English
WhenDorothyrecoveredhersensestheywerestillfalling,butnotsofast.
Thetopofthebuggycaughttheairlikeaparachuteoranumbrellafilledwithwind,andheldthembacksothattheyfloateddownwardwithagentlemotionthatwasnotsoverydisagreeabletobear.
Theworstthingwastheirterrorofreachingthebottomofthisgreatcrackintheearth,andthenaturalfearthatsuddendeathwasabouttoovertakethematanymoment.
Crashaftercrashechoedfarabovetheirheads,astheearthcametogetherwhereithadsplit,andstonesandchunksofclayrattledaroundthemoneveryside.
Thesetheycouldnotsee,buttheycouldfeelthempeltingthebuggytop,andJimscreamedalmostlikeahumanbeingwhenastoneovertookhimandstruckhisboneybody.
Theydidnotreallyhurtthepoorhorse,becauseeverythingwasfallingtogether;onlythestonesandrubbishfellfasterthanthehorseandbuggy,whichwereheldbackbythepressureoftheair,sothattheterrifiedanimalwasactuallymorefrightenedthanhewasinjured.
HowlongthisstateofthingscontinuedDorothycouldnotevenguess,shewassogreatlybewildered.
Butbyeandbye,asshestaredaheadintotheblackchasmwithabeatingheart,shebegantodimlyseetheformofthehorseJim—hisheadupintheair,hisearserectandhislonglegssprawlingineverydirectionashetumbledthroughspace.
Also,turningherhead,shefoundthatshecouldseetheboybesideher,whohaduntilnowremainedasstillandsilentassheherself.
Dorothysighedandcommencedtobreatheeasier.
Shebegantorealizethatdeathwasnotinstoreforher,afterall,butthatshehadmerelystarteduponanotheradventure,whichpromisedtobejustasstrangeandunusualaswerethoseshehadbeforeencountered.
Withthisthoughtinmindthegirltookheartandleanedherheadoverthesideofthebuggytoseewherethestrangelightwascomingfrom.
Farbelowhershefoundsixgreatglowingballssuspendedintheair.
Thecentralandlargestonewaswhite,andremindedherofthesun.
Arounditwerearranged,likethefivepointsofastar,theotherfivebrilliantballs;onebeingrosecolored,oneviolet,oneyellow,oneblueandoneorange.
Thissplendidgroupofcoloredsunssentraysdartingineverydirection,andasthehorseandbuggy—withDorothyandZeb—sanksteadilydownwardandcamenearertothelights,theraysbegantotakeonallthedelicatetintingsofarainbow,growingmoreandmoredistincteverymomentuntilallthespacewasbrilliantlyilluminated.
Dorothywastoodazedtosaymuch,butshewatchedoneofJim’sbigearsturntovioletandtheothertorose,andwonderedthathistailshouldbeyellowandhisbodystripedwithblueandorangelikethestripesofazebra.
ThenshelookedatZeb,whosefacewasblueandwhosehairwaspink,andgavealittlelaughthatsoundedabitnervous.
“Isn’titfunny?”shesaid.
Theboywasstartledandhiseyeswerebig.Dorothyhadagreenstreakthroughthecenterofherfacewheretheblueandyellowlightscametogether,andherappearanceseemedtoaddtohisfright.
“I—Idon’ts-s-seeany-thingfunny—’boutit!”hestammered.
Justthenthebuggytippedslowlyoveruponitsside,thebodyofthehorsetippingalso.
Buttheycontinuedtofall,alltogether,andtheboyandgirlhadnodifficultyinremainingupontheseat,justastheywerebefore.
Thentheyturnedbottomsideup,andcontinuedtorollslowlyoveruntiltheywererightsideupagain.
DuringthistimeJimstruggledfrantically,allhislegskickingtheair;butonfindinghimselfinhisformerpositionthehorsesaid,inarelievedtoneofvoice:
“Well,that’sbetter!”
DorothyandZeblookedatoneanotherinwonder.
“Canyourhorsetalk?”sheasked.
“Neverknewhimto,before,”repliedtheboy.
“ThosewerethefirstwordsIeversaid,”calledoutthehorse,whohadoverheardthem,“andIcan’texplainwhyIhappenedtospeakthen.Thisisanicescrapeyou’vegotmeinto,isn’tit?”
“Asforthat,weareinthesamescrapeourselves,”answeredDorothy,cheerfully.“Butnevermind;somethingwillhappenprettysoon.”
“Ofcourse,”growledthehorse,“andthenweshallbesorryithappened.”
Zebgaveashiver.Allthiswassoterribleandunrealthathecouldnotunderstanditatall,andsohadgoodreasontobeafraid.
Swiftlytheydrewneartotheflamingcoloredsuns,andpassedclosebesidethem.
