Смарагдове місто країни Оз
24. How the Tin Woodman Told the Sad News
"HowdidOzmafindoutaboutthetunnel?"sheasked.
"ShesawitinherMagicPicture."
"Ofcourse,"saidDorothy;"Imighthaveknownthat.Andwhatisshegoingtodo?"
"Icannottell,"wasthereply.
"Pooh!"criedtheYellowHen."We’renotafraidoftheNomes.Ifwerollafewofoureggsdownthetunnelthey’llrunawaybackhomeasfastastheycango."
"Why,that’strueenough!"exclaimedDorothy."TheScarecrowonceconqueredalltheNomeKing’sarmywithsomeofBillina’seggs."
"Butyoudonotunderstandallofthedreadfulplot,"continuedtheTinWoodman."TheNomeKingisclever,andheknowshisNomeswouldrunfromeggs;sohehasbargainedwithmanyterriblecreaturestohelphim.Theseevilspiritsarenotafraidofeggsoranythingelse,andtheyareverypowerful.SotheNomeKingwillsendthemthroughthetunnelfirst,toconqueranddestroy,andthentheNomeswillfollowaftertogettheirshareoftheplunderandslaves."
Theywereallstartledtohearthis,andeveryfaceworeatroubledlook.
"Isthetunnelallready?"askedDorothy.
"Ozmasentmewordyesterdaythatthetunnelwasallcompletedexceptforathincrustofearthattheend.Whenourenemiesbreakthroughthiscrust,theywillbeinthegardensoftheroyalpalace,intheheartoftheEmeraldCity.IofferedtoarmallmyWinkiesandmarchtoOzma’sassistance;butshesaidno."
"Iwonderwhy?"askedDorothy.
"SheansweredthatalltheinhabitantsofOz,gatheredtogether,werenotpowerfulenoughtofightandovercometheevilforcesoftheNomeKing.Thereforesherefusestofightatall
