English
Thedoorwayoftheglasspalacewasquitebigenoughforthehorseandbuggytoenter,soZebdrovestraightthroughitandthechildrenfoundthemselvesinaloftyhallthatwasverybeautiful.
Thepeopleatoncefollowedandformedacirclearoundthesidesofthespaciousroom,leavingthehorseandbuggyandthemanwiththestartooccupythecenterofthehall.
“Cometous,oh,Gwig!”calledtheman,inaloudvoice.
Instantlyacloudofsmokeappearedandrolledoverthefloor;thenitslowlyspreadandascendedintothedome,disclosingastrangepersonageseateduponaglassthronejustbeforeJim’snose.
Hewasformedjustasweretheotherinhabitantsofthislandandhisclothingonlydifferedfromtheirsinbeingbrightyellow.
Buthehadnohairatall,andalloverhisbaldheadandfaceanduponthebacksofhishandsgrewsharpthornslikethosefoundonthebranchesofrose-bushes.
TherewasevenathornuponthetipofhisnoseandhelookedsofunnythatDorothylaughedwhenshesawhim.
TheSorcerer,hearingthelaugh,lookedtowardthelittlegirlwithcold,crueleyes,andhisglancemadehergrowsoberinaninstant.
“WhyhaveyoudaredtointrudeyourunwelcomepersonsintothesecludedLandoftheMangaboos?”heasked,sternly.
“‘Causewecouldn’thelpit,”saidDorothy.
“WhydidyouwickedlyandviciouslysendtheRainofStonestocrackandbreakourhouses?”hecontinued.
“Wedidn’t,”declaredthegirl.
“Proveit!”criedtheSorcerer.
“Wedon’thavetoproveit,”answeredDorothy,indignantly.“Ifyouhadanysenseatallyou’dknownitwastheearthquake.”
“WeonlyknowthatyesterdaycameaRainofStonesuponus,whichdidmuchdamageandinjuredsomeofourpeople.TodaycameanotherRainofStones,andsoonafterityouappearedamongus.”
“Bytheway,”saidthemanwiththestar,lookingsteadilyattheSorcerer,“youtoldusyesterdaythattherewouldnotbeasecondRainofStones.
Yetonehasjustoccurredthatwasevenworsethanthefirst.
Whatisyoursorcerygoodforifitcannottellusthetruth?”
“Mysorcerydoestellthetruth!”declaredthethorn-coveredman.
“IsaidtherewouldbebutoneRainofStones.
ThissecondonewasaRainofPeople-and-Horse-and-Buggy.Andsomestonescamewiththem.”
“WilltherebeanymoreRains?”askedthemanwiththestar.
“No,myPrince.”
“Neitherstonesnorpeople?”
“No,myPrince.”
“Areyousure?”
“Quitesure,myPrince.Mysorcerytellsmeso.”
JustthenamancamerunningintothehallandaddressedthePrinceaftermakingalowbow.
“Morewondersintheair,myLord,”saidhe.
ImmediatelythePrinceandallofhispeopleflockedoutofthehallintothestreet,thattheymightseewhatwasabouttohappen.
DorothyandZebjumpedoutofthebuggyandranafterthem,buttheSorcererremainedcalmlyinhisthrone.
Farupintheairwasanobjectthatlookedlikeaballoon.
Itwasnotsohighastheglowingstarofthesixcoloredsuns,butwasdescendingslowlythroughtheair—soslowlythatatfirstitscarcelyseemedtomove.
Thethrongstoodstillandwaited.Itwasalltheycoulddo,fortogoawayandleavethatstrangesightwasimpossible;norcouldtheyhurryitsfallinanyway.
Theearthchildrenwerenotnoticed,beingsoneartheaveragesizeoftheMangaboos,andthehorsehadremainedintheHouseoftheSorcerer,withEurekacurledupasleepontheseatofthebuggy.
Graduallytheballoongrewbigger,whichwasproofthatitwassettlingdownupontheLandoftheMangaboos.
Dorothywassurprisedtofindhowpatientthepeoplewere,forherownlittleheartwasbeatingrapidlywithexcitement.
Aballoonmeanttohersomeotherarrivalfromthesurfaceoftheearth,andshehopeditwouldbesomeoneabletoassistherandZeboutoftheirdifficulties.
Inanhourtheballoonhadcomenearenoughforhertoseeabasketsuspendedbelowit;intwohoursshecouldseeaheadlookingoverthesideofthebasket;inthreehoursthebigballoonsettledslowlyintothegreatsquareinwhichtheystoodandcametorestontheglasspavement.
Thenalittlemanjumpedoutofthebasket,tookoffhistallhat,andbowedverygracefullytothecrowdofMangaboosaroundhim.
Hewasquiteanoldlittlemanandhisheadwaslongandentirelybald.
“Why,”criedDorothy,inamazement,“it’sOz!”
Thelittlemanlookedtowardherandseemedasmuchsurprisedasshewas.Buthesmiledandbowedasheanswered:
“Yes,mydear;IamOz,theGreatandTerrible.Eh?AndyouarelittleDorothy,fromKansas.Irememberyouverywell.”
