第 41 节
作者:空白协议书      更新:2024-04-07 21:07      字数:9320
  henceforth Ojo the Lucky;〃 declared the tin man。
  〃Every reason you have given is absurd。 But I have
  noticed that those who continually dread ill luck
  and fear it will overtake them; have no time to
  take advantage of any good fortune that comes
  their way。 Make up your mind to be Ojo the
  Lucky。〃
  〃How can I?〃 asked the boy; 〃when all my
  attempts to save my dear uncle have failed?〃
  〃Never give up; Ojo;〃 advised Dorothy。 〃No
  one ever knows what's going to happen next。〃
  Ojo did not reply; but he was so dejected that
  even their arrival at the Emerald City failed to
  interest him。
  The people joyfully cheered the appearance of
  the Tin Woodman; the Scarecrow and Dorothy; who
  were all three general favorites; and on entering
  the royal palace word came to them from Ozma that
  she would at once grant them an audience。
  Dorothy told the girl Ruler how successful
  they had been in their quest until they came to
  the item of the yellow butterfly; which the Tin
  Woodman positively refused to sacrifice to the
  magic potion。
  〃He is quite right;〃 said Ozma; who did not seem
  a bit surprised。 〃Had Ojo told me that one of the
  things he sought was the wing of a yellow
  butterfly I would have informed him; before he
  started out; that he could never secure it。 Then
  you would have been saved the troubles and
  annoyances of your long journey。〃
  〃I didn't mind the journey at all;〃 said
  Dorothy; 〃it was fun。〃
  〃As it has turned out;〃 remarked Ojo; 〃I can
  never get the things the Crooked Magician sent
  me for; and so; unless I wait the six years for
  him to make the Powder of Life; Unc Nunkie
  cannot be saved。〃
  Ozma smiled。
  〃Dr。 Pipt will make no more Powder of Life;
  I promise you;〃 said she。 〃I have sent for him
  and had him brought to this palace; where he
  now is; and his four kettles have been destroyed
  and his book of recipes burned up。 I have also
  had brought here the marble statues of your
  uncle and of Margolotte; which are standing in
  the next room。
  They were all greatly astonished at this
  announcement。
  〃Oh; let me see Unc Nunkie! Let me see him
  at once; please!〃 cried Ojo eagerly。
  〃Wait a moment;〃 replied Ozma; 〃for I have
  something more to say。 Nothing that happens
  in the Land of Oz escapes the notice of our wise
  Sorceress; Glinda the Good。 She knew all about
  the magic…making of Dr。 Pipt; and how he had
  brought the Glass Cat and the Patchwork Girl
  to life; and the accident to Unc Nunkie and
  Margolotte; and of Ojo's quest and his journey
  with Dorothy。 Glinda also knew that Ojo would
  fail to find all the things he sought; so she sent
  for our Wizard and instructed him what to do。
  Something is going to happen in this palace;
  presently; and that 'something' will; I am sure;
  please you all。 And now;〃 continued the girl
  Ruler; rising from her chair; 〃you may follow
  me into the next room。〃
  Chapter Twenty…Eight
  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
  When Ojo entered the room he ran quickly to
  the statue of Unc Nunkie and kissed the marble
  face affectionately。
  〃I did my best; Unc;〃 he said; with a sob; 〃but
  it was no use!〃
  Then he drew back and looked around the room;
  and the sight of the assembled company quite
  amazed him。
  Aside from the marble statues of Unc Nunkie and
  Margolotte; the Glass Cat was there; curled up on
  a rug; and the Woozy was there; sitting on its
  square hind legs and looking on the scene with
  solemn interest; and there was the Shaggy Man; in
  a suit of shaggy pea…green satin; and at a table
  sat the little Wizard; looking quite important and
  as if he knew much more than he cared to tell。
  Last of all; Dr。 Pipt was there; and the
  Crooked Magician sat humped up in a chair;
  seeming very dejected but keeping his eyes fixed
  on the lifeless form of his wife Margolotte;
  whom he fondly loved but whom he now feared
  was lost to him forever。
  Ozma took a chair which Jellia Jamb wheeled
