Изумрудный город страны Оз
26. How Ozma Refused to Fight for Her Kingdom
"I’llgetupearlyto-morrowmorningandbeattheForbiddenFountainwhenthefiercewarriorsbreakthroughthecrustoftheearth.Iwillspeaktothempleasantlyandperhapstheywon’tbesoverybad,afterall."
"WhydotheycallittheForbiddenFountain?"askedDorothy,thoughtfully.
"Don’tyouknow,dear?"returnedOzma,surprised.
"No,"saidDorothy."OfcourseI’veseenthefountaininthepalacegrounds,eversinceIfirstcametoOz;andI’vereadthesignwhichsays:’AllPersonsareForbiddentoDrinkatthisFountain.’ButIneverknewWHYtheywereforbidden.Thewaterseemsclearandsparklinganditbubblesupinagoldenbasinallthetime."
"Thatwater,"declaredOzma,gravely,"isthemostdangerousthinginalltheLandofOz.ItistheWaterofOblivion."
"Whatdoesthatmean?"askedDorothy.
"WhoeverdrinksattheForbiddenFountainatonceforgetseverythinghehaseverknown,"Ozmaasserted.
"Itwouldn’tbeabadwaytoforgetourtroubles,"suggestedUncleHenry.
"Thatistrue;butyouwouldforgeteverythingelse,andbecomeasignorantasababy,"returnedOzma.
"Doesitmakeonecrazy?"askedDorothy.
"No;itonlymakesoneforget,"repliedthegirlRuler."Itissaidthatonce--long,longago--awickedKingruledOz,andmadehimselfandallhispeopleverymiserableandunhappy.SoGlinda,theGoodSorceress,placedthisfountainhere,andtheKingdrankofitswaterandforgotallhiswickedness.Hismindbecameinnocentandvacant,andwhenhelearnedthethingsoflifeagaintheywereallgoodthings.
