Смарагдове місто країни Оз
6. How Guph Visited the Whimsies
Whenhehadfinished,theChiefWhimsielookedathimthroughtheholesinhischinandasked:
"Whatrewardwillyougiveusifwehelpyou?"
TheGeneralwaspreparedforthisquestion,forhehadbeenthinkingthematteroveronhisjourney.Peopleoftendoagooddeedwithouthopeofreward,butforanevildeedtheyalwaysdemandpayment.
"WhenwegetourMagicBelt,"hemadereply,"ourKing,RoquattheRed,willuseitspowertogiveeveryWhimsieanaturalheadasbigandfineasthefalseheadhenowwears.Thenyouwillnolongerbeashamedbecauseyourbigstrongbodieshavesuchteenty-weentyheads."
"Oh!Willyoudothat?"askedtheChief,eagerly.
"Wesurelywill,"promisedtheGeneral.
"I’lltalktomypeople,"saidtheChief.
SohecalledameetingofalltheWhimsiesandtoldthemoftheoffermadebytheNomes.Thecreaturesweredelightedwiththebargain,andatonceagreedtofightfortheNomeKingandhelphimtoconquerOz.
OneWhimsiealoneseemedtohaveaglimmerofsense,forheasked:
"SupposewefailtocapturetheMagicBelt?Whatwillhappenthen,andwhatgoodwillallourfightingdo?"
Buttheythrewhimintotheriverforaskingfoolishquestions,andlaughedwhenthewaterruinedhispasteboardheadbeforehecouldswimoutagain.
SothecompactwasmadeandGeneralGuphwasdelightedwithhissuccessingainingsuchpowerfulallies.
Buttherewereotherpeople,too,justasimportantastheWhimsies,whomthecleveroldNomehaddeterminedtowintohisside.
