Oz 06: Emerald City of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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in some_of_the dense forests there lived great beasts of every sort; yet these were for_the most part harmless and even sociable, and conversed agreeably with those who visited their haunts . the Kalidahs--beasts with bodies like bears and heads like tigers-- had once been fierce and bloodthirsty, but even they were now nearly all tamed, although at times one or another of_them would get cross and disagreeable .

not so tame were the Fighting Trees, which had a forest of_their own . if any_one approached them these curious trees would bend down their branches, twine them around the intruders, and hurl them away .

but these unpleasant things existed only in a few remote parts of_the land of Oz .I suppose every country has some drawbacks, so even this almost perfect fairyland could_not_be quite perfect . once there had_been wicked witches in_the land, too; but now these had all been destroyed; so, as I_said, only peace and happiness reigned in Oz .

for some_time Ozma had ruled over this fair country, and never was ruler more popular or beloved . she_is said to_be the most beautiful girl the world has ever known, and her heart and mind are as lovely as her person .

Dorothy gale had several_times visited the emerald city and experienced adventures in_the land of Oz, so_that she and Ozma had now become firm friends . the girl ruler had even made Dorothy a princess of Oz, and had often implored her to_come to Ozma's stately palace and live there always; but Dorothy had_been loyal to her aunt Em and uncle Henry, who had cared for her since she was a baby, and she had refused to leave them because she knew they_would_be lonely without her .

however, Dorothy now realized that things were going to_be different with her uncle and aunt from this_time forth, so after giving the matter deep thought she decided to ask Ozma to grant her a very great favor .

a few seconds after she had made the secret signal in her little bedchamber, the Kansas girl was seated in a lovely room in Ozma's palace in_the emerald city of Oz . when_the first loving kisses and embraces had_been exchanged, the fair ruler inquired:

" what_is the matter, dear ? I_know something unpleasant has happened to_you, for your face was very sober when I_saw it in my magic picture . and whenever you signal me to transport you to_this safe place, where you_are always welcome, I_know you_are in danger or in trouble ."

Dorothy sighed .

" this_time, Ozma, it isn't I," she replied ." but it's worse, I guess, for uncle Henry and aunt Em are in a heap of trouble, and there seems no way for_them to_get out of it--anyhow, not while they live in Kansas ."

" tell me about_it, Dorothy," said Ozma, with ready sympathy .

" why, you_see uncle Henry is poor; for_the farm in Kansas doesn't ' mount to much, as farms go . so one day uncle Henry borrowed some money, and wrote a letter saying that if he didn't pay the money back they_could take his farm for pay . course he 'spected to_pay by making money from_the farm; but he just couldn't . an' so they're going to take_the farm, and uncle Henry and aunt Em won't have any place to live . they're pretty old to_do much hard work, Ozma; so I'll have to work for_them, unless--"

Ozma had_been thoughtful during the story, but now she smiled and pressed her little friend's hand .

" unless what, dear ? " she asked .

Dorothy hesitated, because her request meant so_much to_them all .

" well," said she, "I'd like to live here in_the land of Oz, where you've often 'vited me to live . but I_can't, you_know, unless uncle Henry and aunt Em could live here too ."

" of_course not," exclaimed the ruler of Oz, laughing gaily ." so, in_order to_get you, little friend, we_must invite your uncle and aunt to live in Oz, also ."

"Oh, will_you, Ozma ? " cried Dorothy, clasping her chubby little hands eagerly ." will_you bring them here with_the magic belt, and give them a nice little farm in_the Munchkin country, or the Winkie country-- or some other place ? "

" to_be_sure," answered Ozma, full of joy at_the chance to_please her little friend ." I_have long been thinking of_this very thing, Dorothy dear, and often I_have_had it in my mind to propose it to_you . I_am_sure your uncle and aunt must_be good and worthy people, or you_would_not love them so_much; and for your friends, princess, there_is always room in_the land of Oz ."

