登陆注册
15454300000019

第19章 The Guardian of the Gate(1)

It was some time before the Cowardly Lion awakened, for he had lain among the poppies a long while, breathing in their deadly fragrance; but when he did open his eyes and roll off the truck he was very glad to find himself still alive.

"I ran as fast as I could," he said, sitting down and yawning, "but the flowers were too strong for me. How did you get me out?"

Then they told him of the field mice, and how they had generously saved him from death; and the Cowardly Lion laughed, and said:

"I have always thought myself very big and terrible; yet such little things as flowers came near to killing me, and such small animals as mice have saved my life. How strange it all is!

But, comrades, what shall we do now?"

"We must journey on until we find the road of yellow brick again," said Dorothy, "and then we can keep on to the Emerald City."

So, the Lion being fully refreshed, and feeling quite himself again, they all started upon the journey, greatly enjoying the walk through the soft, fresh grass; and it was not long before they reached the road of yellow brick and turned again toward the Emerald City where the Great Oz dwelt.

The road was smooth and well paved, now, and the country about was beautiful, so that the travelers rejoiced in leaving the forest far behind, and with it the many dangers they had met in its gloomy shades. Once more they could see fences built beside the road; but these were painted green, and when they came to a small house, in which a farmer evidently lived, that also was painted green. They passed by several of these houses during the afternoon, and sometimes people came to the doors and looked at them as if they would like to ask questions; but no one came near them nor spoke to them because of the great Lion, of which they were very much afraid. The people were all dressed in clothing of a lovely emerald-green color and wore peaked hats like those of the Munchkins.

"This must be the Land of Oz," said Dorothy, "and we are surely getting near the Emerald City."

"Yes," answered the Scarecrow. "Everything is green here, while in the country of the Munchkins blue was the favorite color.

But the people do not seem to be as friendly as the Munchkins, and I'm afraid we shall be unable to find a place to pass the night."

"I should like something to eat besides fruit," said the girl, "and I'm sure Toto is nearly starved. Let us stop at the next house and talk to the people."

So, when they came to a good-sized farmhouse, Dorothy walked boldly up to the door and knocked.

A woman opened it just far enough to look out, and said, "What do you want, child, and why is that great Lion with you?"

"We wish to pass the night with you, if you will allow us," answered Dorothy; "and the Lion is my friend and comrade, and would not hurt you for the world."

"Is he tame?" asked the woman, opening the door a little wider.

"Oh, yes," said the girl, "and he is a great coward, too.

He will be more afraid of you than you are of him."

"Well," said the woman, after thinking it over and taking another peep at the Lion, "if that is the case you may come in, and I will give you some supper and a place to sleep."

So they all entered the house, where there were, besides the woman, two children and a man. The man had hurt his leg, and was lying on the couch in a corner. They seemed greatly surprised to see so strange a company, and while the woman was busy laying the table the man asked:

"Where are you all going?"

"To the Emerald City," said Dorothy, "to see the Great Oz."

"Oh, indeed!" exclaimed the man. "Are you sure that Oz will see you?"

"Why not?" she replied.

"Why, it is said that he never lets anyone come into his presence.

I have been to the Emerald City many times, and it is a beautiful and wonderful place; but I have never been permitted to see the Great Oz, nor do I know of any living person who has seen him."

"Does he never go out?" asked the Scarecrow.

"Never. He sits day after day in the great Throne Room of his Palace, and even those who wait upon him do not see him face to face."

"What is he like?" asked the girl.

"That is hard to tell," said the man thoughtfully. "You see, Oz is a Great Wizard, and can take on any form he wishes. So that some say he looks like a bird; and some say he looks like an elephant; and some say he looks like a cat. To others he appears as a beautiful fairy, or a brownie, or in any other form that pleases him. But who the real Oz is, when he is in his own form, no living person can tell."

"That is very strange," said Dorothy, "but we must try, in some way, to see him, or we shall have made our journey for nothing."

"Why do you wish to see the terrible Oz?" asked the man.

"I want him to give me some brains," said the Scarecrow eagerly.

"Oh, Oz could do that easily enough," declared the man.

"He has more brains than he needs."

"And I want him to give me a heart," said the Tin Woodman.

同类推荐
  • 道体论

    道体论

    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。
  • 明朝小史

    明朝小史

    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。
  • H069

    H069

    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。
  • 慈仁问八十种好经

    慈仁问八十种好经

    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。
  • 蜀轺纪程

    蜀轺纪程

    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
  • 情僧佛缘

    情僧佛缘

    传说,帝下之都,风景秀丽,又有昆仑之墟,方八百里,高万刃,直冲云霄,其间有座山堪称宝玉山,遇妖风邪气,便会发出沉闷的钟声,又名钟山。群仙常聚于此。每逢佳节,守护神西王母,即要大摆宴席,款待天帝众神。一日花好月圆夜,天帝带众天神来此赏月游玩,尽兴时,钟声响起,天帝问西王母,何来钟声。王母报说必是这山下又起纷争,待己察看察看便知谁人在作乱,天帝准奏,王母即跃上万刃山颠,但见昆山下凡间一处烧杀战乱,生灵涂炭不堪入目。这便惹下了一段不为人知的曲折动人故事来。
  • 狂帝夺妻:肚子里的娃娃是我的

