Волшебник страны Оз
The Guardian of the Gate
SotheTinWoodmanwasforcedtoreturnsorrowfullytohisfriendsandtellthemoftheterribleBeasthehadseen. TheyallwonderedgreatlyatthemanyformstheGreatWizardcouldtakeuponhimself,andtheLionsaid:
"IfheisaBeastwhenIgotoseehim,Ishallroarmyloudest,andsofrightenhimthathewillgrantallIask. AndifheisthelovelyLady,Ishallpretendtospringuponher,andsocompelhertodomybidding. AndifheisthegreatHead,hewillbeatmymercy; forIwillrollthisheadallabouttheroomuntilhepromisestogiveuswhatwedesire. Sobeofgoodcheer,myfriends,forallwillyetbewell."
ThenextmorningthesoldierwiththegreenwhiskersledtheLiontothegreatThroneRoomandbadehimenterthepresenceofOz.
TheLionatoncepassedthroughthedoor,andglancingaroundsaw,tohissurprise,thatbeforethethronewasaBallofFire,sofierceandglowinghecouldscarcelybeartogazeuponit. HisfirstthoughtwasthatOzhadbyaccidentcaughtonfireandwasburningup;butwhenhetriedtogonearer,theheatwassointensethatitsingedhiswhiskers,andhecreptbacktremblinglytoaspotnearerthedoor.
Thenalow,quietvoicecamefromtheBallofFire,andthesewerethewordsitspoke:
"IamOz,theGreatandTerrible. Whoareyou,andwhydoyouseekme?"
AndtheLionanswered, "IamaCowardlyLion,afraidofeverything. Icametoyoutobegthatyougivemecourage,sothatinrealityImaybecometheKingofBeasts,asmencallme."
