Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
8. The Valley of Voices
"Whatcuriousanimalisthatwhichiseatingthegrassonmylawn?"enquiredtheman’svoice.
"That’sJim,"saidthegirl."He’sahorse."
"Whatishegoodfor?"wasthenextquestion.
"Hedrawsthebuggyyouseefastenedtohim,andwerideinthebuggyinsteadofwalking,"sheexplained.
"Canhefight?"askedtheman’svoice.
"No!hecankickprettyhardwithhisheels,andbitealittle;butJimcan’t’zactlyfight,"shereplied.
"Thenthebearswillgethim,"saidoneofthechildren’svoices.
"Bears!"exclaimedDorothy."Arethesebearshere?"
"Thatistheoneevilofourcountry,"answeredtheinvisibleman."ManylargeandfiercebearsroamintheValleyofVoe,andwhentheycancatchanyofustheyeatusup;butastheycannotseeus,weseldomgetcaught."
"Arethebearsinvis’ble,too?"askedthegirl.
"Yes;fortheyeatofthedama-fruit,aswealldo,andthatkeepsthemfrombeingseenbyanyeye,whetherhumanoranimal."
"Doesthedama-fruitgrowonalowbush,andlooksomethinglikeapeach?"askedtheWizard.
"Yes,"wasthereply.
"Ifitmakesyouinvis’ble,whydoyoueatit?"Dorothyenquired.
"Fortworeasons,mydear,"thewoman’svoiceanswered."Thedama-fruitisthemostdeliciousthingthatgrows,andwhenitmakesusinvisiblethebearscannotfindustoeatusup.Butnow,goodwanderers,yourluncheonisonthetable,sopleasesitdownandeatasmuchasyoulike."
