The Shaggy Man of Oz - L. Frank Baum

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The Shaggy Man Of Oz – Oz 38

L . F ra nk B au m

BY J ACK SN OW

R EI LL Y & L EE E DI TI ON , C OP YR IG HT 1 94 9

C HA PT ER 1

TH E T WI NS L OO K I N

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" It j us t i sn't f ai r, " dec la re d T om , s ta ri ng unhappi ly t hr ough t he w indow a t

t he h ea vy r ai n p el ti ng t he l aw n a nd g ar de n a bo ut t he h ou se .

"W el l, t he re 's n ot hi ng w e c an d o a bo ut i t, s o we mi gh t a s we ll m ak e t he b es t

of it," replied Twink philosophically.

" Bu t I wa nt ed t o g o o ut do or s a nd p la y t hi s a ft er no on . Y ou k no w w e h av e o nl y

a f ew m or e we ek s u nt il s ch oo l s ta rt s. Be si de s, I 'm s ic k a nd t ir ed o f t hi s

o ld h ou se a nd o f e ve ry s in gl e t hi ng we h av e t o p la y w it h. "

A lm os t a s i f he under st ood T om 's w or ds , T woff le , t he c hi ldre n' s w ooden

c lo wn , t um bl ed o ve r o n h is h ea d i n t he c or ne r wh er e h e h ad b ee n s ta nd in g

negle ct ed. " Now l ook w ha t you've done! Y ou've hur t T woff le 's f ee li ngs, "

a cc us ed T wi nk r eprovi ngly a s s he has te ne d t o s ta nd t he f unny l it tl e c lown

e re ct a ga in i n h is c orn er o f t he r oo m.

T wi nk w as e spec ia ll y f ond of T woff le . T he l it tl e w oode n c lown w it h his

h in ge d j oi nt s a nd g au di ly p ai nt ed f ea tu re s a nd c lo th in g h ad b ee n a p ar t o f

t he ir l iv es a lm os t a s l on g a s T wi nk c ou ld r em em be r. H e h ad t ak en p ar t i n

m an y o f t he ir g am es , a nd b ei ng c on st ru ct ed o f a f in e g ra de o f d ur ab le w oo d

h e h ad o ut la st ed m an y o th er m or e f ra gi le t oy s t ha t h ad c om e a nd g on e.

T w in k a nd T om w er e t wi ns . T he y l iv ed i n a l ar ge , c om fo rt ab le h ou se i n t he

c it y o fBuffalo, N ew Y o rk , w it h t he ir M ot he r a nd F at he r a nd R os ie t he c oo k.

T hi s a ft er no on t he h ou se w as v er y q ui et . T wi nk 's a nd T om 's f at he r,

Pr of es so r J on es , w as a t w or k a t t he U ni ve rs it y, w he re h e t au gh t y ou ng

pe ople a ll a bout e le ct rons, a toms , m ol ec ul es , a nd othe r m ys te ri ous m at te rs .

M rs . J on es w as a tt en di ng a me et in g o f h er C lu b o f La dy V ot er s. Ro si e, t he

c oo k, d oz ed i n h er w ar m k it ch en , n od di ng o ve r t he l at es t i ss ue o f a f as hi on

magazine.

So i t w as n o w on de r t he t wi ns we re a b it l on es om e. T he r ai n s tr ea me d d own





t he w indow m onot onousl y, a nd i t s ee me d t he a ft er noon w ould dra g on f or ever .

T wi nk g la nc ed a t t he c lo ck o n t he m an te l. I t w as a l it tl e D ut ch c ot ta ge

c lo ck , a nd t he h an ds i nd ic at ed i t w as a lm os tt hr ee o 'c lo ck . T wi nk w as

s tr uc k w it h a s ud de n i de a. " Co me o n, T om !" s he c al le d. " Lo ok a t t he t im e.

I f w e don't hur ry, w e' ll m is s C ha pt er F our of B uf fa lo B il l R ides A ga in!"

T om c am e t o l if e i mm edia te ly, a nd i n a n i ns ta nt bot h c hi ldre n w er e das hi ng

d ow n t he b ro ad s ta ir wa y a nd i nt o t he l ib ra ry . H er e w as t he s ol ut io n t o

t he ir dul l a ft er noon: a t el evis ion s et t ha t P rofe ss or J ones had bui lt

h ims el f a nd i ns ta ll ed i n t he l ib ra ry . I t w as a v er y s pe ci al s et w it h a

l ar ge " pr oj ec ti on s cr ee n. " T he gla ss t ube of t he t el evis ion s et e nl ar ge d

t he p ic tu re o n t he s cr ee n. A tt hr ee o 'c lo ck ea ch a ft er no on T wi nk a nd T om

c ould s ee a nother c ha pt er i n t he e xc it ing m oving pic ture s er ia l of t he w il d

w es t. T he c hi ld re n w er e s ur e, o f c ou rs e, t ha t B uf fa lo B il l h ad b ee n n am ed

a ft er t he ir o wn c it y, a nd t hi s m ad e t he p ic tu re a ll t he m or e i nt er es ti ng .

T om w as b us il y t ur ni ng k no bs a nd d ia ls a nd m ak in g a dj us tm en ts . I n a f ew

s ec on ds t he b ig s cr ee n l ig ht ed u p w it h a b lu is h- gr ee n g la re , a nd a m om en t

l a te r t he pic ture s a ppea re d. B uf fa lo B il l w as a mbus he d by a w il dl y how li ng

m ob o f Re ds ki ns w ho w er e o n t he w ar pa th . Th er e w as n o d ou bt i n Tw in k' s a nd

T om 's m inds t ha t t he f am ous s cout w ould e me rge unhar me d, w hi le t he I ndia ns

w oul d t ake t o noi sy f li ght.

B ut j us t a s B uf fa lo B il l brought his r if le t o his s houl de r a nd w as s ight ing

the nearest Redskin, something happened. The flickering motion picture

v an is he d f ro m t he t el ev is io n s cr ee n, a nd i n i ts p la ce a pp ea re d a p ic tu re

t ha t m ad e t he c hi ld re n g as p. I t w as o ne o f t he m os t b ea ut if ul s ce ne s t he y

could imagine: a peaceful, rolling meadowland bright with all kinds of





w il df lo we rs o n w hi ch t he s un s ho wn d ow n f ro m a b lu e s ky d ot te d w it h w hi te ,

b ab y c lo ud s. I n t he d is ta nc e r os e t he s pi re s a nd mi na re ts o f a g re at

castle, glittering and glistening in the sun.

B ut i t w as n ot t he c as tl e o r t he s un ny m ea do wl an d t ha t h el d t he c hi ld re n' s

a tt enti on. T wi nk a nd T om s ta re d unbel ie vi ngly a t a f igur e t ha t s tood i n t he

c ente r of t he t el evis ion pic ture l ooki ng out a t t he m w it h t he m os t f am il ia r

of s mi le s. I t w as T woff le , t he ir w oode n c lown.

C HA PT ER 2

O N THE I SLE OF CO NJ O

" Good a ft er noon, c hi ldre n, " s ai d t he c lown qui te c le ar ly a nd c al ml y.

"G-g-g-good afternoon!" stammered Twink and Tom.

T he l it tl e c lown s udde nl y doubl ed up w it h m er ri me nt a nd t he n gas pe d, " If you

c ould onl y s ee yours el ve s! Y ou'r e a ll e ye s, pos it ivel y bug-e ye d i f I e ve r

s a w a ny on e w ho w as !"

" But w ha t a re you doi ng i n t he t el evis ion pic ture ?" a sked T wi nk, r egai ni ng a

l it tl e of her c om posure .

T he c lo wn d is re ga rd ed h er q ue st io n a nd w as s ud de nl y s er io us . " Co me o n, " h e

o rd er ed . " Co nj o c an h ol d t hi s p ic tu re o nl y a f ew m in ut es , a nd y ou j us t h av e

time to walk through."

" Wa lk t hr ough?" e choe d T om . " What do you m ea n? "

" St ar t w al ki ng t ow ar d t he t el evis ion s cr ee n a nd you'l l f ind out ," a ns we re d

t he c lo wn . " Or p er ha ps ," h e a dd ed , " yo u w ou ld r at he r s ta y t he re w he re i t i s

r ai ni ng a nd you c an't go out door s. "

"B ut you'r e onl y a pic ture ," obj ec te d T wi nk.

" Wi ll y ou p le as e d o a s I t el l y ou a nd s ta rt w al ki ng t ow ar d t he t el ev is io n





s cr ee n? " a sked t he c lown s te rnl y.

T wi nk a nd T om l ooke d a t e ac h other que st ioni ngly. T om s mi le d a nd s hr ugge d.

" Mi ght a s we ll t ry i t. Ca n' t d o an y h arm ," h e s ai d.

"That's the spirit!" exclaimed the little clown, smiling again. "Just join

h an ds a nd w al k s tr ai gh t t ow ar d m e. " T om t oo k T wi nk 's h an d, a nd t he t wo

c hi ldre n s lowl y a dvance d t ow ar d t he t el evis ion s cr ee n. T he s cr ee n w as

n ea rl y f iv e f ee t h ig h C 4 s ev er al i nc he s t al le r t ha n t he c hi ld re n C 4 a nd

a lm os t s ix f ee t wi de . S o v iv id a nd r ea l w as t he p ic tu re t ha t Tw in k i ma gi ne d

s he c ou ld r ea ll y w al k r ig ht i nt o i t. J us t a s t he c hi ld re n w er e a bo ut t o

t ak e t he l as t s te p t ha t w ou ld b ri ng t he m d ir ec tl y i n f ro nt o f t he

t el ev is io n s cr ee n, a s ud de n p ow er fu l g us t o f w in d h it t he ir b ac ks a nd s en t

them tumbling forward.

" Th is i s w he re w e' ll c at ch i t, " t ho ug ht T om , s ur e t ha t t he w in d m us t h av e

b lo wn t he m i nt o t he s cr ee n. H e s at u p, f ul ly e xp ec ti ng t o s ee t he e xp en si ve

s cr ee n t or n t o s hr ed s. I ns te ad h e s aw a n e xp an se o f r ol li ng m ea do wl an d, a nd

h e f el t t he wa rm s un b ea ti ng d ow n o n h is h ea d. T wi nk w as s it ti ng b es id e h im

o n t he g re en g ra ss , s ta ri ng a bo ut i n u tt er b ew il de rm en t. B ef or e t he m s to od

the clown, smiling broadly.

"It's magic," breathed Twink, "pure magic."

" We ll , i t' s m agic , a ll r ight ," a ns we re d t he c lown, " but I w ouldn' t s ay how

p ur e i t i s. "

"But what ha s b eco me of o ur libra ry, a nd ho w did we get he re, an d how c an

t hi s b e r ea l, a nd w hy i s i t y ou 'r e n ot u ps ta ir s i n m y r oo m? " T he q ue st io ns

t um bl ed out a lm os t f as te r t ha n T wi nk c ould a sk t he m.

" On e q ue st io n a t a t im e, p le as e, " s ai d t he c lo wn , " an d I 'l l t ry t o a ns we r.





Y ou r l ib ra ry i s r ig ht w he re i t a lw ay s i s. T hi s c an b e r ea l b ec au se i t

$$ is && r ea l. An d I a m n ot i n y ou r r oo m b ec au se I b el on g h er e. "

" But T woff le ," prote st ed T om , " we l ef t you i n T wi nk's r oom not f if te en

minutes ago."

" Yo u d id n' t l ea ve m e t he re , a nd d on 't c al l m e T wo ff le ," o bj ec te d t he c lo wn .

B y t hi s t im e T wi nk a nd T om w er e s ta nd in g u p a nd b ru sh in g o ff t he ir c lo th es .

" Bu t y ou $ $a re && o ur T wo ff le , y ou k no w, " s ta te d t he g ir l. " We h av e h ad y ou

f o r y ea rs a nd y ea rs ."

" I a m n ot y ou r T wo ff le C 4 o f a ll t he s il ly n am es ," s ai d t he c lo wn wi th s om e

irritation. "I am my own Twiffle."

" The n h ow i s i t y ou lo ok s o mu ch l ike o ur Two ff le? " as ke d To m, wh o n ote d t he

c lo wn w as t he s am e s iz e a s T wo ff le a nd l oo ke d l ik e h is d ou bl e.

" I wa s a bo ut t o t el l y ou ," e xc la ime d t he c lo wn , " th at m y n am e i s T wi ff le ,

a nd T woff le i s m y t hi rd c ousi n. "

"O h, s o t he n you know T woff le ?" a sked T wi nk c ur ious ly.

" Kn ow h im ?" r ep li ed T wi ff le . " Of c ou rs e I k no w h im . A nd I a ls o k no w y ou t wo

v er y w el l. M an y n ig ht s T wo ff le a nd I h av e s at i n y ou r r oo ms w it h t he

m oonli ght s tr ea mi ng t hr ough t he w indow a nd t al ke d by t he hour w hi le you

children slept."

T wi nk a nd T om s ai d n ot hi ng . T he y we re b us y t hi nk in g. Al l t hi s wa s s o s tr an ge

a nd h ad h ap pe ne d s o u ne xp ec te dl y a nd s ud de nl y t ha t t he y w er e s ti ll

b ew il de re d. T om 's e ye s w er e p uz zl ed a s h e a sk ed , " Ju st b ef or e w e c am e

t hr ou gh t he s cr ee n, y ou s ai d s om et hi ng a bo ut C on jo b ei ng a bl e t o ` ho ld t he

p i ct ur e f or o nl y a f ew m in ut es .' W ho i s C on jo ?"

T wi ff le w as s ud de nl y a le rt . " Th at r em in ds m e, " h e s ai d, " th at we m us t b e o n

o ur w ay a t o nc e. C on jo i s e xp ec ti ng y ou , a nd w e m us n' t k ee p h im w ai ti ng ."







O mb y A mb y g ro an ed . " So me th in g t er ri bl e h as h ap pe ne d. I m us t r ep or t i t t o

O z ma a t o nc e. "

" Ca n' t y ou g iv e m e j us t a n i nk li ng o f w ha t i t i s? " c oa xe d J el li a.

" No," r epli ed O mby A mby f ir ml y. T he S ol di er , w ho w as O zm a' s R oyal A rm y, w as

r ap id ly r eg ai ni ng h is c om po su re C 4 a nd h is b re at h C 4 a ft er h is w il d d as h

t hrough t he e me ra l d- st udded s tr ee t s of t he c it y.

" We ll , t he n c om e a long," 20re pl ie d J el li a J am b w it h a s igh. " I s uppose I

s ha ll h av e to wa it f or Ozm a t o t ell me wh at h as u pse t y ou s o t err ibl y." The

l it tl e m ai d l ed t he w ay d ow n t he c or ri do rs o f t he R oy al P al ac e u nt il s he

c am e t o a l ar ge d ou bl e d oo r. H er e s he k no ck ed , a nd a m om en t l at er Oz ma 's

voice answered, "Come in."

J el li a J am b o pe ne d t he d oo r, a nd t he S ol di er w it h t he G re en W hi sk er s

f ol lo we d h er i nt o t he r oo m. T hi s w as O zm a' s l ib ra ry , w he re t he s he lv es t ha t

ro se f ro m t he f lo or t o t he c ei li ng w er e f il le d w it h M ag ic B oo ks o f R ec or ds .

The litt le r uler of Oz was sea ted at a table , dee p in the stu dy of one o f

t he b oo ks . S he l oo ke d u p q ue st io ni ng ly a s O mb y A mb y s to od b ef or e h er .

J el li a J am b s il entl y depar te d, c losi ng t he door behind her .

" Yo ur H ig hn es s, " b eg an Om by A mb y, " it i s m y p ai nf ul d ut y t o r ep or t a m os t

regrettable misfortune."

" Wh at i s i t, O mb y A mb y, " a sk ed O zm a wi th a k in dl y s mi le . " Wh at h as

happened?"

" It 's t he L ove M agne t, your H ighnes s, " gul pe d t he S ol di er . " It 's bee n

broken!"

" Br oken!" e xc la im ed O zm a, r is ing f rom her c ha ir . " How c ould t ha t e ve r have

happened?"

"It was the nail," exclaimed Omby Amby miserably. "If your Highness will





r ec all , t he Lo ve Ma gn et ha s b ee n h an gi ng f ro m a n ail o ve r t he G at es o f th e

E me ra ld Ci ty f or m an y y ea rs C4 i n fa ct , e ve r s in ce t he Sh ag gy Ma n c am e t o

l ive in the La nd of Oz."

"Y es , I k no w, " s ai d O zm a.

" We ll ," w ent on t he S ol di er , " the nai l m us t have r us te d, a nd t hi s m or ni ng i t

s n ap pe d. Th e Lo ve M ag ne t f el l t o t he b ri ck s o f t he Y el lo w Ro ad a nd b ro ke

i nt o t wo pie ce s. "

O zm a' s f ac e w as g ra ve . " Yo u b ro ug ht t he p ie ce s w it h y ou ?" s he a sk ed .

" Ye s, your H ighnes s, I did," r epli ed O mby A mby. D el vi ng i nt o one of his

p oc ke ts , h e h an de d O zm a t he t wo p ie ce s o f t he Lo ve M ag ne t, a s ma ll b it o f

m et al s ha pe d l ik e a h or se sh oe w he n i t w as w ho le .

O zm a h el d t he b ro ken Lo ve M ag ne t i n h er h an d, r eg ar di ng i t s ad ly . "I t i s t oo

b ad ," s he s ai d, " th at s o w on de rf ul a c ha rm s ho ul d b e b ro ke n. "

"D o y ou m ea n i t c an 't b e r ep ai re d, y ou r H ig hn es s? " a sk ed O mb y A mb y.

" Of t ha t I a m n ot s ur e, " r ep li ed O zm a. " Pe rh ap s t he f ir st t hi ng w e s ho ul d d o

i s a sk t he Sh ag gy Ma n t o c ome h er e a nd e xp la in t o h im h ow t he Lo ve M ag ne t

c am e t o b e b ro ke n, s in ce i t d oe s, a ft er a ll , r ea ll y b el on g t o h im ."

" I w il l go f or him i mm edia te ly," s ai d t he S ol di er , t ur ni ng t o t he door.

" Yo u w il l f in d h im i n t he g ar de n w it h Do ro th y a nd J ac k Pu mp ki nh ea d, w ho i s

t rying on a new head," s aid Ozma as Omby Amby made a low bo w and clo sed the

door behind him .

B y l uc k, O zm a r ef le ct ed , t he S ha gg y M an w as i n t he E me ra ld C it y. S he k ne w

th at S ha gg y w as f on d o f m ak in g l on g t ri ps a bo ut t he L an d o f O z, e xp lo ri ng

the l it tl e- know n c or ne rs a nd r egions of t hi s m os t f am ous of a ll F ai ryla nds.

No w h e h ad j ust re tu rn ed f ro m a v is it wi th h is b ro th er , wh o w as i n t he





G il li ki n C ount ry. W hi le s he w ai te d, O zm a r ec al le d how t he S ha ggy M an had

b ef ri en de d D or ot hy i n t he G re at O ut si de W or ld a nd h ad f ou nd h is w ay t o t he

L an d o f O z i n t he c om pa ny o f l it tl e D or ot hy . W it h h im h e h ad b ro ug ht t he

L ove M agne t, a c ur ious m agic al t al is ma n w hi ch c ause d w hoever c ar ri ed i t t o

b e l ov ed b y a ll h e m et . S ha gg y h ad g ra te fu ll y a cc ep te d O zm a' s i nv it at io n t o

make his h ome in the Land of Oz, and since he had no further need for th e

L ov e M ag ne t, O zm a h ad c au se d i t t o b e h un g o ve r t he G at es o f t he Em er al d

C it y s o t ha t a ll w ho e nt er ed m ig ht b e l ov in g a nd l ov ed .

Be fo re s he h ad d on e t hi s, h ow ev er , O zm a h ad w is el y a lt er ed t he p ow er s o f t he

L ov e M ag ne t s o t ha t t he t al is ma n d id n ot a ut om at ic al ly c au se t he p er so n w ho

c ar ri ed i t t o b e l ov ed b y a ll h e m et , b ut mu st b e $ $d is pl ay ed && b y i ts

c ar ri er b ef or e t he e ye s o f t he p er so n o r p er so ns w ho se l ov e h e w is he d t o

w in . Th us , c on tr ol o f t he p owe rs o f t he Ma gn et w er e g iv en t o i ts o wn er . Al l

t hi s h ad h ap pen ed s o l on g a go t ha t it wa s n ow d ul y wr it te n d own in

P rofe ss or W oggl e bug' s C hr onic le s of t he L and of O z.

O zm a' s r ef le ct io ns w er e e nd ed b y t he a pp ea ra nc e o f O mb y A mb y a nd t he S ha gg y

M an , w ho h ad n o i de a t ha t a ny th in g w as t he m at te r. " Do ro th y s ai d t o t el l

y ou , y ou r Hi gh ne ss , t ha t i t' s o ne o f t he b es t h ea ds J ac k e ve r h ad ," t he

S ha ggy M an a nnounc ed w it h s at is fa ct ion a s he e nt er ed t he r oom. " Dorothy' s

f it ti ng i t o n J ac k' s b od y n ow ."

" Won' t you s it dow n, ple as e, S ha ggy M an?" i nvit ed O zm a.

T he l it tl e R ul er 's e xp re ss io n w as s o s er io us t ha t t he S ha gg y M an a sk ed w it h

c once rn, " What i s i t, O zm a? W ha t' s w rong?"

O zm a a ns we re d s il entl y by e xt endi ng her pal m i n w hi ch l ay t he hal ve s of t he

b ro ke n L ov e M ag ne t. T he S ha gg y M an 's e ye s c lo ud ed . " Oh , t ha t $ $i s& & t oo

b ad . I w as v er y f on d o f t he L ov e M ag ne t. I t a lwa ys m ad e m e f ee l h ap py





w he ne ve r I e nt er ed o r l ef t t he Em er al d Ci ty . H ow d id i t c om e t o b e b ro ke n? "

O zm a e xp la in ed i n a f ew w or ds w ha t h ad h ap pe ne d. " Bu t c an 't t he L ov e M ag ne t

b e r ep ai re d? " a sk ed t he S ha gg y M an . " I s ho ul d t hi nk i t w ou ld b e a n e as y

m at te r f or y ou o r t he W iz ar d o r Gl in da t o p ut i t t og et he r a ga in a s g oo d a s

new."

" No ," O zma s ho ok h er h ea d. "I t i sn 't a s s im pl e a s t ha t. A l on g t im e a go I

l oo ke d u p t he h is to ry o f t he L ov e M ag ne t i n m y Ma gi c Re co rd B oo ks , a nd I

f ou nd t ha t, i f b ro ke n, i t c ou ld b e m ad e wh ol e o nl y b y o ne p er so n C4 t he

p er so n w ho c re at ed i t. "

" An d w ho ," a sk ed t he S ha gg y M an w it h d ee p i nt er es t, " is t ha t? "

" It h as b ee n s o lo ng a go ," a dmi tt ed Oz ma , "t ha t I h av e f or go tt en w ho i t w as .

But I can look it up in a few seco nds."

Oz ma mo ve d t o t he f ar s id e o f t he l ib ra ry , w he re s he s el ec te d o ne o f t he

M ag ic Re co rd B oo ks a nd o pe ne d i t o n a t ab le . A ft er t ur ni ng t he p ag es u nt il

s he f ou nd t he o ne c on ta in in g t he L ov e M ag ne t' s h is to ry , O zm a r an h er f in ge r

dow n t he f inel y pri nt ed c ol um n. " He re i t i s, " s he a nnounc ed. " The m an w ho

m ad e t he Lo ve M ag ne t a nd t he o nl y p er so n w ho c an r ep ai r i t i s a W iz ar d

n am ed C on jo , w ho l iv es o n a t in y i sl an d i n t he m id dl e o f t he N on es ti c

Ocean."

C HA PT ER 4

OZ MA U SE S T HE M AG IC B EL T

Om by A mb y h ad r et ur ne d t o h is p os t a t t he G at es o f t he E me ra ld C it y, a nd

O zma a nd t he S ha gg y M an h ad r et ir ed t o t he C ha mb er o f M ag ic . H er e we re k ep t

m any of t he m os t val ua bl e m agic al i ns tr um ents i n a ll t he L and of O z. " Ther e





i s o nly o ne t hin g t o b e do ne ," th e Sh ag gy Ma n was s ay in g. " I mu st t ak e th e

b ro ke n Lo ve Ma gn et t o t hi s Co nj o a nd a sk h im t o r ep ai r i t. "

" I a m n ot s ur e a t a ll t ha t Co nj o wi ll a gr ee t o r ep ai r t he Lo ve Ma gn et f or

y ou ," O zm a r ep li ed w it h a t ro ub le d e xp re ss io n. " Yo u s ee , w e k no w v er y

l it tl e a bo ut t hi s Co nj o. H e l iv es a lo ne o n t hi s t in y i sl an d i n t he m id dl e

o f t he N on es ti c O ce an a nd p ra ct ic es m ag ic . T he re i s n o r ec or d o f h is

a ct ua ll y m is us in g h is m ag ic al p ow er s. N or , s o f ar a s w e k no w, h as h e c au se d

t r ou bl e f or a ny on e. H ow ev er , w e h av e r ea so n t o b el ie ve h e i s r at he r s el fi sh

a nd t hought le ss a nd t ha t he m ight c ause har m w it hout r ea ll y m ea ni ng t o,

j us t t o s at is fy h is v an it y. A ls o, i t mi gh t n ot s ui t h is wh im t o me nd t he

Love Magnet."

" Wh at i s t he n am e o f t he i sl an d o n w hi ch C on jo l iv es ?" a sk ed t he S ha gg y M an

musingly.

"I t i s ca lle d th e Is le o f Co njo , a nd s in ce it is ma ny mi le s fr om t he La nd o f

O z, I h av e n o p owe r o ve r t he W iz ar d a t a ll . I n f ac t," c on cl ud ed O zm a, " th at

i s th e re ason we h ere in t he Land of Oz k now so littl e ab out Co njo."

" Ne ve rt he le ss ," m ai nt ai ne d t he S ha gg y M an , " I t hi nk I s ho ul d g o a s s oo n a s

p os si bl e t o t hi s i sl an d a nd d o e ve ry th in g I c an t o p er su ad e Co nj o t o m ak e

t he L ove M agne t w hole ."

" Ev en a ft er y ou c ro ss ed t he D ea dl y D es er t, y ou w ou ld h av e s ev er al d ay s'

jo ur ne y t hr ou gh th e L an d o f Ev , a nd t he n y ou wo ul d o nl y b e o n t he s ho re s o f

t he N on es ti c Oc ea n. S o I t hi nk i t w ou ld b e b es t, s in ce y ou a re d et er mi ne d

t o m ak e t he j ou rn ey , f or m e t o u se t he Ma gi c B el t t o t ra ns po rt y ou d ir ec tl y

to t he I sl e o f C on jo ."

T he S ha gg y M an w il li ng ly a gr ee d t o t hi s p la n, s ta ti ng t ha t h e w as r ea dy t o

l ea ve a t o nc e. " Fi rs t, " s ai d Oz ma , " le t u s h av e a l oo k a t t he I sl e o f C on jo





i n t he M ag ic P ic tu re . T he g ir l R ul er s we pt a si de t he v el ve t c ur ta in t ha t

h un g o ve r t he M ag ic P ic tu re w he n i t w as n ot i n u se . Th e p ic tu re a pp ea re d t o

be a pea ce ful c ount ry f ar ml and s ce ne w it h pur pl e hil ls r is ing i n t he

d is ta nc e. " Sh ow u s t he I sl e o f C on jo i n t he N on es ti c O ce an ," s ai d O zm a.

Im me di at el y t he pic ture s hi ft ed a nd c ha nged. I t now r ef le ct ed a gentl y

r oll ing m ea dowl and w it h a gre at c as tl e i n t he dis ta nc e. A pproac hi ng t he

c as tl e w er e a y ou ng g ir l a nd a b oy , a cc omp an ie d b y t he f ig ur e o f a wo od en

clown.

O zm a gas pe d i n s ur pr is e. " Thos e a re hum an c hi ldre n, S ha ggy M an! W ha t c an

t h ey b e d oi ng t he re wh en m y Ma gi c R ec or d B oo ks s ta te t ha t C on jo i s t he o nl y

h um an b ei ng o n t he i sl an d? W e c an s ee t ha t t he c lo wn a cc om pa ny in g t he m i s a

puppe t, e vi de nt ly brought t o l if e by C onjo."

" Pe rhaps t he y a re l os t, " venture d t he S ha ggy M an.

" Bu t h ow w ou ld t he y g et t o t he i sl an d? I t i s s ur ro un de d b y m il es a nd m il es

of oce an."

" I d on 't k no w," a dmi tt ed t he Sh ag gy M an , " bu t i t i s o ne m or e g oo d r ea so n f or

me to g o t here as quickl y as po ssible C4 tho se childre n may be in n eed of

help."

" I a gr ee wi th y ou ," s ai d O zma q ui ck ly . " Yo u m us t f in d o ut w ha t t he c hi ld re n

ar e d oi ng o n t he i sl an d a nd s ee t ha t t he y a re r et ur ne d t o t he ir h ome s. I f

y ou c ann ot d o th at, th en y ou mu st b ri ng th em wi th y ou to t he Lan d o f Oz. "

"W il l y ou u se t he M ag ic B el t t o t ra ns po rt u s b ac k t o t he La nd o f Oz ?" a sk ed

t he S ha ggy M an.

" That w il l be i mpos si bl e, " s ta te d O zm a, " si nc e I m us t l ea ve t hi s a ft er noon

t o v is it G li nd a t he G oo d. W e a re w or ki ng o n s om e e xt re me ly i mp or ta nt m ag ic





c ha rms i n wh ic h t he p owe rs o f t he M ag ic Be lt a re n ee de d. I a m n ot s ur e h ow

l on g I wi ll b e g on e C4 p er ha ps f or s ev er al we ek s. H owe ve r, " O zma w en t o n

a s s he s te pp ed t o a h ea vy wo od en c he st, o pe ne d o ne o f i ts d ra we rs a nd

w it hd re w a s ma ll o bj ec t, " I w an t y ou t o t ak e t hi s w it h y ou . I t w il l e na bl e

y ou to r et urn t o th e La nd of Oz an yti me y ou wi sh ."

" What i s i t? " a sked t he S ha ggy M an c ur ious ly.

" It i s a M ag ic C om pa ss ," e xp la in ed O zm a. " Yo u w il l n ot ic e t ha t i t i s n ot

ro un d i n s ha pe l ik e o rd in ar y c om pa ss es , b ut i s f or me d l ik e a r ec ta ng le , a s

i s t he La nd of Oz ."

S ha gg y l oo ke d a t t he M ag ic C om pa ss a nd f ou nd t ha t i ns te ad o f b ei ng m ar ke d

N or th , S ou th , E as t a nd W es t a s i s t he u su al c om pa ss , i t b or e t he w or ds

Gilliken, Quadling, Winkie and Munchkin, which are the four countries makin

g up the Land of Oz.

" Sh ou ld y ou w is h t o r et ur n t o a ny o ne o f t he f ou r c ou nt ri es ," O zm a w en t o n,

"j us t s et t he c omp as s n ee dl e to t he o ne t o wh ic h y ou w is h t o j ou rn ey . I f

y ou w an t t o c ome d ir ect ly t o t he Eme ral d Ci ty , y ou h av e o nl y t o s pin t he

nee dle o f t he c om pa ss a nd y ou wi ll b e h ere a s q ui ck ly a s t he Ma gi c Be lt

could bring you."

