Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
5. Dorothy Picks the Princess
Butthepullingofthemapartandpushingthemtogetheragainwasonlyasleight-of-handtrick."
"Let’sseethepigs,"saidEureka,eagerly.
Thelittlemanfeltcarefullyinhispocketandpulledoutthetinypiglets,settingthemuponthegrassonebyone,wheretheyranaroundandnibbledthetenderblades.
"They’rehungry,too,"hesaid.
"Oh,whatcunningthings!"criedDorothy,catchinguponeandpettingit.
"Becareful!"saidthepiglet,withasqueal,"you’resqueezingme!"
"Dearme!"murmuredtheWizard,lookingathispetsinastonishment."Theycanactuallytalk!"
"MayIeatoneofthem?"askedthekitten,inapleadingvoice."I’mawfullyhungry."
"Why,Eureka,"saidDorothy,reproachfully,"whatacruelquestion!Itwouldbedreadfultoeatthesedearlittlethings."
"Ishouldsayso!"gruntedanotherofthepiglets,lookinguneasilyatthekitten;"catsarecruelthings."
"I’mnotcruel,"repliedthekitten,yawning."I’mjusthungry."
"Youcannoteatmypiglets,evenifyouarestarving,"declaredthelittleman,inasternvoice."TheyaretheonlythingsIhavetoproveI’mawizard."
"Howdidtheyhappentobesolittle?"askedDorothy."Ineversawsuchsmallpigsbefore."
"TheyarefromtheIslandofTeenty-Weent,"saidtheWizard,"whereeverythingissmallbecauseit’sasmallisland.AsailorbroughtthemtoLosAngelesandIgavehimnineticketstothecircusforthem."
"ButwhatamIgoingtoeat?"wailedthekitten,sittinginfrontofDorothyandlookingpleadinglyintoherface."Therearenocowsheretogivemilk;oranymice,orevengrasshoppers.