登陆注册
15454300000023

第23章 The Wonderful City of Oz(3)

"I never grant favors without some return," said Oz; "but this much I will promise. If you will kill for me the Wicked Witch of the West, I will bestow upon you a great many brains, and such good brains that you will be the wisest man in all the Land of Oz."

"I thought you asked Dorothy to kill the Witch," said the Scarecrow, in surprise.

"So I did. I don't care who kills her. But until she is dead I will not grant your wish. Now go, and do not seek me again until you have earned the brains you so greatly desire."

The Scarecrow went sorrowfully back to his friends and told them what Oz had said; and Dorothy was surprised to find that the Great Wizard was not a Head, as she had seen him, but a lovely Lady.

"All the same," said the Scarecrow, "she needs a heart as much as the Tin Woodman."

On the next morning the soldier with the green whiskers came to the Tin Woodman and said:

"Oz has sent for you. Follow me."

So the Tin Woodman followed him and came to the great Throne Room. He did not know whether he would find Oz a lovely Lady or a Head, but he hoped it would be the lovely Lady. "For," he said to himself, "if it is the head, I am sure I shall not be given a heart, since a head has no heart of its own and therefore cannot feel for me. But if it is the lovely Lady I shall beg hard for a heart, for all ladies are themselves said to be kindly hearted.

But when the Woodman entered the great Throne Room he saw neither the Head nor the Lady, for Oz had taken the shape of a most terrible Beast. It was nearly as big as an elephant, and the green throne seemed hardly strong enough to hold its weight. The Beast had a head like that of a rhinoceros, only there were five eyes in its face. There were five long arms growing out of its body, and it also had five long, slim legs. Thick, woolly hair covered every part of it, and a more dreadful-looking monster could not be imagined. It was fortunate the Tin Woodman had no heart at that moment, for it would have beat loud and fast from terror. But being only tin, the Woodman was not at all afraid, although he was much disappointed.

"I am Oz, the Great and Terrible," spoke the Beast, in a voice that was one great roar. "Who are you, and why do you seek me?"

"I am a Woodman, and made of tin. Therefore I have no heart, and cannot love. I pray you to give me a heart that I may be as other men are."

"Why should I do this?" demanded the Beast.

"Because I ask it, and you alone can grant my request," answered the Woodman.

Oz gave a low growl at this, but said, gruffly: "If you indeed desire a heart, you must earn it."

"How?" asked the Woodman.

"Help Dorothy to kill the Wicked Witch of the West," replied the Beast. "When the Witch is dead, come to me, and I will then give you the biggest and kindest and most loving heart in all the Land of Oz."

So the Tin Woodman was forced to return sorrowfully to his friends and tell them of the terrible Beast he had seen.

They all wondered greatly at the many forms the Great Wizard could take upon himself, and the Lion said:

同类推荐
  • 重楼玉钥续编

    重楼玉钥续编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 天界觉浪盛禅师全录

    天界觉浪盛禅师全录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 续湘山野录

    续湘山野录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大丈夫论

    大丈夫论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 书博鸡者事

    书博鸡者事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 三国之风云再起

    三国之风云再起

    刘跑跑除了腿长跑得快,似乎就有一个特点,能挖到各种人才为己用。黄月英:对不起刘将军,我家亮亮已死,有事烧纸。刘跑跑:--!
  • 花魁小王妃

    花魁小王妃

    “你若不离不弃,我便生死相依。”江瑟是这样对萧峻云说的。“王爷!”“如何?”“王妃把您的雪鲤鱼烤了!!”“哦!”书桌前的萧峻云极为淡定。“王爷!”“怎么了?”“王妃把后花园的琉璃亭炸了!”“随她去!”书桌前的萧峻云仍然无所谓。“王......”“随她去啦!”萧峻云快被烦死了。“不是啦!王爷,王妃拎着一袋叫炸药的玩意儿冲着您这儿来了!”萧峻云:“#%*-@~%《%#!”p.s:本书免费,但华殇是初中生,不能按时更新,读者原谅!
  • 一梦千寻

    一梦千寻

    有人说:生命就像一张草图,永远也成为不了一副图画。我们无法让一切都演完之后再从头来过,也无法让一切没有开始。也有人说:生命是一段旅途,人在途中就像一片羽毛随风而飘,何时落何时飞,自己从来把握不住。如果,有一天,我们可以从头来过,命运的主线会在谁的手中?
  • 御龙啸九天

    御龙啸九天

    雄姿英发少年时,满怀一腔热血,欲建功业。大势将成之际,却身陷种种漩涡,跌落谷底。少年得志的轻狂,众叛亲离的困境。他能否逆势崛起,夺回属于他的一切?
  • 随遇及兮,相守而安

    随遇及兮,相守而安

    他放傲不羁,却为她变得沉稳。她待人冷漠,却常常在他面前露出本性。爱还没说出口,你便消失的无影无踪。最美的记忆留在最美的光影里。当年的誓言是谁失了谁的约,错过的六年,又怎样弥补。如果相遇不是为了分离,那六年后的重逢代表什么........楚泪茉曾说:“遇见钟煜,和两年的相处,早已经透支了我全部幸运,想在的我没有任何奢求。”以前的以前,现在的现在,以后的以后.......我们再也回不去的最初,再也回不去的刻骨铭心,再也忘不了的时光。
  • 趣味卡通

    趣味卡通

    本书收录了10款简单易上手的卡通形象串珠作品,直观且清晰地展示了串珠作品的丰富性和趣味性,提供了一种新的亲子互动模式。细致的制作步骤图和简洁的文字描述相结合,手把手教您如何制作宝宝喜爱的卡通形象串珠作品,带给您更大的满足感。
  • 御灵之巅

    御灵之巅

    主角王子羽身怀炎皇诀,背后印有惊天密辛,行走在世间,一步一步踏上巅峰,我的第一本小说带你进入一个华夏的大格局中本书群号485125995
  • 主角养成指南

    主角养成指南

    无意之间获得的一张古卷,竟是远古“仙”的手笔?迷雾重重,且看少年如何依靠古卷指引,以凡人化龙之姿,炼化神通,纵横万界,成就无上仙途霸业!
  • 陨龙游侠

    陨龙游侠

    战争是鲜花配英雄?不,鲜花配鲜血才是战争的本质。
  • 魔女礼赞

    魔女礼赞

    血与夜的童话,他们把谎言编成故事,欺骗我……