T he S ha gg y M an i ns pe ct ed t he M ag ic C om pa ss m or e c lo se ly a nd f ou nd t ha t t he

p iv ot o n w hi ch t he n ee dl e r es te d r os e f ro m a s po t o f g re en i n t he v er y

c en te r o f t he c om pa ss . T hi s g re en s po t h e k ne w r ep re se nt ed t he E me ra ld

Ci ty . " Bu t w ha t a bo ut t he c hi ld re n? " t he S ha gg y M an a sk ed . " If I c an f in d

n o w ay t o s en d t he m h om e, I c an no t s im pl y l ea ve t he m o n t he i sl an d. "

"O f c ou rs e n ot ," r ep li ed O zm a. " If y ou t hi nk i t n ec es sa ry t o b ri ng t he m t o

O z w it h y ou , j us t h av e t he m p ut t he ir a rm s i n y ou rs ; t he n s pi n t he c om pa ss

n ee dl e, a nd a ll t hr ee o f y ou w il l b e t ra ns po rt ed t o t he E me ra ld C it y. "





Th e S ha gg y M an p la ce d t he M ag ic C om pa ss c ar ef ul ly i n h is p oc ke t a nd s ai d,

" Pe rha ps i t wo uld be w el l f or me to be o n m y wa y. Th ere 's n o wa y o f t el li ng

w ha t w il l h ap pe n o n t ha t i sl an d, a nd t ho se t wo c hi ld re n m ay n ee d h el p. "

O zm a s li pped on t he M agic B el t. " Goodbye, dea r f ri end, " s he s ai d, s mi li ng

f on dl y a t t he S ha gg y M an . " Re tu rn a s q ui ck ly a s y ou c an ." T he n s he m ad e t he

m ag ic s ig na l, a nd t he S ha gg y M an w as n o l on ge r i n t he C ha mb er o f M ag ic .

C HA PT ER 5

TH E C AS TL E O F C ON JO

" He ll o! " T wi nk, T om a nd T wi ff le s topped i n t he ir t ra cks. F rom out of now he re

had s udde nl y a ppea re d a m an of m edium hei ght w it h r os y c he eks, t wi nkli ng

b l ue e ye s, s ha gg y h ai r a nd c lo th in g t ha t, w hi le i t w as c om po se d o f t he

f in es t s il ks a nd s at in s, w as n ev er th el es s a m as s o f s ha gs a nd b ob ta il s.

T wi ff le w as s o s ur pr is ed h e f ou nd i t i mp os si bl e t o s pe ak . T wi nk w as

regarding the stranger seriously. Suddenly, recognition lighted up her

e ye s. "O h, i t c an 't b e! " th e li tt le g ir l c ri ed . "Y ou j us t c an 't b e t he

fa mous S ha ggy M an of O z! "

T he Sh ag gy Ma n s mi le d. " Do n' t k no w a bo ut t he f amo us p ar t, b ut I a m k no wn a s

the Shaggy Man, and until a few seconds ago I was in the Land of Oz."

" Oh ! Se ei ng y ou h er e ma de me t hi nk ma yb e th is wa s a p ar t o f t he L an d o f O z,"

s ai d T wi nk , w ho h ad b eg un t o h op e s in ce t he m om en t s he h ad r ec og ni ze d t he

Shaggy Man.

T om w as r egar di ng t he new a rr ival c ur ious ly. " Ye s, " he s ai d, " you c er ta inly

d o lo ok j ust l ike y ou r pic tur es in t he b ook s. Ho w di d yo u ge t her e so fa st?

Ma gi c? I s up po se t he La nd o f Oz i s q ui te a d is ta nc e. "





" Ri ght bot h t im es !" r epli ed t he S ha ggy M an. " Oz ma s ent m e her e w it h her

M ag ic B el t, a nd t he L an d o f O z i s m an y m il es a wa y f ro m h er e. "

" Wh y d id O zm a s en d y ou ?" a sk ed T wi nk .

" Oh, I have a l it tl e bus ines s w it h t hi s C onjo f el low, " a ns we re d t he S ha ggy

Man.

"You have business with Conjo?" Twiffle had recovered from his astonishment.

" Th en y ou m us t f or gi ve m e f or n ot g re et in g y ou m or e p ro pe rl y. I t i s s o

s el dom t ha t w e have vis it or s on t he i sl and. "

" Looks l ike you a lr ea dy have t wo vis it or s, " obs er ve d t he S ha ggy M an, s ta ri ng

at T wi nk a nd T om .

" Ye s, but t he y w er e e xpec te d C 4 a nd i nvit ed," poi nt ed out T wi ff le pri ml y.

" Ho we ve r, s in ce y ou h av e b us in es s wi th Co nj o a nd we a re o n o ur w ay t o s ee

h im , t he re i s n o r ea so n y ou s ho ul d n ot a cc om pa ny u s. "

"N o r ea so n w ha ts oe ve r, " a gr ee d t he S ha gg y M an . " I h op e t hi s C on jo h as p le nt y

o f b ig , r ed a pp le s. "

" W hy? " a sked T om .

" Th ey h ap pe n t o b e m y f av or it e f oo d, t ha t' s a ll ," e xp la in ed t he S ha gg y M an .

Le d b y T wi ff le , t he S ha gg y M an a nd t he t wo c hi ld re n w er e a dv an ci ng o ve r t he

m e ad ow t ow ar d t he C as tl e o f C on jo . T he s un w as n ow s et ti ng , b ur ni sh in g t he

s pi re s a nd t ur re ts o f t he c as tl e wi th r ic h h ue s o f g ol d a nd c op pe r. Th e

S ha gg y M an j ud ge d t he y h ad l es s t ha n a mi le t o t ra ve l t o t he c as tl e d oo rs .

" Don' t you c hi ldre n t hi nk i nt roduct ions a re i n order ," a sked t he S ha ggy

Ma n, " si nc e y ou s ee m t o k no w m e a lr ea dy ?"

" We ll ," T wi nk began, " this i s T wi ff le , w ho i s a t hi rd c ousi n of T woff le ."

Tw if fl e b ow ed b ri ef ly , a nd t he S ha gg y M an n od de d. " An d t hi s i s T om , a nd I

a m T wi nk. W e l ive i n B uf fa lo."





" Wa it a m in ut e, " i nt er ru pt ed t he S ha gg y M an . " Ho w d id y ou h ap pe n t o g et a

name like Twink?"

" Tw in k a nd T om a re n ot o ur r ea l n am es ," e xp la in ed T om . " Ou r p ar en ts n am ed u s

Abbadiah and Zebbidiah."

" Why did t he y do t ha t? " a sked t he S ha ggy M an i ndigna nt ly.

" We ll ," T om w en t o n, " th ey d id n' t e xp ec t t wi ns C 4 w e a re t wi ns , y ou k no w

C 4 a nd t he y c ou ld n' t m ak e u p t he ir m in ds wh at t o n am e u s. So t he y j us t

p ic ke d n ame s a t t he b eg in ni ng a nd e nd o f t he a lp ha be t. T ha t' s h ow we c ame

t o be named from A to Z."

T he S ha gg y M an s ig he d. " An d t he n, " T wi nk w en t o n, " I b eg an t o t od dl e w he n I

w as s up po se d t o b e s ti ll c ra wl in g, a nd e ve ry on e c al le d m e T wi nk , b ec au se I

g ot fr om o ne pl ac e t o a no th er in a t wi nk le . To m go t h is ni ck name i n a fu nn y

w a y, t oo. "

"I have always been interested in everything mechanical and electrical,"

e xp la in ed To m, " so wh en I w as o nl y t wo y ea rs o ld a nd t oo k m y t oy p ho no gr ap h

a pa rt to se e wh er e t he li tt le m en an d w ome n wh o ma de t he ta lk in g a nd mu sic

w er e, m y F at he r s ai d, ` Wh y, y ou 'r e a r eg ul ar T om E di so n. ' An d s o e ve r s in ce

t he n I h av e b ee n T om ."

" At l ea st t he y a re b et te r t ha n t ho se o th er n am es ," s ai d t he S ha gg y M an .

C onjo's c as tl e l oome d e ve n l ar ge r, c as ti ng l engt he ni ng s ha dows a s t he s un

l ow er ed b eh in d i t. I n a f ew m or e m in ut es T wi ff le h ad l ed t he m t o a l ar ge

d oo r t ha t w as e vi de nt ly t he e nt ra nc e o f t he c as tl e. H an gi ng o n t he d oo r w as

a s ig n w hi ch T wi nk , T om a nd t he S ha gg y M an r ea d.

CA ST LE O F C ON JO

WORKING WIZARD





" T hi s w ay , p le as e, " s ai d T wi ff le . T he d oo r o pe ne d a t h is t ou ch , a nd t he y

e nt er ed . A ll t he y c ou ld s ee wa s a v as t c or ri do r w it h d oo rs o n e ac h s id e. At

t he e nd o f t he c or ri do r w as a h an ds om e m ar bl e s ta ir ca se t ha t w ou nd u p t o

t he upper f loor s. T wi ff le 's l it tl e w oode n f ee t pat te re d bus il y dow n t he

p ol is he d m ar bl e f lo or o f t he c or ri do r u nt il h e c am e t o a n a rc h- sh ap ed

doorw ay upon w hi ch hung t he s ign:

QUIET!

W i za rd a t W or k

A s t he y p as se d b ef or e t hi s d oo r w it h i ts s tr an ge a dm on it io n, t he S ha gg y M an

a nd h is f ri en ds h ea rd a s ou nd t ha t r em in de d t he m o f a b uz z- sa w. " I w on de r, "

ventured Twink, "if Conjo is building some new magical machine."

T wi ff le dis re ga rded t he l it tl e gir l' s que st ion a nd proce eded t o pus h t he

d oo r, w hi ch o pe ne d a s e as il y a s h ad t he d oo r o f t he c as tl e.

I ns id e t he y f ou nd a v as t, d om ed r oo m. Al l a ro un d t he s id es o f t he r oo m w as a

s er ie s o f t ab le s, w or kb en ch es , a nd t al l c ab in et s. T he t ab le s a nd b en ch es

w er e f il le d w it h e ve ry kind of c he mi ca l i ns tr um ent i ma gi na bl e C 4 bea ke rs ,

r et or ts , t es t t ub es , h un dr ed s o f b ot tl es o f d if fe re nt k in ds o f c ol or ed

l iqui ds , c ruci bl es , a nd a s er ie s of bur ne rs ove r w hi ch s im me re d via ls a nd

pot s of c he mi ca l m ixture s. F rom t he se r os e var i- colore d vapor s, f il li ng t he

r oo m w it h a p un ge nt h az e. T he c ab in et s he lv es w er e c ro wd ed a nd j um bl ed w it h

thousa nds of c onta iner s of var ious powder s, ointm ents , a nd m ixture s use d by

w iz ar ds i n w or ki ng t he ir m agic s pe ll s. O ne c abinet c onta ined not hi ng but

books of m agic r ec ipes a nd f or mula s C 4 e ve rything f rom c ha nging peopl e

into door knobs t o c uri ng he ada che s.

T he S ha gg y M an a nd t he c hi ld re n h ad s ca rc el y g la nc ed a t a ll t hi s a rr ay o f

t oo ls a nd m at er ia ls f or w or ki ng m ag ic w he n t he ir a tt en ti on w as d ra wn t o a





h ug e d iv an t ha t r es te d i n t he v er y m id dl e o f t he m ar bl e f lo or o f t he g re at

c ha mber . T hi s l uxur ious divan w as c over ed w it h t he s of te st a nd m os t

e xp en si ve o f r ic h v el ve t r ob es a nd c om fo rt s. C ur le d u p i n a b al l i n t he

m id st o f t he b la nk et s a nd d ow ny , s at in -c ov er ed c us hi on s w as a l it tl e m an .

He w as s nori ng.

T wi nk a lm os t l au gh ed a lo ud . S o t hi s w as C on jo , t he w or ki ng W iz ar d! S he

r ea li ze d n ow i t wa s Co nj o' s s no ri ng t he y h ad m is ta ke n f or t he s ou nd o f a

buz z- sa w. T wi ff le s ee me d nei ther s ur pr is ed nor dis turbed t o f ind his m as te r

s o un d a sl ee p. T he l it tl e c lo wn t ro tt ed o ve r t o t he h an ds om e d iv an a nd ,

s ei zi ng C onjo by t he s houl de rs , s hook him vigor ousl y. T he S ha ggy M an w as

g ri nn in g b ro ad ly , a nd T om w as h ol di ng a h an d o ve r h is m ou th t o s up pr es s h is

laughter.

S pu tt er in g a nd y aw ni ng , C on jo s at u p o n t he d iv an . S in ce h e w as r ub bi ng t he

sl ee p o ut o f h is e ye s wi th h is k nu ck le s, h e d id n ot s ee h is g ue st s f or

s ever al s ec onds . T he n he bli nked, yaw ne d w idel y, a nd s mi li ng a l it tl e

f ooli shly s ai d, " We ll , w iz m y w and i f i t i sn't T wi nk a nd T om ."

" You a lr ea dy know us? " a s ke d T wi nk.

"Oh, goodness yes," replied Conjo, stretching lazily. "Twiffle has been

te ll in g m e a bo ut y ou f or y ea rs C4 e ve r s in ce y ou we re me re b ab ie s. I l et

T wi ff le vis it your f ri end T woff le i n your hom e, you know. S end him t he re by

my magic," explained Conjo proudly.

C onjo w as c om ing m or e a wa ke e ve ry m inut e. " Jumping J une B ugs! " he e xc la im ed

a s h is e ye s f el l o n t he S ha gg y M an . " I d id n' t t el l Tw if fl e t o b ri ng y ou r

F at he r a lo ng C 4 o r i s t hi s p er so n y ou r G ra nd fa th er ?"

" Ne it he r one ," s ai d t he S ha ggy M an w it h a n a muse d s mi le . " Your m agic had





n ot hi ng t o d o w it h m y c omi ng h er e, Co nj o. I c ame o f m y o wn a cc or d."

" Ca me f ro m w he re ?" d em an de d C on jo , a nd t he n w en t o n b ef or e t he S ha gg y M an

h ad a c ha nc e t o a ns we r, " Yo u w er e s hi pwr ec ke d C 4 t ha t m us t b e i t, o f

c ou rs e C 4 y ou a re a p oo r, f or lo rn c as ta wa y, a h el pl es s v ic ti m o f t he d ee p

and mighty ocean."

" No ," c on tr ad ic te d t he S ha gg y M an , " I w as n ot s hi pw re ck ed . I c am e h er e f ro m

t he L an d o f Oz ."

C onjo s ta rt ed. " The L and of O z! " he e xc la im ed i nc re dulous ly. " You m ea n t he

E me r al d C it y, O zm a, D or othy, t he S ca r ec r ow , t he T in W oodma n, S cr aps ,

T ot oF F2 0C 4" a nd t he n, b ec au se h e w as o ut o f b re at h, t he W iz ar d c on cl ud ed

w ea kl y, " and a ll of t ha t? "

" I s ee y ou h av e h ea rd o f t he La nd o f Oz ," s ai d t he S ha gg y M an , " so p er ha ps

y ou will kno w wh y I am he re."

Co nj o, wh o w as a f at , b al d li tt le m an n ot m uch ta ll er t ha n Twi nk o r To m,

w it h a f ri ng e o f wh it e h ai r a bo ut h is p in k h ea d, c lo se d h is l it tl e e ye s,

pla ce d a f or ef inge r on his c he rr y- li ke nos e, a nd t hought har d. " You w il l

j us t h av e t o t el l m e, " h e s ai d, o pe ni ng h is e ye s a nd s ta ri ng a pp ea li ng ly a t

t he S ha gg y M an . " I d on 't h av e a s in gl e i de a. I t u su al ly t ak es s ev er al h ou rs

after I wake up before I get any ideas C4 and it is so seldom that we have

shipwrecks."

" I t ol d y ou ," t he S ha gg y M an r em in de d C on jo p at ie nt ly , " th at I w as n ot

s hi pwre ck ed . I came he re f rom th e Lan d o f Oz to ask yo u t o do me a fa vo r."

" A f avor ?" s ai d C onjo, t hi nking har d. " Why, t ha t i s s tr ange i ndee d! T he l as t

s hi pw re ck ed p er so n w ho w as h er e w an te d m e t o d o h im a f av or , t oo . H e s ta ye d

s ev er al m on th s a nd t he n wa nt ed t o r et ur n t o h is h om e. H e a sk ed m e t o m ak e a

b oa t f or h im . T ha t w as a n e as y t ri ck . A nd b ec au se t he f el lo w w as n' t a b ad





s ort at a ll, I made him a p re sent C4 I gave h im o ne of my newest

c re at ions, t he L ove M agnet ."

" The L ove M agne t, " gas pe d t he S ha ggy M an.

" Do n' t i nt er ru pt , p le as e, " w en t o n C on jo . " No t p ol it e, y ou k no w. T hi s

s hi pw re ck ed p er so n t ie d t he Lo ve M ag ne t o nt o t he ma st o f h is b oa t a nd s et

s ai l. La st I e ve r s aw o f h im . Un de rs ta nd h e e nc ou nt er ed a w ha le , wh o u po n

s e ei ng t he ma n a nd t he Lo ve Ma gn et , b ec ame s o f on d o f t he f el lo w t ha t h e

a te h im. " Co nj o wi pe d a t ea r f ro m h is e ye .

T he S ha gg y M an w as n' t s ur e w he th er t he W iz ar d w as s er io us o r w as p ok in g f un

a t h im . H e d ec id ed t o p re te nd , a t a ny r at e, t ha t h e a cc ep te d C on jo 's a bs ur d

s tory, s aying, " We ll , a ppar entl y t he unf or tuna te m an's boa t w as blown

a sh or e, a nd a n Es ki mo f ou nd t he Lo ve M ag ne t, fo r i t wa s a n E sk imo wh o g av e

it to me, and I took it to the Land of Oz."

" My L ov e M ag ne t i n t he L an d o f O z! " e xc la im ed C on jo .

" No ," r ep li ed t he S ha gg y M an , " no t $ $y ou r& & L ov e M ag ne t, s in ce y ou g av e i t

a way. It now belon gs to all the pe ople of the Lan d of Oz. That is why I am

h er e n ow. Th e Lov e Mag net h as b ee n b ro ke n. The f av or I as k yo u i s to re pa ir

i t, s in ce y ou , i ts c re at or , a re t he o nl y p er so n w ho c an d o t ha t. "

T wi nk a nd T om had bee n l is te ni ng w it h dee p i nt er es t t o t hi s c onve rs at ion.

T he y h ad r ea d a bo ut t he L ov e Ma gn et , a nd t he y w er e s ur pr is ed t o l ea rn t ha t

i t h ad b ee n b ro ke n.

" Of c ou rs e, o f c ou rs e, m y d ea r Sh ag gy M an , f or I p er ce iv e t ha t i s i nd ee d w ho

y ou a re , a q ui te f am ou s p er so na ge o f t he L an d o f O z. " C on jo w as wi de a wa ke

n ow. "I s ha ll b e mo st h ap py t o me nd t he Lo ve M ag ne t i f i t c an b e me nd ed .

B ut s ure ly y ou d on 't ex pe ct m e t o d o s o i mp or ta nt a nd d if fi cu lt a f ea t o f





ma gi c wi th ou t, a h, e r, l et u s s ay C 4 a r ewa rd ?"

C HA PT ER 6

THE MAGIC AIRMOBILE

" Ye s, t ha t' s i t, " s ai d C on jo , n od di ng h is r ou nd h ea d s o v io le nt ly t ha t h is

t hr ee c hi ns r ip pl ed l ik e t he s te ps o f a n e sc al at or . " Yo u h av e a sk ed m e t o

do you a favor C4 a very great favor C4 so it is only just that I should

c la im a r ew ar d. T ha t' s f ai r, i sn 't i t? " C on jo w as r eg ar di ng t he S ha gg y M an

w i th e ye s f rom w hi ch w as gone t he s om ew ha t f ooli sh i nnoc ence .

The S ha ggy M an c onsi de re d une as il y. H e w as beginni ng t o r em em be r O zm a' s

w ar ni ng t ha t Co nj o wa s n ot t o b e t ru st ed e nt ir el y. " Wh at k in d o f a r ewa rd

c ou ld I g iv e y ou ?" t he S ha gg y M an a sk ed .

C onjo's f inge r s hot out , poi nt ing t ow ar d t he S ha ggy M an. " That ," he s ai d.

" Th at i n y ou r p oc ke t w il l b e my r ew ar d! "

I nv ol un ta ri ly , t he S ha gg y M an 's h an d w en t t o t he p oc ke t i n w hi ch r es te d t he

M ag ic C om pa ss O zm a h ad g iv en h im . " Yo u m us t b e j ok in g, " s ai d t he S ha gg y M an

i nc re du lo us ly . " Th e M ag ic C om pa ss b el on gs t o O zm a. An d i f I d id g iv e i t t o

y ou , h ow c ou ld I r et ur n t o t he L an d o f Oz ? N o, w ha t y ou a sk i s i mp os si bl e."

C on jo 's v oi ce w as w he ed li ng . " Su re ly y ou d on 't t hi nk O zm a e xp ec te d m e t o

r ep ai r t he Lo ve Ma gn et f or n ot hi ng, d o y ou ? I c an a ss ur e y ou t ha t Oz ma w il l

r eg ar d t he t ra di ng o f t he Ma gi c Co mp as s f or t he r ep ai r o f t he Lo ve M ag ne t

a n e xc el le nt bar ga in. A ct ua ll y, t he M agi c C om pa ss i s, by O zm a' s s ta nda rds,

a m inor bit of m agic ."

Th e S ha gg y M an w as p er pl ex ed . P er ha ps C on jo w as r ig ht . " Su pp os in g I d o g iv e

y ou t he M ag ic C omp as s. Th en h ow wi ll I g et b ac k t o Oz ?"

C on jo 's e ye s g lo we d. " No th in g t o i t! " h e d ec la re d. " Yo u c an r et ur n t o O z





an yt im e y ou l ik e. J us t a s s oo n a s I r ep ai r t he L ov e Ma gn et , i f y ou wi sh . Of

c ou rs e, I w ou ld b e h ap py s ho ul d y ou c ar e t o r em ai n m y g ue st f or a t im e, b ut

t he d ec is io n i s e nt ir el y u p t o y ou ."

"How d o y ou pr op os e t ha t I r etu rn to Oz? " as ke d th e Sh ag gy Man . "I ca n't

w a lk a cr os s t he D ea dl y D es er t, y ou k no w. "

" Ha , h a, h o, h o, h o! " C on jo l au gh ed . " Wa lk a cr os s t he D ea dl y D es er t!

C er ta in ly n ot ! H e, h e h e! Y ou s ha ll s ai l h ig h a cr os s i t, s wi ft ly a nd

s af el y! C om e w it h m e! I h av e s om et hi ng t o s ho w y ou ." C on jo w ri gg le d a bo ut

unti l his f at l it tl e body e me rged f rom t he c us hi ons a nd s il ke n c over ings of

t he d iv an . As h e s to od u p, t he S ha gg y M an a nd h is f ri en ds s aw t ha t t he

l it tl e ma n w as d re ss ed i n a l oo se r ob e o f r ic h p ur pl e o n wh ic h we re

em br oi de re d s ta rs , c re sc en ts , b la ck c at s a nd t he s ig ns o f t he Z od ia c. A ll

t he se d es ig ns w er e i n t he b ri gh te st c ol or s, w hi le t he r ob e f lo we d a bo ut

h im, s ec ur ed b y a g ol de n c or d t ie d a bo ut h is m id dl e. On h is f ee t w er e

s an da ls w ov en o f s il ve r t hr ea d, w it h t oe s t ha t c ur le d u p l ik e q ue st io n

m ar ks . " Co me w it h m e, " r ep ea te d t he f at l it tl e W iz ar d a s h e w ad dl ed t o t he

d oor , "a nd I will sh ow yo u h ow yo u c an sa il a wa y i n a j iff y."

T he S ha ggy M an a nd t he t wo c hi ldre n f ol lowe d C onjo w hi le T wi ff le r em ai ne d

behind busily arranging and straightening the royal cushions and comforters

o f t he r eg al d iv an . I n t he g re at c or ri do r C on jo p au se d b ef or e a s ma ll d oo r

t ha t o pe ne d a t h is t ou ch , r ev ea li ng a c ag e- li ke l it tl e r oo m. " St ep i n, " t he

W iz ar d i nv it ed h is g ue st s. " Th is i s a n e le va to r t ha t w il l w hi sk u s t o t he

r oo f o f t he t al le st t owe r o f t he c as tl e C4 a n i mp ro ve me nt o ve r t he

s ta ir wa y, up w hi ch I f ind i t dif fi cult t o w hi sk m ys el f i n m y pre se nt s ta te

o f, s ha ll w e s ay , s to ut ne ss . H o, h o, h o, h o, h e, h e, h e! "





C onjo bea me d good hum or a nd f ri endl ines s a s t he e le va tor s hot nois el es sl y

u pw ar d. I n a f ew s ec on ds t he d oo r c li ck ed , s li d o pe n, a nd C on jo l ed h is

g ue st s t o t he r oo f o f t he g re at t owe r. F ro m t hi s h ei gh t t he y c ou ld s ee t ha t

t he I sl e o f C on jo w as s ma ll i nd ee d, f or t he b lu e wa te rs o f t he N on es ti c

O ce an we re v is ib le i n a ny d ir ec ti on t he y l oo ke d. T he s un wa s a g re at r ed

ba ll o f f ir e i n t he w es t, b ut i t w ou ld s ti ll b e s ev er al m in ut es b ef or e

actual twilight set in.

" An d h er e, " s ai d C on jo , l ea di ng t he m a cr os s t he r oo f, " is t he m ea ns b y w hi ch

I p ro po se y ou r et ur n t o t he La nd o f Oz ." Th e Sh ag gy Ma n a nd t he c hi ld re n

s aw b ef or e t he m a m os t c ur io us o bj ec t. I t m ig ht h av e b ee n t he b od y o f a n

a ut om ob il e, e xc ep t t ha t i t s ee me d t o h av e n ei th er f ro nt n or b ac k. B ot h e nd s

o f i t c ur le d u p l ik e a g on do la . No r d id i t h av e wh ee ls . Th e f la t b ot to m

r e st ed s ol id ly o n t he r oo f. To a ll a pp ea ra nc es i t h ad n o me an s o f

l oc om ot ion. C onjo w as r ega rding t he s tr ange obj ec t proudly. " Be hold!" he

said. "One of my most ingenious creations, the Airmobile!"

" You m ea n t o s ay," t he S ha ggy M an s ighe d, " that t hi s t hi ng i s a ct ua ll y

s uppose d t o f ly t hr ough t he a ir ?"

C on jo l oo ke d h ur t. " Yo u s ee b ef or e y ou ," h e s ai d r es en tf ul ly , " th e m os t

per fe ct m ea ns of a ir t ra ve l yet i nvente d. "

T om b ro ke i n, " Bu t h ow c an i t f ly ? I t h as n o w in gs , n o p ro pe ll er , n o j et s,

n ot hi ng b ut p la ce s t o s it d ow n! "

C on jo r eg ar de d t he b oy p it yi ng ly . " Do y ou s up po se I w ou ld r el y u po n s uc h

c lums y a nd i ne ff ic ie nt m ea ns of f lying a s prope ll er s, w ings a nd j et s? T he

Airmobile is the perfect flying machine. It repels gravity."

" It d oe s w ha t? " a sk ed t he S ha gg y M an .

C on jo s te pp ed t o t he m ac hi ne a nd o pe ne d o ne o f t he d oo rs . " Lo ok ," h e s ai d.





" Se e t he se m et al p la te s o n t he f lo or o f t he s hi p? T he y a re g ra vi ty r es is to r

p la te s. Y ou m us t k no w, " h e w en t o n p at ie nt ly , " th at i t' s t he f or ce o f

gra vi ty pul li ng obj ec ts t o t he e ar th t ha t c ause s t hi ngs t o have w ei ght.

We ll , m y gra vi ty r es is tor pla te s ove rc om e gra vi ty w he n e xpos ed. H ence t he

s hi p has no w ei ght w ha te ve r. "

" Ye s, " s ai d T om , " I c an u nd er st an d t ha t. B ut w ha t m ak es i t m ov e C 4 b ac kw ar d

a nd f or wa rd , I m ea n? "

" Oh, t ha t, " s ni ff ed C onjo. " Thes e a re gra vi ty $$r es is tor& & pla te s. T he y not

only over come gra vi ty, but $$r es i st && i t. T he pow er of r es i st ance f orc es

t he m ac hi ne u pw ar d. T he m or e s ur fa ce o f t he p la te s y ou e xp os e, t he h ig he r

you w il l go. A nd you w il l not ic e, " C onjo c onti nued, r ea ching i ns ide t he

s hi p a nd p re ss in g a b ut to n, " th at t he m et al p la te s a re m ou nt ed o n r od s

t hr ou gh t he ir m id dl e s o t ha t t he y m ay b e o pe ra te d l ik e f la ps o r f in s C 4

an d t he y r ot at e. T hu s, i f y ou t il t t he m i n o ne d ir ec ti on , t he r es is ta nc e t o

gr av it y f or ce s y ou a he ad i n o ne w ay ; t il t t he m i n t he o th er d ir ec ti on a nd

yo u t ra ve l i n t he o pp os it e wa y. Ro ta te t he m, a nd y ou c an v ee r t o r ig ht o r

left."

" If i t w or ks , i t i s w onde rf ul ," s ai d t he S ha ggy M an doubt full y.

" Oh , i t w or ks t o p er fe ct io n, " a ss ur ed Co nj o. " If i t w er e n ot s o l at e i n t he

d ay, I would p ropo se a l ittle trip . As it is, I su gges t th at we go

do wn st ai rs f or d in ne r. T he n I w il l h av e t o l ea ve y ou t o e xa mi ne t he L ov e

M ag ne t. W e w il l a ll a ri se e ar ly i n t he m or ni ng , a t wh ic h t im e y ou wi ll h av e

t he p le as ur e o f a j ou rn ey o ve r t he i sl an d i n my Ai rm ob il e. "

T wi nk g ue ss ed t ha t C on jo 's d in ne r m us t h av e b ee n p re pa re d a nd s er ve d b y

m ag ic , f or t he re w er e n o s er va nt s i n t he g ra nd d in in g r oo m i nt o w hi ch t he ir





r ou nd l it tl e h os t u sh er ed t he m. B ut t he f oo d w as q ui te a s e la bo ra te a nd

r ic h a s t he d in in g r oo m i ts el f. T he Sh ag gy M an a nd t he c hi ld re n w er e

h un gr y, a nd t he y a te h ea rt il y. E ve n s o, t he y c ou ld n ot h el p n ot ic in g t ha t

C on jo a te n ea rl y t wi ce a s m uc h a s t he S ha gg y M an . S ha gg y w as g ra ti fi ed t o

f in d a l ar ge b ow l o f r os y- ch ee ke d a pp le s i n t he c en te r o f t he t ab le , w hi ch

m ad e t he me al a p erf ec t o ne fo r h im .

C on jo s ig he d w it h c on te nt , w ip in g h is l ip s o n a f in e d am as k n ap ki n.

"I nh os pi ta bl e a s i t m ay s ee m, " h e a po lo gi ze d, " I m us t l ea ve y ou n ow t o s ee

i f t he L ov e M ag ne t c an b e r ep ai re d. I w il l e xa mi ne i t i n m y l ab or at or y a nd

t el l y ou t om or ro w i f i t c an b e f ix ed . P le as e g iv e m e t he L ov e M ag ne t. "

Th is t he S ha gg y M an d id , a nd C on jo wa dd le d t o t he d oo r, p au si ng t o s ay ,

" Twif fl e wil l s how y ou to y our r oo ms . I h op e y ou sl eep we ll . I k no w I

s ha ll , a ft er I f in is h t hi s w or k. " C on jo w as a lr ea dy y awn in g a s h e l ef t t he

dining room.

A f ew s ec on ds l at er T wi ff le a pp ea re d i n t he d oo rw ay a nd i nv it ed S ha gg y a nd

t he c hi ldre n t o f ol low him . T he s le eping r ooms t o w hi ch T wi ff le l ed t he m up

t he m ar bl e s ta ir wa y w er e on t he s ec ond f loor a nd w er e bea ut if ul ly f ur ni shed

w it h e ve ry c onve ni ence a nd c om fort . T wi nk a nd T om 's r oom c onta ined t wo

i nv it in g b ed s, a nd T wi nk n ot ic ed t ha t p aj am as o f j us t t he r ig ht s iz e h ad

bee n c ar ef ul ly l ai d out . C onjo s ee me d t o t hi nk of e ve rything.

