Смарагдове місто країни Оз
4. How The Nome King Planned Revenge
YouwouldgoaheadandmarchthroughyourtunnelintoOz,andgetdefeatedanddrivenback.Iwon’t.AndthereasonIwon’tisbecausewhenImarchI’llhaveallmyplansmade,andahostofalliestoassistmyNomes."
"Whatdoyoumeanbythat?"askedtheKing.
"I’llexplain,KingRoquat.You’regoingtoattackafairycountry,andamightyfairycountry,too.Theyhaven’tmuchofanarmyinOz,butthePrincesswhoruledthemhasafairywand;andthelittlegirlDorothyhasyourMagicBelt;andattheNorthoftheEmeraldCitylivesacleversorceresscalledGlindatheGood,whocommandsthespiritsoftheair.AlsoIhaveheardthatthereisawonderfulWizardinOzma’spalace,whoissoskillfulthatpeopleusedtopayhimmoneyinAmericatoseehimperform.Soyouseeitwillbenoeasythingtoovercomeallthismagic."
"Wehavefiftythousandsoldiers!"criedtheKingproudly.
"Yes;buttheyareNomes,"remarkedGuph,takingasilkhandkerchieffromtheKing’spocketandwipinghisownpointedshoeswithit."Nomesareimmortals,buttheyarenotstrongonmagic.WhenyoulostyourfamousBeltthegreaterpartofyourownpowerwasgonefromyou.AgainstOzmayouandyourNomeswouldhavenoshowatall."
Roquat’seyesflashedangrily.
"Thenawayyougototheslicingmachine!"hecried.
"Notyet,"saidtheGeneral,fillinghispipefromtheKing’sprivatetobaccopouch.
"Whatdoyouproposetodo?"askedthemonarch.
"Iproposetoobtainthepowerweneed,"answeredGuph."ThereareagoodmanyevilcreatureswhohavemagicpowerssufficienttodestroyandconquertheLandofOz
