Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
2. The Glass City
Hisgreatweightmadehimfallfasterthanthechildrenwalked,andhepassedthemonthewaydown;butwhenhecametotheglasspavementhealighteduponitsosoftlythathewasnotevenjarred.
"Well,well!"saidDorothy,drawingalongbreath,"Whatastrangecountrythisis."
Peoplebegantocomeoutoftheglassdoorstolookatthenewarrivals,andprettysoonquiteacrowdhadassembled.Thereweremenandwomen,butnochildrenatall,andthefolkswereallbeautifullyformedandattractivelydressedandhadwonderfullyhandsomefaces.Therewasnotanuglypersoninallthethrong,yetDorothywasnotespeciallypleasedbytheappearanceofthesepeoplebecausetheirfeatureshadnomoreexpressionthanthefacesofdolls.Theydidnotsmilenordidtheyfrown,orshoweitherfearorsurpriseorcuriosityorfriendliness.Theysimplystartedatthestrangers,payingmostattentiontoJimandEureka,fortheyhadneverbeforeseeneitherahorseoracatandthechildrenboreanoutwardresemblancetothemselves.
Prettysoonamanjoinedthegroupwhoworeaglisteningstarinthedarkhairjustoverhisforehead.Heseemedtobeapersonofauthority,fortheotherspressedbacktogivehimroom.AfterturninghiscomposedeyesfirstupontheanimalsandthenuponthechildrenhesaidtoZeb,whowasalittletallerthanDorothy:
"Tellme,intruder,wasityouwhocausedtheRainofStones?"
Foramomenttheboydidnotknowwhathemeantbythisquestion