"S ee y ou c hi ld re n i n t he m or ni ng ," s ai d t he S ha gg y M an a s h e e nt er ed h is

r oo m w hi ch a dj oi ne d t ha t o f T wi nk a nd T om . T he S ha gg y M an f ou nd h is b ed

s oft a nd l uxur ious , s o he s li pped off his s ha ggy c lothes , c ar ef ul ly

a rra ng in g t he m o n a ch ai r s o th at no t o ne f ril l o r f ur bel ow wa s o ut o f

p la ce , p ut o n t he p aj ama s w hi ch C on jo h ad a ls o p ro vi de d f or h im, a nd

s li pp ed i nt o b ed . I ns ta nt ly t he l ig ht f ad ed f ro m t he r oo m. M or e m ag ic ,





t ho ug ht th e Sh ag gy Ma n a b it u ne as ily , fo r i t h ad ap pe ar ed to h im t ha t th e

l ig ht w as a n o rd in ar y e le ct ri c o ne wh ic h h e m ig ht s wi tc h o n a nd o ff a t

w il l. B ut m oonl ight w as beginni ng t o f al l t hr ough t he w indow, s o t he S ha ggy

M an s ig he d w it h c on te nt a nd i n a m in ut e w as s ou nd a sl ee p.

I t w as s ev er al h ou rs l at er wh en t he Sh ag gy Ma n s ti rr ed a nd t he n s at u p, wi de

a wa ke . W ha t h ad a wa ke ne d h im ? He wa s s ur e h e h ad h ea rd a c li ck in g s ou nd ,

l ike t he door of his bedcham be r c losi ng. T he m oonl ight r evea le d t ha t t he

d oo r wa s c lo se d j us t a s h e h ad l ef t i t. Sh ag gy g la nc ed a t h is c lo th es o n

t he c ha ir . He l ea pe d f ro m b ed a nd s ea rc he d t hr ou gh t he p oc ke ts o f h is

c lo th in g. H e g av e a g as p o f d is ma y. T he M ag ic C om pa ss w as g on e!

W ha t w as t hi s? I n a no th er p oc ke t S ha gg y f ou nd a h ar d, m et al li c o bj ec t, t he

L ov e M ag ne t, p er fe ct ly r ep ai re d, w it h n o t ra ce o f i ts e ve r h av in g b ee n

b ro ke n. T he Sh ag gy M an s at d own o n h is b ed a nd t ho ug ht h ar d. W ha t s ho ul d h e

d o? F or s om e r ea so n, C on jo h ad e vi de nt ly e nt er ed t he r oo m, s li pp ed t he

r ep ai re d L ov e M ag ne t i nt o S ha gg y' s p oc ke t, r em ov ed t he M ag ic C om pa ss , a nd

l ef t t he r oo m. I t w as t he c li ck in g o f t he d oo r t ha t S ha gg y h ad h ea rd . An d

C onjo had s li ghtl y dis ar ra nged S ha ggy' s c lothes C 4 t ha t had c al le d his

attention to them.

W ha t d id a ll t hi s me an ? Sh ag gy wa s s ure n ow t ha t Co nj o wa s n ot t he j ol ly ,

s tr ai gh tf or wa rd p er so n h e p re te nd ed t o b e. P er ha ps h e w as n ot e xa ct ly e vi l,

e it he r, b ut h e w as s o v ai n a nd s ch em in g a nd s el fi sh t ha t h e w ou ld b ea r

w a tc hi ng. T he n a s udde n t hought s tr uc k S ha ggy a nd m ade him e xt re me ly

u nea sy. He ha d co me to th e I sle of Con jo o f h is o wn a cco rd t o s ee k ou t

C on jo . B ut i t w as C on jo h im se lf w ho h ad b ro ug ht T wi nk a nd T om t he re . W hy ?

W er e t he t wi ns i n d an ge r? W ha t w as C on jo 's p ur po se i n t ak in g t he m f ro m





t he ir h ome ? I t w as u p t o h im , t ho ug ht th e Sh ag gy Ma n, to f in d o ut a nd

p ro te ct t he m i f C on jo m ea nt t he m h ar m o r h ad s om e c ra zy p la n t ha t w ou ld

endanger them.

S ha ggy unhappi ly c oncl uded t he re w as not hi ng he c ould do now . I n t he m or ni ng

he w ould f ind out i f t he A ir mobi le w as e ve rything C onjo c la im ed. T he n he

w ou ld t ry t o d is co ve r C on jo 's p la ns f or T wi nk a nd T om . P er ha ps T wi ff le

c ou ld e nl ig ht en h im . S ha gg y s ig he d. W el l, a t l ea st h e d id h av e t he Lo ve

Magnet.

The Shaggy Man lay down o n the bed and tried to sleep . After a long time he

dri ft ed i nt o a f it ful s lumber broke n by dre am s i n w hi ch C onjo s ai le d

t hr ou gh t he a ir , c lu tc hi ng t he L ov e M ag ne t, a nd T wi nk a nd T om w er e

t ra ns form ed i nt o dol ls no l ar ge r t ha n T wi ff le . I n his dre am t he S ha ggy M an

s ee me d t o b e bo un d wi th ro pe s t o h is b ed , p owe rle ss t o st op a ny o f Co nj o' s

m is chie f, w hi le T wi ff le t ugge d a t his bonds s aying, " Wa ke up, S ha ggy M an,

w ake up! "

S ha gg y o pe ne d h is e ye s a nd s ta re d. Th er e wa s Twi ff le , a t t he s id e o f h is

b e d, s ha ki ng h im a nd s ay in g, " Wa ke u p, S ha gg y M an , w ak e u p! "

C HA PT ER 7

I N T O H I GH T OW N

T he S ha gg y M an w as a wa ke i n a n i ns ta nt . " Wh at i s i t, T wi ff le , w ha t i s

wrong?"

" Ther e i s no t im e t o l os e, " w hi sper ed T wi ff le . " Quic k, get i nt o your

cl ot he s, a nd I w il l a rous e t he c hi ldre n. "

S ha gg y d re ss ed a s s pe ed il y a s p os si bl e, b ut n o s oo ne r h ad h e f in is he d t ha n

T wi ff le , f ol lowe d by T wi nk a nd T om , now w ide- eyed w it h e xc it em ent a nd f ul ly





dr es s ed, a ppe a re d i n t he door wa y. " Come ," T wi f fl e w hi s pe re d.

Silently, Shaggy and the children followed Twiffle down the marble stairway

t o t he e le va to r. T he c as tl e w as n ot e nt ir el y d ar k, t ha nk s t o t he b ri gh t

moonlight flowing through the windows. They stepped into the elevator which

h ad a dim ligh t of its o wn. Once more it sh ot up to the roof o f the tower.

S te pp in g o ut o n t he r oo f, T wi ff le b ec ko ne d t he m a ft er h im . Th e c lo wn m ad e

hi s w ay s tr ai ght t o t he M agic A ir mobi le . H e c li mbed i n, m ot ioni ng f or

S ha gg y a nd t he c hi ld re n t o d o l ik ew is e. T he y a ll s qu ee ze d i nt o t he

c o nt ra pt io n a ft er h im . T wi nk n ot ed t he c us hi on ed s ea ts i n e ac h e nd o f t he

A ir mobi le w er e s of t a nd yie lding. C onjo c er ta inly l iked c om fort . " Wher e a re

w e g oi ng ? A nd w hy ?" d em an de d t he S ha gg y M an .

" Ther e i s no t im e t o t al k now ," r et or te d T wi ff le bri ef ly. " Wa it unt il w e a re

w el l i n t he a ir ."

" Do y ou k no w h ow t o o pe ra te t hi s t hi ng ?" a sk ed To m.

" I h av e wa tc he d Co njo r un i t ma ny t im es . I am s ure I c an ma na ge it ," r ep li ed

T wi ff le . T he l it tl e c lown w as bus y w it h t he but tons w hi ch e xpos ed t he

gra vi ty r es is tor pla te s, a nd a lm os t bef or e t he y r ea li ze d i t, t he A ir mobi le

had r is en gentl y f rom t he r oof a nd w as m oving s il entl y t hr ough t he night .

" Ah , t ha t i s a r el ie f, " s ig he d T wi ff le a s h e w at ch ed C on jo 's c as tl e r ec ed e

i n t he dis ta nc e.

" But w he re a re w e goi ng?" a sked T wi nk, w ho w as t horoughl y e nj oying t he r ide

t hrough t he c ool night a ir .

" Th e ma in t hi ng ," e xp la in ed T wi ff le , " is t o g et a s f ar a wa y f ro m C on jo a s

possible."

" T he n h e i s a v il la in , a s I s us pe ct ed ," s ai d Sh ag gy .





T wi ff le n od de d. " Co nj o i s a c ur io us m an . H e r ep ai re d t he L ov e M ag ne t b ec au se

h e c ou ld n' t b ea r s ee in g o ne o f h is o wn c ha rms b ro ke n. He i s v er y v ai n.

A ct ua ll y, h e d oe sn 't c ar e a ny th in g a bo ut t he L ov e M ag ne t, w hi ch h as n o

e ff ec t o n h im, s in ce h e ma de i t. H e d oe sn 't l ov e a ny on e, a nd h e d oe sn 't

w an t a ny on e t o l ov e h im. He c ame t o th is i sl an d ma ny y ea rs ag o. He w an te d

t o b e a lo ne , s in ce h e d is li ke d p eo pl e a nd d es ir ed o nl y t o w or k o n h is

w iz ar d c ha rm s a nd i nc anta ti ons. H e brought m e t o l if e m er el y t o a muse

h im se lf a nd t o h av e s om eo ne t o t al k t o w he n h e f el t l ik e b oa st in g. R ec en tl y

h e h as b ec om e r es tl es s. He h as f ou nd t ha t, a ft er a ll , h e wa nt s s om eo ne

b ef or e w ho m h e c an s ho w o ff h is m ag ic t ri ck s. B ut h e h es it at ed t o b ri ng

m an y p eo pl e t o t he i sl an d, f ea ri ng t he y w ou ld s te al s om e o f h is p re ci ou s

magic tools."

T wi ff le p au se d a nd s ig he d. H e w en t o n, " I h ad m ad e t he m is ta ke o f t el li ng

h im a bo ut y ou , T wi nk a nd T om . T ho se v is it s h e p er mi tt ed m e t o y ou r h om e

w hi le y ou s le pt we re t he o nl y k in dn es s C on jo e ve r s ho we d me , s o I d on 't

fe el I o we h im a ny a ll eg ia nc e, e ve n t ho ug h h e d id b ri ng me t o l if e. W el l,

y es te rd ay C on jo a nn ou nc ed h e w as g oi ng t o u se h is m ag ic t o b ri ng y ou

children to his island."

" I s ee ," m ur mu re d T wi nk . " an d s o y ou h av e r es cu ed u s. "

" I h op e s o, " r ep li ed T wi ff le . " Af te r w ha t I f ou nd o ut t on ig ht , I c ou ld n' t

l et y ou s ta y h er e. C on jo t al ks i n h is s le ep a g re at d ea l, a nd t on ig ht h e

m um bl ed e nough f or m e t o l ea rn c om pl et el y f or t he f ir st t im e w ha t his pla ns

a re f or y ou t wo c hi ld re n. "

" Wh at d o y ou m ea n, ` pl an s' ?" a sk ed T om .

" Wh y, Co nj o wa s g oi ng t o ma ke y ou d ri nk a m ag ic p oti on t ha t wo ul d wi pe o ut

a l l m em or y o f y ou r h om e, p ar en ts a nd f or me r l iv es . T he n y ou w ou ld b e





c on te nt t o s ta y o n t he i sl an d w it h h im ."

"How dreadful!" exclaimed Twink, shuddering.

"And I supp ose he nev er mea nt f or me to retur n to th e Land of Oz," said the

Shaggy Man.

" Oh no, " r epli ed T wi ff le . " Conj o w ante d your m agic C om pa ss badly, bec ause i t

p os se ss es a k in d o f m ag ic t ha t h e k no ws n ot hi ng a bo ut . I b el ie ve h e m ea nt

t o trans por t y ou to th e Lan d of Ev, wh ere yo u cou ld find y our way bac k to

Oz a s b es t y ou c ou ld ."

" But now ," s ai d T wi nk happi ly, " the A ir mobi le w il l t ake us a ll t o t he L and

of O z. "

T wi ff le s ho ok h is h ea d. " No ," h e s ai d, " I' m a fr ai d i t w on 't . C on jo i s a

cl ev er w iz ar d o f s or ts , b ut h e i s n ot p ow er fu l e no ug h t o i nv en t a m ac hi ne

that w il l f ly a cr os s t he D ea dl y D es er t. "

" Yo u m ea n t hi s c on tr ap ti on wo n' t c ar ry u s o ve r t he d es er t a nd b ac k t o O z? "

t he S ha ggy M an a ske d, gr ea tl y di st ur bed.

"N o, " s ai d T wi ff le . " I have hea rd of pow er ful bir ds m anaging t o f ly high

e no ug h t o c ro ss t he D ea dl y D es er t, b ut I k no w o f n o ma gi c t ha t c an

penet ra te t he bar ri er of i nvis ibil it y t ha t G li nda t he G ood s pr ea d a cr os s

t he d ea dl y w as te m an y y ea rs a go C 4 c er ta in ly n ot C on jo 's m ag ic !"

" Th en w ha t s ha ll w e d o? " a sk ed t he S ha gg y M an .

" As I s ai d, " r em in de d T wi ff le , " th e m os t i mp or ta nt t hi ng w as t o g et o ut o f

C on jo 's p ow er . T he A ir mo bi le w il l c ar ry u s t o t he e dg e o f t he D ea dl y

De se rt , but no f ar the r. "

T he S ha gg y M an w as s il en t, c on si de ri ng . O nc e h e h ad m an ag ed t o c ro ss t he

D ea dl y De se rt i n a s an db oa t C 4 t ha t h ad b ee n b ef or e G li nd a h ad l ai d d ow n





t he ma gi c b ar ri er . B ut e ve n s in ce t he n, o th er s h ad c ro ss ed t he d es er t. S o

t he S ha gg y M an d id n' t g iv e u p a ll h op e.

The Airmobile was carrying them swiftly and silently through the night.

B el ow t he m t he w at er s o f t he N on es ti c O ce an g le am ed s il ve r i n t he

m oonl ight . T he re w as j us t t he f ai nt es t r oc ki ng m ot ion a s t he A ir mobi le s pe d

a lo ng . P er ha ps i t w as t hi s a nd t he f ac t t ha t S ha gg y a nd t he t wo c hi ld re n

we re d ee p i n t he ir o wn t ho ug ht s t ha t m ad e t he m a ll f al l a sl ee p b ef or e t he y

kne w i t. T wi ff le s mi le d a nd a ppli ed him se lf t o t he ope ra ti on of t he

A ir mo bi le . H e h ad n o n ee d f or s le ep .

Twink was the first to awaken. The su n was well up in the sky , and the

m or ni ng w as b ri gh t a nd c le ar . Sh e s ho ok To m a wa ke , a nd a t t he s ame t ime t he

S ha gg y M an a ro us ed h im se lf . T he y l oo ke d o ve r t he s id e o f t he c ra ft a nd s aw

bel ow t he m a ple as ant l and of hil ls a nd r ol li ng f ar ml ands . " The L and of

Ev ," a nn ou nc ed t he S ha gg y M an . " We s ho ul dn 't b e s o v er y f ar f ro m t he D ea dl y

Desert now."

Tw if fl e h ad l oo ke d u p a nd w as s ta ri ng a he ad o f h im i n a ma ze me nt . T he l it tl e

c lo wn s lo we d d ow n t he A ir mo bi le . D ir ec tl y a he ad o f t he m w as a c lu st er o f

l it tl e h ou se s a nd b ui ld in gs C 4 a g oo d- si ze d v il la ge C4 i n t he s ky . " Wh at

i n t he w or ld c an t ha t b e? " g as pe d T wi nk .

T he A ir mobi le w as m oving ver y s lowl y a s t he y a pproac he d t he s ky vil la ge .

D ir ec tl y b ef or e t he m, o n w ha t w ou ld h av e b ee n t he o ut sk ir ts o f t he t ow n h ad

i t b ee n o n t he e ar th , wa s a s ig n r ead in g:

Y OU A RE N OW E NT ER IN G H IG HT OW N

P o pu la ti on C 4 5 22

A lt it ude C 4 a pproxim at el y 15, 000 f ee t ( but i t var ie s)

Th ey c ou ld s ee p eo pl e w al ki ng a bo ut a mo ng t he h ou se s j us t a s t ho ug h t he y





w er e o n s ol id g ro un d. Th e Sh ag gy M an s ho ok h is h ea d. T wi nk a nd T om we re

s ta ri ng, f as ci na te d. T he A ir mobi le gli de d s il entl y a f ew f ee t pas t t he

s ig n. T he n i t j er ke d s ev er al t im es a nd c am e t o a n a br up t h al t.

T wi ff le l ooke d puz zl ed. H e pus he d one but ton, t he n a nother . N ot hi ng

happe ne d. T wi ff le did i t a ll ove r a ga in, a bit f ra nt ic al ly t hi s t im e. S ti ll

not hi ng happe ne d. " It 's no use ," s ai d T wi ff le . " The A ir mobi le w on't budge .

W e 'r e s tuck i n m id-a ir !"

C HA PT ER 8

T HE L OR D H IG H M AY OR

W hi le T wi ff le f us se d w it h t he c ontr ol s of t he M agic A ir mobi le , a c rowd of

c ur io us p eo pl e b eg an t o g at he r a bo ut t he s ta ll ed a ir cr af t. T he y w er e m en ,

w om en , c hi ld re n, a nd e ve n d og s, a nd t he y w al ke d o n t he a ir e as il y a nd

u nc on ce rn ed ly , a s i f i t w er e t he n or ma l t hi ng t o d o. T he se p eo pl e w er e a ll

ver y t al l a nd e xc ee di ngly t hi n. T he grown-ups w er e w el l ove r e ight f ee t i n

hei ght, w hi le t he older c hi ldre n a ve ra ge d a bout s ix f ee t t al l. P er ha ps t he

f ac t t ha t t he y l iv ed s o h ig h u p h ad c au se d t he m t o g ro w t ha t w ay , t oo .

T he ir c lo th in g w as w ha t w e w ou ld c on si de r o ld -f as hi on ed , b ut w as n ea t a nd

w el l c ar ed f or . T he w om en w or e t he b ri gh te st o f c ol or s, w hi ch f la sh ed g ai ly

in the clear sunlight. The people chattered among themselves, pointing

t ow ar d t he A ir mo bi le , a nd s ev er al d og s b ar ke d e xc it ed ly . A l ou d v oi ce

e xc la im ed, " What i s t he m ea ni ng of t hi s? W ha t i s goi ng on her e? "

Th e c ro wd ma de wa y fo r t he s pea ke r, wh o p ro ved to b e a s ou r-f ac ed, t al l

i nd iv id ua l we ar in g a f ro ck c oa t a nd a h ig h s il k h at C4 a s to ve pi pe h at ,

t he Sh ag gy M an w ou ld h av e c al le d i t.





" Pa rd on u s, " b eg an th e Sh ag gy M an , "b ut I a m a fr ai d w e a re t he c au se o f a ll

t he e xc it em ent. Y ou s ee , our a ir ship has s ta ll ed j us t i ns ide your t ow n. "

T he t al l m an s ta re d c ur io us ly a t t he o cc up an ts o f t he A ir mo bi le a s h e s ai d,

" Of c ours e your f lying m ac hi ne w on't ope ra te i n H ight ow n. I n f ac t, a f lying

m ac hi ne i n H ight ow n i s a n utt er a bs ur di ty C 4 a ga inst a ll t he t ow n

ordinance s a nd r ul es . I m us t a sk you t o r em ove i t i mm edia te ly."

"N ot ver y f ri endl y, i s he? " r em ar ke d T om .

B ut T wi ff le w as i nt er es te d. " Wh at d o y ou m ea n, s ir , t ha t t he a ir cr af t i s

against your laws?"

T he t al l m an s ni ff ed . " It s ho ul d b e a pp ar en t t o y ou t ha t t he l as t t hi ng i n

t he sky we ne ed is a n a irplan e. He re in t his favo red spot we walk on air

a nd a re n ot c om pe ll ed t o c ra wl a cr os s t he e ar th l ik e w or ms ."

" Ye s," s ai d t he Sh ag gy Ma n, "we c an s ee a ll t ha t. Bu t t el l u s, y ou r Ho no r,

do you think we would be able to walk on air as you do?"

T he t op -h at te d m an w as d is ti nc tl y f la tt er ed b y t he S ha gg y M an 's m od e o f

ad dr es s. " Ah ," h e r ep li ed , " I c an s ee t ha t y ou r ec og ni ze m e a s a p er so n o f

i mp or ta nc e. I a m t he L or d H ig h M ay or o f H ig ht ow n, a nd m y w or d h er e

r ep re se nt s t he h ig he st l aw o f t he l an d. A s f or y ou r b ei ng a bl e t o w al k a s

w e d o o n t he a ir , I s ee n o r ea so n wh y y ou s ho ul dn 't s in ce i n Hi gh to wn t he re

i s n o gr av it y to pu ll yo u to th e e ar th ."

"W ha t w as t ha t you s ai d? N o gra vi ty?" T wi ff le w as obvious ly e xc it ed.

"Exactly," replied the Lord High Mayor with great dignity. "Within the

b ou nd ar ie s o f H ig ht ow n, t he e ar th d oe s n ot e xe rt t he l ea st b it o f g ra vi ty

C 4 none w ha t soe ve r ."

" Then t ha t e xpla ins i t, " s ai d T wi ff le . " The A ir mobi le ope ra te s on t he

p ri nc ip le o f g ra vi ty , a nd s in ce t he re i s n o g ra vi ty h er e, t he c ra ft i s





useless."

"What are we to do?" asked the Shaggy Man. "I am not sure I want to go

w al ki ng a ro un d o n t he a ir , a lt ho ug h t he se f ol ks s ee m t o t ak e t o i t

naturally enough."

" Te ll m e, " s ai d T wi ff le , a ddre ss ing t he L or d H igh M ayor , " is H ight ow n of

ver y gre at a re a? "

" Oh ," e xc la im ed t he L or d H ig h M ay or , " it i s s im pl y e no rm ou s C 4 n o l es s t ha n

f our s quar e a cr es of t he m os t del ight ful a ir !"

" Ha ve y ou a ny i de a, y ou r H on or ," a sk ed t he S ha gg y M an , " ho w w e c an g et o ur

flying machine out of Hightown?"

" Oh , t ha t' s v er y s im pl e, " r ep li ed t he L or d H ig h M ay or . " Si nc e y ou r c ra ft h as

o nl y j us t c ro ss ed t he b ou nd ar y i nt o H ig ht ow n, I w ou ld s ug ge st t ha t y ou g et

o ut an d p ush the machin e to the edge of the b ound ary C4 t hen push it a few

i nc he s mo re , a nd i t wi ll b e i n t he f ie ld o f g ra vi ty a ga in wh er e i t i s

equipped t o oper a te . "

"Of course!" exclaimed Twiffle joyfully. "Why didn't I think of that?"

T he L or d H igh M ayor s mi le d w it h s mug s at is fa ct ion.

" I' ll a dj us t t he se gra vi ty pla te s now ," c onti nued T wi ff le , " so t he pla ne

w on 't f al l w he n i t p as se s t he b ou nd ar y. " A ft er h e h ad p re ss ed s om e b ut to ns ,

h e a nd t he S ha gg y M an a nd T wi nk a nd T om c li mb ed o ut o f t he A ir mo bi le . T he

a ir s ee me d a s s ol id u nd er t he ir f ee t a s t he e ar th . N ev er th el es s, t hi s

w al ki ng o n t hi n a ir w as a m os t c ur io us e xp er ie nc e, a nd i n s pi te o f

t he ms el ve s t he y f ound t he y w er e t re ading ginge rl y a s t hough t he y w er e

walking on eggs.

T he L or d H ig h M ay or a nd t he c ro wd o f H ig ht ow ne rs t ha t h ad g at he re d w at ch ed







T he y a ll s ta re d u pw ar d. Th e g ir l w as r ig ht . Th e s pe ck t ha t h ad b ee n t he

Airmobile had vanished completely. "Wonder where it went," said Twink.

T he L or d H igh M ayor e xpla ined pom pous ly, " Appa re nt ly your c ra ft a tt ai ne d s o

gr ea t a s pe ed t ha t i t s ho t o ff i nt o s pa ce , b ey on d t he p owe r o f g ra vi ty .

F r om n ow o n t he re 's n o t el li ng w he re i t w il l g o. "

" An d a st ro no me rs w il l r ep or t t ha t f ol ks f ro m e ar th a re a bo ut t o v is it

a not he r w or ld, I s uppos e, " gr inne d t he S ha ggy M an.

" Too bad old C onjo i sn't i n i t, " grumble d T wi ff le .

" Th e q ue st io n i s, " s ai d T om , " wh at d o w e d o n ow ?"

" Ri gh t," a gr ee d t he Sh ag gy M an a s h e tu rn ed t o t he Lo rd Hi gh Ma yo r a nd

a sk ed , " Si r, c an y ou t el l u s h ow w e c an l ea ve Hi gh to wn a nd p ro ce ed o n o ur

journey?"

" You w is h t o l ea ve H ight ow n? W he re c ould you pos si bl y w is h t o go? " i nqui re d

t h e L or d H ig h M ay or .

" We ll , e ve nt ua ll y w e h op e t o r ea ch t he E me ra ld C it y i n t he La nd o f O z, "

r epli ed t he S ha ggy M an, " so w e' re hea di ng f or t he D ea dl y D es er t s ur roundi ng

t he La nd o f Oz . Th en we 'l l h av e t o f ig ur e o ut s ome wa y t o c ro ss t he

desert."

T he L or d H ig h M ay or s ta re d a t S ha gg y i n h or ro r. " Th e D ea dl y D es er t! " h e

e xc la im ed . " Do y ou m ea n t o s ta nd h er e i n t he s ky a nd t el l m e y ou a ct ua ll y

w is h t o g o n ea r t ha t t er ri bl e, b ur ni ng , d ry w as te o f s hi ft in g d ea dl y s an ds

w he n y ou c an s ta y h er e a nd e nj oy t he d el ig ht fu l p er fe ct io n o f t he a er ia l

climate of Hightown?"

" No ," b eg an t he S ha gg y M an p at ie nt ly , " we d on 't l ik e t he D es er t a ny m or e

than you do, but in order to get to Oz we must cross the Desert. I assure





y ou t he La nd o f O z h as a c li ma te j us t a s d el ig ht fu l a s t ha t o f H ig ht ow n. "

"That is impossible!" declared the Lord High Mayor indignantly. "Hightown

h as t he o nl y p erf ec t c li ma te i n t he wo rl d, a nd n ow t ha t y ou a re h er e, y ou

m ig ht a s w el l s ta y a nd e nj oy i t."

" Wonder i f he e ve r hea rd of C al if or ni a? " m ur mure d T om t o T wi nk.

" We w ou ld l ik e v er y m uc h t o s ta y a nd e nj oy y ou r c li ma te , y ou r H on or ,"

r ep li ed t he Sh ag gy M an , " bu t i t i s i mp os sib le . We m ust b e o n o ur wa y t o th e

Lan d of Oz, much as we ad mi re y our h ig h air s. So if y ou wil l kin dl y tel l us

h ow w e m ay l ea ve y ou r t own , w e w il l b e m uc h o bl ig ed ."

T he Lo rd Hi gh M ay or s ee me d t o b e d ee p i n t ho ug ht . " Le av e o ur t own ?" h e s ai d

i nc re du lo us ly . " I d on 't b el ie ve i t. N o o ne c ou ld w an t t o l ea ve H ig ht ow n. I t

i s t he pinna cl e of c ivil iz at ion, t he highe st poi nt i n high l if e e ve r

r ea ch ed b y m an . Si r, I c on cl ud e t ha t I m us t h av e mi su nd er st oo d y ou . I t i s

beyond c om pr ehensi on t ha t you s houl d w is h t o depar t f rom t hi s e xa lt ed

c om muni ty a nd go c ra wl ing a bout t he l ow ly e ar th l ike a w or m. I s im pl y m us t

have misunderstood you."

" Ther e' s not hi ng w rong w it h your e ar s, " r epli ed t he S ha ggy M an. " I s ai d i t,

a nd I 'l l s ay i t a ga in C4 w e wa nt to l ea ve Hi gh to wn ! Ma yb e we h av en 't

a dv an ce d t o t he s ta te w he re w e c an f ul ly a pp re ci at e y ou r h i- fa lu ti n' w ay s,

an d i f y ou wa nt to kn ow th e t ru th , we a ct ua lly li ke t o fe el t he e ar th

be nea th our f ee t. "

T he L or d H ig h M ay or s ta re d a t t he S ha gg y M an u nb el ie vi ng ly . T he re w as a

s us pi ci on o f t ea rs i n h is e ye s. " My p oo r, d ea r f el lo w, " h e s ai d. " Ho w I

g ri ev e f or y ou C 4 t o h av e s uc h l ow t as te s. Th e e ar th u nd er o ne 's f ee t C 4

u gh ! B ut t he n, " h e we nt o n, b ri gh te ni ng , " yo u h av e n ot b ee n h er e l on g

e nough t o a ppre ci at e t he s oa ri ng vir tues of l if e i n H ight ow n. O nc e you have





b ec om e a cc us to me d t o t he l of ty p la ne o n w hi ch w e l iv e a nd t he s up er io ri ty

w e e nj oy o ve r e art h-c ra wl er s, I a m s ur e t ha t a ll t he s od i n t he wo rl d wi ll

n ot t emp t y ou t o p ut f oo t u po n th e e ar th a ga in ."

" P le as e, " s ai d t he S ha ggy M an i n e xa sper at ion. " Wi ll you s top t al ki ng l ike

t he C ha mb er o f C om me rc e a nd t el l u s h ow w e c an g et b ac k t o e ar th ?"

T he L or d H igh M ayor e ye d S ha ggy nar rowl y. " We ll ," he s ai d, " if you i ns is t on

l ea vi ng H ight ow n, you c ould w al k t o t he boundar y t he re , w he re gra vi ty

b eg in s a gai n, s te p o ve r a nd f al l ve ry q ui ckl y t o t he e ar th . Th at i s th e f as

t es t w ay I c an t hi nk o f l ea vi ng Hi gh to wn , b ut I wo ul dn 't r ec om me nd i t. "

" No , n o," t he Sh ag gy M an a ss ur ed h im . " We h av e n o d es ir e t o $ $f al l&& t o t he

e ar th ." Sh ag gy l oo ke d b el ow h im wi th a s hu dd er . "W e w ou ld b e i n n o s ha pe t o

c on ti nu e o ur t ra ve ls i f w e d id t ha t. "

" We ll , t hen , yo u s ee , it i s a ll s ett led ," s ai d t he Lo rd Hi gh Ma yo r wi th a

be am ing s mi le . " You w il l s ta y w it h us. E ve rything i s s et tl ed a nd t he re i s

n ot t he s li gh te st d ou bt t ha t y ou w il l f in d H ig ht ow n t he G ar de n S po t o f t he

S ky . No w, s in ce I a m t he Lo rd Hi gh M ay or o f Hi gh to wn , i t i s my e le va te d

pri vi le ge a nd honor t o w el come you a nd m ake you c om fort able . Y ou w il l

pl ea se f ol lo w m e o n w ha t i s t he m os t f or tu na te j ou rn ey o f y ou r l if e, f or

y ou a re o n y ou r wa y t o s av or in g t he h ig h a nd f li gh ty l if e o f H ig ht ow n."

T he re s ee me d n ot hi ng e ls e t o d o, s o S ha gg y a nd h is f ri en ds f ol lo we d t he L or d

H ig h M ay or , s te pp in g g in ge rl y o n w ha t s ee me d t o t he m t o b e t he a ir ie st

s pa ce . A s t he M ay or p ro ce ed ed , t he c ro wd o f c ur io us H ig ht ow ne rs m ad e w ay

f or him a nd t he l it tl e c om pa ny of a dventure rs .

