Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
3. The Arrival of the Wizard
SohefollowedthePrinceintothegreatdomedhall,andDorothyandZebcameafterthem,whilethethrongofpeopletroopedinalso.
TheresatthethornySorcererinhischairofstate,andwhentheWizardsawhimhebegantolaugh,utteringcomicallittlechuckles.
"Whatanabsurdcreature!"heexclaimed.
"Hemaylookabsurd,"saidthePrince,inhisquietvoice;"butheisanexcellentSorcerer.TheonlyfaultIfindwithhimisthatheissooftenwrong."
"Iamneverwrong,"answeredtheSorcerer.
"OnlyashorttimeagoyoutoldmetherewouldbenomoreRainofStonesorofPeople,"saidthePrince.
"Well,whatthen?"
"Hereisanotherpersondescendedfromtheairtoproveyouwerewrong."
"Onepersoncannotbecalled’people,’"saidtheSorcerer."IftwoshouldcomeoutoftheskyyoumightwithjusticesayIwaswrong;butunlessmorethanthisoneappearsIwillholdthatIwasright."
"Veryclever,"saidtheWizard,noddinghisheadasifpleased."Iamdelightedtofindhumbugsinsidetheearth,justthesameasontopofit.Wereyoueverwithacircus,brother?"
"No,"saidtheSorcerer.
"Yououghttojoinone,"declaredthelittlemanseriously."IbelongtoBailum&Barney’sGreatConsolidatedShows—threeringsinonetentandamenagerieontheside.It’safineaggregation,Iassureyou."
"Whatdoyoudo?"askedtheSorcerer.
"Igoupinaballoon,usually,todrawthecrowdstothecircus.ButI’vejusthadthebadlucktocomeoutofthesky,skipthesolidearth,andlandlowerdownthanIintended.Butnevermind.Itisn’teverybodywhogetsachancetoseeyourLandoftheGabazoos.
