Ellie woke up because the dog was licking her face with a hot, wet tongue and whining. At first it seemed to her that she had seen an amazing dream, and Ellie was about to tell her mother about it. But, seeing the overturned chairs and the stove lying on the floor, Ellie realized that everything was real.
The girl jumped out of bed. The house didn't move. The sun was shining brightly through the window.
Ellie ran to the door, opened it and screamed in surprise.
The hurricane brought the house into a land of extraordinary beauty: a green lawn spread around; along its edges grew trees with ripe, juicy fruits; in the clearings one could see flower beds of beautiful pink, white and blue flowers. Tiny birds fluttered in the air, sparkling with their bright plumage. Golden-green and red-breasted parrots sat on tree branches and screamed in high, strange voices. Not far away, a clear stream gurgled and silver fish frolicked in the water.
While the girl stood hesitantly on the threshold, the funniest and sweetest people imaginable appeared from behind the trees. The men, dressed in blue velvet caftans and tight trousers, were no taller than Ellie; blue boots with cuffs glittered on their feet. But most of all, Ellie liked the pointed hats: their tops were decorated with crystal balls, and small bells tinkled gently under the wide brims.
An old woman in a white robe walked importantly in front of the three men; Tiny stars sparkled on her pointed hat and on her robe. The old woman's gray hair fell onto her shoulders.
In the distance, behind the fruit trees, a whole crowd of small men and women could be seen; they stood whispering and exchanging glances, but did not dare to come closer.
Approaching the girl, these timid little people smiled welcomingly and somewhat fearfully at Ellie, but the old woman looked at Ellie with obvious bewilderment. The three men moved forward together and took off their hats at once. "Ding-ding-ding!" - the bells rang. Ellie noticed that the little men's jaws were constantly moving, as if chewing something.
The old woman turned to Ellie:
Tell me, how did you end up in the land of the Munchkins, dear child?
“I was brought here by a hurricane in this house,” Ellie answered timidly.
Strange, very strange! - The old woman shook her head. - Now you will understand my bewilderment. Here is how it was. I learned that the evil sorceress Gingema had lost her mind and wanted to destroy the human race and populate the earth with rats and snakes. And I had to use all my magical art...
How, madam! - Ellie exclaimed with fear. -Are you a sorceress? But why did my mother tell me that there are no wizards now?
Where does your mom live?
In Kansas.
“I’ve never heard such a name,” said the sorceress, pursing her lips. - But, no matter what your mother says, wizards and sages live in this country. There were four of us sorceresses here. Two of us - the sorceress of the Yellow Country (that's me - Villina!) and the sorceress of the Pink Country Stella - are kind. And the sorceress of the Blue Country, Gingema, and the sorceress of the Purple Country, Bastinda, are very evil. Your house was crushed by Gingema, and now there is only one evil sorceress left in our country.
Ellie was amazed. How could she, a little girl who had never killed even a sparrow in her life, destroy the evil sorceress?!
Ellie said:
You are, of course, mistaken: I didn’t kill anyone.
“I don’t blame you for this,” the sorceress Villina calmly objected. - After all, it was I, in order to save people from trouble, who deprived the hurricane of its destructive power and allowed it to capture only one house in order to throw it on the head of the insidious Gingema, because I read in my magic book that it is always empty during a storm...
Ellie answered embarrassedly:
It's true, madam, during hurricanes we hide in the cellar, but I ran to the house for my dog...
My magic book could not have foreseen such a reckless act! - the sorceress Villina was upset. - So, this little beast is to blame for everything...
Totoshka, aw-aw, with your permission, madam! - the dog suddenly intervened in the conversation. - Yes, I sadly admit, it’s all my fault...
How did you start talking, Toto!? - Ellie screamed in surprise.
I don’t know how it happens, Ellie, but, aw-aw, human words involuntarily fly out of my mouth...
You see, Ellie,” Villina explained, “in this wonderful country, not only people talk, but also all animals and even birds. Look around, do you like our country?
“She’s not bad, madam,” Ellie answered, “but we’re better at home.” Should you look at our barnyard! You should look at our Pestryanka, madam! No, I want to return to my homeland, to my dad and mom...
“It’s hardly possible,” said the sorceress. - Our country is separated from the whole world by desert and huge mountains, through which not a single person has passed. I'm afraid, my baby, that you will have to stay with us.
Ellie's eyes filled with tears. The good Munchkins were very upset and also began to cry, wiping their tears with blue handkerchiefs. The munchkins took off their hats and placed them on the ground so that the ringing of the bells would not interfere with their sobbing.
And you won't help me at all? - Ellie asked sadly.
Oh yes,” Villina realized, “I completely forgot that my magic book was with me.” You need to look into it: maybe I’ll read something useful for you there...
Villina took out from the folds of her clothes a tiny book the size of a thimble. The sorceress blew on her, and in front of the surprised and slightly frightened Ellie, the book began to grow, grow and turned into a huge volume. It was so heavy that the old woman laid it on a large stone. Villina looked at the pages of the book, and they turned over under her gaze.
Found it, found it! - the sorceress suddenly exclaimed and began to slowly read: “Bambara, chufara, skoriki, moriki, turabo, furabo, loriki, yoriki... The great wizard Goodwin will return home the little girl brought to his country by a hurricane if she helps three creatures achieve fulfillment their most cherished desires, pikapu, trikapu, botalo, dangled..."
Pikapoo, trikapoo, botalo, moto... - the Munchkins repeated in holy horror.
Who is Goodwin? - Ellie asked.
“Oh, this is the greatest sage of our country,” whispered the old woman. - He is more powerful than all of us and lives in the Emerald City.
Is he evil or good?
Nobody knows this. But don’t be afraid, find three creatures, fulfill their cherished desires, and the wizard of the Emerald City will help you return to your country!
Where is the Emerald City? - Ellie asked.
It is in the center of the country. The great sage and wizard Goodwin himself built it and manages it. But he surrounded himself with extraordinary mystery, and no one saw him after the construction of the city, and it ended many, many years ago.
How will I get to the Emerald City?
The road is long. Not everywhere the country is as good as it is here. There are dark forests with terrible animals, there are fast rivers - crossing them is dangerous...
Won't you come with me? - asked the girl.
No, my child,” answered Villina. - I can’t leave the Yellow Country for a long time. You must go alone. The road to the Emerald City is paved with yellow brick, and you won't get lost. When you come to Goodwin, ask him for help...
How long will I have to live here, madam? - Ellie asked, lowering her head.
“I don’t know,” Villina answered. - Nothing is said about this in my magic book. Go, search, fight! I will look into the magic book from time to time to know how you are doing... Farewell, my dear!
Villina leaned towards the huge book, and it immediately shrank to the size of a thimble and disappeared into the folds of her robe. A whirlwind came, it became dark, and when the darkness dissipated, Villina was no longer there: the sorceress had disappeared. Ellie and the Munchkins trembled with fear, and the bells on the little people's hats rang of their own accord.
When everyone had calmed down a little, the bravest of the Munchkins, their foreman, turned to Ellie:
Powerful fairy! Welcome to the Blue Country! You killed the evil Gingema and freed the Munchkins!
Ellie said:
You are very kind, but there is a mistake: I am not a fairy. And you heard that my house fell on Gingema on the orders of the sorceress Villina...
“We don’t believe this,” Sergeant Major Zhevunov stubbornly objected. - We heard your conversation with the good sorceress, botalo, motalo, but we think that you are a powerful fairy. After all, only fairies can travel through the air in their houses, and only a fairy could free us from Gingema, the evil sorceress of the Blue Country. Gingema ruled us for many years and forced us to work day and night...
She made us work day and night! - the Munchkins said in unison.
She ordered us to catch spiders and bats, collect frogs and leeches from the ditches. These were her favorite foods...
And we,” the Munchkins cried, “we are very afraid of spiders and leeches!”
What are you crying about? - Ellie asked. - After all, all this has passed!
True true! - The munchkins laughed together, and the bells on their hats jingled merrily.
Mighty Mistress Ellie! - the foreman spoke. - Do you want to become our mistress instead of Gingema? We are sure that you are very kind and will not punish us too often!..
No,” Ellie objected, “I’m only a little girl and I’m not fit to be the ruler of the country.” If you want to help me, give me the opportunity to fulfill your deepest desires!
Our only desire was to get rid of the evil Gingema, pikapoo, trikapoo! But your house is crap! crack! - crushed it, and we have no more desires!.. - said the foreman.
Then I have nothing to do here. I will go looking for those who have desires. Only my shoes are very old and torn, they won’t last a long way. Really, Toto? - Ellie turned to the dog.
Of course they won’t stand it,” Totoshka agreed. - But don’t worry, Ellie, I saw something nearby and I’ll help you!
You? - the girl was surprised.
Yes I! - Toto answered proudly and disappeared behind the trees. A minute later he returned with a beautiful silver shoe in his teeth and solemnly laid it at Ellie’s feet. A gold buckle glittered on the shoe.
Where did you get it from? - Ellie was amazed.
I'll tell you now! - answered the out of breath dog, disappeared and returned again with another shoe.
How lovely! - Ellie said admiringly and tried on the shoes: they fit her feet just right, as if they were tailored for her.
“When I was running on reconnaissance,” Totoshka began importantly, “I saw behind the trees a large black hole in the mountain...
Ah ah ah! - The Munchkins screamed in horror. - After all, this is the entrance to the cave of the evil sorceress Gingema! And you dared to enter there?..
What's so scary about that? After all, Gingema died! - objected Totoshka.
You must be a wizard too! - the foreman said with fear; all the other Munchkins nodded their heads in agreement, and the bells under their hats rang in unison.
It was there, entering this cave, as you call it, that I saw many funny and strange things, but most of all I liked the shoes standing at the entrance. Some big birds with scary yellow eyes tried to stop me from taking the shoes, but will Toto be afraid of anything when he wants to serve his Ellie?
Oh, my dear daredevil! - Ellie exclaimed and gently pressed the dog to her chest. - In these shoes I can walk tirelessly as long as I want...
It’s very good that you received the shoes of the evil Gingema,” the elder Munchkin interrupted her. “They seem to have magical powers because Gingema only wore them on the most important occasions.” But what kind of power this is, we don’t know... And you are still leaving us, dear Mrs. Ellie? - the foreman asked with a sigh. - Then we'll bring you something to eat on the way...
The munchkins left and Ellie was left alone. She found a piece of bread in the house and ate it on the bank of the stream, washing it down with clear cold water. Then she began to get ready for a long journey, and Toto ran under the tree and tried to grab a noisy motley parrot sitting on a lower branch, who was teasing him all the time.
Ellie got out of the van, carefully closed the door and wrote on it in chalk: “I’m not at home.”
Meanwhile, the Munchkins returned. They brought in enough food to last Ellie for several years. There were lambs, roasted geese and ducks, fruit baskets...
Ellie said with a laugh:
Well, where do I need so much, my friends?
She put some bread and fruit in the basket, said goodbye to the Munchkins and boldly set off on a long journey with the cheerful Toto.
Not far from the house there was a crossroads: several roads diverged here. Ellie chose the road paved with yellow bricks and walked briskly along it. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the little girl, abandoned in an amazing foreign country, felt quite good.
The road was bordered on both sides by beautiful blue hedges, beyond which began cultivated fields. Here and there you could see round houses. Their roofs looked like the pointed hats of Munchkins. Crystal balls sparkled on the roofs. The houses were painted blue.
Little men and women worked in the fields: they took off their hats and bowed warmly to Ellie. After all, now every Munchkin knew that the girl in the silver shoes liberated their country from the evil sorceress, lowering her house - crack! crack! - right on her head. All the Munchkins that Ellie met on the way looked at Toto with fearful surprise and, hearing his barking, covered their ears. When the cheerful dog ran up to one of the Munchkins, he ran away from him at full speed: there were no dogs at all in Goodwin’s country.
In the evening, when Ellie was hungry and was thinking about where to spend the night, she saw a large house by the road. Little men and women danced on the front lawn. The musicians played diligently on small violins and flutes. Children were frolicking right there, so tiny that Ellie’s eyes widened in amazement: they looked like dolls. On the terrace there were long tables with vases full of fruits, nuts, sweets, delicious pies and large cakes.
Seeing Ellie, a handsome tall old man came out from the crowd of dancers (he was a whole finger taller than Ellie!) and said with a bow:
My friends and I are celebrating today the liberation of our country from the evil sorceress. Do I dare ask the powerful fairy of the Killing House to take part in our feast?
Why do you think I'm a fairy? - Ellie asked.
You crushed the evil sorceress Gingema - crack! crack! - like an empty eggshell; you are wearing her magic shoes; with you is an amazing beast, the likes of which we have never seen, and, according to the stories of our friends, he is also gifted with magical powers...
Ellie was unable to object to this and went after the old man, whose name was Prem Kokus. She was greeted like a queen, and the bells rang incessantly, and there were endless dances, and a great many cakes were eaten and countless quantities of soft drinks were drunk, and the whole evening passed so cheerfully and pleasantly that Ellie remembered about dad and mom only as she fell asleep in bed.
In the morning after a hearty breakfast, she asked the Caucus:
How far is it from here to the Emerald City?
“I don’t know,” the old man answered thoughtfully. - I've never been there. It's best to stay away from the Great Goodwin, especially if you don't have important business with him. And the road to the Emerald City is long and difficult. You will have to cross dark forests and cross fast, deep rivers.
Ellie was a little sad, but she knew that only the Great Goodwin would bring her back to Kansas, so she said goodbye to her friends and set off again along the yellow brick road.
Scarecrow
Ellie had been walking for several hours and was tired. She sat down to rest by a blue hedge, beyond which lay a field of ripe wheat.
There was a long pole near the fence, with a straw effigy sticking out on it to drive away the birds. The head of the stuffed animal was made of a bag filled with straw, with eyes and a mouth painted on it, so that it looked like a funny human face. The scarecrow was dressed in a worn blue caftan; Here and there straw stuck out from the holes in the caftan. On his head was an old, shabby hat, from which the bells had been cut off, and on his feet were old blue boots, such as men wore in this country.
The scarecrow had a funny and at the same time good-natured appearance.
Ellie carefully examined the funny painted face of the stuffed animal and was surprised to see that it suddenly winked at her with its right eye. She decided that she had imagined it: after all, scarecrows never blink in Kansas. But the figure nodded its head with the most friendly look.
Ellie was frightened, and the brave Toto, barking, attacked the fence, behind which there was a pole with a scarecrow.
Good night! - the scarecrow said in a slightly hoarse voice.
You can speak? - Ellie was surprised.
