23. The Fountain of Oblivion

           Themorningafterthebirthdayfete,astheWizardandDorothywerewalkinginthegroundsofthepalace,Ozmacameoutandjoinedthem,saying:

           "IwanttohearmoreofyouradventuresintheForestofGugu,andhowyouwereabletogetthosedearlittlemonkeystouseinDorothy’sSurpriseCake."

           SotheysatdownonamarblebenchneartotheFountainoftheWaterofOblivion,andbetweenthemDorothyandtheWizardrelatedtheiradventures.

           "IwasdreadfullyfussywhileIwasawoollylamb,"saidDorothy,"foritdidn’tfeelgood,abit.AndIwasn’tquitesure,youknow,thatI’devergettobeagirlagain."

           "Youmighthavebeenawoollylambyet,ifIhadn’thappenedtohavediscoveredthatMagicTransformationWord,"declaredtheWizard.

           "Butwhatbecameofthewalnutandthehickory-nutintowhichyoutransformedthosedreadfulbeastmagicians?"inquiredOzma.

           "Why,I’dalmostforgottenthem,"wasthereply;"butIbelievetheyarestillhereinmypocket."

           Thenhesearchedinhispocketsandbroughtoutthetwonutsandshowedthemtoher.

           Ozmaregardedthemthoughtfully.

           "Itisn’trighttoleaveanylivingcreaturesinsuchhelplessforms,"saidshe."Ithink,Wizard,yououghttotransformthemintotheirnaturalshapesagain."

           "ButIdon’tknowwhattheirnaturalshapesare,"heobjected,"forofcoursetheformsofmixedanimalswhichtheyhadassumedwerenotnaturaltothem.Andyoumustnotforget,Ozma,thattheirnatureswerecruelandmischievous,soifIbringthembacktolifetheymightcauseusagreatdealoftrouble.