6. The City of Beasts
WhennooncametheyopenedtheFox-King’sbasketofluncheon,andfoundaniceroastedturkeywithcranberrysauceandsomeslicesofbreadandbutter.Astheysatonthegrassbytheroadsidetheshaggymancutuptheturkeywithhispocket-knifeandpassedslicesofitaround.
"Haven’tyouanydewdrops,ormist-cakes,orcloudbuns?"askedPolychrome,longingly.
"’Coursenot,"repliedDorothy."Weeatsolidthings,downhereontheearth.Butthere’sabottleofcoldtea.Trysome,won’tyou?"
TheRainbow’sDaughterwatchedButton-Brightdevouronelegoftheturkey.
"Isitgood?"sheasked.
Henodded.
"DoyouthinkIcouldeatit?"
"Notthis,"saidButton-Bright.
"ButImeananotherpiece?"
"Don’tknow,"hereplied.
"Well,I’mgoingtotry,forI’mveryhungry,"shedecided,andtookathinsliceofthewhitebreastofturkeywhichtheshaggymancutforher,aswellasabitofbreadandbutter.WhenshetasteditPolychromethoughttheturkeywasgood—bettereventhanmist-cakes;butalittlesatisfiedherhungerandshefinishedwithatinysipofcoldtea.
"That’saboutasmuchasaflywouldeat,"saidDorothy,whowasmakingagoodmealherself."ButIknowsomepeopleinOzwhoeatnothingatall."
"Whoarethey?"inquiredtheshaggyman.
"Oneisascarecrowwho’sstuffedwithstraw,andtheotherawoodmanmadeoutoftin.Theyhaven’tanyappetitesinsideof’em,yousee;sotheynevereatanythingatall."
"Aretheyalive?"askedButton-Bright.
"Ohyes,"repliedDorothy;"andthey’reverycleverandverynice,too.IfwegettoOzI’llintroducethemtoyou.