Смарагдове місто країни Оз
23. How They Encountered the Flutterbudgets
Thecountrytheywerenowpassingthroughwaseverywheretintedpurple,theprevailingcoloroftheGillikinCountry;butastheSawhorseascendedahilltheyfoundthatupontheothersideeverythingwasofarichyellowhue.
"Aha!"criedtheCaptainGeneral;"hereistheCountryoftheWinkies.Wearejustcrossingtheboundaryline."
"ThenwemaybeabletolunchwiththeTinWoodman,"announcedtheWizard,joyfully.
"Mustwelunchontin?"askedAuntEm.
"Oh,no;"repliedDorothy."NickChopperknowshowtofeedmeatpeople,andhewillgiveusplentyofgoodthingstoeat,neverfear.I’vebeentohiscastlebefore."
"IsNickChoppertheTinWoodman’sname?"askedUncleHenry.
"Yes;that’soneofhisnames,"answeredthelittlegirl;"andanotherofhisnamesis’Emp’roroftheWinkies.’He’stheKingofthiscountry,youknow,butOzmarulesoverallthecountriesofOz."
"DoestheTinWoodmankeepanyFlutterbudgetsorRigmarolesathiscastle?"inquiredAuntEm,uneasily.
"Noindeed,"saidDorothy,positively."Helivesinanewtincastle,allfulloflovelythings."
"Ishouldthinkitwouldrust,"saidUncleHenry.
"HehasthousandsofWinkiestokeepitpolishedforhim,"explainedtheWizard."HispeoplelovetodoanythingintheirpowerfortheirbelovedEmperor,sothereisn’taparticleofrustonallthebigcastle."
"IsupposetheypolishtheirEmperor,too,"saidAuntEm.
"Why,sometimeagohehadhimselfnickel-plated,"theWizardanswered;"soheonlyneedsrubbinguponceinawhile.He’sthebrightestmaninalltheworld,isdearNickChopper;andthekindest-hearted.
