DM Margo In Oz Chapter 8
''What a good idea'' said Margo joyfully. She put the golden cap on her head and spoke the magic words. ''Ep-pe, pep-pe, kak-ke, ziz-zy, zuz-zy, zik!''. Soon the band of the winged monkeys were standing before her.
''Please take me home to my family'' she said. The Monkey king shook his head gravely. ''This cannot be done. We belong to this country alone and cannot leave it. We shall be glad to help you in any way in our power. But we can't cross the desert''.
With a bow, the Monkey King spread his wings and flew away through the window, followed by his band. Margo could have cried, but she was so disappointed. But the scarecrow had been thinking again and he now suggested that they call in the soldier with green whiskers and ask for his advice.
''There is only one person who might be able to help Margo'' said the soldier, ''And that is Glinda, the Witch of the South. She rules over the Quadlings and is the most powerful of all the witches. She's also a good witch. What is more than her castle stands on the desert, so she may know a way to cross it''.
''How can I get to her castle?'' asked Margo. ''The road is straight to the south'' replied the soldier, ''But it's full of dangers to travellers''. ''Hm it seems'' said the scarecrow, ''That despite the dangers, Margo must travel to the Land of the South''. ''I will go with her'' said the lion. ''For she will need someone to protect her''. ''Then I will go too'' said the tin man.
''And I'' said the scarecrow, ''I'll never leave Margo until she starts back home for good and all''. So early next morning, the travellers set out across the fields that surrounded the Emerald City. They walked until they entered a great forest where the trees were bigger than any they had ever seen.
''What a delightful place'' declared the lion, ''I should like to live here all my life''. At that moment, they heard a low rumble, like the growling of many wild animals and there in a clearing were hundreds of beasts. There were tigers and elephants and bears and wolves and foxes and for a moment, Margo was afraid.
But the lion explained that the animals were holding a meeting and he judged by their snarling and growling that they were in great trouble. As he spoke, the animals fell silent and the biggest of the tigers came up to him.
''Welcome, O King of Beasts. You have come in good time to fight our enemy. It is a most tremendous monster. It is like great spider with a body as big as an elephant and eight legs as long as tree trunks. Not one of us is safe while it's alive''.
''Are there any other lions in this forest?'' asked the lion. ''No'' replied the biggest tiger, ''There were some, but the monster has eaten them all and besides none of them were as big and brave as you''. ''If I destroy your enemy. Will you bow down to me and obey me as King of the Forest?'' asked the lion.
''We will do that gladly'' replied the biggest tiger. ''We will!'' roared the other beasts. The lion said goodbye to his friends and boldly marched away.
He found his enemy sleeping among the trees. With a great leap, he landed on the monster's back and with a blow of his paw, he knocked the spider's head from its body. Then he walked back to the clearing. ''You need fear your enemy no longer'' the lion proudly told the beasts.
Then they bowed down to him as their king and he promised to come back and rule over them as soon as Margo was safely on her way back home. The four travellers walked on through the forest. When they finally came out of the gloom they saw a steep hill covered from top to bottom with great rocks.
''Hm this'll be a hard climb'' said the scarecrow, ''But we must get over the hill''. So he led the way and the others followed. They had nearly reached the first rock when they heard a voice cry out, ''Keep back. This hill belongs to us and we won't allow anyone to cross it''.
The strangest man the travellers had ever seen then stepped out from behind the rock. He was quite short and stout and had a big head which was flat at the top and supported by a thick neck full of wrinkles. But he had no arms at all. So the scarecrow walked forward and said, ''We must pass over your hill weather you like it or not''.
As quick as lighting, the man's head shot forward and his neck stretched out until the top of his head struck the scarecrow and sent him tumbling down the hill. Almost as quickly as it came, the head went quickly back into his body. ''It ain't as easy as you think'' said the man with a harsh laugh.
Then the travellers heard a chorus of boisterous laughter as hundreds of hammer heads stepped out from behind the rocks. With a loud roar that echoed like thunder, the lion dashed up the hill. Again a head shot out and the great lion went rolling down the hill as if he had been struck by a cannon ball.
''What shall we do?'' asked Margo as she helped her friends to their feet. ''Call the winged monkeys'' said the tin man, ''You have the right to command them more than one time''. ''Very well' she answered and putting on the golden cap, she chanted the magic words, ''Ep-pe, pep-pe, kak-ke, ziz-zy, zuz-zy, zik!''. The monkeys were as prompt as ever and in a few moments they stood before her.
''Please carry us over the hill to the country of the Quadlings'' commanded Margo.