fb.ozmaofoz-第14节

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　　〃Who　was　that　laughing？〃　asked　Ozma。
　　There　was　no　reply；　but　in　the　gloom　they　could　see　strange　forms　flit　across　the　face　of　the　rock。Whatever　the　creations　might　be　they　seemed　very　like　the　rock　itself；　for　they　were　the　color　of　rocks　and　their　shapes　were　as　rough　and　rugged　as　if　they　had　been　broken　away　from　the　side　of　the　mountain。They　kept　close　to　the　steep　cliff　facing　our　friends；　and　glided　up　and　down；　and　this　way　and　that；　with　a　lack　of　regularity　that　was　quite　confusing。And　they　seemed　not　to　need　places　to　rest　their　feet；　but　clung　to　the　surface　of　the　rock　as　a　fly　does　to　a　window…pane；　and　were　never　still　for　a　moment。
　　〃Do　not　mind　them；〃　said　Tiktok；　as　Dorothy　shrank　back。〃They　are　on…ly　the　Nomes。〃
　　〃And　what　are　Nomes？〃　asked　the　girl；　half　frightened。
　　〃They　are　rock　fair…ies；　and　serve　the　Nome　King；〃　replied　the　machine。
　　〃But　they　will　do　us　no　harm。You　must　call　for　the　King；　be…cause　with…out　him　you　can　ne…ver　find　the　en…trance　to　the　pal…ace。〃
　　〃YOU　call；〃　said　Dorothy　to　Ozma。
　　Just　then　the　Nomes　laughed　again；　and　the　sound　was　so　weird　and　disheartening　that　the　twenty…six　officers　manded　the　private　to　〃right…about…face！〃　and　they　all　started　to　run　as　fast　as　they　could。
　　The　Tin　Woodman　at　once　pursued　his　army　and　cried　〃halt！〃　and　when　they　had　stopped　their　flight　he　asked：　〃Where　are　you　going？〃
　　〃I…I　find　I've　forgotten　the　brush　for　my　whiskers；〃　said　a　general；　trembling　with　fear。〃S…s…so　we　are　g…going　back　after　it！〃
　　〃That　is　impossible；〃　replied　the　Tin　Woodman。〃For　the　giant　with　the　hammer　would　kill　you　all　if　you　tried　to　pass　him。〃
　　〃Oh！　I'd　forgotten　the　giant；〃　said　the　general；　turning　pale。
　　〃You　seem　to　forget　a　good　many　things；〃　remarked　the　Tin　Woodman。　〃I　hope　you　won't　forget　that　you　are　brave　men。〃
　　〃Never！〃　cried　the　general；　slapping　his　gold…embroidered　chest。
　　〃Never！〃　cried　all　the　other　officers；　indignantly　slapping　their　chests。
　　〃For　my　part；〃　said　the　private；　meekly；　〃I　must　obey　my　officers；　so　when　I　am　told　to　run；　I　run；　and　when　I　am　told　to　fight；　I　fight。〃
　　〃That　is　right；〃　agreed　the　Tin　Woodman。〃And　now　you　must　all　e　back　to　Ozma；　and　obey　HER　orders。And　if　you　try　to　run　away　again　I　will　have　her　reduce　all　the　twenty…six　officers　to　privates；　and　make　the　private　your　general。〃
　　This　terrible　threat　so　frightened　them　that　they　at　once　returned　to　where　Ozma　was　standing　beside　the　Cowardly　Lion。
　　Then　Ozma　cried　out　in　a　loud　voice：
　　〃I　demand　that　the　Nome　King　appear　to　us！〃
　　There　was　no　reply；　except　that　the　shifting　Nomes　upon　the　mountain　laughed　in　derision。
　　〃You　must　not　mand　the　Nome　King；〃　said　Tiktok；　〃for　you　do　not　rule　him；　as　you　do　your　own　peo…ple。〃
　　So　Ozma　called　again；　saying：
　　〃I　request　the　Nome　King　to　appear　to　us。〃
　　Only　the　mocking　laughter　replied　to　her；　and　the　shadowy　Nomes　continued　to　flit　here　and　there　upon　the　rocky　cliff。
