“Oh, it’s no use,” Glamora said. “They can’t hear you. But he can. And if I were you, I wouldn’t upset him. Just because he thinks he can put you to good use doesn’t mean he won’t punish you if you provoke his temper. Our friend is very old—and don’t tell him I said so, but sometimes he’s awfully grumpy.”

Assistant Principal Strachan looked up, his eyes meeting mine through Glamora’s window. And then he smiled. Silver smoke billowed up from his feet. His body began to ripple and his skin peeled away in long strips that dissolved into silvery ooze. Madison’s mouth opened in a silent scream of terror as Assistant Principal Strachan dissolved, revealing the Nome King.

“Now it’s time to finish the work the Wizard started,” Glamora said. Her tone was almost cheerful but her eyes sparkled with an insane light. I wondered if the struggle between Glinda and Glamora had resulted in something that was a combination of the two. Something more than a little crazy.

“I thought the Wizard wanted to rule Oz,” I said.

“Oh, his vision was limited, make no mistake,” Glamora said. “But he had the right idea. After all, two worlds are better than one. In exchange for unlimited access to Oz’s power, my new friend has offered to help me rule this world—and yours.”

“You can’t do that,” Mombi growled. She was edging almost imperceptibly toward Glamora as if being closer to the deranged witch would somehow make it easier to stop her. At my side, Nox was tense, his eyes flicking back and forth between the two.

“I can do whatever I want, you old bat,” Glamora snapped in a little girl’s petulant tone. “I can smash Oz into smithereens if I feel like it. But for now, I’m just going to throw a little welcome party. I hate to overshadow Ozma’s big day, but this can’t wait.” She dodged away from Mombi and pointed her wand at the silver pool. The Nome King reached upward, still keeping his grip on Madison. His body began to stretch and lengthen as he rose to meet Glamora’s outstretched arm. It was like watching sand move through an hourglass in reverse. Madison’s face was filled with absolute terror as the Nome King pulled her toward Glamora’s window. I watched in horror as the baby slipped from her arms. Nox gasped and Mombi jerked forward as if she could somehow catch him. But we were too late. The baby tumbled toward the ground.

And then, incredibly, Dustin dove for the baby. In that second I understood exactly what it was that had made him Dwight D. Eisenhower Senior High’s biggest football star. He moved with almost superhuman speed, reaching for Dustin Jr. as if he was going for the biggest touchdown of his life. He caught the baby seconds before he hit the ground. At the exact same moment, the Nome King burst out of Glamora’s window, sending drops of molten silver flying. I screamed in pain as the hot liquid burned through my dress and seared my arms and legs. Next to me, Nox slapped at his smoking clothes. Glamora giggled in triumph. And Madison Pendleton, still in the Nome King’s bony clutches, was screaming bloody murder.

“That’s quite enough,” the Nome King said curtly, letting go of her long enough to slap her. Madison shut up immediately. Her eyes were huge, darting around the clearing, and she gasped in shock when she saw me. She was shaking so hard I thought she would fall over.

“Now then,” the Nome King said. “Miss Gumm, I believe you have something that belongs to me. I’d like it back.”

THIRTY-NINE

I glanced involuntarily down at my boots. I knew exactly what he wanted and I had no intention of giving them to him.

“The shoes don’t belong to you,” Mombi snapped. “They belong to Oz.”

“Oz will shortly belong to me, you impertinent old fool,” he said. He flicked his fingers at her and a ball of black smoke sent her flying across the clearing. She hit a tree with a thump and crashed to the ground.

“You can’t take them from me,” I said with more confidence than I felt. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mombi stir. At least the old witch was still alive.

“I do realize that,” the Nome King said. “Which is why I’ll take you and the shoes. I could use magic to control you, of course, but you’re much more powerful if you’re using the shoes of your own free will.”

“I won’t help you,” I said.

“I thought you’d say that. Which is why I brought along a guarantee of your cooperation.” His grip tightened on Madison’s arm and she screamed in pain. I heard bones cracking as the Nome King stared at me.

“Stop it!” I cried, unable to bear the sound. “Leave her alone! Fine, I’ll do what you want!” <