BEYOND THE LOOKING-GLASS: Book One in the BEYOND Series by Gordon Rothwell

quite mad.”
    “But we just want to find our children,” Aleeta implored.
    “Find the Hatter and the Hare…and you may discover your children, too, Madam,” the Cat said.
    With that, it vanished slowly--beginning with its tail--until only the mocking grin remained.
    “Come on,” Kellen said. “Let’s get out of here. This place gives me the willies. I think I see an opening in that thicket beside the road. Follow me.”
    He looked back over his shoulder at that high tree limb where that rude feline had perched. The Cheshire Cat’s grin was still visible. It was taking its time to disappear.
    The two of them discovered a slight hole in a section of matted thicket. They wriggled through, but it was tough going. They had to scratch and claw their way through a barricade of prickly branches and tangled masses of stubborn roots.
    After a short time of slashing through dense underbrush they found themselves standing at the edge of a small clearing. In the center of it rested a long table. Several odd-looking figures were grouped at each end.
    And none of them appeared to be very welcoming.
    Two of the trio at the nearest end of the table began waving their arms in the air frantically and shouting.
    “No room, no room,” the pair screeched, when they saw two strangers edging closer. Aleeta laughed softly, as she approached the larger partygoer. It was apparent to Kellen she recognized this weird little man in a cocked top hat, ruffled shirt, frayed jacket and knickers.
    “How do you do, Mr. Hatter,” Aleeta said cordially. “It’s a pleasure to meet you at last. I’ve read so much about you. Could you tell us please if you’ve seen our children pass this way? We seem to have lost them.”
    “Children?” the Mad Hatter snorted. He glanced over at a large rabbit sitting nearby. “Have we seen any strange children, Mr. Hare?”
    The March Hare scratched behind one floppy big ear with his hind leg. The big rabbit twitched his nose a few times before replying to The Hatter. “I do believe two little ones did join our party. But they’re gone now. We’re all gone, you know. Only some of us refuse to accept it. Do you know why a scientist is like a stone?’
    “No,” Aleeta answered.
    “Because dear lady, neither one has a heart.”
    A tiny dormouse that had been sleeping at this end of the table suddenly shook itself and began to recite:
    “Twinkle, twinkle little drone,
    Up above us all alone.
    If you bomb us from on high,
    We can kiss the world bye-bye.”
    “Enough!” the March Hare said.
    The little dormouse quickly went back to sleep.
    The Mad Hatter squinted at Kellen and Aleeta. “If you insist on joining our party, you’ll have to sit at the far end of the table with the other guests.”
    They strolled down the table to where three other outlandish figures were sitting. Kellen wasn’t exactly sure who he was looking at.
    There was a huge, bearded giant holding a menacing club. A Hessian soldier, dressed in a mud-splattered uniform and cloak, cradling his severed head under his arm. And a grotesque, three-headed troll whose body was completely covered in a blanket of green moss. The creature had piggy little eyes, a bulbous red nose, and a wrinkled face with ugly warts.
    The giant moved over on his bench and motioned for the two newcomers to sit with him. He stroked his matted black beard and addressed Kellen in a booming voice.
    “You seen Jack, mister?”
    “Jack?”
    “A small boy lugging a white goose and a golden harp. You couldn’t miss him.”
    Kellen gulped. The giant was scary. “I’m afraid I haven’t.”
    The giant’s face twisted into a frightful grimace and his eyes glittered with anger.
    “If ever I catch that little rogue, I’m gonna spill his beans.” The giant whacked the table with his knotted club and the sound thundered through the forest.
    “Excuse me, Mr. Giant,” Aleeta interrupted. “We’re looking for our missing children. Did you see them around here?”
    The