Смарагдове місто країни Оз
28. How They Drank at the Forbidden Fountain
TheFirstandForemostsawOzmaandhercompanionsbeyondthefountain,butinsteadofmakinganefforttocaptureherhemerelystaredatherinpleasedadmirationofherbeauty--forhehadforgottenwherehewasandwhyhehadcomethere.
ButnowtheGrandGallipootarrived,rushingfromthetunnelwithahoarsecryofmingledrageandthirst.Hetoosawthefountainandhastenedtodrinkofitsforbiddenwaters.TheotherGrowleywogswerenotslowtofollowsuit,andevenbeforetheyhadfinisheddrinkingtheChiefoftheWhimsiesandhispeoplecametopushthemaway,whiletheyoneandallcastofftheirfalseheadsthattheymightslaketheirthirstatthefountain.
WhentheNomeKingandGeneralGupharrivedtheybothmadeadashtodrink,buttheGeneralwassomadwiththirstthatheknockedhisKingover,andwhileRoquatlaysprawlinguponthegroundtheGeneraldrankheartilyoftheWaterofOblivion.
ThisrudeactofhisGeneralmadetheNomeKingsoangrythatforamomentheforgothewasthirstyandrosetohisfeettoglareuponthegroupofterriblewarriorshehadbroughtheretoassisthim.HesawOzmaandherpeople,too,andyelledout:
"Whydon’tyoucapturethem?Whydon’tyouconquerOz,youidiots?Whydoyoustandtherelikealotofdummies?"
Butthegreatwarriorshadbecomelikelittlechildren.TheyhadforgottenalltheirenmityagainstOzmaandagainstOz.Theyhadevenforgottenwhotheythemselveswere,orwhytheywereinthisstrangeandbeautifulcountry.AsfortheNomeKing,theydidnotrecognizehim,andwonderedwhohewas.
