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第26章

[英文]绿野仙踪(英文版)-第26章

小说: [英文]绿野仙踪(英文版) 字数: 每页4000字

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fear that so helpless a creature could prevent them from climbing
the hill。  So he said; 〃I'm sorry not to do as you wish; but we
must pass over your hill whether you like it or not;〃 and he
walked boldly forward。
    As quick as lightning the man's head shot forward and his neck
stretched out until the top of the head; where it was flat; struck
the Scarecrow in the middle and sent him tumbling; over and over;
down the hill。  Almost as quickly as it came the head went back to
the body; and the man laughed harshly as he said; 〃It isn't as
easy as you think!〃
    A chorus of boisterous laughter came from the other rocks; and
Dorothy saw hundreds of the armless Hammer…Heads upon the
hillside; one behind every rock。
    The Lion became quite angry at the laughter caused by the
Scarecrow's mishap; and giving a loud roar that echoed like thunder;
he dashed up the hill。
    Again a head shot swiftly out; and the great Lion went rolling
down the hill as if he had been struck by a cannon ball。
    Dorothy ran down and helped the Scarecrow to his feet; and the
Lion came up to her; feeling rather bruised and sore; and said;
〃It is useless to fight people with shooting heads; no one can
withstand them。〃
    〃What can we do; then?〃 she asked。
    〃Call the Winged Monkeys;〃 suggested the Tin Woodman。  〃You
have still the right to command them once more。〃
    〃Very well;〃 she answered; and putting on the Golden Cap she
uttered the magic words。  The Monkeys were as prompt as ever; and
in a few moments the entire band stood before her。
    〃What are your commands?〃 inquired the King of the Monkeys;
bowing low。
    〃Carry us over the hill to the country of the Quadlings;〃
answered the girl。
    〃It shall be done;〃 said the King; and at once the Winged Monkeys
caught the four travelers and Toto up in their arms and flew away with them。
As they passed over the hill the Hammer…Heads yelled with vexation; and shot
their heads high in the air; but they could not reach the Winged Monkeys;
which carried Dorothy and her comrades safely over the hill and set them
down in the beautiful country of the Quadlings。
    〃This is the last time you can summon us;〃 said the leader to
Dorothy; 〃so good…bye and good luck to you。〃
    〃Good…bye; and thank you very much;〃 returned the girl; and
the Monkeys rose into the air and were out of sight in a twinkling。
    The country of the Quadlings seemed rich and happy。  There was
field upon field of ripening grain; with well…paved roads running
between; and pretty rippling brooks with strong bridges across them。
The fences and houses and bridges were all painted bright red;
just as they had been painted yellow in the country of the Winkies
and blue in the country of the Munchkins。  The Quadlings themselves;
who were short and fat and looked chubby and good…natured; were
dressed all in red; which showed bright against the green grass
and the yellowing grain。
    The Monkeys had set them down near a farmhouse; and the four
travelers walked up to it and knocked at the door。  It was opened
by the farmer's wife; and when Dorothy asked for something to eat
the woman gave them all a good dinner; with three kinds of cake
and four kinds of cookies; and a bowl of milk for Toto。
    〃How far is it to the Castle of Glinda?〃 asked the child。
    〃It is not a great way;〃 answered the farmer's wife。
〃Take the road to the South and you will soon reach it。
    Thanking the good woman; they started afresh and walked by the
fields and across the pretty bridges until they saw before them a
very beautiful Castle。  Before the gates were three young girls;
dressed in handsome red uniforms trimmed with gold braid; and as
Dorothy approached; one of them said to her:
    〃Why have you come to the South Country?〃
    〃To see the Good Witch who rules here;〃 she answered。
〃Will you take me to her?〃
    〃Let me have your name; and I will ask Glinda if she will
receive you。〃  They told who they were; and the girl soldier went
into the Castle。  After a few moments she came back to say that
Dorothy and the others were to be admitted at once。



