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4. Tiktok, the Machine Man
SoshewoundupNumberTwo,andimmediatelytheclock-workmansaid,withoutmovinganypartofhisbodyexcepthislips:
"Goodmorn-ing,lit-tlegirl.Goodmorn-ing,Mrs.Hen."
Thewordssoundedalittlehoarseandcreaky,andtheywereutteredallinthesametone,withoutanychangeofexpressionwhatever;butbothDorothyandBillinaunderstoodthemperfectly.
"Goodmorning,sir,"theyanswered,politely.
"Thankyouforres-cu-ingme,"continuedthemachine,inthesamemonotonousvoice,whichseemedtobeworkedbyabellowsinsideofhim,likethelittletoylambsandcatsthechildrensqueezesothattheywillmakeanoise.
"Don’tmentionit,"answeredDorothy.Andthen,beingverycurious,sheasked:"Howdidyoucometobelockedupinthisplace?"
"Itisalongsto-ry,"repliedthecopperman;"butIwilltellittoyoubrief-ly.Iwaspur-chasedfromSmith&Tin-ker,myman-u-fac-tur-ers,byacru-elKingofEv,namedEv-ol-do,whousedtobeatallhisserv-antsun-tiltheydied.How-ev-er,hewasnota-bletokillme,be-causeIwasnota-live,andonemustfirstliveinor-dertodie.Sothatallhisbeat-ingdidmenoharm,andmere-lykeptmycop-perbod-ywellpol-ished.
"Thiscru-elkinghadalove-lywifeandtenbeau-ti-fulchil-dren--fiveboysandfivegirls--butinafitofan-gerhesoldthemalltotheNomeKing,whobymeansofhismag-icartschangedthemallin-tooth-erformsandputtheminhisun-der-groundpal-acetoor-na-menttherooms.
"Af-ter-wardtheKingofEvre-gret-tedhiswick-edac-tion,andtriedtogethiswifeandchil-drena-wayfromtheNomeKing,butwith-outa-vail.