" Mi ght I i nqui re ," a sked T wi ff le , " wher e you a re t aking us? "

" Wh y, t o m y A ir C as tl e, o f c ou rs e, " a ns we re d t he L or d H ig h M ay or . " Si nc e y ou





a re m y g ue st s, y ou m us t b e t re at ed w it h t he g re at es t c ou rt es y. L at er w e

will find a permanent dwelling for you."

T he y h ad n ow r ea ch ed t he c en te r o f t he s ma ll t own , a nd h er e t he Lo rd Hi gh

M ay or p au se d b ef or e a d we ll in g t ha t w as l it tl e d if fe re nt f ro m a ny o th er o f

t he h ou se s w hi ch w er e s ca rc el y m or e t ha n b un ga lo ws e xc ep t t ha t t he y w er e

a l l q ui te h ig h a nd n ar ro w t o s ui t t he s ha pe s o f t he H ig ht ow ne rs .

" Th is i s y ou r A ir C as tl e? " a sk ed t he S ha gg y M an . " It l oo ks n o d if fe re nt f ro m

t he other hous es ."

" An d w hy s ho ul d i t b e d if fe re nt ?" d em an de d t he L or d H ig h M ay or . " He re w e a ll

l iv e i n Ai r C as tl es . Y ou p eo pl e w ho c ra wl a ro un d o n t he e ar th j us t d re am o f

t he m. W e a re p ri vi le ge d t o e nj oy t he m. " T hi s l as t w as s ai d w it h a n a ir o f

gr e at pr ide .

One t hi ng did dis ti ngui sh t he L or d H igh M ayor 's dwe ll ing f rom t he other s i n

t he t own . Dir ec tly in fr on t o f i t t he re s to od a h an ds ome f lo wer p ot i n

w hi ch w as bloss om ing a bea ut if ul m agnoli a. T he L or d H igh M ayor pause d t o

e njoy t he del ight ful a roma of t he f lowe r. " Ah, m agnoli a! T ha t m ea ns w e

s ha ll h av e a s ou th w in d s oo n. Y ou v is it or s a re i nd ee d f or tu na te t o h av e

arrived in Hightown at this time."

" I' m n ot s o s ur e w e w ou ld b e f or tu na te t o a rr iv e h er e a ny t im e, " g ru mb le d

Twiffle.

" You s ee ," t he M ayor w ent on, dis re ga rding T wi ff le 's r em ar k, " when t he

m agnoli a bloss om s, t ha t m ea ns a s outh w ind i s c om ing. A nd $$t ha t& & m ea ns w e

s ha ll s oo n h av e a d el ig ht fu l s ou th er n c lo ud o n wh ic h t o w al k. I a ss ur e y ou

t he re i s not hi ng m or e del ight ful t ha n w al ki ng on a s outher n c loud."

" Se em s t o me c lou ds o f a ny s or t wo uld b e so rt o f s qu ig gy f or wa lk ing

p u rp os es , n o m at te r h ow p re tt y t he y a re t o l oo k a t," s ai d t he Sh ag gy M an .





" What happe ns w he n t he re 's a nor th w ind c om ing? " a sked T wi nk c ur ious ly.

" Oh , t he n t he p la nt b lo ss om s w it h a b ea ut if ul w il d t hy me , a nd w e a re

p ri vi le ge d t o e nj oy t ha t d el ig ht fu l s ce nt . W he n t he re 's a n e as t w in d o n i ts

w ay," t he L or d H igh M ayor c onti nued, " then t he pla nt bea rs c hr ys anthem um s.

W he n th e w es t wi nd i s c omi ng , we e nj oy t he b lo ss oms a nd s ce nt o f w il d

roses."

" Does n' t t he w es t w ind bri ng r ai n c louds? " a sked T om , r em em be ri ng t ha t i t

usually did in Buffalo.

"Y es ," s ai d t he M ayor , " that i s r ight ."

" Th en i t $ $r ai ns && h er e i n H ig ht ow n w he re y ou h av e a h av e a p er fe ct

c li ma te ?" a sked t he boy, r em em be ri ng his dis gust w it h t he r ai n a t hom e.

"N ot a t a ll ," r ep li ed t he M ay or . " Th er e i s n o g ra vi ty t o p ul l t he r ai nd ro ps

e ar th wa rd , s o i t c an 't r ai n. We j us t g o o ut wa di ng i n t he r ain c lo ud ."

" Th at 's q ui te a p la nt ," s ai d t he S ha gg y M an , s ta ri ng a t t he f lo we r p ot w it h

its beautiful blossoms.

" It 's m uc h m or e t ha n t ha t, " s ai d t he M ay or . " Ce rt ai nl y s in ce w e h av e t he

m os t p er fe ct w ea th er i n t he w or ld i n H ig ht ow n, w e w ou ld h av e t he m os t

pe rf ec t w ea the r f or ec a st er . T ha t 's j ust w ha t t he pla nt i s ."

W hi le T om w as t rying t o puz zl e out w hy, i f H ight ow n a lw ays had per fe ct

w ea th er , i t n ee de d a ny w ea th er f or ec as te r a t a ll , t he d oo r o f t he M ay or 's

h ome o pe ne d a nd t he y w er e we lc ome d b y a t al l, t hi n w oma n i n a b lu e c he ck ed

b un ga lo w a pr on . S he p ro ve d t o b e t he M ay or 's w if e. Th e g oo d w om an

i mm edia te ly s er ve d dinne r, hur rying a bout a nd doi ng her bes t t o m ake t he

v is it or s a t h om e. S he w as p ar ti cu la rl y p le as an t t o T wi nk a nd T om a nd w as





gre at ly a ma ze d a nd a l it tl e a we d by T wi ff le .

S tr ange ly e nough, t he f ood c onsi st ed e nt ir el y of f ruit s, but t he y w er e a ll

f re sh a nd t as ty . W he n t he m ea l w as o ve r, t he L or d H ig h M ay or a nn ou nc ed t ha t

i t was ti me fo r a na p. "A n ap !" e xc la ime d th e Sh ag gy Man . "Wh y, it is o nly

a l it tl e p as t n oo n. W e c an 't s le ep n ow. "

" It i s t he c us tom i n H ight ow n, " r em ar ke d t he M ayor pla ci dl y, " and you w il l

s oo n c om e t o e nj oy t he s ie st a a s mu ch a s w e. Ho we ve r, i f y ou c an no t s le ep ,

y ou ma y s it o n t he f ro nt p or ch . B ut d on 't g o o ff t he p or ch a nd w an de r

a bout , as you ma y c ome to the ed ge of the town an d fall to t he earth."

W it h th is , th e Lo rd Hi gh Ma yo r a nd h is wi fe re ti re d t o t he ir ro om, a nd th e

vi si to rs w er e l ef t t o t he ms el ve s. T he re s ee me d n ot hi ng e ls e t o d o b ut t o

f ol lo w t he M ay or 's s ug ge st io n a nd w hi le a wa y t he T ow n' s h ou r o f s le ep o n

t he f ro nt p or ch . H er e t he y f ou nd s ev er al c ha ir s a nd a s wi ng a nd s oo n ma de

themselves comfortable.

T he re w as not hi ng i nt er es ti ng a bout t he s ce ne ry, a nd l it tl e t o t al k a bout ,

a nd t he y we re b eg in ni ng t o b e a b it b or ed wh en a s au cy b ro wn wr en f li tt ed

o ut o f t he s ky a nd p er ch ed o n t he p or ch r ai li ng , r eg ar di ng S ha gg y a nd h is

fr ie nds w it h bri ght l it tl e e ye s. " St ra nger s her e, a re n' t you?" a sked t he

b ir d. " Fi ne p la ce t o l iv e. Y ou 'l l l ik e i t, I 'm s ur e. "

" We d on 't l ik e i t, a nd w e d on 't i nt en d t o s ta y, " s ai d t he Sh ag gy M an a b it

ill-humoredly.

" We ll , i f y ou d on 't l ik e i t, t he n w hy d on 't y ou l ea ve r ig ht a wa y? " a sk ed t he

bird.

"H ow ?" a sk ed Sh ag gy . " Wa lk t o t he e dg e o f t he t own a nd f al l t o t he e ar th ? W e

c an 't f ly l ik e y ou , y ou k no w."

" Yo u d on 't n ee d t o f ly . Yo u c an w al k d ow n t hr ou gh t he a ir C 4 o r r at he r,





s wi m d own C4 u si ng y ou r a rm s to p us h y ou t hr ou gh t he a ir . Th er e' s n o

g ra vi ty , y ou k no w. " A nd w it h a f li rt o f i ts s au cy t ra il , t he b ir d w as g on e.

W it h a s ho ut , T wi ff le l ea pe d t o h is f ee t. " Wh at f oo ls w e' ve b ee n! O f c ou rs e

t he re 's n o g ra vi ty , a nd w e c an p us h o ur se lv es r ig ht d own t o e ar th ! Co me o n,

l et's be on ou r way." Twi ffle ran to the ed ge of the por ch and lea ped ou t

hea d f ir st . T he y c ould s ee t he l it tl e c lown bel ow t he m, m oving his a rm s

like a swimmer.

" Should w e t ry i t? " a sked t he S ha ggy M an doubt full y.

To m d id n' t wa it f or a n a ns we r. H e j ump ed f ro m t he p or ch j us t a s T wi ff le h ad

d on e. H e f ou nd t ha t b y m ov in g h is a rm s h e c ou ld f or ce h im se lf d ow nw ar d.

Indeed, it was n o more effort than walk ing on a level o n the air. In a

s ho rt t im e h e d is co ve re d t ha t, s in ce t he re w as n o g ra vi ty , h e c ou ld m ov e a t

w il l u p o r d ow n t hr ou gh t he a ir . N ow T wi nk w as a t h is s id e, t ho ro ug hl y

e nj oying t he novel e xper ie nc e. T he S ha ggy M an w as f ol lowi ng c lose behind.

T wi nk g la nc ed u pw ar d o nc e a nd s aw t he s pe ct ac le o f a w ho le t ow n s us pe nd ed

i n t he a ir a bo ve h er . Sh e c ou ld e ve n ma ke o ut t he M ay or 's h ou se a nd t he

f lo we r p ot i n f ro nt o f i t. T he y w er e a ll s wi mm in g e ar th wa rd a t a bo ut t he

s ame l ev el wh en t he re was a fl ir t o f s ma ll wi ngs , a nd th e wre n wh o ha d

s po ke n t o t he m o n t he p or ch o f t he L or d Hi gh M ay or 's h ou se a li gh te d o n t he

S ha gg y M an 's s ho ul de r. " I s ee y ou t oo k m y a dv ic e, " s ai d t he w re n.

" Ye s, " s ai d t he S ha gg y M an , " an d w e a re g ra te fu l t o y ou f or t el li ng u s a bo ut

t hi s e as y w ay t o l ea ve H ight ow n. "

"T hi nk not hi ng of i t, " r epli ed t he w re n a ir il y. " I a lw ays f ee l s or ry f or

an yo ne w ho g et s s tu ck i n H ig ht ow n. T he re i sn 't a s tu pi de r p la ce i n t he

w or ld. T hose H ight ow ne rs have never s ee n a nything but t he ir own s il ly





l it tl e t ow n, s o t he y j us t c an't i ma gi ne t he re 's a nything e ls e i n t he

world."

" Yo u g et a ro un d q ui te a b it , I s up po se ," v en tu re d t he S ha gg y M an .

" Be in g a b ir d, n at ur al ly ," r et or te d t he w re n w it h a s au cy f li rt o f h is t ai l.

" We ll , t he n, " s ai d S ha ggy, " woul d you m ind doi ng your own f lying a nd get ti ng

off my shoulder?"

" Th at 's g ra ti tu de f or y ou ," s ai d t he w re n r ep ro ac hf ul ly . " I s av e y ou f ro m a

l if e of b or ed om a nd y ou re fu se t o l et me h it ch hik e d own t o e art h." Bu t t he

bir d didn' t m ove f rom S ha ggy' s s houl de r.

" Wher e a re you goi ng, a nywher e i n par ti cula r? " a sked T wi nk.

" Oh y es , o f c ou rs e, " t he w re n r ep li ed . " Ju st b el ow H ig ht ow n t he re i s a

l ovel y orc ha rd of a ll kinds of f ruit t re es . T ha t' s w he re t he H ight ow ne rs

g et a ll t he ir f oo d. T he y l iv e o n f ru it . Th ey c an b oa st a bo ut t he ir s il ly

to wn a ll th ey li ke , b ut wh en t he y wa nt f oo d, y ou c an b et t he y h ur ry d own t o

t he o rc ha rd o n e ar th f or i t. Th at 's w hy t he y d on 't l ik e u s b ir ds . W e e nj oy

ea ti ng t he f ru it i n t he o rc ha rd , t oo . W e s el do m g o n ea r H ig ht ow n, e xc ep t

w he n t he p eo pl e a re a sl ee p. T he y a re s o d is ag re ea bl e t he y t hr ow t hi ng s a t

u s a nd a cc us e u s o f s te al in g f ro m t he ir o rc ha rd . T he ir o rc ha rd , i nd ee d! "

" Te ll m e, " s ai d t he S ha ggy M an, " wa s your m ot he r a m agpi e? "

"Of course not," replied the wren indignantly.

" I t ho ug ht s he m us t h av e b ee n, " s ai d t he S ha gg y M an , " be ca us e y ou c er ta in ly

c ha tt er l ike a m agpi e. "

" That 's e nough, " dec la re d t he w re n. " If you c an't a ppre ci at e i nt el li ge nt

co nv er sa ti on , I s ha n' t wa st e i t u po n y ou . Y ou a re f ar t oo s lo w f or m e

an yw ay . N o h ar d f ee li ng s, t ho ug h. G oo d l uc k t o a ll o f y ou ." A nd w it h t ha t,

t he w re n w as off , dar ti ng s wi ft ly e ar thwa rd. S ha ggy a nd his f ri ends a ll had





a g oo d l au gh o ve r t he g os si py l it tl e b ir d.

Ten minutes more "swimming" brought them within sight of the orchard about

w hi ch t he bir d had t ol d t he m. " The H ight ow n s ign s ai d ` al ti tude 15, 000

f ee t, 'F F20" s ai d T om . " That 's a lm os t t hr ee m il es . I c an't be li eve w e' ve

been swimming that far."

"P roba bl y t he y boost ed t ha t f igur e a s high a s t he ir opi ni on of H ight ow n, "

s ai d T wi ff le , " and a nywa y, i t did s ay t he a lt it ude var ie d. V ar ie s ver y

m uc h, I 'd s ay."

A fe w mi nu tes la te r t he y we re s ta nd in g o n t he e ar th i n a g ro ve o f a pp le ,

plum, a nd c he rr y t re es . E ve ry bra nc h w as f il le d w it h r ipe, l us ci ous f ruit .

T wi nk l oo ke d f or t he ir f ri en d, t he wr en , b ut s aw n ot hi ng o f h im . T he S ha gg y

M an began l ooki ng a bout t he ground f or a pple s. S udde nl y he l aughed. " That

w as r ea ll y s tu pi d o f m e, " h e c al le d t o T wi nk a nd T om . " Of c ou rs e t he re

a re n' t a ny a pp le s o n t he g ro un d. T he y c an 't f al l o ff t he t re es !"

" This m us t be w he re t he H ight ow ne rs get t he ir f ruit ," s ai d T wi nk.

" Of c ours e, " r epli ed S ha ggy. " They t hought t he y w ould kee p us w it h t he m by

n ot t el li ng u s h ow e as y i t i s t o r ea ch t he e ar th f ro m Hi gh to wn ."

"Bu t t hey mu st h av e kn own we wo ul d se e s ome o f th em c omin g an d g oi ng t o th e

o rc ha rd a nd f in d o ut s oo ne r o r l at er h ow t o e sc ap e," s ai d T om.

" We ll , t ha nk s t o t ha t b ir d, w e f ou nd o ut s oo ne r, " s ai d T wi ff le .

B ef or e t he y l ef t t he g ro ve , S ha gg y w al ke d i n t he a ir t o t he u pp er b ra nc he s

o f t he b ig ge st a pp le t re e i n t he o rc ha rd a nd f il le d h is p oc ke ts w it h t he

l ar ge st a nd r ud di es t o f t he f ru it . " Ca n' t t el l w he re we 'l l f in d o ur n ex t

meal," he explained.

K no wi ng t he a re a t ha t w as f re ed f ro m t he f or ce o f g ra vi ty w as o f v er y s ma ll





e xt ent, S ha ggy a nd his f ri ends w al ke d s te adil y i n one dir ec ti on, t re ading

s ev er al f ee t i n t he a ir , s in ce t ha t w as e as ie r t ha n w al ki ng o n t he e ar th .

As t he re w as n o d if fe re nc e i n t he a pp ea ra nc e o f t he c ou nt ry si de w he re

gra vi ty e xe rt ed i ts el f a ga in, t he y had no w ay of t el li ng w he n t he y w ould

suddenly emerge from the gravityless land.

S ha ggy w as i n t he l ea d w he n he s udde nl y e xper ie nc ed t ha t c ur ious s ensa ti on

t ha t c om es w he n y ou s te p u ne xp ec te dl y i nt o a h ol e. T he r es ul t w as t ha t

S ha ggy t oppl ed f or wa rd a nd f ound him se lf s pr aw le d on t he gra ss . F ol lowi ng

him c am e T wi nk, T om a nd T wi ff le . O nl y T om m anaged t o m ai nt ai n his bal ance .

W ha t h e h ad r ea liz ed in ti me wa s s imp ly t ha t t he o th ers h ad s tep pe d o ff th e

a ir o n wh ic h t he y h ad b ee n w al ki ng t o t he e ar th a f oo t o r t wo b el ow t he m.

T he Sh ag gy Ma n s ig he d. " Gi ve m e t he e ar th t o c ra wl a ro un d o n a ny d ay , as

o ur f ri en d t he Lo rd Hi gh Ma yo r wo ul d p ut it , e ve n th ou gh i t do es me an a n

occasional tumble."

C HA PT ER 9

T HE V AL LE Y O F R OM AN CE

B ef or e t he t ra ve le rs l ay o ne o f t he m os t b ea ut if ul v al le ys t he y h ad e ve r

s ee n. G entl y s lopi ng hil ls l ed dow n t o gre en f ie lds. T hr ough t he m iddl e of

t he val le y f lowe d a s te am t ha t l ooke d l ike a s hi mm er ing blue r ibbon

s tr et ch ed o ut on a g re en ca rp et . On th e n ear b ank of th e s tre am, i n t he

v er y c en te r o f t he v al le y, s to od a c as tl e. I ts s pi re s, t ur re ts , a nd t ow er s

w er e s o del ic at el y f or me d t ha t t he y gli st ened l ike l ac e- fi li gr ee i n t he

s unli ght. T wi nk's e ye s glowe d. " Is n' t i t j us t t he m os t bea ut if ul s ight you

e ve r s aw ?" s he e xc la im ed.

" It c er ta in ly i s e le ga nt ," a dm it te d t he S ha gg y M an . " Bu t wh at w e w an t t o





k no w i s, w ha t k in d o f f ol ks l iv e i n i t. "

"O h, I 'm s ur e t he y m us t b e v er y h ap py a nd c on te nt ed ," s ai d T wi nk . " Th ey j us t

$ $mu st && b e to l ive i n a p la ce li ke th at ."

" Then w e a re goi ng t o vis it t he c as tl e? " a sked T wi ff le a bit doubt full y.

" It s ee ms t he o nl y th in g t o d o," r ep li ed t he Sh ag gy Ma n. "I a dmit I h av e n o

i de a w he re w e a re , a nd t he re i s j us t t he p os si bi li ty t ha t w ho ev er l iv es i n

that castle may be able to help us get to Oz, or at least give us

di re c ti ons t o t he D ea dly D es e rt ."

T om w as a lr ea dy o n h is w ay , r un ni ng h ap pi ly d ow n t he g re en s lo pe t ow ar d t he

s tr ea m a nd t he c as tl e. A t en-m inut e w al k i n t he bri ght s unli ght brought t he

l i tt le g ro up o f a dv en tu re rs t o t he d oo rs o f t he c as tl e. So f ar t he y h ad

s ee n n o l iv in g p er so ns . Bi rd s s an g i n t he tr ee s, a nd o nc e a wh it e r ab bi t

h ad b ou nd ed a cr os s T om 's p at h, b ut t he re w er e n o s ig ns o f h um an b ei ng s.

Th e S ha gg y M an s te pp ed f or wa rd a nd k no ck ed b ol dl y o n t he h ea vy d oo r.

I ns ta nt ly i t s wung s il entl y ope n. A s t he a dventure rs s te pped i ns ide, T wi nk

g as pe d, a nd e ve n t he S ha gg y M an , a cc us to me d a s h e w as t o t he s pl en do r o f

O z ma 's R oyal P al ac e, w as i mpre ss ed w it h t he m agni fi ce nc e of his

s ur ro un di ng s. T he f lo or a nd w al ls o f t he c as tl e w er e o f t he w hi te st

a la ba st er , p ol is he d s o t ha t t he c re am y d ep th s o f t he s to ne m ir ro re d t he

luxurious furnishings, casting a luster that enhanced the woven richness of

t he d ee p- hu ed d ra pe ri es i n t he p an el ed w al ls .

W ho h ad b ui lt s uc h a c as tl e? E ac h o f t he t ra ve le rs t ri ed t o p ic tu re in h is

o wn m in d t he k in d o f p eo pl e w ho m ig ht l iv e h er e. W ou ld t he y b e f ri en dl y o r

unf ri endl y, hel pf ul or dange rous ? S ti ll t he re w as no s ign of peopl e. T he

o nl y s ou nd t ha t b ro ke t he s ti ll ne ss o f t he f oy er i n w hi ch Sh ag gy a nd h is





f ri en ds s to od w as t he t in kl in g o f wa te r a s i t f lo we d f ro m a s ma ll f ou nt ai n

i n t he c en te r o f t he r oo m. T hi s f ou nt ai n wa s f as hi on ed l ik e a n o rd in ar y

d ri nk in g f ou nt ai n, t he s tr ea m o f w at er t ha t r os e f ro m i t b ei ng n ot m or e

th an t hr ee o r f ou r i nc he s i n h ei gh t. A ro un d t he r im o f t he a la ba st er

f ounta in w as a m et al pla te w it h w ri ti ng i ns cr ibed upon i t.

H er c ur iosi ty a rous ed, T wi nk a dva nc ed t o t he f ount ai n a nd r ea d:

T hi s i s a P hont ai n.

An y v is it or s a re r eq ue st ed t o s pe ak

t he ir m es sa ge s i nt o i t.

S igne d: R ex T ic ke t & R egina C ur ta in.

" Wh at i n t he w or ld c an i t m ea n? " w hi sp er ed T wi nk . H er c om pa ni on s h ad

g at he re d a bo ut h er a nd w er e r ea di ng t he m et al p la te w it h w on de r.

" Re x a nd R eg in a, " v en tu re d t he S ha gg y M an , " ar e K in g a nd Q ue en . T ha t' s

L at in . S o e vi de nt ly t he h ea d f ol ks o f t hi s c as tl e a re K in g T ic ke t a nd Q ue en

C u rt ai n. H mm m C 4 c er ta in ly o dd n am es f or a K in g a nd Q ue en ."

" A P hont ai n, a nd w e' re s uppose d t o t al k i nt o i t! " s ni ff ed T wi ff le w it h

dis gust . " Whoe ve r hea rd of s uc h nonse ns e? "

"W el l, " o bs er ve d t he S ha gg y M an , " I' ve h ea rd o f b ab bl in g b ro ok s, s o w hy n ot

a t al ki ng f ount ai n t ha t w il l c ar ry our w or ds ?"

" A phone y f ount ai n, I s uppose ," s ai d T om , gri nning.

S ha ggy s tooped ove r t he P hont ai n a nd s poke c le ar ly a nd dis ti nc tl y: " This i s

t he S ha gg y M an o f O z s pe ak in g. I n b eh al f o f m y f ri en ds , T wi nk a nd T om o f

t he U ni te d S ta te s o f A me ri ca , T wi ff le , l at e o f t he I sl e o f C on jo , a nd

m ys el f, I r eque st a n a udie nc e w it h K ing T ic ke t a nd Q ue en C ur ta in."

A lm os t i mm ed ia te ly a r ed n eo n s ig n l ig ht ed u p o ve r t wo l ar ge d ou bl e d oo rs a t

t he o pp os it e e nd o f t he f oy er . T he s ig n f la sh ed t he s in gl e w or d " En tr an ce ."





" I g ue ss t hi s i s wh er e we g o i n, " r ema rk ed t he Sh ag gy M an a s h e w al ke d t o

t he d oo r a nd p us he d t he l ar ge m et al h an dl e.

T he y w er e i n a s ma ll , bri ghtl y l ight ed t he at er c onta ining a bout one hundr ed

s ea ts. On t he s ta ge , s ea te d o n t wo t hr on es , we re a m an an d a w om an C4

e vi de nt ly K in g T ic ke t a nd Q ue en C ur ta in . A ll a bo ut t he K in g a nd Q ue en o n

t he s ta ge t he re w as a b us tl e o f t he m os t f re nz ie d a ct iv it y. T he re s ou nd ed

th e c la sh a nd c la tt er o f h am me rs , t he r ip pi ng o f s aw s a nd t he w hi rr in g o f

d ri ll s a nd b it s. P er ha ps f if te en o r t we nt y m en w er e h ar d a t w or k k no ck in g

t oge ther a nd e re ct ing a be wi lder ing a rr ay of s ce ne ry. C al ml y s ea te d a bout

t he s ta ge o n t hr ee -c or ne re d s to ol s, t he ir s ew in g b as ke ts a t t he ir s id es ,

w er e a n um be r o f l ad ie s s ew in g o n c os tu me s. O th er s w er e a pp ar en tl y s ew in g

t og et he r l ar ge p ie ce s o f c an va s. S ti ll o th er l ad ie s w er e e ng ag ed i n

pai nt ing a rt is ti c pic ture s on t he c anva s w hi ch w as t he n s tr et ched on w oode n

f ra me wo rk s t o s er ve a s b ac kd ro ps f or t he s ta ge .

A ft er S ha ggy a nd his f ri ends had w at ched t hi s dis pl ay of i ndus tr y f or

s ev er al m in ut es , t he y a dv an ce d d ow n t he m id dl e a is le o f t he t he at er . T he

K in g a nd q ue en h ad b ee n d oi ng n o a ct ua l w or k. T he y m er el y i ss ue d d ir ec ti on s

t o t he o th er s, w ho s ee me d n ot t o p ay t he m t he s li gh te st h ee d, b ut c on ti nu ed

w it h t he ir t as ks . K in g T ic ke t l oo ke d u p. " We ll ," h e s ai d t o t he S ha gg y M an ,

" yo u c er ta in ly t oo k y ou r t im e g et ti ng h er e. I t w as a t l ea st t hr ee m in ut es

a go t ha t you a nnounc ed yours el ve s on t he P hont ai n. "

" Do y ou m ea n y ou r ea ll y h ea rd u s t hr ou gh t ha t w at er f ou nt ai n? " a sk ed t he

Shaggy Man.

"W at er h at h a l im pi d t on gu e w it h w hi ch t o l av e t he n ak ed e ar ," s ai d K in g

T ic ke t i n a v oi ce wh ic h wa s m ea nt t o b e i mp re ss iv e. " Of c ou rs e we h ea rd y ou





t hr ou gh t he P ho nt ai n. T he re a re P ho nt ai ns i n a ll t he r oo ms o f t he C as tl e

C4 e ve n i n t he t he at er , h er e C4 wh ic h r ep ea t m es sa ge s w he n w e s pe ak i nt o

them."

T wi nk t hought t hi s w as m uc h nic er t ha n t el ephone s w hi ch ( si c C 4 w it h? )

r udel y j angl ing bel ls , a lt hough proba bl y not a s pri va te . " You didn' t

think, " c om me nt ed Q ue en C ur ta in a s t hough s he had r ea d T wi nk's t hought s,

" that w e w ould use ordinar y m ea ns of c om muni ca ti on s uc h a s t el ephone s i n

t he V al le y of R om ance , did you?"

" Oh," s ai d t he S ha ggy M an, " is t hi s t he V al le y of R om ance ?"

" It i s, a nd s in ce y ou a re fr om t he La nd o f Oz ," s ai d Kin g Ti cke t, " you m us t

s ur el y have hea rd of t he V al le y of R om ance ."

T he S ha ggy M an r ef le ct ed. I t s ee me d he c ould r ec al l O zm a m enti oning

s om et hi ng a bout s om e s uc h val le y, but he c ouldn' t r em em be r a nything t ha t

s he h ad s ai d a bo ut i t. " Ho w f ar a re we f ro m t he La nd o f O z? " a sk ed Twi ff le .

"D ea r m e! " e xc la im ed K ing T ic ke t, s ta ri ng a t T wi ff le . " For a m om ent I

t hought you w er e r ea l! "

" I a m r ea l, " s ta te d T wi ff le w it h d ig ni ty . " I j us t d on 't h ap pe n t o b e m ad e o f

f l es h a nd b lo od a nd b on es , t ha t' s a ll ."

" An d a s f or t he L an d o f O z, " r em ar ke d Q ue en C ur ta in m ed it at iv el y, " it i s

i nd ee d v er y f ar a wa y C4 o ve r t he s tr ea m a nd o ve r t he h il l C4 f ar , f ar

a wa y to th e des ert , an d the n ov er tha t, t oo. In fa ct, i t isn 't ev en in th e

V al le y o f R om an ce , s o t ha t m ea ns i t m us t b e q ui te s om e d is ta nc e o ff . T oo

f ar e ve n t o t hi nk o f, " s he a dd ed a s t ho ug h t o s ay t ha t c lo se d t he s ub je ct .

T he Sh ag gy M an s hr ug ge d. E vi de nt ly t he se t wo w er en 't g oi ng t o b e o f m uc h

h el p t o t he t ra ve le rs i n f in di ng t he ir w ay b ac k t o O z. W el l, t he y w ou ld

m ak e a l un ch o f t he a pp le s h e c ar ri ed i n h is p oc ke ts a nd t he n c on tin ue o n





t he ir j ourney. S ha ggy a nd his f ri ends m ade t he ms el ve s c om fort able i n t he

d ee pl y u ph ol st er ed s ea ts i n t he f ro nt r ow o f t he t he at er . S ha gg y d iv id ed

t he a pp le s b et we en T wi nk , T om , a nd h im se lf . H e o ff er ed s ev er al t o K in g

T ic ke t a nd Q ue en C ur ta in, w ho r ef us ed t he m r at he r dis da infull y.

Sh ag gy a nd h is f ri en ds a te i n s il en ce w hi le t he y w at ch ed t he a ct iv it y o n t he

st ag e. No t o ne o f t he b us il y w or ki ng me n a nd w ome n s ee me d e ve n t o b e a wa re

o f t he p re se nc e o f t he s tr an ge rs . F in is hi ng h is a pp le s, t he S ha gg y M an

a ro se a nd s ai d, " Lo ok s l ik e y ou f ol ks a re g et ti ng r ea dy f or q ui te a p la y.

Wh at 's t he n am e o f i t? "

U ne xp ec te dl y o ne o f t he w or ke rs o n a l ad de r s to pp ed h is t as k o f h am me ri ng

t og et he r a b it o f f ra me wo rk f or t he s ce ne ry a nd r ep li ed t o S ha gg y' s

que st ion: " That w e w on't know unt il t he c ur ta in goe s up t onight . T onight 's

t he F ir st N ig ht o f t hi s n ew p la y, a nd I s ha ll b e i n c ha rg e. " T he f el lo w

a dd ed i mp re ss iv el y, " Fo r I a m t he F ir st K ni gh t o f t he R ea lm , y ou k no w. "

" No ," r ep li ed t he S ha gg y M an , " I d id n' t k no w. " S ha gg y w as a l it tl e a ng ry ,

fo r h e t ho ug ht t he ma n wa s ma ki ng f un o f h im.

"O h y es ," Q ue en C ur ta in w en t o n p la ci dl y. " He i s t he F ir st K ni gh t o f t he

Re al m C4 i n f ac t, a ll t he se p eo pl e a re L or ds a nd L ad ie s o f t he R oy al

Theater."

" An d d o y ou a lw ay s b ui ld y ou r o wn s ce ne ry a nd m ak e y ou r o wn c os tu me s? " a sk ed

t he S ha ggy M an.

