Chapter One: A Change in the Weather
"You were at Shiz?" The old man asked.
"Yes. What does that matter?"
"You only just came to this City, right? You haven't dropped out officially?"
"No. What are you getting at?" Elphaba had found the Rebellion quickly. Thanks to Dr. Dillamond, she knew what questions to ask and what answers to give when questions were asked of her. And now she was sitting in a dank room with holes in the roof on a chair that wobbled talking to someone she hardly knew.
"You have to go back."
"What? No."
The elderly man grabbed her hand, his face deadly serious. "Yes. We have a cell there, but it is a small one. We need people there, people no one would suspect. You'd be perfect. Go back."
She'd already said goodbye to her best friend. In her mind, she was already long gone. The decision had been a hard one, and now he wanted to send her back? "I don't think that's a good idea."
"There is a man there. He runs the alchemy shop. As soon as you can, you must seek him out. Ask him about the weather. He will say it is unpredictable. You must answer that you think you see a tornado on the horizon. He will know what to do. He will give you further instructions."
"But…"
"But nothing! Go!" The man rose from his chair and pointed at the door. "And I'm sure you know this, but if any of your little friends ask, this meeting never happened. Now return to Shiz. You're of more use to us there, young lady."
Elphaba stammered a goodbye and walked out the door. She considered staying in the City, but she had nowhere to stay and she doubted the old man would be forgiving if she came back. Helping the Rebellion was what she wanted. Maybe this wasn't exactly the way she wanted, but she'd figure it out.
Sighing heavily, she hailed a carriage. "Shiz," she told the driver.