Чарівництво країни Оз
10. Stuck Fast
We’relivin’inamagiccountry,butneitherofusknowsanymagican’sowecan’thelpourselves."
"Couldn’ttheWizardofOzhelpus—orGlindatheGood?"askedthelittlegirl.
"Ah,nowwe’rebeginnin’toreason,"heanswered."I’dprobablythoughto’that,myself,inaminutemore.BygoodlucktheGlassCatisfree,an’soitcanrunbacktotheEmeraldCityan’telltheWizardaboutourfix,an’askhimtocomean’helpusgetloose."
"Willyougo?"Trotaskedthecat,speakingveryearnestly.
"I’mnomessenger,tobesenthereandthere,"assertedthecuriousanimalinasulkytoneofvoice.
"Well,"saidCap’nBill,"you’vegottogohome,anyhow,’causeyoudon’twanttostayhere,Itakeit.And,whenyougethome,itwouldn’tworryyoumuchtotelltheWizardwhat’shappenedtous."
"That’strue,"saidthecat,sittingonitshaunchesandlazilywashingitsfacewithoneglasspaw."Idon’tmindtellingtheWizard—whenIgethome."
"Won’tyougonow?"pleadedTrot."Wedon’twanttostayhereanylongerthanwecanhelp,andeverybodyinOzwillbeinterestedinyou,andcallyouahero,andsaynicethingsaboutyoubecauseyouhelpedyourfriendsoutoftrouble."
ThatwasthebestwaytomanagetheGlassCat,whichwassovainthatitlovedtobepraised.
"I’mgoinghomerightaway,"saidthecreature,"andI’lltelltheWizardtocomeandhelpyou."
Sayingthis,itwalkeddowntothewateranddisappearedunderthesurface