Oz 14: Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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may interest me and it may not . if_you'd rather go on with your knitting, it's all the same to_me . I_am in no hurry at all ."

this may_have puzzled red Reera, but the face beneath the lace cap could show no expression, being covered with hair . perhaps in all her career the Yookoohoo had never been visited by anyone who, like this young man, asked for nothing, expected nothing, and had no reason for coming except curiosity . this attitude practically disarmed the witch and she began to regard the Skeezer in a more friendly way . she knitted for some_time, seemingly in deep thought, and then she arose and walked to a big cupboard that stood against the wall of_the room . when_the cupboard door was opened Ervic could_see alot of drawers inside, and into one_of_these drawers -- the second from_the bottom -- Reera thrust a hairy hand .

until now Ervic could_see over the bent form of_the ape, but suddenly the form, with its back to him, seemed to straighten up and blot out the cupboard of drawers . the ape had changed to_the form of a woman, dressed in_the pretty Gillikin costume, and when she turned around he_saw that_it_was a young woman, whose face was quite attractive .

" do_you like me better this_way ? " Reera inquired with a smile .

" you look better," he_said calmly, " but I'm not sure I like you any better ."

she laughed, saying: " during the heat of_the day I like to_be an ape, for an ape doesn't wear any clothes to_speak of . but if one has gentlemen callers it_is proper to dress up ."

Ervic noticed her right hand was closed, as_if she held something in_it . she shut the cupboard door, bent over the crocodile and in a moment the creature had changed to a red wolf . it_was not pretty even now, and_the wolf crouched beside its mistress as a dog might_have done . its teeth looked as dangerous as had those of_the crocodile .

next the Yookoohoo went about touching all the lizards and toads, and at her touch they became kittens . the rats she changed into chipmunks . now the only horrid creatures remaining were the four great spiders, which hid themselves behind their thick webs .

" there ! " Reera cried, " now my cottage presents a more comfortable appearance .I love the toads and lizards and rats, because most people hate them, but i_would tire of_them if_they always remained the same .Sometimes I change their forms a dozen times a day ."

" you_are clever," said Ervic ." I_did_not hear you utter any incantations or magic words . all you_did was to touch the creatures ."

"Oh, do_you_think so ? " she replied ." well, touch them yourself, if_you like, and_see if_you_can change their forms ."

" no," said the Skeezer, "I don't understand magic and if I_did i_would_not try to imitate your skill . you_are a wonderful Yookoohoo, while I_am only a common Skeezer ."

this confession seemed to_please Reera, who liked to_have her witchcraft appreciated .

" will_you go away now ? " she asked ."I prefer to_be alone ."

"I prefer to stay here," said Ervic .

" in another person's home, where you_are_not wanted ? "

" yes ."

" is_not your curiosity yet satisfied ? " demanded Reera, with a smile .

"I don't know . is_there anything else you_can do ? "

" many things . but why should I exhibit my powers to a stranger ? "

" I_can think of no reason at all," he replied .

she looked at him curiously .

" you_want no power for_yourself, you say, and you're too stupid to_be_able to steal my secrets . this isn't a pretty cottage, while outside are sunshine, broad prairies and beautiful wildflowers . yet you insist on sitting on_that bench and annoying me with your unwelcome presence . what have_you in_that kettle ? "

" three fishes," he answered readily .

" where did you get them ? "

"I caught them in_the lake of_the Skeezers ."

" what do_you intend to_do with_the fishes ? "

" I_shall carry them to_the home of a friend of_mine who has three children . the children will love to_have the fishes for pets ."

she came over to_the bench and looked into_the kettle, where the three fishes were swimming quietly in_the water .

" they're pretty," said Reera ." let me transform them into something else ."

" no," objected the Skeezer .

"I love to transform things; it's so interesting . and I've never transformed any fishes in all my life ."

" let them alone," said Ervic .

" what shapes would you prefer them to_have ? I_can make them turtles, or cute little sea-horses; or I_could make them piglets, or rabbits, or guinea-pigs; or, if_you like I_can make chickens of_them, or eagles, or bluejays ."

" let them alone ! " repeated Ervic .

