Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
15. Old Friends are Reunited
Thatwaswhythepeopleweresogladtoseeyou,andwhytheythoughtfromyourinitialsthatyouweretheirrightfulruler."
"But,atthattime,"saidtheWizard,thoughtfully,"thereweretwoGoodWitchesandtwoWickedWitchesrulingintheland."
"Yes,"repliedOzma,"becauseagoodWitchhadconqueredMombiintheNorthandGlindatheGoodhadconqueredtheevilWitchintheSouth.ButMombiwasstillmygrandfather’sjailor,andafterwardmyfather’sjailor.WhenIwasbornshetransformedmeintoaboy,hopingthatnoonewouldeverrecognizemeandknowthatIwastherightfulPrincessoftheLandofOz.ButIescapedfromherandamnowtheRulerofmypeople."
"Iamverygladofthat,"saidtheWizard,"andhopeyouwillconsidermeoneofyourmostfaithfulanddevotedsubjects."
"WeoweagreatdealtotheWonderfulWizard,"continuedthePrincess,"foritwasyouwhobuiltthissplendidEmeraldCity."
"Yourpeoplebuiltit,"heanswered."Ionlybossedthejob,aswesayinOmaha."
"Butyouruleditwiselyandwellformanyyears,"saidshe,"andmadethepeopleproudofyourmagicalart.So,asyouarenowtoooldtowanderabroadandworkinacircus,Iofferyouahomehereaslongasyoulive.YoushallbetheOfficialWizardofmykingdom,andbetreatedwitheveryrespectandconsideration."
"Iacceptyourkindofferwithgratitude,graciousPrincess,"thelittlemansaid,inasoftvoice,andtheycouldallseethattear-dropswerestandinginhiskeenoldeyes.Itmeantagooddealtohimtosecureahomelikethis.
"He’sonlyahumbugWizard,though,"saidDorothy,smilingathim.
