Озма из страны Оз
18. The Fate of the Tin Woodman
"ButIhaveanotheridea,duetomyexcellentbrains.LetDorothytransformtheKingintoagoose-eggunlessheagreestogointothepalaceandbringouttoustheornamentwhichisourfriendNickChopper,theTinWoodman."
"Agoose-egg!"echoedthehorrifiedKing."Howdreadful!"
"Well,agoose-eggyouwillbeunlessyougoandfetchustheornamentwewant,"declaredBillina,withajoyfulchuckle.
"YoucanseeforyourselfthatDorothyisabletousethemagicbeltallright,"addedtheScarecrow.
TheNomeKingthoughtitoverandfinallyconsented,forhedidnotwanttobeagoose-egg.SohewentintothepalacetogettheornamentwhichwasthetransformationoftheTinWoodman,andtheyallawaitedhisreturnwithconsiderableimpatience,fortheywereanxioustoleavethisundergroundcavernandseethesunshineoncemore.ButwhentheNomeKingcamebackhebroughtnothingwithhimexceptapuzzledandanxiousexpressionuponhisface.
"He’sgone!"hesaid."TheTinWoodmanisnowhereinthepalace."
"Areyousure?"askedOzma,sternly.
"I’mverysure,"answeredtheKing,trembling,"forIknowjustwhatItransformedhiminto,andexactlywherehestood.Butheisnotthere,andpleasedon’tchangemeintoagoose-egg,becauseI’vedonethebestIcould."
Theywereallsilentforatime,andthenDorothysaid:
"ThereisnousepunishingtheNomeKinganymore,andI’m’fraidwe’llhavetogoawaywithoutourfriend."
"Ifheisnothere,wecannotrescuehim,"agreedtheScarecrow,sadly."PoorNick!Iwonderwhathasbecomeofhim.