“Not very good,” the scarecrow admitted. - I still confuse some words, because they did this to me recently. How are you?
OK, thank you! Tell me, do you have a cherished desire?
I have? Oh, I have a whole bunch of desires! - And the scarecrow began to list quickly: - Firstly, I need silver bells for my hat, secondly, I need new boots, thirdly...
Oh, enough, enough! - Ellie interrupted. -Which of them is the most cherished?
The best? - The scarecrow thought. - To impale me!
“You’re already sitting on a stake,” Ellie laughed.
“But indeed,” the scarecrow agreed. - You see what a traveler I am... that is, no, a confusion. So, I need to be removed. It’s very boring to hang around here day and night and scare the nasty crows, who, by the way, are not afraid of me at all.
Ellie tilted the stake and, grabbing the scarecrow with both hands, pulled it off.
“Extremely conscious... that is, grateful,” the scarecrow panted, finding himself on the ground. - I feel like a new person. If only I could get silver bells for my hat and new boots!
The scarecrow carefully straightened his caftan, shook off the straws and, shuffling his foot on the ground, introduced himself to the girl:
Scarecrow!
What are you saying? - Ellie didn’t understand.
I say: Scarecrow. That's what they called me: after all, I have to scare the crows. And what is your name?
Beautiful name! - said the Scarecrow.
Ellie looked at him in surprise. She could not understand how a scarecrow stuffed with straw and with a painted face could walk and talk.
But then Totoshka became indignant and exclaimed indignantly:
Why don't you say hello to me?
“Oh, it’s my fault, it’s my fault,” the Scarecrow apologized and firmly shook the dog’s paw. - I have the honor to introduce myself: Scarecrow!
Very nice! And I'm Toto! But close friends are allowed to call me Toto!
Ah, Scarecrow, how glad I am that I fulfilled your most cherished wish! - Ellie said.
Sorry, Ellie,” the Scarecrow shuffled his foot again, “but it turns out I was mistaken.” My most cherished desire is to get brains!
Well, yes, brains. Very good... sorry, it’s unpleasant when your head is stuffed with straw...
Aren't you ashamed to lie? - Ellie asked reproachfully.
What does it mean to deceive? I was only made yesterday, and I don’t know anything...
How did you know that you have straw in your head, but people have brains?
One crow told me this when I was quarreling with her. It was like this, you see, Ellie. This morning a large, disheveled crow flew near me and not so much pecked at the wheat as knocked the grains out of it onto the ground. Then she cheekily sat on my shoulder and pecked me on the cheek. “Kaggi-karr!” the crow shouted mockingly. “What a scarecrow! He’s no use at all! What kind of eccentric farmer thought that we crows would be afraid of him?..”
You understand, Ellie, I laughed terribly... that is, I got angry, and tried my best to speak. And what was my joy when I succeeded. But, of course, it didn’t work out very well for me at first.
“Psh... psh... go away, you disgusting one!” I shouted. “Ns... ns... Don’t you dare peck at me! I even managed to deftly throw the crow off my shoulder by grabbing its wing with my hand.
The crow, however, was not at all embarrassed and began brazenly pecking at the ears of corn right in front of me.
“Eka, I’m surprised!” she said. “I don’t know for sure that in the country of Goodwin even a scarecrow can speak if he really wants to! But still, I’m not afraid of you! You won’t get off the pole!”
“Psh... psh... Psh! Oh, wretched me,” I almost laughed... forgive me, I sobbed. “Really, what good am I? I can’t even protect a field from crows! And I don’t say words all the time.” those that are needed."
For all its impudence, that crow was, apparently, a kind bird,” continued the Scarecrow. - She felt sorry for me.
“Don’t be so sad!” she told me hoarsely. “If you had brains in your head, you would be like all people! Brains are the only worthwhile thing for a crow... And for a person!”
That's how I learned that people have brains, but I don't. I sadly... that is, cheerfully, shouted: “Hey-hey-hey-go! Long live the brains! I’ll definitely get them for myself!..” But the crow is a very capricious bird, and it immediately cooled my joy.
“Kaggi-karr!...” she laughed. “If there are no brains, it won’t happen! Karr-karr!..” “And she flew away, and soon you and Toto came,” the Scarecrow finished his story. - Now, Ellie, tell me: can you give me brains?
No, what are you talking about! Only Goodwin in the Emerald City can do this. I’m just going to him to ask him to return me to Kansas, to my dad and mom.
Where is the Emerald City, and who is Goodwin?
Do not you know?
No,” answered the Scarecrow sadly. - I do not know anything. You see, I'm stuffed with straw, and I have no brains at all.
Oh, how I feel sorry for you! - the girl sighed.
Thank you! And if I go with you to the Emerald City, will Goodwin definitely give me brains?
Don't know. But even if the great Goodwin doesn’t give you brains, it won’t be any worse than now.
“That’s right,” said the Scarecrow. “You see,” he continued trustingly, “I cannot be hurt, since I am stuffed with straw.” You can poke a needle right through me and it won't hurt me. But I don’t want people to call me stupid, and without brains, can you learn anything?
Poor! - Ellie said. - Go with us! I'll ask Goodwin to help you.
Hello! Oh thank you! - The Scarecrow corrected himself and bowed again.
Really, for a scarecrow who had lived only one day in the world, he was surprisingly polite.
The girl helped the Scarecrow take the first two steps, and together they walked to the Emerald City along the road paved with yellow bricks.
At first Totoshka did not like his new companion. He ran around the stuffed animal and sniffed it, believing that there was a mouse nest in the straw inside the caftan.
He barked unfriendly at the Scarecrow and pretended to want to bite him.
“Don’t be afraid of Toto,” said Ellie. - He won't bite.
Yes, I'm not afraid! Is it possible to bite straw? Let me carry your basket. It’s not difficult for me - I can’t get tired. “I’ll tell you a secret,” he whispered in the girl’s ear in his hoarse voice, “there is only one thing in the world that I am afraid of.”
ABOUT! - Ellie exclaimed. - What is it? Mouse?
No! Burning match!
After a few hours the road became rough; The Scarecrow often stumbled. There were holes. Toto jumped over them, and Ellie walked around. But the Scarecrow walked straight, fell and stretched out to his full length. He didn't hurt himself. Ellie took him by the hand, lifted him, and the Scarecrow walked on, laughing at his awkwardness.
Then Ellie picked up a thick branch from the edge of the road and offered it to the Scarecrow instead of a cane. Then things went better, and the Scarecrow's gait became firmer.
Houses became less and less common, fruit trees completely disappeared. The country became deserted and gloomy.
The travelers sat down by the stream. Ellie took out some bread and offered a piece to the Scarecrow, but he politely declined.
I'm never hungry. And this is very convenient for me.
Ellie did not insist and gave the piece to Toto; the dog greedily swallowed it and stood on its hind legs, asking for more.
Tell me about yourself, Ellie, about your country,” the Scarecrow asked.
Ellie talked for a long time about the wide Kansas steppe, where in the summer everything is so gray and dusty and everything is completely different from this amazing country of Goodwin.
The Scarecrow listened attentively.
I don't understand why you want to go back to your dry and dusty Kansas.
“The reason you don’t understand is that you have no brains,” the girl answered hotly. - Home is always better!
The Scarecrow smiled slyly.
The straw with which I am stuffed grew in the field, the caftan was made by a tailor, and the boots were made by a shoemaker. Where is my home? In the field, at the tailor's or at the shoemaker's?
Ellie was confused and didn’t know what to answer.
They sat in silence for several minutes.
Maybe now you can tell me something? - asked the girl.
The Scarecrow looked at her reproachfully.
My life is so short that I don't know anything. After all, I was only made yesterday, and I have no idea what happened before in the world. Fortunately, when the owner made me, he first of all drew my ears, and I could hear what was going on around me. Another Munchkin was visiting the owner, and the first thing I heard was his words: “But the ears are big!”
"Nothing! Just right!" - the owner answered and drew my right eye.
And I began to look with curiosity at everything that was happening around me, because - you understand - this was the first time I looked at the world.
“A suitable peephole!” said the guest. “I didn’t spare the blue paint!”
“I think the other one came out a little bigger,” said the owner, having finished drawing my second eye.
Then he made me a nose out of a patch and drew a mouth, but I still couldn’t speak because I didn’t know why I had a mouth. The owner put on me his old suit and hat, from which the children cut the bells. I was terribly proud. I felt like I looked like a real person.
“This guy will be wonderful at scaring crows,” said the farmer.
"You know what? Call him Scarecrow!" - the guest advised, and the owner agreed.
The farmer's children shouted joyfully: "Scarecrow! Scarecrow! Scare the crows!"
They carried me to the field, pierced me with a pole and left me alone. It was boring hanging there, but I couldn’t get down. Yesterday the birds were still afraid of me, but today they are already used to it. Here I met a kind crow who told me about brains. It would be nice if Goodwin gave them to me...
“I think he’ll help you,” Ellie encouraged him.
Yes Yes! It's uncomfortable to feel like a fool when even the crows laugh at you.
Let's go! - Ellie said, stood up and handed the Scarecrow a basket.
Towards evening the travelers entered a large forest. The branches of the trees hung low and blocked the road paved with yellow brick. The sun had set and it became completely dark.
If you see a house where you can spend the night, tell me,” Ellie asked in a sleepy voice. - It’s very uncomfortable and scary to walk in the dark.
Soon the Scarecrow stopped.
I see a small hut on the right. Let's go there?
Yes Yes! - Ellie answered. - I am so tired!..
They turned off the road and soon reached the hut. Ellie found a bed of moss and dry grass in the corner and immediately fell asleep, hugging Toto. And the Scarecrow sat on the threshold, protecting the peace of the inhabitants of the hut.
It turned out that the Scarecrow was not in vain. At night, some animal with white stripes on its back and a black pig's muzzle tried to enter the hut. Most likely, he was attracted by the smell of food from Ellie’s basket, but it seemed to the Scarecrow that Ellie was in great danger. He, hiding, allowed the enemy to the very door (this enemy was a young badger, which the Scarecrow, of course, did not know). And when the badger had already stuck his curious nose through the door, sniffing the tempting smell, the Scarecrow hit him on his fat back with a twig. The badger howled, rushed into the thicket of the forest, and for a long time his offended squeal could be heard from behind the trees...
The rest of the night passed calmly: the forest animals realized that the hut had a reliable defender. And the Scarecrow, who was never tired and never wanted to sleep, sat on the threshold, staring into the darkness and patiently waiting for the morning.
Tin Woodman Rescue
Ellie woke up. The Scarecrow was sitting on the threshold, and Toto was chasing squirrels in the forest.
“We need to look for water,” said the girl.
Why do you need water?
Wash and drink. The dry piece does not go down the throat.
Phew, how inconvenient it is to be made of meat and bones! - the Scarecrow said thoughtfully. - You must sleep, eat, and drink. However, you have brains, and for them you can endure all this heap of inconvenience.
They found a stream, and Ellie and Toto had breakfast. There was still some bread left in the basket. Ellie was about to walk towards the road when she suddenly heard a groan in the forest.
What is this? - she asked with fear.
“I have no idea,” answered the Scarecrow. - Let's go have a look.
The groan came again. They began to make their way through the thicket. Soon they saw a figure among the trees. Ellie ran up and stopped with a cry of amazement.
Standing near a chopped tree with an ax held high in his hands was a man made entirely of iron. His head, arms and legs were attached to the iron body on hinges; there was a copper funnel on his head instead of a hat, and an iron tie around his neck. The man stood motionless, eyes wide open.
Toto, with a furious bark, tried to bite the stranger on the leg and jumped back with a squeal: he almost broke his teeth.
What a disgrace, aw-aw-aw! - he complained. - Is it possible to expose a decent dog to iron legs?..
Perhaps this is a forest scarecrow? - guessed the Scarecrow. “I just don’t understand what it’s protecting here?”
Was it you who moaned? - Ellie asked.
Yes... - answered the iron man. - For a whole year no one has come to help me...
What needs to be done? - Ellie asked, touched by the stranger’s plaintive voice.
My joints are rusty and I can't move. But if you lubricate me, I'll be as good as new. You will find the oil can on the shelf in my hut.
Ellie and Toto ran away, and the Scarecrow walked around the Tin Woodman and looked at him with curiosity.
Tell me, friend,” asked the Scarecrow, “is a year long?”
Still would! A year is a long time, a very long time! This is a whole three hundred and sixty-five days!..
Three hundred... sixty... five... - repeated the Scarecrow. - What, is this more than three?
How stupid you are! - answered the Woodcutter. - You obviously don’t know how to count at all!
You're wrong! - the Scarecrow objected proudly. - I can count very well! - And he began to count, bending his fingers: - The owner made me - once! I quarreled with a crow - two! Ellie took me off the stake - three! And nothing else happened to me, which means there’s no need to count further!
The Tin Woodman was so surprised that he could not even object. At this time Ellie brought an oil can.
Where to lubricate? - she asked.
First the neck,” answered the Tin Woodman.
And Ellie lubricated the neck, but it was so rusty that the Scarecrow had to turn the Woodcutter’s head left and right for a long time until the neck stopped creaking...
Now please, hands!
And Ellie began to lubricate the joints of her hands, and the Scarecrow carefully raised and lowered the Woodcutter's hands until they were truly as good as new. Then the Tin Woodman took a deep breath and threw down his axe.
Wow, how good! - he said. “I picked up the ax before it rusted, and I’m very glad that I can get rid of it.” Well, now give me the oil can, I’ll lubricate my feet, and everything will be fine.
Having lubricated his legs so that he could move them freely, the Tin Woodman thanked Ellie many times, because he was very polite.
I would stand here until I turned to iron dust. You saved my life. Who you are?
I'm Ellie and these are my friends...
Scarecrow! I'm stuffed with straw!
It’s not hard to guess from your conversations,” noted the Tin Woodman. - But how did you get here?
We are going to the Emerald City to see the Great Wizard Goodwin and spent the night in your hut.
Why are you going to Goodwin?
“I want Goodwin to take me back to Kansas, to my mom and dad,” Ellie said.
“And I want to ask him for a little brain for my straw head,” said the Scarecrow.
And I’m going simply because I love Ellie, and because my duty is to protect her from her enemies! - said Totoshka.
The Tin Woodman was deep in thought.
Do you think Goodwin can give me a heart?
“I think it can,” answered Ellie. “It’s no more difficult for him than giving the Scarecrow brains.”
So, if you accept me into your company, I will go with you to the Emerald City and ask Great Goodwin to give me a heart. After all, having a heart is my most cherished desire!
