Смарагдове місто країни Оз
4. How The Nome King Planned Revenge
"
"Well,Guph,comewithmetomyprivatecave,andwe’lltalkitover."Thenheturnedtothearmy."Nomesandsoldiers,"saidhe,"youaretoobeythecommandsofGeneralGuphuntilhebecomesdog-feed.AnymanwhofailstoobeyhisnewGeneralwillbepromptlythrownaway.Youarenowdismissed."
GuphwenttotheKing’sprivatecaveandsatdownuponanamethystchairandputhisfeetonthearmoftheKing’srubythrone.ThenhelightedhispipeandthrewthelivecoalhehadtakenfromhispocketupontheKing’sleftfootandpuffedthesmokeintotheKing’seyesandmadehimselfcomfortable.ForhewasawiseoldNome,andheknewthatthebestwaytogetalongwithRoquattheRedwastoshowthathewasnotafraidofhim.
"I’mreadyforthetalk,yourMajesty,"hesaid.
TheKingcoughedandlookedathisnewGeneralfiercely.
"Doyounottrembletotakesuchlibertieswithyourmonarch?"heasked.
"Ohno,"repliedGuph,calmly,andheblewawreathofsmokethatcurledaroundtheKing’snoseandmadehimsneeze."YouwanttoconquertheEmeraldCity,andI’mtheonlyNomeinallyourdominionswhocanconquerit.SoyouwillbeverycarefulnottohurtmeuntilIhavecarriedoutyourwishes.Afterthat--"
"Well,whatthen?"inquiredtheKing.
"Thenyouwillbesogratefultomethatyouwon’tcaretohurtme,"repliedtheGeneral.
"Thatisaverygoodargument,"saidRoquat."Butsupposeyoufail?"
"Thenit’stheslicingmachine.Iagreetothat,"announcedGuph."ButifyoudoasItellyoutherewillbenofailure.Thetroublewithyou,Roquat,isthatyoudon’tthinkcarefullyenough.Ido.