　　〃Try　en…treat…y；〃　said　Tiktok　to　Ozma。〃If　he　will　not　e　at　your　re…quest；　then　the　Nome　King　may　list…en　to　your　plead…ing。〃
　　Ozma　looked　around　her　proudly。
　　〃Do　you　wish　your　ruler　to　plead　with　this　wicked　Nome　King？〃　she　asked。
　　〃Shall　Ozma　of　Oz　humble　herself　to　a　creature　who　lives　in　an　underground　kingdom？〃
　　〃No！〃　they　all　shouted；　with　big　voices；　and　the　Scarecrow　added：
　　〃If　he　will　not　e；　we　will　dig　him　out　of　his　hole；　like　a　fox；　and　conquer　his　stubbornness。But　our　sweet　little　ruler　must　always　maintain　her　dignity；　just　as　I　maintain　mine。〃
　　〃I'm　not　afraid　to　plead　with　him；〃　said　Dorothy。〃I'm　only　a　little　girl　from　Kansas；　and　we've　got　more　dignity　at　home　than　we　know　what　to　do　with。I'LL　call　the　Nome　King。〃
　　〃Do；〃　said　the　Hungry　Tiger；　〃and　if　he　makes　hash　of　you　I'll　willingly　eat　you　for　breakfast　tomorrow　morning。〃
　　So　Dorothy　stepped　forward　and　said：
　　〃PLEASE　Mr。　Nome　King；　e　here　and　see　us。〃
　　The　Nomes　started　to　laugh　again；　but　a　low　growl　came　from　the　mountain；　and　in　a　flash　they　had　all　vanished　from　sight　and　were　silent。
　　Then　a　door　in　the　rock　opened；　and　a　voice　cried：
　　〃Enter！〃
　　〃Isn't　it　a　trick？〃　asked　the　Tin　Woodman。
　　〃Never　mind；〃　replied　Ozma。〃We　came　here　to　rescue　the　poor　Queen　of　Ev　and　her　ten　children；　and　we　must　run　some　risks　to　do　so。〃
　　〃The　Nome　King　is　hon…est　and　good　na…tured；〃　said　Tiktok。〃You　can　trust　him　to　do　what　is　right。〃
　　So　Ozma　led　the　way；　hand　in　hand　with　Dorothy；　and　they　passed　through　the　arched　doorway　of　rock　and　entered　a　long　passage　which　was　lighted　by　jewels　set　in　the　walls　and　having　lamps　behind　them。　There　was　no　one　to　escort　them；　or　to　show　them　the　way；　but　all　the　party　pressed　through　the　passage　until　they　came　to　a　round；　domed　cavern　that　was　grandly　furnished。
　　In　the　center　of　this　room　was　a　throne　carved　out　of　a　solid　boulder　of　rock；　rude　and　rugged　in　shape　but　glittering　with　great　rubies　and　diamonds　and　emeralds　on　every　part　of　its　surface。And　upon　the　throne　sat　the　Nome　King。
　　This　important　monarch　of　the　Underground　World　was　a　little　fat　man　clothed　in　gray…brown　garments　that　were　the　exact　color　of　the　rock　throne　in　which　he　was　seated。His　bushy　hair　and　flowing　beard　were　also　colored　like　the　rocks；　and　so　was　his　face。He　wore　no　crown　of　any　sort；　and　his　only　ornament　was　a　broad；　jewel…studded　belt　that　encircled　his　fat　little　body。As　for　his　features；　they　seemed　kindly　and　good　humored；　and　his　eyes　were　turned　merrily　upon　his　visitors　as　Ozma　and　Dorothy　stood　before　him　with　their　followers　ranged　in　close　order　behind　them。
　　〃Why；　he　looks　just　like　Santa　Claus…only　he　isn't　the　same　color！〃　whispered　Dorothy　to　her　friend；　but　the　Nome　King　heard　the　speech；　and　it　made　him　laugh　aloud。
　　
　　〃'He　had　a　red　face　and　a　round　little　bellyThat　shook　when　he　laughed　like　a　bowl　full　of　jelly！'〃
　　
　　quoth　the　monarch；　in　a　pleasant　voice；　and　they　could　all　see　that　he　really　did　shake　like　jelly　when　he　laughed。
　　Both　Ozma　and　Dorothy　were　much　relieved　to　find　the　Nome　King　so　jolly；　and　a　minute　later　he　waved　his　right　hand　and　the　girls　each　found　a　cushioned　stool　at　her　side。
