H wandarfl wizard v oz

fOklYr, leJandz, miTs n fEri tElz hAv folOd cFldhUd TrM H EJz, f evri helTi jaNstar hAz a hOlsam n instiNktiv lav f stYrIz fAntAstik, myrvalas n mAnifestli anrIl. H wiNd fErIz v /grim n /Andarsan hAv brYt mYr hApInis t cFldiS hyrts Hn Yl aHar hjman krIESnz.

jet H Old tFm fEri tEl, hAvN sarvd f JenarESnz, mE nQ b klAsd Az histYrikl in H cildrinz lFbrEri; f H tFm hAz kam f a sIrIz v nMar wandar tElz in wic H stErIOtFpt JIni, dwYrf n fEri r IliminEtd, tageHar wiT Yl H hYrabl n blad-kardlN insidants divFzd bF HEr YTarz t pqnt a fIrsam mYral t Ic tEl. modarn eJjMkESn inklMdz mYrAliti; HErfYr H modarn cFld sIks Onli entartEnmnt in its wandar tElz n glAdli dispensz wiT Yl disagrIabl insidant.

hAvN His TYt in mFnd, H stYri v H /wandarfl /wizard v /oz waz ritan sOli t plIz cildran v tadE. i aspFrz t bIiN a modarnFzd fEri tEl, in wic H wandarmnt n Jq r ritEnd n H hyrtEks n nFtmErz r left Qt.

l. /frAnk /bYm

/SikogO, /Eprl, 1900.

/dYraTi livd in H midst v H grEt /kAnzas prErIz, wiT ankl /henri, hM waz a fyrmar, n Ynt /em, hM waz H fyrmarz wFf. HEr hQs waz smYl, f H lambar t bild i hAd t b kErId bF wAgan meni mFlz. HEr war fYr wYlz, a flYr n a rMf, wic mEd wan rMm; n His rMm kntEnd a rasti lUkN kUkstOv, a kabard f H diSz, a tEbl, TrI Yr fYr cErz, n H bedz. ankl henri n Ynt /em hAd a big bed in wan kYrnar, n dYraTi a litl bed in anaHar kYrnar. HEr waz nO gErit At Yl, n nO selar -- eksept a smYl hOl dag in H grQnd, kold a sFklOn selar, wEr H fAmili kUd gO in kEs wan v HOz grEt warlwindz arOz, mFti inaf t kraS eni bildN in its pAT. i waz rIct bF a crAp dYr in H midl v H flYr, fram wic a lAdar led dQn intO H smYl, dyrk hOl.

wen dYraTi stUd in H dYrwE n lUkd arQnd, SI kUd sI naTN bat H grEt grE prErI on evri sFd. not a crI nYr a hQs brOk H brod swIp v flAt kancri HAt rIcd t H eJ v H skF in Yl darekSnz. H san hAd bEkd H plQd lAnd intM a grE mAs, wiT litl krAks ranN TrM i. evan H grAs waz not grIn, f H san hAd barnd H tops v H loN blEdz antil HE war H sEm grE kalar t b sIn evrIwEr. wans H hQs hAd bin pEntd, bat H san blistard H pEnt n H rEnz woSd i awE, n nQ H hQs waz Az dal n grE Az evrITiN els.

wen Ynt /em kEm HEr t liv SI waz a jaN, priti wFf. H san n wind hAd cEnJd har, tM. HE hAd tEkan H spyrkl fram har Fz n left Hem a sObar grE; HE hAd tEkan H red fram har cIks n lips, n HE war grE YlsO. SI waz Tin n gYnt, n nevar smFld nQ. wen dYraTi, hM waz an Yrfan, farst kEm t har, Ynt /em hAd bin sO stYrtld bF H cild'z lAftar Ht S wUd skrIm n pres har hAnd apon har hyrt wenevar dYraTi'z meri vqs rIcd har Irz; n S stil lUkd At H litl garl wiT wandar Ht S kUd fFnd enITiN t lAf At.

ankl henri nevar lAfd. hI warkd hyrd fram mYrnN til nFt n did not nO wat Jq waz. hI waz grE YlsO, fram hiz loN bIrd t hiz raf bMts, n hI lUkd starn n solam, n rErli spOk.

