Смарагдове місто країни Оз
13. How the General Talked to the King
"I’mafraidofeggsmyself,anddon’tproposetotakeanychancesofbeingpoisonedbythem.MyplanistosendtheWhimsiesthroughthetunnelfirst,andthentheGrowleywogsandthePhanfasms.BythetimeweNomesgettheretheeggswillallbeusedup,andwemaythenpursueandcapturetheinhabitantsatourleisure."
"Perhapsyouareright,"returnedtheKing,withadismalsigh."ButIwantitdistinctlyunderstoodthatIclaimOzmaandDorothyasmyownprisoners.Theyarerathernicegirls,andIdonotintendtoletanyofthosedreadfulcreatureshurtthem,ormakethemtheirslaves.WhenIhavecapturedthemIwillbringthemhereandtransformthemintochinaornamentstostandonmymantle.Theywilllookverypretty--DorothyononeendofthemantleandOzmaontheother--andIshalltakegreatcaretoseetheyarenotbrokenwhenthemaidsdustthem."
"Verywell,yourMajesty.DowhatyouwillwiththegirlsforallIcare.Nowthatourplansarearranged,andwehavethethreemostpowerfulbandsofevilspiritsintheworldtoassistus,letusmakehastetogetthetunnelfinishedassoonaspossible."
"Itwillbereadyinthreedays,"promisedtheKing,andhurriedawaytoinspecttheworkandseethattheNomeskeptbusy.