  forward for the Ruler; and back of her stood the
  Scarecrow; the Tin Woodman and Dorothy; as
  well as the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry
  Tiger。 The Wizard now arose and made a low
  bow to Ozma and another less deferent bow to
  the assembled company。
  〃Ladies and gentlemen and beasts;〃 he said;
  〃I beg to announce that our Gracious Ruler has
  permitted me to obey the commands of the great
  Sorceress; Glinda the Good; whose humble Assistant
  I am proud to be。 We have discovered that the
  Crooked Magician has been indulging in his magical
  arts contrary to Law; and therefore; by Royal
  Edict; I hereby deprive him of all power to work
  magic in the future。 He is no longer a crooked
  magician; but a simple Munchkin; he is no longer
  even crooked; but a man like other men。
  As he pronounced these words the Wizard
  waved his hand toward Dr。 Pipt and instantly
  every crooked limb straightened out and became
  perfect。 The former magician; with a cry of joy;
  sprang to his feet; looked at himself in wonder;
  and then fell back in his chair and watched the
  Wizard with fascinated interest。
  〃The Glass Cat; which Dr。 Pipt lawlessly
  made;〃 continued the Wizard; 〃is a pretty cat;
  but its pink brains made it so conceited that it
  was a disagreeable companion to everyone。 So
  the other day I took away the pink brains and
  replaced them with transparent ones; and now
  the Glass Cat is so modest and well behaved
  that Ozma has decided to keep her in the palace
  as a pet。〃
  〃I thank you;〃 said the cat; in a soft voice。
  〃The Woozy has proved himself a good Woozy and a
  faithful friend;〃 the Wizard went on; 〃so we will
  send him to the Royal Menagerie; where he will
  have good care and plenty to eat all his life。〃
  〃Much obliged;〃 said the Woozy。 〃That beats
  being fenced up in a lonely forest and starved。〃
  〃As for the Patchwork Girl;〃 resumed the Wizard;
  〃she is so remarkable in appearance; and so clever
  and good tempered; that our Gracious Ruler intends
  to preserve her carefully; as one of the
  curiosities of the curious Land of Oz。 Scraps may
  live in the palace; or wherever she pleases; and
  be nobody's servant but her own。〃
  〃That's all right;〃 said Scraps。
  〃We have all been interested in Ojo;〃 the little
  Wizard continued; 〃because his love for his
  unfortunate uncle has led him bravely to face all
  sorts of dangers; in order that he might rescue
  him。 The Munchkin boy has a loyal and generous
  heart and has done his best to restore Unc Nunkie
  to life。 He has failed; but there are others more
  powerful than the Crooked Magician; and there are
  more ways than Dr。 Pipt knew of to destroy the
  charm of the Liquid of Petrifaction。 Glinda the
  Good has told me of one way; and you shall now
  learn how great is the knowledge and power of our
  peerless Sorceress。〃
  As he said this the Wizard advanced to the
  statue of Margolote and made a magic pass; at
  the same time muttering a magic word that
  none could hear distinctly。 At once the woman
  moved; turned her head wonderingly this way
  and that; to note all who stood before her; and
  seeing Dr。 Pipt; ran forward and threw herself
  into her husband's outstretched arms。
  Then the Wizard made the magic pass and
  spoke the magic word before the statue of Unc
  Nunkie。 The old Munchkin immediately came
  to life and with a low bow to the Wizard said:
  〃Thanks。〃
  But now Ojo rushed up and threw his arms
  joyfully about his uncle; and the old man
  hugged his little nephew tenderly and stroked
  his hair and wiped away the boy's tears with a
  handkerchief; for Ojo was crying from pure
  happiness。
  Ozma came forward to congratulate them。
  〃I have given to you; my dear Ojo and Unc
  Nunkie; a nice house just outside the walls of
  the Emerald City;〃 she said; 〃and there you
  shall make your future home and be under my
  protection。〃
  〃Didn't I say you were Ojo the Lucky?〃
  asked the Tin Woodman; as everyone crowded
  around to shake Ojo's hand。
  〃Yes; and it is true!〃 replied Ojo; gratefully。