    狂帝夺妻:肚子里的娃娃是我的

    一次无奈的穿越,让她成为狂帝的女人,“杀!”微笑着开口,顿时鲜血四溢,她狂,因为她是狂帝的女人,她拽,因为当代皇子都要让她三分,她炫,因为高级灵兽都可以当她的宠物;“我想睡了你”“即是她想要,将你的命双手奉上又有何妨?”一次次宠溺竟然她彻底沦陷,生了他的孩子必有大患又如何?他定会保她一辈安乐。“孩子生下来你养,我不管你怎么养,待我回来时孩子如果受了委屈,我立刻回娘家。”“爱妃,不要~”
  • 张子房

    张子房

    张良字子房,不过是很普通的一个名字,就像蒋平字富成一样的普通,但!如此的普通的名字,却孕育了如此不普通的人,把那所谓的强秦、强汉,都拿捏于股掌之中,真真演绎了一段旷世的历史传奇。《史记》汉高祖刘邦言“运筹于帷幄之中,决胜千里之外”,诚哉斯言!
  • 竹马,快到碗里来

    竹马,快到碗里来

    如果能早些遇见,如果能再勇敢些,如果能一直坚持,也许,会比现在好吗。可惜,没有如果。青春,从不后悔。
  • 豪门女人的情人

    豪门女人的情人

    出门没有看黄历,撞见帅哥不说,天上还掉下一枚大钻戒。是真的钻戒吧,看上去好多克拉的样子。以为自己是要交好运了呢,没想到卷入一场惹不起的风波。某女:“帅哥,我真的换不起,你这么有钱不如就算了吧!”某男:“算了是不可能的,还不起没关系,做我的情人吧。”
  • 谁拨动了你的心弦:高中生心理困惑答疑

    谁拨动了你的心弦:高中生心理困惑答疑

    养花要养根,育人要育心,如果教师不能帮助学生解决好心理问题,那么学校就不可能办成让人民满意的教育。心理问题是德育教育必须解决好的根本问题,只有解决好学生的心理问题,才可能把学生培养成有善德的人,才可能使学校真正落实德育为先的办学目标。
  • 火澜

    火澜

    当一个现代杀手之王穿越到这个世界。是隐匿,还是崛起。一场血雨腥风的传奇被她改写。一条无上的强者之路被她踏破。修斗气,炼元丹,收兽宠,化神器,大闹皇宫,炸毁学院,打死院长,秒杀狗男女,震惊大陆。无止尽的契约能力,上古神兽,千年魔兽,纷纷前来抱大腿,惊傻世人。她说:在我眼里没有好坏之分,只有强弱之分,只要你能打败我,这世间所有都是你的,打不败我,就从这世间永远消失。她狂,她傲,她的目标只有一个,就是凌驾这世间一切之上。三国皇帝,魔界妖王,冥界之主,仙界至尊。到底谁才是陪着她走到最后的那个?他说:上天入地,我会陪着你,你活着,有我,你死,也一定有我。本文一对一,男强女强,强强联手,不喜勿入。
  • 孤胆王者

    孤胆王者

    世界嘉年华游戏程序启动,作为该游戏工厂里的小小值员林安,发现惊天大秘密,背负惊恐进入游戏世界一探究竟…
  • 舞动雀灵

    舞动雀灵

    上古时代,天地分隔、树木丛生、神草百花丰茂。诞生出了神族——一个由众多雄兽、灵鸟组成了族种。多半是美男子、美少女,神族公主千拂君从这里诞生,她克服重重困难、超越自己的极限,最终攀登到王的宝座。她经历了些什么?从愚昧无知的雏雀蜕变成美轮美奂、机智聪慧的绿神孔雀,她是怎么成长的呢?
  • 血族夜曲

    血族夜曲

    她是吸血鬼的女皇陛下,人类口中凶残的野兽,她有一颗石头筑成的心,不会跳动,没有情感。她从生死边缘挣扎回归,携带着强大的力量只为向教皇复仇。他是皇家yu*用的吸血鬼猎人,人类眼中的守护神,他有一个从小便贴身带着的狼牙项链却没人告诉他从何而来。这是一段跨越种族的禁恋传奇,然而他们不只一次用行动向所有反对他们的人类宣告着:“爱就是王道!”当石头心都开始跳动时,当狼牙的秘密揭开时,是谁激活了它?是谁说穿了它?野兽在这里,它也可以说出钟情的告白,人类,你是不会相信还是不敢相信?【欢迎各位入坑的小伙伴们!本文一对一,结局圆满,有甜有虐,再不上船就要开走了哦!】