Ellie exclaimed joyfully:
Oh, my friends, how glad I am! Now there are two of you, and you have two cherished desires!
“Let’s swim... that is, come with us,” the Scarecrow agreed good-naturedly...
The Tin Woodman asked Ellie to fill the oil can to the top with oil and put it on the bottom of the basket.
“I can get caught in the rain and get rusty,” he said, “and without an oil can I’ll have a bad time...
Then he picked up the ax and they walked through the forest to the road paved with yellow bricks.
It was great happiness for Ellie and the Scarecrow to find such a companion as the Tin Woodman, strong and dexterous.
When the Woodcutter noticed that the Scarecrow was leaning on a gnarled, knotty club, he immediately cut a straight branch from the tree and made a comfortable, strong cane for his friend.
Soon the travelers came to a place where the road was overgrown with bushes and became impassable. But the Tin Woodman got his huge ax to work and quickly cleared the way.
Ellie walked lost in thought and did not notice how the Scarecrow fell into the hole. He had to call friends for help.
Why didn't you go around? - asked the Tin Woodman.
Don't know! - the Scarecrow answered sincerely. - You see, my head is full of straw, and I’m going to Goodwin to ask for some brains.
So! - said the Woodcutter. - In any case, brains are not the best thing in the world.
Here's another! - The Scarecrow was surprised. - Why do you think so?
“I used to have brains,” explained the Tin Woodman. “But now, when I have to choose between my brains and my heart, I prefer my heart.”
And why? - asked the Scarecrow.
Listen to my story and then you will understand everything.
And as they walked, the Tin Woodman told them his story:
I'm a woodcutter. As an adult, I decided to get married. I fell in love with one pretty girl with all my heart, and then I was still meat and bones, like all people. But the evil aunt, with whom the girl lived, did not want to part with her, because the girl worked for her. The aunt went to the sorceress Gingema and promised her to collect a whole basket of the fattest leeches if she upset the wedding...
The evil Gingema has been killed! - interrupted the Scarecrow.
Ellie! She arrived on the Killing House and - crack! crack! - sat on the sorceress’s head.
It's a shame this didn't happen sooner! - the Tin Woodman sighed and continued: - Gingema enchanted my ax, it bounced off the tree and cut off my left leg. I was very sad: after all, without a leg I could not be a woodcutter. I went to a blacksmith and he made me a beautiful iron leg. Gingema again enchanted my ax and it cut off my right leg. I went to the blacksmith again. The girl still loved me and did not refuse to marry me. "We'll save a lot on boots and trousers!" - she told me. However, the evil sorceress did not calm down: after all, she really wanted to get a whole basket of leeches. I lost my hands, and the blacksmith made me iron ones. When the ax cut off my head, I thought it was the end for me. But the blacksmith found out about this and made me an excellent iron head. I continued to work, and my girlfriend and I still loved each other...
It means they made you in pieces,” the Scarecrow remarked thoughtfully. - And my master made me...
The worst is yet to come,” the Woodcutter continued sadly. - The insidious Gingema, seeing that nothing was working out for her, decided to finally finish me off. She enchanted the ax again, and it cut my torso in half. But, fortunately, the blacksmith found out about this again, made an iron torso and attached my head, arms and legs to it on hinges. But - alas! - I no longer had a heart: the blacksmith was unable to insert it. And I thought that I, a man without a heart, had no right to love a girl. I gave my fiancée her word back and declared that she was free of her promise. For some reason, the strange girl was not at all happy about this, she said that she loved me as before and would wait for me to come to my senses. I don’t know what’s wrong with her now, because I haven’t seen her for over a year...
The Tin Woodman sighed and tears rolled down from his eyes.
Be careful! - The Scarecrow cried in fright and wiped his tears with a blue handkerchief. - After all, you will rust from tears!
Thank you my friend! - said the Woodcutter, - I forgot that I can’t cry. Water is harmful to me in all forms... So, I was proud of my new, iron body and was no longer afraid of the enchanted ax. I was only afraid of rust, but I always carried an oil can with me. Only once I forgot it, I got caught in a rainstorm and became so rusty that I couldn’t move until you saved me. I am sure that this downpour was brought down on me by the insidious Gingema... Oh, how terrible it is to stand in the forest for a whole year and think that you have no heart!
“This can only be compared to being stuck on a stake in the middle of a wheat field,” the Scarecrow interrupted him. - But, it’s true, people walked past me, and you could talk to the crows...
“When I was loved, I was the happiest person,” continued the Tin Woodman, sighing. - If Goodwin gives me a heart, I will return to the country of Munchkins and marry a girl. Maybe she's still waiting for me...
“But I,” said the Scarecrow stubbornly, “still prefer brains: after all, when there are no brains, then the heart is of no use.”
Well, I need a heart! - objected the Tin Woodman. - Brains do not make a person happy, and happiness is the best thing on earth.
Ellie was silent because she didn’t know which of her new friends was right.
Ellie is captured by the Ogre
The forest became darker. The branches of the trees, intertwined at the top, did not allow the sun's rays to pass through. It was semi-dark on the yellow brick road.
We walked until late in the evening. Ellie was very tired, and the Tin Woodman took her in his arms. The Scarecrow trailed behind, bending under the weight of the axe.
Finally we stopped for the night. The Tin Woodman made a cozy hut from branches for Ellie. He and the Scarecrow sat all night at the entrance to the hut, listening to the girl’s breathing and guarding her sleep.
The new friends chatted quietly. The conversation was beneficial for the Scarecrow. Although he did not yet have a brain, he turned out to be very capable, memorized new words well and made fewer and fewer mistakes in conversation every hour.
In the morning we set off again. The road became more cheerful: the trees again retreated to the sides, and the sun brightly illuminated the yellow bricks.
Someone apparently took care of the road here: twigs and branches knocked down by the wind were collected and neatly stacked along the edges of the road.
The area looked so peaceful and welcoming, the yellow bricks so warm in the sun that Ellie wanted to walk on them barefoot. The girl took off her silver shoes, brushed off the road dust and hid them in her bag, carefully wrapping them in a large burdock leaf.
Ellie walked cheerfully along the warm bricks and looked ahead. Suddenly she noticed a tall pole on the edge of the road and on it a board with the inscription:
Traveler, hurry up!
Around the bend the road will be fulfilled
all your wishes!
Ellie read the inscription and was surprised:
What is this? Will I go straight from here to Kansas, to my mom and dad?
And I,” Totoshka picked up, “will beat up neighbor Hector, this braggart who claims that he is stronger than me!”
Ellie was delighted, forgot about everything in the world and rushed forward. Toto ran after her barking cheerfully.
The Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow, carried away by the same interesting debate about which is better - the heart or the brains, did not notice that Ellie had run away, and walked peacefully along the road. Suddenly they heard the scream of a girl and the angry bark of Toto. Friends rushed to the scene and managed to notice how something shaggy and dark flashed among the trees and disappeared into the thicket of the forest. In the middle of the road, Ella’s bag was lying forlornly, and in it were the silver shoes that the girl had so unwisely taken off. An unconscious Toto lay near the tree, streams of blood flowing from his nostrils.
What's happened? - the Scarecrow asked sadly. - Ellie must have been carried away by a predatory animal.
The Tin Woodman said nothing: he peered vigilantly forward and menacingly swung his huge ax.
Quirr... quirr... - Squirrel’s mocking clinking of glasses was suddenly heard from the top of a tall tree. - What happened?.. Two big, strong men let go of the little girl, and the Ogre carried her away!
Ogre? - asked the Tin Woodman. “I haven’t heard that an Ogre lives in this forest.”
Quirr... quirr... every ant in the forest knows about him. Eh, you! Couldn't look after the little girl! Only the little black animal boldly stood up for her and bit the Ogre, but he grabbed him with his huge leg so much that he would probably die...
The squirrel showered his friends with such ridicule that they felt ashamed.
We must save Ellie! - cried the Scarecrow.
Yes Yes! - the Tin Woodman warmly picked up. - Ellie saved us, and we must recapture her from the Ogre. Otherwise, I will die of grief... - and tears rolled down the Tin Woodman’s cheeks.
What are you doing! - the Scarecrow shouted in fright, wiping his tears with a handkerchief. - You'll get rusty! Ellie's butter dish!
If you want to help the little girl, I’ll show you where the Ogre lives, although I’m very afraid,” said Squirrel.
The Tin Woodman laid Totoshka on the soft moss next to Ellen’s bag and said:
If we manage to return, we will take care of him... - And he turned to Belka: - Lead us!
The squirrel jumped through the trees, and the friends hurried after it. When they entered the depths of the forest, a gray wall appeared.
The Ogre's castle stood on a hill. He was surrounded by a high wall that not even a cat could climb. In front of the wall there was a ditch filled with water. Having stolen Ellie, the Ogre raised the drawbridge and double-bolted the cast-iron gate.
The cannibal lived alone. Previously he had sheep, cows and horses, and he kept many servants. In those days, travelers often passed by the castle on their way to the Emerald City, and the Ogre attacked and ate them. Then the Munchkins learned about the Ogre, and traffic on the road stopped.
The cannibal began to devastate the castle: first he ate the sheep, cows and horses, then he got to the servants and ate them all, one by one. In recent years, the Ogre has been hiding in the forest, catching a careless rabbit or hare and eating it, skin and bones.
The cannibal was terribly happy when he caught Ellie and decided to arrange a real feast for himself. He dragged the girl into the castle, tied her up and put her on the kitchen table, and he began to sharpen a large knife.
“Blade... blade...” the knife rang.
And the Ogre said:
Ba-ha-ra! Notable booty! Now I’ll enjoy myself to my heart’s content, ba-ha-ra!
The ogre was so pleased that he even talked to Ellie:
Ba-ha-ra! I cleverly came up with the idea of hanging a board with an inscription! Do you think I will really fulfill your wishes? No matter how it is! I did this on purpose, to lure simpletons like you! Ba-gar-ra!
Ellie cried and asked the Ogre for mercy, but he did not listen to her and continued to sharpen the knife.
"Blade... blade... blade..."
And so the Ogre raised a knife over the girl. She closed her eyes in horror. However, the Ogre lowered his hand and yawned.
Ba-ha-ra! I'm tired of sharpening this big knife! I'll go and rest for an hour or two. After sleep, food is also more enjoyable.
The ogre went into the bedroom, and soon his snoring was heard throughout the castle and was even heard in the forest.
The Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow stood in bewilderment in front of a ditch filled with water.
I would swim across the water, said the Scarecrow, but the water would wash away my eyes, ears and mouth and I would become blind, deaf and dumb.
“And I will drown,” said the Tin Woodman. - Because I’m very heavy. Even if I get out of the water, I’ll immediately rust, and there’s no oil can.
So they stood, thinking, and suddenly they heard the snoring of the Ogre.
“We must save Ellie while he is sleeping,” said the Tin Woodman. - Wait, I came up with an idea! Now we will cross the ditch.
He cut down a tall tree with a fork at the top, and it fell on the castle wall and lay firmly on it.
Climb! - he said to the Scarecrow. - You are lighter than me.
The Scarecrow approached the bridge, but got scared and backed away. The squirrel could not stand it and in one fell swoop ran up the tree and onto the wall.
Quirr... quirr... Oh, you coward! - she shouted to the Scarecrow. - Look how easy it is to do! - But, looking out the window of the castle, she even gasped with excitement. - The girl is lying tied up on the kitchen table... There is a large knife near her... the girl is crying... I see tears rolling from her eyes...
Hearing such news, the Scarecrow forgot the danger and flew up the wall almost faster than the Squirrel.
Oh! - that’s all he could say when he saw Ellie’s pale face through the kitchen window, and fell like a bag into the yard.
Before he got up, Squirrel jumped onto his back, ran across the yard, dashed through the bars of the window and began gnawing on the rope with which Ellie was tied.
The Scarecrow opened the heavy bolts of the gate, lowered the drawbridge, and the Tin Woodman entered the yard, rolling his eyes fiercely and belligerently waving a huge ax.
He did all this to frighten the Ogre if he woke up and went out into the yard.
Here! Here! - Squirrel squeaked from the kitchen, and friends rushed to her call.
The Tin Woodman put the tip of his ax into the gap between the door and the jamb, pressed, and - fuck! - the door flew off its hinges. Ellie jumped off the table, and all four - the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, Ellie and the Squirrel - ran into the forest.
The Tin Woodman, in his haste, stamped his feet on the stone slabs of the yard so much that he woke up the Ogre. The cannibal jumped out of the bedroom, saw that the girl was gone, and set off in pursuit.
The ogre was short, but very fat. His head looked like a cauldron, and his body like a barrel. He had long arms, like a gorilla, and his feet were shod in high boots with thick soles. He wore a shaggy cloak made of animal skins. Instead of a helmet, the Ogre put a large copper pan on his head, with the handle backwards, and armed himself with a huge club with a knob at the end, studded with sharp nails.
He growled with anger, and his boots rumbled: “Top-tap-tap...” And his sharp teeth chattered: “Clack-clack-clack...”
Ba-gar-ra! Don't leave, scammers!..
The cannibal quickly caught up with the fugitives. Seeing that there was no escape from the chase, the Tin Woodman leaned the frightened Ellie against a tree and prepared for battle. The Scarecrow fell behind: his legs clung to the roots, and his chest touched the branches of the trees. The ogre caught up with the Scarecrow, and he suddenly threw himself at his feet. The Ogre, who did not expect this, flew head over heels over the Scarecrow.
Ba-gar-ra! What kind of stuffed animal is this?
The Ogre did not have time to come to his senses when the Tin Woodman jumped up to him from behind, raised a huge sharp ax and cut the Ogre in half along with the pan.
Quirr... quirr... Nicely done! - Belka admired and galloped through the trees, telling the whole forest about the death of the ferocious Ogre.
Very witty! - The Tin Woodman praised the Scarecrow. “You couldn’t have brought down the Ogre better if you had any brains!”
My dear friends, thank you for your dedication! - Ellie exclaimed with tears in her eyes.
Self-confidence... - the Scarecrow repeated with admiration. - Uh, what a nice, long word, I’ve never heard anything like it before. Isn't this the same thing that happens in the brain?
No, the mind is in the brain,” the girl explained.
This means that I still have no intelligence, but only dedication. It's a pity! - The Scarecrow was upset.
“Don’t worry,” said the Woodcutter. - Selflessness is also good, it is when a person does not spare himself for others. Does your wound hurt?
What is there, just beauty! That is, I wanted to say nonsense. Can straw hurt? But I'm afraid that my contents will come out of me.
