Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
14. Ozma Uses the Magic Belt
AnyoneinafairycountryliketheLandofOzcandoanythingwithit;soIleftitwithmyfriendthePrincessOzma,whousedittowishmeinAustraliawithUncleHenry."
"Andwereyou?"askedZeb,astonishedatwhatheheard.
"Ofcourse;injustajiffy.AndOzmahasanenchantedpicturehanginginherroomthatshowshertheexactscenewhereanyofherfriendsmaybe,atanytimeshechooses.Allshehastodoistosay:’IwonderwhatSo-and-soisdoing,’andatoncethepictureshowswhereherfriendisandwhatthefriendisdoing.That’sREALmagic,Mr.Wizard;isn’tit?Well,everydayatfouro’clockOzmahaspromisedtolookatmeinthatpicture,andifIaminneedofhelpIamtomakeheracertainsignandshewillputontheNomeKing’sMagicBeltandwishmetobewithherinOz."
"DoyoumeanthatPrincessOzmawillseethiscaveinherenchantedpicture,andseeallofushere,andwhatwearedoing?"demandedZeb.
"Ofcourse;whenitisfouro’clock,"shereplied,withalaughathisstartledexpression.
"AndwhenyoumakeasignshewillbringyoutoherintheLandofOz?"continuedtheboy.
"That’sit,exactly;bymeansoftheMagicBelt."
"Then,"saidtheWizard,"youwillbesaved,littleDorothy;andIamverygladofit.Therestofuswilldiemuchmorecheerfullywhenweknowyouhaveescapedoursadfate."
"Iwon’tdiecheerfully!"protestedthekitten."There’snothingcheerfulaboutdyingthatIcouldeversee,althoughtheysayacathasninelives,andsomustdieninetimes."
"Haveyoueverdiedyet?"enquiredtheboy.