Волшебство страны Оз
16. The Glass Cat Finds the Black Bag
"Watchmybrainsaminute,andseethemwhirlaround."
TheWizardwatched,forhewasanxioustoregainhisblackbag,andthepinkbrainsreallydidwhirlaroundinaremarkablemanner.
"Now,comewithme,"commandedtheGlassCat,andledtheWizardstraighttothespotwhereithadcoveredthebagwithleaves."Accordingtomybrains,"saidthecreature,"yourblackbagoughttobehere."
Thenitscratchedattheleavesanduncoveredthebag,whichtheWizardpromptlyseizedwithacryofdelight.NowthathehadregainedhisMagicTools,hefeltconfidenthecouldrescueTrotandCap’nBill.
RangotheGrayApewasgettingimpatient.HenowapproachedtheWizardandsaid:
"Well,whatdoyouintendtodoaboutthosepoorenchantedmonkeys?"
"I’llmakeabargainwithyou,Rango,"repliedthelittleman."IfyouwillletmetakeadozenofyourmonkeystotheEmeraldCity,andkeepthemuntilafterOzma’sbirthday,I’llbreaktheenchantmentofthesixGiantSoldiersandreturnthemtotheirnaturalforms."
ButtheGrayApeshookhishead.
"Ican’tdoit,"hedeclared."ThemonkeyswouldbeverylonesomeandunhappyintheEmeraldCityandyourpeoplewouldteasethemandthrowstonesatthem,whichwouldcausethemtofightandbite."
"Thepeoplewon’tseethemtillOzma’sbirthdaydinner,"promisedtheWizard."I’llmakethemverysmall—aboutfourincheshigh,andI’llkeeptheminaprettycageinmyownroom,wheretheywillbesafefromharm.I’llfeedthemthenicestkindoffood,trainthemtodosomeclevertricks,andonOzma’sbirthdayI’llhidethetwelvelittlemonkeysinsideacake.
