Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
8. The Valley of Voices
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"Itwasfine,Dorothy,"calledoneofthepiglets.
"We’lleatallwecanfindofthem,"saidanother.
"ButWEmus’n’teatthem,"theWizardwarnedthechildren,"orwetoomaybecomeinvisible,andloseeachother.Ifwecomeacrossanotherofthestrangefruitwemustavoidit."
Callingthepigletstohimhepickedthemallup,onebyone,andputthemawayinhispocket;foralthoughhecouldnotseethemhecouldfeelthem,andwhenhehadbuttonedhiscoatheknewtheyweresafeforthepresent.
Thetravellersnowresumedtheirwalktowardthecottage,whichtheypresentlyreached.Itwasaprettyplace,withvinesgrowingthicklyoverthebroadfrontporch.Thedoorstoodopenandatablewassetinthefrontroom,withfourchairsdrawnuptoit.Onthetablewereplates,knivesandforks,anddishesofbread,meatandfruits.Themeatwassmokinghotandtheknivesandforkswereperformingstrangeanticsandjumpinghereandthereinquiteapuzzlingway.Butnotasinglepersonappearedtobeintheroom.
"Howfunny!"exclaimedDorothy,whowithZebandtheWizardnowstoodinthedoorway.
Apealofmerrylaughteransweredher,andtheknivesandforksfelltotheplateswithaclatter.Oneofthechairspushedbackfromthetable,andthiswassoastonishingandmysteriousthatDorothywasalmosttemptedtorunawayinfright.
"Herearestrangers,mama!"criedtheshrillandchildishvoiceofsomeunseenperson.
"SoIsee,mydear,"answeredanothervoice,softandwomanly.
"Whatdoyouwant?"demandedathirdvoice,inastern,gruffaccent.