Dorothy was delighted, yet not altogether surprised, for she had clung to_the hope_that Ozma would_be kind enough to grant her request . when, indeed, had her powerful and faithful friend refused her anything ?

" but you_must not call me ' princess'," she said; " for after_this I_shall live on_the little farm with uncle Henry and aunt Em, and princesses ought not to live on farms ."

" princess Dorothy will not," replied Ozma with her sweet smile ." you_are going to live in your own rooms in_this palace, and be my constant companion ."

" but uncle Henry--" began Dorothy .

"Oh, he_is old, and has worked enough in_his lifetime," interrupted the girl ruler; " so we_must find a place for your uncle and aunt where they_will_be comfortable and happy and need not work more than they care to . when shall we transport them here, Dorothy ? "

"I promised to_go and_see them again before_they were turned out_of_the farmhouse," answered Dorothy; " so-- perhaps next Saturday--"

" but why wait so_long ? " asked Ozma ." and why make_the journey back to Kansas again ? let_us surprise them, and bring them here without any warning ."

"I'm not sure that_they believe in_the land of Oz," said Dorothy, " though I've told 'em ' bout it lots of times ."

" they'll believe when_they see it," declared Ozma; " and if_they_are told they_are to_make a magical journey to our fairyland, it may make them nervous . i_think the best way will_be to use the magic belt without warning them, and when they_have arrived you_can explain to_them whatever they_do_not understand ."

" perhaps that's best," decided Dorothy ." there isn't much use in their staying at_the farm until they_are put out, ' cause it's much nicer here ."

" then to- morrow morning they shall come here," said princess Ozma ." i_will order Jellia Jamb, who is_the palace housekeeper, to_have rooms all prepared for_them, and after breakfast we_will get the magic belt and by its aid transport your uncle and aunt to_the emerald city ."

" thank_you, Ozma ! " cried Dorothy, kissing her friend gratefully .

" and now," Ozma proposed, " let_us take a walk in_the gardens before we dress for dinner . come, Dorothy dear ! "

4 . how the Nome king planned revenge

the reason most people are bad is because they_do_not try to_be good . now, the Nome king had never tried to_be good, so he_was very bad indeed .Having decided to conquer the land of Oz and to destroy the emerald city and enslave all its people, king Roquat the red kept planning ways to do_this dreadful thing, and_the more he planned the more he believed he_would_be_able to accomplish it .

about_the_time Dorothy went to Ozma the Nome king called his chief steward to him and said:

"Kaliko, i_think I_shall_make you the general of_my armies ."

" i_think you won't," replied Kaliko, positively .

" why_not ? " inquired the king, reaching for_his scepter with_the big sapphire .

" because I'm your chief steward and know nothing of warfare," said Kaliko, preparing to dodge if anything were thrown at him ."I manage all the affairs of your kingdom better than you_could yourself, and you'll never find another steward as good as I_am . but there_are a hundred Nomes better fitted to command your army, and your Generals get thrown away so often that I_have no desire to_be one_of_them ."

"Ah, there_is some truth in your remarks, Kaliko," remarked the king, deciding not to throw the scepter ." summon my army to assemble in_the great cavern ."

Kaliko bowed and retired, and in_a_few_minutes returned to_say that_the army was assembled . so the king went out upon a balcony that overlooked the great cavern, where fifty thousand Nomes, all armed with swords and pikes, stood marshaled in military array .

when_they were_not required as soldiers all these Nomes were metal workers and miners, and_they had hammered so_much at_the forges and dug so hard with pick and shovel that_they had acquired great muscular strength . they were strangely formed creatures, rather round and not very tall . their toes were curly and their ears broad and flat .

in_time of war every Nome left his forge or mine and became part of_the great army of king Roquat . the soldiers wore rock- colored uniforms and were excellently drilled .

