glinda of oz- 第8部分

〃I　don't　see　what　good　that　will　do；〃　said　Dorothy。

〃Even　if　the　Skeezers　are　on　that　island　and　see　us；

and　know　we're　friends；　they　haven't　any　boats　to　come

and　get　us。〃



But　the　Skeezers　didn't　need　boats；　as　the　girls　soon

discovered。　For　on　a　sudden　an　opening　appeared　at　the

base　of　the　palace　and　from　the　opening　came　a　slender

shaft　of　steel；　reaching　out　slowly　but　steadily　across

the　water　in　the　direction　of　the　place　where　they

stood。　To　the　girls　this　steel　arrangement　looked　like

a　triangle；　with　the　base　nearest　the　water。　It　came

toward　them　in　the　form　of　an　arch；　stretching　out　from

the　palace　wall　until　its　end　reached　the　bank　and

rested　there；　while　the　other　end　still　remained　on　the

island。



Then　they　saw　that　it　was　a　bridge；　consisting　of　a

steel　footway　just　broad　enough　to　walk　on；　and　two

slender　guide　rails；　one　on　either　side；　which　were

connected　with　the　footway　by　steel　bars。　The　bridge

looked　rather　frail　and　Dorothy　feared　it　would　not

bear　their　weight；　but　Ozma　at　once　called；　〃Come　on！〃

and　started　to　walk　across；　holding　fast　to　the　rail　on

either　side。　So　Dorothy　summoned　her　courage　and

followed　after。　Before　Ozma　had　taken　three　steps　she

halted　and　so　forced　Dorothy　to　halt；　for　the　bridge

was　again　moving　and　returning　to　the　island。



〃We　need　not　walk　after　all；〃　said　Ozma。　So　they

stood　still　in　their　places　and　let　the　steel　bridge

draw　them　onward。　Indeed；　the　bridge　drew　them　well

into　the　glass…domed　building　which　covered　the　island；

and　soon　they　found　themselves　standing　in　a　marble

room　where　two　handsomely　dressed　young　men　stood　on　a

platform　to　receive　them。



Ozma　at　once　stepped　from　the　end　of　the　bridge　to

the　marble　platform；　followed　by　Dorothy；　and　then　the

bridge　disappeared　with　a　slight　clang　of　steel　and　a

marble　slab　covered　the　opening　from　which　it　had

emerged。



The　two　young　men　bowed　profoundly　to　Ozma；　and　one

of　them　said：



〃Queen　Coo…ee…oh　bids　you　welcome；　O　Strangers。　Her

Majesty　is　waiting　to　receive　you　in　her　palace。〃



〃Lead　on；〃　replied　Ozma　with　dignity。



But　instead　of　〃leading　on；〃　the　platform　of　marble

began　to　rise；　carrying　them　upward　through　a　square

hole　above　which　just　fitted　it。　A　moment　later　they

found　themselves　within　the　great　glass　dome　that

covered　almost　all　of　the　island。



Within　this　dome　was　a　little　village；　with　houses；

streets；　gardens　and　parks。　The　houses　were　of　colored

marbles；　prettily　designed；　with　many　stained…glass

windows；　and　the　streets　and　gardens　seemed　well　cared

for。　Exactly　under　the　center　of　the　lofty　dome　was　a

small　park　filled　with　brilliant　flowers；　with　an

elaborate　fountain；　and　facing　this　park　stood　a

building　larger　and　more　imposing　than　the　others。

Toward　this　building　the　young　men　escorted　Ozma　and

Dorothy。



On　the　streets　and　in　the　doorways　or　open　windows　of

the　houses　were　men；　women　and　children；　all　richly

dressed。　These　were　much　like　other　people　in　different

parts　of　the　Land　of　Oz；　except　that　instead　of　seeming

merry　and　contented　they　all　wore　expressions　of　much

solemnity　or　of　nervous　irritation。　They　had　beautiful

homes；　splendid　clothes；　and　ample　food；　but　Dorothy　at

