Dorothys Mystical Adventures in Oz | Page 8

them, for they could be clearly seen setting up camp at the base, thereby ensuring that Dorothy and her friends did not attempt to return the way they had come.
The view from the top of the mountain was quite beautiful. The china homes and farms was spread out in a colorful panorama below. The only barren part was the segment of land they had traversed to make their escape.
"It's a shame everything is so easily breakable here," said the Tin Woodman. "I can't blame the china people for not wanting visitors."
"I don't know why the Captain of the Guard was so angry," said the Scarecrow. "Dorothy didn't try to make him drop his sword."
"I think he was so embarrassed," said Dorothy, "that he was just trying to save face in front of his men."
Dorothy was about to sit down to rest, but the light began to fade rather quickly. "Perhaps we should be on our way," said the girl.
"No question about it," said the Tin Woodman.
"Absolutely!" said the Scarecrow.
As they started down the other side of the mountain, the path became extremely slippery and steep. Suddenly the Tin Woodman started to slide very fast. He called out to Dorothy: "Help! Dorothy! I can't stop!"
At that moment, the Scarecrow slipped and sat down with a thump. Then Dorothy did the same. She and the Scarecrow sped down the mountain path so fast they caught up with the Tin Woodman. The impact caused him to fall backwards into Scarecrow's lap.
"Wheee..." They all yelled as they whizzed around the hairpin bends.
"What fun!" cried Dorothy.
As they neared the bottom, their descent slowed. They came to a stop in front of a big sign:
*YOU ARE NOW LEAVING*
* DAINTY CHINA COUNTRY.*
* THANK YOU FOR VISITING*
* (But thank you more for leaving)*
* !!!PLEASE DON'T HURRY BACK!!!*
"What a funny sign," said Dorothy. "But it's plain to see that they get very nervous when non-china people are in their midst. I suppose they'd be quite happy to be left entirely alone."
"I can't say I blame them," said the Tin Woodman. "If I were a small delicate person made of china, I wouldn't want big clumsy people around.
"Thank goodness you're a big clunk!" said the Scarecrow. Dorothy laughed as the Tin Woodman chased the Scarecrow around the sign. As he did so, Dorothy's eye caught what appeared to be another sign a little further on. She walked up to it and read the following:
YOU ARE NOW ENTERING THE DOMAIN
OF THE GIRREPHALUMPS.
PLEASE KNOCK TWICE TO INDICATE
YOUR REQUEST FOR OUR SERVICES.
*

Chapter Seven
:
The Girrephalumps
*
By this time, the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow had joined Dorothy at the Girrephalump sign.
"What do you make of it?" asked Dorothy.
"Well, there's only one way to find out what it means," said the Tin Woodman. "And that's to knock twice and see what happens."
"Go ahead," said Dorothy. "With your metal fist, you should be able to knock loud enough for the Girrephalumps, whoever they are, to hear."
BANG! BANG!
The Tin Woodman knocked so hard that he almost knocked the sign down. Immediately there was a roar like thunder as a herd of animals descended on the sign from seemingly nowhere.
And what strange looking animals they were: Each had a giraffe's head and neck, but an elephant's body. Also, they were pink in color, with large white and blue dots all over.
The leader of the Girrephalumps walked right up to Dorothy and said, "You knocked, madam?"
Dorothy put her hand to her mouth to hide a smile. "Why, yes we did," she answered, glancing sideways at the Tin Woodman.
"Well," continued the Girrephalump, "where do you wish to go? We are the official transportation of Oz.... Of course, we also clean upstairs windows and replace the light bulbs in street lights. But I am sure that at the moment it's transportation you want. Am I not correct?"
"Why ... yes, you are perfectly correct," replied the girl, not a little bewildered.
"Well, where do you wish to be taken?" asked the Girrephalump. "And what is the purpose of your journey?"
"We wish to travel to Lion Country," replied Dorothy. "To visit our friend the Cowardly Lion, except that he's not cowardly any more."
"And your purpose, my dear?"
"We wish to join forces with the Lion because we have a very important mission to perform."
"Hmmm," said the Girrephalump. "And what may that mission be, if I may be so bold as to ask?"
"Well," answered Dorothy, "we're not totally certain. But we wish to confront the Wicked Witch of the Deep South and speak with her."
"OH, NO!" called out the Girrephalumps in unison, as they drew back.
"We must have a conference," said the leader.
The Girrephalumps all huddled together for several minutes.
"We are afraid to take you to Lion Country," said the leader to Dorothy as he returned. "We could very well be attacked by the Wicked Witch. You