登陆注册
15452800000047

第47章 The Fountain of Oblivion(2)

"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.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 喰种丶元素

    喰种丶元素

    在一个都市有四位年轻的少年,再一次意外车祸中,四人的命运开始扭转..........
  • 别笑,我是高分创意作文(高中生越写越聪明的作文宝典)

    别笑,我是高分创意作文(高中生越写越聪明的作文宝典)

    牛顿之所以能成为伟大的科学家,其原因在于他能站在巨人的肩膀上!今天,你也可以站在巨人的肩膀上,去攀登作文的高峰。本书不仅有名师、名家的技法解析指导,更有大量的满分佳作和素材库,让你拥有别人难以企及的高度,从而更轻松地登上作文的高峰。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 趣侠江湖情

    趣侠江湖情

    明朝时期,京中大内高手张宇平勾结武林败类残害江南大侠苗清枫夫妇,他们临死之际,曾得武林救星玉面真人相救,苗清枫夫妇临死之际前遗留下一子名叫三云......十多年后,三云巧得玉面真人的弟子通四海传授武艺,然而就在此时,一段传奇开始了........
  • 九霄神龙

    九霄神龙

    讲述小家出身的黎阳以一废柴之躯,小开金手指,不断努力,平复家族风波,勇闯大陆东西南北界,经历众多悲哀人事,爱恨情仇,勾心斗角,热血激战,最终在一次惊世奇遇之下,夺得龙所留下的传承,成为世间第一强者,穿梭位面。
  • 花落亦花开

    花落亦花开

    不能因为花儿会凋谢,就不去欣赏它的盛开...
  • 重生日本1989

    重生日本1989

    一个刚毕业工作不久却在一场事故中丧生的年轻人,重生到1989年初的日本,成为一个为了生计不得不干多份兼职的穷困留日学生。他是为了看日本泡沫的破灭,还是为了旅日华人的平等地位。亦或是为了缔造一个帝国。且看一个中国人在日本的生活
  • 莫剑的冒险生涯

    莫剑的冒险生涯

    当他以信仰之名踏上这条路时,却并不知道,未来竟会如此坎坷,他从未像今时今日这般渴望自由,坚守信条。他无数次叩问自己,这究竟是一条通往希望还是死亡的道路呢?
  • 倾世狂凤:绝世琉璃妃

    倾世狂凤:绝世琉璃妃

    传说,墨大将军府最宠爱的嫡长女,又丑又瞎。据说,当今皇上最宠爱的无虞王爷,又傻又聋又哑。终于,在一个月黑风高的晚上,某皇突然想凑出一对绝世佳偶,于是..........
  • 帝之弃女

    帝之弃女

    她虽然是大王第一位公主,却因父王疑心丢出王宫贬为庶民。为了父王江山她暗中培养势力为父王排除异己。直到遇到了他,那个桀骜不羁的少年,为了他,她亲手倾覆了自己捍卫的江山,换来却是疑心和责罚。他荣登大宝,她堕入冷宫之时,那一刻她第二次流泪这一次流泪她决定不在为任何人活下去,只为自己,她要夺得这江山夺得她曾经不在乎他却最在乎的东西。