Ellie took out a needle and thread and began to sew up the holes. At this time, a quiet squeal was heard from the forest. The brave little dog recovered from unconsciousness, but did not want to leave his little mistress’s bag and called for help. The Tin Woodman brought a dog and a bag of shoes.
While putting on her shoes, Ellie said:
This is a good lesson for me. There was no need to take off the shoes. After all, the Munchkins told me that they contained some kind of magical power. But now I’ll even sleep in them! - the girl decided.
Ellie took the exhausted Totoshka in her arms, and the travelers walked through the forest. Soon they reached a road paved with yellow bricks and walked briskly towards the Emerald City.
Meeting the Cowardly Lion
That night Ellie slept in a hollow tree, on a soft bed of moss and leaves. Her dream was disturbing: she imagined that she was lying tied up and that the Ogre was raising his hand with a huge knife over her. The girl screamed and woke up.
In the morning we set off. The forest was gloomy. The roar of animals could be heard from behind the trees. Ellie shuddered with fear, and Toto, with his tail between his legs, clung to the feet of the Tin Woodman: he began to respect him very much after defeating the Ogre.
The travelers walked quietly talking about yesterday's events and rejoiced at Ellie's salvation. The woodcutter never ceased to praise the Scarecrow's resourcefulness.
How deftly you threw yourself at the feet of the Ogre, friend of the Scarecrow! - he said. - Haven't you got your brain in your head?
No, straw... - answered the Scarecrow, touching his head.
This peaceful conversation was interrupted by a thunderous roar, and a huge Lion jumped out onto the road. With one blow he threw the Scarecrow into the air; he flew head over heels and fell on the edge of the road, spread out like a rag.
The Lion hit the Tin Woodman with his paw, but the claws creaked on the iron, and the Woodman sat down from the push, and the crater flew off his head.
Tiny Totoshka boldly rushed at the enemy.
The huge beast opened its mouth to swallow the dog, but Ellie boldly ran forward and blocked Toto with herself.
Stop! Don't you dare touch Toto! - she shouted angrily.
Leo froze in surprise.
Sorry,” he made excuses. - But I didn’t eat it...
However, you tried. Shame on you for offending the weak! You're just a coward!
Ah...how did you know that I’m a coward? - asked the stunned Lev. - Did anyone tell you?..
I can see it in your actions!
Surprisingly... - Lev said confused. “No matter how hard I try to hide my cowardice, the matter still comes out.” I've always been a coward, but I can't help it.
Just think: you hit the poor straw-stuffed Scarecrow!
Is it stuffed with straw? - asked the Lion, looking at the Scarecrow in surprise.
“Of course,” Ellie answered, still angry with Lev.
“I understand now why he is so soft and so light,” said Lev. - And the second one is also stuffed?
No, it's made of iron.
Yeah! No wonder I almost broke my claws on it. What is this little animal that you love so much?
This is my dog Totoshka.
Is it made of iron or stuffed with straw?
Neither one nor the other. This is a real dog, made of meat and bones!
Tell me how small she is, but how brave she is! - Lev was amazed.
All our dogs in Kansas are like this! - Toto said proudly.
Funny animal! - said Lev. - Only a coward like me could attack such a baby...
Why are you a coward? - Ellie asked, looking in surprise at the huge Leo.
I was born this way. Of course, everyone considers me brave: after all, Leo is the king of beasts! When I roar - and I roar very loudly, you heard - animals and people run out of my way. But if a tiger attacked me, I would be scared, honestly! It’s good that no one knows what a coward I am,” said Lev, wiping away his tears with the fluffy tip of his tail. “I’m very ashamed, but I can’t change myself.”
Maybe you have heart disease? - asked the Woodcutter.
Perhaps,” agreed the Cowardly Lion.
Happy! But I can’t have heart disease: I don’t have a heart.
“If I didn’t have a heart,” Lev said thoughtfully, “maybe I wouldn’t be a coward.”
Tell me please, do you ever fight with other Leos? - asked Totoshka.
Where can I... I run from them like the plague,” Lev admitted.
Ugh! - the dog snorted mockingly. - Where are you good for after this?
Do you have any brains? - the Scarecrow asked the Lion.
There probably is. I've never seen them.
“My head is full of straw, and I’m going to Great Goodwin to ask for a little brain,” said the Scarecrow.
“And I’m going to him for my heart,” said the Tin Woodman.
And I’m going to him to ask him to return Toto and I to Kansas...
“Where I will settle scores with the neighbor’s puppy, the boastful Hector,” the dog added.
Is Goodwin so powerful? - Lev was surprised.
It doesn’t cost him anything,” Ellie answered.
In that case, won't he give me courage?
It’s as easy for him as giving me brains,” assured the Scarecrow.
Or my heart,” added the Tin Woodman.
Or bring me back to Kansas,” Ellie finished.
“Then take me into your company,” said the Cowardly Lion. - Oh, if only I could get at least a little courage... After all, this is my deepest desire!
I'm very happy! - Ellie said. - This is the third wish, and if all three come true, Goodwin will return me to my homeland. Come with us...
And be a good comrade to us,” said the Woodcutter. - You will drive other animals away from Ellie. They must be even more cowardly than you, since they run away from your roar alone.
“They are cowards,” Leo grumbled. - Yes, this doesn’t make me any braver.
The travelers moved further along the road, and Lev walked with a stately step next to Ellie. Totoshka didn’t like this companion at first either. He remembered how the Lion wanted to swallow him. But he soon got used to Leo, and they became great friends.
Saber-toothed tigers
That evening they walked for a long time and stopped to spend the night under a spreading tree. The Tin Woodman chopped wood and lit a large fire, around which Ellie felt very comfortable. She invited her friends to share this pleasure, but the Scarecrow resolutely refused, walked away from the fire and carefully watched so that not a single spark fell on his costume.
My straw and fire are things that cannot be neighbors,” he explained.
The Cowardly Lion also did not want to approach the fire.
We wild animals don’t really like fire,” said Lev. - Now that I’m in your company, Ellie, I might get used to it, but now he still scares me too much...
Only Totoshka, who was not afraid of fire, lay on Ellie’s lap, squinting his small sparkling eyes at the fire and enjoying its warmth. Ellie, like a brother, shared the last piece of bread with Toto.
What will I eat now? - she asked, carefully collecting the crumbs.
Do you want me to catch a doe in the forest? - Lev asked. - True, you people have bad taste, and you prefer fried meat to raw meat, but you can fry it over coals.
Oh, just don't kill anyone! - the Tin Woodman pleaded. - I will cry so much for the poor doe that no oil will be enough to lubricate my face...
Whatever,” Lev muttered and went into the forest.
He did not return from there soon, lay down with a well-fed purr away from the fire and stared at the flames with his yellow eyes with narrow slits of the pupils.
Why Leo went into the forest, no one knew. He himself was silent, and the others did not ask.
The Scarecrow also went into the forest, and he was lucky enough to find a tree on which nuts grew. He tore them with his soft, naughty fingers. The nuts slipped out of his hands, and he had to collect them in the grass. The forest was as dark as a cellar, and only the Scarecrow, who could see at night as during the day, did not cause any inconvenience. But when he picked up a full handful of nuts, they suddenly fell out of his hands, and he had to start everything again. Still, the Scarecrow collected nuts with pleasure, being afraid to approach the fire. Only when he saw that the fire was beginning to die out did he approach Ellie with a full basket of nuts, and the girl thanked him for his efforts.
In the morning, Ellie had nuts for breakfast. She offered Totoshka some nuts, but the dog turned his nose away from them with contempt: getting up early in the morning, he caught a fat mouse in the forest (fortunately, the Woodcutter did not see this).
The travelers again moved towards the Emerald City. This day brought them many adventures. After walking for about an hour, they stopped in front of a ravine that stretched through the forest to the right and left as far as the eye could see.
The ravine was wide and deep. When Ellie crawled to its edge and looked down, she felt dizzy and involuntarily pulled back. At the bottom of the abyss lay sharp stones, and an invisible stream gurgled between them.
The walls of the ravine were sheer. The travelers stood sad, it seemed to them that the journey to Goodwin was over and they would have to go back. The Scarecrow shook his head in bewilderment, the Tin Woodman clutched his chest, and the Lion lowered his muzzle sadly.
What to do? - Ellie asked in despair.
“I have no idea,” the Tin Woodman answered sadly, and the Lion scratched his nose in bewilderment.
Scarecrow said:
Wow, what a big hole! We won't jump over it. This is where we should sit!
“I would probably jump over,” said Lev, measuring the distance with his eyes.
So will you move us? - guessed the Scarecrow.
“I’ll try,” said Lev. - Who will dare first?
“I’ll have to,” said the Scarecrow. - If you fall, Ellie will fall to her death, and the Tin Woodman will feel bad too. And I won’t hurt myself, rest assured!..
Am I afraid of falling over myself or not? - Lev angrily interrupted the babbling Scarecrow. - Well, since there’s nothing else left, I’ll jump. Sit down!
The Scarecrow climbed onto his back, and the Lion cowered on the edge of the crevice, preparing to jump.
Why don't you run away? - Ellie asked.
This is not in our lion habits. We're jumping up and down.
He took a huge leap and jumped safely to the other side. Everyone rejoiced, and the Lion, having thrown the Scarecrow off, immediately jumped back.
Ellie sat down next. Holding Toto in one hand, she grabbed the Lion's coarse mane with the other. Ellie flew into the air, and it seemed to her that she was rising again on the Killing House, but before she had time to get scared, she was already on solid ground.
The Tin Woodman was the last to cross, nearly losing his funnel hat during the jump.
When Leo had rested, the travelers moved further along the road paved with yellow brick. Ellie guessed that the ravine probably appeared from an earthquake, after the road to the Emerald City was built. Ellie heard that earthquakes can cause cracks in the ground. True, her father did not tell her about such huge cracks, but Goodwin’s country was very special, and everything in it was different from the rest of the world.
Beyond the ravine, an even more gloomy forest stretched on both sides of the road, and it became dark. A dull sniffling and a prolonged roar was heard from the thickets. The travelers felt terrified, and Totoshka became completely entangled at the Lion’s feet, now believing that the Lion was stronger than the Tin Woodman. The Cowardly Lion told his companions that saber-toothed tigers lived in this forest.
What kind of animals are these? - inquired the Tin Woodman.
“These are terrible monsters,” Lev whispered fearfully. - They are much larger than ordinary tigers living in other parts of the country. They have fangs protruding from their upper jaw like sabers. With such fangs, these tigers can pierce me like a kitten... I am terribly afraid of saber-toothed tigers...
Everyone immediately became quiet and began to step more carefully on the yellow bricks. Ellie said in a whisper:
I read in a book that in Kansas we had saber-toothed tigers in ancient times, but then they all died out, but here, apparently, they still live...
“But they live, unfortunately,” responded the Cowardly Lion. - I saw one from afar, and I was so sick from fear for three days...
During these conversations, the travelers unexpectedly approached a new ravine, which turned out to be wider and deeper than the first. Looking at him, Lev refused to jump: this task was beyond his strength. Everyone stood in silence, not knowing what to do. Suddenly the Scarecrow said:
There's a big tree on the edge. Let the Woodman chop it down so that it falls over the abyss, and we will have a bridge.
Cleverly thought out! - Lev admired. - You might think that you still have brains in your head.
No,” the Scarecrow responded modestly, touching his head just in case, “I just remembered that the Tin Woodman did this when he and I were saving Ellie from the Ogre.”
With several powerful blows of the ax the Tin Woodman cut down the tree, then all the travelers, not excluding Totoshka, rested their hands on the trunk, some with their paws and foreheads. The tree thundered and fell with its top on the other side of the ditch.
Hooray! - everyone shouted at once.
But as soon as the travelers walked along the trunk, holding on to the branches, a long howl was heard in the forest, and two ferocious animals with fangs sticking out of their mouths like sparkling white sabers ran up to the ravine.
Saber-toothed tigers... - Lev whispered, trembling like a leaf.
Calm! - shouted the Scarecrow. - Move over!
The lion, who brought up the rear, turned to the tigers and let out such a magnificent roar that Ellie almost fell into the abyss in fright. Even the monsters stopped and looked at the Lion, not understanding how such a small beast could roar so loudly.
This delay gave the travelers the opportunity to cross the ravine, and Lev caught up with them in three leaps. Saber-toothed tigers, seeing that their prey was slipping away, entered the bridge. They walked along the tree, stopping every now and then, growling quietly but menacingly and glistening with white fangs. Their appearance was so terrible that Lev said to Ellie:
We are dead! Run, I will try to detain these beasts. It’s a pity that I didn’t have time to get at least a little courage from Goodwin! However, I will fight until I die.
Brilliant thoughts came to the Scarecrow's straw head that day. Pushing the Woodcutter, he shouted:
Cut the tree!
The Tin Woodman did not take long to ask. He struck such desperate blows with his huge ax that in two or three swings he cut off the tops of the tree, and the trunk fell with a roar into the abyss. The huge animals flew with him and crashed on sharp stones at the bottom of the ravine.
Ffu! - said the Lion with a deep sigh of relief and solemnly gave the Scarecrow his paw. - Thank you! Let’s live a little longer, otherwise I was about to say goodbye to life completely. It’s not a very pleasant thing to be caught in the teeth of such monsters! Can you hear my heart beating?
Oh! - The Tin Woodman sighed sadly. “I wish my heart could beat like that!”
The friends were in a hurry to leave the gloomy forest, from which other saber-toothed tigers could jump out. But Ellie was so tired and scared that she couldn’t walk. The lion put her and Totoshka on his back, and the travelers quickly walked forward. How happy they were to soon see that the trees were becoming rarer and thinner! The sun illuminated the road with cheerful rays, and soon the travelers came to the bank of a wide and fast river.
“Now you don’t have to worry,” Lev said joyfully. - Tigers never leave their forest: for some reason these animals are afraid of open space...
Everyone breathed freely, but now they had a new concern.
How will we get across? - said Ellie, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion and Toto, and all looked at the Scarecrow at once - everyone was already convinced that his mind and abilities were developing by leaps and bounds.
Flattered by the general attention, the Scarecrow assumed an important air and put his finger to his forehead. He didn't think for very long.
After all, a river is not land, and land is not a river! - he said importantly. - You can’t walk along the river, which means...
Means? - Ellie asked.
So, the Tin Woodman must make a raft, and we will cross the river!
You're so smart! - everyone exclaimed in admiration.
No, I’m not smart yet, but only self-sacrificing,” objected the Scarecrow. “When I get the brains from Goodwin, then I’ll stop being self-sacrificing, and I’ll become smart.”
