The Oz Series
Chapter 17
Part of the Dorothy's Journey to the Wizard and Back to Kansas arc.
What happens
For three days Dorothy hears nothing from Oz, which are sad days for her though her friends are happy and content. The Scarecrow claims wonderful thoughts fill his head that no one but himself could understand; the Tin Woodman feels his heart rattling in his breast and declares it kinder and more tender than the flesh one he had before; and the Lion declares he fears nothing on earth and would gladly face an army or a dozen fierce Kalidahs. Each of the party is satisfied except Dorothy, who longs more than ever to return to Kansas.
On the fourth day Oz sends for Dorothy and greets her pleasantly, saying he thinks he has found a way to get her out of the country. He admits he is unsure about Kansas since he does not know which way it lies, but says the first thing is to cross the desert, after which finding her way home should be easy. When Dorothy asks how to cross the desert, Oz reasons that since he arrived by balloon and she by cyclone, the best way across is through the air; he cannot make a cyclone but believes he can make a balloon.
Oz explains a balloon is made of silk coated with glue to hold gas, and that he has plenty of silk in the Palace, but there is no gas in the country to fill it. He proposes filling it with hot air instead, warning hot air is inferior to gas because if the air cools the balloon would come down in the desert and they would be lost. Dorothy is surprised to learn Oz intends to go with her, and he explains he is tired of being a humbug and fears his people will discover he is not a Wizard, so he would rather return to Kansas and be in a circus again. Dorothy welcomes his company, and they begin sewing the silk strips together in light green, dark green, and emerald green shades, taking three days to make a bag over twenty feet long, after which Oz coats the inside with thin glue to make it airtight. Oz sends the green-whiskered soldier for a big clothes basket, which he fastens to the balloon with ropes, and announces to his people that he is going to visit a great brother Wizard in the clouds. The Tin Woodman builds a fire, Oz holds the balloon over it to catch the hot air, and the balloon swells and rises until the basket touches the ground. Oz gets into the basket, announces to the people that the Scarecrow will rule over them in his absence and commands their obedience. As the balloon tugs at the rope, Oz calls for Dorothy to hurry, but she has gone to find Toto, who ran to bark at a kitten. As she runs back with Toto, the ropes crack and the balloon rises without her. Dorothy screams to come back, but Oz cannot and calls good-bye as he rises out of sight, the last anyone ever sees of Oz the Wonderful Wizard, who may have reached Omaha. The people grieve his loss and remember him lovingly for building the Emerald City and leaving the Wise Scarecrow to rule.
Who is in play
- Dorothy
- Cowardly Lion
- Tin Woodman
- Scarecrow
- City of Emeralds
- Kalidahs
- Kansas
- Oz
- the balloon
- Toto
- Palace of Oz
- the soldier with the green whiskers
- Omaha