The Lion Runs from Oz

Chapter-4

The next morning as soon as the sun was up, Dorothy and her friends started on their way. Soon they saw a beautiful green glow in the sky.
“That must be the Emerald City,” said Dorothy.
As they walked, the green glow became brighter and brighter. It seemed that at last they were at the end of their long journey.
Finally, they reached the end of the Yellow Brick Road. Before them stood a huge gate covered with emeralds. The jewels glittered in the sun.
Next to the gate was a bell. Dorothy rang the bell, and the big gate swung open very slowly. Inside was a large room covered with shining emeralds. A little man stood inside the room. He was dressed all in green. At his side was a large green box. He asked Dorothy and her friends why they had come to the Emerald City.
“We came here to see the Wizard of Oz,” said Dorothy.
The man was so surprised at this answer that he sat down to think.
“It has been many years since anyone has come to see the Great Wizard,” he said, “I hope that your business is important, because if you have come here for a foolish reason, he might get angry and destroy all of you.”
But the Scarecrow assured the man that they had come on very important business. Then the small man explained that he was the Guardian of the Gate, and only he could take them to see the Great Oz. But before they could enter the wonderful city, everyone had to put on green glasses. The Guardian of the Gate explained that the glasses would prevent them from being blinded by the brightness of the Emerald City. He carefully unlocked the box and fitted everyone, even little Toto, with a pair of green glasses. Finally, they were all ready to enter the gates of the Emerald City.
Even though their eyes were protected by the green glasses, Dorothy and her friends were dazzled by the wonderful city. The streets were lined with beautiful houses which were all made of green marble and covered with sparkling emeralds.
There were many people-men, women and children, all dressed in green clothing. Several shops were open and Dorothy saw that everything in them was green. There were green candies, green cookies, and even glasses of green lemonade. Everyone seemed happy and comfortable in the Emerald City.
The Guardian of the Gate led them through the streets until they came to a big building, exactly in the middle of the city. This was the Palace of Oz. In front of the door stood a soldier. He was dressed in a green uniform and had a long green beard.
“Here are the strangers,” said the Guardian of the Gate, “and they demand to see the Great Oz.”
The soldier asked everyone to follow him inside the palace. Then he asked them to wait while he brought their message to the Great Oz.
They had to wait a long time before the soldier returned. When he finally came back, Dorothy asked, “Have you seen Oz?”
“Oh no,” answered the soldier, “I have never seen him. But I spoke to him as he sat behind a screen. I gave him your message.”
He said that he would talk to each one of you. But he would only see one of you each day. So you must stay here at the Palace for a few days. I will show you to your rooms,” said the soldier.
The next morning, a young woman dressed all in green came to see Dorothy. She gave Dorothy a lovely green dress and even tied a green bow around Toto’s neck. Then the woman led Dorothy and Toto to the Throne Room of the Palace to see the Great Oz himself.
After waiting for a few minutes, a bell rang. Dorothy walked into the Throne Room. The room was very big, and all the walls were covered with glistening emeralds. In the middle of the room stood a huge throne. It was shaped like a chair and sparkled with gems. In the centre of the chair was an enormous Head. There was no body, or arms or legs to support the Head. It stood alone.
Dorothy looked at the enormous Head with wonder and fear. The eyes in the Head turned slowly and the mouth moved. Then a voice said, “I am Oz the Great and Terrible. Who are you and why are you here?”
Dorothy was frightened, but somehow she had the courage to answer, “I am Dorothy, and I have come to ask you to help me return to my home in Kansas.”
The eyes looked at her for a few minutes, then a voice said, “Where did you get those silver shoes? What is that mark on your forehead?”
Dorothy explained that the shoes had belonged to the wicked witch of the East, and that the mark on her forehead was the magical kiss of the good witch of the North.
The eyes looked at her carefully. They winked three times, and they turned up to the ceiling and down to the floor and rolled around, so they could see every part of the room. Then the Great Oz was ready to give his answer.
“If you want me to help you return to Kansas, you must first do something for me. You must kill the wicked witch of the West.”
Dorothy began to cry.
“I have never killed anything willingly,” she explained, “and even if I wanted to kill the wicked witch, I would not know how.”
But the Great Oz only said, “That is my answer. Until the wicked witch dies, you will not return to Kansas. Remember that the wicked witch is very evil and ought to be killed. Now go and do not return until she is dead.”
Sadly, Dorothy left the Throne Room and told her friends what had happened. The Scarecrow, the Tinman and the lion felt very sad, because they could not help Dorothy.
The next morning, the soldier with the green beard led the Scarecrow into the Throne Room. There sitting on the sparkling throne, was a beautiful woman dressed in green silk and covered with jewels. Large green wings grew from her shoulders.
The Scarecrow bowed and the beautiful woman said, “I am the Great Oz. Who are you and what do you want?”
The Scarecrow was very surprised. He had expected to see the Head Dorothy had told him about. But he answered the Great Oz and explained that what he wanted more than anything else was to have brains.
Oz was quiet for a few minutes. Then he said, “I never grant favours without something in return. If you kill the wicked witch of the West, I will give you the best brains in all the land. You will be the wisest man there.”
The Scarecrow was confused. “But you asked Dorothy to kill the wicked witch of the West,” he said.
“So, I did,” answered Oz, “I don’t care who kills her, but until she is dead, I will not grant your wish.”

