23 The Fountain of Oblivion

The morning birthday fete, Wizard and Dorothy were walking grounds palace, Ozma came out and joined them, saying:

" to hear more of your adventures Forest of Gugu, and how you were able those dear little monkeys to use in Dorothy's Surprise Cake "

So they sat down on marble bench near Fountain Water of Oblivion, and Dorothy Wizard related their adventures

" dreadfully fussy while woolly lamb," said Dorothy, " didn't feel good, bit And I wasn't , , that I'd ever get girl again "

"You woolly lamb yet, if I hadn't happened discovered that Magic Transformation Word," declared the Wizard

"But what became walnut hickory-nut into which you transformed those dreadful beast magicians ? " inquired Ozma

"Why, I'd almost forgotten them," reply; "but I believe still here in my pocket "

Then he searched pockets and brought out the two nuts and showed them to her

Ozma regarded them thoughtfully

"It isn't right to leave any living creatures helpless forms," said she " , Wizard, you ought to transform them into their natural shapes again "

"But I don't know what their natural shapes are," he objected, "for the forms of mixed animals which they had assumed natural And not forget, Ozma, that their natures were cruel and mischievous, so if I bring them back to life cause us great deal of trouble "

"Nevertheless," said the Ruler of Oz, " free them from their present enchantments restore them natural forms discover who they really are, and surely not fear any two people, even though they prove magicians enemies "

" not so sure ," protested the Wizard, with shake bald head "The one bit of magic I robbed them of-- the Word of Transformation--is so simple, yet so powerful, that neither Glinda nor equal it It isn't all word, , it's the way the word is pronounced So two strange magicians have other magic same sort, prove very dangerous , liberated them "

"I've an idea ! " exclaimed Dorothy "I'm no wizard, and no fairy, but as , we needn't fear these people at all "

" your thought, my dear ? " asked Ozma

"Well," replied the girl, "here Fountain Water of Oblivion, 's what put the notion into my head Wizard speaks that ter'ble word change 'em back real forms, 'em dreadful thirsty, too, and we'll put cup right here 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 bad idea," said the Wizard, looking at Dorothy approvingly

"It's idea," declared Ozma "Run for cup, Dorothy "

So Dorothy ran cup, and while she was gone the Wizard said:

"I don't know whether the real forms magicians are those of men or beasts 're beasts, not drink from cup but might attack us at once and drink afterward So it safer the Cowardly Lion Hungry Tiger here to protect us if necessary "

Ozma drew out silver whistle attached to slender gold chain and blew whistle two shrill blasts The sound, though not harsh, was very penetrating, and it reached the ears Cowardly Lion Hungry Tiger, the two huge beasts quickly came bounding toward them Ozma explained what the Wizard was about , and told them quiet unless danger threatened So the two powerful guardians Ruler of Oz crouched beside the fountain and waited

Dorothy returned and set the cup edge fountain Then the Wizard placed the hickory-nut beside the fountain and said in solemn voice:

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

In an instant there appeared, place hickory-nut, the form of Kiki Aru, the Hyup boy bewildered, at first, trying to remember what had happened to him and why strange place But facing the fountain, bubbling water reminded him that thirsty Without noticing Ozma, the Wizard and Dorothy, who were behind him, he picked up the cup, filled it Water of Oblivion, and drank it last drop

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

Kiki Aru 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 baby indulged in, pleased Dorothy, who seized his hand and led him to seat beside her bench

"Why, you were dreadful magician," she exclaimed, "and you're only boy ! "

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

"Don't ? " inquired the girl

Kiki shook his head Then he laughed

" seem anything," he replied

"It's very curious," remarked the Wizard "He wears the dress Munchkins, so lived at Munchkin Country the boy can tell us nothing history or his family, for he has forgotten all that he ever knew "

"He seems nice boy, now that all the wickedness has gone ," said Ozma "So keep him here and teach him our ways-- true and considerate of others "

"Why, case, it's lucky for him he drank the Water of Oblivion," said Dorothy

" indeed," agreed the Wizard "But the remarkable thing, , is how such young boy ever learned the secret Magic Word of Transformation Perhaps his companion, at present this walnut, real magician, although I seem to remember this boy beast's form who whispered the Magic Word hollow tree, where I overheard it "

"Well, soon know who the other is," suggested Ozma " prove another Munchkin boy "

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

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

Then the walnut disappeared and Ruggedo the Nome stood in its place He also was facing the fountain, and he reached 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 hand

"Yes," 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 throne " He looked around 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 here, but I'm going to fight the fight life--and I'll win ! "

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

Ruggedo laughed He drank the water, threw the cup ground and said fiercely:

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

His voice grew gentle He rubbed his forehead with puzzled air and stroked his long beard

" I going ? " he asked, pleadingly

"Don't you remember ? " said the Wizard

"No; I've forgotten "

"Who ? " asked Dorothy

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

"Don't who , either ? " questioned the girl

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

"Tell us who this Munchkin boy is," suggested Ozma

Ruggedo looked boy and shook his head

"He's stranger all strangers I--I'm stranger to myself,"

Then he patted the Lion's head and murmured, "Good doggie ! " Lion growled indignantly

"What shall ? " asked the Wizard, perplexed

"Once wicked old Nome came here to conquer us, and then, as now, he drank Water of Oblivion and became harmless But we sent him back Nome Kingdom, where he soon learned the old evil ways again

" reason," said Ozma, " find place for him Land of Oz, and keep him here For here learn no evil and will always be as innocent of guile as our own people "

And so the wandering ex-King Nomes found new home, peaceful and happy home, where quite content and passed his days in innocent enjoyment