The woodcutter began to cut down the trees, and the strong Lion dragged them to the river. Ellie lay down on the grass to rest. The Scarecrow, as usual, did not sit still. He walked along the river bank and found trees with ripe fruits. The travelers decided to spend the night here. Ellie, having dined on delicious fruits, fell asleep under the protection of her faithful friends and in her dream saw the amazing Emerald City and the Great Wizard Goodwin.
Crossing the river
The night passed peacefully. In the morning, the Tin Woodman finished the raft, cut down poles for himself and the Scarecrow, and invited the travelers to sit down. Ellie, with Toto in her arms, settled down in the middle of the raft. The Cowardly Lion stepped onto the edge, the raft tilted, and Ellie screamed in fear. But the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow hastened to jump to the other edge, and the balance was restored.
The Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow drove the raft across the river, beyond which began a wonderful plain, here and there covered with wonderful groves and all illuminated by the sun.
Everything went fine until the raft approached the middle of the river.
Here the fast current picked him up and carried him along the river, and the poles did not reach the bottom. The travelers looked at each other in confusion.
Very bad! - exclaimed the Tin Woodman. - The river will take us to the Violet Country and we will fall into slavery to the evil sorceress.
And then I won't get any brains! - said the Scarecrow.
And I have courage! - said Lev.
And we'll never go back to Kansas! - Ellie and Totoshka shouted.
No, we must get to the Emerald City! - cried the Scarecrow and furiously leaned on the pole.
Unfortunately, there was a mudbank in this place, and the pole stuck deep into it. The Scarecrow did not have time to let go of the pole from his hands, but the raft was carried downstream, and a moment later the Scarecrow was already hanging on the pole in the middle of the river, without support under his feet.
Hello! - All the Scarecrow had time to shout to his friends, but the raft was already far away.
The Scarecrow's situation was desperate. “Here I’m worse than before I met Ellie,” thought the poor fellow. “There, at least I tried to scare the crows - after all, it’s a job. And who puts scarecrows in the middle of the river? Oh, it seems I’ll never get brains!”
Meanwhile, the raft was rushing downstream. The unfortunate Scarecrow remained far behind and disappeared around a bend in the river.
“I’ll have to get into the water,” said the Cowardly Lion, trembling all over. - Wow, how I'm afraid of water! Now, if I had gotten courage from Goodwin, I wouldn’t care about the water... But nothing can be done, I have to get to the shore. I will swim, and you hold on to my tail!
The Lion swam, panting with exertion, and the Tin Woodman held tightly to the tip of his tail. It was difficult work - dragging the raft, but still Lev slowly moved towards the other shore. Soon Ellie was convinced that the pole reached the bottom, and began to help Lev. After much effort, the completely exhausted travelers finally reached the shore - far, far from the place where they began the crossing.
The lion immediately stretched out on the grass with his paws up to dry his wet belly.
Where shall we go? - he asked, squinting in the sun.
“Back to where our friend stayed,” Ellie answered. - After all, we can’t leave here without helping our dear Scarecrow.
The travelers walked along the bank against the flow of the river. They wandered for a long time, hanging their heads and tangling their legs in the thick grass, and sadly thought about their comrade left in the middle of the river. Suddenly the Tin Woodman shouted with all his might:
Look!
And they saw the Scarecrow, courageously hanging on a pole in the middle of a wide and fast river. From afar, the Scarecrow looked so lonely, small and sad that tears welled up in the travelers’ eyes. The Tin Woodman was the most excited. He ran aimlessly along the shore, for some reason he risked sticking his head into the water, but immediately ran back.
Then he pulled off the funnel, put it to his mouth like a megaphone, and shouted deafeningly:
Scarecrow! Dear friend! Hold on! Do me a favor and don't fall into the water!
The Tin Woodman knew how to ask very politely.
The answer faintly reached the travelers:
I'm chewing!... when... f... flock...
This meant: “I’m holding on! I never get tired!”
Remembering that the Scarecrow really never got tired, the friends were very encouraged, and the Tin Woodman again shouted into his funnel-horn:
Do not lose hope! We won't leave here until we help you out!
And the wind carried the answer:
Doo!...f...hustle...ah...nya...
And that meant: “I’m waiting! Don’t worry about me!”
The Tin Woodman suggested weaving a long rope from tree bark. Then he, the Woodcutter, will climb into the water and remove the Scarecrow, and the Lion will pull them out by the rope. But Lev shook his head mockingly:
You swim no better than an axe!
The Tin Woodman fell silent in embarrassment.
“I must have to swim again,” said Lev. - But it will be difficult to calculate so that the current will bring me straight to the Scarecrow...
And I will sit on your back and guide you! - suggested Totoshka.
While the travelers were judging and dressing up, a long-legged, important Stork looked at them with curiosity from afar. Then he slowly walked up and stood at a safe distance, tucking his right leg and squinting his left eye.
What kind of audience are you? - he asked.
I'm Ellie, and these are my friends - the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion and Toto. We are going to the Emerald City.
The road to the Emerald City is not here,” noted the Stork.
We know her. But the river carried us away, and we lost a comrade.
And where he?
There you see,” Ellie showed, “hanging on a pole.”
Why did he go there?
The stork was a detailed bird and wanted to know everything down to the smallest detail. Ellie told how the Scarecrow ended up in the middle of the river.
Oh, if only you had saved him! - Ellie cried and folded her hands pleadingly. - How grateful we would be to you!
“I’ll think about it,” the Stork said importantly and closed his right eye, because storks, when they think, always close their right eye. But he closed his left eye even earlier.
And so he stood with his eyes closed on his left leg and swayed, and the Scarecrow hung on a pole in the middle of the river and also swayed from the wind. The travelers got tired of waiting, and the Tin Woodman said:
I’ll listen to what he’s thinking about,” and slowly approached the Stork.
But he heard the even, whistling breath of the Stork, and the Woodcutter shouted in surprise:
Yes, he is sleeping!
The stork actually fell asleep while he was thinking.
The lion became terribly angry and barked:
I'll eat it!
The stork slept lightly and instantly opened his eyes:
Do you think I'm dreaming? - he cheated. - No, I was just thinking. Such a difficult task... But, perhaps, I would have carried your comrade to the shore if he had not been so big and heavy.
Is he the heavy one? - Ellie cried. - But the Scarecrow is stuffed with straw and light as a feather! Even I pick it up!
In that case, I'll try! - said the Stork. - But look, if it turns out to be too heavy, I will throw it into the water. It would be nice to weigh your friend on the scales first, but since this is impossible, I’m flying!
As you can see, the Stork was a careful and thorough bird.
The stork flapped its wide wings and flew towards the Scarecrow. He grabbed his shoulders with strong claws, easily lifted him and carried him to the shore, where Ellie was sitting with her friends.
When the Scarecrow found himself on the shore again, he warmly hugged his friends and then turned to the Stork:
I thought I would forever have to hang out on a pole in the middle of the river and scare the fish! Now I can’t thank you properly because I have straw in my head. But, having visited Goodwin, I will find you, and you will find out what the gratitude of a man with brains is.
“I’m very glad,” the Stork answered gravely. - I like to help others in misfortune, especially when it doesn’t cost me much work... However, I started chatting with you. My wife and children are waiting for me. I wish you to reach the Emerald City safely and get what you are looking for!
And he politely gave each traveler his red, wrinkled paw, and each traveler shook it in a friendly manner, and the Scarecrow shook it so hard that he almost tore it off. The stork flew away, and the travelers walked along the shore. The Scarecrow walked and sang:
Hey-hey-hey-go! I'm with Ellie again!
Then, after three steps:
Hey-hey-hey-go! I'm back with the Tin Woodman!
And so he went through everyone, not excluding Totoshka, and then again began his awkward, but cheerful and good-natured song.
Treacherous poppy field
The travelers walked happily through a meadow dotted with magnificent white and blue flowers. Often we came across red poppies of unprecedented size with a very strong aroma. Everyone had fun: the Scarecrow was saved, neither the Ogre, nor the ravines, nor the saber-toothed tigers, nor the fast river stopped the friends on the way to the Emerald City, and they assumed that all the dangers were left behind.
What wonderful flowers! - Ellie exclaimed.
They are good! - said the Scarecrow. - Of course, if I had brains, I would admire flowers more than I do now.
“And I would love them if I had a heart,” sighed the Tin Woodman.
“I have always been friends with flowers,” said the Cowardly Lion. - They are cute and harmless creatures and never jump out at you from around the corner, like those scary saber-toothed tigers. But in my forest there were no such large and bright flowers.
The further the travelers walked, the more poppies appeared in the field. All the other flowers had disappeared, drowned out by the poppy thickets. And soon the travelers found themselves among a vast poppy field. The smell of poppy lulls you to sleep, but Ellie didn’t know that and continued walking, carelessly inhaling the sweetish soporific aroma and admiring the huge red flowers. Her eyelids became heavy, and she really wanted to sleep. However, the Tin Woodman did not allow her to lie down.
“We must hurry to reach the road paved with yellow bricks by nightfall,” he said, and the Scarecrow supported him.
They walked a few more steps, but Ellie could no longer fight sleep - staggering, she sank among the poppies, closed her eyes with a sigh and fell fast asleep.
What should we do with it? - the Woodcutter asked in bewilderment.
If Ellie stays here, she will sleep until she dies,” Lev said, yawning widely. - The scent of these flowers is deadly. My eyes are also drooping, and the dog is already sleeping.
Toto was indeed lying on a carpet of poppies next to his little mistress. Only the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman were not affected by the destructive smell of flowers, and they were cheerful as always.
Run! - said the Scarecrow to the Cowardly Lion. - Escape from this dangerous place. We will carry the girl, but if you fall asleep, we will not be able to cope with you. After all, you are too heavy!
The lion jumped forward and instantly disappeared from sight. The Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow crossed their arms and placed Ellie on them. They thrust Toto into the sleepy girl's arms, and she unconsciously clung to his soft fur. The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman walked among the poppy fields along the wide, crushed trail left by the Lion, and it seemed to them that there would be no end to the field.
But then trees and green grass appeared in the distance. The friends breathed a sigh of relief: they were afraid that a long stay in the poisoned air would kill Ellie. At the edge of the poppy field they saw a Lion. The aroma of flowers defeated the powerful beast, and he slept, his paws spread wide in his last effort to reach the saving meadow.
We can't help him! - The Tin Woodman said sadly. - It's too heavy for us. Now he has fallen asleep forever, and perhaps he is dreaming that he has finally gained courage...
Very, very sorry! - said the Scarecrow. “Despite his cowardice, Leo was a good comrade, and I am sad to leave him here, among the damned poppies.” But let's go, we need to save Ellie.
They carried the sleeping girl to a green lawn near the river, away from the deadly poppy field, laid her on the grass and sat next to her, waiting for the fresh air to wake Ellie.
While the friends were sitting and looking around, the grass began to sway not far away, and a yellow wild cat jumped out onto the lawn. Baring his sharp teeth and pressing his ears to his head, he chased his prey. The Tin Woodman jumped up and saw a gray field mouse running. The cat raised his clawed paw over her, and the mouse, squeaking desperately, closed its eyes, but the Tin Woodman took pity on the defenseless creature and cut off the wild cat's head. The mouse opened its eyes and saw that the enemy was dead. She said to the Tin Woodman:
Thank you! You saved my life.
“Oh, come on, there’s no point in talking about it,” objected the Tin Woodman, who, in truth, was unhappy that he had to kill the cat. - You know, I don’t have a heart, but I always try to help the weak in trouble, even if it’s a simple mouse!
Simple mouse? - the mouse squeaked indignantly. - What do you mean by this, sir? Do you know that I am Ramina, Queen of the Field Mice?
Oh really? - cried the amazed Woodcutter. - A thousand apologies, Your Majesty!
In any case, by saving my life, you fulfilled your duty,” said the queen, softening.
At that moment, several mice, out of breath, jumped out into the clearing and rushed as fast as they could to the queen.
O your majesty! - they squealed vying with each other. - We thought that you were dead, and prepared to mourn you! But who killed the evil cat? - And they bowed so low to the little queen that they stood on their heads, and their hind legs dangled in the air.
He was hacked to death by this strange iron man. You must serve him and fulfill his wishes,” Ramina said importantly.
Let him command! - the mice shouted in unison.
But at that moment they, led by the queen herself, set off in all directions. The fact is that Toto, opening his eyes and seeing mice around him, let out a delighted cry and rushed into the middle of the flock. Back in Kansas, he was famous as a great mouse hunter, and not a single cat could compare with him in dexterity. But the Tin Woodman grabbed the dog and shouted to the mice:
Here! Here! Back! I'm holding it!
The queen of mice stuck her head out of the thick grass and timidly asked:
Are you sure he won't eat me and my courtiers?
Calm down, Your Majesty! I won't let him out!
The mice gathered again, and Toto, after futile attempts to escape from the Woodcutter's iron hands, calmed down. So that the dog would no longer scare the mice, he had to be tied to a peg driven into the ground.
The main maid of honor, the mouse, spoke:
Generous stranger! How would you like me to thank you for saving the queen?
“I’m really at a loss,” the Tin Woodman began, but the resourceful Scarecrow quickly interrupted him:
Save our friend Leo! He's in a poppy field.
A lion! - cried the queen. - He will eat us all!
Oh no! - answered the Scarecrow. - This is the Cowardly Lion, he is very humble, and besides, he is sleeping.
Well, let's try. How to do it?
Are there many mice in your kingdom?
Oh, thousands!
Tell them to gather them all, and let each one bring with him a long thread.
Queen Ramina gave an order to the courtiers, and they rushed in all directions with such zeal that only their paws began to flicker.
And you, friend,” the Scarecrow turned to the Tin Woodman, “make a strong cart to take the Lion out of the poppies.”
The Tin Woodman set to work and worked with such zeal that when the first mice appeared with long strings in their teeth, a strong cart with wheels made of solid wooden stumps was ready.
Mice came running from everywhere; there were many thousands of them, of all sizes and ages: small mice, medium-sized mice, and big old mice gathered here. One decrepit old mouse trudged into the clearing with great difficulty and, bowing to the queen, immediately fell down with its paws up. Two granddaughters laid the grandmother on a burdock leaf and diligently waved blades of grass over her so that the breeze would bring her to her senses.
It was difficult to harness so many mice to the cart: thousands of threads had to be tied to the front axle. Moreover, the Woodcutter and the Scarecrow were in a hurry, afraid that the Lion would die in the poppy field, and the threads got tangled in their hands. Moreover, some young playful mice ran from place to place and confused the team. Finally, each thread was tied at one end to the cart, the other to the mouse's tail, and order was established.
