Волшебник страны Оз
The Council with the Munchkins
"Itiskindofyoutowearthat,"saidBoq. "BlueisthecoloroftheMunchkins,andwhiteisthewitchcolor. Soweknowyouareafriendlywitch."
Dorothydidnotknowwhattosaytothis,forallthepeopleseemedtothinkherawitch, andsheknewverywellshewasonlyanordinarylittlegirlwhohadcomebythechanceofacycloneintoastrangeland.
Whenshehadtiredwatchingthedancing,Boqledherintothehouse,wherehegaveheraroomwithaprettybedinit. Thesheetsweremadeofbluecloth,andDorothysleptsoundlyinthemtillmorning,withTotocurleduponthebluerugbesideher.
Sheateaheartybreakfast,andwatchedaweeMunchkinbaby,whoplayedwithTotoandpulledhistailandcrowedandlaughedinawaythatgreatlyamusedDorothy. Totowasafinecuriositytoallthepeople,fortheyhadneverseenadogbefore.
"HowfarisittotheEmeraldCity?"thegirlasked.
"Idonotknow,"answeredBoqgravely,"forIhaveneverbeenthere. ItisbetterforpeopletokeepawayfromOz,unlesstheyhavebusinesswithhim. ButitisalongwaytotheEmeraldCity,anditwilltakeyoumanydays. Thecountryhereisrichandpleasant,butyoumustpassthroughroughanddangerousplacesbeforeyoureachtheendofyourjourney."
ThisworriedDorothyalittle,butsheknewthatonlytheGreatOzcouldhelphergettoKansasagain,soshebravelyresolvednottoturnback.
Shebadeherfriendsgood-bye,andagainstartedalongtheroadofyellowbrick. Whenshehadgoneseveralmilesshethoughtshewouldstoptorest,andsoclimbedtothetopofthefencebesidetheroadandsatdown.
