Озма из страны Оз

           TheTigercomplainedbitterlythathewashalfstarved,andbeggedtogointothepalaceandbecomeanornament,sothathewouldnolongersufferthepangsofhunger.

           "Haven’tyouhadyourbreakfast?"askedtheNomeKing.

           "Oh,Ihadjustabite,"repliedthebeast."Butwhatgoodisabite,toahungrytiger?"

           "Heateseventeenbowlsofporridge,aplatterfulloffriedsausages,elevenloavesofbreadandtwenty-onemincepies,"saidtheSteward.

           "Whatmoredoyouwant?"demandedtheKing.

           "Afatbaby.Iwantafatbaby,"saidtheHungryTiger."Anice,plump,juicy,tender,fatbaby.But,ofcourse,ifIhadone,myconsciencewouldnotallowmetoeatit.SoI’llhavetobeanornamentandforgetmyhunger."

           "Impossible!"exclaimedtheKing."I’llhavenoclumsybeastsentermypalace,tooverturnandbreakallmyprettynick-nacks.Whentherestofyourfriendsaretransformedyoucanreturntotheupperworld,andgoaboutyourbusiness."

           "Asforthat,wehavenobusiness,whenourfriendsaregone,"saidtheLion."Sowedonotcaremuchwhatbecomesofus."

           Dorothybeggedtobeallowedtogofirstintothepalace,butTiktokfirmlymaintainedthattheslaveshouldfacedangerbeforethemistress.TheScarecrowagreedwithhiminthat,sotheNomeKingopenedthedoorforthemachineman,whotrampedintothepalacetomeethisfate.ThenhisMajestyreturnedtohisthroneandpuffedhispipesocontentedlythatasmallcloudofsmokeformedabovehishead.

           Byeandbyehesaid:

           "I’msorrytherearesofewofyouleft.