Смарагдове місто країни Оз
26. How Ozma Refused to Fight for Her Kingdom
KingRoquatnowinvitedthemtoattendabanquethehadprepared,wheretheymightoccupythemselvesineatinganddrinkinguntilmidnightarrived.
Astheyhadnowseenandheardalloftheplotagainstthemthattheycaredto,OzmaallowedherMagicPicturetofadeaway.Thensheturnedtoherfriendsandsaid:
"OurenemieswillbeheresoonerthanIexpected.Whatdoyouadvisemetodo?"
"Itisnowtoolatetoassembleourpeople,"saidtheTinWoodman,despondently."IfyouhadallowedmetoarmanddrillmyWinkies,wemighthaveputupagoodfightanddestroyedmanyofourenemiesbeforewewereconquered."
"TheMunchkinsaregoodfighters,too,"saidOmbyAmby;"andsoaretheGillikins."
"ButIdonotwishtofight,"declaredOzma,firmly."Noonehastherighttodestroyanylivingcreatures,howevereviltheymaybe,ortohurtthemormakethemunhappy.Iwillnotfight,eventosavemykingdom."
"TheNomeKingisnotsoparticular,"remarkedtheScarecrow."Heintendstodestroyusallandruinourbeautifulcountry."
"BecausetheNomeKingintendstodoevilisnoexcuseformydoingthesame,"repliedOzma.
"Self-preservationisthefirstlawofnature,"quotedtheShaggyMan.
"True,"shesaid,readily."Iwouldliketodiscoveraplantosaveourselveswithoutfighting."
Thatseemedahopelesstasktothem,butrealizingthatOzmawasdeterminednottofight,theytriedtothinkofsomemeansthatmightpromiseescape.
"Couldn’twebribeourenemies,bygivingthemalotofemeraldsandgold?"askedJackPumpkinhead.
"No,becausetheybelievetheyareabletotakeeverythingwehave,"repliedtheRuler.
