"They absorb their nourishment through the skin, and the sound of
laughter is to them what food is to you. You see, the laughter energizes
their skin molecules to give them energy and sustenance."
"Well, I never," said Dorothy.
"You never what?" said the Scarecrow.
"That's just another expression, silly," said the Tin Woodman.
"It's like saying, 'Well, I never would have believed that,'" said Dorothy.
"Well, anyway," said the Tin Woodman, "that's why they are called
Ticklemonsters and why the land they live in is called Tickleland."
"Will they stop tickling you if you ask them to?" said Dorothy.
"On the contrary," said the Tin Woodman. "If you ask them to stop,
they'll just tickle you all the more."
"What happens if you ask them to tickle you more?" she asked.
"Then they'll stop," said the Tin Woodman. "They don't like being told
what to do, so they'll just go and find someone else to tickle."
"That's really something," said Dorothy, shaking her head. "I suppose we
must go through Tickleland?" she asked.
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