Inferno in Oz - 5

PART II: THE HUNT FOR OSCAR DIGGS

Once revered by all the land,
Brilliant (yet hardly brave),
The Man behind the Curtain
Is now hiding in a cave.

Scrambling over jagged rocks
Climbing till his limbs are sore,
And, hyperventilating, cries,
"Where's that blasted door?!

I swear they put him here somewhere,"
He mutters, trembling fearfully;
"Aha! I knew I'd find the door --
Now where's the little key?"

At last, the door is wrenched ajar,
And frightened humbug ducks within,
Cloaked in silent darkness, with
Three day's shadow on his chin.

Within the dark and musty cave,
The scent of pennies in the air,
Oscar sighs in tired relief
At robot standing there.

A copper man with body round,
Dapper 'stache and bowler hat,
Motionless for years, unwound,
And frozen there, like that.

A marvelous invention, he --
Though not by Oscar Diggs designed;
Three dials upon the metal chest,
But which one first to wind?

"The thinking motor first, I bet,
For one needs thought to move and speak --
But motion last, in case he's mean;
For I'm too tired and weak."

Once wound, the inner motors whirr;
A noise that rattles Oscar's nerve
Until he hears the robot speak:
"Tik-Tok, here to serve."

"Thank Ozma," cries the frightened Wiz,
"My clockwork friend! Help me, I say!
I've made a horrible mistake,
And all of Oz will pay!

A girl from lands far off from here
Was misplaced from her Kansas farm;
I tried to help, but left her here
And now she means me harm!"

"I will sure-ly guard you, Sir...
No in-ju-ry shall you en-dure:
Your safe-ty is my first con-cern,
Of that you may be sure."

"Thank you, Tik-Tok. Come with me,
Into the land that bears my name;
My bag of tricks is bottomless,
And two can play this game."

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