i waz /tOtO HAt mEd dYraTi lAf, n sEvd har fram grOiN Az grE Az har aHar sarQndNz. tOtO waz not grE; hI waz a litl blAk dog, wiT loN silki hEr n smYl blAk Fz HAt twiNkld merili on IHar sFd v hiz fani, wI nOz. tOtO plEd Yl dE loN, n dYraTi plEd wiT him, n lovd him dIrli.

tadE, hQevar, HE war not plEiN. ankl henri sAt apon H dYrstep n lUkd ANkSasli At H skF, wic waz Ivan grEar Hn jMZjMal. dYraTi stUd in H dYr wiT tOtO in har yrmz, n lUkd At H skF tM. Ynt /em waz woSN H diSz.

fram H fyr nYrT HE hard a lO wEl v H wind, n ankl henri n dYraTi kUd sI wEr H loN grAs bOd in wEvz bifYr H kamN stYrm. HEr nQ kEm a Syrp wislN in H Er fram H sQT, n Az HE tarnd HEr Fz Ht wE HE sY riplz in H grAs kamN fram Ht darekSn YlsO.

sadanli ankl henri stUd ap.

HEr'z a sFklOn kamN, /em, hI kYld t hiz wFf. F'l gO lUk Aftar H stok. Hn hI rAn tOward H Sedz wEr H kQz n hYrsz war kept.

Ynt /em Jropd har wark n kEm t H dYr. wan glAns tOld har v H dEnJar klOs At hAnd.

kwik, dYraTi! SI skrImd, ran f H selar!

tOtO Jampd Qt v dYraTi'z yrmz n hid andar H bed, n H garl styrtd t get him. Ynt /em, bAdli frFtand, TrM Opan H crAp dYr in H flYr n klFmd dQn H lAdar intM H smYl, dyrk hOl. dYraTi kYt tOtO At lAst n styrtd t folO har Ynt. wen SI waz hAfwE akros H rMm HEr kEm a grEt SrIk fram H wind, n H hQs SUk sO hyrd Ht SI lost har fUtN n sAt dQn sadanli apon H flYr.

Hn a scrANJ TiN hApand.

H hQs warld arQnd tM Yr TrI tFmz n rOz slOli TrM H Er. dYraTi felt Az if SI war gOiN ap in a balMn.

H nYrT n sQT windz met wEr H hQs stUd, n mEd i H egzAkt sentar v H sFklOn. in H midl v a sFklOn H Er z Jenarali stil, bat H grEt preSar v H wind on evri sFd v H hQs rEzd i ap hFr n hFr, antil i waz At H vEri top v H sFklOn; n HEr i rimEnd n waz kErId mFlz n mFlz awE Az Izili Az jM kUd kEri a feHar.

i waz vEri dyrk, n H wind hQld hYrabli arQnd har, bat dYraTi fQnd SI waz rFdN kwFt Izili. Aftar H farst fjM warlz arQnd, n wan aHar tFm wen H hQs tipt bAdli, SI felt Az if SI war bIiN rokd Jentli, lFk a bEbi in a krEdl.

tOtO did not lFk i. hI rAn abQt H rMm, nQ hIr, nQ HEr, byrkN lQdli; bat dYraTi sAt kwFt stil on H flYr n wEtd t sI wat wUd hApan.

wans tOtO got tM nIr H Opan crAp dYr, n fel in; n At farst H litl garl TYt SI hAd lost him. bat sMn SI sY wan v hiz Irz stikN ap TrM H hOl, f H scroN preSar v H Er waz kIpN him ap sO HAt hI kUd not fYl. SI krept t H hOl, kYt tOtO bF H Ir, n JrAgd him intM H rMm agen, Aftarward klOzN H crAp dYr sO HAt nO mYr Aksidnts kUd hApan.

hQr Aftar hQr pAsd awE, n slOli dYraTi got Ovar har frFt; bat SI felt kwFt lOnli, n H wind SrIkd sO lQdli Yl abQt har Ht SI nIrly bikEm def. At farst SI hAd wandard if SI wUd b dASd t pIsz wen H hQs fel agen; bat Az H hQrz pAsd n naTN tErabl hApand, SI stopd warIiN n rizolvd t wEt kYmli n sI wat H fjMcar wUd briN. At lAst SI krYld Ovar H swEiN flYr t har bed, n lE dQn apon i; n tOtO folOd n lE dQn bisFd har.

in spFt v H swEiN v H hQs n H wElN v H wind, dYraTi sMn klOzd har Fz n fel fAst aslIp.

