The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The four friends walked up to the gate and Dorothy rang
the bell. Soon, the Guardian of the Gate came out.
"So you have come back," he said. "I thought that you
went to see the Wicked Witch of the West."
"We did," the Scarecrow said. "And now we are back."
"How did you get away from the Wicked Witch of the
West?" the Guardian asked.
"Dorothy threw water over her and she melted," the
Scarecrow explained. "That was the end of her."
"The Wicked Witch of the West is dead? That is
wonderful news! Oz will be very pleased," the Guardian said.
"The soldier will take you to the Palace."
As the friends walked through the Emerald City, a great
crowd of people came into the streets to watch them. The
people had learned that the Wicked Witch of the West was
dead. They knew that Dorothy had melted her and they
wanted to see the girl.
The friends were taken to their rooms in the Palace. The
news about the Wicked Witch was sent to the Great Oz.
Dorothy and her friends waited for several days, but Oz
did not send for them. Then the Scarecrow became tired of
waiting.
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"Tell Oz this," the Scarecrow said to the green girl.
"Dorothy has the Golden Cap. If Oz does not see us
tomorrow, Dorothy will call the Winged Monkeys. They will
know what to do."
Oz was very frightened of the Winged Monkeys. He
promised to see the four friends at nine o'clock the next
morning.
This time, they all went into the Throne Room together.
They looked around, but they could not see the Great Oz
anywhere. In the room was a throne, a few chairs and a
screen. Then they heard a Voice.
"I am Oz, the Great and the Terrible," the Voice said.
"Where are you, Great Oz?" Dorothy asked.
"I am everywhere," the Voice said. "What do you want?"
"You wanted me to kill the Wicked Witch," Dorothy said
bravely. "Well, I have killed her. Now you must send me
back to Kansas, as you promised."
"You promised me brains," said the Scarecrow.
"You promised me a heart," said the Tin Man.
"I was promised courage," said the Cowardly Lion.
"Did I make all those promises?" the Voice said. "Well, the
Wicked Witch is dead! I must have time to think."
"But I want my courage NOW!" the Cowardly Lion said,
"And I WILL have it!"
He was so angry that he gave a great roar. The roar was so
frightening that Toto jumped away from him. The little dog
knocked over the screen. Behind the screen was a little old
man.
The Tin Man ran towards the man and raised his axe.
"Who are you?" the Tin Man cried. "Where is Oz?"
"I am Oz," the little old man said. "Please don't hit me.
People think that I am a Great Wizard, but I'm only a man."
"Then you are a HUMBUG76," the Tin Man said. "You
have told lies and deceived77 everyone for years."
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