Озма из страны Оз
14. Dorothy Tries to be Brave
TheTigercomplainedbitterlythathewashalfstarved,andbeggedtogointothepalaceandbecomeanornament,sothathewouldnolongersufferthepangsofhunger.
"Haven’tyouhadyourbreakfast?"askedtheNomeKing.
"Oh,Ihadjustabite,"repliedthebeast."Butwhatgoodisabite,toahungrytiger?"
"Heateseventeenbowlsofporridge,aplatterfulloffriedsausages,elevenloavesofbreadandtwenty-onemincepies,"saidtheSteward.
"Whatmoredoyouwant?"demandedtheKing.
"Afatbaby.Iwantafatbaby,"saidtheHungryTiger."Anice,plump,juicy,tender,fatbaby.But,ofcourse,ifIhadone,myconsciencewouldnotallowmetoeatit.SoI’llhavetobeanornamentandforgetmyhunger."
"Impossible!"exclaimedtheKing."I’llhavenoclumsybeastsentermypalace,tooverturnandbreakallmyprettynick-nacks.Whentherestofyourfriendsaretransformedyoucanreturntotheupperworld,andgoaboutyourbusiness."
"Asforthat,wehavenobusiness,whenourfriendsaregone,"saidtheLion."Sowedonotcaremuchwhatbecomesofus."
Dorothybeggedtobeallowedtogofirstintothepalace,butTiktokfirmlymaintainedthattheslaveshouldfacedangerbeforethemistress.TheScarecrowagreedwithhiminthat,sotheNomeKingopenedthedoorforthemachineman,whotrampedintothepalacetomeethisfate.ThenhisMajestyreturnedtohisthroneandpuffedhispipesocontentedlythatasmallcloudofsmokeformedabovehishead.
Byeandbyehesaid:
"I’msorrytherearesofewofyouleft.