At this time, Ellie woke up and looked in surprise at the strange picture. The Scarecrow told her in a few words what had happened and turned to the mouse queen:
Your Majesty! Let me introduce you to Ellie, the fairy of the Killing House.
The two tall ladies bowed politely and struck up a friendly conversation...
The preparations are over.
It was not easy for the two friends to load the heavy Lion onto the cart. But they still picked it up, and the mice, with the help of the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, quickly took the cart out of the poppy field.
The lion was brought to the clearing where Ellie was sitting, guarded by Toto. The girl heartily thanked the mice for saving her faithful friend, whom she had come to love very much.
The mice gnawed the threads tied to their tails and hurried to their homes. The Mouse Queen handed the girl a tiny silver whistle.
If you need me again,” she said, “blow this whistle three times, and I am at your service.” Goodbye!
Goodbye! - Ellie answered.
But at this time Toto broke free from his leash, and Ramina had to flee in the thick grass with haste, completely indecent for a queen.
The travelers waited patiently for the Cowardly Lion to wake up; he had been breathing the poisoned air of the poppy field for too long. But Leo was strong and strong, and the insidious poppies could not kill him. He opened his eyes, yawned widely several times and tried to stretch, but the crossbars of the cart prevented him.
Where I am? Am I still alive?
Seeing his friends, Lev was extremely happy and rolled off the cart.
Tell me what happened? I ran with all my might across the poppy field, but with every step my paws became heavier, fatigue overwhelmed me, and I don’t remember anything else.
The Scarecrow told how the mice took the Lion out of the poppy field.
Leo shook his head:
How amazing! I always considered myself very big and strong. And so the flowers, so insignificant compared to me, almost killed me, and pathetic little creatures, mice, whom I always looked at with contempt, saved me! And all this is because there are many of them, they act together and become stronger than me, Leo, the king of beasts! But what are we going to do, my friends?
“Let’s continue our way to the Emerald City,” Ellie answered. - Three cherished wishes must be fulfilled, and this will open the way for me to my homeland!
When Lev recovered, the company set off merrily. They walked along soft green grass to a road paved with yellow bricks and rejoiced at it like a dear old friend.
Soon beautiful hedges appeared on the sides of the road, behind them stood farmhouses, and men and women worked in the fields. The hedges and houses were painted a beautiful bright green, and people wore green clothes.
This means that the Emerald Country has begun,” said the Tin Woodman.
Why? - asked the Scarecrow.
Don't you know that emerald is green?
“I don’t know anything,” the Scarecrow objected proudly. - When I have brains, then I will know everything!
The inhabitants of the Emerald Country were no taller than Munchkins. On their heads they wore the same wide-brimmed hats with a pointed top, but without silver bells. They seemed to be unfriendly: no one approached Ellie or even approached her with questions from afar. In fact, they were simply afraid of the big menacing Lion and little Toto.
“I think we’ll have to spend the night in the field,” said the Scarecrow.
“I’m hungry,” said the girl. “The fruits here are good, but they still bore me so much that I can’t see them and would trade them all for a crust of bread!” And Totoshka became completely emaciated... What are you eating, poor thing?
Yes, so that you have to,” the dog answered evasively.
He did not at all want to admit that every night he accompanied the Lion on the hunt and ate the remains of his prey.
Seeing a house on the porch of which stood the owner, who seemed friendlier than other residents of the village, Ellie decided to ask for an overnight stay. Leaving her friends behind the fence, she boldly approached the porch. The woman asked:
What do you need, child?
Please let us spend the night!
But Leo is with you!
Don't be afraid of him: he's tame, and besides, he's a coward!
If so, come in,” answered the woman, “you will receive dinner and a bed.”
The company entered the house, surprising and frightening the children and the owner of the house. When the general fear passed, the owner asked:
Who are you and where are you going?
“We’re going to the Emerald City,” Ellie answered. - And we want to see the Great Goodwin!
Oh really! Are you sure Goodwin will want to see you?
Why not?
You see, he doesn't accept anyone. I have been to the Emerald City many times, it is an amazing and beautiful place, but I have never been able to see the Great Goodwin, and I know that no one has ever seen him...
Isn't he coming out?
No. Day and night he sits in the great throne room of his palace, and even those who serve him do not see his face.
Who does he look like?
“It’s hard to say,” the owner answered thoughtfully. - The fact is that Goodwin is a great sage and can take on any form. Sometimes he appears in the form of a bird or a leopard, and sometimes he suddenly turns into a mole. Others saw him in the form of a fish or a fly, and in any other form that he pleased to take. But what his real appearance is, no one knows.
“It’s amazing and scary,” Ellie said. “But we will try to see him, otherwise our journey will be in vain.”
Why do you want to see Goodwin the Terrible? - asked the owner.
“I want to ask for a little brain for my straw head,” answered the Scarecrow.
Oh, for him this is a mere trifle! He has much more brains than he needs. They are all arranged in bags, and in each bag there is a special variety.
“And I want him to give me his heart,” said the Woodcutter.
And it’s not difficult for him,” the owner answered, winking slyly. “He has a whole collection of hearts of all shapes and sizes drying on a string.
“And I would like to get courage from Goodwin,” said Lev.
“Goodwin has a big pot of courage in the throne room,” the owner announced. - It is covered with a golden lid, and Goodwin makes sure that the courage does not boil over. Of course, he will be happy to give you a portion.
All three friends, having heard the owner’s detailed explanations, beamed and looked at each other with satisfied smiles.
“And I want,” said Ellie, “for Goodwin to return Toto and me to Kansas.”
Where is Kansas? - asked the surprised owner.
“I don’t know,” Ellie answered sadly. - But this is my homeland, and it exists somewhere.
Well, I'm sure Goodwin will find Kansas for you. But you must first see him himself, and this is not an easy task. Goodwin doesn’t like to show himself, and obviously he has his own ideas about this,” the owner added in a whisper and looked around, as if afraid that Goodwin was about to jump out from under the bed or from the closet.
Everyone was a little scared, and Lev almost went outside: he thought it was safer there.
Dinner was served and everyone sat down at the table. Ellie ate delicious buckwheat porridge, scrambled eggs, and black bread; she was very happy with these dishes, which reminded her of a distant homeland. The lion was also given porridge, but he ate it with disgust and said that this food was for rabbits, not for lions. The Scarecrow and the Woodcutter did not eat anything. Toto ate his portion and asked for more.
The woman put Ellie to bed, and Toto settled down next to his little mistress. The lion stretched out at the threshold of the room and watched so that no one entered. The Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow stood all night in the corner, occasionally talking in whispers.
Make diagrams of homogeneous members and indicate how they are expressed. Trees with ripe fruits grew along the edges, and in the center one could see flower beds of pink, white andblue flowers. Tiny birds and colorful butterflies fluttered in the air. Red-breasted and golden-green parrots sat on the branches of the trees and screamed in strange voices. Men and women could be seen behind the fruit trees.
Task 1 PLACE PUNCTION MARKS, MAKE UP DIAGRAMS, DETERMINE TYPES OF SUBJECT CLAUSES. 1) In the hut where they were allowedLunch was musty and stuffy, smelling of bread and shredded cabbage.
2) Fedka saw how the high bow of the steamer flew towards them from the darkness with uncontrollable force, without noticing them, heading towards the very middle of the ship.
3) Gerasimov looked at his feeder so much that he regretted asking the question.
4) The night was dark because clouds covered the sky and did not let in the light of the stars.
5) As soon as the regiment left Ozernoye, cold rain began.
6) From a distance one could see bunches of rowan and hawthorn blushing under the sun.
7) Grinyuk raised his chin and looked into the sky, where from time to time the almost regular disk of the moon slipped out from under the wisps of clouds.
8) At that moment when Ivan entered the yard there was a pause.
9) The old ferry was pulled ashore and tightly tied to the ancient mighty willows so that it would not be carried away by the uncontrollable spring flood.
10) With my chin buried in the snow, I agonized over what to do.
Task 2 PLACE PUNCTION MARKS, MAKE UP A CHART OF INVESTIGATIONS WITH SEVERAL CLAUSES, DETERMINE TYPES OF CLAUSES AND TYPE OF SUBORDERATION.
Only now did Frol see that it was completely dawn, that at the blue foot of the cliff above Svetlikha white stripes of fog were swaying, that the stones on the shore had become bluish from the morning dew. EXAMPLE SCHEME [verb], (like...)
MAKE SENTENCE DIAGRAMS FOR THE TEXTMAKE SENTENCE DIAGRAMS FOR THE TEXT!1)Finally
the sands moved away from the shore, giving way to a narrow strip of forest, horsetails,
ferns and palms. 2) The number of shoals in the sea increased and
even low-lying islands appeared, completely overgrown with small horsetail and
reeds.3) the sands moved further and further and their reddish ridges were already
almost hidden behind the coastal forest 4) the number of islands is all
increased and the sea turned into a huge quiet river breaking into
sleeves 5) even the water became almost fresh
The history of coffee begins with the cheerful animals of the Ethiopian shepherd,
who began to “dance” when they had eaten their fill of coffee leaves and fruits
trees.
Smeikh - a hermit who healed so successfully with the help
coffee that was declared holy.
The soldiers chewed raw grains, which were considered healthy,
because they gave them strength and vigor.
Only later did they figure out how to roast and grind coffee in order to
make a drink from it, without which not a single business meeting is complete now,
neither a friendly conversation, nor just a little rest. Draw up sentence diagrams and indicate the method of subordination?
The hurricane continued to rage, and the house, swaying, rushed through the air. Totoshka, shocked by what was happening around him, ran around the dark room barking in fear. Ellie, confused, sat on the floor, clutching her head in her hands. She felt very lonely. The wind blew so hard that it deafened her. It seemed to her that the house was about to fall and break. But time passed, and the house was still flying. Ellie climbed onto the bed and lay down, holding Toto close to her. Under the roar of the wind, gently rocking the house, Ellie fell fast asleep.
Part one
yellow brick road
Ellie in the amazing land of munchkins
Ellie woke up because the dog was licking her face with a hot, wet tongue and whining. At first it seemed to her that she had seen an amazing dream, and Ellie was about to tell her mother about it. But, seeing the overturned chairs and the stove lying on the floor, Ellie realized that everything was real.
The girl jumped out of bed. The house didn't move. The sun was shining brightly through the window. Ellie ran to the door, opened it and screamed in surprise.
The hurricane brought the house to a land of extraordinary beauty. A green lawn spread around; trees with ripe, juicy fruits grew along its edges; in the clearings one could see flower beds of beautiful pink, white and blue flowers. Tiny birds fluttered in the air, sparkling with bright plumage. Golden-green and red-breasted parrots sat on tree branches and screamed in high, strange voices. Not far away, a clear stream gurgled and silver fish frolicked in the water.
While the girl stood hesitantly on the threshold, the funniest and sweetest people imaginable appeared from behind the trees. The men, dressed in blue velvet caftans and tight trousers, were no taller than Ellie; blue boots with cuffs glittered on their feet. But most of all, Ellie liked the pointed hats: their tops were decorated with crystal balls, and small bells tinkled gently under the wide brims.
An old woman in a white robe stepped forward importantly in front of the three men; Tiny stars sparkled on her pointed hat and on her robe. The old woman's gray hair fell onto her shoulders.
In the distance, behind the fruit trees, a whole crowd of small men and women could be seen; they stood, whispering and exchanging glances, but did not dare to come closer.
Approaching the girl, these timid little people smiled warmly and somewhat timidly at Ellie, but the old woman looked at her with obvious bewilderment. The three men moved forward together and took off their hats at once. “Ding-ding-ding!” - the bells rang. Ellie noticed that the little men's jaws were constantly moving, as if chewing something.
The old woman turned to Ellie:
- Tell me, how did you end up in the country of the Munchkins, dear child?
“I was brought here by a hurricane in this house,” Ellie answered timidly.
- Strange, very strange! – the old woman shook her head. – Now you will understand my bewilderment. Here is how it was. I learned that the evil sorceress Gingema had lost her mind and wanted to destroy the human race and populate the earth with rats and snakes. And I had to use all my magical art...
- How, madam! – Ellie exclaimed with fear. -Are you a sorceress? But why did my mother tell me that there are no wizards now?
- Where does your mom live?
- In Kansas.
“I’ve never heard of such a name,” said the sorceress, pursing her lips. “But no matter what your mother says, wizards and sages live in this country.” There were four of us sorceresses here. Two of us—the sorceress of the Yellow Country (that’s me, Villina!) and the sorceress of the Pink Country, Stella—are kind. And the sorceress of the Blue Country, Gingema, and the sorceress of the Violet Country, Bastinda, are very evil. Your house was crushed by Gingema, and now there is only one evil sorceress left in our country.
Ellie was amazed. How could she, a little girl who had never killed even a sparrow in her life, destroy the evil sorceress?
Ellie said:
“You are, of course, mistaken: I didn’t kill anyone.”
“I don’t blame you for this,” the sorceress Villina calmly objected. “After all, it was I, in order to save people from trouble, who deprived the hurricane of its destructive power and allowed it to capture only one house in order to throw it on the head of the insidious Gingema, because I read in my magic book that it is always empty during a storm...
Ellie answered embarrassedly:
“It’s true, madam, during hurricanes we hide in the cellar, but I ran to the house to get my dog...
“My magic book could never have foreseen such a reckless act!” – the sorceress Villina was upset. - So, this little beast is to blame for everything...
- Totoshka, aw-aw, with your permission, madam! – the dog suddenly intervened in the conversation. - Yes, I sadly admit, it’s all my fault...
- How did you start talking, Toto? – Ellie screamed in surprise.
“I don’t know how it happens, Ellie, but, aw-aw, human words involuntarily fly out of my mouth...
“You see, Ellie,” Villina explained, “in this wonderful country, not only people talk, but also all animals and even birds.” Look around, do you like our country?
“She’s not bad, madam,” answered Ellie, “but we’re better at home.” Should you look at our barnyard! You should look at our Pestryanka, madam! No, I want to return to my homeland, to my mom and dad...
“It’s hardly possible,” said the sorceress. “Our country is separated from the whole world by desert and huge mountains, which not a single person has crossed. I'm afraid, my baby, that you will have to stay with us.
Ellie's eyes filled with tears. The good Munchkins were very upset and also began to cry, wiping their tears with blue handkerchiefs. The munchkins took off their hats and placed them on the ground so that the ringing of the bells would not interfere with their sobbing.
