Подорож до Країни Оз
24. The Birthday Celebration
"Ithink,Mr.Wizard,Ishallhaveyoublowabubblearoundme;thenIcanfloatawayhomeandseethecountryspreadoutbeneathmeasItravel.Thereisn’taspotonearththatIhaven’tvisited,butIusuallygointhenight-time,ridingbehindmyswiftreindeer.Hereisagoodchancetoobservethecountrybydaylight,whileIamridingslowlyandatmyease."
"Doyouthinkyouwillbeabletoguidethebubble?"askedtheWizard.
"Ohyes;Iknowenoughmagictodothat,"repliedSantaClaus."Youblowthebubble,withmeinsideofit,andI’llbesuretogethomeinsafety."
"Pleasesendmehomeinabubble,too!"beggedtheQueenofMerryland.
"Verywell,madam;youshalltrythejourneyfirst,"politelyansweredoldSanta.
Theprettywaxdollbadegood-byetothePrincessOzmaandtheothersandstoodontheplatformwhiletheWizardblewabigsoap-bubblearoundher.Whencompleted,heallowedthebubbletofloatslowlyupward,andtherecouldbeseenthelittleQueenofMerrylandstandinginthemiddleofitandblowingkissesfromherfingerstothosebelow.Thebubbletookasoutherlydirection,quicklyfloatingoutofsight.
"That’saverynicewaytotravel,"saidPrincessFluff."I’dliketogohomeinabubble,too."
SotheWizardblewabigbubblearoundPrincessFluff,andanotheraroundKingBud,herbrother,andathirdonearoundQueenZixi;andsoonthesethreebubbleshadmountedintotheskyandwerefloatingoffinagroupinthedirectionofthekingdomofNoland.