Путешествие в Страну Оз

           "PapaalwayssaidIwasbrightasabutton;somamaalwayscalledmeButton-Bright,"hesaid.

           "Whatisyourpapa’sname?"

           "JustPapa."

           "Whatelse?"

           "Don’tknow."

           "Nevermind,"saidtheshaggyman,smiling."We’llcalltheboyButton-Bright,ashismamadoes.Thatnameisasgoodasany,andbetterthansome."

           Dorothywatchedtheboydig.

           "Wheredoyoulive?"sheasked.

           "Don’tknow,"wasthereply.

           "Howdidyoucomehere?"

           "Don’tknow,"hesaidagain.

           "Don’tyouknowwhereyoucamefrom?"

           "No,"saidhe.

           "Why,hemustbelost,"shesaidtotheshaggyman.Sheturnedtotheboyoncemore.

           "Whatareyougoingtodo?"sheinquired.

           "Dig,"saidhe.

           "Butyoucan’tdigforever;andwhatareyougoingtodothen?"shepersisted.

           "Don’tknow,"saidtheboy.

           "ButyouMUSTknowSOMETHING,"declaredDorothy,gettingprovoked.

           "MustI?"heasked,lookingupinsurprise.

           "Ofcourseyoumust."

           "WhatmustIknow?"

           "What’sgoingtobecomeofyou,foronething,"sheanswered.

           "DoYOUknowwhat’sgoingtobecomeofme?"heasked.

           "Not—not’zactly,"sheadmitted.

           "Doyouknowwhat’sgoingtobecomeofYOU?"hecontinued,earnestly.

           "Ican’tsayIdo,"repliedDorothy,rememberingherpresentdifficulties.

           Theshaggymanlaughed.

           "Nooneknowseverything,Dorothy,"hesaid.

           "ButButton-Brightdoesn’tseemtoknowANYthing,"shedeclared."Doyou,Button-Bright?"

           Heshookhishead,whichhadprettycurlsalloverit,andrepliedwithperfectcalmness:

           "Don’tknow."

           NeverbeforehadDorothymetwithanyonewhocouldgivehersolittleinformation.