Thelightwasthensobrightthatitdazzledtheireyes,andtheycoveredtheirfaceswiththeirhandstoescapebeingblinded.
Therewasnoheatinthecoloredsuns,however,andaftertheyhadpassedbelowthemthetopofthebuggyshutoutmanyofthepiercingrayssothattheboyandgirlcouldopentheireyesagain.
“We’vegottocometothebottomsometime,”remarkedZeb,withadeepsigh.“Wecan’tkeepfallingforever,youknow.”
“Ofcoursenot,”saidDorothy.“Wearesomewhereinthemiddleoftheearth,andthechancesarewe’llreachtheothersideofitbeforelong.Butit’sabighollow,isn’tit?”
“Awfulbig!”answeredtheboy.
“We’recomingtosomethingnow,”announcedthehorse.
Atthistheybothputtheirheadsoverthesideofthebuggyandlookeddown.
Yes;therewaslandbelowthem;andnotsoveryfaraway,either.
Buttheywerefloatingvery,veryslowly—soslowlythatitcouldnolongerbecalledafall—andthechildrenhadampletimetotakeheartandlookaboutthem.
Theysawalandscapewithmountainsandplains,lakesandrivers,verylikethoseupontheearth’ssurface;butallthescenewassplendidlycoloredbythevariegatedlightsfromthesixsuns.
Hereandthereweregroupsofhousesthatseemedmadeofclearglass,becausetheysparkledsobrightly.
“I’msureweareinnodanger,”saidDorothy,inasobervoice.“Wearefallingsoslowlythatwecan’tbedashedtopieceswhenweland,andthiscountrythatwearecomingtoseemsquitepretty.”
“We’llnevergethomeagain,though!”declaredZeb,withagroan.
“Oh,I’mnotsosureofthat,”repliedthegirl.“Butdon’tletusworryoversuchthings,Zeb;wecan’thelpourselvesjustnow,youknow,andI’vealwaysbeentoldit’sfoolishtoborrowtrouble.”
Theboybecamesilent,havingnoreplytososensibleaspeech,andsoonbothwerefullyoccupiedinstaringatthestrangescenesspreadoutbelowthem.
Theyseemedtobefallingrightintothemiddleofabigcitywhichhadmanytallbuildingswithglassdomesandsharp-pointedspires.
Thesespireswerelikegreatspear-points,andiftheytumbledupononeofthemtheywerelikelytosufferseriousinjury.
Jimthehorsehadseenthesespires,also,andhisearsstoodstraightupwithfear,whileDorothyandZebheldtheirbreathsinsuspense.
Butno;theyfloatedgentlydownuponabroad,flatroof,andcametoastopatlast.
WhenJimfeltsomethingfirmunderhisfeetthepoorbeast’slegstrembledsomuchthathecouldhardlystand;butZebatonceleapedoutofthebuggytotheroof,andhewassoawkwardandhastythathekickedoverDorothy’sbird-cage,whichrolledoutupontheroofsothatthebottomcameoff.
Atonceapinkkittencreptoutoftheupsetcage,satdownupontheglassroof,andyawnedandblinkeditsroundeyes.
“Oh,”saidDorothy.“There’sEureka.”
“FirsttimeIeversawapinkcat,”saidZeb.
“Eurekaisn’tpink;she’swhite.It’sthisstrangelightthatgivesherthatcolor.”
“Where’smymilk?”askedthekitten,lookingupintoDorothy’sface.“I’m‘moststarvedtodeath.”
“Oh,Eureka!Canyoutalk?”
“Talk!AmItalking?Goodgracious,IbelieveIam.Isn’titfunny?”askedthekitten.
“It’sallwrong,”saidZeb,gravely.“Animalsoughtnottotalk.ButevenoldJimhasbeensayingthingssincewehadouraccident.”
“Ican’tseethatit’swrong,”remarkedJim,inhisgrufftones.“Atleast,itisn’taswrongassomeotherthings.What’sgoingtobecomeofusnow?”
“Idon’tknow,”answeredtheboy,lookingaroundhimcuriously.
Thehousesofthecitywereallmadeofglass,soclearandtransparentthatonecouldlookthroughthewallsaseasilyasthroughawindow.
Dorothysaw,underneaththeroofonwhichshestood,severalroomsusedforrestchambers,andeventhoughtshecouldmakeoutanumberofstrangeformshuddledintothecornersoftheserooms.
Theroofbesidethemhadagreatholesmashedthroughit,andpiecesofglasswerelyingscatteredineverydirection.
Anearbysteeplehadbeenbrokenoffshortandthefragmentslayheapedbesideit.
Otherbuildingswerecrackedinplacesorhadcornerschippedofffromthem;buttheymusthavebeenverybeautifulbeforetheseaccidentshadhappenedtomartheirperfection.