once　decided　something　was　wrong　with　their　lives　and

that　they　were　not　happy。　She　said　nothing；　however；

but　looked　curiously　at　the　Skeezers。



At　the　entrance　of　the　palace　Ozma　and　Dorothy　were

met　by　two　other　young　men；　in　uniform　and　armed　with

queer　weapons　that　seemed　about　halfway　between　pistols

and　guns；　but　were　like　neither。　Their　conductors　bowed

and　left　them；　and　the　two　in　uniforms　led　the　girls

into　the　palace。



In　a　beautiful　throne　room；　surrounded　by　a　dozen　or

more　young　men　and　women；　sat　the　Queen　of　the

Skeezers；　Coo…ee…oh。　She　was　a　girl　who　looked　older

than　Ozma　or　Dorothy　　fifteen　or　sixteen；　at　least　

and　although　she　was　elaborately　dressed　as　if　she　were

going　to　a　ball　she　was　too　thin　and　plain　of　feature

to　be　pretty。　But　evidently　Queen　Coo…ee…oh　did　not

realize　this　fact；　for　her　air　and　manner　betrayed　her

as　proud　and　haughty　and　with　a　high　regard　for　her　own

importance。　Dorothy　at　once　decided　she　was　〃snippy〃

and　that　she　would　not　like　Queen　Coo…ee…oh　as　a

companion。



The　Queen's　hair　was　as　black　as　her　skin　was　white

and　her　eyes　were　black；　too。　The　eyes；　as　she　calmly

examined　Ozma　and　Dorothy；　had　a　suspicious　and

unfriendly　look　in　them；　but　she　said　quietly：



〃I　know　who　you　are；　for　I　have　consulted　my　Magic

Oracle；　which　told　me　that　one　calls　herself　Princess

Ozma；　the　Ruler　of　all　the　Land　of　Oz；　and　the　other　is

Princess　Dorothy　of　Oz；　who　came　from　a　country　called

Kansas。　I　know　nothing　of　the　Land　of　Oz；　and　I　know

nothing　of　Kansas。〃



〃Why；　this　is　the　Land　of　Oz！〃　cried　Dorothy。　〃It's　a

part　of　the　Land　of　Oz；　anyhow；　whether　you　know　it　or

not。〃



〃Oh；　in…deed！〃　answered　Queen　Coo…ee…oh；　scornfully。

〃I　suppose　you　will　claim　next　that　this　Princess　Ozma；

ruling　the　Land　of　Oz；　rules　me！〃



〃Of　course；〃　returned　Dorothy。　〃There's　no　doubt　of

it。〃



The　Queen　turned　to　Ozma。



〃Do　you　dare　make　such　a　claim？〃　she　asked。



By　this　time　Ozma　had　made　up　her　mind　as　to　the

character　of　this　haughty　and　disdainful　creature；

whose　self…pride　evidently　led　her　to　believe　herself

superior　to　all　others。



〃I　did　not　come　here　to　quarrel　with　your　Majesty；〃

said　the　girl　Ruler　of　Oz；　quietly。　〃What　and　who　I　am

is　well　established；　and　my　authority　comes　from　the

Fairy　Queen　Lurline；　of　whose　band　I　was　a　member　when

Lurline　made　all　Oz　a　Fairyland。　There　are　several

countries　and　several　different　peoples　in　this　broad

land；　each　of　which　has　its　separate　rulers；　Kings；

Emperors　and　Queens。　But　all　these　render　obedience　to

my　laws　and　acknowledge　me　as　the　supreme　Ruler。〃



〃If　other　Kings　and　Queens　are　fools　that　does　not

interest　me　in　the　least；〃　replied　Coo…ee…oh；

disdainfully。　〃In　the　Land　of　the　Skeezers　I　alone　am

supreme。　You　are　impudent　to　think　I　would　defer　to　you

　or　to　anyone　else。〃



〃Let　us　not　speak　of　this　now；　please；〃　answered

Ozma。　〃Your　island　is　in　danger；　for　a　powerful　foe　is

preparing　to　destroy　it。〃



〃Pah！　The　Flatheads。　I　do　not　fear　them。〃



〃Their　Supreme　Dictator　is　a　Sorcerer。〃



〃My　magic　is　greater　than　his。　Let　the　Flatheads

come！　They　will　never　return　to　their　barren　mountain…

top。　I　will　see　to　that。〃



Ozma　did　not　like　this　attitude；　for　it　meant　that

the　Skeezers　were　eager　to　fight　the　Flatheads；　and

