Chapter 59: Room of Renewal

Chapter 59: Room of Renewal

(Robert Quick, December 27th, 2012)

The area was vast and open, though I could still see walls in the distance, and not nearly as foggy on this side. The air was comfortably warm but not hot and smelled of fresh flowers. Dotting the scene were several nearly round pools carved out of smooth brown stone. Some waters bubbled like fountains, others were serene and still. A pair of stylized wooden bridges arched over a squiggly closed-loop river. Paths cut through the dense foliage that covered the ground with thick vines and broad fanshaped leaves.

Stacked next to a wicker barrel were fluffy white towels. Mounted along the wall were a row of shower heads.

The middle was much brighter than the area around it. Looking up, I saw that an enormous skylight had been rolled back, revealing fluffy clouds and a clear sky so blue it almost hurt to look at it.

I didn’t see any people but I did see a tray heaped with food. Above a half a dozen croissants, a spiral of vegetables, and a mix of cold cuts and cheese was a sign that read EAT ME!79

79

Many edibles are labeled as such in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and its miscellaneous adaptions and reimaginings. The food so marked has a tendency to cause whoever eats it to shift size. 113