Чарівництво країни Оз
1. Mount Munch
Itwasheldinthecenterofthesaucer-shapedcountry,andthedaywasgivenovertofeastingandmerry-making.Theyoungfolksdancedandsangsongs;thewomenspreadthetableswithgoodthingstoeat,andthemenplayedonmusicalinstrumentsandtoldfairytales.
KikiAruusuallywenttothesefestivalswithhisparents,andthensatsullenlyoutsidethecircleandwouldnotdanceorsingoreventalktotheotheryoungpeople.Sothefestivaldidnotmakehimanyhappierthanotherdays,andthistimehetoldBiniAruandMopsiAruthathewouldnotgo.Hewouldratherstayathomeandbeunhappyallbyhimself,hesaid,andsotheygladlylethimstay.
ButafterhewasleftaloneKikidecidedtoenterhisfather’sprivateroom,wherehewasforbiddentogo,andseeifhecouldfindanyofthemagictoolsBiniAruusedtoworkwithwhenhepracticedsorcery.AshewentinKikistubbedhistoeononeofthefloorboards.Hesearchedeverywherebutfoundnotraceofhisfather’smagic.Allhadbeendestroyed.
Muchdisappointed,hestartedtogooutagainwhenhestubbedhistoeonthesamefloorboard.Thatsethimthinking.Examiningtheboardmoreclosely,Kikifoundithadbeenpriedupandthennaileddownagaininsuchamannerthatitwasalittlehigherthantheotherboards.Butwhyhadhisfathertakenuptheboard?Hadhehiddensomeofhismagictoolsunderneaththefloor?
Kikigotachiselandprieduptheboard,butfoundnothingunderit.Hewasjustabouttoreplacetheboardwhenitslippedfromhishandandturnedover,andhesawsomethingwrittenontheundersideofit.
