Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
17. The Nine Tiny Piglets
InthechariotrodeOzmaandDorothy,theformerinsplendidraimentandwearingherroyalcoronet,whilethelittleKansasgirlworearoundherwaisttheMagicBeltshehadoncecapturedfromtheNomeKing.
FollowingthechariotcametheScarecrowmountedontheSawhorse,andthepeoplecheeredhimalmostasloudlyastheydidtheirlovelyRuler.Behindhimstalkedwithregular,jerkysteps,thefamousmachine-mancalledTik-tok,whohadbeenwoundupbyDorothyfortheoccasion.Tik-tokmovedbyclockwork,andwasmadeallofburnishedcopper.HereallybelongedtotheKansasgirl,whohadmuchrespectforhisthoughtsaftertheyhadbeenproperlywoundandsetgoing;butasthecoppermanwouldbeuselessinanyplacebutafairycountryDorothyhadlefthiminchargeofOzma,whosawthathewassuitablycaredfor.
Therefollowedanotherbandafterthis,whichwascalledtheRoyalCourtBand,becausethemembersalllivedinthepalace.Theyworewhiteuniformswithrealdiamondbuttonsandplayed"WhatisOzwithoutOzma"verysweetly.
ThencameProfessorWoggle-Bug,withagroupofstudentsfromtheRoyalCollegeofScientificAthletics.Theboysworelonghairandstripedsweatersandyelledtheircollegeyelleveryothersteptheytook,tothegreatsatisfactionofthepopulace,whichwasgladtohavethisevidencethattheirlungswereingoodcondition.
ThebrilliantlypolishedTinWoodmanmarchednext,attheheadoftheRoyalArmyofOzwhichconsistedoftwenty-eightofficers,fromGeneralsdowntoCaptains.
