20. The Emerald City

           DorothydecidedtoacceptOzma’sinvitationtoreturnwithhertotheLandofOz.TherewasnogreaterchanceofhergettinghomefromEvthanfromOz,andthelittlegirlwasanxioustoseeoncemorethecountrywhereshehadencounteredsuchwonderfuladventures.BythistimeUncleHenrywouldhavereachedAustraliainhisship,andhadprobablygivenherupforlost;sohecouldn’tworryanymorethanhedidifshestayedawayfromhimawhilelonger.SoshewouldgotoOz.

           Theybadegood-byetothepeopleofEv,andtheKingpromisedOzmathathewouldeverbegratefultoherandrendertheLandofOzanyservicethatmightliewithinhispower.

           Andthentheyapproachedtheedgeofthedangerousdesert,andOzmathrewdownthemagiccarpet,whichatonceunrolledfarenoughforallofthemtowalkuponitwithoutbeingcrowded.

           Tiktok,claimingtobeDorothy’sfaithfulfollowerbecausehebelongedtoher,hadbeenpermittedtojointheparty,andbeforetheystartedthegirlwounduphismachineryasfaraspossible,andthecoppermansteppedoffasbrisklyasanyoneofthem.

           OzmaalsoinvitedBillinatovisittheLandofOz,andtheyellowhenwasgladenoughtogowherenewsightsandscenesawaitedher.

           Theybeganthetripacrossthedesertearlyinthemorning,andastheystoppedonlylongenoughforBillinatolayherdailyegg,beforesunsettheyespiedthegreenslopesandwoodedhillsofthebeautifulLandofOz.TheyentereditintheMunchkinterritory,andtheKingoftheMunchkinsmetthemattheborderandwelcomedOzmawithgreatrespect,beingverypleasedbyhersafereturn.