          23。  Glinda The Good Witch Grants Dorothy's Wish

    Before they went to see Glinda; however; they were taken to a
room of the Castle; where Dorothy washed her face and combed her
hair; and the Lion shook the dust out of his mane; and the
Scarecrow patted himself into his best shape; and the Woodman
polished his tin and oiled his joints。
    When they were all quite presentable they followed the soldier
girl into a big room where the Witch Glinda sat upon a throne of rubies。
    She was both beautiful and young to their eyes。  Her hair was
a rich red in color and fell in flowing ringlets over her shoulders。
Her dress was pure white but her eyes were blue; and they looked
kindly upon the little girl。
    〃What can I do for you; my child?〃 she asked。
    Dorothy told the Witch all her story: how the cyclone had
brought her to the Land of Oz; how she had found her companions;
and of the wonderful adventures they had met with。
    〃My greatest wish now;〃 she added; 〃is to get back to Kansas;
for Aunt Em will surely think something dreadful has happened to me;
and that will make her put on mourning; and unless the crops are better
this year than they were last; I am sure Uncle Henry cannot afford it。〃
    Glinda leaned forward and kissed the sweet; upturned face of
the loving little girl。
    〃Bless your dear heart;〃 she said; 〃I am sure I can tell you
of a way to get back to Kansas。〃  Then she added; 〃But; if I do;
you must give me the Golden Cap。〃
    〃Willingly!〃 exclaimed Dorothy; 〃indeed; it is of no use to
me now; and when you have it you can command the Winged Monkeys
three times。〃
    〃And I think I shall need their service just those three times;〃
answered Glinda; smiling。
    Dorothy then gave her the Golden Cap; and the Witch said to
the Scarecrow; 〃What will you do when Dorothy has left us?〃
    〃I will return to the Emerald City;〃 he replied; 〃for Oz has
made me its ruler and the people like me。  The only thing that
worries me is how to cross the hill of the Hammer…Heads。〃
    〃By means of the Golden Cap I shall command the Winged Monkeys
to carry you to the gates of the Emerald City;〃 said Glinda; 〃for
it would be a shame to deprive the people of so wonderful a ruler。〃
    〃Am I really wonderful?〃 asked the Scarecrow。
    〃You are unusual;〃 replied Glinda。
    Turning to the Tin Woodman; she asked; 〃What will become of
you when Dorothy leaves this country?〃
    He leaned on his axe and thought a moment。  Then he said;
〃The Winkies were very kind to me; and wanted me to rule over them
after the Wicked Witch died。  I am fond of the Winkies; and if I
could get back again to the Country of the West; I should like
nothing better than to rule over them forever。〃
    〃My second command to the Winged Monkeys;〃 said Glinda 〃will
be that they carry you safely to the land of the Winkies。  Your
brain may not be so large to look at as those of the Scarecrow;
but you are really brighter than he iswhen you are well polished
and I am sure you will rule the Winkies wisely and well。〃
    Then the Witch looked at the big; shaggy Lion and asked; 〃When
Dorothy has returned to her own home; what will become of you?〃
    〃Over the hill of the Hammer…Heads;〃 he answered; 〃lies a
grand old forest; and all the beasts that live there have made me
their King。  If I could only get back to this forest; I would pass
my life very happily there。〃
    〃My third command to the Winged Monkeys;〃 said Glinda; 〃shall
be to carry you to your forest。  Then; having used up the powers
of the Golden Cap; I shall give it to the King of the Monkeys;
that he and his band may thereafter be free for evermore。〃
    The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and the Lion now thanked the
Good Witch earnestly for her kindness; and Dorothy exclaimed:
    〃You are certainly as good as you are beautiful!  But you have
not yet told me how to get back to Kansas。〃
    〃Your Silver Shoes will carry you over the desert;〃 replied Glinda。
〃If you had known their power you could have gone back to your Aunt Em
the very first day yo

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