" you're not a very pleasant visitor," laughed red Reera ." people accuse me of being cross and crabbed and unsociable, and_they are quite right . if_you had come here pleading and begging for favors, and half afraid of_my Yookoohoo magic, I'd have abused you until you ran away; but you're quite different from_that . you're the unsociable and crabbed and disagreeable one, and so I like you, and bear with your grumpiness . it's time for_my midday meal; are_you hungry ? "

" no," said Ervic, although he really desired food .

" well, I_am," Reera declared and clapped her hands together . instantly a table appeared, spread with linen and bearing dishes of various foods, some smoking hot . there were two plates laid, one at each end of_the table, and as_soon_as Reera seated herself all her creatures gathered around her, as if_they were accustomed to_be fed when she ate . the wolf squatted at her right hand and_the kittens and chipmunks gathered at her left .

" come, stranger, sit down and eat," she called cheerfully, " and while we're eating let_us decide into what forms we_shall change your fishes ."

" they're all right as_they_are," asserted Ervic, drawing up his bench to_the table ." the fishes are beauties -- one gold, one silver and one bronze . nothing that has life is more lovely than a beautiful fish ."

" what ! Am I not more lovely ? " Reera asked, smiling at his serious face .

"I don't object to_you -- for aYookoohoo, you_know," he_said, helping himself to_the food and eating with good appetite .

" and don't you consider a beautiful girl more lovely than a fish, however pretty the fish may_be ? "

" well," replied Ervic, after a period of thought, " that might_be . if_you transformed my three fish into three girls -- girls who_would_be Adepts at magic, you_know they_might please me as_well as_the fish do . you won't do_that of_course, because you_can't, with all your skill . and, should you be_able to_do_so, I_fear my troubles would_be more than I_could bear . they_would not consent to_be my slaves -- especially if_they were Adepts at magic -- and so they_would command me to obey them . no, mistress Reeraq let_us not transform the fishes at all ."

the Skeezer had put his case with remarkable cleverness . he realized that if he appeared anxious for such a transformation the Yookoohoo would_not perform it, yet he had skillfully suggested that_they be made Adepts at magic .

chapter Nineteen

red Reera, the Yookoohoo

after_the meal was over and Reera had fed her pets, including the four monster spiders which had come down from their webs to secure their share, she made the table disappear from_the floor of_the cottage .

" i_wish you'd consent to my transforming your fishes," she said, as she took up her knitting again .

the Skeezer made no reply . he thought it unwise to hurry matters . all during the afternoon they sat silent . once Reera went to her cupboard and after thrusting her hand into_the same drawer as before, touched the wolf and transformed it into a bird with gorgeous colored feathers . this bird was larger than a parrot and of a somewhat different form, but Ervic had never seen one like it before .

" sing ! " said Reera to_the bird, which had perched itself on a big wooden Peg -- as_if it had_been in_the cottage before and knew just what to_do .

and_the bird sang jolly, rollicking songs with words to_them -- just as a person who had_been carefully trained might do . the songs were entertaining and Ervic enjoyed listening to_them . in an hour or so the bird stopped singing, tucked its head under its wing and went to sleep .Reera continued knitting but seemed thoughtful .

now Ervic had marked this cupboard drawer well and had concluded that Reera took something from_it which enabled her to perform her transformations . he thought that if he managed to remain in_the cottage, and Reera fell asleep, he_could slyly open the cupboard, take a portion of whatever was in_the drawer, and by dropping it into_the copper kettle transform the three fishes into their natural shapes . indeed, he had firmly resolved to carry out this plan when_the Yookoohoo put down her knitting and walked toward the door .

"I'm going out for_a_few_minutes," said she; " do_you wish to_go with me, or will_you remain here ? "

Ervic did_not answer but sat quietly on_his bench . so Reera went out and closed the cottage door .

as_soon_as she was gone, Ervic rose and tiptoed to_the cupboard .

