Изумрудный город страны Оз
28. How They Drank at the Forbidden Fountain
Thesuncameupandsentitsfloodofsilverraystolightthefacesoftheinvaders.Thefrownsandscowlsandevillookswereallgone.Eventhemostmonstrousofthecreaturesthereassembledsmiledinnocentlyandseemedlight-heartedandcontentmerelytobealive.
NotsowithRoquat,theNomeKing.HehadnotdrunkfromtheForbiddenFountainandallhisformerrageagainstOzmaandDorothynowinflamedhimasfiercelyasever.ThesightofGeneralGuphbabblinglikeahappychildandplayingwithhishandsinthecoolwatersofthefountainastonishedandmaddenedRedRoquat.SeeingthathisterriblealliesandhisownGeneralrefusedtoact,theNomeKingturnedtoorderhisgreatarmyofNomestoadvancefromthetunnelandseizethehelplessOzpeople.
ButtheScarecrowsuspectedwhatwasintheKing’smindandspokeawordtotheTinWoodman.TogethertheyranatRoquatandgrabbinghimuptossedhimintothegreatbasinofthefountain.
TheNomeKing’sbodywasroundasaball,anditbobbedupanddownintheWaterofOblivionwhilehesplutteredandscreamedwithfearlestheshoulddrown.Andwhenhecriedout,hismouthfilledwithwater,whichrandownhisthroat,sothatstraightwayheforgotallhehadformerlyknownjustascompletelyashadalltheotherinvaders.
OzmaandDorothycouldnotrefrainfromlaughingtoseetheirdreadedenemiesbecomeasharmlessasbabies.TherewasnodangernowthatOzwouldbedestroyed.Theonlyquestionremainingtosolvewashowtogetridofthishordeofintruders.
TheShaggyMankindlypulledtheNomeKingoutofthefountainandsethimuponhisthinlegs.
