Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
9. They Fight the Invisible Bears
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"TheValleyofVoeiscertainlyacharmingplace,"resumedtheWizard;"butwecannotbecontentedinanyotherlandthanourown,forlong.Evenifweshouldcometounpleasantplacesonourwayitisnecessary,inordertoreachtheearth’ssurface,tokeepmovingontowardit."
"Inthatcase,"saidtheman,"itwillbebestforyoutocrossourValleyandmountthespiralstaircaseinsidethePyramidMountain.Thetopofthatmountainislostintheclouds,andwhenyoureachityouwillbeintheawfulLandofNaught,wheretheGargoyleslive."
"WhatareGargoyles?"askedZeb.
"Idonotknow,youngsir.OurgreatestChampion,Overman-Anu,onceclimbedthespiralstairwayandfoughtninedayswiththeGargoylesbeforehecouldescapethemandcomeback;buthecouldneverbeinducedtodescribethedreadfulcreatures,andsoonafterwardabearcaughthimandatehimup."
Thewanderswereratherdiscouragedbythisgloomyreport,butDorothysaidwithasigh:
"IftheonlywaytogethomeistomeettheGurgles,thenwe’vegottomeet’em.Theycan’tbeworsethantheWickedWitchortheNomeKing."
"ButyoumustrememberyouhadtheScarecrowandtheTinWoodmantohelpyouconquerthoseenemies,"suggestedtheWizard."Justnow,mydear,thereisnotasinglewarriorinyourcompany."
"Oh,IguessZebcouldfightifhehadto.Couldn’tyou,Zeb?"askedthelittlegirl.
"Perhaps;ifIhadto,"answeredZeb,doubtfully.
"Andyouhavethejointedswordthatyouchoppedtheveg’tableSorcererintwowith,"thegirlsaidtothelittleman.