“Whodidyousayitwas?”whisperedZebtothegirl.
“It’sthewonderfulWizardofOz.Haven’tyouheardofhim?”
JustthenthemanwiththestarcameandstoodbeforetheWizard.
“Sir,”saidhe,“whyareyouhere,intheLandoftheMangaboos?”
“Didn’tknowwhatlanditwas,myson,”returnedtheother,withapleasantsmile;“and,tobehonest,Ididn’tmeantovisityouwhenIstartedout.
Iliveontopoftheearth,yourhonor,whichisfarbetterthanlivinginsideit;butyesterdayIwentupinaballoon,andwhenIcamedownIfellintoabigcrackintheearth,causedbyanearthquake.
IhadletsomuchgasoutofmyballoonthatIcouldnotriseagain,andinafewminutestheearthclosedovermyhead.
SoIcontinuedtodescenduntilIreachedthisplace,andifyouwillshowmeawaytogetoutofit,I’llgowithpleasure.
Sorrytohavetroubledyou;butitcouldn’tbehelped.”
ThePrincehadlistenedwithattention.Saidhe:
“Thischild,whoisfromthecrustoftheearth,likeyourself,calledyouaWizard.IsnotaWizardsomethinglikeaSorcerer?”
“It’sbetter,”repliedOz,promptly.“OneWizardisworththreeSorcerers.”
“Ah,youshallprovethat,”saidthePrince.
“WeMangabooshave,atthepresenttime,oneofthemostwonderfulSorcerersthateverwaspickedfromabush;buthesometimesmakesmistakes.Doyouevermakemistakes?”
“Never!”declaredtheWizard,boldly.
“Oh,Oz!”saidDorothy;“youmadealotofmistakeswhenyouwereinthemarvelousLandofOz.”
“Nonsense!”saidthelittleman,turningred—althoughjustthenarayofvioletsunlightwasonhisroundface.
“Comewithme,”saidthePrincetohim.“IwishyoumeetourSorcerer.”
TheWizarddidnotlikethisinvitation,buthecouldnotrefusetoacceptit.
SohefollowedthePrinceintothegreatdomedhall,andDorothyandZebcameafterthem,whilethethrongofpeopletroopedinalso.
TheresatthethornySorcererinhischairofstate,andwhentheWizardsawhimhebegantolaugh,utteringcomicallittlechuckles.
“Whatanabsurdcreature!”heexclaimed.
“Hemaylookabsurd,”saidthePrince,inhisquietvoice;“butheisanexcellentSorcerer.TheonlyfaultIfindwithhimisthatheissooftenwrong.”
“Iamneverwrong,”answeredtheSorcerer.
“OnlyashorttimeagoyoutoldmetherewouldbenomoreRainofStonesorofPeople,”saidthePrince.
“Well,whatthen?”
“Hereisanotherpersondescendedfromtheairtoproveyouwerewrong.”
“Onepersoncannotbecalled‘people,’”saidtheSorcerer.
“IftwoshouldcomeoutoftheskyyoumightwithjusticesayIwaswrong;butunlessmorethanthisoneappearsIwillholdthatIwasright.”
“Veryclever,”saidtheWizard,noddinghisheadasifpleased.“Iamdelightedtofindhumbugsinsidetheearth,justthesameasontopofit.Wereyoueverwithacircus,brother?”
“No,”saidtheSorcerer.
“Yououghttojoinone,”declaredthelittlemanseriously.
“IbelongtoBailum&Barney’sGreatConsolidatedShows—threeringsinonetentandamenagerieontheside.It’safineaggregation,Iassureyou.”
“Whatdoyoudo?”askedtheSorcerer.
“Igoupinaballoon,usually,todrawthecrowdstothecircus.
ButI’vejusthadthebadlucktocomeoutofthesky,skipthesolidearth,andlandlowerdownthanIintended.Butnevermind.
Itisn’teverybodywhogetsachancetoseeyourLandoftheGabazoos.”
“Mangaboos,”saidtheSorcerer,correctinghim.“IfyouareaWizardyououghttobeabletocallpeoplebytheirrightnames.”
“Oh,I’maWizard;youmaybesureofthat.JustasgoodaWizardasyouareaSorcerer.”
“Thatremainstobeseen,”saidtheother.
“Ifyouareabletoprovethatyouarebetter,”saidthePrincetothelittleman,“IwillmakeyoutheChiefWizardofthisdomain.Otherwise—”
“Whatwillhappenotherwise?”askedtheWizard.
“Iwillstopyoufromlivingandforbidyoutobeplanted,”returnedthePrince.
“Thatdoesnotsoundespeciallypleasant,”saidthelittleman,lookingattheonewiththestaruneasily.“Butnevermind.I’llbeatOldPrickly,allright.”
“MynameisGwig,”saidtheSorcerer,turninghisheartless,crueleyesuponhisrival.“LetmeseeyouequalthesorceryIamabouttoperform.”
Hewavedathornyhandandatoncethetinklingofbellswasheard,playingsweetmusic.Yet,lookwhereshewould,Dorothycoulddiscovernobellsatallinthegreatglasshall.
