Смарагдове місто країни Оз
26. How Ozma Refused to Fight for Her Kingdom
"Ihavethoughtofsomething,"saidDorothy.
"Whatisit,dear?"askedOzma.
"LetususetheMagicBelttowishallofusinKansas.Wewillputsomeemeraldsinourpockets,andcanselltheminTopekaforenoughtopayoffthemortgageonUncleHenry’sfarm.Thenwecanalllivetogetherandbehappy."
"Acleveridea!"exclaimedtheScarecrow.
"Kansasisaverygoodcountry.I’vebeenthere,"saidtheShaggyMan.
"Thatseemstomeanexcellentplan,"approvedtheTinWoodman.
"No!"saidOzma,decidedly."NeverwillIdesertmypeopleandleavethemtosocruelafate.IwillusetheMagicBelttosendtherestofyoutoKansas,ifyouwish,butifmybelovedcountrymustbedestroyedandmypeopleenslavedIwillremainandsharetheirfate."
"Quiteright,"assertedtheScarecrow,sighing."Iwillremainwithyou."
"AndsowillI,"declaredtheTinWoodmanandtheShaggyManandJackPumpkinhead,inturn.Tiktok,themachineman,alsosaidheintendedtostandbyOzma."For,"saidhe,"IshouldbeofnouseatallinKan-sas."
"Formypart,"announcedDorothy,gravely,"iftheRulerofOzmustnotdesertherpeople,aPrincessofOzhasnorighttorunaway,either.I’mwillingtobecomeaslavewiththerestofyou;soallwecandowiththeMagicBeltistouseittosendUncleHenryandAuntEmbacktoKansas."
"I’vebeenaslaveallmylife,"AuntEmreplied,withconsiderablecheerfulness,"andsohasHenry.Iguesswewon’tgobacktoKansas,anyway.I’drathertakemychanceswiththerestofyou."
Ozmasmileduponthemallgratefully.
"Thereisnoneedtodespairjustyet,"shesaid.
