Chapter 7
It was a long struggle for Wogglebug and Jack Pumpkinhead, to carry Richard and Dorothy all the way through the poppy field. Wogglebug, being a living, breathing creature, found he couldn't survive against the smells of the poppies, so his eyes drooped more often than not. Fortunately for Jack, being made of cloth and a pumpkin, couldn't sense the smells as much as his insect friend, so he didn't feel sleepy at all. But his lanky limbs didn't make helping Wogglebug easy.
By the time they had escaped the poppy field, all four of the friends were asleep in the grass under a tender tree, resting the remainder of the day, the whole night, and far into the morning of the next day.
Dorothy, the first to fall asleep, was the first to arise when the dawn came. She stretched and yawned, wiping the dirt and leaves from her gingham dress. Beside her, Toto opened his mouth in a yawn, crossing the grass to lick Richard's face.
Stirring restlessly, Richard wiped the slobber from his cheeks, rising up from the ground, followed by the compass. Dorothy giggled as Toto trotted back to her, and she handed him a little sliver of bread to eat for breakfast.
"Morning, Richard," Dorothy said gently, as she reached into her basket. She took out another piece of bread, this time spreading it with butter. "Here, have some breakfast."
Richard took the bread from Dorothy, biting into it. He smacked his lips in light of putting something into his stomach, for he hadn't realized how hungry he had become. "Thanks, Dorothy," he said between bites, to which Dorothy only nodded and smiled.
Mr. Wogglebug soon awakened, followed by Jack Pumpkinhead. Dorothy offered bread to both of them, and Wogglebug was too happy to oblige, though Jack refrained from eating, mentioning that since he was only an animate object, he did not need to have breakfast. Throughout their meal, Wogglebug spoke to both Richard and Dorothy, making certain that they felt all right after succumbing to the smelly spell of the poppies. To his surprise, neither of the children quite remembered falling asleep; they both simply felt as if they had had a good night's rest. Wogglebug had to breathe a deep sigh of relief, for this meant their adventure could easily move forward. And in any case, the green morning glow of the city beyond brightened the day just a little more.
"Do you see that, everyone?" said Wogglebug. "The Emerald City is just beyond! No doubt by the end of the day, we can enter through the gates, and see the Wizard."
"That would certainly be nice," said Jack. "Why, I think I can already see the lovely green the city is made from."
"Keep on dreaming, my friend," said the Wogglebug. "Surely, we are that close."
Once the group had finished eating, they continued down the road, led by Wogglebug. The yellow bricks in the road gleamed in the sun, giving everyone in the group a happy, yellowish glow from below. It almost made the compass look wholly yellow, as if it were a merry object for once. And indeed, it seemed like that, for it didn't pull on Richard, or burn his hand that held the chain. Richard smiled, glad that he didn't have to deal with such antics, because he was anxious enough to get to the Emerald City. From where he and his friends stood, they could see the green glow of the walls creeping closer, as they began to pass some rows of houses that were colored the same green as the nearing city walls.
At long last, the glimmer of the yellow brick road upon the group was replaced by that of gleaming emerald, because the gates to the city were studded so with brilliant jewels of green. Dorothy went up the gates, and upon noticing a bell, pulled it. The great doors began to open, and promptly, they were greeted by a Munchkin-sized man dressed all in green. Even his skin looked a little green, though he didn't look sick. Rather he looked strange and otherworldly.
He skittered up to Richard and his friends, and looked up at each of them in turn. "Yes, yes, what is it I can do for you all?" he asked.
"Please, good sir, we would like to see the Wizard," answered Dorothy.
The little green man stepped back an inch or so. "The Wizard, right?" he said. When the company before him nodded, he shook his head, confused. "I can't remember when last anyone asked to see the Wizard. What sort of favor would you have to ask of him?"
"Things of tremendous importance, little man," said the Wogglebug. "We all have wishes that it seems only the Wizard can grant. Please believe me when I say that they are not frivolous deeds. Why, one of them is merely to return to a whole other place far away from Oz. Surely you think that the Wizard would be so kind as to grant that favor?"
"I would like to gain some colored vision," Jack Pumpkinhead piped up suddenly. "That way, I would be able to see how beautiful the Emerald City really is."
