Волшебство страны Оз
11. The Beasts of the Forest of Gugu
Somewerefromthemountainswestoftheforest,andsomefromtheplainsattheeast,andsomefromtheriver;butallpresentacknowledgedtheleadershipofGugu,whoformanyyearshadruledthemwiselyandforcedalltoobeythelaws.
Whenthebeastshadtakentheirplacesintheclearingandtherisingsunwasshootingitsfirstbrightraysoverthetreetops,KingGuguroseonhisthrone.TheLeopard’sgiantform,toweringabovealltheothers,causedasuddenhushtofallontheassemblage.
"Brothers,"hesaidinhisdeepvoice,"astrangerhascomeamongus,abeastofcuriousformwhoisagreatmagicianandisabletochangetheshapesofmenorbeastsathiswill.Thisstrangerhascometous,withanotherofhiskind,fromoutofthesky,towarnusofadangerwhichthreatensusall,andtoofferusawaytoescapefromthatdanger.Hesaysheisourfriend,andhehasprovedtomeandtomyCounselorshismagicpowers.Willyoulistentowhathehastosaytoyou—tothemessagehehasbroughtfromthesky?"
"Lethimspeak!"cameinagreatroarfromthegreatcompanyofassembledbeasts.
SoRuggedotheNomesprangupontheflatrockbesideGugutheKing,andanotherroar,gentlethistime,showedhowastonishedthebeastswereatthesightofhiscuriousform.Hislion’sfacewassurroundedbyamaneofpurewhitehair;hiseagle’swingswereattachedtotheshouldersofhismonkeybodyandweresolongthattheynearlytouchedtheground;hehadpowerfularmsandlegsinadditiontothewings,andattheendofhislong,strongtailwasagoldenball.
