dorothy and the wizard in oz-第6部分

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demurely　at　their　heels。



Inside　the　hedge　they　came　upon　row　after　row　of　large　and　handsome

plants　with　broad　leaves　gracefully　curving　until　their　points　nearly

reached　the　ground。　　In　the　center　of　each　plant　grew　a　daintily

dressed　Mangaboo；　for　the　clothing　of　all　these　creatures　grew　upon

them　and　was　attached　to　their　bodies。



The　growing　Mangaboos　were　of　all　sizes；　from　the　blossom　that　had

just　turned　into　a　wee　baby　to　the　full…grown　and　almost　ripe　man　or

woman。　　On　some　of　the　bushes　might　be　seen　a　bud；　a　blossom；　a　baby；

a　half…grown　person　and　a　ripe　one；　but　even　those　ready　to　pluck　were

motionless　and　silent；　as　if　devoid　of　life。　　This　sight　explained　to

Dorothy　why　she　had　seen　no　children　among　the　Mangaboos；　a　thing　she

had　until　now　been　unable　to　account　for。



〃Our　people　do　not　acquire　their　real　life　until　they　leave　their　bushes；〃

said　the　Prince。　　〃You　will　notice　they　are　all　attached　to　the　plants　by

the　soles　of　their　feet；　and　when　they　are　quite　ripe　they　are　easily

separated　from　the　stems　and　at　once　attain　the　powers　of　motion

and　speech。　　So　while　they　grow　they　cannot　be　said　to　really　live；

and　they　must　be　picked　before　they　can　become　good　citizens。〃



〃How　long　do　you　live；　after　you　are　picked？〃　asked　Dorothy。



〃That　depends　upon　the　care　we　take　of　ourselves；〃　he　replied。　　〃If　we

keep　cool　and　moist；　and　meet　with　no　accidents；　we　often　live　for

five　years。　　I've　been　picked　over　six　years；　but　our　family　is　known

to　be　especially　long　lived。〃



〃Do　you　eat？〃　asked　the　boy。



〃Eat！　　No；　indeed。　　We　are　quite　solid　inside　our　bodies；　and　have　no

need　to　eat；　any　more　than　does　a　potato。〃



〃But　the　potatoes　sometimes　sprout；〃　said　Zeb。



〃And　sometimes　we　do；〃　answered　the　Prince；　〃but　that　is　considered　a

great　misfortune；　for　then　we　must　be　planted　at　once。〃



〃Where　did　you　grow？〃　asked　the　Wizard。



〃I　will　show　you；〃　was　the　reply。　〃Step　this　way；　please。〃



He　led　them　within　another　but　smaller　circle　of　hedge；　where　grew　one

large　and　beautiful　bush。



〃This；〃　said　he；　〃is　the　Royal　Bush　of　the　Mangaboos。　　All　of　our

Princes　and　Rulers　have　grown　upon　this　one　bush　from　time　immemorial。〃



They　stood　before　it　in　silent　admiration。　　On　the　central　stalk　stood

poised　the　figure　of　a　girl　so　exquisitely　formed　and　colored　and　so

lovely　in　the　expression　of　her　delicate　features　that　Dorothy　thought

she　had　never　seen　so　sweet　and　adorable　a　creature　in　all　her　life。

The　maiden's　gown　was　soft　as　satin　and　fell　about　her　in　ample　folds；

while　dainty　lace…like　traceries　trimmed　the　bodice　and　sleeves。　　Her

flesh　was　fine　and　smooth　as　polished　ivory；　and　her　poise　expressed

both　dignity　and　grace。



〃Who　is　this？〃　asked　the　Wizard；　curiously。



The　Prince　had　been　staring　hard　at　the　girl　on　the　bush。　　Now　he

answered；　with　a　touch　of　uneasiness　in　his　cold　tones：



〃She　is　the　Ruler　destined　to　be　my　successor；　for　she　is　a　Royal

Princess。　　When　she　becomes　fully　ripe　I　must　abandon　the　sovereignty

of　the　Mangaboos　to　her。〃



〃Isn't　she　ripe　now？〃　asked　Dorothy。



He　hesitated。



〃Not　quite；〃　said　he；　finally。　　〃It　will　be　several　days　before　she

needs　to　be　picked；　or　at　least　that　is　my　judgment。　　I　am　in　no　hurry

to　resign　my　office　and　be　planted；　you　may　be　sure。〃



〃Probably　not；〃　declared　the　Wizard；　nodding。



〃This　is　one　of　the　most　unpleasant　things　about　our　vegetable　lives；〃

continued　the　Prince；　with　a　sigh；　〃that　while　we　are　in　our　full

prime　we　must　give　way　to　another；　and　be　covered　up　in　the　ground　to

sprout　and　grow　and　give　birth　to　other　people。〃



〃I'm　sure　the　Princess　is　ready　to　be　picked；〃　asserted　Dorothy；

gazing　hard　at　the　beautiful　girl　on　the　bush。　　〃She's　as　perfect　as

she　can　be。〃



〃Never　mind；〃　answered　the　Prince；　hastily；　〃she　will　be　all　right　for

a　few　days　longer；　and　it　is　best　for　me　to　rule　until　I　can　dispose

of　you　strangers；　who　have　come　to　our　land　uninvited　and　must　be

attended　to　at　once。〃



〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　us？〃　asked　Zeb。



〃That　is　a　matter　I　have　not　quite　decided　upon；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃I

