12. Kiki Uses His Magic

           Thenaroseagreatconfusionofsoundsasalltheanimalsbegantalkingtotheirfellows.Themonkeyschatteredandthebearsgrowledandthevoicesofthejaguarsandlionsrumbled,andthewolvesyelpedandtheelephantshadtotrumpetloudlytomaketheirvoicesheard.Suchahubbubhadneverbeenknownintheforestbefore,andeachbeastarguedwithhisneighboruntilitseemedthenoisewouldnevercease.

           RuggedotheNomewavedhisarmsandflutteredhiswingstotrytomakethemlistentohimagain,butthebeastspaidnoattention.SomewantedtofighttheOzpeople,somewantedtobetransformed,andsomewantedtodonothingatall.

           Thegrowlingandconfusionhadgrowngreaterthaneverwheninaflashsilencefellonallthebeastspresent,theargumentswerehushed,andallgazedinastonishmentatastrangesight.

           ForintothecirclestrodeagreatLion—biggerandmorepowerfulthananyotherlionthere—andonhisbackrodealittlegirlwhosmiledfearlesslyatthemultitudeofbeasts.AndbehindtheLionandthelittlegirlcameanotherbeast—amonstrousTiger,whoboreuponhisbackafunnylittlemancarryingablackbag.Rightpasttherowsofwonderingbeaststhestrangeanimalswalked,advancinguntiltheystoodjustbeforetherockthroneofGugu.

           Thenthelittlegirlandthefunnylittlemandismounted,andthegreatLiondemandedinaloudvoice:

           "WhoisKinginthisforest?"

           "Iam!"answeredGugu,lookingsteadilyattheother."IamGugutheLeopard,andIamKingofthisforest."

           "ThenIgreetYourMajestywithgreatrespect,"saidtheLion."Perhapsyouhaveheardofme,Gugu.