Several weeks had passed since Tristan left to confer with the Elders. Morgana and Merlin had worked the students unrelentingly, as there was much to assimilate. Each day began at 0600 hr and continued until 1800 hr when dinner was served. After dinner, two hours more study, and then, off to bed for some rest.
No one complained for each felt the growing evil and the perilousness of the moment. For even if Earth could be protected, some of those present would become warriors and may die fighting for the innocent life forms and future of conscious life in all the universes.
This morning, the students found Tristan at the breakfast table with a happy Morgana sitting next to him. Tristan said, “Tomorrow, we return to Wonderland for another Tea Party, then off to the three islands and home. After breakfast, all of us will return to the First Temple so to bathe in its magical waters. We all need rejuvenation, and rejuvenation it will be. Later we return to the Crystal Cave for a Last Supper and then to bed for a sound sleep. When you awake, we will already be in Wonderland to finalize this purpose journey.”
And so the time passed as Tristan had stated.
When the students awakened, the Wonderland sun had been up for about three hours warming the grassy meadow in which rested their corporeal bodies. Tristan said, “Rise and shine, everyone. Behind you are two hot springs. The ladies may bathe in one and the gentlemen in the other.
“How do you know which one is for the ladies? The grass around the female only spring is surrounded by blooming ‘blue chiffon’ Rose of Sharon. Before you undress and climb into the spring, take some time to appreciate the inner petals of this rose. The men’s spring is just a spring with grass and normal forest surrounding it. No frills for the men. See you back in thirty minutes. We have a morning Tea Party to attend to. Chop, chop.”
The students were back in time and all headed to the Mad Hatter’s House of Tea. As they approached the glen where the tea table was situated, everyone noticed a big change from the first visit. All the guests were properly dressed, and everything on the table was organized so to be easily accessed. Even the table mice had a proper table and chair for sitting perched upon the tea table itself.
As the visitors arrived, the Mad Hatter stood up, bowed at the waist, saying, “Nice to see you again. Please choose an empty seat and sit.”
The White Rabbit stood up, bowed at the waist, saying, “All of you have surprised looks on your face. You were expecting to see us as you saw us the first time, eh? Everyone had to nod in agreement.
“This is to be expected. The first time we met, we were rehearsing a new short play called ‘Life in the Insane Asylum, or How to Be Human.’ You became extras in the second act, ‘A Birthday Tea Party for Madmen.’ Wasn’t Alice just grand! She cannot be her today, as she has a croquet match with the White Queen today. It is an annual thing with them. The flamingos will be quite silly in their heads this evening,” continued the White Rabbit.