Смарагдове місто країни Оз
25. How the Scarecrow Displayed His Wisdom
ButifOzisdestroyedofcoursethisplacewillbedestroyedtoo."
"Yes,"repliedtheTinWoodman,"andalsomybeautifultincastle,thathasbeenmyjoyandpride."
"JackPumpkinhead’shousewillgotoo,"remarkedtheWizard,"aswellasProfessorWogglebug’sAthleticCollege,andOzma’sroyalpalace,andallourotherhandsomebuildings."
"Yes,OzwillindeedbecomeadesertwhentheNomeKinggetsthroughwithit,"sighedOmbyAmby.
TheScarecrowcameouttomeetthemandgavethemallaheartywelcome.
"IhearyouhavedecidedalwaystoliveintheLandofOz,afterthis,"hesaidtoDorothy;"andthatwilldelightmyheart,forIhavegreatlydislikedourfrequentpartings.Butwhyareyouallsodowncast?"
"Haveyouheardthenews?"askedtheTinWoodman.
"Nonewstomakemesad,"repliedtheScarecrow.
ThenNickChoppertoldhisfriendoftheNomeKing’stunnel,andhowtheevilcreaturesoftheNorthhadalliedthemselveswiththeundergroundmonarchforthepurposeofconqueringanddestroyingOz."Well,"saidtheScarecrow,"itcertainlylooksbadforOzma,andallofus.ButIbelieveitiswrongtoworryoveranythingbeforeithappens.Itissurelytimeenoughtobesadwhenourcountryisdespoiledandourpeoplemadeslaves.Soletusnotdepriveourselvesofthefewhappyhoursremainingtous."
"Ah!thatisrealwisdom,"declaredtheShaggyMan,approvingly."Afterwebecomereallyunhappyweshallregretthesefewhoursthatarelefttous,unlessweenjoythemtotheutmost."
"Nevertheless,"saidtheScarecrow,"IshallgowithyoutotheEmeraldCityandofferOzmamyservices.
