第 22 节
作者:空白协议书      更新:2024-04-07 21:07      字数:9321
  〃Anything that suits you suits me;〃 returned
  the wooden horse。
  So the Scarecrow mounted to the jeweled
  saddle and waved his hat; when the Sawhorse
  darted away so swiftly that they were out of
  sight in an instant。
  Chapter Fourteen
  Ojo Breaks the Law
  〃What a queer man;〃 remarked the Munchkin boy;
  when the party had resumed its journey。
  〃And so nice and polite;〃 added Scraps; bobbing
  her Lead。 〃I think he is the handsomest man I've
  seen since I came to life。〃
  〃Handsome is as handsome does;〃 quoted the
  Shaggy Man; 〃but we must admit that no living
  scarecrow is handsomer。 The chief merit of my
  friend is that he is a great thinker; and in Oz it
  is considered good policy to follow his advice。〃
  〃I didn't notice any brains in his head;〃
  observed the Glass Cat。
  〃You can't see 'em work; but they're there; all
  right;〃 declared the Shaggy Man。 〃I hadn't much
  confidence in his brains myself; when first I came
  to Oz; for a humbug Wizard gave them to him; but I
  was soon convinced that the Scarecrow is really
  wise; and; unless his brains make him so; such
  wisdom is unaccountable。〃
  〃Is the Wizard of Oz a humbug?〃 asked Ojo。
  〃Not now。 He was once; but he has reformed
  and now assists Glinda the Good; who is the
  Royal Sorceress of Oz and the only one licensed
  to practice magic or sorcery。 Glinda has taught
  our old Wizard a good many clever things; so
  he is no longer a humbug。〃
  They walked a little while in silence and
  then Ojo said:
  〃If Ozma forbids the Crooked Magician to
  restore Unc Nunkie to life; what shall I do?〃
  The Shaggy Man shook his head。
  〃In that case you can't do anything;〃 he said。
  〃But don't be discouraged yet。 We will go to
  Princess Dorothy and tell her your troubles; and
  then we will let her talk to Ozma。 Dorothy has the
  kindest little heart in the world; and she has
  been through so many troubles herself that she is
  sure to sympathize with you。〃
  〃Is Dorothy the little girl who came here from
  Kansas?〃 asked the boy。
  〃Yes。 In Kansas she was Dorothy Gale。 I used to
  know her there; and she brought me to the Land of
  Oz。 But now Ozma has made her a Princess; and
  Dorothy's Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are here; too。〃
  Here the Shaggy Man uttered a long sigh; and then
  he continued: 〃It's a queer country; this Land of
  Oz; but I like it; nevertheless。〃
  〃What is queer about it?〃 asked Scraps。
  〃You; for instance;〃 said he。
  〃Did you see no girls as beautiful as I am in
  your own country?〃 she inquired。
  〃None with the same gorgeous; variegated
  beauty;〃 he confessed。 〃In America a girl stuffed
  with cotton wouldn't be alive; nor would anyone
  think of making a girl out of a patchwork quilt。〃
  〃What a queer country America must be!〃 she
  exclaimed in great surprise。 〃The Scarecrow; whom
  you say is wise; told me I am the most beautiful
  creature he has ever seen。〃
  〃I know; and perhaps you are…from a scarecrow
  point of view;〃 replied the Shaggy Man; but why he
  smiled as he said it Scraps could not imagine。
  As they drew nearer to the Emerald City the
  travelers were filled with admiration for the
  splendid scenery they beheld。 Handsome houses
  stood on both sides of the road and each had a
  green lawn before it as well as a pretty flower
  garden。
  〃In another hour;〃 said the Shaggy Man; 〃we
  shall come in sight of the walls of the Royal
  City。〃
  He was walking ahead; with Scraps; and behind
  them came the Woozy and the Glass Cat。 Ojo had
  lagged behind; for in spite of the warnings he
  had received the boy's eyes were fastened on the
  clover that bordered the road of yellow bricks and
  he was eager to discover if such a thing as a
  six…leaved clover really existed。
  Suddenly he stopped short and bent over to
  examine the ground more closely。 Yes; here at last
  was a clover with six spreading leaves。 He counted
  them carefully; to make sure。 In an instant his
  heart leaped with joy; for this was one of the
