In all of my blind determination, I was keeping look out for three things only: Trea, the TumTum tree, and the Vorpol Sword. I stop because I see the TumTum tree. That means I am close. The Vorpol Sword is close. I walk to where I recall was the way to the cave and search the ground. I see it on a little hill, lying right where I left it. Picking it up, the blade pulses again in green and blue. I find the sword sheath near by. Fitting the two together, I put the sheath back on. Standing here, I remember how it all happened. The wind. 'Did I burble as I came?' The deal. My skepticism The fear of the sword next to its neck. How that was my moment to strike. Then my failure. Believing the Jabberwalk. And then being pushed back to Earth. I shudder at all of it. I need to find Trea. I start at the entrance to Tugley Wood and search diligently up and down it, slowly making way to the other side of Tugley Wood. Calling out his name, I strain to hear even the faintest hint of Trea trying to respond to me. He has got to be here somewhere.
In my second pass-through, I spot something. Something mangy and red on the ground. I go over to inspect it. My heart freezes as the red object proves to be a head. A still closer look reveals that the head is, indeed, attached to a body. A tall body. I roll the body over. Hand flies to my mouth to stifle a cry: It's Trea! I did fall for a trick. They never released Trea after they pushed me back to Earth. There was actually some hope that they did release him. But now he's... gone. Deep down, I guess I always knew it. I collapse, cradling his head in my arms best I can, sobbing. I think of the brief time we had together. The first day, giving each other nick-names. Him calling this place Dimmerland because I was leaving. His promising to stay 18 for me and my promise of return. His willingness to take me in. The crooked grin. The riddle of reassurance. Tea time. Telling me to stay. The almost kiss.
The tears have subsided now and I bend down to do the unfinished. I kiss him. But it is a kiss of good-bye. Reaching up for my hat, I take it off and leave in his hand. I don't need it anymore. There is no more point or hope left in it. And with the Vorpol Sword beating against my leg, I go back to the house I called home for only a week.
"'Twas Brillig and the slithy toves did Gyre and Gimble in the wabe... All Mimsy were the Borogroves and the Mome Rathes outgrabe..." I've been through the happy Borogroves and dealt with the Mome Rathes, whom are outrageous "Beware the Jabberwalk, my son, the jaws that bite, the claws that catch..." He bit me when he took Trea from me, caught me when he pushed me back to Earth, and bit me again by killing Trea. I squint. The Jabberwalk will pay for this. The way I should have dealt with him in the first place. "Beware the Jubjub bird and shun the frumious bandersnatch..." I've come across them both. The bandersnatch is a cinch. The bird is annoying. "He took his Vorpol Sword in hand, long time the manxome foe he saught..." A whole week searching for it. That is a long time. Before, it was only three days.
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