Волшебство страны Оз
3. Two Bad Ones
"Idon’tcaretobeKingofOz,cometothinkitover.Idon’tevencaretoliveinthatcountry.WhatIwantfirstisrevenge.IfwecanconquerOz,I’llgetenoughmagicthentoconquermyownKingdomoftheNomes,andI’llgobackandliveinmyundergroundcaverns,whicharemorehome-likethanthetopoftheearth.Sohere’smyproposition:HelpmeconquerOzandgetrevenge,andhelpmegetthemagicawayfromGlindaandtheWizard,andI’llletyoubeKingofOzforeverafterward."
"I’llthinkitover,"answeredKiki,andthatisallhewouldsaythatevening.
InthenightwhenallintheInnwereasleepbuthimself,oldRuggedotheNomerosesoftlyfromhiscouchandwentintotheroomofKikiArutheHyup,andsearchedeverywhereforthemagictoolthatperformedhistransformations.Ofcourse,therewasnosuchtool,andalthoughRuggedosearchedinalltheboy’spockets,hefoundnothingmagicalwhatever.SohewentbacktohisbedandbegantodoubtthatKikicouldperformtransformations.
Nextmorninghesaid:
"Whichwaydoyoutravelto-day?"
"IthinkIshallvisittheRoseKingdom,"answeredtheboy.
"Thatisalongjourney,"declaredtheNome.
"Ishalltransformmyselfintoabird,"saidKiki,"andsoflytotheRoseKingdominanhour."
"Thentransformme,also,intoabird,andIwillgowithyou,"suggestedRuggedo."But,inthatcase,letusflytogethertotheLandofOz,andseewhatitlookslike."
Kikithoughtthisover.Pleasantaswerethecountrieshehadvisited,heheardeverywherethattheLandofOzwasmorebeautifulanddelightful.
