The Oz Series

Chapter 39

Part of the The Marvelous Land of Oz: Tip's Rebellion and the Return of Ozma arc.

This encyclopedia covers chapters 1 to 100 of the story and shows the world as it stands at chapter 100, so it contains spoilers up to that point. To read it spoiler free, one chapter at a time, open the interactive codex.

What happens

Approaching the Emerald City gateway, the travelers find it guarded by two girls of the Army of Revolt who draw knitting-needles from their hair and threaten to prod anyone who comes near. The unafraid Tin Woodman, judging the worst they could do is scratch his nickel-plate, swings his axe in a great circle to right and left and advances, and the terrified girls flee screaming into the city, letting the travelers pass the gates safely and march down the green marble street toward the royal palace. The Tin Woodman laughs at his easy conquest, and the Scarecrow gratefully credits Nick's kind heart and sharp axe.

Passing the houses, they see through open doors that men are sweeping, dusting, and washing dishes while women sit in groups gossiping and laughing. A sad-looking bearded man in an apron wheeling a baby-carriage tells the Scarecrow that since he went away the women have been running things, and he is glad the Scarecrow has returned to restore order because housework and minding children is wearing out every man in the Emerald City; he cannot say how the women managed it easily, suggesting perhaps they are made of cast-iron. No one opposes the travelers' progress; women cast curious looks then turn away with laughs or sneers, and even the Army of Revolt soldiers merely step aside to let them advance without protest.

This unopposed ease makes the Scarecrow uneasy, suspecting a trap, and Tip warns to look out for trouble ahead, though the confident Tin Woodman dismisses the rebels as already conquered. They reach the royal palace and climb the marble steps, now pitted with tiny holes where the Army of Revolt tore out the emeralds. Marching through the arched hallways into the throne room, they see General Jinjur seated on the glittering throne wearing the Scarecrow's second-best crown, holding the royal sceptre, with a box of caramels in her lap. The Scarecrow demands how she dares sit in his throne, accusing her of treason, but Jinjur retorts that the throne belongs to whoever can take it, that she has taken it and is now Queen, and that all who oppose her are the traitors.

The puzzled Scarecrow asks the Tin Woodman about the law, but Nick says laws were never meant to be understood. The companions offer various suggestions for dealing with Jinjur: the Woggle-Bug proposes the Scarecrow marry the Queen so both may rule, Jack Pumpkinhead suggests sending her back to her mother, Tip suggests shutting her in a closet until she behaves, the Saw-Horse suggests a good shaking, and the Tin Woodman gently proposes giving her all the jewels she can carry and sending her away happy. Jinjur laughs, claps her hands thrice as a signal, and dismisses their nonsense.

Suddenly the Tin Woodman's axe is snatched from behind, disarming him, and a shout of laughter reveals the band surrounded by the Army of Revolt bearing knitting-needles; the throne room fills with rebels and the Scarecrow and his comrades realize they are prisoners. Jinjur declares she will destroy them all except the boy Tip, who belongs to old Mombi and must be restored to her: the Saw-Horse and Pumpkinhead's body chopped for kindling, the pumpkin made into tarts, the Scarecrow burned in a bonfire, the tin man cut up and fed to goats, and the Woggle-Bug made into green-turtle soup or Hungarian goulash. The terrible programme panics the prisoners, but the Scarecrow, thinking hard, feels the straw in his breast move and quickly unbuttons his jacket.

A tiny grey mouse leaps from his bosom to the floor, followed by another and another in rapid succession, and the Army of Revolt screams in terror. The flight becomes a stampede and then a panic, the girls crowding and pushing to escape the palace as the mice rush about. Queen Jinjur stands on the throne cushions dancing on her tiptoes until a mouse runs up and she leaps clear over the Scarecrow's head and flees through an archway, never pausing until she reaches the city gates. The throne room is deserted but for the Scarecrow and his friends, and the relieved Woggle-Bug declares them saved. The Tin Woodman warns the enemy will soon return, so the Scarecrow orders all palace entrances barred; all except Jack Pumpkinhead, still tied to the Saw-Horse, run to bolt and lock the heavy doors. Knowing the Army of Revolt cannot batter down the barriers for several days, the adventurers gather in the throne room for a council of war.

Who is in play

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