Therainbowtintsfromthecoloredsunsfellupontheglasscitysoftlyandgavetothebuildingsmanydelicate,shiftinghueswhichwereveryprettytosee.
Butnotasoundhadbrokenthestillnesssincethestrangershadarrived,exceptthatoftheirownvoices.
Theybegantowonderiftherewerenopeopletoinhabitthismagnificentcityoftheinnerworld.
Suddenlyamanappearedthroughaholeintheroofnexttotheonetheywereonandsteppedintoplainview.
Hewasnotaverylargeman,butwaswellformedandhadabeautifulface—calmandsereneasthefaceofafineportrait.
Hisclothingfittedhisformsnuglyandwasgorgeouslycoloredinbrilliantshadesofgreen,whichvariedasthesunbeamstouchedthembutwasnotwhollyinfluencedbythesolarrays.
Themanhadtakenasteportwoacrosstheglassroofbeforehenoticedthepresenceofthestrangers;butthenhestoppedabruptly.
Therewasnoexpressionofeitherfearorsurpriseuponhistranquilface,yethemusthavebeenbothastonishedandafraid;forafterhiseyeshadrestedupontheungainlyformofthehorseforamomenthewalkedrapidlytothefurthestedgeoftheroof,hisheadturnedbackoverhisshouldertogazeatthestrangeanimal.
“Lookout!”criedDorothy,whonoticedthatthebeautifulmandidnotlookwherehewasgoing;“becareful,oryou’llfalloff!”
Buthepaidnoattentiontoherwarning.Hereachedtheedgeofthetallroof,steppedonefootoutintotheair,andwalkedintospaceascalmlyasifhewereonfirmground.
Thegirl,greatlyastonished,rantoleanovertheedgeoftheroof,andsawthemanwalkingrapidlythroughtheairtowardtheground.
Soonhereachedthestreetanddisappearedthroughaglassdoorwayintooneoftheglassbuildings.
“Howstrange!”sheexclaimed,drawingalongbreath.
“Yes;butit’slotsoffun,ifitISstrange,”remarkedthesmallvoiceofthekitten,andDorothyturnedtofindherpetwalkingintheairafootorsoawayfromtheedgeoftheroof.
“Comeback,Eureka!”shecalled,indistress,“you’llcertainlybekilled.”
“Ihaveninelives,”saidthekitten,purringsoftlyasitwalkedaroundinacircleandthencamebacktotheroof;“butIcan’tloseevenoneofthembyfallinginthiscountry,becauseIreallycouldn’tmanagetofallifIwantedto.”
“Doestheairbearupyourweight?”askedthegirl.
“Ofcourse;can’tyousee?”andagainthekittenwanderedintotheairandbacktotheedgeoftheroof.
“It’swonderful!”saidDorothy.
“SupposeweletEurekagodowntothestreetandgetsomeonetohelpus,”suggestedZeb,whohadbeenevenmoreamazedthanDorothyatthesestrangehappenings.
“Perhapswecanwalkontheairourselves,”repliedthegirl.
Zebdrewbackwithashiver.
“Iwouldn’tdaretry,”hesaid.
“MaybeJimwillgo,”continuedDorothy,lookingatthehorse.
“Andmaybehewon’t!”answeredJim.“I’vetumbledthroughtheairlongenoughtomakemecontentedonthisroof.”
“Butwedidn’ttumbletotheroof,”saidthegirl;“bythetimewereachedherewewerefloatingveryslowly,andI’malmostsurewecouldfloatdowntothestreetwithoutgettinghurt.Eurekawalksontheairallright.”
“Eurekaweighsonlyabouthalfapound,”repliedthehorse,inascornfultone,“whileIweighabouthalfaton.”
“Youdon’tweighasmuchasyououghtto,Jim,”remarkedthegirl,shakingherheadasshelookedattheanimal.“You’redreadfullyskinny.”
“Oh,well;I’mold,”saidthehorse,hanginghisheaddespondently,“andI’vehadlotsoftroubleinmyday,littleone.
ForagoodmanyyearsIdrewapubliccabinChicago,andthat’senoughtomakeanyoneskinny.”
“Heeatsenoughtogetfat,I’msure,”saidtheboy,gravely.
“DoI?CanyourememberanybreakfastthatI’vehadtoday?”growledJim,asifheresentedZeb’sspeech.
“Noneofushashadbreakfast,”saidtheboy;“andinatimeofdangerlikethisit’sfoolishtotalkabouteating.”
“Nothingismoredangerousthanbeingwithoutfood,”declaredthehorse,withasniffattherebukeofhisyoungmaster;“andjustatpresentnoonecantellwhetherthereareanyoatsinthisstrangecountryornot.
Ifthereare,theyareliabletobeglassoats!”
