[英文]绿野仙踪(英文版)-第14章

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　　　　Dorothy　found　herself　riding　easily　between　two　of　the　biggest
Monkeys；　one　of　them　the　King　himself。　　They　had　made　a　chair　of
their　hands　and　were　careful　not　to　hurt　her。
　　　　〃Why　do　you　have　to　obey　the　charm　of　the　Golden　Cap？〃　she　asked。
　　　　〃That　is　a　long　story；〃　answered　the　King；　with　a　Winged　laugh；
〃but　as　we　have　a　long　journey　before　us；　I　will　pass　the　time　by
telling　you　about　it；　if　you　wish。〃
　　　　〃I　shall　be　glad　to　hear　it；〃　she　replied。
　　　　〃Once；〃　began　the　leader；　〃we　were　a　free　people；　living　happily
in　the　great　forest；　flying　from　tree　to　tree；　eating　nuts　and　fruit；
and　doing　just　as　we　pleased　without　calling　anybody　master。　　Perhaps
some　of　us　were　rather　too　full　of　mischief　at　times；　flying　down　to
pull　the　tails　of　the　animals　that　had　no　wings；　chasing　birds；　and
throwing　nuts　at　the　people　who　walked　in　the　forest。　　But　we　were
careless　and　happy　and　full　of　fun；　and　enjoyed　every　minute　of　the　day。
This　was　many　years　ago；　long　before　Oz　came　out　of　the　clouds　to　rule
over　this　land。
　　　　〃There　lived　here　then；　away　at　the　North；　a　beautiful　princess；
who　was　also　a　powerful　sorceress。　　All　her　magic　was　used　to　help
the　people；　and　she　was　never　known　to　hurt　anyone　who　was　good。
Her　name　was　Gayelette；　and　she　lived　in　a　handsome　palace　built
from　great　blocks　of　ruby。　　Everyone　loved　her；　but　her　greatest
sorrow　was　that　she　could　find　no　one　to　love　in　return；　since　all
the　men　were　much　too　stupid　and　ugly　to　mate　with　one　so　beautiful
and　wise。　　At　last；　however；　she　found　a　boy　who　was　handsome　and
manly　and　wise　beyond　his　years。　　Gayelette　made　up　her　mind　that
when　he　grew　to　be　a　man　she　would　make　him　her　husband；　so　she
took　him　to　her　ruby　palace　and　used　all　her　magic　powers　to
make　him　as　strong　and　good　and　lovely　as　any　woman　could　wish。
When　he　grew　to　manhood；　Quelala；　as　he　was　called；　was　said　to
be　the　best　and　wisest　man　in　all　the　land；　while　his　manly　beauty
was　so　great　that　Gayelette　loved　him　dearly；　and　hastened　to　make
everything　ready　for　the　wedding。
　　　　〃My　grandfather　was　at　that　time　the　King　of　the　Winged　Monkeys
which　lived　in　the　forest　near　Gayelette's　palace；　and　the　old　fellow
loved　a　joke　better　than　a　good　dinner。　　One　day；　just　before　the　wedding；
my　grandfather　was　flying　out　with　his　band　when　he　saw　Quelala　walking
beside　the　river。　　He　was　dressed　in　a　rich　costume　of　pink　silk　and
purple　velvet；　and　my　grandfather　thought　he　would　see　what　he　could　do。
At　his　word　the　band　flew　down　and　seized　Quelala；　carried　him　in　their
arms　until　they　were　over　the　middle　of　the　river；　and　then　dropped　him
into　the　water。
　　　　〃‘Swim　out；　my　fine　fellow；'　cried　my　grandfather；　‘and　see　if
the　water　has　spotted　your　clothes。'　　Quelala　was　much　too　wise
not　to　swim；　and　he　was　not　in　the　least　spoiled　by　all　his　good
fortune。　　He　laughed；　when　he　came　to　the　top　of　the　water；　and
swam　in　to　shore。　　But　when　Gayelette　came　running　out　to　him　she
found　his　silks　and　velvet　all　ruined　by　the　river。
　　　　〃The　princess　was　angry；　and　she　knew；　of　course；　who　did　it。
She　had　all　the　Winged　Monkeys　brought　before　her；　and　she　said　at
first　that　their　wings　should　be　tied　and　they　should　be　treated
as　they　had　treated　Quelala；　and　dropped　in　the　river。　　But　my
grandfather　pleaded　hard；　for　he　knew　the　Monkeys　would　drown　in
the　river　with　their　wings　tied；　and　Quelala　said　a　kind　word　for
them　also；　so　that　Gayelette　finally　spared　them；　on　condition
that　the　Winged　Monkeys　should　ever　after　do　three　times　the
bidding　of　the　owner　of　the　Golden　Cap。　　This　Cap　had　been　made
for　a　wedding　present　to　Quelala；　and　it　is　said　to　have　cost　the
princess　half　her　kingdom。　　Of　course　my　grandfather　and　all　the
other　Monkeys　at　once　agreed　to　the　condition；　and　that　is　how　it