K in g T ic ke t s hi ft ed u ne as il y o n h is t hr on e. " Ye s, a nd i t a lw ay s s ee ms t o

t urn out r ath er b adl y. I s up po se al l we wer e rea lly mea nt to do was t o

e nj oy t he m agni fi ce nt per form ance s on t he s ta ge . A nd," t he K ing bri ghte ne d,

" th at is a ll we tr ul y h ave an y d es ir e t o d o. Tha t i s a fu ll l if e fo r u s a nd





q ui te e no ug h C 4 t o s it i n t he t he at er a nd w at ch g re at d ra ma u nf ol d. W ha t

n ee d h av e we f or a ny li ve s o f o ur o wn wh en th e s tag e i s a wo rl d i n i ts elf

a nd t he re in w e a re c on te nt t o d we ll ?" T he K in g' s v oi ce g en tl y s ub si de d t o a

w hi sp er , a nd h is e ye s s ta re d d re am il y i nt o s pa ce .

Q ue en C ur ta in t oo k u p t he s to ry . " Du ri ng t he p er fo rm an ce s L or d P ro ps a nd

L ad y C ue h el p t he a ct or s, a lt ho ug h n on e t oo we ll , I m us t a dm it . L or d Pr op s

s el do m g et s t hi ng s r ig ht : w he n a g un sh ot i s c al le d f or , t he re i s v er y

l ik el y t o b e a b el l ri ng in g. On ce w he n th e s ce ne r eq uir ed a b ow l o f

g ol df is h, L or d P ro ps a ct ua ll y m an ag ed t o c ra m a w ho le l iv e l ob st er i nt o a

s ou p t ur ee n. L ad y C ue s d oe s, h ow ev er , m an ag e t o d o a b it b et te r w it h h er

c ue s. S he i s s el do m m or e t ha n t wo l in es b eh in d t he a ct or s. "

" H ow l on g d o y ou r p la ys r un ?" a sk ed S ha gg y.

" Ni gh t a ft er n ig ht a ft er g lo ri ou s n ig ht f or y ea rs a nd y ea rs a nd y ea rs C 4

s om et im es a s l on g a s w e c an r em em be r t he re h as b ee n t he s am e w on de rf ul p la y

f or u s t o s ee o n t he s ta ge a t n ig ht ," s ai d t he K in g, wh o h ad a wa ke ne d f ro m

his dream.

"An d wh at d o y ou d o t he re st o f t he t ime ?" q ue ri ed t he Sh ag gy Ma n.

" Nothing C 4 not hi ng but s le ep," a ns we re d K ing T ic ke t. " Why s houl d w e? W e

h av e t he g lo ri ou s s ta ge f or o ur l iv es ." T he K in g l oo ke d a bo ut h im a t t he

w o rk g oi ng o n.

" Wh o a re y ou r a ct or s? " a sk ed T om .

F or a m om en t, K in g T ic ke t s ee me d e mb ar ra ss ed . T he n h e r ep li ed v ag ue ly w it h a

w av e o f h is h an d a s i f t o d is mi ss t he m at te r a s o f l it tl e i mp or ta nc e. " Oh ,

j us t a ct or s C 4 y ou k no w, t he u su al t hi ng , l ea di ng m an , l ea di ng l ad y,

villain, comedian, and so forth."

" Co me ," s ai d t he S ha gg y M an , " we 'r e w as ti ng t im e h er e. W e s ho ul d b e o n o ur





way if we eve r h ope to r each t he La nd of Oz."

Qu ee n C ur ta in l oo ke d u p. " Yo u w on 't s ta y f or d in ne r a nd t he t he at er ?"

" No t ha nk y ou ," r ep li ed Sh ag gy . " We h av e a l on g jo ur ne y a he ad o f u s, a nd we

r ea ll y m us t b e g oi ng o n o ur w ay n ow ." Wi th t hi s, S ha gg y a nd h is f ri en ds

w al ke d u p t he a is le t ow ar d t he d oo r b y wh ic h t he y h ad e nt er ed t he t he at er .

K in g T ic ke t h ad b ee n s ta ri ng i nt en tl y a t t he S ha gg y M an , a nd n ow h e

w hi sp er ed s om et hi ng i n a l ow v oi ce t o Q ue en C ur ta in . T he Q ue en c on si de re d

f or a mo me nt a nd t he n n od de d h er h ea d. Tw in k a nd To m, wh o we re d ir ec tl y

b eh in d t he S ha gg y M an , s to pp ed a nd s ta re d a t e ac h o th er . T he y we re o nl y

h al fwa y u p t he a is le . Th e Sh ag gy M an h ad b ee n o nl y a s te p a he ad o f t he m.

N ow h e w as g on e C 4 v an is he d c om pl et el y!

C H AP TE R 10

L AD Y C UE

T wi nk a nd T om w er e utt er ly bew il de re d a t t he ir f ri end' s dis appea ra nc e. T he y

d id n' t k no w w ha t t o d o n ex t. T wi ff le t ur ne d t o K in g T ic ke t a nd Q ue en

C ur ta in o n t he s ta ge a nd d em an de d, " Wh er e i s t he S ha gg y M an ?"

Ki ng T ic ke t l ooke d up i nnoc entl y. " Why, has he gone s om ew he re ?"

" Ce rt ai nl y he has gone s om ew he re ," s ai d T wi ff le , w ho w as bec om ing a ngry.

" An d y ou h ad b et te r t el l u s wh er e. Do n' t f or ge t t ha t t he S ha gg y M an i s a n

i mp or ta nt p er so na ge o f t he La nd o f O z. I f a ny th in g h ap pe ns t o h im, y ou w il l

be s orr y."

"P oo h! " s ni ff ed K in g T ic ke t. " We k no w a ll a bo ut t he La nd o f Oz a nd i ts s il ly

g ir l r ul er , O zm a. B ut y ou r f am ou s S ha gg y M an h ad n ot e ve n h ea rd o f t he

Va ll ey o f Ro ma nc e. W ha t c an a ny on e i n Oz d o? T he y d on 't e ve n k no w o f o ur





existence."

"I w ou ld n' t b e t oo s ur e o f t ha t, " d ec la re d T wi ff le w it h m or e c ou ra ge t ha n h e

felt.

"Anyway," continued King Ticket musingly, "the Land of Oz is vastly

ov er ra te d. W hy , a s f ar a s I k no w, t he re i sn 't a s in gl e t he at er i n a ll t he

country!"

" And s o, " began Q ue en C ur ta in qui et ly, " why don't you c hi ldre n j us t m ake

your se lves c om fort able unt il dinne r t im e? T he n you m ay j oi n us f or t he

m ea l, a nd a ft er wa rd s y ou s ha ll b e o ur g ue st s i n t he R oy al B ox t o w it ne ss

t he p er fo rm an ce o f o ur n ew p la y. "

T wi ff le w as a ro us ed n ow . H e c li mb ed r ig ht u p o n t he a rm o f K in g T ic ke t' s

ch ai r. "W e d on 't wa nt y ou r d in ne r. We d on 't wa nt t o s ee y ou r p la y. A ll we

w an t i s t he S ha gg y M an , a nd t he n w e s ha ll c on ti nu e o ur j ou rn ey ."

"Tut, tut," admonished King Ticket. "What a violent disposition the little

puppet has."

" I a m a fr ai d, " s ai d Q ue en C ur ta in , " th at y ou r ea ll y h av e n o c ho ic e. Y ou m us t

s ta y h er e u nt il we a re r ea dy f or y ou t o d ep ar t. A ft er a ll , y ou c am e o f y ou r

o w n a cc or d, y ou k no w. "

Twiffle was sile nt. He wa s a t a lo ss to kn ow what to s ay or do . Twink a nd

T om f el t s ud de nl y a lo ne a nd a l it tl e b it f ri gh te ne d n ow t ha t t he S ha gg y M an

w as g on e. E ve n i n t he b ri ef t im e t he y h ad k no wn h im , t he y h ad g ro wn v er y

fo nd o f h im a nd h ad c om e t o r el y u po n h im . S ee in g t hi s, Tw if fl e r et ur ne d t o

s ta nd b y t he c hi ld re n a nd s ai d, " Ne ve r y ou m in d. W e' ll f in d t he S ha gg y M an

a ll r ig ht . P er ha ps i t w ou ld b e w is e t o r em ai n h er e t on ig ht a s t he se p eo pl e

wish us to do. That will give us a chance to find out what they have done

with Shaggy."





Th is wa s s ai d i n a wh is pe r, t o wh ic h To m a ns we re d, " We ll , I c ou ld e nj oy a

g oo d m ea l. W e h av en 't h ad a ny th in g t o e at b ut f ru it s in ce y es te rd ay ."

A ct ua ll y, To m wa s a s w or ri ed a bo ut Sh ag gy a s Twi nk , b ut b ei ng a b oy , h e

d id n' t wa nt t o le t t he g ir l kn ow .

T wi nk w as i nd ig na nt . " I' m s ur pr is ed a t y ou , T om ! T he i de a o f t al ki ng a bo ut

f o od w he n w e' ve j us t l os t o ur b es t f ri en d! B ut I s up po se T wi ff le i s r ig ht ."

" Go od !" s ai d K in g T ic ke t. " Th en t ha t i s s et tl ed , a nd y ou w il l b e w it h u s f or

di nner a nd t he t he at er !"

" Gosh!" e xc la im ed T om . " Do you s uppose he hea rd e ve rything w e s ai d? "

" I don't have a ny doubt of i t, " r epli ed T wi ff le c al ml y. " Ther ef or e w e m ight

a s w el l c onve rs e i n our ordinar y voi ce s. "

" Yo u w er e i nd ee d f or tu na te t o h av e a rr iv ed j us t i n t im e f or t he o pe ni ng

n ig ht o f o ur n ew p la y, " s ai d Q ue en Cu rt ai n p le as an tl y. " I a m s ur e y ou w il l

e nj oy i t i mm ense ly. T el l m e, have you c hi ldre n s ee n m any pla ys ?"

" Oh y es ," r ep li ed To m, " we h av e s ee n l ot s o f o ur s ch oo l p la ys , a nd l as t

C hr is tm as T wi nk a nd I had i mpor ta nt par ts i n t he C hr is tm as pagea nt ."

"Well, then, you will certainly enjoy yourselves tonight," said the Queen,

s mi li ng happi ly a t t he c hi ldre n. " We w il l w or k onl y a bout a n hour m or e.

T he n e ve rything w il l be i n r ea di ne ss . T ha t w il l give us ple nt y of t im e t o

t id y u p, d re ss i n o ur f in es t, a nd e nj oy t he d in ne r a nd t he p la y t o t he

utmost."

T he hour pas se d s wi ft ly. T he c hi ldre n a ppar entl y w er e e ngross ed i n t he w or k

goi ng on on t he s ta ge , but a ct ua ll y t he ir t hought s w er e bus y puz zl ing ove r

t he m ys te ry o f wh at h ad h ap pe ne d t o t he S ha gg y M an .

" La dy C ue w il l s how you t o your r ooms , c hi ldre n, " a nnounc ed Q ue en C ur ta in,





r is in g f ro m h er t hr on e. T he L or ds a nd L ad ie s w er e p ut ti ng a wa y t he ir t oo ls

a nd s ew ing. A t al l, t hi n, w or ri ed-l ooki ng w om an, s ew ing bas ke t on her a rm ,

s te pp ed d ow n a s ho rt f li gh t o f s ta ir s f ro m t he s ta ge a nd s mi le d r at he r

a bs ent- mi ndedly a t T wi nk a nd T om . " You w il l c om e w it h m e, I t hi nk?" s he

said hesitantly.

T wi nk a nd T om l oo ke d a t T wi ff le , w ho n od de d, a nd a ll t hr ee f ol lo we d t he t al l

l ady, w ho w as proce eding unce rt ai nl y up t he a is le . O ut si de t he t he at er ,

L ad y C ue l ed T wi ff le a nd t he c hi ld re n u p a b ro ad s ta ir ca se l ea di ng t o t he

s ec on d f lo or o f t he c as tl e. H er e t he re w as a l on g c or ri do r, w it h s ma ll er

c or ri dors l ea di ng off of i t, e ac h w it h m any doors ope ni ng i nt o var ious

s ui te s a nd r oo ms . La dy Cu e h ad a dv an ce d o nl y a s ho rt d is ta nc e d own t he m ai n

c or ri do r w he n s he s to pp ed u nc er ta in ly b ef or e a d oo r a nd t ur ne d t o h er

c ha rg es . "Th is i s a do or ," s he sa id, "b ut d o y ou th ink i t is t he r ig ht

one?"

" I' m s ur e w e w ouldn' t know, M adam e, " r epli ed T wi ff le . " Af te r a ll , you l ive

i n t hi s c as tl e a nd s ho ul d k no w a ll a bo ut i t. "

La dy C ue s ig he d. " Of c ou rs e, o f c ou rs e. I f or go t f or t he mo me nt t ha t y ou a re

t he s tr an ge rs . We ll , w e s ha ll h av e t o d o o ur b es t t o f in d t he r ig ht d oo r."

" Ha ve n' t y ou b ee n i n a ny o f t he se r oo ms ?" a sk ed T om c ur io us ly .

"$ $I n& & t he m? " a sk ed L ad y C ue v ag ue ly . " Oh , I m us t h av e, s in ce I l iv e h er e,

y ou k now. Once in side th e roo ms I am sure I would be a ble to find my way

w it h n o t ro ub le . B ut o ut si de t he m i t i s m os t c on fu si ng . H ow i s o ne t o k no w

w ha t i s $ $i ns id e& & w he n o ne i s $ $o ut si de ?& &" L ad y C ue l oo ke d a t t he m

b es ee ch in gl y a nd w an de re d d ow n t he c or ri do r t o a no th er d oo r e xa ct ly l ik e

t he o ne s he h ad j us t l ef t. Sh e s ta re d a t t hi s o ne f or s ev er al mi nu te s, th en

b ol dl y o pe ne d i t a c ra ck a nd p ee re d i n. " Oh g oo dn es s! I b eg y ou r p ar do n, "





s h e s ai d t o s om eo ne i n t he r oo m, h as ti ly c lo si ng t he d oo r. " We ll ," s he

s ai d, "t ha t' s o ne t ha t is n' t t he o ne . Th e Fi rs t Kn igh t o f th e Re alm is i n

there pressing his breeches for tonight's performance."

" Th e F ir st K ni gh t o f t he R ea lm p re ss es h is o wn c lo th es ?" a sk ed T wi nk .

" He d oe s, h e d oe s, " a ss er te d L ad y Cu e, wa gg in g h er h ea d. " I d id i t f or h im

o nc e, b ut s om eh ow t he c re as es r an z ig za g, a nd h e l oo ke d l ik e h e w as

c or ruga te d. I t i s m y opi ni on, t hough, " L ady C ue a dded i n a c onfi de nt ia l

w hi sp er , " th at h e w ea rs a p oo r q ua li ty g ar me nt ." L ad y C ue t ur ne d a nd

s ta rt ed o ff d ow n o ne o f t he s ma ll er c or ri do rs . T wi nk , T om a nd T wi ff le

f ol lo we d h er , a t w hi ch La dy C ue s to pp ed a nd l oo ke d a t t he m wi th a p uz zl ed

e xp re ss io n. " Di d y ou w is h t o s ee m e? " s he a sk ed .

" You w er e t aking us t o our r ooms ," r em inde d T wi ff le .

" I w as ?" e xc la im ed L ady C ue , gre at ly s ur pr is ed. " We ll , t he n you j us t s how m e

where yo ur rooms are, an d I wi ll b e g lad to take you to the m."

" Bu t y ou w er e s up po se d t o s ho w $ $u s&& t o o ur r oo ms ," s ai d T om .

" I w as ? O h d ea r, t hi s i s c on fu si ng ," s ai d L ad y C ue .

"H av e y ou n o i de a w he re o ur r oo ms a re , M ad am e? " a sk ed T wi ff le .

" I wo ul dn 't s ay t ha t," r ep li ed L ad y Cu e. " I d id h av e a v er y g oo d i de a, b ut

i t s ee ms I m is la id i t s om ew he re . T he re a re s o v er y m an y r oo ms , y ou k no w,

a nd a ny on e o f th em mi gh t b e y ou rs , i f on ly th er e wer en 't s o ma ny o th er

p eo pl e i n t he c as tl e. T ha t' s wh at we m us t b e c ar ef ul a bo ut , y ou k no w. I

d on 't t hi nk y ou w ou ld w an t t o s ha re r oo ms w it h s om eo ne e ls e, w ou ld y ou ,

maybe?"

A ll t he t im e t he y w er e w an de ri ng f ro m c or ri do r t o c or ri do r w hi le L ad y C ue

b e ca me m or e a nd m or e u ns ur e o f h er b ea ri ng s. A t l as t s he s to pp ed a nd s ai d





h op el es sl y, " Yo u' ll h av e t o p ar do n m e, m y f ri en ds , b ut I a m a fr ai d I a m

l os t. I h av en 't t he f ai nt es t i de a w he re w e a re ."

" W ha t s ha ll w e d o? " a sk ed T wi nk .

" I h av e i t, " s ai d L ad y C ue . " I w il l p in m y h an dk er ch ie f t o t hi s d oo r, " a nd

s he i nd ic at ed a d oo r o pp os it e t he m, " so t ha t w e c an 't g et m or e l os t.

W he ne ve r w e p as s t hi s d oo r w it h t he h an dk er ch ie f o n i t, w e w il l k no w

e xac tl y w he re w e a re ."

" A nd w he re w il l t ha t be? " a sked T wi ff le .

" Wh y, w he re t he h an dk er ch ie f i s, o f c ou rs e, " r ep li ed L ad y C ue . W it h t ha t,

L ad y C ue r ea ch ed i n h er p oc ke t a nd p ul le d o ut a l ar ge l in en n ap ki n t ha t

b or e t ra ce s o f f oo d o n i t. " Oh d ea r," s he e xc la im ed . " I s ee m t o h av e p ic ke d

t hi s u p a t l un ch eo n. Ho w t ho ug ht le ss o f me ." S he a dv an ce d t o t he d oo r a nd ,

r em oving a l ar ge s af et y pin f rom t he f ront of her dre ss , c ar ef ul ly pinne d

th e n ap ki n t o t he d oo r.

" Whos e r oom s a re t he se ?" a s ke d T wi ff le .

" I haven't t he f ai nt es t i de a, " r epli ed L ady C ue .

" Wh y n ot o pe n t he d oo r a nd f in d o ut ?" p ur su ed T wi ff le .

" Wh y n ot ?" e ch oe d L ad y C ue a s s he t ur ne d t he k no b a nd p us he d o pe n t he d oo r.

T he y a ll s te pp ed i ns id e. Th er e wa s n o s ig n o f a ny o cc up an ts o f t he r oo m.

T he c lo se ts w er e a ll e mp ty , a nd t he re w er e n o p er so na l a rt ic le s a bo ut . T he

suite consisted of a large, beautifully furnished living room with doors

le a di ng t o t wo c om fort able be dr ooms w it h bat hs .

" Wh y c an 't w e u se t he se r oo ms ?" a sk ed T wi ff le .

" Wh at a w on de rf ul i de a, " e xc la im ed L ad y C ue . " Th en w e w on 't h av e t o h un t a ny

l on ge r f or y ou r r oo ms , b ec au se t he se wi ll b e y ou r r oo ms . Bu t a re y ou s ur e

i t' s a ll r ig ht ? I t s ou nd s m uc h t oo s im pl e. " A nd w it h a w or ri ed l oo k, t he







h im , o r s he m ig ht h av e b ec ome e ve n m or e c on fu se d. S he wa s a lr ea dy o n h er

w ay t hr ou gh t he c or ri do rs , s o t he c hi ld re n a nd t he c lo wn f ol lo we d h er .

A ft er s ever al f al se s ta rt s a nd w ande ri ng t hr ough a number of c or ri dors ,

t he y f inal ly f ound t he ir w ay t o t he gre at s ta ir ca se .

C H AP TE R 11

WH AT H AP PE NE D T O S HA GG Y

T he G ra nd D ining R oom of t he c as tl e w as bri ll ia nt ly l ight ed by t hr ee huge

c ryst al c ha ndel ie rs . E ac h of t he c ha ndel ie rs f la me d w it h m or e t ha n a s core

of tapering lights which were reflected shimmeringly in the alabaster

c ei li ng a nd w al ls . A s s oon a s T wi nk, T om a nd T wi ff le e nt er ed t he dining

r oo m, t he y w er e e sp ie d b y Q ue en C ur ta in , w ho m ot io ne d t he m t o s ea t

t he ms el ve s a t h er r ig ht . Q ue en C ur ta in a nd K in g T ic ke t o cc up ie d t he h ea d o f

th e t ab le . T he L or ds a nd La di es o f t he C as tl e w er e f il in g i nt o t he d in in g

r oom, c ha tt er ing s pi ri te dl y, a nd a ll hands om el y gow ne d a nd gar be d. I n a f ew

m in ut es a ll w er e s ea te d. T he re w er e a f ew c ur io us g la nc es a t t he t hr ee

s tr an ge rs a t t he t ab le , b ut f or t he m os t p ar t t he Lo rd s a nd L ad ie s o f t he

V al le y o f R oma nc e we re f ar t oo e xc it ed o ve r t he p la y t he y we re t o w it ne ss

t ha t e ve ni ng t o g iv e m or e t ha n a p as si ng g la nc e t o t he c hi ld re n a nd t he

little clown.

T he m ea l pas se d t hr ough m any del ic ious a nd e la bora te c ours es w it h no

incidents. Queen Curtain played the charming host, occasionally tossing

p le as an t r em ar ks t o t he c hi ld re n a nd T wi ff le . P oo r L ad y C ue p ut s al t i n h er

t ea i ns te ad o f s ug ar , b ut s he d ra nk t he e nt ir e c up w it ho ut s ee mi ng t o

not ic e her m is ta ke . " Pe rhaps s he r ea ll y l ikes i t t ha t w ay," T wi nk w hi sper ed

t o T om .





At t he e nd o f t he m ea l, K in g Ti ck et r os e a nd a dd re ss ed t he a ss em bl ag e

s ol em nl y. " Th e m om en t h as c om e f or w hi ch w e h av e p re pa re d t he se m an y d ay s.

W e wi ll n ow p as s i nt o t he t he ate r f or t he f ir st p erf or ma nc e o f t he n ew

p la y. " N o o ne s po ke . T hi s a pp ar en tl y w as a n i mp or ta nt m om en t. T he o nl y

s ou nd i n t he v as t d in in g r oo m w as t he r us tl in g o f t he l ad ie s' s ki rt s a nd

t he p at te r o f f oo ts te ps o n t he a la ba st er f lo or .

Q u ee n C ur ta in t oo k T wi nk b y t he h an d, a nd T om a nd T wi ff le f ol lo we d i nt o t he

t he at er . I t w as bri ll ia nt ly l ight ed a s t he L or ds a nd L adie s s et tl ed i nt o

th ei r s ea ts . A f ew o f t he m h ur ri ed b ac ks ta ge C 4 t he y w er e t he o ne s w ho

wo rk ed t he s ce ne ry a nd o th er wi se a id ed i n t he p re se nt at io n o f t he p la y.

Tw ink, T om a nd T wi ff le f ound t he ms el ve s s ea te d i n t he R oyal B ox w it h K ing

T ic ke t a nd Q ue en C ur ta in. T he house li ghts dim me d, t he c ur ta ins w ent up, a nd

w it h no pre li mi na ri es t he pla y w as under w ay.

T wo a ct or s w al ke d w oo de nl y f or wa rd o n t he s ta ge . T he y w er e d re ss ed i n w ha t

T wi nk a nd T om c ou ld t el l w as s up po se d t o b e a rm or , b ut w as o bv io us ly

k it ch en u te ns il s s tr un g t og et he r a nd a bo ut t o f al l o ff . F ro m t he w or ds t he y

we re s ay in g, t he t wo k ni gh ts s ee me d t o b e g et ti ng v er y a ng ry w it h o ne

a no th er . B ut t he y l oo ke d a t t he a ud ie nc e i ns te ad o f l oo ki ng a t e ac h o th er ,

a nd s po ke t he ir l in es i n a d az ed , u ne xc it ed w ay a s t ho ug h t he y w er e t al ki ng

in t he ir s le ep . I mp os si bl e a s i t s ee me d f ro m t he ir l ac k o f a ct io n, i t

b ec ame a pp ar en t t ha t t he y we re s o e nr ag ed t he y h ad d ec id ed t o f ig ht o ut i n

a t ou rn am en t t he ir q ua rr el o ve r a l ad y. O h y es , t he re s he w as a t t he s id e

o f t he s ta ge , p ay in g n o a tt en ti on a t a ll t o t he k ni gh ts .

T he t ou rn am en t s ce ne c am e n ex t. T he k ni gh ts i n t he ir p ot s a nd p an s w er e

m ou nt ed o n e xt ra or di na ry h or se s. E ac h w as m ad e u p o f t wo m en c ov er ed w it h





t uf te d c an dl ew ic k b ed sp re ad s. T he y t oo m ov ed a bo ut t he s ta ge i n a s lo w a nd

s le ep y wa y. Th e l ad y w ho h ad i ns pi re d t he f ig ht l oo ke d o n fr om h er b ox s ea t

a t t he s id e o f t he s ta ge , w av in g h er h an dk er ch ie f. B ut i t h ad s li pp ed h er

m in d a pp ar en tl y t ha t i t w as t he t ou rn am en t s he w as w at ch in g, a nd s he l oo ke d

s t ra ight a t t he a udie nc e a nd l is tl es sl y w aved her handker chie f a s i f t rying

to a tt ra ct t he a tt en ti on o f a ny on e wh o mi gh t c ar e t o wa ve b ac k a t h er .

W h en t he k ni gh ts s up po se dl y r us he d t he ir h or se s a t e ac h o th er a nd a im ed

t he ir s pe ar s, t he s te ed s a mb le d s lo wl y i n o pp os it e d ir ec ti on s s o f ar a pa rt

t ha t the y se emed n ot t o be a wa re o f eac h ot he r at al l. Wh en th ey did

fi na ll y g et t og et he r, t he h or se o f t he k ni gh t w ho w as t o b e w in ne r s li pp ed

a nd f el l d own , a nd t he b ed sp re ad s li d t o t he f lo or . Th e h or se a nd t he

k ni gh t wh o w as t o b e v ic to ri ou s h ad t o b e r e- as se mb le d b ef or e h e c ou ld

t ri um ph ove r his vic ti m, w ho had bee n w at ching him pic k him se lf up off t he

floor.

T wi nk a nd To m h ad t o c la p t he ir h an ds o ve r t he ir mo uth s t o k ee p f ro m

b ur st in g o ut w it h l au gh te r. T he y d id t hi s b ec au se i t w as a pp ar en t t ha t K in g

T ic ke t, Q ue en C ur ta in a nd t he L or ds a nd L ad ie s t oo k t he p la y q ui te

seriously. Indeed, they were wildly enthusiastic. Throughout the entire

p la y t he s ce ne ry k ep t t op pl in g o ve r. L or d P ro ps p ro vi de d t he w ro ng s ou nd

e ff ec ts a nd s ta ge f ur ni tu re a t e ve ry o pp or tu ni ty , a nd L ad y C ue b ec am e s o

i nt er es te d i n a b oo k o f p oe tr y t ha t s he r ea d f ro m t hi s i ns te ad o f g iv in g

t h e a ct or s a nd a ct re ss es t he ir p ro pe r l in es .

T w in k a nd To m t ho ug ht i t s tr an ge t ha t t he p eo pl e o n t he s ta ge s ho ul d m um bl e

t he ir l in es s o b ad ly a nd b eh av e a lt og et he r a s t ho ug h t he y w er e o nl y h al f

a wa ke a nd w er e m ov in g b y c lo ck wo rk . A ct a ft er a ct c on ti nu ed i n t hi s

f as hi on . B ut t he a ud ie nc e s aw o nl y t he d ra ma a s i t w as i nt en de d. T he Q ue en





a nd t he L adie s w ept ope nl y, a pplying del ic at e l ac e handker chie fs t o t he ir

e ye s. K ing T ic ke t a nd t he L or ds , bei ng m en, c onte nt ed t he ms el ve s w it h

br us hi ng a wa y a f ur ti ve t ea r a nd r epea te dl y blowi ng t he ir nos es l oudl y i n

their spotless white linen kerchiefs.

"Magnificent!" exclaimed King Ticket.

"Glorious!" proclaimed Queen Curtain through her tears. "This play will run

f o r y ea rs . I t i s o ne o f t he g re at es t r om an ce s w e h av e e ve r s ta ge d! "

" Roma nc e! " s ighe d K ing T ic ke t. " Ah, s ubli me r om ance . T he re i s not hi ng i n t he

world so touching and beautiful!"

I t w as n ea r t he e nd o f t he l as t a ct . Twi nk a nd T om w er e n od di ng . S ud de nl y a

n ew a ct or a pp ea re d u po n t he s ta ge . T wi nk 's h al f- sh ut e ye s f le w o pe n. S he

g r as pe d T om b y t he a rm s a nd s ho ok h im a wa ke . T wi ff le l ea ne d f or wa rd ,

h old ing on t o the rai l o f t he box . None o f th em s aid a wo rd. For a few

s ec onds t he y m er el y s ta re d unbel ie vi ngly. T he new c ha ra ct er w ho had c om e on

t he s ta ge a nd w as e ve n t he n m um bl in g h is l in es i n a me ch an ic al v oi ce w as

t he S ha ggy M an!

C H AP TE R 12

A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE

A t t he s ig ht o f t he S ha gg y M an o n t he s ta ge , T wi nk c ou ld n' t c on ta in h er se lf .

S he l ea ne d f ar o ut o f t he b ox a nd c al le d, " Sh ag gy M an ! He re w e a re . I t' s

Tom, Twiffle and Twink!"

I f t he Sh ag gy Ma n h ea rd , h e g av e n o i nd ic at io n o f i t. Hi s e ye s s ta re d

s tr ai gh t a he ad o f h im , a nd h e m um bl ed t he w or ds o f h is l in es a s t ho ug h h e

w er e s pe ak in g i n a d re am i n w hi ch h e w as o nl y h al f a wa ke . B ut K in g T ic ke t





a nd Q ue en C ur ta in a s w el l a s t he a ud ie nc e o f Lo rd s a nd La di es h ea rd . A w av e

of a nnoyed " Ss hhhhhs " a rose f rom t he a udie nc e, w hi le Q ue en C ur ta in gra bbed

T wi nk b y t he a rm , p ul li ng h er b ac k i nt o h er s ea t a nd s ay in g a ng ri ly , " Ho w

d ar e y ou i nt er ru pt t he p la y? F or t ha t y ou s ha ll j oi n y ou r p re ci ou s S ha gg y

M an on t he s ta ge t om or row night ."

T om s ta rt ed f rom his s ea t i ndigna nt ly a t t he Q ue en's t hr ea te ni ng w or ds , but

Twiffle, who looked worried, pulled him back. The three unwilling playgoers

f el l i nt o a n u ne as y s il en ce . A f ew m om en ts l at er t he c ur ta in c am e d ow n w it h

a c ra sh a nd t he p la y wa s o ve r. " De ar , d ea r m e, " r ema rk ed K in g t ic ke t.

" Th er e g o t he c ur ta in r op es a ga in . W e s ha ll h av e t o r ep ai r t he m t om or ro w. "

Q ue en C ur ta in t ur ne d t o T wi ff le a nd t he c hi ld re n. " Go t o y ou r r oo ms

i mm ed ia te ly ," s he o rd er ed s te rn ly . " Yo u k no w w he re t he y a re . D on 't t ry t o

e sc ap e. T ha t i s i mp os si bl e. A ll t he d oo rs l ea di ng o ut o f t he c as tl e a re

s ec ur el y l oc ke d. A nd a s f or y ou ," s he s ai d, s ho ot in g T wi nk a n a ng ry g la nc e,

" yo u wi ll b e t ak en c ar e o f t om or ro w. No w b e g on e, a ll o f y ou !"

