Смарагдове місто країни Оз
9. How the Wogglebug Taught Athletics
Aservantthrewopenagateofthepalaceenclosure,thattheymightpassout;andso,withmusicandshoutsfollowingthem,thejourneywasbegun.
"It’salmostlikeacircus,"saidAuntEm,proudly."Ican’thelpfeelin’highan’mightyinthiskindofaturn-out."
Indeed,astheypasseddownthestreet,allthepeoplecheeredthemlustily,andtheShaggyManandtheWizardandtheCaptainGeneralalltookofftheirhatsandbowedpolitelyinacknowledgment.
WhentheycametothegreatwalloftheEmeraldCity,thegateswereopenedbytheGuardianwhoalwaystendedthem.Overthegatewayhungadull-coloredmetalmagnetshapedlikeahorse-shoe,placedagainstashieldofpolishedgold.
"That,"saidtheShaggyMan,impressively,"isthewonderfulLoveMagnet.IbroughtittotheEmeraldCitymyself,andallwhopassbeneaththisgatewayarebothlovingandbeloved."
"It’safinething,"declaredAuntEm,admiringly."Ifwe’dhaditinKansasIguessthemanwhoheldamortgageonthefarmwouldn’thaveturnedusout."
"ThenI’mgladwedidn’thaveit,"returnedUncleHenry."IlikeOzbetterthanKansas,even;an’thislittlewoodSawhorsebeatsallthecrittersIeversaw.Hedon’thavetobecurried,orfed,orwatered,an’he’sstrongasanox.Canhetalk,Dorothy?"
"Yes,Uncle,"repliedthechild."ButtheSawhorseneversaysmuch.Hetoldmeoncethathecan’ttalkandthinkatthesametime,sohepreferstothink."
"Whichisverysensible,"declaredtheWizard,noddingapprovingly."Whichwaydowego,Dorothy?"
"StraightaheadintotheQuadlingCountry,"sheanswered.
