Смарагдове місто країни Оз
13. How the General Talked to the King
TheKingbecamethoughtful,andhisbrowswrinkled.
"I’mafraid,Guph,"hesaidratheranxiously,"thattheFirstandForemostmayproveasdangeroustousastotheOzpeople.IfheandhisterriblebandcomedownfromthemountaintheymaytakethenotiontoconquertheNomes!"
"Pah!Thatisafoolishidea,"retortedGuph,irritably,butheknewinhisheartthattheKingwasright."TheFirstandForemostisaparticularfriendofmine,andwilldousnoharm.Why,whenIwasthere,heeveninvitedmeintohishouse."
TheGeneralneglectedtotelltheKinghowhehadbeenjerkedintothehutoftheFirstandForemostbymeansofthebrasshoop.SoRoquattheRedlookedathisGeneraladmiringlyandsaid:
"YouareawonderfulNome,Guph.I’msorryIdidnotmakeyoumyGeneralbefore.ButwhatrewarddidtheFirstandForemostdemand?"
"Nothingatall,"answeredGuph."EventheMagicBeltitselfcouldnotaddtohispowersofsorcery.AllthePhanfasmswishistodestroytheOzpeople,whoaregoodandhappy.Thispleasurewillamplyrepaythemforassistingus."
"Whenwilltheycome?"askedRoquat,halffearfully.
"Whenthetunneliscompleted,"saidtheGeneral.
"Wearenearlyhalfwayunderthedesertnow,"announcedtheKing;"andthatisfastwork,becausethetunnelhastobedrilledthroughsolidrock.ButafterwehavepassedthedesertitwillnottakeuslongtoextendthetunneltothewallsoftheEmeraldCity."
"Well,wheneveryouareready,weshallbejoinedbytheWhimsies,theGrowleywogsandthePhanfasms,"saidGuph;"sotheconquestofOzisassuredwithoutadoubt.