T w ink s hi ve re d. T om t ook her hand, a nd w it h T wi ff le f ol lowi ng t he y m ade

t he ir w ay o ut o f t he t he at er t o t he ir r oo ms . T he y p as se d u nn ot ic ed t hr ou gh

t he L or ds a nd L adie s, w ho w er e noi si ly dis cuss ing t he pla y, e xc la im ing ove r

i ts e xc el le nc e a nd l oo ki ng f or wa rd t o t he n ex t n ig ht 's p er fo rm an ce C 4 o f

t h e s am e p la y.

A s s oo n a s t he y w er e i n t he ir ro oms , Twi ff le q ui ck ly c lo se d t he d oo r a nd

s il entl y m ot ione d t he c hi ldre n t o his s ide. T he l it tl e c lown w as pla inly

exci te d. " Li st en," he w hi sper ed t o t he c hi ldre n. " I bel ie ve I have f igur ed

o ut wha t has h ap pe ned t o th e Sh agg y Man a nd a ll the r est o f the acto rs a nd

a ct re ss es , f or t ha t m at te r. T he y h av e b ee n e nc ha nt ed . K in g T ic ke t a nd Q ue en

C ur ta in h av e ca st so me k in d o f sp el l u po n t hem so t ha t th ey a re o nl y ha lf





a wa ke . T he o nl y e xi st en ce t he y h av e i s t he ir d re am li ke l if e o n t he s ta ge a s

t he y g o t hr ou gh t he ir p ar ts i n t he p la y. "

" I s ee ," nodde d T wi nk. " I bel ie ve you'r e r ight . O ther wi se S ha ggy w ould

su re ly h av e a ns we re d w he n I c al le d t o h im f ro m t he b ox ."

"Of course," said Twiffle.

" Th en y ou d on 't t hi nk ," s ur mi se d T om , " th at a ny o f t he a ct or s a nd a ct re ss es

a re L or ds a nd La di es o f t he c as tl e? "

" No t a b it o f i t," s ta te d Tw if fl e f ir ml y. " It i s m y b el ie f t ha t t he y a re

peopl e f rom a dj oi ni ng c ount ri es w ho, l ike our se lves , have w ande re d

unw it ti ngly i nt o t he c as tl e a nd have bee n e nc ha nt ed f or t he ple as ur e of

K in g T ic ke t, Q ue en C ur ta in a nd t he L or ds a nd L ad ie s w ho h av e a lw ay s l iv ed

there."

" You m us t be r ight ," m ur mure d T wi nk, r ec al li ng how K ing T ic ke t had brushed

a si de t he ir q ue st io n a s t o t he i de nt it y o f t he a ct or s a nd a ct re ss es .

" Of c ours e I a m r ight ," a ss er te d T wi ff le . " It i s t he onl y s ol ut ion t ha t

a ns we rs a ll t he q ue st io ns . W ha t we mu st d o n ow i s f in d a w ay t o r es cu e t he

Sh ag gy M an t on ig ht b ef or e K in g T ic ke t a nd Q ue en C ur ta in h av e a c ha nc e t o

c as t t he ir dis gust ing old s pe ll on T wi nk t om or row. "

" Th en l et 's g et s ta rt ed ," s ai d T om . " Wh at d o w e d o, T wi ff le ?"

" Nothing now ," r epli ed T wi ff le . " We m us t w ai t unt il e ve ryone i n t he c as tl e

i s a sl ee p. On ly t he n wi ll i t b e s afe f or u s t o a ct ."

Twi nk a nd To m t ri ed t o b e ca lm d ur ing th e n ex t h ou r a s t hey di sc uss ed wi th

T wi ff le t he ir c ha nc es of r es cuing t he S ha ggy M an a nd m aking a n e sc ape f rom

t he c as tl e. A t l as t T wi ff le w en t q ui et ly t o t he d oo r a nd s lo wl y o pe ne d i t,

p ee ri ng u p a nd d ow n t he h al l c or ri do r. T he e nt ir e c as tl e s ee me d t o b e





w ra pp ed i n d ee p s il en ce . T he re w as n ot a s ou nd . " Co me ," w hi sp er ed T wi ff le .

"I b el ie ve i t i s s af e t o p ro ce ed n ow. Ev er yo ne s ee ms t o b e a sl ee p. Y ou m us t

wa lk o n y ou r t ip to es s o y ou r s te ps w on 't b e h ea rd ."

"Where are we going, Twiffle?" whispered Tom.

" To t he t he ate r a nd th en b ac ks ta ge . T ha t i s wh er e I a m a lmo st s ur e we wi ll

f in d t he S ha gg y M an a nd a ll t he r es t o f t he u nf or tu na te a ct or s a nd

a ct re ss es ." T he l ig ht s o f t he c as tl e w er e d im me d t o a s of t g lo w, b ut t hi s

w as e no ug h f or t he a dv en tu re rs t o f in d t he ir w ay t o t he t he at er w it h n o

t rouble . H er e t he s am e s of t l ight glowe d, f il li ng t he t he at er w it h a t hi n,

ghostly luminescence.

T wi ff le q ui ck ly l ed t he wa y d own t he a is le , t he n u p t he s ma ll f li gh t o f

st ai rs t o t he s ta ge . B ec koni ng t he c hi ldre n t o f ol low him , T wi ff le dar te d

t hr ou gh t he w in gs t o t he b ac k o f t he s ta ge . H er e a n a ma zi ng s ig ht g re et ed

t he m. L in ed u p i n t wo r ow s l ik e s ol di er s o n a d ri ll f ie ld w er e a bo ut f if ty

m en , w om en a nd c hi ld re n. S om e o f t he m T wi nk a nd To m r ec al le d h av in g s ee n o n

t he s ta ge e ar li er t ha t e ve ni ng. T he y r ange d i n a ge f rom s ma ll c hi ldre n t o

e ld er ly m en a nd w om en . T he y s to od s ti ff ly , a s t ho ug h t he y w er e a t

a tt enti on. T he ir e ye s w er e t ight s hut. S o s ti ll w er e t he se f igur es t ha t

T wi nk c ou ld n' t t el l w he th er o r n ot t he y w er e b re at hi ng . I n t he f ro nt r ow

s to od t he S ha gg y M an .

" Ever y t ype f or e ve ry par t, " m ut te re d T wi ff le t o him se lf . T he n, t ur ni ng t o

t he c hi ld re n, h e w hi sp er ed , " He re t he y a re , j us t a s I s us pe ct ed , t he

unf or tuna te vic ti ms of K ing T ic ke t a nd Q ue en C ur ta in. T he y have no m or e

li fe t ha n m er e d um mi es u nt il t he c ur ta in g oe s u p a nd t he y w al k o n t he s ta ge

t o p la y t he ir p ar ts i n t ha t a bs ur d d ra ma ."

T wi ff le a pproac he d t he S ha ggy M an a nd s tudi ed him i nt entl y. A t l as t he







"Twiffle! Twiffle! Twink is gone!" exclaimed Tom.

T wi ff le n od de d h is h ea d g ra ve ly . " I k no w, " h e s ai d. " I l oo ke d f or h er a bo ut

h al f a n h ou r a go , a nd s he w as g on e. I wa s a fr ai d t hi s wo ul d h ap pe n."

" Bu t t hi s i s t er ri bl e! " p ro te st ed T om . " Th in k o f p oo r T wi nk C 4 o ne o f t ho se

s ense le ss dum mi es j us t f or t he a muse me nt of t he se w ic ke d peopl e. " T he boy

w as t ho ro ug hl y i nc en se d a s h e w en t o n. " Th ey c al l t hi s t he V al le y o f

R om an ce ! W hy , t he y m us t b e h ea rt le ss . T he y d on 't e ve n k no w w ha t r ea l

r om ance or l ove i s! "

Twi ff le l et o ut a sh ou t a nd l ea pe d t o h is f ee t. "M y b oy , y ou 'v e d on e i t! " he

cried.

" Done w ha t? " ga sped t he a st onis he d T om .

" You 'v e ju st g iv en me t he s ol ut io n o f a ll o ur p ro bl em s. I n ow k no w h ow we

c an s av e n ot o nly Twi nk a nd t he Sh ag gy M an , b ut a ll t he o th er p eo pl e

ensl aved by K ing T ic ke t a nd Q ue en C ur ta in!"

"You do?" said Tom wonderingly.

" Ye s, " r es ponded T wi ff le . " You w er e w rong a bout onl y one t hi ng: K ing T ic ke t,

Q ue en C ur ta in a nd t he L or ds a nd L ad ie s a re n ot h ea rt le ss . T he y h av e h ea rt s,

a ll r ig ht . B ut y ou w er e v er y r ig ht w he n y ou s ai d t he y d on 't k no w w ha t r ea l

r oma nc e o r l ov e i s. Th ey d on 't . W e' re g oi ng t o s ho w t he m, a nd i n t he

process we will rescue Twink and Shaggy!" Twiffle excitedly unfolded his

pla n. A s T om l is te ne d, he gre w m or e a nd m or e c he er ful. W he n T wi ff le

f inis he d, T om pic ke d up t he l it tl e c lown a nd dance d e xube ra nt ly a bout t he

room with him.

" Tw if fl e, " t he boy s hout ed, " you' re a w onde r! "

Twi ff le gr in ne d f ro m ea r t o e ar . "I t wa s y ou wh o g ave me t he id ea ," h e

re mi nded T om m odes tl y. " But w e m us t pla n ver y c ar ef ul ly," he w ent on,





bec om ing s er ious . " Re me mber , t he re i s onl y a s li m c ha nc e t ha t our pla n w il l

w or k. W e m us t t ak e t ha t c ha nc e a nd h op e f or t he b es t. A s t he re i s n ot hi ng

w e c an d o u nt il t on ig ht w he n t he p la y i s a ga in p re se nt ed , w e s ho ul d m ak e

u se o f t hi s t im e t o w or k o ut e ve ry s in gl e d et ai l o f o ur p la n. "

T wi ff le a nd T om w en t o ve r t he ir p la n a ga in a nd a ga in . N ev er th el es s, t he d ay

s ee me d t o To m o ne o f t he l on ge st h e h ad e ve r s pe nt . T he l on g h ou rs o f

w ai ti ng w er e b ro ke n o nl y t hr ee t im es C 4 w he n L ad y C ue b ro ug ht i n T om 's

m ea ls . T he f oo d wa s q ui te g oo d, b ut a b it m ix ed u p. F or b re ak fa st t he

b ef ud dl ed L ad y b ro ug ht T om a l ar ge s li ce o f r oa st b ee f w it h c or n f la ke s a nd

a ppl e pie . L unch c ons is te d of f ri e d e ggs , m as he d pot a toes a nd doughnut s ,

w hi le d in ne r w as m ad e u p o f b ro il ed a pr ic ot s, s tr aw be rr y s ho rt ca ke a nd

gra ha m c ra cker s. B ut T om w as hungr y a nd didn' t m ind t he s tr ange a ss or tm ent

o f f oo ds t oo m uc h. H e m an ag ed t o e at e ve ry th in g, e ve n t ho ug h L ad y C ue

b ro ug ht h im s ix s po on s w it h e ac h m ea l a nd n o k ni ve s o r f or ks .

Wh en La dy Cu e a pp ea re d wi th t he e ve ni ng m ea l, To m wa s a b it w or ri ed b ec au se

t he y h ad n ot b ee n a sk ed t o d in e wi th t he L or ds a nd L ad ie s i n t he Ro ya l

D in in g R oo m. C ou ld t hi s m ea n t he y w ou ld n ot b e i nv it ed t o t he p la y? I f s o,

t he n t he ir p la n o f r es cu e w ou ld b e r ui ne d. T wi ff le w as n ot w or ri ed . H e w as

su re t he y wo ul d b e a sk ed t o s ha re t he K in g a nd Qu ee n' s Ro ya l B ox , i f o nl y

a s a f or m o f p un is hm en t, s in ce t he y wo ul d b e c omp el le d t o s ee Tw in k a s o ne

o f th e p up pe ts o n t he s ta ge . Twi ff le p ro ve d t o b e r ig ht . Ea rl y i n t he

e ve ni ng La dy C ue a pp ea re d i n t he d oo rw ay a nd l ed t he m a ga in t o t he t he at er .

Ki ng T ic ke t a nd Q ue en C ur ta in w er e a lr ea dy s et tl ed i n t he R oy al B ox w he n T om

an d T wi ff le a rr iv ed . E xc ep t t o g iv e t he m a n i cy s ta re , t he m on ar ch s p ai d n o

a tt en ti on t o t he ir g ue st s. T wi ff le w in ke d a t T om , b ut b ot h o f t he m w er e





q ua ki ng l es t T wi ff le 's p la n mi gh t n ot w or k. I f i t d id n ot w or k, t he y w ou ld

be wo rse of f th an ev er. If po ss ib le, t he p la y C4 i t was t he same on e C4

w as e ve n w or se t ha n o n t he p re vi ou s n ig ht . T he p la ye rs w en t t hr ou gh t he ir

par ts i n a dre am li ke f as hi on, c ha nt ing t he ir l ines w oode nl y. S ce ne ry f el l

a pa rt , t he c ur ta in c am e dow n a t t he w rong m om ents , a nd e ve rything pos si bl e

w ent w rong. B ut K ing T ic ke t a nd Q ue en C ur ta in w er e e nc ha nt ed. A long w it h

t he L or ds a nd L ad ie s t he y a pp la ud ed v oc if er ou sl y a nd r ea ct ed t o t he

ridiculous performance with even more enthusiasm than they had displayed

t he night bef or e.

Th is n ig ht , T om h ad n o t ro ub le i n k ee pi ng a wa ke . H e s qu ir me d a bo ut i n h is

s e at w it h i mpat ie nc e, w ai ti ng unt il T wi nk a nd t he S ha ggy M an w ould a ppea r.

T hi s d id n' t h ap pe n u nt il t he p la y w as w el l i nt o t he f ou rt h a nd l as t a ct . As

o n t he n ig ht b ef or e, t he S ha gg y M an w an de re d b li nd ly o nt o t he s ta ge ,

speaking the same lines in an almost indistinguishable voice. A moment

l at er To m t en se d wi th e xc it em en t. A n ew c ha ra ct er h ad b ee n a dd ed . I t w as

T wi nk . H er e ye s s ta re d a s s he m ov ed m ec ha ni ca ll y a cr os s t he s ta ge ,

m ur mu ri ng t he wo rd s o f h er l in es . T om t oo k a d ee p b re at h a nd g la nc ed a t

T wi ff le . T he t im e had c om e t o a ct . T wi ff le nodde d.

In t he n ex t m om en t T om c li mb ed t o t he w id e r ai l t ha t e nc ir cl ed t he R oy al

Bo x. Po ise d th er e fo r a momen t, he g av e a le ap a nd l an de d on the s ta ge .

W it ho ut h es it at in g a m om en t h e d as he d t o t he S ha gg y M an , a nd t o t he

a ma ze me nt of e ve ryone i n t he a udie nc e e xc ept T wi ff le w ent t hr ough t he

S ha gg y M an 's p oc ke ts . To m g av e a n e xu lt an t c ry . He h ad f ou nd w ha t h e

wa nt ed . H e h el d t he L ov e M ag ne t b ef or e h im , w av in g i t f ir st a t t he S ha gg y

M a n a nd t he n a t Tw in k.

S ha gg y a nd T wi nk s ta rt ed , t he n r ub be d t he ir e ye s a nd s ta re d a bo ut t he m





unbel ie vi ngly. M ea nw hi le , T om w as bus y. H e didn' t hes it at e unt il he had

e xp os ed t he L ov e M ag ne t t o t he g az e o f e ac h o f t he e nc ha nt ed a ct or s a nd

a ct re ss es . A s e ac h o ne l oo ke d a t t he L ov e M ag ne t, h e l os t h is g la ss y s ta re

a nd c ame to l if e. In a f ew s ec on ds th e s ta ge wa s f il le d, n ot wi th d ummi es

but w it h hum an bei ngs, bew il de re d but f re ed f rom t he t hr al ldom of K ing

T ic ke t a nd Q ue en C ur ta in 's e vi l s pe ll . A s t he y r ec ov er ed , s ev er al o f t he m

t hr ew t he ir a rm s a ro un d T om , w hi le a ll g az ed a t t he b oy w it h f on dn es s a nd

l ove i n t he ir e ye s. T wi nk s udde nl y r ea li ze d how gre at ly s he l oved her

b ro th er, a nd t he f ir st t hi ng th e Sh ag gy Ma n s ai d wa s, " A g re at b oy , t ha t

Tom!"

M ea nw hi le , K in g T ic ke t a nd Q ue en C ur ta in , a s w el l a s t he e nt ir e a ud ie nc e o f

L or ds a nd L ad ie s, h ad r is en t o t he ir f ee t. No ne o f t he m s po ke . T he r ea l

d ra ma s ud de nl y b ei ng l iv ed o n t he s ta ge h el d t he m f as ci na te d. A t t hi s v er y

m ome nt , To m a dv an ce d t o t he f ro nt c en te r o f th e s ta ge a nd wi th a ll e ye s

u po n h im f la sh ed t he L ov e M ag ne t b ef or e t he a ud ie nc e. A v as t s ig h w en t

t hr ou gh t he t he at er . A nd t he n t he re w as a c on fu se d b ab el ( si c! C 4 b ab bl e)

a s t he Lo rd s a nd L ad ie s c ro wd ed i nt o t he a is le , e ac h o f t he m b en t u po n

r ea ching t he s ta ge a nd e mbra ci ng T om , w ho, t he y r ea li ze d s udde nl y, w as

q ui te t he m os t l ov ab le p er so n t he y h ad e ve r b eh el d.

K in g T ic ke t l ea pe d f ro m t he R oy al B ox o nt o t he s ta ge , h ur ry in g t ow ar d T om .

" My d ea r b oy ," h e e xc la im ed , " ho w c ou ld I h av e b ee n s o b li nd ? I sn 't t he re

s ome th in g I c an do f or y ou ? Name i t, an d y ou sh all h av e i t! My Ki ng do m i s

your s f or t he a sking! "

Q ue en C ur ta in w as s ta nding i n t he box, a rm s out st re tc he d a ppea li ngly t o T om .

"Y ou d ar li ng b oy !" s he c ri ed . " Ho w w on de rf ul i t i s t ha t y ou h av e c om e t o





visit us!"

Twiffle was sitting quietly in the Royal Box, grinning broadly. "Wouldn't

o ld C on jo b e s ur pr is ed ," h e t ho ug ht , " if h e k ne w h ow w el l t he L ov e M ag ne t

h as d on e i ts wo rk ? To m r ea lly i s q ui te a b oy !"

C H AP TE R 14

T HE V AL LE Y O F L OV E

T ha t n ig ht t he re w as a g re at f ea st i n t he G ra nd D in in g R oo m o f t he c as tl e.

T om w as t he g ue st o f h on or , s it ti ng a t t he h ea d o f th e t ab le b et we en Ki ng

Ti ck et a nd Q ue en C ur ta in . T wi nk , f ee li ng v er y p ro ud o f h er b ro th er , s at a t

t he Q ue en 's r ig ht wi th t he S ha gg y M an a nd T wi ff le a t h er s id e. I n a dd it io n

t o t he Lo rd s a nd L ad ie s o f t he c as tl e, a ll t he p eo pl e wh o h ad f or me rl y b ee n

a ct or s a nd a ct re ss es w er e s ea te d a bo ut t he t ab le . T he re w er e s pe ec he s,

m er ryma ki ng a nd m uc h l aughte r w hi le e ve ryone e nj oyed c ours e a ft er c ours e of

t he de li ci ous f ood s er ve d. K ing T ic ket a nd Q ue en C ur ta in t a lked t oget he r

during the feast, seeming to discuss something on which they finally

a pp ea re d t o r ea ch a d ec is io n.

K ing T ic ke t a rose a nd, bangi ng w it h a s il ve r f or k a ga inst a dri nking goble t,

obta ined t he a tt enti on a nd s il ence of t he m er ryma ke rs . " My dea r f ri ends ,"

be ga n t he K in g, b ea mi ng o n h is a ud ie nc e. " Go od Q ue en C ur ta in a nd I h av e

b ee n d is cu ss in g a p ro po sa l w hi ch w e a re s ur e w il l m ee t w it h y ou r a pp ro va l.

Y ou a re w el l a wa re t ha t a lt ho ug h we d id n ot k no w i t, we , t he p eo pl e o f t he

V al le y o f R om an ce , h av e b ee n l iv in g i n a b on da ge t ha t w as e ve n g re at er t ha n

t ha t w hi ch w e c as t o ve r t he p oo r u nf or tu na te s w ho w an de re d i nt o t he c as tl e.

F or w e l iv ed w it ho ut k no wi ng t he m ea ni ng o f t ru e r om an ce a nd l ov e. W e f ou nd

o ur o nl y p le as ur e i n a rt ifi ci al r oma nc e as we s aw it o n t he s ta ge . W e h ad





n o l ov e f or e ac h o th er , n o r om an ce a mo ng o ur se lv es . N ow a ll t hi s i s

c ha ng ed . No t o nl y d o w e n ow a pp re ci at e a nd k no w t he t ru e me an in g o f r ea l

l ov e, b ut t he p eo pl e w ho m w e e ns la ve d a re f re ed a nd h ap py o nc e m or e. W e

h av e o ne p ers on to th an k fo r t hi s: To m, wh o wi th t he Lo ve Ma gn et b ro ug ht u s

o ur p re se nt j oy a nd h ap pi ne ss . Q ue en C ur ta in a nd I p ro po se t ha t w e y ie ld

o ur t hr on es a nd t ha t T om b ec om e t he n ew K in g o f t he V al le y o f R om an ce ."

T he a ppla us e w as t re me ndous. A ppar entl y e ve ryone i n t he G ra nd D ining R oom

f av or ed K in g T ic ke t' s s ta rt li ng p la n. B ut T om l ea pe d t o h is f ee t a nd

e xc la im ed, " Your H ighnes se s, L adie s a nd G entl em en, t ha nk you f or t hi s gre at

h on or , b ut I c an no t be y ou r King . Ma yb e I' ll ne ve r ge t th e ch anc e to be a

k in g a ga in . B ut t he i mp or ta nt t hi ng f or T wi nk a nd m e i s t o f in d o ur w ay

h ome . Th e Sh ag gy Man h as pr omi se d t ha t Oz ma o f Oz wil l se nd u s h ome i f we

c an o nly r eac h Oz . Th at i s t he t hi ng we wa nt mo st . An ywa y, I h av e n o ri gh t

t o b e y ou r K in g. I d on 't k no w a ny th in g a bo ut t he j ob , a nd y ou s ho ul d r ea ll y

b e g ra te fu l t o th e Lo ve Ma gn et f or ma kin g y ou h ap py , n ot m e. No w th at y ou

f ol ks k no w t he m ea ni ng o f r ea l l ov e, I 'm s ur e K in g T ic ke t w il l m ak e y ou a

fi ne K in g a nd Q ue en Cu rt ai n w il l b e a r ea l Q ue en ."

A ga in t he a ppla us e r es ounded. A t l as t K ing T ic ke t r os e a ga in, e xpre ss ing his

re gr et t ha t T om c ou ld n ot r em ai n w it h t he m t o b e t he ir K in g. Ki ng T ic ke t

pr omi se d th at h e w ou ld d o h is b es t t o b e a k in d a nd l ov in g mo na rc h. Hi s

f ir st mo ve , h e s ai d, w ou ld b e t o g ra nt c om pl et e f re ed om t o t he p eo pl e wh o

h ad w an de re d t o t he c as tl e a nd h ad b ec om e s la ve s o n t he S ta ge o f F al se

R om an ce . T he se p eo pl e, h e s ai d, m ig ht r et ur n t o d we ll a s L or ds a nd L ad ie s

i n t he C as tl e o f R om an ce .

S in ce t he y w ou ld h av e n o f ur th er u se f or t he t he at er , K in g t ic ke t p ro mi se d





t o h av e t he s ea ts r em ov ed a nd t he t he at er r emo de le d i nt o a r ea l Te mp le o f

Le ar ni ng w he re e ac h o f h is s ub je ct s m ig ht l ea rn s om e c ra ft o r a rt t ha t

w ou ld b e u se fu l o r p le as in g t o h is f el lo ws . H er e t he y w ou ld m ee t e ac h d ay

a nd s tu dy a nd w or k a t t he ir a rt s a nd c ra ft s, e nj oy in g c om pa ni on sh ip a nd t he

satisfaction of real accomplishment and creation.

"If you do manage to get to the Land of Oz," King Ticket said to the Sh aggy

M an , " I w on de r i f y ou w ou ld a sk P ro fe ss or W og gl eb ug i f h e w ou ld l ik e t o

c ome t o o ur Te mp le o f L ea rn in g a s a v is it in g Pr of es so r? I a m s ure t he re a re

m any t hi ngs he c ould t ea ch us t ha t w ould be bot h i nt er es ti ng a nd use ful. "

S ha ggy promi se d t o e xt end t he i nvit at ion t o t he l ea rned W oggl ebug, w ho w as

h ea d o f t he R oy al Co ll eg e o f O z.

I n s pi te o f a ll t he e xc it em en t, T wi nk a nd T om we re n od di ng b y t he t im e t he

f ea st ing a nd s pe ec hm aking w er e e nded. E ve ryone bade t he m a happy goodni ght,

a nd L ad y Cu e c on du ct ed t he m o nc e m or e t o t he ir r oo ms . Th e Lo ve M ag ne t h ad

w ro ug ht i ts c ha ng e o n L ad y C ue , t oo . G on e w as h er f or me r b ef ud dl ed s ta te i n

which sh e was not at all sure of anythin g or anyone. Now she was a

c ha rm ing, gra ci ous l ady w it h t he m anne rs of a c or di al a nd per fe ct hos te ss .

S ha gg y a nd t he c hi ld re n w er e f as t a sl ee p a lm os t a s s oo n a s t he ir h ea ds

t ouched t he s of t pil lows . T wi ff le pas se d t he night l ooki ng a t t he pic ture s

i n t he b oo ks o n t he l iv in g r oo m s he lv es . B y t he m id dl e o f t he f ol lo wi ng

m or ni ng t he y w er e r ea dy t o begin t he ir a dventure s a ga in. T he y f ound t ha t

K in g T ic ke t, Q ue en C ur ta in , t he L or ds a nd L ad ie s a nd t he f or me r a ct or s a nd

a ct re ss es , m an y o f w ho m h ad d ec id ed t o m ak e t he ir h om es i n t he V al le y o f

R om an ce , w er e g at he re d i n t he c ou rt ya rd t o b id t he m f ar ew el l. K in g T ic ke t

gave t he m gener al dir ec ti ons f or t ra ve li ng t o r ea ch t he D ea dl y D es er t. T ha t







c oa rs e o ve r t he c ou nt ry si de , a nd t he f oo d w hi ch La dy C ue h ad p ac ke d f or

them was both satisfying and delicious.

T wi nk t oo k a l on g l oo k a t t he r at he r f or bi dd in g s ce ne ry a bo ut t he m. I n t he

d is ta nc e l oo me d d ar k m ou nt ai n p ea ks , w hi le t re es b ec am e f ew er a nd f ew er .

"Doesn't look like there's a living thing within miles!" said the little

girl a bit disconsolately.

" In a wa y, t ha t' s a g oo d s ig n, " r ep li ed t he Sh ag gy Ma n. " Fo r t he n ea re r w e

c om e t o t he De ad ly D es er t, t he mo re wi ld a nd d es ol at e t he c ou nt ry i s. Fr om

t he l oo ks o f t hi ng s h er e, I wo ul dn 't b e s ur pr is ed i f w e w er e n ea r t he

K ingdom of t he N om es ."

"Hav e you a ny id ea ho w we ca n get to Oz on ce we a rrive a t t he De adly

Desert?" asked Twiffle.

" No ," s ai d t he S ha gg y M an , " I h av en 't . B ut o ne c an n ev er t el l w ha t wi ll

h ap pe n w he n t ra ve li ng i n a f ai ry c ou nt ry , a nd I f ig ur e t he c lo se r w e r e t o

t he Dea dl y De se rt , th e c lo se r we a re to Oz. Now if I j us t h ad n't l os t

O z ma 's M ag ic C om pa ss C 4 B ut t he re 's n o u se c ry in g o ve r s pi lt m il k. "

"Did I unders tand you to say you are going to the Land of Oz?" The words

w ere s po ke n i n a sm al l, c le ar v oi ce . A t t he s ame t ime th e t all g ra ss ju st

i n f ro nt o f Sh ag gy a nd h is f ri en ds p ar te d, a nd a b ea ve r s te pp ed o ut a nd

v ie we d t he m f ea rl es sl y. T wi nk w as a ma ze d t o s ee t ha t t he b ea ve r w or e a

s ma ll g ol de n c ro wn o n h is h ea d, w hi le i n h is r ig ht p aw h e c ar ri ed a s le nd er

b ee c h r o d.

" Ye s, " s ai d t he S ha ggy M an, c al ml y r egar di ng t he bea ve r w hi le he c onti nued

t o mu nc h a p ea nu t b ut te r a nd j el ly s an dwi ch . " Th at i s, w e h op e t o g et t o

th e L an d o f Oz . Fi rs t we mu st f in d s om e w ay t o c ro ss t he De ad ly De se rt ."

Th e b eav er wa s s il en t fo r a mo me nt , t he n h e s ai d, " Wi ll y ou ta ke me t o Oz





with you?"

" Ta ke y ou w it h u s! " e xc la im ed t he S ha gg y M an . " Wh y, w e a re n' t a t a ll s ur e w e

c an ge t th ere ou rsel ves. Bu t why d o you want to g o to Oz? I ca n tell by

y o ur c ro wn t ha t y ou 'r e a Ki ng o f s om e s or t a nd n ot a n o rd in ar y b ea ve r. "

" I a m t he K in g o f t he Fa ir y B ea ve rs ," a nn ou nc ed t he l it tl e a ni ma l a b it

pr ou dl y. " No ne o f u s a re o rd in ar y b ea ve rs , s in ce w e a re f ai ry c re at ur es .

And as for why I wan t to visit Oz C4 well, I have heard wo nderful tales of

t ha t f am ous f ai ryla nd, a nd I have l ong dre am ed of vis it ing i t. "

" Se em s t o m e, " o bs er ve d T om , " th at s in ce y ou a re a F ai ry K in g, y ou r m ag ic

po we rs c ou ld t ak e y ou t o O z. "

" No ," r ep li ed t he b ea ve r Ki ng , " my m ag ic i s m os tl y w at er m ag ic , a nd t ha t

w ou ld b e l es s th an u se le ss o n t he f ie ry s an ds o f t he De ad ly De se rt . B ut

t ha t i sn 't t he m ai n r ea so n t ha t k ee ps m e f ro m v is it in g O z. "

" What i s i t, t he n? " a sked S ha ggy.

" I have not bee n i nvit ed," r epli ed t he bea ve r K ing s im pl y.

"I a m su re t ha t i f Oz ma kn ew e no ug h a bo ut t ha t, sh e wo ul d fi x it ," s aid t he

Shaggy Man kindly.

" Do y ou t hi nk s o? " a sk ed t he b ea ve r. " Do y ou r ea ll y t hi nk O zm a w ou ld i nv it e

me? I ho ped you would say that, for it g ives me courage to put forth a

suggestion I have in mind."

" What i s t ha t? " a sked S ha ggy.

"I f y ou , t he f amo us Sh agg y Ma n of Oz , we re t o i nv it e me t o v is it Oz , t he n

e ve rything w ould be qui te prope r, w ouldn' t i t? "

" I s up po se i t w ou ld ," a dm it te d t he S ha gg y M an , s mi li ng . " Bu t h ow d o y ou

p ro po se t o g et t o Oz , s in ce we c an 't cr os s t he De se rt ?"





" Th en y ou r ea ll y i nv it e m e t o a cc om pa ny y ou ? T ha t i s wo nd er fu l! As f or t he

D ea dl y D es er t, I h av e a p la n w hi ch m ig ht w or k. "

" Ho w d id y ou k no w w ho t he S ha gg y Ma n wa s? " a sk ed Twi nk .

" Oh , e ve ry on e k no ws a bo ut t he Sh ag gy M an o f O z, a nd w he n I s aw y ou h er e

d is cu ss in g y ou r j ou rn ey t o O z, I w as a lm os t s ur e t hi s c ou ld b e n on e o th er

t ha n t he f am ous S ha ggy M an."