think　I　shall　keep　this　Wizard　until　a　new　Sorcerer　is　ready　to　pick；

for　he　seems　quite　skillful　and　may　be　of　use　to　us。　　But　the　rest　of

you　must　be　destroyed　in　some　way；　and　you　cannot　be　planted；

because　I　do　not　wish　horses　and　cats　and　meat　people　growing　all　over

our　country。〃



〃You　needn't　worry；〃　said　Dorothy。　　〃We　wouldn't　grow　under　ground；

I'm　sure。〃



〃But　why　destroy　my　friends？〃　asked　the　little　Wizard。　　〃Why　not　let

them　live？〃



〃They　do　not　belong　here；〃　returned　the　Prince。　　〃They　have　no　right

to　be　inside　the　earth　at　all。〃



〃We　didn't　ask　to　come　down　here；　we　fell；〃　said　Dorothy。



〃That　is　no　excuse；〃　declared　the　Prince；　coldly。



The　children　looked　at　each　other　in　perplexity；　and　the　Wizard

sighed。　　Eureka　rubbed　her　paw　on　her　face　and　said　in　her　soft；

purring　voice：



〃He　won't　need　to　destroy　ME；　for　if　I　don't　get　something　to　eat

pretty　soon　I　shall　starve　to　death；　and　so　save　him　the　trouble。〃



〃If　he　planted　you；　he　might　grow　some　cat…tails；〃　suggested　the　Wizard。



〃Oh；　Eureka！　perhaps　we　can　find　you　some　milk…weeds　to　eat；〃

said　the　boy。



〃Phoo！〃　snarled　the　kitten；　〃I　wouldn't　touch　the　nasty　things！〃



〃You　don't　need　milk；　Eureka；〃　remarked　Dorothy；　〃you　are　big　enough

now　to　eat　any　kind　of　food。〃



〃If　I　can　get　it；〃　added　Eureka。



〃I'm　hungry　myself；〃　said　Zeb。　　〃But　I　noticed　some　strawberries

growing　in　one　of　the　gardens；　and　some　melons　in　another　place。

These　people　don't　eat　such　things；　so　perhaps　on　our　way　back　they

will　let　us　get　them。〃



〃Never　mind　your　hunger；〃　interrupted　the　Prince。　　〃I　shall　order　you

destroyed　in　a　few　minutes；　so　you　will　have　no　need　to　ruin　our　pretty

melon　vines　and　berry　bushes。　　Follow　me；　please；　to　meet　your　doom。〃







5。　　Dorothy　Picks　the　Princess





The　words　of　the　cold　and　moist　vegetable　Prince　were　not　very

comforting；　and　as　he　spoke　them　he　turned　away　and　left　the

enclosure。　　The　children；　feeling　sad　and　despondent；　were　about　to

follow　him　when　the　Wizard　touched　Dorothy　softly　on　her　shoulder。



〃Wait！〃　he　whispered。



〃What　for？〃　asked　the　girl。



〃Suppose　we　pick　the　Royal　Princess；〃　said　the　Wizard。　　〃I'm　quite

sure　she's　ripe；　and　as　soon　as　she　comes　to　life　she　will　be　the

Ruler；　and　may　treat　us　better　than　that　heartless　Prince　intends　to。〃



〃All　right！〃　exclaimed　Dorothy；　eagerly。　　〃Let's　pick　her　while　we

have　the　chance；　before　the　man　with　the　star　comes　back。〃



So　together　they　leaned　over　the　great　bush　and　each　of　them　seized

one　hand　of　the　lovely　Princess。



〃Pull！〃　cried　Dorothy；　and　as　they　did　so　the　royal　lady　leaned　toward

them　and　the　stems　snapped　and　separated　from　her　feet。　　She　was　not

at　all　heavy；　so　the　Wizard　and　Dorothy　managed　to　lift　her　gently　to

the　ground。



The　beautiful　creature　passed　her　hands　over　her　eyes　an　instant；