The Scarecrow returned to his friends. He told them that the Great Oz had appeared in the form of a beautiful woman but had refused to give him any brains until the wicked witch was killed.
The next morning, the Tinman was called into the Throne Room. This time the Great Oz appeared as a terrible beast. The creature was as big as an elephant and had a head like a rhinoceros. It had five arms and five long legs. Thick woolly hair covered its huge body. The Tinman had never seen such a terrible creature.
“I am Oz the Great and Terrible,” spoke the beast. “Who are you and what do you want?”
The Tinman explained that he wanted heart so that he might love.
Oz waited only a minute before he replied. He explained to the Tinman that he would receive a wonderful heart only if he helped Dorothy and the Scarecrow killed the wicked witch of the West.
The Tinman bowed his head and slowly left the Throne Room. When he returned to his friends, he sadly told them what Oz had said.
The next morning it was the lion’s turn to talk to the Great Oz.
When he entered the Throne Room, he expected to see the Great Head, the Beautiful Woman, or the Hideous Beast. But the lion saw none of these. Instead, to his surprise, he saw a great Ball of Fire. The Ball of Fire was so fierce and glowing that he could hardly look at it. As the lion moved away from the heat of the fire, he heard a quiet voice say, “I am Oz the Great and Terrible. Who are you and what do you want?”
The frightened lion answered, “I am a cowardly lion, afraid of everything. I came to beg you to give me courage so that I may become the King of the Beasts.”
The Ball of Fire burned for a time, and then the voice said, “Bring me proof that the wicked witch is dead, and then I will give you courage.”
The lion was angry at the Great Oz, but he was too frightened to say anything. So he ran from the room and joined his friends.
After the lion had told Dorothy what had happened, she looked at him sadly.
“What shall we do now?” she asked.
“There is only one thing we can do,” answered the lion, “and that is to go to the Land of the Winkies, where the wicked witch lives, and destroy her.”
“What if we can’t destroy her?” said Dorothy.
“Then I will never have courage,” said the lion.
“And I will never have a heart,” said the Tinman.
“And I will never have brains,” said the Scarecrow.
“And I will never see Aunt Em and Uncle Henry,” cried Dorothy.
The four friends thought for a long time.
“I suppose we must try it, but I am sure I do not want to kill anybody, even to see Aunt Em again,” said Dorothy.
So, Dorothy and her friends decided to begin their journey the very next morning.

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