" take care ! take care ! " cried several voices, coming from_the kittens and chipmunks ." if_you touch anything we'll tell the Yookoohoo ! "

Ervic hesitated a moment but, remembering that he need not consider Reera's anger if he succeeded in transforming the fishes, he_was about to open the cupboard when he_was arrested by_the voices of_the fishes, which stuck their heads above the water in_the kettle and called out:

" come here, Ervic ! "

so he went back to_the kettle and bent over it

" let the cupboard alone," said the goldfish to him earnestly ." you_could_not succeed by getting that magic powder, for only the Yookoohoo knows how to use it . the best way is to allow her to transform us into three girls, for then we_will_have our natural shapes and be_able to perform all the Arts of magic we_have learned and well understand . you_are acting wisely and in_the most effective manner . we_did_not know you were so intelligent, or that Reera could_be so easily deceived by_you . continue as_you_have begun and try to_persuade her to transform us . but insist that we be given the forms of girls ."

the goldfish ducked its head down just as Reera re- entered the cottage . she saw Ervic bent over the kettle, so she came and joined him .

" can your fishes talk ? " she asked .

"Sometimes," he replied, " for all fishes in_the land of Oz know how to_speak . just now they were asking me for some bread . they_are hungry ."

" well, they_can_have some bread," said Reera ." but it_is nearly supper- time, and if_you_would allow me to transform your fishes into girls they_could join us at_the table and_have plenty of food much nicer than crumbs . why_not let me transform them ? "

" well," said Ervic, as_if hesitating, " ask_the fishes . if_they consent, why -- why, then, I'll think it over ."

Reera bent over the kettle and asked:

" can_you hear me, little fishes ? "

all three popped their heads above water .

" we_can hear you," said the bronzefish .

" i_want to_give_you other forms, such as rabbits, or turtles or girls, or something; but your master, the surly Skeezer, does_not wish me to . however, he has agreed to_the plan if_you_will consent ."

" we'd like to_be girls," said the silverfish .

" no, no ! " exclaimed Ervic .

" if_you promise to_make us three beautiful girls, we_will consent," said the goldfish .

" no, no ! " exclaimed Ervic again .

" also make us Adepts at magic," added the bronzefish .

"I don't know exactly what that means," replied Reera musingly, " but as no adept at magic is as powerful as Yookoohoo, I'll add that to_the transformation ."

" we won't try to harm you, or to interfere with your magic in any_way," promised the goldfish ." on_the contrary, we_will_be your friends ."

" will_you agree to_go away and leave me alone in my cottage, whenever I command you to_do_so ? " asked Reera .

" we promise that," cried the three fishes .

"Don't do_it ! Don't consent to_the transformation," urged Ervic .

" they_have already consented," said the Yookoohoo, laughing in_his face, " and you_have promised me to abide by their decision . so, friend Skeezer, I_shall perform the transformation whether you like it or not ."

Ervic seated himself on_the bench again, a deep scowl on_his face but joy in_his heart .Reera moved over to_the cupboard, took something from_the drawer and returned to_the copper kettle . she was clutching something tightly in her right hand, but with her left she reached within_the kettle, took out the three fishes and laid them carefully on_the floor, where they gasped in distress at being out of water .

Reera did_not keep them in misery more than a few seconds, for she touched each_one with her right hand and instantly the fishes were transformed into three tall and slender young women, with fine, intelligent faces and clothed in handsome, clinging gowns . the one who had_been agoldfish had beautiful golden hair and blue eyes and was exceedingly fair of skin; the one who had_been abronzefish had dark brown hair and clear gray eyes and her complexion matched these lovely features . the one who had_been asilverfish had snow- white hair of_the finest texture and deep brown eyes . the hair contrasted exquisitely with her pink cheeks and ruby- red lips, nor did it make her look a day older than her two companions .

as_soon_as they secured these girlish shapes, all three bowed low to_the Yookoohoo and said:

" we_thank_you, Reera ."

then they bowed to_the Skeezer and said:

" we_thank_you, Ervic ."

" very_good ! " cried the Yookoohoo, examining her work with critical approval ." you_are much better and more interesting than fishes, and this ungracious Skeezer would scarcely allow me to_do_the transformations . you surely have nothing to thank him for . but now let_us dine in honor of_the occasion ."

she clapped her hands together and again a table loaded with food appeared in_the cottage . it_was a longer table, this_time, and places were set for_the three Adepts as_well as for Reera and Ervic .

" sit down, friends,

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