Волшебство страны Оз
8. The Li-Mon-Eags Make Trouble
"Whatdoyousay,Bru?"askedtheKing,turningtothegreatBear,whohaduntilnowsaidnothing.
"HowdoestheMixedBeastknowthatwhathesaysistrue?"askedtheBear.
"Why,Icanfly,youknow,havingthewingsofanEagle,"explainedtheNome."Iandmycomradeyonder,"turningtoKiki,"flewtoagroveinOz,andthereweheardthepeopletellinghowtheywillmakemanyropestosnareyoubeasts,andthentheywillsurroundthisforest,andallotherforests,andmakeyouprisoners.Sowecameheretowarnyou,forbeingbeastsourselves,althoughweliveinthesky,weareyourfriends."
TheLeopard’slipcurledandshowedhisenormousteeth,sharpasneedles.HeturnedtotheGrayApe.
"WhatdoYOUthink,Rango?"heasked.
"Sendthesemixedbeastsaway,YourMajesty,"repliedtheGrayApe."Theyaremischief-makers."
"Don’tdothat—don’tdothat!"criedtheUnicorn,nervously."Thestrangersaidhewouldtelluswhattodo.Lethimtellus,then.Arewefools,nottoheedawarning?"
GugutheKingturnedtoRuggedo.
"Speak,Stranger,"hecommanded.
"Well,"saidtheNome,"it’sthisway:TheLandofOzisafinecountry.ThepeopleofOzhavemanygoodthings—houseswithsoftbeds,allsortsofnice-tastingfood,prettyclothes,lovelyjewels,andmanyotherthingsthatbeastsknownothingof.Hereinthedarkforeststhepoorbeastshavehardworktogetenoughtoeatandtofindabedtorestin.
