Изумрудный город страны Оз
1. How the Nome King Became Angry
"SoIam,"saidtheGeneral.
"MarchyourarmyatoncetotheLandofOz,captureanddestroytheEmeraldCity,andbringbacktomemyMagicBelt!"roaredtheKing.
"You’recrazy,"calmlyremarkedtheGeneral.
"What’sthat?What’sthat?What’sthat?"AndtheNomeKingdancedaroundonhispointedtoes,hewassoenraged.
"Youdon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout,"continuedtheGeneral,seatinghimselfuponalargecutdiamond."Iadviseyoutostandinacornerandcountsixtybeforeyouspeakagain.Bythattimeyoumaybemoresensible."
TheKinglookedaroundforsomethingtothrowatGeneralBlug,butasnothingwashandyhebegantoconsiderthatperhapsthemanwasrightandhehadbeentalkingfoolishly.SohemerelythrewhimselfintohisglitteringthroneandtippedhiscrownoverhisearandcurledhisfeetupunderhimandglaredwickedlyatBlug.
"Inthefirstplace,"saidtheGeneral,"wecannotmarchacrossthedeadlydeserttotheLandofOz.Andifwecould,theRulerofthatcountry,PrincessOzma,hascertainfairypowersthatwouldrendermyarmyhelpless.HadyounotlostyourMagicBeltwemighthavesomechanceofdefeatingOzma;buttheBeltisgone."
"Iwantit!"screamedtheKing."Imusthaveit."
"Well,then,letustryinasensiblewaytogetit,"repliedtheGeneral."TheBeltwascapturedbyalittlegirlnamedDorothy,wholivesinKansas,intheUnitedStatesofAmerica."
"ButsheleftitintheEmeraldCity,withOzma,"declaredtheKing.
"Howdoyouknowthat?"askedtheGeneral.
