“It’s a good thing they didn’t know any better!”

This episode is my way of sidestepping an error that I only realized late in the game (as in late September of last year) that my whole story premise was faulty! See, I’d only ever seen the Magic Belt being used as a means of travel, and thought that was all it could do. Turns out it is essentially Minerva’s magic rock– it can grant a magic wish every day! So my way out of that dilemma was to just portray the Vice Provosts as having that same (mis)understanding that I did!

Works for me, hope it does for you, too…

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“Problem. Solved.”

Watusi, master of understatement…

I want to share a BIG “thank you” to Wendy and Tom and Mike for giving me insight into this scene from a reader’s point of view. Spending as much time as I do inside this story, it’s hard for me to see it from another perspective, so your help was much appreciated! Thanks!

“This is always the way…”

There’s a Baum quote from The Magic of Oz (1919) that has been a guiding idea for much of this storyline, and this seems like as good a place as any to share it: “This is always the way with wicked people. They cannot be trusted even by one another.” Even if those wicked people are brothers, it seems…

On a happier note, I want to take a moment to express my thanks to all my readers– I’m truly grateful for each and every one of you who take the time to check in on Watusi’s adventures every week. Knowing that you’re waiting for a new episode keeps me motivated to do my best each week, and has been especially meaningful in this pandemic year. Hope you all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

“The voice of the people”

Looks like the tables are about to turn…

“It’s around here somewhere…”

Looks like these two are never going to learn to work together…

“Sometimes the answer is no”

Hurry, Watusi– catch those two before they can execute their next plan!!

“I’ll stand by you”

Wondering why that is? Find out next time…

“Music to his ears”

Well, that’s reassuring!

“The view from on high”

Oh, that Kitsch– he’s always got something up his sleeve!

“Return to the Emerald City”

 

Looks like our cast has completed their journey …  only to end up (as in many Oz books) back where they started!

(As with the other double-page spreads in this story, this episode can be viewed at a larger size if you’re interested (or want to read the text easier)– just click on the image.)