SI waz awEkand bF a Sok, sO sadan n sivEr Ht if dYraTi hAd not bin lFiN on H soft bed SI mFt hAv bin hart. Az i waz, H Jyr mEd har kec har breT n wandar wat hAd hApand; n tOtO pat hiz kOld litl nOz intM har fEs n wFnd dizmali. dYraTi sAt ap n nOtisd Ht H hQs waz not mMvN; nYr waz i dyrk, f H brFt sanSFn kEm in At H windO, fladN H litl rMm. SI sprAN fram har bed n wiT tOtO At har hIlz rAn n Opand H dYr.

H litl garl gEv a krF v amEzmnt n lUkd abQt har, har Fz grOiN bigar n bigar At H wandarfal sFts SI sY.

H sFklOn hAd set H hQs dQn vEri Jentli -- f a sFklOn -- in H midst v a kancri v myrvalas bjMti. HEr war lavli pAcz v grInswyrd Yl abQt, wiT stEtli crIz bErN ric n laSas frMts. bANks v gYrJas flQrz war on evri hAnd, n bardz wiT rEr n briljant plMmiJ sAN n flatard in H crIz n bUSz. a litl wE of waz a smYl brUk, raSN n spyrkN aloN bitwIn grIn bANks, n marmarN in a vqs vEri grEtfal t a litl garl hM hAd livd sO loN on H JrF, grE prErIz.

wFl SI stUd lUkN Igarli At H scrEnJ n bjMtifal sFts, sI nOtisd kamN tOward har a grMp v H kwIrist pIpl SI hAd evar sIn. HE war not Az big Az H grOn fOk SI hAd YlwEz bin jMsd t; bat nIHar war HE vEri smYl. in fAkt, HE sImd abQt Az tYl Az dYraTi, hM waz a wel-grOn cFld f har EJ, YlHO HE war, sO fyr Az lUks gO, meni jIrz Oldar.

TrI war men n wan a wUman, n Yl war odli Jresd. HE wYr rQnd hAts Ht rOz t a smYl pqnt a fUt abav HEr hedz, wiT litl belz arQnd H brimz Ht tinkld swItli Az HE mMvd. H hAts v H men war blM; H litl wUman'z hAt waz wFt, n SI wYr a wFt gQn Ht haN in plIts fram har SOldarz. Ovar i war sprinkld litl styrz Ht glisand in H san lFk dFmandz. H men war Jresd in blM, v H sEm SEd Az HEr hats, n wYr wel-poliSd bMts wiT a dIp rOl v blM At H tops. H men, dYraTi TYt, war abQt Az Old Az ankl henri, f tM v Hem hAd bIrdz. bat H litl wUman waz dQtlis mac Oldar. har fEs waz kavard in riNklz, har hEr waz nIrli wFt, n SI wYkd rAHar stifli.

wen HIz pIpl JrM nIr H hQs wEr dYraTi waz stAndN in H dYrwE, HE pYzd n wispard amaN Hemselvz, Az if afrEd t kam fYrHar. bat H litl Old wUman wYkd ap t dYraTi, mEd a lO bQ n sed, in a swIt vqs:

"jM r welkam, mOst nObl sYrsaris, t H lAnd v H /manckinz. wI r sO grEtfal t jM f hAvN kild H /wikid /wic v H /Ist, n f setN Qr pIpl frI fram bondiJ."

dYraTi lisand t Hs spIc wiT wandar. wat kUd H litl wUman posabli mIn bF kYlN har a sYrsaris, n sEiN SI hAd kild H wikid wic v H Ist? dYraTi waz an inasnt, hyrmlis litl garl, hM hAd bin kErId bF a sFklOn meni mFlz fram hOm; n SI hAd nevar kild enITiN in Yl har lFf.

bat H litl wUman evidentli ekspektd har t Ansar; sO dYraTi sed, wiT hezitESn, "jM r vEri kFnd, bat HEr mast b sam mistEk. F hAv not kild enITiN."

"jYr hQs did, enIwE," riplFd H litl Old wUman, wiT a lAf, "n Ht z H sEm TiN. sI!" SI kntinjMd, pqntN t H kYrnar v H hQs. "HEr r har tM fIt, stil stikN Qt fram andar a blok v wUd."

dYraTi lUkd, n gEv a litl krF v frFt. HEr, indId, Jast andar H kYrnar v H grEt bIm H hQs restd on, tM fIt war stikN Qt, Sod in silvar SMz wiT pqntd tOz.

