[英文]绿野仙踪(英文版)-第13章

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But　I　spoke　to　him　as　he　sat　behind　his　screen　and　gave　him　your
message。　　He　said　he　will　grant　you　an　audience；　if　you　so　desire；
but　each　one　of　you　must　enter　his　presence　alone；　and　he　will
admit　but　one　each　day。　　Therefore；　as　you　must　remain　in　the
Palace　for　several　days；　I　will　have　you　shown　to　rooms　where　you
may　rest　in　comfort　after　your　journey。〃
　　　　〃Thank　you；〃　replied　the　girl；　〃that　is　very　kind　of　Oz。〃
　　　　The　soldier　now　blew　upon　a　green　whistle；　and　at　once　a　young　girl；
dressed　in　a　pretty　green　silk　gown；　entered　the　room。　　She　had　lovely
green　hair　and　green　eyes；　and　she　bowed　low　before　Dorothy　as　she　said；
〃Follow　me　and　I　will　show　you　your　room。〃
　　　　So　Dorothy　said　good…bye　to　all　her　friends　except　Toto；　and
taking　the　dog　in　her　arms　followed　the　green　girl　through　seven
passages　and　up　three　flights　of　stairs　until　they　came　to　a　room
at　the　front　of　the　Palace。　　It　was　the　sweetest　little　room　in
the　world；　with　a　soft　comfortable　bed　that　had　sheets　of　green
silk　and　a　green　velvet　counterpane。　　There　was　a　tiny　fountain　in
the　middle　of　the　room；　that　shot　a　spray　of　green　perfume　into
the　air；　to　fall　back　into　a　beautifully　carved　green　marble　basin。
Beautiful　green　flowers　stood　in　the　windows；　and　there　was　a　shelf
with　a　row　of　little　green　books。　　When　Dorothy　had　time　to　open
these　books　she　found　them　full　of　queer　green　pictures　that　made
her　laugh；　they　were　so　funny。
　　　　In　a　wardrobe　were　many　green　dresses；　made　of　silk　and　satin
and　velvet；　and　all　of　them　fitted　Dorothy　exactly。
　　　　〃Make　yourself　perfectly　at　home；〃　said　the　green　girl；
〃and　if　you　wish　for　anything　ring　the　bell。　　Oz　will　send
for　you　tomorrow　morning。〃
　　　　She　left　Dorothy　alone　and　went　back　to　the　others。　　These　she
also　led　to　rooms；　and　each　one　of　them　found　himself　lodged　in　a
very　pleasant　part　of　the　Palace。　　Of　course　this　politeness　was
wasted　on　the　Scarecrow；　for　when　he　found　himself　alone　in　his
room　he　stood　stupidly　in　one　spot；　just　within　the　doorway；　to
wait　till　morning。　　It　would　not　rest　him　to　lie　down；　and　he
could　not　close　his　eyes；　so　he　remained　all　night　staring　at　a
little　spider　which　was　weaving　its　web　in　a　corner　of　the　room；
just　as　if　it　were　not　one　of　the　most　wonderful　rooms　in　the　world。
The　Tin　Woodman　lay　down　on　his　bed　from　force　of　habit；　for　he
remembered　when　he　was　made　of　flesh；　but　not　being　able　to　sleep；
he　passed　the　night　moving　his　joints　up　and　down　to　make　sure　they
kept　in　good　working　order。　　The　Lion　would　have　preferred　a　bed　of
dried　leaves　in　the　forest；　and　did　not　like　being　shut　up　in　a　room；
but　he　had　too　much　sense　to　let　this　worry　him；　so　he　sprang　upon
the　bed　and　rolled　himself　up　like　a　cat　and　purred　himself　asleep
in　a　minute。
　　　　The　next　morning；　after　breakfast；　the　green　maiden　came　to
fetch　Dorothy；　and　she　dressed　her　in　one　of　the　prettiest　gowns；
made　of　green　brocaded　satin。　　Dorothy　put　on　a　green　silk　apron
and　tied　a　green　ribbon　around　Toto's　neck；　and　they　started
for　the　Throne　Room　of　the　Great　Oz。
　　　　First　they　came　to　a　great　hall　in　which　were　many　ladies　and
gentlemen　of　the　court；　all　dressed　in　rich　costumes。　　These
people　had　nothing　to　do　but　talk　to　each　other；　but　they　always
came　to　wait　outside　the　Throne　Room　every　morning；　although　they
were　never　permitted　to　see　Oz。　　As　Dorothy　entered　they　looked　at
her　curiously；　and　one　of　them　whispered：
　　　　〃Are　you　really　going　to　look　upon　the　face　of　Oz　the　Terrible？〃
　　　　〃Of　course；〃　answered　the　girl；　〃if　he　will　see　me。〃
　　　　〃Oh；　he　will　see　you；〃　said　the　soldier　who　had　taken　her
message　to　the　Wizard；　〃although　he　does　not　like　to　have　people
ask　to　see　him。　　Indeed；　at　first　he　was　angry　and　said　I　should
send　you　back　where　you　came　from。　　Then　he　asked　me　what　you
looked　like；　and　when　I　mentioned　your　silver　shoes　he　was　very
much　interested。　　At　last　I　told　him　about　the　mark　upon　your
forehead；　and　he　decided　he　would　admit　you　to　his　presence。〃
　　　　Just　then　a　bell　rang；　and　the　green　girl　said　to　Dorothy；
