Chapter 11. The Wonderful City of Oz

Even with their eyes shielded by green glasses, Dorothy and her friends were initially dazzled. The beauty of the amazing City was blinding. The streets were full of beautiful green marble houses. Each house was dotted with gleaming emeralds.

They walked on a pavement of the same green marble. The joint areas of the blocks were adorned with rows of emeralds. These emeralds were set closely and sparkled under the sun's brightness. The windows were made of green glass.

Even the sky above the City had a green hue. The sun's rays were also green.

The City was bustling with people - men, women, and children. All were dressed in green and had green-tinged skin.

They curiously looked at Dorothy and her strange, diverse company. Seeing the Lion, the children ran away, hiding behind their mothers. Yet, nobody spoke to Dorothy and her companions.


Many stores were on the street, and everything in them was green. Green candies and green popcorn were for sale. Green shoes, hats, and various types of clothes were also available.

One man was selling green lemonade. Dorothy noticed that they paid with green coins when the children bought it.

There were no horses or animals of any kind to be seen. Men moved things around in small green carts that they pushed in front of them. Everyone looked happy, content, and wealthy.

The Guardian of the Gates guided them through the streets. They arrived at a large building right in the center of the City. It was the Palace of Oz, the residence of the Great Wizard. A soldier was standing before the door. He had a green uniform and a long green beard.

"Here are strangers," the Guardian of the Gates informed him, "they wish to see the Great Oz."

"Step inside," the soldier replied, "I'll take your message to him."

They entered the Palace Gates and were led into a big room. It had a green carpet and beautiful green furniture adorned with emeralds. Before entering, the soldier had them wipe their feet on a green mat.

"Please make yourselves comfortable. I will go to the door of the Throne Room and inform Oz that you are here," he said politely.

They had to wait a while before the soldier came back. When he finally returned, Dorothy asked,

"Have you seen Oz?"

"Oh, no," the soldier replied, "I have never seen him. But I spoke to him as he sat behind his screen and relayed your message.

He agreed to meet with you if you wish, but you must each see him individually. He will only meet one person per day. You will need to stay at the Palace for a few days. I will arrange for you to be taken to rooms where you can rest comfortably after your journey."


"Thank you," Dorothy replied, "Oz is very kind."

The soldier blew a green whistle. Immediately, a young girl in a lovely green silk dress entered. She had beautiful green hair and green eyes. She bowed to Dorothy and said, "Follow me, I'll show you your room."

Dorothy said goodbye to all her friends, keeping Toto in her arms. She followed the green girl through seven corridors and up three flights of stairs. They reached a room at the palace's front. It was the sweetest little room in the world, with a soft, comfortable bed with green silk sheets and a green velvet cover.

In the middle of the room was a small fountain. It sprayed a mist of green perfume that fell back into an exquisitely carved green marble basin. Beautiful green flowers adorned the windows. There was also a shelf with a row of little green books. When Dorothy looked inside these books, she found odd green images that made her laugh. They were so funny.

There were many green dresses in a wardrobe. These dresses, made of silk, satin, and velvet, fit Dorothy perfectly.

"Make yourself completely at home," said the green girl. "If you need anything, ring the bell. Oz will call for you in the morning." She left Dorothy alone and returned to the others.

She guided the others to their rooms as well. Everyone found themselves in a very comfortable part of the Palace.

But this courtesy was lost on the Scarecrow. Alone in his room, he just stood still near the doorway, waiting for morning. He didn't need rest, and he couldn't shut his eyes. So he spent the night watching a spider weave its web in a corner.

The Tin Woodman lay on his bed out of habit, recalling his flesh days. Unable to sleep, he spent the night moving his joints to ensure they were functional.

The Lion would have preferred a bed of dry leaves in the forest. He didn't like being confined in a room, but he didn't let this bother him. So he jumped on the bed, curled up like a cat, and lulled himself to sleep within a minute.

The next morning, the green girl came to get Dorothy after breakfast. She dressed her in a beautiful gown of green brocaded satin. Dorothy put on a green silk apron and tied a green ribbon around Toto's neck. Then, they set off for the Throne Room of the Great Oz.

They first arrived at a large hall. Many court ladies and gentlemen were there, all in luxurious clothes. These people had nothing else to do but converse with each other. Yet, they would always wait outside the Throne Room every morning, even though they could never see Oz.

As Dorothy entered, they curiously watched her. One quietly asked, "Are you really going to see Oz the Terrible?"

"Of course," replied the girl, "if he agrees to see me."

"Oh, He will see you," assured the soldier who had delivered her message to the Wizard.

"He doesn't like people asking to see him. He was initially angry and said I should send you back. But when I described your silver shoes, he seemed interested. After I told him about the mark on your forehead, he decided he would meet you."

Just then, a bell rang. The green girl said to Dorothy, "That's the signal. You must enter the Throne Room alone."

