Путешествие в Страну Оз
9. Facing the Scoodlers
"Ifitwasn’tafairycountryyoucouldn’thaveafoxheadandtheshaggymancouldn’thaveadonkeyhead,andtheRainbow’sDaughterwouldbeinvis’ble."
"What’sthat?"askedtheboy.
"Youdon’tseemtoknowanything,Button-Bright.Invis’bleisathingyoucan’tsee."
"ThenToto’sinvis’ble,"declaredtheboy,andDorothyfoundhewasright.Totohaddisappearedfromview,buttheycouldhearhimbarkingfuriouslyamongtheheapsofgreyrockaheadofthem.
Theymovedforwardalittlefastertoseewhatthedogwasbarkingat,andfoundpercheduponapointofrockbytheroadsideacuriouscreature.Ithadtheformofaman,middle-sizedandratherslenderandgraceful;butasitsatsilentandmotionlessuponthepeaktheycouldseethatitsfacewasblackasink,anditworeablackclothcostumemadelikeaunionsuitandfittingtighttoitsskin.Itshandswereblack,too,anditstoescurleddown,likeabird’s.Thecreaturewasblackalloverexceptitshair,whichwasfine,andyellow,bangedinfrontacrosstheblackforeheadandcutcloseatthesides.Theeyes,whichwerefixedsteadilyuponthebarkingdog,weresmallandsparklingandlookedliketheeyesofaweasel.
"Whatintheworlddoyous’posethatis?"askedDorothyinahushedvoice,asthelittlegroupoftravelersstoodwatchingthestrangecreature.
"Don’tknow,"saidButton-Bright.
Thethinggaveajumpandturnedhalfaround,sittinginthesameplacebutwiththeothersideofitsbodyfacingthem.
