Farewell to the Black Forest
Although the dinner in the Black Castle was as dark a repast as
Pigasus had predicted, never had he or Dorothy dined more royally nor
partaken of more delicate fare. The black bean soup was followed by
a black fish course, then came the dark meat of some superbly cooked
fowl, "probably cinder-roosters," as Pigasus remarked in one of his
humorous asides. The licorice was the most delicious of the vegetables,
though the black asparagus and potatoes were appetizing, too. Black
bread was served with the black grape salad and plum cake with black
frosting with the black ices and blackberryade. The members of Gloma's
household, now that their fear of Dorothy had been explained away,
proved so interesting and merry, the time simply flew. The black lace
frocks of the women and children and the soft leather suits of the
black foresters were simple but elegant, and the Black Queen herself,
so lovely just to look at her gave one a curious thrill. General Blotz,
recalled from banishment by Blackjack, the Queen's pet Jackdaw, proved
a singer of no mean ability, and regaled the company with many famous
black ballads and hunting songs. Pigasus, too, contributed to the
general fun and gaiety with some of his best songs and verses and ate
so many slices of the black plum cake, Dorothy began to feel positively
uneasy.
Interesting and delightful as it all was, the little girl could not
help thinking of Ozma and her other unfortunate and captive friends,
and as the black banjo clock in the corner of the hall struck a
musical ten, she lightly touched the arm of Gloma. The Black Queen had
graciously placed Dorothy beside her.
"I think we had better go now," whispered Dorothy earnestly. "If
Pigasus eats any more he'll fall asleep and we'll have to wait till
morning." Gloma smiled and nodded understandingly, then pressing
Dorothy's hand for "Goodbye," stole quietly off to her workshop.
Dorothy tried to signal Pigasus across the gleaming black table, but
before she could catch his eye he had vanished, and she herself was
whirling dizzily through space.
"Maybe it would have been better to have spent the night in the
castle," mused Dorothy, spreading her arms like wings as she sailed
through the air. "I don't suppose we'll be able to see in the dark now
that we are out of the Black Forest, and goodness knows where we'll
come down." There was no moon, and peer about as she would, Dorothy
could not even catch a glimpse of the flying pig. "Of course," Dorothy
went on conversationally to herself, "we could have flown all this
distance on Piggin's back, but this is quicker and less trouble, but
oh, dear, I do hope he's all right." Her worry about the pink pig
ended rather abruptly, for at that very moment she began to somersault
over and over in a headlong drop to the ground. A painful grunt as she
landed assured her of the pig's presence.
"What you trying to do? Puncture me?" puffed Pigasus, as Dorothy with
an embarrassed little gasp of apology rolled off his back. "Such
rudeness!" grunted her companion, scrambling to his feet with an angry
snort. "Flinging us out of her castle as if we'd been garbage. Yes,
garbage," he repeated, winking rapidly.
"It was my fault," cried Dorothy, moving over to smooth out his ruffled
wing feathers. "I asked her to transport us to Ev, and OH, PIGGINS!" By
the light of a crooked lamp set in a crevice of the rocky path on which
they found themselves Dorothy regarded him rapturously. "You're pink
again!"
"Am I? Well, that's something." Waddling closer to the lamp, Pigasus
examined himself with careful attention. "You're pink, too," he said
a little more pleasantly, "but these magic transportations are a bit
sudden, if you ask me, and I'm not at all sure I like this spot. Where
are we, anyway?"
"Oh, it's all right and now we don't have to travel at all. We're
here," announced Dorothy, who had hurried on a few steps ahead.
"And where is here?" grumbled Pigasus, following pompously, more from
too much plum cake than from a desire to be disagreeable.
"Why, at Kalico's Mountain!" exclaimed Dorothy, pointing excitedly to
a small door in the rocky surface before them. "Now we don't have to
decide between the Gnome King and the King of Ev. Since we are here,
we'll try Kalico first."
"Trying him is all very well, but I hope he does not try any magic on
us," yawned Pigasus, squinting sleepily up at the brass sign hung on
the stout wooden door. "What does it say there?" A green lantern hung
over the door and by its flickering light Dorothy read slowly:
"Back door of the Gnome King's Underground Castle. No dogs, babies
or chickens allowed. No gold fish wanted. No peddlers or snailsmen
need apply. Keep out and stay out. This means YOU."
"Oh, that's all right," laughed Dorothy as Pigasus looked rather
alarmed at the sternly worded notice. "We're not babies or chickens or
gold fish, and Kalico's a friend of mine. Come on!" Lifting the knocker
and smiling confidently, Dorothy knocked three times on the Gnome
King's back door.