- And you won’t help me at all? – Ellie asked sadly.
“Oh yes,” Villina realized, “I completely forgot that my magic book was with me.” You need to look into it: maybe I’ll read something useful for you there...
Villina took out from the folds of her clothing a tiny book the size of a thimble. The sorceress blew on her, and before the eyes of the surprised and slightly frightened Ellie, the book began to grow, grow and turned into a huge volume. It was so heavy that the old woman laid it on a large stone.
Villina looked at the pages of the book, and they themselves turned over under her gaze.
- Found it, found it! – the sorceress suddenly exclaimed and began to read slowly: “Bambara, chufara, skoriki, moriki, turabo, furabo, loriki, eriki... The great wizard Goodwin will return home the little girl brought to his country by a hurricane if she helps three creatures achieve the fulfillment of their most cherished desires, pickup, tripapoo, botalo, dangled..."
“Pikapoo, trikapoo, botalo, motalo...” the Munchkins repeated in sacred horror.
-Who is Goodwin? – Ellie asked.
“Oh, this is the Greatest Sage of our country,” whispered the old woman. “He is more powerful than all of us and lives in the Emerald City.”
– Is he evil or good?
- Nobody knows this. But don’t be afraid, find three creatures, fulfill their cherished desires, and the Wizard of the Emerald City will help you return to your country!
– Where is the Emerald City? – Ellie asked.
- It is in the center of the country. The Great Sage and Wizard Goodwin himself built it and manages it. But he surrounded himself with extraordinary mystery, and no one saw him after the construction of the city, and it ended many, many years ago.
- How will I get to the Emerald City?
- The road is long. Not everywhere the country is as good as it is here. There are dark forests with terrible animals, there are fast rivers - crossing them is dangerous...
-Won't you come with me? – the girl asked.
“No, my child,” answered Villina. – I can’t leave the Yellow Country for a long time. You must go alone. The road to the Emerald City is paved with yellow brick, and you won't get lost. When you come to Goodwin, ask him for help...
Ellie woke up because the dog was licking her face with a hot, wet tongue and whining. At first it seemed to her that she had seen an amazing dream, and Ellie was about to tell her mother about it. But, seeing the overturned chairs and the stove lying on the floor, Ellie realized that everything was real.
The girl jumped out of bed. The house didn't move. The sun was shining brightly through the window.
Ellie ran to the door, opened it and screamed in surprise.
The hurricane brought the house into a land of extraordinary beauty: a green lawn spread around; along its edges grew trees with ripe, juicy fruits; in the clearings one could see flower beds of beautiful pink, white and blue flowers. Tiny birds fluttered in the air, sparkling with their bright plumage. Golden-green and red-breasted parrots sat on tree branches and screamed in high, strange voices. Not far away, a clear stream gurgled and silver fish frolicked in the water.
While the girl stood hesitantly on the threshold, the funniest and sweetest people imaginable appeared from behind the trees. The men, dressed in blue velvet caftans and tight trousers, were no taller than Ellie; blue boots with cuffs glittered on their feet. But most of all, Ellie liked the pointed hats: their tops were decorated with crystal balls, and small bells tinkled gently under the wide brims.
An old woman in a white robe walked importantly in front of the three men; Tiny stars sparkled on her pointed hat and on her robe. The old woman's gray hair fell onto her shoulders.
In the distance, behind the fruit trees, a whole crowd of small men and women could be seen; they stood whispering and exchanging glances, but did not dare to come closer.
Approaching the girl, these timid little people smiled welcomingly and somewhat fearfully at Ellie, but the old woman looked at Ellie with obvious bewilderment. The three men moved forward together and took off their hats at once. “Ding ding ding!” - the bells rang. Ellie noticed that the little men's jaws were constantly moving, as if chewing something.
The old woman turned to Ellie:
Tell me, how did you end up in the land of the Munchkins, dear child?
“I was brought here by a hurricane in this house,” Ellie answered timidly.
Strange, very strange! - The old woman shook her head. - Now you will understand my bewilderment. Here is how it was. I learned that the evil sorceress Gingema had lost her mind and wanted to destroy the human race and populate the earth with rats and snakes. And I had to use all my magical art...
How, madam! - Ellie exclaimed with fear. -Are you a sorceress? But why did my mother tell me that there are no wizards now?
Where does your mom live?
In Kansas.
“I’ve never heard such a name,” said the sorceress, pursing her lips. - But, no matter what your mother says, wizards and sages live in this country. There were four of us sorceresses here. Two of us - the sorceress of the Yellow Country (that's me - Villina!) and the sorceress of the Pink Country Stella - are kind. And the sorceress of the Blue Country, Gingema, and the sorceress of the Purple Country, Bastinda, are very evil. Your house was crushed by Gingema, and now there is only one evil sorceress left in our country.
Ellie was amazed. How could she, a little girl who had never killed even a sparrow in her life, destroy the evil sorceress?!
Ellie said:
You are, of course, mistaken: I didn’t kill anyone.
“I don’t blame you for this,” the sorceress Villina calmly objected. - After all, it was I, in order to save people from trouble, who deprived the hurricane of its destructive power and allowed it to capture only one house in order to throw it on the head of the insidious Gingema, because I read in my magic book that it is always empty during a storm...
Ellie answered embarrassedly:
It’s true, madam, during hurricanes we hide in the cellar, but I ran to the house for my dog...
My magic book could not have foreseen such a reckless act! - the sorceress Villina was upset. - So, this little beast is to blame for everything...
Totoshka, aw aw, with your permission, madam! - the dog suddenly intervened in the conversation. - Yes, I sadly admit, it’s all my fault...
How did you start talking, Toto!? - Ellie screamed in surprise.
I don’t know how it happens, Ellie, but, aw aw, human words involuntarily fly out of my mouth...
You see, Ellie,” Villina explained, “in this wonderful country, not only people talk, but also all animals and even birds. Look around, do you like our country?
“She’s not bad, madam,” Ellie answered, “but we’re better at home.” Should you look at our barnyard! You should look at our Pestryanka, madam! No, I want to return to my homeland, to my dad and mom...
“It’s hardly possible,” said the sorceress. - Our country is separated from the whole world by desert and huge mountains, through which not a single person has passed. I'm afraid, my baby, that you will have to stay with us.
Ellie's eyes filled with tears. The good Munchkins were very upset and also began to cry, wiping their tears with blue handkerchiefs. The munchkins took off their hats and placed them on the ground so that the ringing of the bells would not interfere with their sobbing.
And you won't help me at all? - Ellie asked sadly.
Oh yes,” Villina realized, “I completely forgot that my magic book was with me.” You need to look into it: maybe I’ll read something useful for you there...
Villina took out from the folds of her clothes a tiny book the size of a thimble. The sorceress blew on her, and in front of the surprised and slightly frightened Ellie, the book began to grow, grow and turned into a huge volume. It was so heavy that the old woman laid it on a large stone. Villina looked at the pages of the book, and they turned over under her gaze.
Found it, found it! - the sorceress suddenly exclaimed and began to read slowly: “Bambara, chufara, skoriki, moriki, turabo, furabo, loriki, yoriki... The great wizard Goodwin will return home the little girl brought to his country by a hurricane if she helps three creatures achieve the fulfillment of their most cherished desires, pickup, tripapoo, botalo, dangled..."
Pikapoo, trikapoo, botalo, motolo... - the Munchkins repeated in holy horror.
Who is Goodwin? - Ellie asked.
“Oh, this is the greatest sage of our country,” whispered the old woman. - He is more powerful than all of us and lives in the Emerald City.
Is he evil or good?
Nobody knows this. But don’t be afraid, find three creatures, fulfill their cherished desires, and the wizard of the Emerald City will help you return to your country!
Where is the Emerald City? - Ellie asked.
It is in the center of the country. The great sage and wizard Goodwin himself built it and manages it. But he surrounded himself with extraordinary mystery, and no one saw him after the construction of the city, and it ended many, many years ago.
How will I get to the Emerald City?
The road is long. Not everywhere the country is as good as it is here. There are dark forests with terrible animals, there are fast rivers - crossing them is dangerous...
Won't you come with me? - asked the girl.
No, my child,” answered Villina. - I can’t leave the Yellow Country for a long time. You must go alone. The road to the Emerald City is paved with yellow brick, and you won't get lost. When you come to Goodwin, ask him for help...
How long will I have to live here, madam? - Ellie asked, lowering her head.
“I don’t know,” Villina answered. - Nothing is said about this in my magic book. Go, search, fight! I will look into the magic book from time to time to know how you are doing... Farewell, my dear!
Villina leaned towards the huge book, and it immediately shrank to the size of a thimble and disappeared into the folds of her robe. A whirlwind came, it became dark, and when the darkness dissipated, Villina was no longer there: the sorceress had disappeared. Ellie and the Munchkins trembled with fear, and the bells on the little people's hats rang of their own accord.
When everyone had calmed down a little, the bravest of the Munchkins, their foreman, turned to Ellie:
Powerful fairy! Welcome to the Blue Country! You killed the evil Gingema and freed the Munchkins!
Ellie said:
You are very kind, but there is a mistake: I am not a fairy. And you heard that my house fell on Gingema on the orders of the sorceress Villina...
“We don’t believe this,” Sergeant Major Zhevunov stubbornly objected. - We heard your conversation with the good sorceress, botalo, motalo, but we think that you are a powerful fairy. After all, only fairies can travel through the air in their houses, and only a fairy could free us from Gingema, the evil sorceress of the Blue Country. Gingema ruled us for many years and forced us to work day and night...
She made us work day and night! - the Munchkins said in unison.
She ordered us to catch spiders and bats, collect frogs and leeches from the ditches. These were her favorite foods...
And we,” the Munchkins cried, “we are very afraid of spiders and leeches!”
What are you crying about? - Ellie asked. - After all, all this has passed!
True true! - The munchkins laughed together, and the bells on their hats jingled merrily.
Mighty Mistress Ellie! - the foreman spoke. - Do you want to become our mistress instead of Gingema? We are sure that you are very kind and will not punish us too often!..
No,” Ellie objected, “I’m only a little girl and I’m not fit to be the ruler of the country.” If you want to help me, give me the opportunity to fulfill your deepest desires!
Our only desire was to get rid of the evil Gingema, pikapoo, trikapoo! But your house is crap! crack! - crushed it, and we have no more desires!.. - said the foreman.
Then I have nothing to do here. I will go looking for those who have desires. Only my shoes are very old and torn, they won’t last a long way. Really, Toto? - Ellie turned to the dog. oskazkah.ru - website
Of course they won’t stand it,” Totoshka agreed. - But don’t worry, Ellie, I saw something nearby and I’ll help you!
You? - the girl was surprised.
Yes I! - Toto answered proudly and disappeared behind the trees. A minute later he returned with a beautiful silver shoe in his teeth and solemnly laid it at Ellie’s feet. A gold buckle glittered on the shoe.
Where did you get it from? - Ellie was amazed.
I'll tell you now! - answered the out of breath dog, disappeared and returned again with another shoe.
How lovely! - Ellie said admiringly and tried on the shoes: they fit her feet just right, as if they were tailored for her.
“When I was running on reconnaissance,” Totoshka began importantly, “I saw behind the trees a large black hole in the mountain...
Ah ah ah! - The Munchkins screamed in horror. - After all, this is the entrance to the cave of the evil sorceress Gingema! And you dared to enter there?..
What's so scary about that? After all, Gingema died! - objected Totoshka.
You must be a wizard too! - the foreman said with fear; all the other Munchkins nodded their heads in agreement, and the bells under their hats rang in unison.
It was there, entering this cave, as you call it, that I saw many funny and strange things, but most of all I liked the shoes standing at the entrance. Some big birds with scary yellow eyes tried to stop me from taking the shoes, but will Toto be afraid of anything when he wants to serve his Ellie?
Oh, you are my dear daredevil! - Ellie exclaimed and gently pressed the dog to her chest. - In these shoes I can walk tirelessly as long as I want...
It’s very good that you received the shoes of the evil Gingema,” the elder Munchkin interrupted her. “They seem to have magical powers because Gingema only wore them on the most important occasions.” But what kind of power this is, we don’t know... And you are still leaving us, dear Mrs. Ellie? - the foreman asked with a sigh. - Then we’ll bring you something to eat on the way...
The munchkins left and Ellie was left alone. She found a piece of bread in the house and ate it on the bank of the stream, washing it down with clear cold water. Then she began to get ready for a long journey, and Toto ran under the tree and tried to grab a noisy motley parrot sitting on a lower branch, who was teasing him all the time.
Ellie got out of the van, carefully closed the door and wrote on it in chalk: “I’m not at home.”
Meanwhile, the Munchkins returned. They brought in enough food to last Ellie for several years. There were lambs, roasted geese and ducks, fruit baskets...
Ellie said with a laugh:
Well, where do I need so much, my friends?
She put some bread and fruit in the basket, said goodbye to the Munchkins and boldly set off on a long journey with the cheerful Toto.
Not far from the house there was a crossroads: several roads diverged here. Ellie chose the road paved with yellow bricks and walked briskly along it. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the little girl, abandoned in an amazing foreign country, felt quite good.
The road was bordered on both sides by beautiful blue hedges, beyond which began cultivated fields. Here and there you could see round houses. Their roofs looked like the pointed hats of Munchkins. Crystal balls sparkled on the roofs. The houses were painted blue.
Little men and women worked in the fields: they took off their hats and bowed warmly to Ellie. After all, now every Munchkin knew that the girl in the silver shoes liberated their country from the evil sorceress, lowering her house - crack! crack! - right on her head. All the Munchkins that Ellie met on the way looked at Toto with fearful surprise and, hearing his barking, covered their ears. When the cheerful dog ran up to one of the Munchkins, he ran away from him at full speed: there were no dogs at all in Goodwin’s country.
In the evening, when Ellie was hungry and was thinking about where to spend the night, she saw a large house by the road. Little men and women danced on the front lawn. The musicians played diligently on small violins and flutes. Children were frolicking right there, so tiny that Ellie’s eyes widened in amazement: they looked like dolls. On the terrace there were long tables with vases full of fruits, nuts, sweets, delicious pies and large cakes.
Seeing Ellie, a handsome tall old man came out from the crowd of dancers (he was a whole finger taller than Ellie!) and said with a bow:
My friends and I are celebrating today the liberation of our country from the evil sorceress. Do I dare ask the powerful fairy of the Killing House to take part in our feast?
Why do you think I'm a fairy? - Ellie asked.
