Chapter 13: The Roses Must Be Red

Alice cries sadly and says to the Cheshire Cat:

“I give up the Rabbit. I just want to go home.”

The Cheshire Cat grins and says slowly:

“There is no road of yours here. All the roads belong to the Queen.”

Alice says in surprise, “But I haven’t even met the Queen.”

The Cheshire Cat opens his eyes wide dramatically:

“Not met her? That won’t do! You must meet the Queen, or she will be angry.”

Alice asks, “Then how can I meet the Queen?”

The Cheshire Cat smiles mysteriously and points with his paw.

Suddenly, a door appears in the tree trunk.

The Cat says, “Take this shortcut.”

Alice pushes the door open and steps inside.

She finds herself inside a tall hedge maze.

Music and footsteps come from within.

She follows the sound.

She sees a group of playing card soldiers.

They sing and dance as they work.

They are also busy painting roses with paint.

Alice steps forward and asks curiously:

“Why are you painting the white roses red?”

One card replies nervously:

“Because we planted the wrong ones. They should have been red roses.”

“The Queen loves red roses.”

“If she sees white ones, we are doomed!”

“She might take our heads at once!”

Alice jumps and says, “That’s terrible!”

The card says, “We must hurry to paint them red.”

Alice quickly says, “Then let me help you!”

She picks up a brush and dips it in red paint.

She joins the card soldiers, painting the white roses red one by one.