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Wheeler struck like a snake and bit off most of his index finger. Will screamed in agony as blood spurted from his ruined finger and was quickly absorbed into the barren ground. He was sickened to see one of the cobalt flowers spring up, its seed obviously lying dormant until blood was spilled.
    The other Wheelers shrieked and jostled one another as the leader gulped down his finger with same bobbing motions a crane makes swallowing a frog.
    Will pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wrapped his hand. The wound was throbbing and burned with a searing pain. He wondered what infection was even now coursing through his system.
    The lead Wheeler looked at the others and shrieked something in five harsh bursts. The others wailed back at him, then all eyes were on Will.
    It was clear they meant to tear him apart.
    There was a hollow booming sound then, and a roar of a lion.
    It’s Dorothy , he thought, she’s come to get me .
    A cunningly camouflaged door opened in the canyon wall, and a metal man and large animal emerged, but they were not Dorothy’s companions.
    The metal man he had seen earlier had worn a gentle look and was burnished to a mirror-like shine. This thing was covered in rust, parts of it actually eaten away by corrosion. Its movements produced squeals and protesting shrieks that were nearly as abominable as the Wheelers. It carried a sort of halberd, the blade side serrated and the other a long spike with a barbed end. Its eyes were blue flickers like gas flames, and steam issued from a grille fashioned to look like a sadistic smile.
    The Rust Man’s animal companion was a huge patchwork dog. It’s variegated hide was crazy quilt of furs and hides from some twenty different animals, including tiger, elephant, zebra, ocelot, crocodile, cheetah and snake. It’s mouth and teeth were enormous. For it to swallow Will’s head would be no more inconvenient than a man taking a whole apricot into his mouth. Its eyes were dark like the Wheelers, and it wore a collar of small skulls strung together.
    Children’s skulls , Will realized, and felt sick.
    The Rust Man beat on his chest with one great fist, producing the low booming sound.
    “ I am the Rust Man,” he bellowed, “and this formidable creature next to me is Mr. Manyteeth, the Patchwork Jackal!”
    The Wheelers muttered but did not advance.
    The Rust Man gestured at Will.
    “ This man is property of the Wizard,” he roared. “Go or face the wrath of Nyx the Terrible and Merciless!”
    “ Eece him,” the lead Wheeler exclaimed, pointing to his own mouth while he drooled copiously.
    “ Go,” the Rust Man repeated.
    “ Eece man, tayse gud! Maybay eece yoo toos!”
    The Wheelers shrieked in agreement until Mr. Manyteeth the Patchwork Jackal decapitated one of the smaller Wheelers with one quick bite.
    The Wheelers shrieked in fury but the Rust Man readied his weapon. The Wheelers, knowing they were outmatched, turned and rolled off into the hills, shrieking insults and promises of reprisals.
    While the Patchwork Jackal finished the Wheeler in a series of sickening, crunching bites, the Rust Man approached Will.
    “ Thank you,” Will said, “I was sure –“
    “ We have to go, Will, the Wizard is expecting you.”
    “ How do you know me?” Will asked. “Did Dorothy send you?”
    “ Dorothy,” the Rust Man said, and looked at the Patchwork Jackal, who merely growled low. “Dorothy is the reason I am no longer in Kansas.”
    Will gaped at him, then saw within the scabrous visage a face he knew.
    Dr. Vincent Colby.
    Dorothy’s former therapist.
    “ How…” Will began.
    “ If I knew that I would have gone back!” said the Rust Man, his voice filled with the angry squeal of shearing metal. “I took away that damn drawing she was always staring at and found myself here. Now… Now it’s too late to go back.”
    Will looked at the creature, afflicted with a leprosy of oxidation, and realized there was no hospital in the world that could