Озма из страны Оз
7. Ozma of Oz to the Rescue
ThereshestoodbeforetheslightanddelicateformofthelittlegirlfromOzandcriedout;--
"Howdareyouentermypalaceunbidden?Leavethisroomatonce,orIwillbindyouandallyourpeopleinchains,andthrowyouintomydarkestdungeons!"
"Whatadangerouslady!"murmuredtheScarecrow,inasoftvoice.
"Sheseemsalittlenervous,"repliedtheTinWoodman.
ButOzmaonlysmiledattheangryPrincess.
"Sitdown,please,"shesaid,quietly."Ihavetraveledalongwaytoseeyou,andyoumustlistentowhatIhavetosay."
"Must!"screamedthePrincess,herblackeyesflashingwithfury--forshestillworeherNo.17head."Must,toME!"
"Tobesure,"saidOzma."IamRuleroftheLandofOz,andIampowerfulenoughtodestroyallyourkingdom,ifIsowish.YetIdidnotcomeheretodoharm,butrathertofreetheroyalfamilyofEvfromthethralloftheNomeKing,thenewshavingreachedmethatheisholdingtheQueenandherchildrenprisoners."
Hearingthesewords,Langwideresuddenlybecamequiet.
"Iwishyoucould,indeed,freemyauntandhertenroyalchildren,"saidshe,eagerly."ForiftheywererestoredtotheirproperformsandstationtheycouldruletheKingdomofEvthemselves,andthatwouldsavemealotofworryandtrouble.AtpresentthereareatleasttenminuteseverydaythatImustdevotetoaffairsofstate,andIwouldliketobeabletospendmywholetimeinadmiringmybeautifulheads."
"Thenwewillpresentlydiscussthismatter,"saidOzma,"andtrytofindawaytoliberateyourauntandcousins.
