Волшебник страны Оз
The Queen of the Field Mice
Infrontofthem,andattheendoftheroadofyellowbrick,wasabiggate,allstuddedwithemeraldsthatglitteredsointhesunthateventhepaintedeyesoftheScarecrowweredazzledbytheirbrilliancy.
Therewasabellbesidethegate,andDorothypushedthebuttonandheardasilverytinklesoundwithin. Thenthebiggateswungslowlyopen,andtheyallpassedthroughandfoundthemselvesinahigharchedroom,thewallsofwhichglistenedwithcountlessemeralds.
BeforethemstoodalittlemanaboutthesamesizeastheMunchkins. Hewasclothedallingreen,fromhisheadtohisfeet,andevenhisskinwasofagreenishtint. Athissidewasalargegreenbox.
WhenhesawDorothyandhercompanionsthemanasked, "WhatdoyouwishintheEmeraldCity?"
"WecameheretoseetheGreatOz,"saidDorothy.
Themanwassosurprisedatthisanswerthathesatdowntothinkitover.
"IthasbeenmanyyearssinceanyoneaskedmetoseeOz,"hesaid,shakinghisheadinperplexity. "Heispowerfulandterrible,andifyoucomeonanidleorfoolisherrandtobotherthewisereflectionsoftheGreatWizard,hemightbeangryanddestroyyouallinaninstant."
"Butitisnotafoolisherrand,noranidleone,"repliedtheScarecrow; "itisimportant. AndwehavebeentoldthatOzisagoodWizard."
"Soheis,"saidthegreenman,"andherulestheEmeraldCitywiselyandwell. Buttothosewhoarenothonest,orwhoapproachhimfromcuriosity,heismostterrible,andfewhaveeverdaredasktoseehisface.
