song my father told the ancient ones to compose?”
They shook their heads.
“It tells of when the world will be in ruin and evil controls a lonely and desolate place. Where people are miserable and filled with hatred, then children from a distant land will come bringing hope with them. And the Light will guide them, the Great Light. Do you know this?”
They shook them again.
“It is strange, that I see you, two here, today. You are those children, I believe.”
“Master, I-” Grub began.
“Silence,” Edward said quietly. “Not everyone believes, but I do just like my father did. He knew that one day you two would come and come you have,” King Edward smiled warmly.
“Aye, he always said it would be sooner rather than later,” Aunt Cherry said cutting into her voluptuous cherry pies.
To Be Continued…
