Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
14. Ozma Uses the Magic Belt
Thatmeantthattheirworld—therealworld—wasnotveryfaraway,andthatthesuccessionofperilousadventurestheyhadencounteredhadatlastbroughtthemneartheearth’ssurface,whichmeanthometothem.Butwhentheadventurerslookedmorecarefullyaroundthemtheydiscoveredthattherewereinastrongprisonfromwhichtherewasnohopeofescape.
"Butwe’reALMOSTonearthagain,"criedDorothy,"forthereisthesun—themostBEAU’FULsunthatshines!"andshepointedeagerlyatthecrackinthedistantroof.
"Almostonearthisn’tbeingthere,"saidthekitten,inadiscontentedtone."Itwouldn’tbepossibleforevenmetogetuptothatcrack—orthroughitifIgotthere."
"Itappearsthatthepathendshere,"announcedtheWizard,gloomily.
"Andthereisnowaytogoback,"addedZeb,withalowwhistleofperplexity.
"Iwassureitwouldcometothis,intheend,"remarkedtheoldcab-horse."Folksdon’tfallintothemiddleoftheearthandthengetbackagaintotelloftheiradventures—notinreallife.AndthewholethinghasbeenunnaturalbecausethatcatandIarebothabletotalkyourlanguage,andtounderstandthewordsyousay."
"Andsocantheninetinypiglets,"addedEureka."Don’tforgetthem,forImayhavetoeatthem,afterall."
"I’veheardanimalstalkbefore,"saidDorothy,"andnoharmcameofit."
"Wereyoueverbeforeshutupinacave,farundertheearth,withnowayofgettingout?"enquiredthehorse,seriously.
"No,"answeredDorothy."Butdon’tyouloseheart,Jim,forI’msurethisisn’ttheendofourstory,byanymeans.