Волшебство страны Оз

           RuggedotheNomewasoverbearingandtricky,andKikiknewhewasnottobedependedon;buttheNomecouldplanandplot,whichtheHyupboywasnotwiseenoughtodo,andso,whenhelookeddownthroughthebranchesofatreeandsawaGoosewaddlingalongbelowandhearditcryout,"KikiAru!Quack—quack!KikiAru!"theboyansweredinalowvoice,"HereIam,"andswunghimselfdowntothelowestlimbofthetree.

           TheGooselookedupandsawhim.

           "You’vebungledthingsinadreadfulway!"exclaimedtheGoose."Whydidyoudoit?"

           "BecauseIwantedto,"answeredKiki."YouactedasifIwasyourslave,andIwantedtoshowtheseforestpeoplethatIammorepowerfulthanyou."

           TheGoosehissedsoftly,butKikididnothearthat.

           OldRuggedoquicklyrecoveredhiswitsandmutteredtohimself:"Thisboyisthegoose,althoughitisIwhowearthegoose’sshape.Iwillbegentlewithhimnow,andfiercewithhimwhenIhavehiminmypower."ThenhesaidaloudtoKiki:

           "Well,hereafterIwillbecontenttoacknowledgeyouthemaster.Youbungledthings,asIsaid,butwecanstillconquerOz."

           "How?"askedtheboy.

           "FirstgivemebacktheshapeoftheLi-Mon-Eag,andthenwecantalktogethermoreconveniently,"suggestedtheNome.

           "Waitamoment,then,"saidKiki,andclimbedhigherupthetree.TherehewhisperedtheMagicWordandtheGoosebecameaLi-Mon-Eag,ashehadbeenbefore.

           "Good!"saidtheNome,wellpleased,asKikijoinedhimbydroppingdownfromthetree."Nowletusfindaquietplacewherewecantalkwithoutbeingoverheardbythebeasts.