S ha ggy l ooke d m odes tl y a t t he gr ound.

T wi ff le a sk ed , " Ju st h ow f ar a re w e f ro m t hi s D ea dl y D es er t? "

" Qu it e a d is ta nc e, " r ep li ed t he b ea ve r K in g. " Th e D es er t l ie s j us t b ey on d

o ur o wn Ki ng do m, wh ic h i s i n t he h il ls a nd mo un ta in s y ou s ee i n t he

distance."

" An d w ha t i s y ou r p la n f or c ro ss in g i t? " a sk ed t he S ha gg y M an .

" Co me t o m y p al ac e, w he re y ou w il l b e c om fo rt ab le ," s ai d t he K in g, " an d w e

will discuss my plan."

" It m ust b e a l on g wa lk ," si gh ed Twi nk . " An d t he fa rt her w e go to wa rd t he

D es er t, t he r oc ki er a nd g ra ye r t he c ou nt ry b ec om es ."

"O h, w e s ha n' t w al k. I t wi ll b e m uc h q ui ck er t o r id e," d ec la re d t he b ea ve r

Ki ng . W it h t ha t, t he K in g o f t he Fa ir y Be av er s wa lk ed t o t he e dg e o f t he

s tr ea m a nd utt er ed a s hr il l w hi st le . S ha ggy a nd his f ri ends f ol lowe d t he

l it tl e a ni ma l. A f ew h un dr ed f ee t b el ow t he m, t he r iv er c ur ve d t o t he l ef t.

A ro un d t hi s b en d i n t he s tr ea m t he y c ou ld n ow s ee s om e t we nt y l it tl e h ea ds

C 4 bea ve rs s wi mm ing s wi ft ly ups tr ea m a nd pul li ng a ft er t he m a bar ge -l ike

boat with a can opy to sh ut o ut the rays of the su n. In a few momen ts the

b oa t w as d ra wi ng n ea r t he s ho re o n wh ic h t he y s to od . T wi nk c ou ld s ee t ha t

e ach o f t he l it tl e be ave rs wo re a ha rne ss c onn ect ed t o t he b oat b y a r op e

o f w ov en r ee ds . T he b oa t i ts el f w as b ri gh tl y p ai nt ed a nd f il le d w it h s of t,





silken cushions.

"Yo u wi ll b e my g ue sts on th e jo urn ey d own t he ri ver to my Kin gd om, whe re i t

w il l g iv e m e g re at p le as ur e t o w el co me y ou t o m y h um bl e a bo de ."

T wi nk , T om , t he S ha gg y M an a nd T wi ff le s te pp ed i nt o t he b oa t. T he S ha gg y M an

h ad to s to op a b it t o mi ss t he c an op y, bu t on ce t hey we re s ea ted o n t he

so ft c us hi on s t he re w as r oo m f or a ll . T he K in g o f t he F ai ry B ea ve rs h it ch ed

h im se lf i nt o t he f ro nt o f t he h ar ne ss w it h t he o th er b ea ve rs . " I h op e

y ou 'l l f or gi ve m e f or n ot r id in g wi th y ou ," h e s ai d, " bu t w he n I h av e

g u es ts, I l ike to d o my sh ar e of the work C4 we b eav ers a lway s e njo y

w or ki ng t oget he r, you know, a nd occ as ions l ike t hi s give m e a n oppor tuni ty

t o f or ge t I 'm a Ki ng ." T he b oa t m ov ed s wi ft ly d ow n t he r iv er , p ul le d e as il y

by t he t ea m of s tr ong l it tl e a ni ma ls .

" We ll , t hi s c er ta inly bea ts w al ki ng, your M aj es ty," s ai d t he S ha ggy M an a s

h e s ig he d w it h c on te nt a nd s et tl ed b ac k a mo ng t he c us hi on s.

C H AP TE R 16

IN B EA VE R L AN D

T om , w ho w as e sp ec ia ll y f on d o f a ni ma ls , l on ge d t o h ol d o ne o f t he l it tl e

b ea ve rs a nd f on dl e i t t o h is h ea rt 's c on te nt . An d wh at f un i t wo ul d b e, t he

b oy t ho ug ht , j us t t o j ump i nt o t he s tr ea m a nd s wi m a lo ng w it h t he b us il y

paddling, happy-looking little animals. But Tom contented himself with

m ar ve li ng a t t he e as e w it h w hi ch t he b ea ve rs p ul le d t he b oa t.

A lt ho ug h t he j ou rn ey c on su me d m or e t ha n a n h ou r, i t d id n ot s ee m n ea rl y t ha t

l on g t o t he t ra ve le rs , w ho w er e k ep t b us y w at ch in g t he c ha ng in g s ce ne ry a s

th e b oa t s pe d s wi ft ly d ow ns tr ea m. T he b an ks o f t he r iv er g re w m uc h s te ep er ,







pr ov ed t o b e m er el y t he a nt er oo m o f t he b ea ve r k in gd om , w hi ch c on si st ed o f

a l ab yr in th o f l ar ge a nd s ma ll t un ne ls b ur ro we d i nt o t he e ar th a t t he r ea r

o f t he c av e. S le ek , w el l- fe d b ea ve rs h ur ri ed i n a nd o ut o f t he b ur ro ws ,

b en t u po n t he t as ks t ha t m ad e u p t he ir d ai ly wo rk .

I nd ee d, e ve ry on e i n t hi s u nd er gr ou nd k in gd om s ee me d t o b e h ar d a t w or k a nd

i nt en tl y b us y o n o ne t as k o r a no th er . N ew t un ne ls w er e b ei ng c on st ru ct ed

a nd r ei nf or ce d w it h c ar ef ul ly h ew n b ea ms o f w oo d, n ew r oo ms a nd h om es w er e

u nd er c on st ru ct io n, a nd t he re d id n' t s ee m t o b e a n i dl e m om en t w it h a ll t he

w or k t ha t w as g oi ng o n. Th e b ea ve r K in g wa s p er ha ps e ve n b us ie r t ha n h is

s ub je ct s, a nd w hi le h e w as g ra ci ou s a nd d id e ve ry th in g i n h is p ow er t o m ak e

his gue st s c om fort able , t he y got t he i mpre ss ion t ha t e ve n w hi le he w as

ch at ti ng wi th t he m h is m in d w as b us y wi th n ew p la ns a nd i de as f or t he

improvement of his kingdom.

T he K in g o f t he F ai ry B ea ve rs h es it at ed o nl y l on g e no ug h f or Sh ag gy a nd h is

f ri en ds t o g la nc e a bo ut t he m a nd t he n l ed h is g ue st s d own o ne o f t he

b ur ro ws , w hi ch w as r ea ll y a g oo d- si ze d t un ne l. A s ho rt d is ta nc e d ow n t hi s

p as sa ge t he b ea ve r K in g p au se d b ef or e a l ar ge , g ra ni te d oo r s et i n t he

t un ne l' s s id e. J us t a bo ve t he d oo r w as m ou nt ed a g ol de n c ro wn . " It i s m y

p le as ur e, " s ai d t he b ea ve r K in g a s t he h ea vy d oo r s wu ng o pe n, " to w el co me

y ou t o my r oy al s ui te , w he re I h op e y ou w il l a cc ep t m y h um bl e h os pi ta li ty ."

T he re w as a l ar ge r ec ep ti on h al l, t he n a h ug e t hr on e r oo m t ha t c ou ld e as il y

a cc om moda te a n a ss em bl age of s ever al t hous and bea ve rs , a nd f inal ly a dining

r oom w it h m ir rore d w al ls a nd c ei li ng a nd a s um pt uous ly l ai d t able . S ha ggy

a nd h is f ri en ds w er e a ma ze d a t t he e le ga nc e a nd b ea ut y o f t he ir

s ur roundi ngs. T he dining r oom t able w as s et w it h t he f ines t of c hi na , a nd





t he l in en s w er e s no wy w hi te a nd h an d w ov en .

Th e K in g o f t he F ai ry B ea ve rs s ti ll c ar ri ed t he s le nd er b ee ch r od , w hi ch

T wi nk h ad n ot ic ed i n h is r ig ht p aw w he n h e h ad f ir st a pp ea re d a mo ng t he m

th at a ft er no on . A ft er i nv it in g h is g ue st s t o b e s ea te d a t t he t ab le , t he

b ea ve r Ki ng w av ed t he b ee ch r od C4 w hi ch Tw in k a nd T om h ad a lr ea dy g ue ss ed

to be h is mag ic wan d C4 and at on ce t he ta bl e wa s loa de d with th e mos t

savory dishes imaginable. "I don't ordinarily employ magic unless it is

n e ce ss ar y, " t he b ea ve r K in g e xp la in ed . " We b ea ve rs p re fe r t o w or k f or w ha t

w e g et , b ut m ag ic a ff or ds t he q ui ck es t m an ne r o f p ro vi di ng t he s tr an ge

f oo ds t ha t y ou h um an b ei ng s s ee m t o e nj oy ."

T wi ff le a nd t he bea ve r K ing c onve rs ed w hi le S ha ggy, T wi nk a nd T om e nj oyed

t he f oo d. T he y w er e m uc h h un gr ie r t ha n t he y r ea li ze d; t he r id e o n t he r iv er

had given t he m a t re me ndous a ppet it e. W he n t he y had f inis he d e at ing, t he

K in g o f t he Fa ir y Be av er s s ai d, " No w, my f ri en ds , w ou ld b e a g oo d t im e t o

p lan our trip to the Land o f Oz."

No o ne s ai d a w or d, b ut e ve ry e ye w as f ix ed wi th e ag er a tt en ti on o n t he

l it tl e a ni ma l. " We c annot f ly ove r t he D ea dl y D es er t, " t he bea ve r K ing w ent

o n. " No r c an we c ro ss i t. T he d ev ou ri ng s an ds wo ul d m ea n q ui ck d ea th f or

a ll of u s."

" Th en w e' re ju st n ot g oi ng t o O z, I g ue ss ," s ai d To m s ad ly .

" Oh , y es , I t hi nk w e a re ," r ep li ed t he b ea ve r K in g q ui ck ly . " Th er e i s o ne

w ay l ef t t o c ro ss t he D es er t. "

A h us h f el l o ve r th e c omp an y a s t he y w ai te d f or t he b ea ve r Ki ng 's n ex t

w or ds . " We c an c ro ss $ $u nd er && t he D es er t, " h e s ai d s im pl y.

" Yo u h av e b ur ro we d c le ar u nd er t he D ea dl y D es er t t o O z? " a sk ed t he S ha gg y

Man incredulously.





" No ," r ep li ed t he K in g o f t he F ai ry B ea ve rs , " we h av e n ot . B ut s om eo ne e ls e

has."

" A nd w ho i s t ha t? " a sk ed T wi nk .

" Th e N om e K in g, " s ai d t he b ea ve r K in g.

C H AP TE R 17

T HE T UN NE L U ND ER T HE D ES ER T

T he Sh ag gy M an l ea pe d t o h is f ee t a nd s ta re d a t t he b ea ve r Ki ng . " Wh at ?" h e

e xc la im ed. " You dis cove re d t he N om e K ing' s t unne l under t he D ea dl y D es er t? "

" Oh y es ," r ep li ed t he b ea ve r K in g. " We h av e k no wn f or s om e t im e o f i ts

existence and location."

" Bu t t hi s i s w on de rf ul !" g as pe d t he S ha gg y M an . " Ou r t ro ub le s a re a ll o ve r.

Al l we ha ve t o d o i s wa lk t hr ou gh t he t un nel to th e Eme ra ld Cit y! "

"N o, " s ai d t he Ki ng o f t he Fa ir y B ea ve rs . " It i sn 't a s e as y a s t ha t. Y ou

m us t r em em be r w e s ti ll have G li nda' s B ar ri er of I nvis ibil it y t o c onte nd

with."

" Hm mm m, " s ai d t he S ha ggy M an, s ea ti ng him se lf . " That i s t rue. B ut t he re

mi gh t b e s ome w ay w e c ou ld g et p as t t ha t b ar ri er . Te ll m e, h ow d id y ou

happen t o dis cove r t he N om e K ing' s t unne l? "

" We s tu mb le d o nt o i t a cc id en ta ll y w he n o ne o f o ur b ur ro ws l ed i nt o i t, "

ex pl ai ne d t he b ea ve r K in g. " We f ol lo we d i t t o t he K in gd om o f t he N om es ,

w he re t he t un ne l o pe ns i nt o o ne o f t he N ome Ki ng 's m in es . Th er e w as a

c ompany of N om es w or ki ng t he re , a nd t he i ll -nat ur ed c re at ur es hur le d

d ia mo nd s a t u s. I n f ac t, t he N ome s w er e s o d is co ur te ou s t ha t w e h av e n ev er

si nc e e nt er ed t ha t s ec ti on of t he t unne l. "







a nd a ll his a ll ie s bec am e a s har ml es s a s l it tl e c hi ldre n, having f or gott en

t he ir f or me r e vi l l iv es . O zm a h ad s en t t he m b ac k b y m ea ns o f t he M ag ic B el t

t o t he ir o wn l an ds , a nd t he n c lo se d t he e ar th o ve r t he t un ne l' s e nt ra nc e

i nt o h er g ar de n. S oo n a ft er t ha t, G li nd a h ad l ai d d ow n t he M ag ic B ar ri er o f

I nvis ibil it y ove r t he D ea dl y D es er t, w hi ch O zm a hoped w ould pre ve nt a ny

o th er i nv ad er s f ro m a tt ac ki ng t he L an d o f O z.

" Tr yi ng t o g et t hr ou gh t he t un ne l r ea ll y s ee ms t he o nl y t hi ng t o d o," s ai d

t he S ha ggy M an t hought full y. " That w il l be f ar bet te r t ha n j us t s it ti ng a nd

w ait in g f or Oz ma t o r et ur n t o t he Eme ra ld Cit y C 4 I h av e n o i de a h ow l on g

s he p la ns to v is it wit h Gli nd a. I s upp os e th e o nl y t hi ng we ca n d o is t ry

to d ea l w it h t he B ar ri er o f I nv is ib il it y w he n w e c om e t o i t. P er ha ps y ou r

Majesty's magic could overcome it."

T he B ea ve r K ing w as t hought ful. " Pe rhaps, " he s ai d. " But you m us t r em em be r

G li nd a' s m ag ic i s v er y p ow er fu l. W e m ay d is co ve r t ha t t he d es er t i s j us t a s

i mp as sa bl e u nd er gr ou nd a s i t i s a bo ve g ro un d. S o d on 't l et u s r ai se o ur

h op es t oo h ig h, m y f ri en ds . A t a ny r at e, " h e c on cl ud ed , " we s ha ll u nd er ta ke

t he j ou rn ey i n t he mo rn in g, a nd t he n w e s ha ll k no w. "

T he b ea ve r K in g l ed h is g ue st s i nt o h is t hr on e r oo m, w he re c om fo rt ab le s ea ts

w er e p ro vi de d. N ex t a t ro op o f b ea ve r a cr ob at s c am e r un ni ng i nt o t he t hr on e

ro om . T he y w or e b ri gh tl y c ol or ed t ig ht s a nd p ut o n a p er fo rm an ce o f s uc h

s ki ll a nd dar ing t ha t T wi nk a nd T om w er e del ight ed. T he a ni ma ls w er e

a ma zi ngly a gi le , a nd s om e of t he ir t um bl ing t ri cks w er e s o droll t ha t e ve n

T wi ff le l aughed a loud. " I never s aw a nything t o bea t t hi s a t t he c ir cus, "

T om c onfi de d t o T wi nk a s t he t wi ns l oudl y a ppla uded.

Wh en t he e nt er ta in me nt w as o ve r, i t w as g ro wi ng l at e, a nd s ay in g h e h ad s om e





w or k t o d o i n h is ma gi c wo rk sh op i n p re pa ra ti on f or t he j ou rn ey i n t he

m or ni ng, t he bea ve r K ing l ed his gue st s t o a s ui te of bea ut if ul ly f ur ni shed

s le ep in g r oo ms . T wi nk a nd T om w er e n ot a b it s ur pr is ed t ha t t he b ea ve r K in g

s ho ul d w or k w hi le t he y s le pt . I nd ee d, t he y w on de re d i f a ny on e i n t hi s b us y

l it tl e k in gd om e ve r t oo k t im e o ff t o r es t.

" As s oo n a s y ou l ie d ow n o n t he b ed s," t he b ea ve r K in g t ol d Twi nk a nd To m,

" yo u wi ll b e l ul le d t o s le ep b y t he m os t b ea ut if ul mu si c i n t he wo rl d."

W ith th at , h e c lo se d t he d oo r so ft ly a nd l ef t t he m. Twin k an d To m we re i n

t he ir b ed s i n n o t ime a t a ll , e ag er t o h ea r t he mu si c th e b ea ve r Ki ng h ad

p r om is ed t he m. N o s oo ne r h ad t he ir h ea ds t ou ch ed t he p il lo ws t ha n t he y

h ea rd i t. I t w as l ik e t he s le ep y m ur mu ri ng o f a t ho us an d v oi ce s. T he re w er e

n o w or ds , o nl y a s of t w hi sp er t ha t s ee me d t o c om e f ro m a g re at d is ta nc e a nd

y et w as c lo se b y C 4 w as e ve ry wh er e. Tw in k c lo se d h er e ye s, a nd t he

w or dl es s m us ic s ang of gre en m ea dows under a gol de n s un, of m ount ai n r il ls

t ha t t ri pp ed f ro m s to ne t o s to ne d ow n t o b ea ut if ul v al le ys , o f g re at r iv er s

th at f lo we d t hr ou gh t he h ea rt s o f v as t l an ds , a nd f in al ly o f t he s ea

itself, singing eternally of endless wonders.

J us t b ef or e To m d ro pp ed o ff t o s le ep , h e s ai d, " Tw in k, I k no w w ha t i t i s.

T he b ea ve r K in g s ai d i t w as t he m os t b ea ut if ul m us ic i n t he w or ld , a nd i t

isFF20C4"

" I know, " s ai d T wi nk s le epil y. " It 's t he m us ic of r unni ng w at er ."

C H AP TE R 18

T HE F LA ME F OL K

E ar ly t he next m or ni ng S ha ggy a nd his f ri ends f ound a s te am ing hot bre akfa st

w ai ti ng f or t he m i n t he ir r oo ms . N o s oo ne r h ad t he y f in is he d t ha n t he K in g





o f t he Fa ir y B ea ve rs a pp ea re d t o l ea d t he m t o t he No me K in g' s t un ne l. Th ey

f ol lowe d t he K ing t hr ough s ever al m il es of w ea vi ng a nd t wi st ing bea ve r

b ur ro ws u nt il a t l as t t he y s to od a t t he e nt ra nc e o f t he t un ne l. S ha gg y h ad

n o te d t ha t t he K in g b or e o n h is b ac k, l ik e a t in y k na ps ac k, a s ma ll b un dl e.

N ow h e s aw t ha t t he t we nt y y ou ng b ea ve rs w ho w er e w ai ti ng a t t he t un ne l' s

e nt ra nc e t o under ta ke t he j ourney w it h t he m bor e s im il ar t hough s ma ll er

b un dl es o n t he ir b ac ks . I n a dd it io n, e ac h o f t he y ou ng b ea ve rs c ar ri ed a

p in e t or ch t o l ig ht t he w ay t hr ou gh t he d ar k t un ne l. A t a s ig na l f ro m t he

b ea ve r K in g, t he t or ch -b ea ri ng b ea ve rs a dv an ce d i nt o t he t un ne l, a nd t he

j o ur ne y w as o n.

" Ho w f ar a re w e f ro m t he D ea dl y D es er t? " i nq ui re d t he S ha gg y M an .

" No t m or e t ha n a m il e, " a ns we re d t he b ea ve r K in g. " We w il l k no w w he n w e

r ea ch t he D es er t, b ec au se o f t he h ea t r ad ia te d d ow nw ar d b y t he s an ds . T he

t un ne l i s n ot f ar f rom t he su rf ac e C4 n o mo re t ha n tw en ty f ee t, I wo ul d

judge."

Th e t un ne l wa s h ewn f ro m s ol id r oc k, b ut t he f lo or o f i t wa s s mo ot h, s o t he

t ra ve le rs w er e a bl e t o p ro ce ed a t a g oo d r at e o f s pe ed . T he y a ll n ot ic ed

t ha t t he h ea t i nc re as ed p er ce pt ib ly t he c lo se r t he y c am e t o t he s hi ft in g

s a nds a bove t hem .

" Wh ee -e w! " e xc la im ed t he S ha gg y M an . " Th is i s n o p la ce f or a p le as ur e t ri p.

I can see why the Nome Kin g was thirsty wh en he got out of here."

Th ey we re n ow d ir ec tl y u nd er t he De ad ly D es er t, a nd t he h ea t r ad ia te d b y t he

s hi ft ing s ands a bove t he m w as i nt ense . B ut T wi nk a nd T om w er e l ight ly

d re ss ed , s o t he y d id n' t m in d t he h ea t s o m uc h. T wi ff le n at ur al ly p ai d n ot

t he s li gh te st a tt en ti on t o t he t em pe ra tu re . T he b ea ve rs , w ho w er e u se d t o













a bo ut a nd w al k t we nt y f ee t i n t he o th er d ir ec ti on ," i ns tr uc te d t he b ea ve r

K in g. T hi s t he y a ll d id , a nd a ft er a b it o f e xp er im en ta ti on a nd s ev er al

m inor c ol li si ons, t he y w er e r el ie ve d t o f ind t he ms el ve s vis ible onc e m or e

a nd s ta nd in g o n t he e dg e o f t he B ar ri er o f I nv is ib il it y. A t t he K in g' s

o rd er t he y ou ng b ea ve rs h ad r em ai ne d w he re t he y w er e u nt il t he o th er s h ad

f ou nd t he ir wa y o ut o f t he B ar ri er . No w t he b ea ve r Ki ng u tt er ed a s er ie s o f

calls that quickly guided the animals beyond the Barrier of Invisibility.

S ha gg y a nd h is f ri en ds s to od a bo ut i n t he t un ne l g az in g f ro m o ne t o a no th er

a lm os t des pa ir ingl y, w onde ri ng w ha t t o do next. " Ther e i s s ti ll hope t ha t

we may not have to go back and may be able to use the tunnel to reach Oz,

m y f ri ends ," began t he bea ve r K ing qui et ly. " La st night a nd f ar i nt o t he

m or ni ng, w hi le you w er e s le eping, I w as bus y i n m y f ai ry w or ks hop s tudying

t he p ro bl em. I b el ie ve I h av e s ol ve d i t, a lt ho ug h o f c ou rs e we c an no t b e

q ui te s ur e u nt il w e m ak e t he t es t. "

W it h t ha t, t he l it tl e a ni ma l uns tr appe d f rom his bac k t he s ma ll bundl e he

had bee n c ar rying. L aying i t on t he t unne l f loor , he c ar ef ul ly unf ol de d i t.

T he b un dl e s ee me d t o c on si st o f a n um be r o f s hi mm er in g p ie ce s o f s il ve r

c lo th s o l ig ht t he y m ig ht h av e b ee n s pu n f ro m s pi de rw eb s. T he b ea ve r K in g

s el ec te d o ne o f t he f ol ds o f g os sa me r c lo th a nd h an de d i t t o T wi nk . " Un fo ld

i t a nd pu t it ab ou t y ou , my de ar ," h e s ai d. "I t hi nk yo u wil l fi nd it j us t

your size."

T wi nk d id a s i ns tr uc te d a nd f ou nd t he c lo th f it te d a bo ut h er l ik e a f ai ry

cloak. "Oh, it's lovely," she exclaimed.

" It 's m or e t ha n t ha t, I h op e, " s ai d t he b ea ve r K in g. " It i s a C lo ak o f

Visibility."

" A c loak of w ha t? " e xc la im ed t he S ha ggy M an.





" You have a ll hea rd a nd r ea d t al es of c loaks of i nvis ibil it y, " e xpla ined t he

b ea ve r K in g. " Cl oa ks t ha t m ak e t he w ea re r i nv is ib le a re f am ou s i n t he f ai ry

t al es o f a ll l an ds . W el l, I k ne w t ha t w e w ou ld b ec om e i nv is ib le t od ay

a ga in st o ur wi sh es , s o I h av e a tt emp te d t o c re at e a Cl oa k o f Vi si bi li ty C 4

a c loak t ha t w ould ove rc om e t he s pe ll of i nvis ibil it y. "

" Do you t hi nk i t w il l w or k? " a sked t he S ha ggy M an hopef ul ly.

"I d o n ot k no w," c on fe ss ed t he b ea ve r Ki ng . " I a m s ur e i t wo ul dn 't w or k

above ground where Glinda's Barrier of Invisibility is full strength.

U nder gr ound, G li nda' s s pe ll i s m uc h l es s i nt ense bec ause t he e ar th a nd

s an ds a bs or b a nd d es tr oy t he f ai ry s pe ll . Gl in da i s a f ai ry j us t a s Oz ma

i s , a nd f ai ri es , y ou k no w, a re c re at ur es o f t he l ig ht a nd a ir , a nd i t i s

t he re t ha t t he ir p ow er s a re t he s tr on ge st ." T he b ea ve r K in g t he n h an de d o ut

C lo ak s o f t he s hi mm er in g m at er ia l t o a ll o f t he m. T he re w as a t in y o ne t ha t

f it te d T wi ff le per fe ct ly. T he t we nt y young bea ve rs ope ne d t he ir kna ps ac ks

a nd dre w f rom t he m t he ir own C loaks of V is ibil it y, w hi ch t he y a dj us te d

a b ou t t he ms el ve s. " We a re n ow r ea dy t o t es t t he p ow er o f t he C lo ak s," s ai d

t he b ea ve r K in g. " Th ey s ho ul d n ot o nl y m ak e u s v is ib le , b ut s ho ul d e na bl e

us t o s ee t he i nvis ible ." T wi nk t hought s he det ec te d t he s li ghte st t re mor

i n t he Ki ng 's v oi ce . I t wa s n o w on de r, s he t ho ug ht , f or s o m uc h d ep en de d o n

t ho se c lo ak s h e h ad m ad e.

O nc e a ga in t he y proce eded i nt o t he t unne l, t hi s t im e hol di ng t he ir bre at hs

w it h e xc it em ent. W ould t he C loaks of V is ibil it y w or k? O ne , t wo, t hr ee ,

f ou r, f iv e s te ps a nd t he y f ou nd t he ms el ve s w at ch in g o ne a no th er t o s ee i f

t he y w er e s ti ll vis ible .20S ix, s even, e ight , nine, t en s te ps , but no one

bre at he d f re el y unt il t he y had c over ed t we nt y s te ps . T he y a ll w er e s ti ll





vis ible ! A nd t he y c ould s ee t he t unne l w al ls . T he C loaks of V is ibil it y

w or ke d per fe c tl y. E ager ly, t he t we nt y young bea ver s t ook t he l ea d a ga in.

C H AP TE R 20

AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

" Se em s t o m e, " r em ar ke d t he S ha gg y M an a ft er t he y h ad p ro gr es se d f or s om e

dis ta nc e, " that by now w e m ay have c ross ed t he B ar ri er of I nvis ibil it y. "

" Yo u' re r ig ht ," a gr ee d t he b ea ve r K in g. " An d t ha t m ea ns w e a re n ow

j ou rn ey in g u nd er gr ou nd i n t he L an d o f O z. I t a ls o m ea ns t ha t t he C lo ak s o f

V is ib il it y a re n o l on ge r n ec es sa ry f or o ur j ou rn ey , s o I p ro po se t ha t w e

d is ca rd t he m h er e, a nd I w il l d es tr oy t he m s o t ha t t he y ma y n ev er b e u se d

b y a ny on e e ls e f or r ea ch in g t he L an d o f O z. "

E ac h o f t he t ra ve le rs r em ov ed h is s hi mm er in g c lo ak a nd p la ce d i t o n a l it tl e

p il e i n t he c en te r o f th e tu nn el . Wh en a ll t he c lo ak s w er e t he re , t he

b e av er K in g w av ed h is b ee ch wo od w an d o ve r t he l it tl e h ea p o f s il ve ry

m at er ia l, a nd i n a f la sh i t h ad v an is he d.

"Seems a shame," murmured Twink. "They were so beautiful."

B ut T wi nk f or go t t he C lo ak s a s t he y j ou rn ey ed o n. S he a nd T om c ou ld s ca rc el y

b el ie ve i t C 4 j us t o ve r t he ir h ea ds w as t he ma rv el ou s La nd o f O z. T he y

b eg an ta lk in g o f a ll t he f amo us pe op le who l iv ed i n Oz , a nd th e b oy a nd

gi rl w ou ld p ro ba bl y h av e w al ke d a ll n ig ht h ad n ot t he K in g o f t he F ai ry

B ea ve rs a nnounc ed a ft er t he y had bee n t rudging s te adil y f or m or e t ha n s ix

h o ur s, " My f ai ry p owe rs t el l me i t i s d ar k i n t he l an d a bo ve . Th at me ans we

h av e b ee n wa lk in g a ll d ay . I p ro po se we s to p a nd s le ep h er e a nd r es ume o ur

j ourney i n t he m or ni ng. W e s houl d r ea ch t he E me ra ld C it y s hort ly a ft er

noon."





T he S ha gg y M an l oo ke d a b it r ue fu ll y a t t he h ar d s to ne f lo or o f t he t un ne l.

" We ll ," he s ighe d, " in m y w ande ri ngs I have s le pt i n l es s c om fort able

p la ce s. Tw in k c an h av e m y c oa t t o r es t h er h ea d o n. "

T he bea ve r K ing c huckle d s of tl y. " Don' t w or ry, S ha ggy M an," he s ai d. " I w il l

p ro vi de b ed s f or u s. Fi rs t l et u s e nj oy a g oo d d in ne r s o t ha t we wi ll s le ep

t he m or e s ou nd ly ." A ft er t he d in ne r t wo s ma ll b ed s a nd a l ar ge o ne

m ag ic al ly a pp ea re d f or T wi nk , T om a nd S ha gg y. A lt ho ug h h e d id n ot n ee d t o

s le ep , T wi ff le w as p ro vi de d w it h a l it tl e b ed j us t h is s iz e. Th e b ea ve r

Ki ng c ur le d u p o n a s il ke n c us hi on . O th er c us hi on s w er e p ro vi de d f or t he

young bea ve r t or chbe ar er s, w ho t ook t ur ns t hr oughout t he night s le eping a nd

s t an di ng g ua rd . T he n ex t m or ni ng f ou nd t he m r ef re sh ed a nd e ag er t o b e o n

t he ir w ay t ow ar d t he E me ra ld C it y. T he t un ne l w as c oo l n ow , a nd t he y

a d va nc ed r ap id ly . T he y w er e a ll w ea ry o f t he s am en es s o f t he r oc ky t un ne l

wa lls a nd e ag er to rea ch t he Lan d of Oz .

At l as t t he y ou ng b ea ve rs wh o w er e l ea di ng t he w ay c am e t o a h al t. Fo r s ome

dis ta nc e t he t ra ve le rs had not ic ed t ha t t he t unne l had bee n gentl y s lopi ng

u pwa rd . N ow t he y h ad a rr iv ed a t i ts e nd . J us t b ef or e t he m w as a r ou nd p at ch

of earth C4 a sort of "cork" of earth that Ozma had set in the end of the

t un ne l w he re i t e me rg ed i n h er g ar de n. T he y ou ng b ea ve rs k ne w e xa ct ly w ha t

t o d o. Th ey s et t o wo rk d ig gi ng a nd b ur ro wi ng a ro un d t he ri m o f t his p at ch

o f e ar th . W he n t he y h ad l oo se ne d i t s uf fi ci en tl y, i t w ou ld r ol l b ac k i nt o

t he t un ne l, l ea vi ng f re e t he e xi t f or t he Sh ag gy M an a nd h is f ri en ds t o

e me rge f rom t he under gr ound pas sa ge .

