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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Chapter 11. The Wonderful City of Oz
With their eyes behind the green glasses, Dorothy and her friends were amazed by the bright light of the City.
The streets had beautiful houses all made of green stone and set with many green gems.
They walked on a path of the same green stone.
Where the blocks were joined, rows of green gems stood close together and shone in the sun.
The window glass was green, even the sky above the City had a green color, and the sun's light was green.
There were many people, men, women, and children, walking about, and they all wore green clothes and had greenish skin.
They looked at Dorothy and her friends, the children hid behind their mothers when they saw the Lion.
But no one spoke to them.
Many shops stood in the street, and Dorothy saw that everything in them was green.
Green candy and green popcorn were for sale, and green shoes, green hats, and green clothes of all kinds.
At one place a man was selling green lemonade, and when the children bought it Dorothy saw they paid with green pennies.
There seemed to be no horses or animals of any kind.
The people carried things in small green carts which they pushed in front of them.
Everyone looked happy and content and well off.
The Guardian of the Gates led them through the streets.
They came to a big building in the middle of the City, the Palace of Oz, the Great Wizard.
A soldier stood before the door, dressed in a green uniform and wearing a long green beard.
"Here are strangers," said the Guardian of the Gates to him, "and they want to see the Great Oz."
"Step inside," answered the soldier, "and I'll carry your message to him."
They went through the Palace Gates into a large room with a green carpet and green chairs set with gems.
The soldier made them wipe their feet on a green mat before going in, and when they sat he said,
"Please make yourselves comfortable while I go to the door of the Throne Room and tell Oz you're here."
They had to wait a long time before the soldier came back.
When he did at last, Dorothy asked,
"Have you seen Oz?"
"Oh, no," replied the soldier.
"I have never seen him."
"But I spoke to him as he sat behind his screen and gave him your message."
"He said he'll see you if you want to, but each of you must go into his presence alone, and he'll see only one person each day."
"So, since you must stay in the Palace for some days, I'll have rooms made ready where you may rest in comfort after your journey."
"Thank you," said the girl, "that's very kind of Oz."
The soldier blew a green whistle, and a young girl in a pretty green silk gown came into the room.
She had lovely green hair and green eyes, and she bowed low before Dorothy as she said,
"Follow me and I'll show you your room."
Dorothy said good-bye to all her friends except Toto.
Dorothy held Toto in her arms and followed the green girl through seven hallways.
They went up three flights of stairs and reached a room at the front of the Palace.
It was the sweetest little room, with a soft bed with green silk sheets and a soft green cover.
There was a small fountain in the middle of the room.
It sent a spray of green perfume into the air that fell back into a carved green stone basin.
Beautiful green flowers stood in the windows, and there was a shelf with a row of little green books.
When Dorothy opened these books she found them full of strange green pictures that made her laugh, they were so funny.
In a wardrobe were many green dresses, made of silk and satin and velvet, and all of them fitted Dorothy exactly.
"Make yourself perfectly at home," said the green girl, "and if you want anything ring the bell. Oz will send for you tomorrow morning."
She left Dorothy and went back to the others.
She led them to rooms too, and each of them found himself put in a very pleasant part of the Palace.
Of course this kindness was wasted on the Scarecrow.
When he found himself alone he stood foolishly just inside the doorway and waited till morning.
He wouldn't lie down, and he couldn't close his eyes.
He stayed all night staring at a little spider that was making its web in a corner of the room.
He looked at it as if the room weren't one of the most wonderful in the world.
The Tin Woodman lay down on his bed from habit.
He remembered that when he was made of flesh he couldn't sleep.
So he used to pass the night moving his joints to keep them in good order.
The Lion would have preferred a bed of dry leaves in the forest and didn't like being shut in a room.
He had sense enough not to let this worry him.
So he jumped on the bed, rolled up like a cat, and purred himself to sleep in a minute.
The next morning, after breakfast, the green maiden came to fetch Dorothy.
And she dressed her in one of the prettiest gowns made of green brocaded satin.
Dorothy put on a green silk apron and tied a green ribbon around Toto's neck.
And they started for the Throne Room of the Great Oz.
First they came to a great hall where many ladies and gentlemen of the court stood, all dressed in rich clothes.
These people had nothing to do but talk to each other.
But they always came to wait outside the Throne Room each morning, though they were never allowed to see Oz.
As Dorothy entered they looked at her with interest, and one of them whispered,
"Are you really going to look upon the face of Oz the Terrible?"
"Of course," answered the girl, "if he'll see me."
"Oh, he'll see you," said the soldier who had taken her message to the Wizard.
"Though he doesn't like people asking to see him."
"Indeed, at first he was angry and said I should send you back where you came from."
"Then he asked me what you looked like, and when I told him about your silver shoes he was very interested."
"At last I told him about the mark on your forehead, and he decided he'd let you in."
Just then a bell rang, and the green girl said to Dorothy, "That's the signal. You must go into the Throne Room alone."
She opened a little door and Dorothy walked bravely through and found herself in a wonderful place.