happens　that　we　are　three　times　the　slaves　of　the　owner　of　the
Golden　Cap；　whosoever　he　may　be。〃
　　　　〃And　what　became　of　them？〃　asked　Dorothy；　who　had　been　greatly
interested　in　the　story。
　　　　〃Quelala　being　the　first　owner　of　the　Golden　Cap；〃　replied
the　Monkey；　〃he　was　the　first　to　lay　his　wishes　upon　us。　　As　his
bride　could　not　bear　the　sight　of　us；　he　called　us　all　to　him　in
the　forest　after　he　had　married　her　and　ordered　us　always　to　keep
where　she　could　never　again　set　eyes　on　a　Winged　Monkey；　which　we
were　glad　to　do；　for　we　were　all　afraid　of　her。
　　　　〃This　was　all　we　ever　had　to　do　until　the　Golden　Cap　fell　into
the　hands　of　the　Wicked　Witch　of　the　West；　who　made　us　enslave　the
Winkies；　and　afterward　drive　Oz　himself　out　of　the　Land　of　the
West。　　Now　the　Golden　Cap　is　yours；　and　three　times　you　have　the
right　to　lay　your　wishes　upon　us。〃
　　　　As　the　Monkey　King　finished　his　story　Dorothy　looked　down
and　saw　the　green；　shining　walls　of　the　Emerald　City　before　them。
She　wondered　at　the　rapid　flight　of　the　Monkeys；　but　was　glad　the
journey　was　over。　　The　strange　creatures　set　the　travelers　down
carefully　before　the　gate　of　the　City；　the　King　bowed　low　to
Dorothy；　and　then　flew　swiftly　away；　followed　by　all　his　band。
　　　　〃That　was　a　good　ride；〃　said　the　little　girl。
　　　　〃Yes；　and　a　quick　way　out　of　our　troubles；〃　replied　the　Lion。
〃How　lucky　it　was　you　brought　away　that　wonderful　Cap！〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　15。　　The　Discovery　of　Oz；　the　Terrible

　　　　The　four　travelers　walked　up　to　the　great　gate　of　Emerald　City
and　rang　the　bell。　　After　ringing　several　times；　it　was　opened　by
the　same　Guardian　of　the　Gates　they　had　met　before。
　　　　〃What！　are　you　back　again？〃　he　asked；　in　surprise。
　　　　〃Do　you　not　see　us？〃　answered　the　Scarecrow。
　　　　〃But　I　thought　you　had　gone　to　visit　the　Wicked　Witch　of　the　West。〃
　　　　〃We　did　visit　her；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。
　　　　〃And　she　let　you　go　again？〃　asked　the　man；　in　wonder。
　　　　〃She　could　not　help　it；　for　she　is　melted；〃　explained　the　Scarecrow。
　　　　〃Melted！　　Well；　that　is　good　news；　indeed；〃　said　the　man。
〃Who　melted　her？〃
　　　　〃It　was　Dorothy；〃　said　the　Lion　gravely。
　　　　〃Good　gracious！〃　exclaimed　the　man；　and　he　bowed　very　low　indeed
before　her。
　　　　Then　he　led　them　into　his　little　room　and　locked　the　spectacles
from　the　great　box　on　all　their　eyes；　just　as　he　had　done　before。
Afterward　they　passed　on　through　the　gate　into　the　Emerald　City。
When　the　people　heard　from　the　Guardian　of　the　Gates　that　Dorothy
had　melted　the　Wicked　Witch　of　the　West；　they　all　gathered　around
the　travelers　and　followed　them　in　a　great　crowd　to　the　Palace　of　Oz。
　　　　The　soldier　with　the　green　whiskers　was　still　on　guard　before
the　door；　but　he　let　them　in　at　once；　and　they　were　again　met　by
the　beautiful　green　girl；　who　showed　each　of　them　to　their　old
rooms　at　once；　so　they　might　rest　until　the　Great　Oz　was　ready　to
receive　them。
　　　　The　soldier　had　the　news　carried　straight　to　Oz　that　Dorothy
and　the　other　travelers　had　come　back　again；　after　destroying　the
Wicked　Witch；　but　Oz　made　no　reply。　　They　thought　the　Great　Wizard
would　send　for　them　at　once；　but　he　did　not。　　They　had　no　word
from　him　the　next　day；　nor　the　next；　nor　the　next。　　The　waiting
was　tiresome　and　wearing；　and　at　last　they　grew　vexed　that　Oz
should　treat　them　in　so　poor　a　fashion；　after　sending　them　to
undergo　hardships　and　slavery。　　So　the　Scarecrow　at　last　asked　the
green　girl　to　take　another　message　to　Oz；　saying　if　he　did　not
let　them　in　to　see　him　at　once　they　would　call　the　Winged　Monkeys
to　help　them；　and　find　out　whether　he　kept　his　promises　or　not。
When　the　Wizard　was　given　this　message　he　was　so　frightened　that　he
sent　word　for　them　to　come　to　the　Throne　Room　at　four　minutes　after
