Озма з країни Оз
16. Purple, Green and Gold
Billina,havingrestoredalloftheroyalfamilyofEvtotheirproperforms,nowbegantoselectthegreenornamentswhichwerethetransformationsofthepeopleofOz.Shehadlittletroubleinfindingthese,andbeforelongallthetwenty-sixofficers,aswellastheprivate,weregatheredaroundtheyellowhen,joyfullycongratulatingherupontheirrelease.Thethirty-sevenpeoplewhowerenowaliveintheroomsofthepalaceknewverywellthattheyowedtheirfreedomtotheclevernessoftheyellowhen,andtheywereearnestinthankingherforsavingthemfromthemagicoftheNomeKing.
"Now,"saidBillina,"ImustfindOzma.Sheissuretobehere,somewhere,andofcoursesheisgreen,beingfromOz.Solookaround,youstupidsoldiers,andhelpmeinmysearch."
Forawhile,however,theycoulddiscovernothingmorethatwasgreen.ButtheQueen,whohadkissedallherninechildrenoncemoreandcouldnowfindtimetotakeaninterestinwhatwasgoingon,saidtothehen:
"Mayhap,mygentlefriend,itisthegrasshopperwhomyouseek."
"Ofcourseit’sthegrasshopper!"exclaimedBillina."Ideclare,I’mnearlyasstupidasthesebravesoldiers.Waithereforme,andI’llgobackandgetit."
Soshewentintotheroomwhereshehadseenthegrasshopper,andpresentlyOzmaofOz,aslovelyanddaintyasever,enteredandapproachedtheQueenofEv,greetingherasonehighbornprincessgreetsanother.
"Butwherearemyfriends,theScarecrowandtheTinWoodman?"askedthegirlRuler,whenthesecourtesieshadbeenexchanged.
"I’llhuntthemup,"repliedBillina.
