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Chapter Three:
Dorothy Returns to Oz
*
Dorothy's head began to throb. She wondered if the injury that shesuffered during the tornado had caused some permanent damage. A feelingof extreme dizziness came over her. She walked over to her bed and laydown again.
As she lay back, the room began to spin. Had she been standing she wassure she would have fallen. She imagined she could hear a voice insideher head telling her she must return to Oz. Suddenly it appeared thatthe floor gave way as she felt herself falling ... falling ... twistingand turning over and over as she fell. She began spinning around veryfast. Her body felt like it was being torn apart. "Oh, no!" she cried."What is happening to me? Please! Someone! Help me!"
The thought raced through her mind that she was being sucked into a hugevortex by a great evil force. A tremendous fear filled her heart. Shevisualized the leering faces of a hundred wicked witches swirling aroundher. The faces were cackling with loud screams of hideous laughter. Ahundred pairs of ugly hands with long bony fingers clutched at her asshe fell.
"Now we've got you!" screamed the witches in unison. "You'll never get.away from us this time, little Goody-Two-Shoes!"
"Help me, someone. Please help!" Dorothy cried.
As she called out for help, the witches' images began to fade; thescreaming to diminish. In their place a shining metallic substanceappeared. It spun around her so fast it seemed like a solid sheet ofmetal. Whatever it was, it appeared to slow her fall.
Gradually, the spinning object slowed. As it did, her image wasreflected each time it passed in front of her. Suddenly she saw twodangling arms and legs attached to the spinning form, and a shiny facegrinning at her.
"Nick Chopper!" she cried, recognizing the Tin Woodman and lungingtoward him with her arms outstretched.
CLUNK! There was a dull thud as the soft material of her body madecontact with the woodman's metal body. They both fell the last few feetto the ground, laughing uproariously.
"You know," Dorothy said, when their laughter subsided, "before Irealized who you were, I kept seeing my face reflected as you spun byme. It is reflected now on your chest, right where your heart is."
"Oh, Dorothy!" said the Tin Woodman, starting to cry. "I'm so happy tosee you."
"Now don't you cry," said Dorothy, wiping his eyes with herhandkerchief, "you'll rust up again."
"It's wonderful to have a heart," the Tin Woodman said, "and to have allthe feelings that a human has; but a heart can grow very heavy whensomeone you love has to go away. Of course, it enables you to be filledwith joy when they return. That is why I am crying, because I am so happy."
"I know how you feel," replied Dorothy, her own eyes beginning to mist.She held him tightly for a long time.
"Well," said the Tin Woodman at length, "how would you like a nice cupof tea?"
"That would be lovely," answered the girl.
"Then let us adjourn to my castle," he replied.
As they walked, each brought the other up to date on the latestdevelopments in their lives.
"After you returned to Kansas, Dorothy, everyone settled down to theirusual routine. It was wonderful with the Wicked Witches of the East andWest gone. And with fear no longer a part of everyone's lives. Oz wasthe happiest place in all creation."
"Was the happiest?" questioned the girl. "Isn't Oz a happy place now?"
The Tin Woodman was about to answer when they arrived at the castle."Let me put the kettle on and I'll continue with my story," he said.
While the tin man was in the kitchen, there was a knock at the door."Would you get that?" he called to Dorothy. "It's probably the Scarecrow."
Dorothy ran to the door excitedly. Sure enough, it was her old friend.When he saw Dorothy, he threw his arms around her. "Oh, Dorothy," hesaid. "How wonderful to see you!"
At that, the Tin Woodman entered the room with Dorothy's tea. TheScarecrow stared at him with a questioning look. "Is Dorothy going tohelp us again?" he asked. "Help you?" said Dorothy. "Why, what do youmean? What has happened?"
"Let us sit down while you have your tea," motioned the Tin Woodman."I'll explain everything."
As Dorothy sipped her tea she wondered what terrible things couldpossibly have occurred since she left.
The Tin Woodman looked at Dorothy rather seriously. "Do you rememberwhen you first arrived in Oz and your house fell on the Wicked Witch ofthe East and killed her dead? And how angry the Wicked Witch of the Westwas?"
Dorothy nodded. She remembered only too well ... especially when themagical Silver Shoes were given to her by the Good Witch of the North.The Wicked Witch of the West couldn't contain herself; she wasabsolutely furious. First her sister killed, then the Silver Shoesstolen from right under her nose!