“Oh,no!”exclaimedDorothy.“Icanseeplentyofnicegardensandfieldsdownbelowus,attheedgeofthiscity.ButIwishwecouldfindawaytogettotheground.”
“Whydon’tyouwalkdown?”askedEureka.“I’mashungryasthehorseis,andIwantmymilk.”
“Willyoutryit,Zeb”askedthegirl,turningtohercompanion.
Zebhesitated.Hewasstillpaleandfrightened,forthisdreadfuladventurehadupsethimandmadehimnervousandworried.
Buthedidnotwishthelittlegirltothinkhimacoward,soheadvancedslowlytotheedgeoftheroof.
DorothystretchedoutahandtohimandZebputonefootoutandletitrestintheairalittleovertheedgeoftheroof.
Itseemedfirmenoughtowalkupon,sohetookcourageandputouttheotherfoot.
Dorothykeptholdofhishandandfollowedhim,andsoontheywerebothwalkingthroughtheair,withthekittenfriskingbesidethem.
“Comeon,Jim!”calledtheboy.“It’sallright.”
Jimhadcrepttotheedgeoftherooftolookover,andbeingasensiblehorseandquiteexperienced,hemadeuphismindthathecouldgowheretheothersdid.
So,withasnortandaneighandawhiskofhisshorttailhetrottedofftheroofintotheairandatoncebeganfloatingdownwardtothestreet.
Hisgreatweightmadehimfallfasterthanthechildrenwalked,andhepassedthemonthewaydown;butwhenhecametotheglasspavementhealighteduponitsosoftlythathewasnotevenjarred.
“Well,well!”saidDorothy,drawingalongbreath,“Whatastrangecountrythisis.”
Peoplebegantocomeoutoftheglassdoorstolookatthenewarrivals,andprettysoonquiteacrowdhadassembled.
Thereweremenandwomen,butnochildrenatall,andthefolkswereallbeautifullyformedandattractivelydressedandhadwonderfullyhandsomefaces.
Therewasnotanuglypersoninallthethrong,yetDorothywasnotespeciallypleasedbytheappearanceofthesepeoplebecausetheirfeatureshadnomoreexpressionthanthefacesofdolls.
Theydidnotsmilenordidtheyfrown,orshoweitherfearorsurpriseorcuriosityorfriendliness.
Theysimplystaredatthestrangers,payingmostattentiontoJimandEureka,fortheyhadneverbeforeseeneitherahorseoracatandthechildrenboreanoutwardresemblancetothemselves.
Prettysoonamanjoinedthegroupwhoworeaglisteningstarinthedarkhairjustoverhisforehead.
Heseemedtobeapersonofauthority,fortheotherspressedbacktogivehimroom.
AfterturninghiscomposedeyesfirstupontheanimalsandthenuponthechildrenhesaidtoZeb,whowasalittletallerthanDorothy:
“Tellme,intruder,wasityouwhocausedtheRainofStones?”
Foramomenttheboydidnotknowwhathemeantbythisquestion.Then,rememberingthestonesthathadfallenwiththemandpassedthemlongbeforetheyhadreachedthisplace,heanswered:
“No,sir;wedidn’tcauseanything.Itwastheearthquake.”
Themanwiththestarstoodforatimequietlythinkingoverthisspeech.Thenheasked:
“Whatisanearthquake?”
“Idon’tknow,”saidZeb,whowasstillconfused.ButDorothy,seeinghisperplexity,answered:
“It’sashakingoftheearth.Inthisquakeabigcrackopenedandwefellthrough—horseandbuggy,andall—andthestonesgotlooseandcamedownwithus.”
Themanwiththestarregardedherwithhiscalm,expressionlesseyes.
“TheRainofStoneshasdonemuchdamagetoourcity,”hesaid;“andweshallholdyouresponsibleforitunlessyoucanproveyourinnocence.”
“Howcanwedothat?”askedthegirl.
“ThatIamnotpreparedtosay.Itisyouraffair,notmine.YoumustgototheHouseoftheSorcerer,whowillsoondiscoverthetruth.”
“WhereistheHouseoftheSorcerer?”thegirlenquired.
“Iwillleadyoutoit.Come!”
Heturnedandwalkeddownthestreet,andafteramoment’shesitationDorothycaughtEurekainherarmsandclimbedintothebuggy.Theboytookhisseatbesideherandsaid:“Gid-dapJim.”
Asthehorseambledalong,drawingthebuggy,thepeopleoftheglasscitymadewayforthemandformedaprocessionintheirrear.
Slowlytheymoveddownonestreetandupanother,turningfirstthiswayandthenthat,untiltheycametoanopensquareinthecenterofwhichwasabigglasspalacehavingacentraldomeandfourtallspiresoneachcorner.
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