She opened a small door, and Dorothy bravely walked through. She found herself in a beautiful place.

It was a large, circular room with a high-arched roof. The walls, ceiling, and floor were covered with big emeralds set closely together. A bright light in the center of the roof was as luminous as the sun. This light made the emeralds shimmer brilliantly in a wonderful manner.

The large green marble throne in the middle of the room caught Dorothy's attention the most. The throne, shaped like a chair, glistened with gems, like everything else. In the center of the chair was an enormous Head, without a body, arms, or legs. No hair was on top of this Head, but it had eyes, a nose, and a mouth. It was larger than the head of the biggest giant.

As Dorothy looked at this in awe and fear, the eyes slowly turned and stared at her intently. Then the mouth moved, and Dorothy heard a voice saying,

"I am Oz, the Great and Terrible. Who are you, and why do you seek me?"

The voice wasn't as scary as she anticipated from the large Head, so Dorothy gained courage and responded:

"I am Dorothy, the Small and Meek. I've come seeking your help."

The eyes studied her for a long minute. Then the voice asked,

"Where did you get the silver shoes?"

"I got them from the Wicked Witch of the East when my house fell on her and killed her," she replied.

"Where did you get the mark on your forehead?" the voice continued.

"That's where the Good Witch of the North kissed me before saying goodbye and sending me over to you," said the girl.

The eyes studied her again, recognizing she was telling the truth. Oz then asked, "What do you want me to do?"

"Send me back to Kansas, where my Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are," she replied sincerely. "I don't really like your country despite its beauty. And I know Aunt Em must be terribly worried about me."

The eyes blinked three times. Then they turned up to the ceiling, down to the floor, and rolled around so strangely they seemed to see every part of the room. Finally, they returned their gaze to Dorothy.

"Why should I do this for you?" Oz asked.

"Because you are strong, and I am weak. Because you are a Great Wizard, and I am just a little girl."

"But you were strong enough to kill the Wicked Witch of the East," Oz pointed out.

"That just happened," Dorothy simply responded. "I couldn't help it."

"Well," said the Head, "I'll give you my answer. You can't expect me to send you back to Kansas without doing anything for me. In this country, everyone must pay for what they receive. If you want me to use my magic to send you home, you must do something for me first. Help me, and I'll help you."

"What do I need to do?" the girl asked.

"Kill the Wicked Witch of the West," Oz answered.

"But I can't!" Dorothy exclaimed, quite surprised.

"You killed the Witch of the East and wear the silver shoes, which carry powerful magic. Now, only one Wicked Witch remains in this land. When you tell me she's dead, I'll send you back to Kansas--not before."

The little girl started to cry, deeply disappointed. The eyes blinked again and watched her with concern as if the Great Oz felt she could help him if she chose to.

"I never killed anything willingly," she sobbed. "Even if I wanted to, how could I kill the Wicked Witch? If you, who are Great and Terrible, cannot kill her yourself, how do you expect me to do it?"

"I do not know," said the Head, "but that's my answer. Until the Wicked Witch dies, you won't see your uncle and aunt again. Remember, the Witch is extremely evil and must be killed. Now leave, and don't ask to see me again until you've completed your task."

Dorothy left the Throne Room with a heavy heart. She returned to where the Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman were waiting to hear what Oz had told her. "There's no hope for me," she said sadly. "Oz won't send me home until I've killed the Wicked Witch of the West, which I won't be able to do."

Her friends were sorry but couldn't help her. So, Dorothy went to her room, lay on the bed, and cried until she fell asleep.

In the morning, a soldier with green whiskers came to the Scarecrow. He said,

"Come with me. Oz wants to see you."

So, the Scarecrow followed him into the grand Throne Room. There, he saw a beautiful Lady on the emerald throne. She wore green silk and had a jeweled crown on her flowing green hair.

Wings were extending from her shoulders. They were breathtakingly colorful and so light that even the faintest breeze made them flutter.

The Scarecrow bowed as gracefully as his straw filling allowed before the Lady. She looked at him kindly and said,

"I am Oz, the Great and Terrible. Who are you, and why do you seek me?"

The Scarecrow, expecting to see the large Head Dorothy had described, was surprised. Yet he bravely replied,

"I am only a Scarecrow, filled with straw. I lack brains, and I've come to ask you to put brains in my head instead of straw. That way, I can be as human as anyone else in your domain."

"Why should I do this for you?" the Lady asked.

"Because you're wise and powerful, and no one else can help me," the Scarecrow replied.

"I don't grant favors without something in return," Oz stated, "but I'll make a promise. If you will kill the Wicked Witch of the West for me, I'll give you good brains. You'll be the wisest man in all of Oz."

"I thought you asked Dorothy to kill the Witch," the Scarecrow remarked, surprised.

"So I did. I don't care who kills her. But until she's dead, I won't grant your request. Now leave, and don't return until you've earned the brains you desire."