Ozma's　object　in　coming　here　was　to　prevent　fighting

and　induce　the　two　quarrelsome　neighbors　to　make　peace。

She　was　also　greatly　disappointed　in　Coo…ee…oh；　for　the

reports　of　Su…dic　had　led　her　to　imagine　the　Queen　more

just　and　honorable　than　were　the　Flatheads。　Indeed　Ozma

reflected　that　the　girl　might　be　better　at　heart　than

her　self…pride　and　overbearing　manner　indicated；　and　in

any　event　it　would　be　wise　not　to　antagonize　her　but　to

try　to　win　her　friendship。



〃I　do　not　like　wars；　your　Majesty；〃　said　Ozma。　〃In

the　Emerald　City；　where　I　rule　thousands　of　people；　and

in　the　countries　near　to　the　Emerald　City；　where

thousands　more　acknowledge　my　rule；　there　is　no　army　at

all；　because　there　is　no　quarreling　and　no　need　to

fight。　If　differences　arise　between　my　people；　they

come　to　me　and　I　judge　the　cases　and　award　justice　to

all。　So；　when　I　learned　there　might　be　war　between　two

faraway　people　of　Oz；　I　came　here　to　settle　the　dispute

and　adjust　the　quarrel。〃



〃No　one　asked　you　to　come；〃　declared　Queen　Coo…ee…oh。

〃It　is　my　business　to　settle　this　dispute；　not　yours。

You　say　my　island　is　a　part　of　the　Land　of　Oz；　which

you　rule；　but　that　is　all　nonsense；　for　I've　never

heard　of　the　Land　of　Oz；　nor　of　you。　You　say　you　are　a

fairy；　and　that　fairies　gave　you　command　over　me。　I

don't　believe　it！　What　I　do　believe　is　that　you　are　an

impostor　and　have　come　here　to　stir　up　trouble　among　my

people；　who　are　already　becoming　difficult　to　manage。

You　two　girls　may　even　be　spies　of　the　vile　Flatheads；

for　all　I　know；　and　may　be　trying　to　trick　me。　But

understand　this；〃　she　added；　proudly　rising　from　her

jeweled　throne　to　confront　them；　〃I　have　magic　powers

greater　than　any　fairy　possesses；　and　greater　than　any

Flathead　possesses。　I　am　a　Krumbic　Witch　　the　only

Krumbic　Witch　in　the　world　　and　I　fear　the　magic　of

no　other　creature　that　exists！　You　say　you　rule

thousands。　I　rule　one　hundred　and　one　Skeezers。　But

every　one　of　them　trembles　at　my　word。　Now　that　Ozma　of

Oz　and　Princess　Dorothy　are　here；　I　shall　rule　one

hundred　and　three　subjects；　for　you　also　shall　bow

before　my　power。　More　than　that；　in　ruling　you　I　also

rule　the　thousands　you　say　you　rule。〃



Dorothy　was　very　indignant　at　this　speech。



〃I've　got　a　pink　kitten　that　sometimes　talks　like

that；〃　she　said；　〃but　after　I　give　her　a　good　whipping

she　doesn't　think　she's　so　high　and　mighty　after　all。

If　you　only　knew　who　Ozma　is　you'd　be　scared　to　death

to　talk　to　her　like　that！〃



Queen　Coo…ee…oh　gave　the　girl　a　supercilious　look。

Then　she　turned　again　to　Ozma。



〃I　happen　to　know；〃　said　she；　〃that　the　Flatheads

intend　to　attack　us　tomorrow；　but　we　are　ready　for

them。　Until　the　battle　is　over；　I　shall　keep　you　two

strangers　prisoners　on　my　island；　from　which　there　is

no　chance　for　you　to　escape。〃



She　turned　and　looked　around　the　band　of　courtiers

who　stood　silently　around　her　throne。



〃Lady　Aurex；〃　she　continued；　singling　out　one　of　the

young　women；　〃take　these　children　to　your　house　and

care　for　them；　giving　them　food　and　lodging。　You　may

allow　them　to　wander　anywhere　under　the　Great　Dome；　for

they　are　harmless。　After　I　have　attended　to　the

Flatheads　I　will　consider　what　next　to　do　with　these

foolish　girls。〃