"O, dIr! O, dIr!" krFd dYraTi, klAspN har hAndz tageHar in dismE. "H hQs mast hAv hYlan on har. watevar SAl wI d?"

"HEr z naTiN t b dan," sed H litl wUman kYmli.

"bat hM waz SI?" Askd dYraTi.

"SI waz H wikid wic v H Ist, Az F sed," Ansard H litl wUman. "SI hAz held Yl H manckinz in bondiJ f meni jIrz, mEkN Hem slEvz f har nFt n dE. nQ HE r Yl set frI, n r grEtfal t jM f H fEvar."

"hM r H manckinz?" inkwFrd dYraTi.

"HE r H pIpl hM liv in Hs lAnd v H Ist wEr H wikid wic rMld."

"r jM a manckin?" Askd dYraTi.

"nO, bat F am HEr frend, YlHO F liv in H lAnd v H nYrT. wen HE sY H wic v H Ist waz ded H manckinz sent a swft mesenJar t mI, n F kEm At wans. F am H wic v H nYrT."

"O, grESas!" krFd dYraTi. "r jM a rIl wic?"

"jes, indId," Ansard H litl wUman. "bat F am a gUd wic, n H pIpl lav mI. F am not Az pQarfal Az H wikid wiC waz hM rMld hIr, Yr F SUd hAv set H pIpl frI mFself."

"bat F TYt Yl wicz war wikid," sed H garl, hM waz hAf frFtand At fEsN a rIl wic. "O, nO, Ht z a grEt mistEk. HEr war Onli fYr wicz in Yl H /lAnd v /oz, n tM v Hem, TOz hM liv in H nYrT n H sQT, r gUd wicz. F nO Hs t b crM, f F em wan v Hem mFself, n ken not b mistEkan. HOz hM dwelt in H Ist n H west war, indId, wikid wicz; bat nQ Ht jM hAv kild wan v Hem, HEr z bat wan wikid wic in Yl H lAnd v oz -- H wan in H west."

"bat," sed dYraTi, Aftar a mOmant's TYt, "Ynt /em hAz tOld mI Ht H wicz war Yl ded -- jIrz n jIrz agO."

"hM z Ynt /em?" inkwFrd H litl Old wUman.

"SI z mF Ynt hM livz in /kAnzas, wEr F kEm fram."

H wic v H nYrT sImd t TiNk f a tFm, wiT har hed bQd n har Fz apon H grQnd. Hen SI lUkd ap n sed, "F d not nO wEr /kAnzas z, f F hAv nevar hard HAt kancrF mencand bifYr. bat tel mI, z i a sivalFzd kancrF?"

"O, jes," riplFd dYraTi.

"Hn Ht akQnts f i. in H sivalFzd kancrIz F bilIv HEr r nO wicz left, nYr wizardz, nYr sYrsarisz, nYr maJiSnz. bat, jM sI, H lAnd v oz hAz nevar bin sivalFzd, f wI r kat of fram H rest v H wYrld. HErfYr wI stil hAv wicz n wizardz amaNst as."

"hM r H wizardz?" Askd dYraTi.

"/oz himself z H grEt wizard," Ansard H wic, siNkN har vqs t a wispar. "hI z mYr pQrfal Hn Yl H rest v as tageHar. hI livz in H sitI v emaraldz."

dYraTi waz gOiN t Ask anaHar kwescn, bat Jast Hn H manckinz, hM hAd bin stAndN sFlantli bF, gEv a lQd SQt n pqntd t H kYrnar v H hQs wEr H wikid wic hAd bin lFiN.

"wat z i?" Askd H litl Old wUman, n lUkd, n bigAn t lAf. H fIt v H ded wic hAd disapIrd entFrli, n naTiN waz left bat H silvar SMz.

"SI waz sO Old," eksplEnd H wic v H nYrT, "Ht SI JrFd ap kwikli in H san. Ht z H end v har. bat H silvar SMz r jYrz, n jM SAl hAv Hem t wEr." SI rIcd dQn n pikd ap H SMz, n Aftar SEkN H dast of v Hem hAndd Hem t dYraTi.