You crushed the evil sorceress Gingema - crack! crack! - like an empty eggshell; you are wearing her magic shoes; with you is an amazing beast, the likes of which we have never seen, and, according to the stories of our friends, he is also gifted with magical powers...
Ellie was unable to object to this and went after the old man, whose name was Prem Kokus. She was greeted like a queen, and the bells rang incessantly, and there were endless dances, and a great many cakes were eaten and countless quantities of soft drinks were drunk, and the whole evening passed so cheerfully and pleasantly that Ellie remembered about dad and mom only as she fell asleep in bed.
In the morning after a hearty breakfast, she asked the Caucus:
How far is it from here to the Emerald City?
“I don’t know,” the old man answered thoughtfully. - I've never been there. It's best to stay away from the Great Goodwin, especially if you don't have important business with him. And the road to the Emerald City is long and difficult. You will have to cross dark forests and cross fast, deep rivers.
Ellie was a little sad, but she knew that only the Great Goodwin would bring her back to Kansas, so she said goodbye to her friends and set off again along the yellow brick road.
2. Ellie in the amazing land of munchkins. The Wizard of Oz. Volkov's tale.
Ellie woke up because the dog was licking her face with a hot, wet tongue and whining. At first it seemed to her that she had seen an amazing dream, and Ellie was about to tell her mother about it. But, seeing the overturned chairs and the stove lying on the floor, Ellie realized that everything was real.
The girl jumped out of bed. The house didn't move. The sun was shining brightly through the window.
Ellie ran to the door, opened it and screamed in surprise.
The hurricane brought the house into a land of extraordinary beauty: a green lawn spread around; along its edges grew trees with ripe, juicy fruits; in the clearings one could see flower beds of beautiful pink, white and blue flowers. Tiny birds fluttered in the air, sparkling with their bright plumage. Golden-green and red-breasted parrots sat on tree branches and screamed in high, strange voices. Not far away, a clear stream gurgled and silver fish frolicked in the water.
While the girl stood hesitantly on the threshold, the funniest and sweetest people imaginable appeared from behind the trees. The men, dressed in blue velvet caftans and tight trousers, were no taller than Ellie; blue boots with cuffs glittered on their feet. But most of all, Ellie liked the pointed hats: their tops were decorated with crystal balls, and small bells tinkled gently under the wide brims.
An old woman in a white robe walked importantly in front of the three men; Tiny stars sparkled on her pointed hat and on her robe. The old woman's gray hair fell onto her shoulders.
In the distance, behind the fruit trees, a whole crowd of small men and women could be seen; they stood whispering and exchanging glances, but did not dare to come closer.
Approaching the girl, these timid little people smiled welcomingly and somewhat fearfully at Ellie, but the old woman looked at Ellie with obvious bewilderment. The three men moved forward together and took off their hats at once. “Ding ding ding!” - the bells rang. Ellie noticed that the little men's jaws were constantly moving, as if chewing something.
The old woman turned to Ellie:
Tell me, how did you end up in the land of the Munchkins, dear child?
“I was brought here by a hurricane in this house,” Ellie answered timidly.
Strange, very strange! - The old woman shook her head. - Now you will understand my bewilderment. Here is how it was. I learned that the evil sorceress Gingema had lost her mind and wanted to destroy the human race and populate the earth with rats and snakes. And I had to use all my magical art...
How, madam! - Ellie exclaimed with fear. -Are you a sorceress? But why did my mother tell me that there are no wizards now?
Where does your mom live?
In Kansas.
“I’ve never heard such a name,” said the sorceress, pursing her lips. - But, no matter what your mother says, wizards and sages live in this country. There were four of us sorceresses here. Two of us - the sorceress of the Yellow Country (that's me - Villina!) and the sorceress of the Pink Country Stella - are kind. And the sorceress of the Blue Country, Gingema, and the sorceress of the Purple Country, Bastinda, are very evil. Your house was crushed by Gingema, and now there is only one evil sorceress left in our country.
Ellie was amazed. How could she, a little girl who had never killed even a sparrow in her life, destroy the evil sorceress?!
Ellie said:
You are, of course, mistaken: I didn’t kill anyone.
“I don’t blame you for this,” the sorceress Villina calmly objected. - After all, it was I, in order to save people from trouble, who deprived the hurricane of its destructive power and allowed it to capture only one house in order to throw it on the head of the insidious Gingema, because I read in my magic book that it is always empty during a storm...
Ellie answered embarrassedly:
It’s true, madam, during hurricanes we hide in the cellar, but I ran to the house for my dog...
My magic book could not have foreseen such a reckless act! - the sorceress Villina was upset. - So, this little beast is to blame for everything...
Totoshka, aw aw, with your permission, madam! - the dog suddenly intervened in the conversation. - Yes, I sadly admit, it’s all my fault...
How did you start talking, Toto!? - Ellie screamed in surprise.
I don’t know how it happens, Ellie, but, aw aw, human words involuntarily fly out of my mouth...
You see, Ellie,” Villina explained, “in this wonderful country, not only people talk, but also all animals and even birds. Look around, do you like our country?
“She’s not bad, madam,” Ellie answered, “but we’re better at home.” Should you look at our barnyard! You should look at our Pestryanka, madam! No, I want to return to my homeland, to my dad and mom...
“It’s hardly possible,” said the sorceress. - Our country is separated from the whole world by desert and huge mountains, through which not a single person has passed. I'm afraid, my baby, that you will have to stay with us.
Ellie's eyes filled with tears. The good Munchkins were very upset and also began to cry, wiping their tears with blue handkerchiefs. The munchkins took off their hats and placed them on the ground so that the ringing of the bells would not interfere with their sobbing.
And you won't help me at all? - Ellie asked sadly.
Oh yes,” Villina realized, “I completely forgot that my magic book was with me.” You need to look into it: maybe I’ll read something useful for you there...
Villina took out from the folds of her clothes a tiny book the size of a thimble. The sorceress blew on her, and in front of the surprised and slightly frightened Ellie, the book began to grow, grow and turned into a huge volume. It was so heavy that the old woman laid it on a large stone. Villina looked at the pages of the book, and they turned over under her gaze.
Found it, found it! - the sorceress suddenly exclaimed and began to read slowly: “Bambara, chufara, skoriki, moriki, turabo, furabo, loriki, yoriki... The great wizard Goodwin will return home the little girl brought to his country by a hurricane if she helps three creatures achieve the fulfillment of their most cherished desires, pickup, tripapoo, botalo, dangled..."
Pikapoo, trikapoo, botalo, motolo... - the Munchkins repeated in holy horror.
Who is Goodwin? - Ellie asked.
“Oh, this is the greatest sage of our country,” whispered the old woman. - He is more powerful than all of us and lives in the Emerald City.
Is he evil or good?
Nobody knows this. But don’t be afraid, find three creatures, fulfill their cherished desires, and the wizard of the Emerald City will help you return to your country!
Where is the Emerald City? - Ellie asked.
It is in the center of the country. The great sage and wizard Goodwin himself built it and manages it. But he surrounded himself with extraordinary mystery, and no one saw him after the construction of the city, and it ended many, many years ago.
How will I get to the Emerald City?
The road is long. Not everywhere the country is as good as it is here. There are dark forests with terrible animals, there are fast rivers - crossing them is dangerous...
Won't you come with me? - asked the girl.
No, my child,” answered Villina. - I can’t leave the Yellow Country for a long time. You must go alone. The road to the Emerald City is paved with yellow brick, and you won't get lost. When you come to Goodwin, ask him for help...
How long will I have to live here, madam? - Ellie asked, lowering her head.
“I don’t know,” Villina answered. - Nothing is said about this in my magic book. Go, search, fight! I will look into the magic book from time to time to know how you are doing... Farewell, my dear!
Villina leaned towards the huge book, and it immediately shrank to the size of a thimble and disappeared into the folds of her robe. A whirlwind came, it became dark, and when the darkness dissipated, Villina was no longer there: the sorceress had disappeared. Ellie and the Munchkins trembled with fear, and the bells on the little people's hats rang of their own accord.
When everyone had calmed down a little, the bravest of the Munchkins, their foreman, turned to Ellie:
Powerful fairy! Welcome to the Blue Country! You killed the evil Gingema and freed the Munchkins!
Ellie said:
You are very kind, but there is a mistake: I am not a fairy. And you heard that my house fell on Gingema on the orders of the sorceress Villina...
“We don’t believe this,” Sergeant Major Zhevunov stubbornly objected. - We heard your conversation with the good sorceress, botalo, motalo, but we think that you are a powerful fairy. After all, only fairies can travel through the air in their houses, and only a fairy could free us from Gingema, the evil sorceress of the Blue Country. Gingema ruled us for many years and forced us to work day and night...
She made us work day and night! - the Munchkins said in unison.
She ordered us to catch spiders and bats, collect frogs and leeches from the ditches. These were her favorite foods...
And we,” the Munchkins cried, “we are very afraid of spiders and leeches!”
What are you crying about? - Ellie asked. - After all, all this has passed!
True true! - The munchkins laughed together, and the bells on their hats jingled merrily.
Mighty Mistress Ellie! - the foreman spoke. - Do you want to become our mistress instead of Gingema? We are sure that you are very kind and will not punish us too often!..
No,” Ellie objected, “I’m only a little girl and I’m not fit to be the ruler of the country.” If you want to help me, give me the opportunity to fulfill your deepest desires!
Our only desire was to get rid of the evil Gingema, pikapoo, trikapoo! But your house is crap! crack! - crushed it, and we have no more desires!.. - said the foreman.
Then I have nothing to do here. I will go looking for those who have desires. Only my shoes are very old and torn, they won’t last a long way. Really, Toto? - Ellie turned to the dog.
Of course they won’t stand it,” Totoshka agreed. - But don’t worry, Ellie, I saw something nearby and I’ll help you!
You? - the girl was surprised.
Yes I! - Toto answered proudly and disappeared behind the trees. A minute later he returned with a beautiful silver shoe in his teeth and solemnly laid it at Ellie’s feet. A gold buckle glittered on the shoe.
Where did you get it from? - Ellie was amazed.
I'll tell you now! - answered the out of breath dog, disappeared and returned again with another shoe.
How lovely! - Ellie said admiringly and tried on the shoes: they fit her feet just right, as if they were tailored for her.
“When I was running on reconnaissance,” Totoshka began importantly, “I saw behind the trees a large black hole in the mountain...
Ah ah ah! - The Munchkins screamed in horror. - After all, this is the entrance to the cave of the evil sorceress Gingema! And you dared to enter there?..
What's so scary about that? After all, Gingema died! - objected Totoshka.
You must be a wizard too! - the foreman said with fear; all the other Munchkins nodded their heads in agreement, and the bells under their hats rang in unison.
It was there, entering this cave, as you call it, that I saw many funny and strange things, but most of all I liked the shoes standing at the entrance. Some big birds with scary yellow eyes tried to stop me from taking the shoes, but will Toto be afraid of anything when he wants to serve his Ellie?
Oh, you are my dear daredevil! - Ellie exclaimed and gently pressed the dog to her chest. - In these shoes I can walk tirelessly as long as I want...
It’s very good that you received the shoes of the evil Gingema,” the elder Munchkin interrupted her. “They seem to have magical powers because Gingema only wore them on the most important occasions.” But what kind of power this is, we don’t know... And you are still leaving us, dear Mrs. Ellie? - the foreman asked with a sigh. - Then we’ll bring you something to eat on the way...
The munchkins left and Ellie was left alone. She found a piece of bread in the house and ate it on the bank of the stream, washing it down with clear cold water. Then she began to get ready for a long journey, and Toto ran under the tree and tried to grab a noisy motley parrot sitting on a lower branch, who was teasing him all the time.
Ellie got out of the van, carefully closed the door and wrote on it in chalk: “I’m not at home.”
Meanwhile, the Munchkins returned. They brought in enough food to last Ellie for several years. There were lambs, roasted geese and ducks, fruit baskets...
Ellie said with a laugh:
Well, where do I need so much, my friends?
She put some bread and fruit in the basket, said goodbye to the Munchkins and boldly set off on a long journey with the cheerful Toto.
Not far from the house there was a crossroads: several roads diverged here. Ellie chose the road paved with yellow bricks and walked briskly along it. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the little girl, abandoned in an amazing foreign country, felt quite good.
The road was bordered on both sides by beautiful blue hedges, beyond which began cultivated fields. Here and there you could see round houses. Their roofs looked like the pointed hats of Munchkins. Crystal balls sparkled on the roofs. The houses were painted blue.
Little men and women worked in the fields: they took off their hats and bowed warmly to Ellie. After all, now every Munchkin knew that the girl in the silver shoes liberated their country from the evil sorceress, lowering her house - crack! crack! - right on her head. All the Munchkins that Ellie met on the way looked at Toto with fearful surprise and, hearing his barking, covered their ears. When the cheerful dog ran up to one of the Munchkins, he ran away from him at full speed: there were no dogs at all in Goodwin’s country.
In the evening, when Ellie was hungry and was thinking about where to spend the night, she saw a large house by the road. Little men and women danced on the front lawn. The musicians played diligently on small violins and flutes. Children were frolicking right there, so tiny that Ellie’s eyes widened in amazement: they looked like dolls. On the terrace there were long tables with vases full of fruits, nuts, sweets, delicious pies and large cakes.
Seeing Ellie, a handsome tall old man came out from the crowd of dancers (he was a whole finger taller than Ellie!) and said with a bow:
My friends and I are celebrating today the liberation of our country from the evil sorceress. Do I dare ask the powerful fairy of the Killing House to take part in our feast?
Why do you think I'm a fairy? - Ellie asked.
You crushed the evil sorceress Gingema - crack! crack! - like an empty eggshell; you are wearing her magic shoes; with you is an amazing beast, the likes of which we have never seen, and, according to the stories of our friends, he is also gifted with magical powers...
Ellie was unable to object to this and went after the old man, whose name was Prem Kokus. She was greeted like a queen, and the bells rang incessantly, and there were endless dances, and a great many cakes were eaten and countless quantities of soft drinks were drunk, and the whole evening passed so cheerfully and pleasantly that Ellie remembered about dad and mom only as she fell asleep in bed.
In the morning after a hearty breakfast, she asked the Caucus:
How far is it from here to the Emerald City?
“I don’t know,” the old man answered thoughtfully. - I've never been there. It's best to stay away from the Great Goodwin, especially if you don't have important business with him. And the road to the Emerald City is long and difficult. You will have to cross dark forests and cross fast, deep rivers.
Ellie was a little sad, but she knew that only the Great Goodwin would bring her back to Kansas, so she said goodbye to her friends and set off again along the yellow brick road.
