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"
To be sure. Our throats and stomachs are lined with solid gold, and we find
the thistles nourishing and good to eat. As a matter of fact, there is nothing
else in our country that is fit for food. All around the City of Thi grow
countless thistles, and all we need do is to go and gather them. If we wanted
anything else to eat, we would have to plant it, and grow it, and harvest it,
and that would be a lot of trouble and make us work, which is an occupation
we detest."
"
But tell me, please," said the Wizard, "how does it happen that your city
jumps around so, from one part of the country to another?"
"
"
The city doesn't jump. It doesn't move at all," declared the High Coco-Lorum.
However, I will admit that the land that surrounds it has a trick of turning
this way or that, and so if one is standing upon the plain and facing north, he
is likely to find himself suddenly facing west or east or south. But once you
reach the thistle fields, you are on solid ground."
"
Ah, I begin to understand," said the Wizard, nodding his head. "But I have
another question to ask: How does it happen that the Thists have no King to
rule over them?"
"
Hush!" whispered the High Coco-Lorum, looking uneasily around to make
sure they were not overheard. "In reality, I am the King, but the people don't
know it. They think they rule themselves, but the fact is I have everything my
own way. No one else knows anything about our laws, and so I make the laws
to suit myself. If any oppose me or question my acts, I tell them it's the law
and that settles it. If I called myself King, however, and wore a crown and
lived in royal style, the people would not like me and might do me harm. As
the High Coco-Lorum of Thi, I am considered a very agreeable person."
"
It seems a very clever arrangement," said the Wizard. "And now, as you are
the principal person in Thi, I beg you to tell us if the Royal Ozma is a captive
in your city."
"
No," answered the diamond-headed man. "We have no captives. No
strangers but yourselves are here, and we have never before heard of the
Royal Ozma."
"
She rules over all of Oz," said Dorothy, "and so she rules your city and you,
because you are in the Winkie Country, which is a part of the Land of Oz."
"
It may be," returned the High Coco-Lorum, "for we do not study geography
and have never inquired whether we live in the Land of Oz or not. And any
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