DM Margo In Oz Chapter 6
''Oh but, but that's impossible!'' Margo protested. ''You killed the Wicked Witch of the East and you wear the silver shoes which bear a powerful charm''. Margo began to weep, ''I never meant to kill her'' she sniffed, ''If you are so great and terrible cannot kill the Wicked Witch, well how can I ever do it?''.
''That is for you to decide'' came the reply, ''Now go and do not ask to see me again until you have completed your task''. Tearfully, Margo left the throne's room and went back to her friends. They were all very sorry when they heard her story, but there was nothing they could do to help her.
The next day, the scarecrow was led to the throne room. Instead of a head, he saw a most beautiful lady. But she too said that Oz never helped anyone without getting something in return. If the scarecrow wanted brains, he would have to destroy the Wicked Witch of the West. Next it was the turn of the tin man. He was confronted by a terrible beast which was nearly as big as an elephant and had five eyes, five heads and five legs.
He told the tin man that he would only be given a heart when he had helped Margo kill the Wicked Witch of the West. The lion was the last to visit Oz. When he stepped into the throne room, his whiskers were almost singed off by a ball of fire.
''I am Oz, the Great and Terrible'' the ball of fire said, ''Bring me proof that the Wicked Witch of the West is dead and I will give you courage''. The friends got together to decide what to do next. ''There is only one thing we can do'' said the lion, ''We must go to the Land of the Winkles, seek out the Wicked Witch and destroy her''. And very reluctantly Margo, the tin man and the scarecrow all agreed.
After a good night's sleep in Oz's palace. The travellers were ready to set out on their search for the Land of the Winkles and the Wicked Witch of the West. The guardian of the gates unlocked their spectacles and put them back in his box. Then he opened the gate of the Emerald City.
''Which road leads to the Wicked Witch of the West?'' asked Margo. ''No road lead to the Wicked Witch'' replied the guardian of the gates, ''For no one wishes to go that way''. ''Well then, how are we going to find her?'' Margo asked. ''If you keep walking towards the west, where the sun sets, the Wicked Witch will find you'' explained the guardian of the gates, ''She made the Winkles her slaves and she will want to make you her slaves too , so take care''.
With those words ringing in their ears, the friends turned towards the west. Margo still wore the pretty silk dress she had put on in the palace, but to her amazement, now it was pure white. She and her friends walked as fast as they could and soon left the Emerald City far behind.
Now the Wicked Witch of the West only had one eye. But that eye was as powerful as a telescope and could see everywhere. So as she sat at a window of her yellow castle, she looked around and saw the travellers a long way off. She was so angry to see them that she blew on a silver whistle and summoned a great pack of wolves.
''There are strangers in my land!'''' she said, ''They aren't even fit to be my slaves, so I order you to tear them into little pieces!''. The wolves dashed away at full speed. It was lucky that the tin man was awake and heard them coming. He seized his sharp axe and chopped off the head of the leading wolf as it leaped towards him.
Then he swung his axe again and again, until forty wolves all lay dead in a heap before him. The next morning, Margo shivered with fright when she saw the great pile of shaggy wolves, and the wicked witch became angrier than ever when she looked out and saw the strangers were still alive.
Then she blew on her silver whistle and summoned a great flock of wild crows. ''Fly at once to the strangers, peck out their eyes and tear them into little pieces!'' she screamed. As soon as the scarecrow saw the crows flying towards him, he told his friends to lie down.
He then stretched out his arms, caught hold of the leading crow and twisted its neck until it died. He did this to the next crow and the one after that, until at last, the whole flock of forty crows lay dead at his feet. When the Wicked Witch saw this, she went into a terrible rage.
She called a dozen of her Winkle slaves, gave them sharp spears and told them to destroy the strangers. But the yellow Winkles were not brave people. When they marched up to the travellers, the lion gave such a roar that they ran straight back to the castle. The Witch was so angry that she stamped her feet, tore her hair and gnashed her teeth. There was now only one thing she could do, she must use the golden cap to summon the winged monkeys. She put the cap on her head and chanted, ''Ep-pe, pep-pe, kak-ke, ziz-zy, zuz-zy, zik!''. There was a low rumbling sound, a rushing of many wings, a great chattering and laughing and then out of the sky, came a crowd of monkeys, each with an immense pair of powerful wings.
Their leader who was much bigger than the rest said, ''This is the third time you have used the golden cap. Whoever owns the cap can summon on us three times and give us any order they please. We will always obey, but remember, no one can summon us more than three times''.
''Why should I need you again?'' snarled the Witch, ''You have helped to make the Winkles my slaves and driven the Great Oz out of my land! My third and last order is that you should destroy all the strangers in my land expect the lion. I want you to bring him to me so that I can harness him like a horse and make him work for me!''.
''Your commands shall be obeyed'' said the leader.