"good!" sneered ra. "i am glad you understand everything so well. you have not a friend in the emerald city to aid you. everyone of your subjects in the city is a victim of the mimic magic. soon this will be true of all the land of oz. i am sure you will agree with me," queen ra went on mockingly, "that it is only fair and just that you should share your subjects' fate. indeed i know you are so foolishly loyal that you would not escape and leave your people to suffer even if you could. so king umb and i, ourselves, will oblige you by making it possible for you to join your beloved subjects. owing to your high rank as the two most powerful persons in the land of oz, we will do you the honor of taking your shapes."