The Forest Monster of Oz | Page 8

being that Oz
folk age only when they choose to, and little Ozma had just been given her rightful place
on the royal throne. Most of this history, of course, was unknown to Elephant and his
companions. They saw only the fact that she was a child. They did not know of her
unique experiences at all. If they had, they'd have surely recognized that she was more
aware of human needs and the differences there connected. But even to their eyes, it was
clear that this child was very special. They had every hope that she would be able to do as
they needed done to rid their land of the terrifying Forest Monster.
[Illustration: Tiger caught in a Spiderweb.]


CHAPTER 6
THE GIANT SPIDER
Tiger growled as he watched his captor wrap him in the strong webbing. He was a fairly
small tiger, but he was accustomed to being larger than any spider he had ever heard of.
This spider, he felt certain, was some sort of a freak of nature. Perhaps a direct result of
the humans' constant littering, or maybe a military experiment gone haywire.
"Ahh, my little pussycat," laughed the creature. "I have you now. There is no need for

further struggle."
"Like I told you before," grumbled Tiger, "I am not a lion. I am a striped tiger. Can't you
see that?"
"I can admit that you do not look like what I had in mind," replied the spider. "However,
you are feline in nature. That is all I care about just now."
"But it wasn't me who beheaded you. I am innocent!"
"Perhaps," the spider seemed unconcerned. "Perhaps what you say is true, and then again,
perhaps you're Lion to me. In any event, you are at the very least a distant cousin to that
animal that lopped my head off. When he hears that you are in my clutches, he'll be
here."
"But this is a small, rarely traversed forest," said the tiger. "It isn't often that news from
the Lunechien Forest gets out to the rest of the country."
"Then you shall stay here as my guest," grinned the spider. "After all, the little insect has
been satisfying me less lately. I had been using her sweet charity to keep myself
giant-sized." He stalked over to a wall on the far side of the cave. Indicating two
yellowing papers with crudely drawn human faces on them, he turned back toward his
bound prisoner. "These are pictures I drew of the Great Masters. They created me, and
gave me the powers I possess. When they asked me to devour their bald-headed little
enemy, I was only too happy to comply. He had too much magic in him, however. I was
sent away from my beloved Creators." Tiger thought that the monster was about to cry,
but he went on. "I made the best of it, though. I became the leader of a lot of wild animals
in an untamed wood. Oh, they never actually called me that. But they feared me. You'd
better believe it! They were scared spitless by me! Until one day, when that ... that ... that
LION came along and used my head as if it were a baseball! But I'll get even now, little
friend. Believe you me! I will find that lion, and I will chomp his head off! You just wait
and see if I don't!" He turned to the drawing of the Witch of the East. "I will avenge
myself on this lion for us both," he said, crossing himself.
"But, really," begged Tiger. "I have no argument with you. Please let me free. I will help
you bag your lion-prey."
"Not a bit of that!" snarled the spider. "I have better plans for you."
"Better plans?"
"Most definitely. As I was saying, the bug's no longer sufficient for my needs. I am told
that you have a powerful and courageous heart. Bold and fearless, is it not?"
"I'm afraid I don't understand your ..."
"If I use your heartfelt emotions, which seem to be, er ... well, tiger-sized by definition ...
If I can do that, I can remain giant-sized for time and all eternity. I can be all-powerful! I

will be the bravest arachnid on the face of the earth! And next, my little chickadee, I plan
to capture some little beasts that are called Hootsey and ... Lisa, is it? Owls, I think. They
are known for their wisdom and kindness to their fellow Ozites. I care nothing for their
kindness, of course. My power comes from the negative uses of the senses. But I plan to
make use of their immense knowledge. Oh, yes! And then, my dear little Tiger, THEN! I
shall reach out to my definitive prize in