Isaac and Taylor put down their respective charges, and sat down next to them.
"So, have any ideas how to get Zac out?" Isaac asked.
"No. Of course, I'm certain that if I had a brain I could come up with a brilliant one."
The two sat and thought. They were umming and ahhing for a good while when Daria finally woke up.
"What happened?" she asked.
Isaac informed her of what had occurred.
"We might have to leave him behind if we can't figure out how to get him out." Taylor commented.
"Oh no! No!" Isaac said. "No, we can't do that! We can't! And if I had a heart I'd sure I'd be a lot more insistent about this. We just can't leave our friend behind."
"I have an idea." Daria said.
Isaac and Taylor watched as she ripped one of the sleeves off her shirt. She then soaked the sleeve in the river water.
"Take it to Zac and put it over his nose and mouth." She said. "That will filter out the smell of the poppies. Make sure it stays wet and that he keeps it on his nose and mouth when he finally wakes up."
"That's a great idea!" Taylor said. "If I had a brain, I would have thought of it myself. Here, I'd better be the one to take it to Zac - the water would only make you rust Isaac."
Daria also filled a small container that had been in the basket with water. It once had contained some food, but Daria had eaten it since then.
"Just in case it dries." She explained, handing the container to Taylor.
"Good thinking."
Taylor headed towards where Zac was lying.
"Hello sleepy-head." He said, putting the wet sleeve over his nose and mouth like Daria had directed him to. "Wakey-wakey, rise and shine."
It was a fair while before it took effect and Zac started waking up, and Taylor did have to wet the cloth once or twice.
"What's going on?" Zac asked, attempting to yawn with the sleeve over his mouth.
"The poppies made you sleepy, and somehow this wet sleeve filters out the smell, so you can wake up." Taylor explained. "C'mon, keep it over your nose and mouth, and lets get back to the others."
"Oh... ok." Zac replied cheerfully.
And so the scarecrow and the lion trudged through the poppies to where the tin man, the girl and the dog sat waiting.
"I'm so glad you're awake!" Daria said, giving Zac a hug. "C'mon, let's go. The yellow brick road is just over there."
On that, our rather strange party walked over to the yellow brick road, and resumed their journey.