It was a round room with a high curved roof, the walls, ceiling and floor were covered in green gems.
A great light in the roof shone like the sun and made the gems sparkle.
But what interested Dorothy most was the big throne of green stone that stood in the middle of the room.
It looked like a chair and shone with gems, as did everything else.
In the center of the chair was a large Head with no body, arms, or legs.
There was no hair on this head, but it had eyes and a nose and a mouth.
And it was bigger than the head of the biggest giant.
As Dorothy looked at this with both wonder and fear, the eyes turned slowly and looked at her sharply and steadily.
Then the mouth moved, and Dorothy heard a voice say,
"I'm Oz, the Great and Terrible. Who are you, and why do you seek me?"
It wasn't as awful a voice as she had thought would come from the big Head.
So she took courage and answered.
"I'm Dorothy, the Small and Meek. I have come to you for help."
The eyes looked at her with thought for a full minute, then the voice said,
"Where did you get the silver shoes?"
"I got them from the Wicked Witch of the East, when my house fell on her and killed her," she answered.
"Where did you get the mark on your forehead?" asked the voice.
"That's where the Good Witch of the North kissed me when she said good-bye and sent me to you," said the girl.
Again the eyes looked at her sharply, and they saw she was telling the truth.
Then Oz asked, "What do you want me to do?"
"Send me back to Kansas, where my Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are," she answered earnestly.
"I don't like your country, though it's so beautiful."
"And I'm sure Aunt Em will be very worried that I have been away so long."
The eyes blinked three times.
Then they looked at roof and floor and turned so oddly they seemed to see every part of the room.
At last they looked at Dorothy again.
"Why should I do this for you?" asked Oz.
"Because you're strong and I'm weak, because you're a Great Wizard and I'm only a little girl."
"But you were strong enough to kill the Wicked Witch of the East," said Oz.
"That just happened," Dorothy answered simply, "I couldn't help it."
"Well," said the Head.
"I'll give you my answer."
"You have no right to expect me to send you back to Kansas unless you do something for me in return."
"In this country everyone must pay for what he gets."
"If you want me to use my magic to send you home again you must do something for me first."
"Help me and I'll help you."
"What must I do?" asked the girl.
"Kill the Wicked Witch of the West," answered Oz.
"But I can't!" cried Dorothy, very surprised.
"You killed the Witch of the East and you wear the silver shoes, which hold a powerful charm."
There's only one Wicked Witch left in this land, and when you tell me she's dead I'll send you back to Kansas.
The little girl began to cry because she was so disappointed.
The eyes blinked again and looked at her with worry, as if the Great Oz thought she could help him.
"I never killed anything on purpose," she sobbed.
"Even if I wanted to, how could I kill the Wicked Witch?"
"If you, who are Great and Terrible, can't kill her yourself, how do you expect me to do it?"
"I don't know," said the Head.
"But that's my answer, and until the Wicked Witch dies you won't see your uncle and aunt again."
"Remember the Witch is wicked, very wicked, and should be killed."
"Now go, and don't ask to see me again until you have done your task."
Dorothy left the Throne Room and went back to the Lion, Scarecrow and Tin Woodman waiting to hear Oz.
"There's no hope for me,"
"She said sadly, "Oz won't send me home until I kill the Wicked Witch of the West, and I can't.
Her friends felt sorry but could not help, so Dorothy went to her room and cried herself to sleep.
The next morning the soldier with the green whiskers came to the Scarecrow and said,
"Come with me, for Oz has sent for you."
So the Scarecrow followed him into the Throne Room and saw a most lovely Lady sitting on the green throne.
She was dressed in green silk gauze and wore on her flowing green hair a crown of jewels.
From her shoulders grew wings, bright in color and so light that they moved if the smallest breath of air touched them.
When the Scarecrow bowed as his straw would let him before the creature, she looked at him kindly and said,
"I'm Oz, the Great and Terrible. Who are you, and why do you seek me?"
Now the Scarecrow, who had expected to see the great Head Dorothy told him of, was much surprised, but he answered her bravely.
"I'm only a Scarecrow, stuffed with straw."
"So I have no brains, and I come to you asking that you put brains in my head instead of straw,"
"So I may be as much a man as any other in your land."
"Why should I do this for you?" asked the Lady.
"Because you're wise and powerful, and no one else can help me," answered the Scarecrow.
"I never give favors without some return," said Oz.
"But this I'll promise."
"If you'll kill for me the Wicked Witch of the West, I'll give you many brains."
"They will be such good brains that you'll be the wisest man in all the Land of Oz".
"I thought you asked Dorothy to kill the Witch," said the Scarecrow, in surprise.
"So I did."
"I don't care who kills her."
"But until she's dead I won't grant your wish."
"Now go, and don't look for me again until you have earned the brains you so want."
The Scarecrow went sadly back to his friends and told them what Oz had said.
Dorothy was surprised to find that the Great Wizard wasn't a Head, as she had seen him, but a lovely Lady.
"All the same," said the Scarecrow, "she needs a heart as much as the Tin Woodman."
