Смарагдове місто країни Оз
11. How the General Met the First and Foremost
Attheverytopwasalevelplainuponwhichwereheapsofrockthatatfirstglanceseemedsolid.ButonlookingcloserGuphdiscoveredthattheserockheapsweredwellings,foreachhadanopening.
Notapersonwastobeseenoutsidetherockhuts.Allwassilent.
Theowl-manledthewayamongthegroupsofdwellingstoonestandinginthecenter.Itseemednobetterandnoworsethananyoftheothers.Outsidetheentrancetothisrockheaptheguidegavealowwailthatsoundedlike"Lee-ow-ah!"
Suddenlythereboundedfromtheopeninganotherhairyman.Thisoneworetheheadofabear.Inhishandheboreabrasshoop.Heglaredatthestrangerinevidentsurprise.
"Whyhaveyoucapturedthisfoolishwandererandbroughthimhere?"hedemanded,addressingtheowl-man.
"Ididnotcapturehim,"wastheanswer."Hepassedthescarletalligatorandcamehereofhisownfreewillandaccord."
TheFirstandForemostlookedattheGeneral.
"Haveyoutiredoflife,then?"heasked.
"Noindeed,"answeredGuph."IamaNome,andtheChiefGeneralofKingRoquattheRed’sgreatarmyofNomes.Icomeofalong-livedrace,andImaysaythatIexpecttolivealongtimeyet.Sitdown,youPhanfasms--ifyoucanfindaseatinthiswildhaunt--andlistentowhatIhavetosay."
WithallhisknowledgeandbraveryGeneralGuphdidnotknowthatthesteadyglarefromthebeareyeswasreadinghisinmostthoughtsassurelyasiftheyhadbeenputintowords.
