Волшебство страны Оз

           InstantlytheUnicornbecameafat,chubbylittleman,dressedinthepurpleGillikincostume,anditwashardtotellwhichwasthemoreastonished,theKing,theBear,theApeortheformerUnicorn.

           "It’strue!"shortedtheman-beast."Goodgracious,lookwhatIam!It’swonderful!"

           TheKingofBeastsnowaddressedRuggedoinamorefriendlytone.

           "Wemustbelieveyourstory,sinceyouhavegivenusproofofyourpower,"saidhe."Butwhy,ifyouaresogreatamagician,cannotyouconquertheOzpeoplewithoutourhelp,andsosaveusthetrouble?"

           "Alas!"repliedthecraftyoldNome,"nomagicianisabletodoeverything.ThetransformationsareeasytousbecauseweareLi-Mon-Eags,butwecannotfight,orconquerevensuchweakcreaturesastheOzpeople.Butwewillstaywithyouandadviseandhelpyou,andwewilltransformalltheOzpeopleintobeasts,whenthetimecomes,andallthebeastsintopeople."

           GugutheKingturnedtohisCounselors.

           "Howshallweanswerthisfriendlystranger?"heasked.

           LootheformerUnicornwasdancingaroundandcuttingcaperslikeaclown.

           "Onmyword,yourMajesty,"hesaid,"thisbeingamanismorefunthanbeingaUnicorn."

           "Youlooklikeafool,"saidtheGrayApe.

           "Well,IFEELfine!"declaredtheman-beast.

           "IthinkIprefertobeaBear,"saidBigBru."IwasbornaBear,andIknowaBear’sways.SoIamsatisfiedtoliveasaBearlives."

           "That,"saidtheoldNome,"isbecauseyouknownothingbetter.WhenwehaveconqueredtheOzpeople,andyoubecomeaman,you’llbegladofit."

           TheimmenseLeopardrestedhischinonthelogandseemedthoughtful.