Озма из страны Оз
9. The Royal Family of Ev
"Forthereasonthatweoftenstealhistreasures,"continuedOzma,"theRuleroftheUndergroundWorldisnotfondofthosewholiveupontheearth’ssurface,andneverappearsamongus.IfwewishtoseeKingRoquatoftheRocks,wemustvisithisowncountry,whereheisallpowerful,andthereforeitwillbeadangerousundertaking."
"But,forthesakeofthepoorprisoners,"saidDorothy,"weoughttodoit."
"Weshalldoit,"repliedtheScarecrow,"althoughitrequiresalotofcourageformetogoneartothefurnacesoftheNomeKing.ForIamonlystuffedwithstraw,andasinglesparkoffiremightdestroymeentirely."
"Thefurnacesmayalsomeltmytin,"saidtheTinWoodman;"butIamgoing."
"Ican’tbearheat,"remarkedthePrincessLangwidere,yawninglazily,"soIshallstayathome.ButIwishyoumayhavesuccessinyourundertaking,forIamheartilytiredofrulingthisstupidkingdom,andIneedmoreleisureinwhichtoadmiremybeautifulheads."
"Wedonotneedyou,"saidOzma."For,ifwiththeaidofmybravefollowersIcannotaccomplishmypurpose,thenitwouldbeuselessforyoutoundertakethejourney."
"Quitetrue,"sighedthePrincess."So,ifyou’llexcuseme,Iwillnowretiretomycabinet.I’vewornthisheadquiteawhile,andIwanttochangeitforanother."
Whenshehadleftthem(andyoumaybesurenoonewassorrytoseehergo)OzmasaidtoTiktok:
"Willyoujoinourparty?"
"IamtheslaveofthegirlDor-oth-y,whorescuedmefrompris-on,"repliedthemachine."WhereshegoesIwillgo."
"Oh,Iamgoingwithmyfriends,ofcourse,"saidDorothy,quickly.