"Well," continued the Tin Woodman, "there was a third sister; the WickedWitch of the Deep South. She heard about all this just before you leftOz. Then, after you returned to Kansas, the news reached her that you'dthrown water over her favorite sister -- the Wicked Witch of the West,and liquidated her. Oh, was she angry! She was livid! And when she foundout you'd escaped from Oz she screamed so loudly that her false teethfell out and all the Munchkins fell down laughing. That really made hermad. She screamed at the Munchkins and told them if you ever come backto Oz you can kiss yourself goodbye, because you'll never see yourselfagain."
"What a horrible thing to say!" exclaimed Dorothy. "What a terribleperson she must be."
"Oh, she is," said the Scarecrow. "She's worse than the Wicked Witchesof the East and West put together. It's a good thing you left Oz whenyou did. Even the Silver Shoes would not have been strong enough to stopher."
Dorothy was about to speak when a familiar figure walked through theopen door . It was Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. The girl ran toher friend and hugged her.
"How wonderful to see you again," said Glinda, holding Dorothy tightlyto her. "We all missed you terribly when you returned to Kansas."
"I missed all of you, too," replied Dorothy. "More than I can say."
"But why have you returned so soon?" asked Glinda. "I know you longed tobe with your family again."
"I don't really know why I've returned," replied the girl. "It's true Imiss my friends, but it's more than that. Some strange pull has broughtme back. I even heard a voice asking me to return. Does that sound bizarre?"
"I think I understand," said Glinda. "You see, there is a SupremeIntelligence in Oz. It is a highly creative force which is spiritual innature. This force knows all things, and wants only good to prevail.This was the voice you heard."
Dorothy nodded as Glinda continued: "This force cannot of itself makechanges. It can only prod, and try to make contact with those that aregiven to evil ways. When this contact is not possible, it becomesnecessary for mortal intervention. That is why you have been called. Totry to bring the Wicked Witch of the Deep South to a higherunderstanding. I myself have tried and failed."
"But what can I do?" asked the girl. "If you, a very powerful witch,cannot make her give up her evil ways, what hope have I?"
"You have a very special power," said Glinda. "Also, this Intelligence --otherwise known as the Great Wizard -- is about to bestow the essence ofHis wisdom on you. Actually, he is merely unlocking your own innerwisdom. You will gradually become aware of this. The words you speakduring this particular excursion to Oz will reflect this wisdom. It ishoped this will bring enlightenment to the witch, as well as others. Doyou feel guilty about killing her sisters?"
"No," replied Dorothy. "I do not. In both cases it was an accident. Itwasn't my fault that the cyclone picked up my house and dropped it onthe Wicked Witch of the East. And as far as the Wicked Witch of the Westwas concerned, I was furious that she stole my shoe. That's why that Ithrew a bucket of water over her. But how was I to know the water wouldmelt her down to a puddle? I was sorry I destroyed her at first, butlater quite relieved. I believe she would have killed us all."
After a moment's contemplation, the
girl continued, "Of course, beingthe cause of someone's death is nothing to be proud of. But since ithappened anyway, Oz is a lot happier place for it."
"Yes, and because of that," said Glinda, "the Munchkins think of you astheir Queen. Their wish is for you to stay in Oz forever and rule all ofMunchkin Country."
"Oh, I couldn't stay in Oz forever!" exclaimed Dorothy. "I mean, I'mmost honored that they want me to be their Queen; but much as I lovethis beautiful Land of Oz and all my friends here, I love Kansas andAunt Em and everyone else too."
"Well, as it happens," said Glinda, "your life is in mortal danger. TheWicked Witch of the Deep South is not playing games. Even as we speakshe is scheming up the most horrible things. She is in no mood to giveup her evil ways, I'm afraid."
"Well, I won't be pushed around by her," said Dorothy emphatically."Tomorrow we will find the Lion and make our plans."
Glinda nodded her head and put her hand on Dorothy's shoulder. "You're abrave girl," she said. "I'm very proud of you. I'll be standing by tohelp in any way I can."
Glinda departed.
"You go on to bed, Dorothy," said the Scarecrow. "We'll get things readyfor our journey." Dorothy yawned as she bid her friends goodnight. "I amawfully tired," she said. "And we do have a long journey ahead of us."The Scarecrow had previously made a most comfortable bed up for her. Shefell asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.