  important things he had come forone of the
  things that would restore dear Unc Nunkie to life。
  He glanced ahead and saw that none of his
  companions was looking back。 Neither were any
  other people about; for it was midway between
  two houses。 The temptation was too strong to
  be resisted。
  〃I might search for weeks and weeks; and
  never find another six…leaved clover;〃 he told
  himself; and quickly plucking the stem from the
  plant he placed the prized clover in his basket;
  covering it with the other things he carried
  there。 Then; trying to look as if nothing had
  happened; he hurried forward and overtook his
  comrades。
  The Emerald City; which is the most splendid as
  well as the most beautiful city in any fairyland;
  is surrounded by a high; thick wall of green
  marble; polished smooth and set with glistening
  emeralds。 There are four gates; one facing the
  Munchkin Country; one facing the Country of the
  Winkies; one facing the Country of the Quadlings
  and one facing the Country of the Gillikins。 The
  Emerald City lies directly in the center of these
  four important countries of Oz。 The gates had bars
  of pure gold; and on either side of each gateway
  were built high towers; from which floated gay
  banners。 Other towers were set at distances along
  the walls; which were broad enough for four people
  to walk abreast upon。
  This enclosure; all green and gold and
  glittering with precious gems; was indeed a
  wonderful sight to greet our travelers; who first
  observed it from the top of a little hill; but
  beyond the wall was the vast city it surrounded;
  and hundreds of jeweled spires; domes and
  minarets; flaunting flags and banners; reared
  their crests far above the towers of the gateways。
  In the center of the city our friends could see
  the tops of many magnificent trees; some nearly as
  tall as the spires of the buildings; and the
  Shaggy Man told them that these trees were in the
  royal gardens of Princess Ozma。
  They stood a long time on the hilltop; feasting
  their eyes on the splendor of the Emerald City。
  〃Whee!〃 exclaimed Scraps; clasping her padded
  hands in ecstacy; 〃that'll do for me to live in;
  all right。 No more of the Munchkin Country for
  these patchesand no more of the Crooked
  Magician!〃
  〃Why; you belong to Dr。 Pipt;〃 replied Ojo;
  looking at her in amazement。 〃You were made for a
  servant; Scraps; so you are personal property and
  not your own mistress。〃
  〃Bother Dr。 Pipt! If he wants me; let him
  come here and get me。 I'll not go back to his
  den of my own accord; that's certain。 Only one
  place in the Land of Oz is fit to live in; and
  that's the Emerald City。 It's lovely! It's almost
  as beautiful as I am; Ojo。〃
  〃In this country;〃 remarked the Shaggy Man;
  〃people live wherever our Ruler tells them to。 It
  wouldn't do to have everyone live in the Emerald
  City; you know; for some must plow the land and
  raise grains and fruits and vegetables; while
  others chop wood in the forests; or fish in the
  rivers; or herd the sheep and the cattle。〃
  〃Poor things!〃 said Scraps。
  〃I'm not sure they are not happier than the city
  people;〃 replied the Shaggy Man。 〃There's a
  freedom and independence in country life that not
  even the Emerald City can give one。 I know that
  lots of the city people would like to get back to
  the land。 The Scarecrow lives in the country; and
  so do the Tin Woodman and Jack Pumpkinhead; yet
  all three would be welcome to live in Ozma's
  palace if they cared to。 Too much splendor becomes
  tiresome; you know。 But; if we're to reach the
  Emerald City before sundown; we must hurry; for it
  is yet a long way off。〃
  The entrancing sight of the city had put new
  energy into them all and they hurried forward
  with lighter steps than before。 There was much
  to interest them along the roadway; for the
  houses were now set more closely together and
  they met a good many people who were coming
  or going from one place or another。 All these
  seemed  happy…faced;  pleasant