tucked　in　a　stray　lock　of　hair　that　had　become　disarranged；　and　after

a　look　around　the　garden　made　those　present　a　gracious　bow　and　said；

in　a　sweet　but　even　toned　voice：



〃I　thank　you　very　much。〃



〃We　salute　your　Royal　Highness！〃　cried　the　Wizard；　kneeling　and

kissing　her　hand。



Just　then　the　voice　of　the　Prince　was　heard　calling　upon　them　to

hasten；　and　a　moment　later　he　returned　to　the　enclosure；　followed　by　a

number　of　his　people。



Instantly　the　Princess　turned　and　faced　him；　and　when　he　saw　that　she

was　picked　the　Prince　stood　still　and　began　to　tremble。



〃Sir；〃　said　the　Royal　Lady；　with　much　dignity；　〃you　have　wronged　me

greatly；　and　would　have　wronged　me　still　more　had　not　these　strangers

come　to　my　rescue。　　I　have　been　ready　for　picking　all　the　past　week；

but　because　you　were　selfish　and　desired　to　continue　your　unlawful

rule；　you　left　me　to　stand　silent　upon　my　bush。〃



〃I　did　not　know　that　you　were　ripe；〃　answered　the　Prince；　in　a　low　voice。



〃Give　me　the　Star　of　Royalty！〃　she　commanded。



Slowly　he　took　the　shining　star　from　his　own　brow　and　placed　it　upon

that　of　the　Princess。　　Then　all　the　people　bowed　low　to　her；　and　the

Prince　turned　and　walked　away　alone。　　What　became　of　him　afterward　our

friends　never　knew。



The　people　of　Mangaboo　now　formed　themselves　into　a　procession　and

marched　toward　the　glass　city　to　escort　their　new　ruler　to　her　palace

and　to　perform　those　ceremonies　proper　to　the　occasion。　　But　while　the

people　in　the　procession　walked　upon　the　ground　the　Princess　walked　in

the　air　just　above　their　heads；　to　show　that　she　was　a　superior　being

and　more　exalted　than　her　subjects。



No　one　now　seemed　to　pay　any　attention　to　the　strangers；　so　Dorothy

and　Zeb　and　the　Wizard　let　the　train　pass　on　and　then　wandered　by

themselves　into　the　vegetable　gardens。　　They　did　not　bother　to　cross

the　bridges　over　the　brooks；　but　when　they　came　to　a　stream　they

stepped　high　and　walked　in　the　air　to　the　other　side。　　This　was　a　very

interesting　experience　to　them；　and　Dorothy　said：



〃I　wonder　why　it　is　that　we　can　walk　so　easily　in　the　air。〃



〃Perhaps；〃　answered　the　Wizard；　〃it　is　because　we　are　close　to　the

center　of　the　earth；　where　the　attraction　of　gravitation　is　very　slight。

But　I've　noticed　that　many　queer　things　happen　in　fairy　countries。〃



〃Is　this　a　fairy　country？〃　asked　the　boy。



〃Of　course　it　is；〃　returned　Dorothy　promptly。　　〃Only　a　fairy　country

could　have　veg'table　people；　and　only　in　a　fairy　country　could　Eureka

and　Jim　talk　as　we　do。〃



〃That's　true；〃　said　Zeb；　thoughtfully。



In　the　vegetable　gardens　they　found　the　strawberries　and　melons；　and

several　other　unknown　but　delicious　fruits；　of　which　they　ate

heartily。　　But　the　kitten　bothered　them　constantly　by　demanding　milk

or　meat；　and　called　the　Wizard　names　bec