Волшебство страны Оз

           TheKalidah,realizingaftermanystrugglesthatitcouldnotescape,nowbecamequiet,butitsaidinaharsh,snarlingvoice:

           "Isupposeyouthinkyou’reclever,topinmetothegroundinthismanner.Butwhenmyfriends,theotherKalidahs,comehere,they’lltearyoutopiecesfortreatingmethisway."

           "P’raps,"remarkedCap’nBill,coolly,ashechoppedatthelogs,"an’p’rapsnot.Whenareyourfolkscomin’here?"

           "Idon’tknow,"admittedtheKalidah."ButwhentheyDOcome,youcan’tescapethem."

           "Iftheyholdofflongenough,I’llhavemyraftready,"saidCap’nBill.

           "Whatareyougoingtodowitharaft?"inquiredthebeast.

           "We’regoin’overtothatisland,togettheMagicFlower."

           Thehugebeastlookedathiminsurpriseamoment,andthenitbegantolaugh.Thelaughwasagooddeallikearoar,andithadacruelandderisivesound,butitwasalaughnevertheless.

           "Good!"saidtheKalidah."Good!Verygood!I’mgladyou’regoingtogettheMagicFlower.Butwhatwillyoudowithit?"

           "We’regoingtotakeittoOzma,asapresentonherbirthday."

           TheKalidahlaughedagain;thenitbecamesober."Ifyougettothelandonyourraftbeforemypeoplecancatchyou,"itsaid,"youwillbesafefromus.Wecanswimlikeducks,sothegirlcouldn’thaveescapedmebygettingintothewater;butKalidahsdon’tgotothatislandoverthere."

           "Whynot?"askedTrot.

           Thebeastwassilent.

           "Tellusthereason,"urgedCap’nBill.

           "Well,it’stheIsleoftheMagicFlower,"answeredtheKalidah,"andwedon’tcaremuchformagic