T wi nk a nd T om w at ched i n f as ci na te d s il ence w hi le t he bea ve rs w or ke d. T he y

w e re a ma zi ngly f as t a nd s ki ll ful. T he ir paw s f ai rl y f le w a s t he y s cooped





ou t t he e ar th a nd t he n b ru sh ed i t f ro m b eh in d t he m w it h t he ir w id e, f la t

t ai ls . I n a f ew mo re s ec on ds t he b ea ve rs wo ul d b e t hr ou gh t he e ar th . Th e

b e av er K in g wa rn ed h is c om ra de s t o s te p b ac k i n t he t un ne l, a s t he e ar th

w as a bo ut t o c om e t um bl in g d ow n.

Th er e wa s a c re ak in g a nd c ra sh in g o f e ar th a nd s to ne s, a nd t he b ea ve rs

das he d t o s af et y. S udde nl y l oud r oa rs of m ingl ed a nger a nd f ri ght f il le d

t he t un ne l. S it ti ng o n t he p il e o f e ar th t ha t h ad c ra sh ed d ow n i nt o t he

t unne l a nd gla ri ng a t t he m f ri ghtf ul ly w hi le he r oa re d w as a n e norm ous

beast.

C H AP TE R 21

T HE W IZ AR D I S E XC IT ED

T he g re at b ea st t ha t h ad p lu ng ed i nt o t he t un ne l s ud de nl y s to pp ed r oa ri ng ,

s ho ok t he g ra ve l a nd d ir t f ro m h is m an e a nd b ac k a nd s ai d c al ml y, " I' m

s ur pr is ed a t y ou , S ha gg y M an ! W ha t d o y ou m ea n b y d ig gi ng h ol es i n O zm a' s

gar de n a nd l ea vi ng t he m ope n f or uns us pe ct ing f ol ks t o f al l i nt o? I m ight

v er y e as il y h av e b ro ke n a l eg o r f ra ct ur ed a p aw ."

Th e S ha gg y M an w as g ri nn in g b ro ad ly . " Te n t o o ne y ou w er e r un ni ng a wa y f ro m

s om et hi ng i n a n e ff or t t o w or k u p y ou r w el l- kn ow n b ut c ar ef ul c ou ra ge t o

t he p oi nt o f f ig ht in g. " T he h ug e l io n l oo ke d d own a t t he g ro un d i n

embarrassment.

" Yo u s ee m t o k no w t hi s g re at b ea st ," s ai d t he b ea ve r Ki ng , wh o h ad b ee n

regarding the sudden entrant into the tunnel with intense curiosity.

" In de ed I d o! " r ep li ed t he S ha gg y M an . " He 's a n o ld f ri en d o f m in e a nd q ui te

h ar ml ess C 4 if h e i s y ou r fr ie nd . Fo r th is , y ou s ee, is t he f amo us

C ow ar dl y L ion of O z. "





T wi nk a nd T om h ad b ee n s ta ri ng w it h f as ci na ti on a t t he h ug e l io n. I t w as t he

f irst time th ey ha d eve r c ome face t o face with so g rea t a b eas t, an d

a lt ho ug h t he y h ad r ea d s o m uc h a bo ut t he f am ou s C ow ar dl y L io n o f O z t ha t

t he y r ec og ni ze d h im , h e h ad l oo ke d s o f ie rc e w he n h e h ad f al le n i nt o t he

t un ne l t ha t t he y w ou ld s ur el y h av e b ee n f ri gh te ne d h ad i t n ot b ee n f or

S ha ggy' s r ea ss ur ing w or ds . " I don't know w ha t t hi s i s a ll a bout , S ha ggy, "

s ig he d t he l io n. " I wa s t old Oz ma h ad s en t y ou o ut o f t he c ou nt ry o n a n

errand for h er, and now you turn up in a hole in her garden with a group of

strange people and animals."

" It c an a ll b e e xp la in ed ," s oo th ed t he S ha gg y M an . " Me an wh il e, d o y ou t hi nk

y ou c an h el p u s o ut o f h ere ?"

" Of c ours e, " r epli ed t he C ow ar dl y L ion. " Any f ri ends of yours a re f ri ends of

m ine. J us t c li mb on m y bac k a nd you w il l have no dif fi cult y i n pul li ng

yours el ve s t o l evel ground. T hose l it tl e a ni ma ls don't bit e, do t he y? " T he

g re at l io n l oo ke d a nx io us ly a t t he b ea ve r' s s ha rp t ee th . W it h a l au gh ,

S ha gg y a ss ur ed h im h e h ad n ot hi ng t o f ea r.

T he b ea ve rs a nd t he ir K in g w en t f ir st , f ol lo we d b y T wi nk a nd T om , w ho f ou nd

t he l ion' s c oa t t o be del ight full y t hi ck a nd s of t, a nd f inal ly be T wi ff le

a nd t he S ha gg y M an . T he C ow ar dl y L io n l ea pe d f ro m t he t un ne l a nd s ur ve ye d

S ha ggy a nd his f ri ends . " Chil dr en, a ni ma ls , a w oode n c lown C 4 a ll poppi ng

u p f ro m w ha t I n ow p er ce iv e i s t he No me Ki ng 's tu nn el a nd n ot j us t a h ol e

i n t he g ro un d a s I t ho ug ht w he n I f ir st t um bl ed i nt o i t. T el l me , S ha gg y,

h av e y ou h ad t ro ub le w it h t he N om e Ki ng a ga in ?"

S ha gg y s ta rt ed t o r el at e h is a dv en tu re s, b ut a ft er a f ew w or ds t he C ow ar dl y

L io n i nt er ru pt ed h im. " Th at c an w ai t. Y ou c an t el l m e a ll a bo ut i t l at er .





T he i mp or ta nt t hin g i s t ha t y ou a re h er e s af ely a nd C4 I a lm os t f org ot C4

t he re i s ple nt y goi ng on her e! "

" Wh at d o y ou m ea n? " a sk ed t he S ha gg y M an .

" We ll , t o t el l t he t ru th , I w as r un ni ng b ec au se I w as f ri gh te ne d. T he n t he

g ro un d g av e w ay b en ea th m e a nd I f el l i nt o t he t un ne l. "

" But w hy w er e you f ri ghte ne d? " per si st ed t he S ha ggy M an.

" So me th in g i s g oi ng o n i n t he R oy al P al ac e t ha t I d on 't u nd er st an d. T he

W iz ar d i s v er y e xc it ed . H e c la im s s om eo ne h as s to le n h is B la ck B ag o f M ag ic

T oo ls a nd l oc ke d t he d oo r o f t he t ow er t ha t l ea ds t o h is m ag ic w or ks ho p s o

h e c an 't g et i n. I o ve rh ea rd h im t el li ng D or ot hy a bo ut i t, a nd t he y b ot h

s ee me d v er y u ps et . I d ec id ed I h ad b et te r h id e s om ew he re u nt il I h ad

g at he re d e no ug h c ou ra ge t o l ea d a n a tt ac k o n t he e ne my ."

Th e S ha gg y M an s mi le d t o h im se lf . " Yo u c om e w it h u s, " h e s ai d t o t he Li on .

" Fi rs t, I w an t y ou t o m ee t my f ri en ds , T wi nk , To m, Tw if fl e a nd t he Ki ng o f

t he Fa ir y B ea ve rs . Th en w e m us t f in d t he Wi za rd a nd D or ot hy a nd s ee w ha t

t hi s i s a ll a bout ."

T he C ow ar dl y L ion a cknowl edge d t he i nt roduct ion s o c or di al ly t ha t T wi nk a nd

T om f el t a s i f t he y h ad b ee n f ri en ds f or y ea rs . T he y a ll w al ke d t hr ou gh t he

b ea ut if ul g ar de ns o f O zm a' s R oy al P al ac e u nt il t he y c am e t o a l ar ge F re nc h

d oo r l ea di ng i nt o a s tu dy . H er e, b y a s tr ok e o f g oo d l uc k, t he y f ou nd

P ri nc es s D or ot hy a nd t he W iz ar d o f O z d ee p i n c on ve rs at io n. D or ot hy a nd t he

W i za rd l oo ke d u p i n a ma ze me nt a s S ha gg y a nd h is s tr an ge ly a ss or te d b an d o f

f oll ow er s t ra il ed i nt o t he s tudy. I nt roduct ions w er e m ade a ga in, a nd t hi s

t im e T wi nk a nd T om w er e v er y n ea rl y t on gu e- ti ed a s t he y r ea li ze d t he y w er e

a ct ua ll y i n t he co mp an y o f a r eal Pr in ce ss o f t he Fai ry la nd o f Oz a nd t he

o n e a nd o nl y Wi za rd o f O z. B ut D or ot hy w as s o f ri en dl y a nd s we et t ha t t he







" I j us t c an 't u nd er st an d i t, " s ai d t he W iz ar d, r ub bi ng h is b al d h ea d i n

perplexity.

" We ll , c an 't w e b re ak d ow n t he d oo r t o t he t ow er ?" a sk ed D or ot hy .

" Pe rh ap s w e c ou ld , b ut t he re a re s ix o th er d oo rs a ft er t ha t o ne b ef or e m y

m ag ic w or kr oo m c an b e r ea ch ed . A nd a ll a re p ro te ct ed b y m y o wn m ag ic !"

gr oane d t he W iz a rd.

" Ar e t he re n o o th er m ag ic t oo ls t ha t c an b e u se d? " i nq ui re d S ha gg y.

"N one, " s ai d t he W iz ar d des pondentl y. " Oz ma t ook D or ot hy's M agic B el t w it h

h er wh en s he we nt t o v is it Gl in da , s o we a re h el ple ss f or t he mo me nt .

T wi ff le had bee n l is te ni ng w it h gre at i nt er es t. N ow he s ai d, " Te ll m e, w as

t he l it tl e m an w ho s ud de nl y a pp ea re d q ui te f at a nd b al d s av e f or a f ri ng e

o f wh it e h ai r? A nd d id h e h av e b lu e e ye s a nd a s ort o f c he rr y- li ke n os e? "

" Wh y, y es , t ha t d es cr ib es h im q ui te we ll , f ro m t he g li mp se I h ad o f h im ,"

said the Wizard thoughtfully.

" I t hi nk," T wi ff le w ent on c al ml y, " that i f you had had t he oppor tuni ty t o

o bs er ve h im m or e c lo se ly , y ou w ou ld h av e s ee n t ha t h e w or e o n h is w ri st

Ozma's Magic Compass!"

C H AP TE R 22

CONJO IN CONTROL

"C on jo !" e xc la im ed t he S ha gg y M an . " Of c ou rs e t ha t' s w ho i t i s. H e u se d

O zm a' s M ag ic C om pa ss t o b ri ng h im t o t he E me ra ld C it y a nd t he n s ta rt ed h is

mischief!"

" I wo nd er wh at h e wa nts , wh at h is p ur po se i s in h idi ng my Bla ck Ba g a nd t he n

l oc ki ng him se lf i n t he t ow er ," m us ed t he W iz ar d.

" Pe rh ap s, " s ai d D or ot hy , " It w ou ld b e a g oo d t hi ng i t T wi ff le t ol d u s a ll h e







jacks."

" W ha t d o y ou w an t? " a sk ed t he W iz ar d q ui et ly . " Wh y h av e y ou h id de n m y B la ck

B ag o f M ag ic T oo ls a nd s hu t m e o ff f ro m m y M ag ic W or kr oo m? "

"Y ou s ho ul d b e a bl e t o f ig ur e t ha t o ut ," r ep li ed C on jo . " I h ad t o d o t ha t t o

r en de r y ou h el pl es s. W it ho ut y ou r m ag ic y ou a re p ow er le ss t o d ef en d

y ou rs el ves . I n ow h ave a t my co mma nd a ll of y ou r ma gic as we ll as my o wn .

So I rath er think y ou will be glad enough to do as I say."

" An d j us t w ha t i s t ha t? " a sk ed t he W iz ar d.

" Fr om n ow o n," s ai d Co nj o, " $$ I& & a m t he W iz ar d o f Oz , a nd $ $y ou && ," C on jo

poi nt ed t o t he W iz ar d, " ar e m y a ss is ta nt ."

D or ot hy g as pe d a t t he a ud ac it y o f t he l it tl e m an , w hi le t he S ha gg y M an

laughed aloud. The Wizard could only whisper unbelievingly, "$$You&& want

t o b e $ $m e& &? "

" No ," s ai d C on jo , w ho s ee me d r el ax ed n ow a nd e nj oy in g t he c on st er na ti on h e

h ad c au sed , "I wan t t o be t he $ $Wiza rd o f Oz && C4 i t's o nly a titl e, y ou

k now, and I deserv e i t jus t as much as you . I'm tired of be ing a wizard

n ob od y kn ows ab out . Now I hav e all y ou r ma gic , so wh o is th ere t o sa y I am

n ot the Wiz ard of Oz? Ho, ho , h o, ha, ha, he, he, he !" The little man

seemed vastly amused.

"Ozma will have something to say about this," said Dorothy indignantly. "If

y ou t hi nk s he 'l l l et y ou c om e i n h er e a nd s te al a ll t he W iz ar d' s m ag ic a nd

t he n t ry to s te al h is n ame o n t op o f al l t hat , y ou 'r e v er y b ad ly mi st ak en ."

" I' ll t ak e c ar e o f O zm a w he n t he t im e c om es . A ft er a ll , s he 's o nl y a g ir l, "

s aid Co njo e asi ly. "An d no w, i f yo u' ll e xc us e me , I t hi nk I' ll g o u p a nd

st ud y t he Wi za rd 's ma gi c. Pl ea se s et a p la ce f or m e a t d in ne r; I s ha ll b e

q ui te h un gr y. A nd d on 't b ot he r t o l oo k f or t he W iz ar d' s B la ck B ag . Y ou 'l l





n ever find it. Ha, ha , ha, ho , ho, h e, he, h e!"

C on jo wa s a bo ut t o c lo se t he d oo r w he n t he K in g o f t he Fa ir y B ea ve rs r ai se d

h is b ee ch wo od w an d. F ro m t he t ip o f i t c am e a s tr ea m o f wa te r t ha t p la ye d

d ir ec tl y o n C on jo 's f ac e. C on jo g as pe d a nd s pu tt er ed , o pe ne d h is m ou th t o

c ry o ut , a nd t he s tr ea m o f w at er f il le d h is m ou th . H e c ho ke d a nd s wa ll ow ed

a l ar ge a mount of t he w at er . I mm edia te ly t he s tr ea m c ea se d f lowi ng f rom t he

b ea ve r K in g' s w an d. C on jo s ta re d a t t he m a ll w it h i nn oc en t w on de r i n h is

eyes.

" W he re a m I ?" h e s ai d.

C H AP TE R 23

T W IF FL E S AY S G O OD BY E

C on jo w an de re d f ro m t he d oo rw ay o f t he t ow er t ow ar d t he W iz ar d a nd h is

f ri end s. "Do y ou k no w wh o I am ?" h e a sk ed t he Wi za rd a mi ab ly . Th en th e f at

l it tl e m an s aw t he young bea ve rs . H e i mm edia te ly s ea te d him se lf on t he

f lo or a nd c al le d t o t he a ni ma ls t o p la y w it h h im .

" I t hi nk h is M aj es ty , t he K in g o f t he F ai ry B ea ve rs , c an e xp la in w ha t h as

h a pp en ed t o C on jo ," s ai d t he W iz ar d.

" It i s v er y s imp le ," r epl ie d th e b ea ver Ki ng . " As I h av e t ol d y ou , I a m

p r of ic ie nt i n wa te r m ag ic . So w he n I s aw t ha t C on jo c ou ld n ot b e t al ke d o ut

o f h is m is ch ie vo us ne ss a nd t ha t h e m ea nt f ur th er t ro ub le , I d ir ec te d a

s tr ea m o f w at er t hr ou gh m y F ai ry W an d t ow ar d C on jo . T he w at er c am e f ro m

Ozma's Fountain of Oblivion."

" Th en C on jo h as f or go tt en a ll h is b ad w ay s a nd a ll h is m ag ic p ow er s? " a sk ed

Dorothy.





" Ye s, " r ep li ed t he b ea ve r K in g. "H e i s n ow a s h ar ml es s a s a c hi ld . Th e wa te r

of t he F ount ai n of O bl ivion i s t ruly w onde rf ul . W it h O zm a' s gra ci ous

p ermi ss io n I s hal l t ak e a q ua nti ty o f i t b ac k to my k ing dom wi th me wh en I

return."

" You have t he per mi ss ion now , your M aj es ty," s ai d a gir li sh voi ce .

A ll e ye s t ur ne d t o t he t hr on e f ro m w hi ch t he v oi ce c am e. T he re s at O zm a,

r egar di ng t he m w it h a qui et s mi le . " I r et ur ne d onl y a m om ent a go," O zm a

s ai d, " ju st i n t im e t o s ee t he o ut co me o f C on jo 's a mb it io us s ch em es a nd t o

gr an t t he r eq ue st o f o ur g oo d f ri en d t he Ki ng o f t he Fa ir y B ea ve rs . I a m

s ur e h e wi ll u se t he w at er f ro m t he Fo un ta in o f Ob li vi on w is el y a nd w el l. "

" Th en y ou k no w a ll a bo ut o ur a dv en tu re s? " a sk ed t he S ha gg y M an .

" Ye s, " r ep li ed O zm a. " Gl in da a nd I f in is he d o ur t as ks o n w hi ch w e h av e b ee n

w or ki ng s te ad il y, a nd o nl y a f ew m in ut es a go w e h ur ri ed t o o pe n G li nd a' s

Gr ea t B oo k o f R ec or ds a nd b ro ug ht o ur se lv es u p t o d at e o n w ha t h as h ap pe ne d

to y ou , S ha gg y, a nd y ou r f ri en ds , a s w el l a s t he e ve nt s t ra ns pi ri ng h er e i n

t he Em er al d C it y d ur in g m y a bs en ce . N ow t ha t w e a re t og et he r, I a m h ap py t o

gre et a ll m y f ri ends old a nd new ," O zm a c oncl uded, s mi li ng a t T wi nk a nd

Tom.

Th e W iz ar d s te pp ed t o t he s id e o f C on jo , wh o w as s ti ll s ea te d o n t he t hr on e

r oo m f lo or p ra tt li ng t o t he b ea ve rs . H e r ea ch ed d ow n a nd u nf as te ne d f ro m

C onjo's w ri st O zm a' s M agic C om pa ss . T he G ir l R ul er r ec ei ve d t he m agic

i ns tr um en t g ra ve ly , h er e ye s u po n C on jo . " I w on de r, " s he s ai d, " wh at w e

s ho uld d o wi th h im. He is q uit e h ar ml es s n ow, b ut we d on' t wa nt h im to

l ea rn h is o ld , b ad w ay s a ga in ."

H er e T wi ff le s te pped f or wa rd. " Your H ighnes s, " t he l it tl e c lown began, " if I

m ay m ak e a s ug ge st io n. I h av e k no wn C on jo l on ge r t ha n a ny on e e ls e h er e. H e





i s no t rea lly a b ad man . His t hre ats a re wors e tha n hi s de eds . Mos t of th e

t im e h e i s q ui te j ov ia l a nd p le as an t. He l ov es h is ma gi c a nd h is w iz ar dr y

a nd wants to sho w o ff. Now that he h as a chance to begin all ov er again , if

h e l ea rn ed e ve ry th in g a ga in e xc ep t v an it y a nd i f h e h ad t he r ig ht g ui de , I

b el ie ve i t i s p os si bl e t ha t h e m ig ht b ec om e a g oo d w iz ar d. "

" And you w ant t o be t ha t gui de ," s ai d O zm a, s mi li ng kindl y a t T wi ff le . " What

do you t hi nk, W iz ar d? "

" I bel ie ve T wi ff le i s r ight ," s ai d t he W iz ar d. " Conj o nee ds s om eone t o hel p

h im n ow , a nd T wi ff le s ee ms t he p er so n t o d o i t. "

"I am very fond of my old home on the island, and I would like to help

Conjo," said Twiffle simply.

" Fo r m y p ar t, Tw if fl e i s a b ri ck ," p ut i n t he Sh ag gy M an h ea rt il y.

" Th en i t i s d ec id ed ," r ep li ed O zm a. " I w il l u se t he M ag ic B el t t o s en d C on jo

a nd T wi ff le b ac k t o t he I sl e o f C on jo . T he re T wi ff le w il l h el p C on jo t o

be come a t horoughl y good w iz ar d. H er e, T wi ff le ," O zm a r em oved a s ma ll

gol de n r ing f rom her f inge r a nd hande d i t t o T wi ff le . " Ke ep t hi s r ing w it h

y ou a lw ay s. S ho ul d C on jo e ve r a ga in c au se a ny m is ch ie f, o r s ho ul d y ou n ee d

a ny h el p, j us t r ub t hi s r in g a nd y ou w il l b e t ra ns po rt ed i mm ed ia te ly t o

w he re ve r I m ay b e. "

"Thank you, your Majesty," said Twiffle, looking at Ozma gratefully.

T wi ff le t he n b ad e a f on d f ar ew el l t o T wi nk a nd To m, t he S ha gg y M an , t he K in g

o f t he F ai ry B ea ve rs , a nd a ll h is o th er n ew f ri en ds . W he n h e h ad f in is he d,

O zm a p la ce d h er h an ds o n t he M ag ic B el t a nd m ur mu re d a c om ma nd .

Tw in k a nd T om l oo ke d a bo ut t he t hr on e r oo m. C on jo a nd T wi ff le w er e n ow he re

t o b e s ee n. Th e c hi ld re n k ne w t he y w ou ld m is s t he l it tl e t oy c lo wn . B ut





p er ha ps h e w ou ld c om e t o t he ir h om e s om et im es t o v is it h is t hi rd c ou si n,

Twoffle.

C H AP TE R 24

T WINK AND TOM IN OZ

T he r em ai nd er o f t he d ay w as g iv en o ve r t o s ig ht se ei ng f or T wi nk , T om , t he

K in g o f t he F ai ry B ea ve rs , a nd t he y ou ng b ea ve rs . D or ot hy a nd t he S ha gg y

M an l oa de d t he p ar ty i nt o t he R ed W ag on , wh ic h wa s d ra wn b y t he Sa wh or se ,

a nd c on du ct ed t he ir g ue st s o n a t ou r o f t he b ea ut if ul C it y o f E me ra ld s a nd

t he n ea rb y c ou nt ry si de . W he n t he y r ea ch ed t he g at es o f t he E me ra ld C it y,

t he Sh ag gy M an o rd er ed t he S aw ho rs e t o s to p wh il e h e, w it h t he a id o f O mb y

A mb y, a b ri gh t n ew n ai l a nd a h am me r, p ro ud ly r es to re d t he L ov e M ag ne t t o

i ts p os it io n o ve r t he e nt ra nc e t o t he c it y. Th e c om pa ny t he n d ro ve o ut t o

c al l on M is s C ut te nc li p a nd her f am ous vil la ge w hose i nhabit ants w er e

a rt fu ll y c ut o ut o f m ag ic p ap er a nd m ov ed a bo ut a nd t al ke d l ik e l iv in g

peopl e. N ext t he y vis it ed P rofe ss or W oggl ebug i n his C ol le ge , w he re t he

students learned their lessons by swallowing sugar-coated pills.

On t he r et ur n j ou rn ey t he y me t t he Sc ar ec ro w, w ho h ad b ee n s pe nd in g t he d ay

w it h a M un ch ki n F ar me r f or t he p ur po se o f b ei ng r es tu ff ed w it h f re sh n ew

s tr aw C 4 a ll e xc ep t h is h ea d, o f c ou rs e, w hi ch w as f il le d w it h t he

ma rvel ous bra ins t he W iz ar d had given him . T wi nk a nd T om w er e del ight ed

w it h t hi s droll per sona ge , w ho t ook a n i ns ta nt l iking t o t he m.

Th at e ve ni ng th er e was a g re at di nn er i n h on or o f Twi nk , To m a nd t he Kin g o f

t he F ai ry B ea ve rs . M an y o f t he m os t f am ou s p er so na ge s o f O z w er e t he re .

A mo ng t he se w er e t he P at ch wo rk G ir l, t he T in W oo dm an C 4 w ho h ad t ra ve le d

f ro m h is t in c as tl e i n t he W in ki e c ou nt ry f or t he o cc as io n C 4 P ri nc es s





O za na , t he C ow ar dl y L ion a nd t he H ungr y T iger , O jo, B ut ton B ri ght, B et sy

B ob bi n, T ro t, C ap 'n B il l, t he W oo zy , a nd m an y, m an y o th er s.

I t w as a w on de rf ul d in ne r, a nd T wi nk a nd T om w er e f as ci na te d b y a ll t he

c ur ious a nd unusual per sona li ti es . T he t wi ns f el t a s i f t he y w er e a mong old

f r ie nd s, s in ce t he y h ad r ea d s o mu ch a bo ut t he f am ou s p eo pl e o f Oz a nd

t he ir e xc it in g a dv en tu re s. O n s uc h o cc as io ns a s t hi s i t w as a lw ay s t he

c us to m of t he Wiz ar d to p ut o n a d is pl ay o f h is ma gic . To ni gh t h e d id n ot .

I n f ac t, t he L it tl e W iz ar d s ee me d s il ent a nd w or ri ed t hr oughout t he dinne r.

A s t he g ue st s b eg an t o l ea ve t he t ab le , t he W iz ar d a pp ro ac he d O zm a

u nh ap pi ly . " I c an 't i ma gi ne w ha t Co nj o d id w it h m y B la ck B ag o f M ag ic

T oo ls ," h e s ai d. " We s ho ul d h av e q ue st io ne d h im b ef or e y ou s en t h im b ac k t o

th e I sl e o f C on jo ."

O zm a s ho ok h er h ea d. " Th at wo ul d h av e d on e n o g oo d. Co nj o l os t a ll m emo ry o f

h is f or me r a ct io ns wh en h e d ra nk o f t he wa te rs o f th e Fo un ta in o f

Oblivion."

T he onl y other s r em ai ni ng a round t he t able now w er e D or ot hy, S ha ggy, T wi nk,

T om a nd t he b ea ve r Ki ng . " Di d y ou l oo k i n t he Ma gi c Pi ct ur e t o s ee wh er e

C on jo m ig ht h av e h id de n t he B la ck B ag ?" O zm a a sk ed .

"N o, " s ai d t he W iz ar d. " We w er e s o e xc it ed a nd t hi ng s h ap pe ne d s o s wi ft ly

t ha t w e n ev er t ho ug ht o f t he M ag ic P ic tu re ."

" Then l et us c onsult t he pic ture i mm edia te ly," s ai d O zm a. T he G ir l R ul er

r ose a nd motio ned t he res t t o foll ow h er as sh e mad e her way to h er sui te

of r oo ms a nd t he M ag ic P ic tu re .

C H AP TE R 25





T HE B LA CK B AG O F M AG IC T OO LS

O zm a s we pt t he v el ve t d ra pe f ro m t he M ag ic P ic tu re . T he re w as t he f am il ia r

s c en e t ha t a pp ea re d wh en t he P ic tu re w as n ot i n u se : a p ea ce fu l O z

c ount rysi de w it h r ol li ng f ie lds a nd hil ls a nd a l ar ge t re e growi ng i n t he

f or eg ro un d. " Sh ow u s t he W iz ar d' s B la ck B ag o f M ag ic T oo ls ," O zm a s ai d.

T he re w as n o c ha ng e i n t he p ic tu re . " Wh at c an b e w ro ng ?" w hi sp er ed D or ot hy

soberly.

" Pe rha ps t he M agic P ic ture c an onl y s how $$people && a nd not $$things && ,"

s ug ge st ed t he S ha gg y M an . " I d on 't r ec al l o ur e ve r h av in g a sk ed i t t o s ho w

a n $$obj ec t && be for e. "

O zm a' s f ac e w as puz zl ed. S he w as s ta ri ng i nt entl y a t t he f am il ia r pic ture .

" No ," s he s ai d q ui et ly . " I t hi nk t he M ag ic P ic tu re i s d oi ng i ts b es t t o

s ho w u s t he B la ck B ag r ig ht n ow ." E ve ry on e l oo ke d a t O zm a i n a st on is hm en t.

T he re w as not hi ng i n t he M agic P ic ture t ha t l ooke d a nything l ike t he B la ck

B ag . I t w as m er el y t he o ld f am il ia r s ce ne t ha t t he m ag ic p ic tu re s ho we d

w he n i t wa s n ot i n u se . " Co nj o wa s v er y c le ver in a wa y," s aid Oz ma . " He

h id t he Bl ac k Ba g b y m ea ns o f h is wi za rd p owe rs i n a p la ce w he re f ew p eo pl e

w ou ld t hi nk t o l oo k. B ut h e f or go t t ha t t he M ag ic Pi ct ur e i s m y o wn f ai ry

c re at io n, a nd I u nd er st an d i ts m ag ic b et te r t ha n a ny on e e ls e. "

T he L it tl e R ul er pause d, s aying t o t hose a round her . " Wa tc h t hi s c lose ly,

n ow ." Sh e m ur mu re d a f ai ry c ha rm s o s of tl y t ha t n on e o f t he g ro up c ou ld

dis ti ngui sh t he w or ds . S om et hi ng w as m oving i n t he M agic P ic ture . F rom

b eh in d t he t ru nk o f t he t re e t ha t a ro se i n th e f or eg ro un d o f t he p ic tu re

sl ip pe d a s ma ll , b la ck o bj ec t. I t g re w l ar ge r a nd l ar ge r u nt il i t f il le d a

q ua rt er o f t he p ic tu re . T he n i t f el l o ut o f t he p ic tu re f ra me t o t he f lo or .

I t w as t he Wi za rd 's Bl ac k B ag o f Ma gi c To ol s!





T he L it tl e W iz ar d l ea pe d f or wa rd a nd gra te full y s ei ze d his pre ci ous B la ck

Ba g. " So C on jo h id i t b eh in d t he t re e i n t he M ag ic P ic tu re !" h e e xc la im ed .

C H AP TE R 26

T WI NK A ND T OM H OM E A GA IN

"I t i s g ro wi ng q ui te l at e, " O zm a s ai d, t ur ni ng t o Tw in k a nd T om , " an d I a m

s ur e y ou c hi ld re n m us t b e t ir ed a ft er t he s tr en uo us a dv en tu re s o f t he d ay ."

T he Li tt le R ul er p au se d a nd t he n a dd ed , " I k no w, t oo , t ha t y ou a re a nx io us

t o r et ur n h om e t o y ou r p ar en ts ."

T wi nk n od de d. " Ye s, y ou r H ig hn es s, " s he s ai d. " We h av e h ad a w on de rf ul t im e

in Oz, and we love you all ve ry de arly, but we must go home as soo n as we

can."

"T wi nk 's r ig ht ," a gr ee d T om . " We h av e h ad a g re at t im e, a nd I w ou ld n' t h av e

m is se d i t f or a nything, but w e bel ong a t hom e i n B uf fa lo."

O zm a s mi le d her m os t c ha rm ing s mi le . " Ve ry w el l, " s he s ai d. " We w il l s ay

g oo db ye n ow . T he n D or ot hy a nd t he S ha gg y M an w il l s ho w y ou t o y ou r r oo m,

w he re b ed s a re p re pa re d f or y ou . W hi le y ou s le ep , I wi ll u se t he M ag ic B el t

t o t ra ns po rt y ou t o y ou r b ed s i n y ou r o wn h om e. " Tw in k a nd To m b ad e

g oo dn ig ht a nd g oo db ye t o O zm a a nd t he K in g o f t he F ai ry B ea ve rs . T he l it tl e

a ni ma l h ad a cc ep te d Oz ma 's in vi ta ti on t o b e h er g ue st a s l on g a s h e fe lt h e

c ould a bs ent him se lf f rom his K ingdom . T he n D or ot hy a nd t he S ha ggy M an l ed

T wi nk a nd T om t o o ne o f t he m os t b ea ut if ul s le ep in g r oo ms t he c hi ld re n h ad

ev er s ee n. T he f ou r t al ke d t og et he r f or a s ho rt t im e, a ft er w hi ch D or ot hy

a nd S ha ggy s ai d f ar ew el l a nd s li pped qui et ly f rom t he r oom.

I t h ad b ee n a l on g, e xc it in g d ay , a nd T wi nk a nd T om h ad n o d if fi cu lt y





Documents

The Shaggy Man of Oz - L. Frank Baum