Смарагдове місто країни Оз
11. How the General Met the First and Foremost
Afterrelatingallthis,andtellingofthetunneltheNomeKingwasbuilding,hesaidhehadcometoasktheFirstandForemosttojointheNomes,withhisbandofterriblewarriors,andhelpthemtodefeattheOzpeople.
TheGeneralspokeveryearnestlyandimpressively,butwhenhehadfinishedthebear-manbegantolaughasifmuchamused,andhislaughterseemedtobeechoedbyachorusofmerrimentfromanunseenmultitude.Then,forthefirsttime,Guphbegantofeelatrifleworried.
"Whoelsehaspromisedtohelpyou?"finallyaskedtheFirstandForemost.
"TheWhimsies,"repliedtheGeneral.
Againthebear-headedPhanfasmlaughed.
"Anyothers?"heinquired.
"OnlytheGrowleywogs,"saidGuph.
ThisanswersettheFirstandForemostlaughinganew.
"WhatshareofthespoilsamItohave?"wasthenextquestion.
"Anythingyoulike,exceptKingRoquat’sMagicBelt,"repliedGuph.
AtthisthePhanfasmsetuparoaroflaughter,whichhaditsechointheunseenchorus,andthebear-manseemedsoamusedthatheactuallyrolleduponthegroundandshoutedwithmerriment.
"Oh,theseblindandfoolishNomes!"hesaid."Howbigtheyseemtothemselvesandhowsmalltheyreallyare!"
SuddenlyhearoseandseizedGuph’sneckwithonehairypaw,dragginghimoutofthehutintotheopen.
Herehegaveacuriouswailingcry,and,asifinanswer,fromalltherockyhutsonthemountain-topcameflockingahordeofPhanfasms,allwithhairybodies,butwearingheadsofvariousanimals,birdsandreptiles.
