Озма из страны Оз
7. Ozma of Oz to the Rescue
Butfirstyoumustliberateanotherprisoner--thelittlegirlyouhavelockedupinyourtower."
"Ofcourse,"saidLangwidere,readily."Ihadforgottenallabouther.Thatwasyesterday,youknow,andaPrincesscannotbeexpectedtoremembertodaywhatshedidyesterday.Comewithme,andIwillreleasetheprisoneratonce."
SoOzmafollowedher,andtheypassedupthestairsthatledtotheroominthetower.
WhiletheyweregoneOzma’sfollowersremainedinthedrawing-room,andtheScarecrowwasleaningagainstaformthathehadmistakenforacopperstatuewhenaharsh,metallicvoicesaidsuddenlyinhisear:
"Getoffmyfoot,please.Youarescratch-ingmypol-ish."
"Oh,excuseme!"hereplied,hastilydrawingback."Areyoualive?"
"No,"saidTiktok,"Iamon-lyama-chine.ButIcanthinkandspeakandact,whenIampro-per-lywoundup.Justnowmyac-tionisrundown,andDor-o-thyhasthekeytoit."
"That’sallright,"repliedtheScarecrow."Dorothywillsoonbefree,andthenshe’llattendtoyourworks.Butitmustbeagreatmisfortunenottobealive.I’msorryforyou."
"Why?"askedTiktok.
"Becauseyouhavenobrains,asIhave,"saidtheScarecrow.
"Oh,yes,Ihave,"returnedTiktok."Iamfit-tedwithSmith&Tin-ker’sIm-provedCom-bi-na-tionSteelBrains.Theyarewhatmakemethink.Whatsortofbrainsareyoufit-tedwith?"
"Idon’tknow,"admittedtheScarecrow."TheyweregiventomebythegreatWizardofOz,andIdidn’tgetachancetoexaminethembeforeheputthemin.Buttheyworksplendidlyandmyconscienceisveryactive.Haveyouaconscience?"
"No,"saidTiktok