Inferno in Oz - 2 : 2

Green whistle cuts the quiet air --

An Emerald City telegram;

A summons from the Royal Guard

Addressed to Jellia Jamb. 

"That silly man. What could this be?

I think the fellow's growing dim."

And yet, she heeds the whistle's call,

And rushes off to him.

"Why have you called, O Royal Guard,"

She asks the man of whiskers green,

"What danger could we all be in

If it's not heard or seen?"

"But I do see," he answers back,

Staring through his emerald shades,

"See those twinkles, far off there?

A thousand Nomish blades."

Jellia trembles on her feet --

"My goodness, what are we to do??

They've an army thousands strong,

And we've got... only you."

"Only me?" he asks, suprised,

"I have kept our city well

For many years successfully,

As you can plainly tell."

She pauses. "Yes, but that's because

We've never been attacked before;

You've guarded well, I will admit,

But never in a war."

"Balderdash! I have no fear,

For Nomes are simple and untrained,"

He lectures, as she hears him out 

(Though knows him addle-brained.)

"I shall prove my mettle, Jamb,

Defend our city by myself,

And restore order to the land,

Without the need for help.

Worry not, my lovely friend --

My training is both vast and great,

But just in case, it might be wise

If we evacuate."

She sighs, and gives a patient smile,

Leaving guardsman to his pride,

Gathers her composure, and

Then scurries back inside.

"I can't let Whiskers fight alone --

No matter if he's proud or terse...

I've got to find a way to help --

He might get hurt, or worse!

I know just what to do,' she thinks, 

'I'll steal away in darkness pitch

And make my way through northern lands 

to Glinda, the good witch!'

---

© Jackson Cambridge, 2016.