Смарагдове місто країни Оз
26. How Ozma Refused to Fight for Her Kingdom
"Theyhavebuiltitrightundermypalacegrounds,anditendsinfrontoftheForbiddenFountain.Nothingbutacrustofearthremainstoseparateourenemiesfromus,andwhentheymarchhere,theywilleasilybreakthroughthiscrustandrushuponus."
"WhowillassisttheNomeKing?"inquiredtheScarecrow.
"TheWhimsies,theGrowleywogsandthePhanfasms,"shereplied."Iwatchedto-dayinmyMagicPicturethemessengerswhomtheNomeKingsenttoallthesepeopletosummonthemtoassembleinhisgreatcaverns."
"Letusseewhattheyaredoingnow,"suggestedtheTinWoodman.
SoOzmawishedtoseetheNomeKing’scavern,andatoncethelandscapefadedfromtheMagicPictureandwasreplacedbythescenethenbeingenactedinthejeweledcavernofKingRoquat.
AwildandstartlingsceneitwaswhichtheOzpeoplebeheld.
BeforetheNomeKingstoodtheChiefoftheWhimsiesandtheGrandGallipootoftheGrowleywogs,surroundedbytheirmostskillfulgenerals.Veryfierceandpowerfultheylooked,sothateventheNomeKingandGeneralGuph,whostoodbesidehismaster,seemedabitfearfulinthepresenceoftheirallies.
Nowastillmoreformidablecreatureenteredthecavern.ItwastheFirstandForemostofthePhanfasmsandheproudlysatdowninKingRoquat’sownthroneanddemandedtherighttoleadhisforcesthroughthetunnelinadvanceofalltheothers.TheFirstandForemostnowappearedtoalleyesinhishairyskinandthebear’shead.WhathisrealformwasevenRoquatdidnotknow.
