Волшебство страны Оз
3. Two Bad Ones
"Beforehecandothat,"saidhe,"Iwilltransformmyselfintoalionandtearhimtopieces,orintoabearandeathimup,orintoaflyandflyawaywherehecouldnotfindme."
"Canyoureallydosuchwonderfultransformations?"askedtheoldNome,lookingathimcuriously.
"Ofcourse,"declaredKiki."Icantransformyouintoastickofwood,inaflash,orintoastone,andleaveyouherebytheroadside."
"ThewickedNomeshiveredalittlewhenheheardthat,butitmadehimlongmorethanevertopossessthegreatsecret.Afterawhilehesaid:
"I’lltellyouwhatI’lldo.IfyouwillhelpmetoconquerOzandtotransformtheOzpeople,whoaremyenemies,intosticksorstones,bytellingmeyoursecret,I’llagreetomakeYOUtheRulerofallOz,andIwillbeyourPrimeMinisterandseethatyourordersareobeyed."
"I’llhelpdothat,"saidKiki,"butIwon’ttellyoumysecret."
TheNomewassofuriousatthisrefusalthathejumpedupanddownwithrageandsplutteredandchokedforalongtimebeforehecouldcontrolhispassion.Buttheboywasnotatallfrightened.HelaughedatthewickedoldNome,whichmadehimmorefuriousthanever.
"Let’sgiveuptheidea,"heproposed,whenRuggedohadquietedsomewhat."Idon’tknowtheOzpeopleyoumentionandsotheyarenotmyenemies.Ifthey’vekickedyououtofyourkingdom,that’syouraffair—notmine."
"Wouldn’tyouliketobekingofthatsplendidfairyland?"askedRuggedo.
"Yes,Iwould,"repliedKikiAru;"butyouwanttobekingyourself,andwewouldquarreloverit."
"No,"saidtheNome,tryingtodeceivehim.