〃That　is　the　signal。　　You　must　go　into　the　Throne　Room　alone。〃
　　　　She　opened　a　little　door　and　Dorothy　walked　boldly　through　and
found　herself　in　a　wonderful　place。　　It　was　a　big；　round　room　with
a　high　arched　roof；　and　the　walls　and　ceiling　and　floor　were　covered
with　large　emeralds　set　closely　together。　　In　the　center　of　the　roof
was　a　great　light；　as　bright　as　the　sun；　which　made　the　emeralds
sparkle　in　a　wonderful　manner。
　　　　But　what　interested　Dorothy　most　was　the　big　throne　of　green
marble　that　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　　It　was　shaped　like　a
chair　and　sparkled　with　gems；　as　did　everything　else。　　In　the
center　of　the　chair　was　an　enormous　Head；　without　a　body　to
support　it　or　any　arms　or　legs　whatever。　　There　was　no　hair　upon
this　head；　but　it　had　eyes　and　a　nose　and　mouth；　and　was　much
bigger　than　the　head　of　the　biggest　giant。
　　　　As　Dorothy　gazed　upon　this　in　wonder　and　fear；　the　eyes　turned
slowly　and　looked　at　her　sharply　and　steadily。　　Then　the　mouth
moved；　and　Dorothy　heard　a　voice　say：
　　　　〃I　am　Oz；　the　Great　and　Terrible。　　Who　are　you；　and　why　do　you
seek　me？〃
　　　　It　was　not　such　an　awful　voice　as　she　had　expected　to　come
from　the　big　Head；　so　she　took　courage　and　answered：
　　　　〃I　am　Dorothy；　the　Small　and　Meek。　　I　have　come　to　you　for　help。〃
　　　　The　eyes　looked　at　her　thoughtfully　for　a　full　minute。
Then　said　the　voice：
　　　　〃Where　did　you　get　the　silver　shoes？〃
　　　　〃I　got　them　from　the　Wicked　Witch　of　the　East；　when　my　house
fell　on　her　and　killed　her；〃　she　replied。
　　　　〃Where　did　you　get　the　mark　upon　your　forehead？〃　continued　the　voice。
　　　　〃That　is　where　the　Good　Witch　of　the　North　kissed　me　when　she
bade　me　good…bye　and　sent　me　to　you；〃　said　the　girl。
　　　　Again　the　eyes　looked　at　her　sharply；　and　they　saw　she　was
telling　the　truth。　　Then　Oz　asked；　〃What　do　you　wish　me　to　do？〃
　　　　〃Send　me　back　to　Kansas；　where　my　Aunt　Em　and　Uncle　Henry　are；〃
she　answered　earnestly。　　〃I　don't　like　your　country；　although　it　is
so　beautiful。　　And　I　am　sure　Aunt　Em　will　be　dreadfully　worried　over
my　being　away　so　long。〃
　　　　The　eyes　winked　three　times；　and　then　they　turned　up　to　the
ceiling　and　down　to　the　floor　and　rolled　around　so　queerly　that
they　seemed　to　see　every　part　of　the　room。　　And　at　last　they
looked　at　Dorothy　again。
　　　　〃Why　should　I　do　this　for　you？〃　asked　Oz。
　　　　〃Because　you　are　strong　and　I　am　weak；　because　you　are　a　Great
Wizard　and　I　am　only　a　little　girl。〃
　　　　〃But　you　were　strong　enough　to　kill　the　Wicked　Witch　of　the　East；〃
said　Oz。
　　　　〃That　just　happened；〃　returned　Dorothy　simply；　〃I　could　not　help　it。〃
　　　　〃Well；〃　said　the　Head；　〃I　will　give　you　my　answer。　　You　have　no
right　to　expect　me　to　send　you　back　to　Kansas　unless　you　do　something
for　me　in　return。　　In　this　country　everyone　must　pay　for　everything
he　gets。　　If　you　wish　me　to　use　my　magic　power　to　send　you　home　again
you　must　do　something　for　me　first。　　Help　me　and　I　will　help　you。〃
　　　　〃What　must　I　do？〃　asked　the　girl。
　　　　〃Kill　the　Wicked　Witch　of　the　West；〃　answered　Oz。
　　　　〃But　I　cannot！〃　exclaimed　Dorothy；　greatly　surprised。
　　　　〃You　killed　the　Witch　of　the　East　and　you　wear　the　silver　shoes；
which　bear　a　powerful　charm。　　There　is　now　but　one　Wicked　Witch　left
in　all　this　land；　and　when　you　can　tell　me　she　is　dead　I　will　send
you　back　to　Kansasbut　not　before。〃
　　　　The　little　girl　began　to　weep；　she　was　so　much　disappointed；
and　the　eyes　winked　again　and　looked　upon　her　anxiously；　as　if　the
Great　Oz　felt　that　she　could　help　him　if　she　would。
　　　　〃I　never　killed　anything；　willingly；〃　she　sobbed。　　〃Even　if　I
wanted　to；　how　could　I　kill　the　Wicked　Witch？　　If　you；　who　are　Great
and　Terrible；　cannot　kill　her　yourself；　how　do　you　expect　me　to　do　it？〃
　　　　〃I　do　not　know；〃　said　the　Head；　〃but　that　is　my　answer；　and
until　the　Wicked　Witch　dies　you　will　not　see　your　uncle　and　aunt
again。　　Remember　that　the　Witch　is　Wickedtremendously　Wicked
…and　ought　to　be　killed。　　Now　go；　and　do　not　ask　to　see　me　again
until　you　have　done　your　task。〃
　　　　Sorrowfully　Dorothy　left　the　Throne　Room　and　went　back　where
the　Lion　and　the　Scarecrow　and　the