"Thank you, that sounds like a wonderful idea," said the little man quickly. "Now, I do not know when the Wizard shall see you—if he shall see you. But since it is your wish, you must come in. First, you must have these." He gestured to a box he carried beside him, which was filled with pairs of green glasses. He found pairs for all four members of the group, locking them around their heads—so as not to be blinded by the bright green of the city, he explained.
And so, the company was led through the Emerald City, and even with their glasses on, the brilliance of the city could not be easily masked. Richard squinted behind his regular glasses, not believing he had ever seen anything so bright or beautiful before. Even the grass growing between the houses could not compare with the grass he knew from home, it was so green and lush. Dorothy especially was glad to see such beauty, after knowing the grey prairies of Kansas her whole life.
Jack Pumpkinhead limped alongside them, while the Wogglebug took in the sights. They were all so entranced that they gasped when they were led to a soldier standing erect outside a door. The little guardian who had led the company spoke a few words to the soldier, and then he was gone—to speak with the Wizard himself.
They waited anxiously, until the soldier returned, explaining that the Wizard could see them—that was, he would see them individually—in the morning.
"Tomorrow?" Richard blurted. "But sir, we only just got here. And it's barely afternoon. Why do we have to see the Wizard tomorrow?"
"He needs time to prepare for you, I am certain," replied the soldier. "It is not too often that he has such abrupt, and outspoken, guests."
Richard shook his head, as he stepped up to the soldier. "Is there any chance he could make it fast? He can't take that long to prepare for us, if we are just going to ask questions."
"I cannot say that I disagree with Richard," said the Wogglebug. "Our requests would perhaps take no more than a moment or two to ask, and we will be on our best behavior with the Wizard. We promise we will not make trouble, as we are sure he is a very busy man." At this, Jack and Dorothy nodded certainly.
"Do you all have requests?" asked the soldier.
"I would simply like to return to Kansas," said Dorothy.
"And I would wish to change my vision to colored," said Jack.
Richard and the Wogglebug remained silent.
The soldier looked between Dorothy and Jack Pumpkinhead, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "I do not know for sure, but the Wizard may be able to make an exception for just two wishes. I shall give him the message."
He went away, and then returned just as quickly as before. And when he came back, he asked if perhaps Dorothy would like to make the first visit.
In a moment of pure joy, Dorothy said goodbye to her friends; she had been so excited that her lips barely brushed Richard's cheek. And there at the gate, they were made to stay, but the soldier accommodated them by beckoning for some comfy cushions to be brought to them. And so they plopped down upon their seats, sighing with relief to have come here at last.
"Do you think he will do it?" asked Jack Pumpkinhead. "Do you suppose he will really grant Dorothy's wish?"
"No doubt of it, my friend," answered the Wogglebug. "If he is so wise and great, there is no one else who can do it."
"But there is something the Wizard may want us to do," said Richard suddenly.
Both Jack and Wogglebug looked to him. "Oh?" asked Wogglebug. "And what sort of thing would that be?"
Richard sat up straight and looked at both his friends, choosing his words carefully. "In order for Dorothy to get what she wants, or I guess what she and Jack want, the Wizard may ask us to do something. And I'm guessing that that something may involve killing the Witch from the West."
Jack gasped, almost falling over face-first. Wogglebug just stared at Richard, putting a hand to his mouth in utter shock.
"Whatever gave you such an idea, Richard?" the Wogglebug wanted to know. "I don't see what the Witch would have to do with any of this."
"Neither do I, I just guess the Wizard thinks she should be gone because she is a bad witch or something," said Richard. "It's something that we will have to do so that you guys can get your wishes."
"You speak with such certainty," noted the Wogglebug. "Are you certain you are not an expert Sorcerer with the gift of foresight?"
"I just know these kinds of wishes need something extra," Richard explained.
Wogglebug looked away from Richard, his eyes far off, as if pondering what he had been told. Richard didn't know if the life-size insect believed him about not being some kind of magician, but he was definitely taking into account what sort of deed they would have to accomplish.
"I still cannot see what the Witch of the West has to do with returning Dorothy home, or transforming Jack's sight," noted the Wogglebug, "but I suppose we shall have to see what Dorothy has to report to us."