The Scarecrow sadly returned to his friends and shared Oz's words with them. Dorothy was surprised to learn the Great Wizard wasn't a Head as she'd seen, but a lovely Lady.

"All the same," said the Scarecrow, "she needs a heart as much as the Tin Woodman."

The next morning, the soldier with green whiskers came to the Tin Woodman. He said, "Oz has sent for you. Follow me."

So, the Tin Woodman followed him to the grand Throne Room. He did not know whether he would meet Oz as a beautiful lady or a Head, but he hoped for the lovely Lady. "If it's the head, I won't get a heart," he thought. "Heads lack hearts and can't understand how I feel. But if it's the lovely Lady, I'll beg hard for a heart, as ladies are said to be kind-hearted."

But when the Woodman entered the Throne Room, he saw neither the Head nor the Lady. Instead, Oz had taken the form of a monstrous Beast. It was nearly as big as an elephant, and the green throne could barely support its weight. The Beast had a rhinoceros-like head with five eyes. It had five long arms and five long, thin legs. Its body was covered in thick, shaggy hair, making it a terrifying sight.

Luckily, the Tin Woodman had no heart then. If he had, it would have pounded with fear. But being made of tin, he wasn't scared, just very disappointed.

"I am Oz, the Great and Terrible," the Beast roared. "Who are you, and why do you seek me?"

"I'm a Woodman made of tin," he replied. "I have no heart, so I can't love. I ask you to give me a heart so I can be like other men."

"Why should I do this?" the Beast demanded.

"Because I'm asking, and only you can grant my wish," the Woodman responded.

Oz growled lowly at this but gruffly said, "If you truly want a heart, you must earn it."

"How?" the Woodman asked.

"Help Dorothy to kill the Wicked Witch of the West," the Beast responded. "When the Witch is dead, return to me. Then, I will give you the biggest, kindest, most loving heart in all the Land of Oz."

So, the Tin Woodman sadly returned to his friends. He told them about the dreadful Beast he had encountered.

The group was amazed at the various forms the Great Wizard could assume.

The Lion said, "If he's a Beast when I see him, I'll roar my loudest to scare him into granting my request. If he's the Lady, I'll pretend to pounce on her, making her do what I say. I'll roll it around if he's the Head until he promises us what we want. So, stay positive, friends. All will be well."

The next morning, the soldier with green whiskers escorted the Lion to the grand Throne Room. He was told to present himself before Oz.

Upon entering, the Lion was surprised to see an intense, glowing Ball of Fire before the throne. He initially thought Oz had caught fire and was burning. But when the Lion tried to get closer, the heat singed his whiskers. He retreated, trembling, to a spot closer to the door.

Then, a low, calm voice came from the Ball of Fire.

"I am Oz, the Great and Terrible. Who are you, and why do you seek me?" it asked.

The Lion responded, "I am a Cowardly Lion, scared of everything. I've come to ask for courage. That way, I can truly become the King of Beasts, as people call me."

"Why should I give you courage?" Oz demanded.

"Because you're the greatest Wizard, and only you can grant my request," the Lion answered.

The Ball of Fire blazed fiercely for a moment. Then the voice said, "Bring me proof that the Wicked Witch is dead, and I'll give you courage. But as long as she's alive, you'll remain a coward."

This answer made the Lion angry, but he couldn't respond. As he silently stared at the Ball of Fire, it got so hot that he ran from the room. He was relieved to find his friends waiting and told them about his terrible encounter with the Wizard.

"What should we do now?" Dorothy asked sadly.

"There's only one thing we can do," the Lion responded. "We must go to the land of the Winkies, find the Wicked Witch, and destroy her."

"But what if we can't?" the girl asked.

"Then I'll never have courage," the Lion declared.

"And I won't have brains," the Scarecrow added.

"And I'll never have a heart," the Tin Woodman said.

"And I'll never see Aunt Em and Uncle Henry again," said Dorothy, starting to cry.

"Be careful!" exclaimed the green girl. "Your tears will leave stains on your green silk dress."

So, Dorothy dried her eyes. "I guess we have to try," she said. "But I really don't want to kill anyone, even to see Aunt Em."

"I'll go with you, but I'm too cowardly to kill the Witch," the Lion said.

"I'll also go," the Scarecrow declared. "But I'm such a fool, I won't be much help."

"I don't have the heart to harm even a Witch," said the Tin Woodman. "But if you're going, I'll definitely join you."

So, they decided to begin their journey the next morning. The Woodman sharpened his axe on a green grindstone and oiled all his joints. The Scarecrow filled himself with fresh straw, and Dorothy painted new eyes on him for better sight. The green girl, who was very kind, filled Dorothy's basket with food and tied a small bell around Toto's neck with a green ribbon.

They went to bed early and slept soundly until daylight. They were awakened by a green rooster's crow from the Palace's backyard and a hen's cackle as she laid a green egg.