Изумрудный город страны Оз
4. How The Nome King Planned Revenge
WhentheywerenotrequiredassoldiersalltheseNomesweremetalworkersandminers,andtheyhadhammeredsomuchattheforgesanddugsohardwithpickandshovelthattheyhadacquiredgreatmuscularstrength.Theywerestrangelyformedcreatures,ratherroundandnotverytall.Theirtoeswerecurlyandtheirearsbroadandflat.
IntimeofwareveryNomelefthisforgeormineandbecamepartofthegreatarmyofKingRoquat.Thesoldiersworerock-coloreduniformsandwereexcellentlydrilled.
TheKinglookeduponthistremendousarmy,whichstoodsilentlyarrayedbeforehim,andacruelsmilecurledthecornersofhismouth,forhesawthathislegionswereverypowerful.Thenheaddressedthemfromthebalcony,saying:
"IhavethrownawayGeneralBlug,becausehedidnotpleaseme.SoIwantanotherGeneraltocommandthisarmy.Whoisnextincommand?"
"Iam,"repliedColonelCrinkle,adapper-lookingNome,ashesteppedforwardtosalutehismonarch.
TheKinglookedathimcarefullyandsaid:
"Iwantyoutomarchthisarmythroughanundergroundtunnel,whichIamgoingtobore,totheEmeraldCityofOz.WhenyougetthereIwantyoutoconquertheOzpeople,destroythemandtheircity,andbringalltheirgoldandsilverandpreciousstonesbacktomycavern.AlsoyouaretorecapturemyMagicBeltandreturnittome.Willyoudothis,GeneralCrinkle?"
"No,yourMajesty,"repliedtheNome;"foritcan’tbedone."
"Ohindeed!"exclaimedtheKing.Thenheturnedtohisservantsandsaid:"PleasetakeGeneralCrinkletothetorturechamber.Thereyouwillkindlyslicehimintothinslices.