TheMangaboopeoplelistened,butshowednogreatinterest.ItwasoneofthethingsGwigusuallydidtoprovehewasasorcerer.
NowwastheWizard’sturn,sohesmiledupontheassemblageandasked:
“Willsomebodykindlyloanmeahat?”
Noonedid,becausetheMangaboosdidnotwearhats,andZebhadlosthis,somehow,inhisflightthroughtheair.
“Ahem!”saidtheWizard,“willsomebodypleaseloanmeahandkerchief?”
Buttheyhadnohandkerchiefs,either.
“Verygood,”remarkedtheWizard.“I’llusemyownhat,ifyouplease.Now,goodpeople,observemecarefully.
Yousee,thereisnothingupmysleeveandnothingconcealedaboutmyperson.Also,myhatisquiteempty.”
Hetookoffhishatandhelditupsidedown,shakingitbriskly.
“Letmeseeit,”saidtheSorcerer.
Hetookthehatandexamineditcarefully,returningitafterwardtotheWizard.
“Now,”saidthelittleman,“Iwillcreatesomethingoutofnothing.”
Heplacedthehatupontheglassfloor,madeapasswithhishand,andthenremovedthehat,displayingalittlewhitepigletnobiggerthanamouse,whichbegantorunaroundhereandthereandtogruntandsquealinatiny,shrillvoice.
Thepeoplewatcheditintently,fortheyhadneverseenapigbefore,bigorlittle.
TheWizardreachedout,caughttheweecreatureinhishand,andholdingitsheadbetweenonethumbandfingeranditstailbetweentheotherthumbandfingerhepulleditapart,eachofthetwopartsbecomingawholeandseparatepigletinaninstant.
Heplacedoneuponthefloor,sothatitcouldrunaround,andpulledaparttheother,makingthreepigletsinall;andthenoneofthesewaspulledapart,makingfourpiglets.
TheWizardcontinuedthissurprisingperformanceuntilninetinypigletswererunningaboutathisfeet,allsquealingandgruntinginaverycomicalway.
“Now,”saidtheWizardofOz,“havingcreatedsomethingfromnothing,Iwillmakesomethingnothingagain.”
Withthishecaughtuptwoofthepigletsandpushedthemtogether,sothatthetwowereone.
Thenhecaughtupanotherpigletandpusheditintothefirst,whereitdisappeared.
Andso,onebyone,theninetinypigletswerepushedtogetheruntilbutasingleoneofthecreaturesremained.
ThistheWizardplacedunderneathhishatandmadeamysticsignaboveit.
Whenheremovedhishatthelastpiglethaddisappearedentirely.
Thelittlemangaveabowtothesilentthrongthathadwatchedhim,andthenthePrincesaid,inhiscold,calmvoice:
“YouareindeedawonderfulWizard,andyourpowersaregreaterthanthoseofmySorcerer.”
“HewillnotbeawonderfulWizardlong,”remarkedGwig.
“Whynot?”enquiredtheWizard.
“BecauseIamgoingtostopyourbreath,”wasthereply.“Iperceivethatyouarecuriouslyconstructed,andthatifyoucannotbreatheyoucannotkeepalive.”
Thelittlemanlookedtroubled.
“Howlongwillittakeyoutostopmybreath?”heasked.
“Aboutfiveminutes.I’mgoingtobeginnow.Watchmecarefully.”
HebeganmakingqueersignsandpassestowardtheWizard;butthelittlemandidnotwatchhimlong.
Instead,hedrewaleatherncasefromhispocketandtookfromitseveralsharpknives,whichhejoinedtogether,oneafteranother,untiltheymadealongsword.
Bythetimehehadattachedahandletothisswordhewashavingmuchtroubletobreathe,asthecharmoftheSorcererwasbeginningtotakeeffect.
SotheWizardlostnomoretime,butleapingforwardheraisedthesharpsword,whirleditonceortwicearoundhishead,andthengaveamightystrokethatcutthebodyoftheSorcererexactlyintwo.
Dorothyscreamedandexpectedtoseeaterriblesight;butasthetwohalvesoftheSorcererfellapartonthefloorshesawthathehadnobonesorbloodinsideofhimatall,andthattheplacewherehewascutlookedmuchlikeaslicedturniporpotato.
“Why,he’svegetable!”criedtheWizard,astonished.
“Ofcourse,”saidthePrince.“Weareallvegetable,inthiscountry.Areyounotvegetable,also?”
“No,”answeredtheWizard.“Peopleontopoftheearthareallmeat.WillyourSorcererdie?”
“Certainly,sir.Heisreallydeadnow,andwillwitherveryquickly.Sowemustplanthimatonce,thatotherSorcerersmaygrowuponhisbush,”continuedthePrince.
“Whatdoyoumeanbythat?”askedthelittleWizard,greatlypuzzled.
“Ifyouwillaccompanymetoourpublicgardens,”repliedthePrince,“IwillexplaintoyoumuchbetterthanIcanherethemysteriesofourVegetableKingdom.”
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