Смарагдове місто країни Оз
3. How Ozma Granted Dorothy's Request
Ozbeingafairycountry,thepeoplewere,ofcourse,fairypeople;butthatdoesnotmeanthatallofthemwereveryunlikethepeopleofourownworld.Therewereallsortsofqueercharactersamongthem,butnotasingleonewhowasevil,orwhopossessedaselfishorviolentnature.Theywerepeaceful,kindhearted,lovingandmerry,andeveryinhabitantadoredthebeautifulgirlwhoruledthemanddelightedtoobeyhereverycommand.
InspiteofallIhavesaidinageneralway,thereweresomepartsoftheLandofOznotquitesopleasantasthefarmingcountryandtheEmeraldCitywhichwasitscenter.FarawayintheSouthCountrytherelivedinthemountainsabandofstrangepeoplecalledHammer-Heads,becausetheyhadnoarmsandusedtheirflatheadstopoundanyonewhocamenearthem.Theirneckswerelikerubber,sothattheycouldshootouttheirheadstoquiteadistance,andafterwarddrawthembackagaintotheirshoulders.TheHammer-Headswerecalledthe"WildPeople,"butneverharmedanybutthosewhodisturbedtheminthemountainswheretheylived.
Insomeofthedenseforeststherelivedgreatbeastsofeverysort;yetthesewereforthemostpartharmlessandevensociable,andconversedagreeablywiththosewhovisitedtheirhaunts.TheKalidahs--beastswithbodieslikebearsandheadsliketigers--hadoncebeenfierceandbloodthirsty,buteventheywerenownearlyalltamed,althoughattimesoneoranotherofthemwouldgetcrossanddisagreeable.
NotsotameweretheFightingTrees,whichhadaforestoftheirown.
