Page 26 of Wondrous

Everyone has, he said, a doubtful note creeping into his voice. Are you saying you’re the chalice?

“Alice,” I said. “Maybe. I hope so.”

He was quiet for a long moment, and then he said, I didn’t actually mean that. What I said before. About using your bones for a ladder. I was just trying to scare you.

“I accept your apology,” I said, though he hadn’t apologized and I was far from certain he was telling the truth.

“Drink the tea,” I said firmly. “Then I’ll get you out, we’ll find the mock dragons, and you can get back to”—I looked dubiously around the dank, dark wilderness—“whatever it is you do here.”

I righted the teacup and poured him another cup of oolong. Then I stepped back from the pit, just in case.

A few seconds passed, and I thought he wasn’t going to do it. But then the gray-green tail snaked out of the pit and wrapped itself with surprising delicacy around the handle of the teacup. He lifted it into the air and lowered it into the darkness without a drop spilling out. The tail reappeared and retrieved the plate with the cinnamon swirl.

“You have to drink it all,” I said, suddenly filled with doubt again. “And don’t even think about smashing the cup. I might need it again. Remember, I can still leave you down there.”

What’s this? I heard a gnashing, chomping sound—quite unpleasant. Cinnamon? It’s good.

“Thank you,” I said, blushing a little at the compliment. What was wrong with me? “You’d better be drinking that tea,” I added.

I already did, he said. I don’t feel any different. Can you refill my cup? I need something to wash down—

This was followed by a choking cry and the clatter of china. And then the jabberwock began to thrash around in the pit, shrieking.

Chapter 15

“What’s happening?” I cried. I had forgotten the danger enough to stand at the edge of the pit, trying to see through the shadows. But I couldn’t make anything out. He had stopped thrashing around, and all I could hear was labored breathing, oddly distorted by the echoey pit.

“Jabberwock?” I said fearfully. “If you’re trying to scare me again—”

“What did you do to me?” a hoarse voice demanded.

“J—what?” I darted away from the edge of the pit in startled shock, then darted back. “Who—who’s down there?”

I heard a wheezing sort of laugh. “I don’t exactly know.”

“I don’t understand—”

It’s me, the jabberwock’s sly, slithering voice said. Apparently I can talk like you now.

“Oh,” I said, relieved. “Are—are you all right? What did the enchantment do to you?”

In response, I heard only a muffled groan. “It hurts now when I do that,” the jabberwock said. “When I speak into your mind. Get me out of here.”

“Ah—all right.” I hurried off, nervous about whether this was another trick but too curious not to find out. The two voices were similar, somehow, even though one was silent, the other not; perhaps it was the undercurrent of slyness.

“Oh, I’m in deep waters now,” I fretted under my breath as I retrieved my last blanket from the hedgehogs and tore it into strips. I expected the Cat to agree, or offer up another taunt, but he had vanished again.

I lowered the blanket down, but the jabberwock told me it was too short and I should throw it down to him. I did so, and he tore up the blankets that had been inside the tent and added their length to the makeshift rope. Then he threw an end up to me.

“This had better not be a trick,” we said at exactly the same moment. This was followed by an odd, awkward silence.

“Well,” I said at last, planting my feet against a rock. “Let’s see how this goes. Come on.”

I leaned back, half expecting to be overpowered by the jabberwock’s weight, but it wasn’t too bad. As long as I braced myself, I could hold the rope steady, though I didn’t have the strength to pull him. He had to climb the rope by himself.

“Are you almost there?” I said, sweating. I very much wanted him to get out so my arms and back could stop screaming, but I also dreaded it. It wasn’t just worry that the enchantment hadn’t worked; I hadn’t gotten a good look at him before, as my attention hadn’t been able to make it past his teeth. And I wasn’t certain I wanted to get a look at him.

“Was this your idea or mine?” he grumbled, clearly out of breath.