Oz 13: The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17]
what put the notion into my head . when_the wizard speaks that ter'ble word that_will change 'em back to_their real forms, he_can_make 'em dreadful thirsty, too, and we'll put a cup right here by_the fountain, so it'll be handy . then they'll drink the water and forget all the magic they ever knew-- and everything else, too ."

" that's not a bad idea," said the wizard, looking at Dorothy approvingly .

" it's a very_good idea," declared Ozma ." run for a cup, Dorothy ."

so Dorothy ran to_get a cup, and while she was gone the wizard said:

"I don't know whether the real forms of_these magicians are those of men or beasts . if_they're beasts, they_would not drink from a cup but might attack us at once and drink afterward . so it might_be safer for_us to_have the cowardly lion and_the hungry tiger here to protect us if necessary ."

Ozma drew out a silver whistle which_was attached to a slender gold chain and blew upon_the whistle two shrill blasts . the sound, though not harsh, was very penetrating, and as_soon_as it reached the ears of_the cowardly lion and_the hungry tiger, the two huge beasts quickly came bounding toward them .Ozma explained to_them what the wizard was about to_do, and told them to_keep quiet unless danger threatened . so the two powerful guardians of_the ruler of Oz crouched beside the fountain and waited .

Dorothy returned and set the cup on_the edge of_the fountain . then the wizard placed the hickory- nut beside the fountain and said in a solemn voice:

" i_want you to resume your natural form, and to_be very thirsty--Pyrzqxgl ! "

in an instant there appeared, in_the place of_the hickory- nut, the form of Kiki Aru, the Hyup boy . he_seemed bewildered, at first, as_if trying to remember what had happened to him and why he_was in_this strange place . but he_was facing the fountain, and_the bubbling water reminded him that he_was thirsty . without noticing Ozma, the wizard and Dorothy, who were behind him, he picked up the cup, filled it with_the water of oblivion, and drank it to_the last drop .

he_was now no longer thirsty, but he_felt more bewildered than ever, for now he_could remember nothing at all-- not even his name or where he_came from . he looked around the beautiful garden with a pleased expression, and then, turning, he beheld Ozma and_the wizard and Dorothy regarding him curiously and_the two great beasts crouching behind them .

Kiki Aru did_not know who they were, but he thought Ozma very lovely and Dorothy very pleasant . so he smiled at them-- the same innocent, happy smile that a baby might_have indulged in, and_that pleased Dorothy, who seized his hand and led him to a seat beside her on_the bench .

" why, i_thought you were a dreadful magician," she exclaimed, " and you're only a boy ! "

" what_is a magician ? " he asked, " and what_is a boy ? "

"Don't you_know ? " inquired the girl .

Kiki shook his head . then he laughed .

" I_do_not seem to_know anything," he replied .

" it's very curious," remarked the wizard ." he wears the dress of_the Munchkins, so he_must_have lived at one_time in_the Munchkin country . of_course the boy can tell us nothing of_his history or his family, for he has forgotten all that he ever knew ."

" he seems a nice boy, now that all the wickedness has gone from_him," said Ozma ." so we_will keep him here with_us and teach him our ways-- to_be true and considerate of others ."

" why, in_that case, it's lucky for him he drank the water of oblivion," said Dorothy .

" it_is indeed," agreed the wizard ." but the remarkable thing, to_me, is how such a young boy ever learned the secret of_the magic word of transformation . perhaps his companion, who_is at present this walnut, was_the real magician, although I seem to remember that_it_was this boy in_the beast's form who whispered the magic word into_the hollow tree, where I overheard it ."

" well, we_will soon know who the other is," suggested Ozma ." he_may prove to_be another Munchkin boy ."

the wizard placed the walnut near the fountain and said, as slowly and solemnly as before:

" i_want you to resume your natural form, and to_be very thirsty--Pyrzqxgl ! "

then the walnut disappeared and Ruggedo the Nome stood in its place . he also was facing the fountain, and he reached for_the cup, filled it, and was about to drink when Dorothy exclaimed:

" why, it's the old Nome king ! "

Ruggedo swung around and faced them, the cup still in_his hand .

" yes," he_said in an angry voice, " it's the old Nome king, and I'm going to conquer all Oz and be revenged on you for kicking me out of_my throne ." he looked around a moment, and then continued: " there isn't an egg in sight, and I'm stronger than all of you people put together ! I don't know how I_came here, but I'm going to fight the fight of_my life-- and I'll win ! "

his long white hair and beard waved in_the breeze; his eyes flashed hate and vengeance, and so astonished and shocked were they by_the sudden appearance of_this old enemy of_the Oz people that they_could only stare at him in silence and shrink away from_his wild glare .

Ruggedo laughed . he drank the water, threw the cup on_the ground and said fiercely:

" and now-- and now-- and--"

his voice grew gentle . he rubbed his forehead with a puzzled air and stroked his long beard .

" what_was I going to_say ? " he asked, pleadingly .

"Don't you remember ? " said the wizard .

" no; I've forgotten ."

" who_are you ? " asked Dorothy .

he tried to_think ."I--I'm sure I don't know," he stammered .

"Don't you_know who we_are, either ? " questioned the girl .

"I haven't the slightest idea," said the Nome .

" tell us who this Munchkin boy is," suggested Ozma .

Ruggedo looked at_the boy and shook his head .

" he's a stranger to_me . you_are all strangers .I--I'm a stranger to myself," he_said .

then he patted the lion's head and murmured, " good doggie ! " and_the lion growled indignantly .

" what shall we_do with_him ? " asked the wizard, perplexed .

" once before_the wicked old Nome came here to conquer us, and then, as now, he drank of_the water of oblivion and became harmless . but we sent him back to_the Nome kingdom, where he soon learned the old evil ways again .

" for_that reason," said Ozma, " we_must find a place for him in_the land of Oz, and keep him here . for here he_can learn no evil and will always be as innocent of guile as our own people ."

and so the wandering ex- king of_the Nomes found a new home, a peaceful and happy home, where he_was quite content and passed his days in innocent enjoyment .

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17]