Chapter VII
Far off, in her secret laboratory, the Rani watched the group through her scanners. "I will have those shoes," she said, grinding her teeth. She then set to work, experimenting on the remaining crewmen from the vessel that Harry Sullivan was taken from.
Meanwhile, Sarah and her friends finally arrived at the gates to the Emerald City. The gates rose high into the sky, barring their way. The only break in the featureless expanse was a small sliding door set about eye level.
They walked up to the gate and saw a sign that said "Please ring bell." The group looked around for a bell, but could not find one. Finally, the Scarecrow shrugged and knocked on the sliding door.
After a moment the sliding door opened and a little old man's head appeared in the window. "Can't you read the sign?" he snapped, pointing at the sign.
The Tin Soldier asked the little old man, "Where is the bell?"
"Well, duh," said the little old man. "It's right here." He pointed behind him at a button on the wall.
"Well," said Sarah Jane sweetly, "since we have your attention, will you let us in?"
"Nobody sees the Wizard," the old man muttered crossly.
"Wait, wait, wait," Sarah said heatedly. "I was told to come here for the Wizard to see if he could help me. Now you're telling me that I can't see him?" Once again, Sarah was getting angry. "I demand to see the Wizard," she said. "I want these shoes off."
The old man perked up. "What shoes?"
"I mean these shoes." Sarah showed him the shoes. "The good witch Romana called them the Shoes of Rassilon."
"Wait here," the old man said excitedly. He ran off through a smaller door set in the rear of the room he was in. Minutes later he was back, breathing heavily.
"The Wizard will see you," he panted. "Follow the yellow line."
The group filed in through a door that magically appeared in the gate. Looking down, they saw a yellow line that continued where the road stopped. They followed the line through many twists and turns until they came to a large set of doors. "Judging by the size of everything," the Lion said, "this Wizard has to be gigantic." He swallowed hard, and then walked to the doors. He beat on them with his large paw.
The doors slowly swung open, allowing the group to enter. They stepped into a cavernous area. Looking around, they saw nothing but a large pedestal in the center of the room and tapestries all around.
Suddenly, flames shot out of the top of the pedestal, bathing everything in an eerie green light. "What is the meaning of this intrusion?!" The voice boomed from everywhere at once.
The Lion ran behind everyone else, cringing.
Just then, green smoke billowed out of the floor and a large face appeared over the pedestal.
The face bellowed at them, "What do you want?"
Sarah Jane stepped forward. "Hello, sir. I was told to come to you to see if you could help me find my friends. Also, I have these shoes that won't come off and I was told you might be able to help me."
"What of these others?" The face looked at the quartet with Sarah Jane.
"K-9, the metal dog, is with me. I will let the others tell you what they need."
"Well, sir," the Scarecrow said, "I was hoping you might be able to give me some brains. I would really like to be able to think heavy thoughts instead of dense ones."
"And I would really like to have a heart," the Tin Soldier said.
The face looked at the Lion. "And what do you want?"
The Lion, shivering with fear, looked at the face and said quietly, "I would like some courage. I am tired of being scared of everything for no reason."
The Wizard looked thoughtful for a moment, then asked, "What is in this for me?"
"What do you need?" Sarah asked.
"Well, the Wizard said slyly, "There is one thing. Many years ago, my vehicle was stolen by the Witch of the West, the Rani. I have not been able to retrieve it. If you can get me the key, I will see what I can do for you."
"The Rani? But she's the one who did this to me!" The Cowardly Lion pointed down at himself.
"That is the deal," the Wizard roared. "Take it or leave it."
Sarah Jane looked at the others and said, "I'll understand if you don't want to go, but if there is a chance that he can help me find the Doctor and Harry, I need to do it."
The Scarecrow looked surprised, "Well, of course we'll come with you, Sarah. Right, guys?"
The Tin Soldier said, "Yes, Sarah, we are coming too."
"What about you, Lion?" Sarah looked at him questioningly. "Will you come, too?"
The Lion looked at the others and made a supreme effort. "Yes, I will come too."
Sarah Jane looked at the Wizard and said, "Then I guess it is a deal. We will get the key to your vehicle, and you will help us. "Where do we need to go?"
"Follow the path from the palace," the Wizard said, "When you reach the Rani's laboratory, the key will be around her neck."