Смарагдове місто країни Оз

           Afterwardyoumayfeedhimtotheseven-headeddogs."

           "AnythingtoobligeyourMajesty,"repliedtheservants,politely,andledthecondemnedmanaway.

           Whentheyhadgone,theKingaddressedthearmyagain.

           "Listen!"saidhe."TheGeneralwhoistocommandmyarmiesmustpromisetocarryoutmyorders.IfhefailshewillsharethefateofpoorCrinkle.Now,then,whowillvolunteertoleadmyhoststotheEmeraldCity?"

           Foratimenoonemovedandallweresilent.ThenanoldNomewithwhitewhiskerssolongthattheyweretiedaroundhiswaisttopreventtheirtrippinghimup,steppedoutoftheranksandsalutedtheKing.

           "I’dliketoaskafewquestions,yourMajesty,"hesaid.

           "Goahead,"repliedtheKing.

           "TheseOzpeoplearequitegood,aretheynot?"

           "Asgoodasapplepie,"saidtheKing.

           "Andtheyarehappy,Isuppose?"continuedtheoldNome.

           "Happyasthedayislong,"saidtheKing.

           "Andcontentedandprosperous?"inquiredtheNome.

           "Verymuchso,"saidtheKing.

           "Well,yourMajesty,"remarkedheofthewhitewhiskers,"IthinkIshouldliketoundertakethejob,soI’llbeyourGeneral.Ihategoodpeople;Idetesthappypeople;I’mopposedtoanyonewhoiscontentedandprosperous.ThatiswhyIamsofondofyourMajesty.MakemeyourGeneralandI’llpromisetoconqueranddestroytheOzpeople.IfIfailI’mreadytobeslicedthinandfedtotheseven-headeddogs."

           "Verygood!Verygood,indeed!That’sthewaytotalk!"criedRoquattheRed,whowasgreatlypleased."Whatisyourname,General?"

           "I’mcalledGuph,yourMajesty.