the king looked upon_this tremendous army, which stood silently arrayed before him, and a cruel smile curled the corners of_his mouth, for he_saw that his legions were very powerful . then he addressed them from_the balcony, saying:

" I_have thrown away general Blug, because he_did_not please me . so i_want another general to command this army . who_is next in command ? "

" I_am," replied colonel crinkle, a dapper- looking Nome, as he stepped forward to salute his monarch .

the king looked at him carefully and said:

" i_want you to march this army through an underground tunnel, which I_am going to bore, to_the emerald city of Oz . when_you get there i_want you to conquer the Oz people, destroy them and their city, and bring all their gold and silver and precious stones back to my cavern . also you_are to recapture my magic belt and return it to_me . will_you do_this, general crinkle ? "

" no, your majesty," replied the Nome; " for_it can't be_done ."

"Oh indeed ! " exclaimed the king . then he turned to_his servants and said: " please take general crinkle to_the torture chamber . there you_will kindly slice him into thin slices .Afterward you_may feed him to_the seven- headed dogs ."

" anything to oblige your majesty," replied the servants, politely, and led the condemned man away .

when_they had gone, the king addressed the army again .

" listen ! " said he ." the general who_is to command my armies must promise to carry out my orders . if he fails he_will share the fate of poor crinkle . now, then, who_will volunteer to lead my hosts to_the emerald city ? "

for a time no one moved and all were silent . then an old Nome with white whiskers so_long that_they were tied around his waist to_prevent their tripping him up, stepped out_of_the ranks and saluted the king .

"I'd like to ask a few questions, your majesty," he_said .

" go ahead," replied the king .

" these Oz people are quite good, are they not ? "

" as good as apple pie," said the king .

" and_they are happy, I suppose ? " continued the old Nome .

" happy as_the day is long," said the king .

" and contented and prosperous ? " inquired the Nome .

" very_much so," said the king .

" well, your majesty," remarked he of_the white whiskers, " i_think i_should like to undertake the job, so I'll be your general .I hate good people; I detest happy people; I'm opposed to any_one who_is contented and prosperous . that_is why I_am so fond of your majesty . make me your general and I'll promise to conquer and destroy the Oz people . if I fail I'm ready to_be sliced thin and fed to_the seven- headed dogs ."

" very_good ! very_good, indeed ! that's the way to_talk ! " cried Roquat the red, who was greatly pleased ." what_is your_name, general ? "

"I'm called Guph, your majesty ."

" well, Guph, come with me to my private cave, and we'll talk it over ." then he turned to_the army ."Nomes and soldiers," said he, " you_are to obey the commands of general Guph until he becomes dog- feed . any man who fails to obey his new general will_be promptly thrown away . you_are now dismissed ."

Guph went to_the king's private cave and sat down upon an amethyst chair and put his feet on_the arm of_the king's ruby throne . then he lighted his pipe and threw the live coal he had taken from_his pocket upon_the king's left foot and puffed the smoke into_the king's eyes and made himself comfortable . for he_was a wise old Nome, and he_knew that_the best way to_get along with Roquat the red was to show that he_was not afraid of him .

"I'm ready for_the talk, your majesty," he_said .

the king coughed and looked at his new general fiercely .

" do_you not tremble to_take such liberties with your monarch ? " he asked .

"Oh no," replied Guph, calmly, and he blew a wreath of smoke that curled around the king's nose and made him sneeze ." you_want to conquer the emerald city, and I'm the only Nome in all your dominions who_can conquer it . so you_will_be very careful not to hurt me until I_have carried out your wishes . after_that--"

" well, what then ? " inquired the king .

" then you_will_be so grateful to_me that you won't care to hurt me," replied the general .

" that_is a very_good argument," said Roquat ." but suppose you fail ? "

" then it's the slicing machine .I agree to_that," announced Guph ." but if_you_do as I tell you there_will_be no failure . the trouble with_you, Roquat, is_that you don't think carefully enough . I_do

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