nine　o'clock　the　next　morning。　　He　had　once　met　the　Winged　Monkeys
in　the　Land　of　the　West；　and　he　did　not　wish　to　meet　them　again。
　　　　The　four　travelers　passed　a　sleepless　night；　each　thinking　of　the
gift　Oz　had　promised　to　bestow　on　him。　　Dorothy　fell　asleep　only　once；
and　then　she　dreamed　she　was　in　Kansas；　where　Aunt　Em　was　telling　her
how　glad　she　was　to　have　her　little　girl　at　home　again。
　　　　Promptly　at　nine　o'clock　the　next　morning　the　green…whiskered
soldier　came　to　them；　and　four　minutes　later　they　all　went　into
the　Throne　Room　of　the　Great　Oz。
　　　　Of　course　each　one　of　them　expected　to　see　the　Wizard　in　the　shape
he　had　taken　before；　and　all　were　greatly　surprised　when　they　looked
about　and　saw　no　one　at　all　in　the　room。　　They　kept　close　to　the　door
and　closer　to　one　another；　for　the　stillness　of　the　empty　room　was　more
dreadful　than　any　of　the　forms　they　had　seen　Oz　take。
　　　　Presently　they　heard　a　solemn　Voice；　that　seemed　to　come　from
somewhere　near　the　top　of　the　great　dome；　and　it　said：
　　　　〃I　am　Oz；　the　Great　and　Terrible。　　Why　do　you　seek　me？〃
　　　　They　looked　again　in　every　part　of　the　room；　and　then；　seeing
no　one；　Dorothy　asked；　〃Where　are　you？〃
　　　　〃I　am　everywhere；〃　answered　the　Voice；　〃but　to　the　eyes　of
common　mortals　I　am　invisible。　　I　will　now　seat　myself　upon　my
throne；　that　you　may　converse　with　me。〃　　Indeed；　the　Voice　seemed
just　then　to　come　straight　from　the　throne　itself；　so　they　walked
toward　it　and　stood　in　a　row　while　Dorothy　said：
　　　　〃We　have　come　to　claim　our　promise；　O　Oz。〃
　　　　〃What　promise？〃　asked　Oz。
　　　　〃You　promised　to　send　me　back　to　Kansas　when　the　Wicked　Witch
was　destroyed；〃　said　the　girl。
　　　　〃And　you　promised　to　give　me　brains；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。
　　　　〃And　you　promised　to　give　me　a　heart；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman。
　　　　〃And　you　promised　to　give　me　courage；〃　said　the　Cowardly　Lion。
　　　　〃Is　the　Wicked　Witch　really　destroyed？〃　asked　the　Voice；
and　Dorothy　thought　it　trembled　a　little。
　　　　〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　〃I　melted　her　with　a　bucket　of　water。〃
　　　　〃Dear　me；〃　said　the　Voice；　〃how　sudden！　　Well；　come　to　me
tomorrow；　for　I　must　have　time　to　think　it　over。〃
　　　　〃You've　had　plenty　of　time　already；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman　angrily。
　　　　〃We　shan't　wait　a　day　longer；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。
　　　　〃You　must　keep　your　promises　to　us！〃　exclaimed　Dorothy。
　　　　The　Lion　thought　it　might　be　as　well　to　frighten　the　Wizard；
so　he　gave　a　large；　loud　roar；　which　was　so　fierce　and　dreadful
that　Toto　jumped　away　from　him　in　alarm　and　tipped　over　the　screen
that　stood　in　a　corner。　　As　it　fell　with　a　crash　they　looked
that　way；　and　the　next　moment　all　of　them　were　filled　with　wonder。
For　they　saw；　standing　in　just　the　spot　the　screen　had　hidden；
a　little　old　man；　with　a　bald　head　and　a　wrinkled　face；　who　seemed
to　be　as　much　surprised　as　they　were。　　The　Tin　Woodman；　raising
his　axe；　rushed　toward　the　little　man　and　cried　out；　〃Who　are　you？〃
　　　　〃I　am　Oz；　the　Great　and　Terrible；〃　said　the　little　man；　in　a
trembling　voice。　　〃But　don't　strike　meplease　don'tand　I'll
do　anything　you　want　me　to。〃
　　　　Our　friends　looked　at　him　in　surprise　and　dismay。
　　　　〃I　thought　Oz　was　a　great　Head；〃　said　Dorothy。
　　　　〃And　I　thought　Oz　was　a　lovely　Lady；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。
　　　　〃And　I　thought　Oz　was　a　terrible　Beast；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman。
　　　　〃And　I　thought　Oz　was　a　Ball　of　Fire；〃　exclaimed　the　Lion。
　　　　〃No；　you　are　all　wrong；〃　said　the　little　man　meekly。　　〃I　have
been　making　believe。〃
　　　　〃Making　believe！〃　cried　Dorothy。　　〃Are　you　not　a　Great　Wizard？〃
　　　　〃Hush；　my　dear；〃　he　said。　　〃Don't　speak　so　loud；　or　you　will　be
overheardand　I　should　be　ruined。　　I'm　supposed　to　be　a　Great