Смарагдове місто країни Оз
8. How the Grand Gallipoot Joined The Nomes
TheGallipootmadeasignalandatoncehisattendantspickedupGeneralGuphandcarriedhimawaytoaprison,wherethejaileramusedhimselfbystickingpinsintheroundfatbodyoftheoldNome,toseehimjumpandhearhimyell.
ButwhilethiswasgoingontheGrandGallipootwastalkingwithhiscounselors,whowerethemostimportantofficialsoftheGrowleywogs.WhenhehadstatedtothemthepropositionoftheNomeKing,hesaid:
"Myadviceistooffertohelpthem.Then,whenwehaveconqueredtheLandofOz,wewilltakenotonlyourtwentythousandprisonersbutallthegoldandjewelswewant."
"LetustaketheMagicBelt,too,"suggestedonecounselor.
"AndrobtheNomeKingandmakehimourslave,"saidanother.
"Thatisagoodidea,"declaredtheGrandGallipoot."I’dlikeKingRoquatformyownslave.HecouldblackmybootsandbringmemyporridgeeverymorningwhileIaminbed."
"ThereisafamousScarecrowinOz.I’lltakehimformyslave,"saidacounselor.
"I’lltakeTiktok,themachineman,"saidanother.
"GivemetheTinWoodman,"saidathird.
Theywentonforsometime,dividingupthepeopleandthetreasureofOzinadvanceoftheconquest.FortheyhadnodoubtatallthattheywouldbeabletodestroyOzma’sdomain.Weretheynotthestrongestpeopleinalltheworld?
"ThedeadlydeserthaskeptusoutofOzbefore,"remarkedtheGrandGallipoot,"butnowthattheNomeKingisbuildingatunnelweshallgetintotheEmeraldCityveryeasily.SoletussendthelittlefatGeneralbacktohisKingwithourpromisetoassisthim.