On the next morning the soldier with the green whiskers came to the Tin Woodman and said,
"Oz has sent for you. Follow me."
So the Tin Woodman followed him and came to the great Throne Room.
He didn't know if he'd find Oz a lovely Lady or a Head.
But he hoped it would be the lovely Lady.
"For," he said to himself, "if it's the Head, I won't be given a heart, a head has no heart."
"But if it's the lovely Lady I'll beg hard for a heart, for ladies are kind".
But when the Woodman entered the great Throne Room, he saw neither the Head nor the Lady.
Oz had taken the shape of a most terrible Beast.
It was almost as big as an elephant, and the green throne looked hardly strong enough to hold its weight.
The Beast had a head like a rhinoceros, only there were five eyes in its face.
Five long arms grew from its body, and it also had five long, thin legs.
Thick, woolly hair covered every part of it, and a more dreadful monster couldn't be imagined.
It was lucky the Tin Woodman had no heart at that moment, for it would have beaten fast from fear.
But being only tin, the Woodman wasn't afraid, though he was much disappointed.
"I'm Oz, the Great and Terrible," spoke the Beast in a voice like a great roar.
"Who are you, and why do you seek me?"
"I'm a Woodman, and made of tin."
"So I have no heart, and can't love."
"I beg you to give me a heart so I may be like other men."
"Why should I do this?" asked the Beast.
"Because I ask it, and you alone can grant my request," answered the Woodman.
Oz gave a low growl at this, but said, in a rough voice, "If you truly want a heart, you must earn it."
"How?" asked the Woodman.
"Help Dorothy to kill the Wicked Witch of the West," replied the Beast.
"When the Witch is dead, come to me, and I'll give you the biggest and kindest and most loving heart in all the Land of Oz."
So the Tin Woodman had to return sadly to his friends and tell them of the terrible Beast he had seen.
They all wondered greatly at the many forms the Great Wizard could take, and the Lion said,
"If he's a Beast when I go to see him, I'll roar my loudest, and so frighten him that he'll give me what I ask."
"And if he's the lovely Lady, I'll pretend to spring on her, and so force her to do my bidding."
And if he's the great Head, he'll be at my mercy.
I'll roll his head around the room until he gives us our wish.
I'll roll his head around the room until he gives us our wish.
"So be happy, my friends, for all will yet be well."
Next morning the soldier with the green whiskers led the Lion to the Throne Room and sent him to Oz.
The Lion walked through the door and looked around.
He saw a Ball of Fire before the throne so very strong and bright he could hardly look at it.
His first thought was that Oz had caught on fire and was burning up.
But when he tried to go near, the heat was so strong it burned his whiskers.
And he crept back shaking to a spot nearer the door.
Then a low, quiet voice came from the Ball of Fire, and these were the words it spoke,
"I'm Oz, the Great and Terrible. Who are you, and why do you seek me?"
And the Lion answered, "I'm a Cowardly Lion, afraid of everything."
"I came to you to beg that you give me courage, so I can become truly the King of Beasts, as men call me."
"Why should I give you courage?" asked Oz.
"Because of all Wizards you're the greatest, and only you have power to grant my request," answered the Lion.
The Ball of Fire burned fiercely for a time, and the voice said,
"Bring me proof that the Wicked Witch is dead, and at that moment I'll give you courage."
"But as long as the Witch lives, you must stay a coward."
The Lion was angry but could say nothing.
While he stood looking at the Ball of Fire it grew so hot he turned and ran from the room.
He was glad to find his friends waiting for him, and told them of his terrible meeting with the Wizard.
"What shall we do now?" asked Dorothy sadly.
"There's only one thing we can do," answered the Lion.
"And that's to go to the land of the Winkies, find the Wicked Witch, and destroy her."
"But suppose we can't?" said the girl.
"Then I'll never have courage," said the Lion.
"And I'll never have brains," said the Scarecrow.
"And I'll never have a heart," said the Tin Woodman.
"And I'll never see Aunt Em and Uncle Henry," said Dorothy, starting to cry.
"Be careful!" cried the green girl.
"The tears will fall on your green silk gown and make a spot."
So Dorothy wiped her eyes and said,
"I suppose we must try, but I'm sure I don't want to kill anyone, even to see Aunt Em again."
"I'll go with you, but I'm too much a coward to kill the Witch," said the Lion.
"I'll go too," said the Scarecrow, "but I won't be of much help, I'm such a fool."
"I don't have the heart to hurt even a Witch," said the Tin Woodman, "but if you go I'll go with you."
They decided to start journey next morning, the Woodman sharpened his axe on a green grindstone and oiled his joints.
The Scarecrow stuffed himself with fresh straw and Dorothy put new paint on his eyes so he might see better.
The green girl filled Dorothy's basket with food and tied a small bell to Toto's neck with a green ribbon.
They went to bed early and slept well until morning.
They were woken by the crowing of a green cock that lived in the Palace back yard.
They were also woken by the clucking of a hen that had laid a green egg.