Волшебство страны Оз
3. Two Bad Ones
TheLandofOzwashisowncountry,too,andiftherewasanypossibilityofhisbecomingitsKing,hemustknowsomethingaboutit.
WhileKikitheHyupthought,RuggedotheNomewasalsothinking.Thisboypossessedamarvelouspower,andalthoughverysimpleinsomeways,hewasdeterminednottopartwithhissecret.However,ifRuggedocouldgethimtotransportthewilyoldNometoOz,whichhecouldreachinnootherway,hemighttheninducetheboytofollowhisadviceandenterintotheplotforrevenge,whichhehadalreadyplannedinhiswickedheart.
"TherearewizardsandmagiciansinOz,"remarkedKiki,afteratime."Theymightdiscoverus,inspiteofourtransformations."
"Notifwearecareful,"Ruggedoassuredhim."OzmahasaMagicPicture,inwhichshecanseewhatevershewishestosee;butOzmawillknownothingofourgoingtoOz,andsoshewillnotcommandherMagicPicturetoshowwhereweareorwhatwearedoing.GlindatheGoodhasaGreatBookcalledtheBookofRecords,inwhichismagicallywritteneverythingthatpeopledointheLandofOz,justtheinstanttheydoit."
"Then,"saidKiki,"thereisnouseourattemptingtoconquerthecountry,forGlindawouldreadinherbookallthatwedo,andashermagicisgreaterthanmine,shewouldsoonputastoptoourplans."
"Isaid’people,’didn’tI?"retortedtheNome."Thebookdoesn’tmakearecordofwhatbirdsdo,orbeasts.Itonlytellsthedoingsofpeople.So,ifweflyintothecountryasbirds,Glindawon’tknowanythingaboutit."
"Twobirdscouldn’tconquertheLandofOz,"assertedtheboy,scornfully.