Смарагдове місто країни Оз
28. How They Drank at the Forbidden Fountain
"Yes;OzmaplacedittherebymeansoftheMagicBelt,"explainedtheScarecrow,withoneofhisbroadsmiles.
ThenDorothycametothem,UncleHenryandAuntEmfollowingcloseafterher.Thelittlegirl’seyeswereheavybecauseshehadhadasleeplessandanxiousnight.Totowalkedbyherside,butthelittledog’sspiritswereverymuchsubdued.Billina,whowasalwaysupbydaybreak,wasnotlonginjoiningthegroupbythefountain.
TheWizardandtheShaggyMannextarrived,andsoonafterappearedOmbyAmby,dressedinhisbestuniform.
"Thereliesthetunnel,"saidOzma,pointingtoapartofthegroundjustbeforetheForbiddenFountain,"andinafewmomentsthedreadfulinvaderswillbreakthroughtheearthandswarmovertheland.LetusallstandontheothersideoftheFountainandwatchtoseewhathappens."
AtoncetheyfollowedhersuggestionandmovedaroundthefountainoftheWaterofOblivion.TheretheystoodsilentandexpectantuntiltheearthbeyondgavewaywithasuddencrashandupleapedthepowerfulformoftheFirstandForemost,followedbyallhisgrimwarriors.
Astheleadersprangforwardhisgleamingeyescaughttheplayofthefountainandherushedtowarditanddrankeagerlyofthesparklingwater.ManyoftheotherPhanfasmsdrank,too,inordertocleartheirdryanddustythroats.Thentheystoodaroundandlookedatoneanotherwithsimple,wonderingsmiles.