　　〃Sit　down；　my　dears；〃　said　the　King；　〃and　tell　me　why　you　have　e　all　this　way　to　see　me；　and　what　I　can　do　to　make　you　happy。〃
　　While　they　seated　themselves　the　Nome　King　picked　up　a　pipe；　and　taking　a　glowing　red　coal　out　of　his　pocket　he　placed　it　in　the　bowl　of　the　pipe　and　began　puffing　out　clouds　of　smoke　that　curled　in　rings　above　his　head。Dorothy　thought　this　made　the　little　monarch　look　more　like　Santa　Claus　than　ever；　but　Ozma　now　began　speaking；　and　every　one　listened　intently　to　her　words。
　　〃Your　Majesty；〃　said　she；　〃I　am　the　ruler　of　the　Land　of　Oz；　and　I　have　e　here　to　ask　you　to　release　the　good　Queen　of　Ev　and　her　ten　children；　whom　you　have　enchanted　and　hold　as　your　prisoners。〃
　　〃Oh；　no；　you　are　mistaken　about　that；〃　replied　the　King。〃They　are　not　my　prisoners；　but　my　slaves；　whom　I　purchased　from　the　King　of　Ev。〃
　　〃But　that　was　wrong；〃　said　Ozma。
　　〃According　to　the　laws　of　Ev；　the　king　can　do　no　wrong；〃　answered　the　monarch；　eying　a　ring　of　smoke　he　had　just　blown　from　his　mouth；　〃so　that　he　had　a　perfect　right　to　sell　his　family　to　me　in　exchange　for　a　long　life。〃
　　〃You　cheated　him；　though；〃　declared　Dorothy；　〃for　the　King　of　Ev　did　not　have　a　long　life。He　jumped　into　the　sea　and　was　drowned。〃
　　〃That　was　not　my　fault；〃　said　the　Nome　King；　crossing　his　legs　and　smiling　contentedly。〃I　gave　him　the　long　life；　all　right；　but　he　destroyed　it。〃
　　〃Then　how　could　it　be　a　long　life？〃　asked　Dorothy。
　　〃Easily　enough；〃　was　the　reply。〃Now　suppose；　my　dear；　that　I　gave　you　a　pretty　doll　in　exchange　for　a　lock　of　your　hair；　and　that　after　you　had　received　the　doll　you　smashed　it　into　pieces　and　destroyed　it。　Could　you　say　that　I　had　not　given　you　a　pretty　doll？〃
　　〃No；〃　answered　Dorothy。
　　〃And　could　you；　in　fairness；　ask　me　to　return　to　you　the　lock　of　hair；　just　because　you　had　smashed　the　doll？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Dorothy；　again。
　　〃Of　course　not；〃　the　Nome　King　returned。〃Nor　will　I　give　up　the　Queen　and　her　children　because　the　King　of　Ev　destroyed　his　long　life　by　jumping　into　the　sea。They　belong　to　me　and　I　shall　keep　them。〃
　　〃But　you　are　treating　them　cruelly；〃　said　Ozma；　who　was　much　distressed　by　the　King's　refusal。
　　〃In　what　way？〃　he　asked。
　　〃By　making　them　your　slaves；〃　said　she。
　　〃Cruelty；〃　remarked　the　monarch；　puffing　out　wreathes　of　smoke　and　watching　them　float　into　the　air；　〃is　a　thing　I　can't　abide。So；　as　slaves　must　work　hard；　and　the　Queen　of　Ev　and　her　children　were　delicate　and　tender；　I　transformed　them　all　into　articles　of　ornament　and　bric…a…brac　and　scattered　them　around　the　various　rooms　of　my　palace。Instead　of　being　obliged　to　labor；　they　merely　decorate　my　apartments；　and　I　really　think　I　have　treated　them　with　great　kindness。〃
　　〃But　what　a　dreadful　fate　is　theirs！〃　exclaimed　Ozma；　earnestly。〃And　the　Kingdom　of　Ev　is　in　great　need　of　its　royal　family　to　govern　it。　If　you　will　liberate　them；　and　restore　them　to　their　proper　forms；　I　will　give　you　ten　ornaments　to　replace　each　one　you