Смарагдове місто країни Оз
26. How Ozma Refused to Fight for Her Kingdom
ThroughthearchesleadingintothevastseriesofcavernsthatlaybeyondthethroneroomofKingRoquatcouldbeseenranksuponranksoftheinvaders--thousandsofPhanfasms,GrowleywogsandWhimsiesstandinginserriedlines,whilebehindthemweremassedthethousandsuponthousandsofGeneralGuph’sownarmyofNomes.
"Listen!"whisperedOzma."Ithinkwecanhearwhattheyaresaying."
Sotheykeptstillandlistened.
"Isallready?"demandedtheFirstandForemost,haughtily.
"Thetunnelisfinallycompleted,"repliedGeneralGuph.
"HowlongwillittakeustomarchtotheEmeraldCity?"askedtheGrandGallipootoftheGrowleywogs.
"Ifwestartatmidnight,"repliedtheNomeKing,"weshallarriveattheEmeraldCitybydaybreak.Then,whilealltheOzpeoplearesleeping,wewillcapturethemandmakethemourslaves.AfterthatwewilldestroythecityitselfandmarchthroughtheLandofOz,burninganddevastatingaswego."
"Good!"criedtheFirstandForemost."WhenwegetthroughwithOzitwillbeadesertwilderness.Ozmashallbemyslave."
"SheshallbeMYslave!"shoutedtheGrandGallipoot,angrily.
"We’lldecidethatbyandby,"saidKingRoquathastily."Don’tletusquarrelnow,friends.FirstletusconquerOz,andthenwewilldividethespoilsofwarinasatisfactorymanner."
TheFirstandForemostsmiledwickedly;butheonlysaid:
"IandmyPhanfasmsgofirst,fornothingonearthcanopposeourpower."
Theyallagreedtothat,knowingthePhanfasmstobethemightiestofthecombinedforces.