"H wic v H Ist waz prQd v HOz silvar SMz," sed wan v H manckinz, "n HEr z sam cyrm kanektd wiT Hem; bat wat i z wI nevar nM."

dYraTi kErId H SMz intM H hQs n plEsd Hem on H tEbl. Hn SI kEm Qt agen t H manckinz n sed:

"F Am ANkSas t get bAk t mF Ynt n ankl, f F Am Sar HE wil wari abQt mI. kn jM help mI fFnd mF wE?"

H manckinz n H wic farst lUkd At wan anaHar, n Hn At dYraTi, n Hn SUk HEr hedz.

"At H Ist, not fYr fram hIr," sed wan, "HEr z a grEt dezart, n nan kUd liv t kros i."

"i z H sEm At H sQT," sed anaHar, "f F hAv bin HEr n sIn i. H sQT z H kancri v H /kwYdlNz."

"F Am tOld," sed H Tard mAn, "Ht i z H sEm At H west. n Ht kancri, wEr H /wiNkIz liv, z rMld bF H wikid wic v H west, hM wUd mEk jM har slEv if jM pAsd har wE."

"H nYrT z mF hOm," sed H Old lEdi, "n At its eJ z H sEm grEt dezart Ht sarQndz Hs /lAnd v /oz. F'm afrEd, mF dIr, jM wil hAv t liv wiT as."

dYraTi bigAn t sob At Hs, f SI felt lOnli amaN Yl HIz scrEnJ pIpl. har tIrz sImd t grIv H kFnd-hyrtd manckinz, f HE imIdiatli tUk Qt HEr hAnkarcifs n bigAn t wIp YlsO. Az f H litl Old wUman, SI tUk of har kAp n bAlansd H pqnt on H end v har nOz, wEl SI kQntd "wan, tM, TrI" in a solam vqs. At wans H kAp cEnJd intM a slEt, on wic waz ritan in big, wEt cYk myrks:

"let dYraTi gO t H siti v emaraldz"

H litl Old wUman tUk H slEt fram har nOz, n hAvN red H wardz on i, Askd, "z jYr nEm dYraTi, mF dIr?"

"jes," Ansard H cFld, lUkN ap n JrFiN har tIrz.

"Hn jM mast gO t H siti v emaraldz. parhAps /oz wil help jM."

"wEr z Hs siti?" Askd dYraTi.

"i z egzAktli in H sentar v H kancri, n z rMld bF /oz, H grEt wizard F tOld jM v."

"z hI a gUd mAn?" inkwFrd H garl ANkSasli.

"hI z a gUd wizard. weHar hI z a mAn Yr not F kAn not tel, f F hAv nevar sIn him."

"hQ kAn F get HEr?" Askd dYraTi.

"jM mast wYk. i z a loN Jarni, TrM a kancri Ht z samtFmz plezant n samtFmz dyrk n tErabl. hQevar, F wil jMz Yl H mAJik yrts F nO v t kIp jM fram hyrm."

"wOn't jM gO wiT mI?" plIdd H garl, hM hAd bigan t lUk apon H litl Old wUman Az har Onli frend.

"nO, F kAn not d Ht," SI riplFd, "bat F wil giv jM mF kis, n nO wan wil dEr inJar a parsan hM hAz bin kisd bF h wic v H nYrT."

SI kEm klOs t dYraTi n kisd har gentli on H fYrhed. wEr har lips tacd H garl HE left a rQnd, SFnN myrk, Az dYraTi fQnd Qt sMn Aftar.

"H rOd t H siti v emaraldz z pEvd wiT jelO brik," sed H wic, "sO jM kAn not mis i. wen jM get t /oz d not b afrEd v him, bat tel jYr stYri n Ask him t help jM. gUd-bF, mF dIr."

H TrI manckinz bQd lO t har n wisd har a plezant Jarni, Aftar wic HE wYkd awE TrM H crIz. H wic gEv dYraTi a frendli nod, warld arQnd on har left hIl TrI tFmz, n scrEtwE disapIrd, mac t H sarprFz v litl tOtO, hM byrkd Aftar har lQdli enaf wen SI hAd gon, bikYz hI hAd bin afrEd Ivan t grQl wFl SI stUd bF.

bat dYraTi, nOiN har t b a wic, hAd ekspektd har t disapIr in JAst Ht wE, n waz not sarprFzd in H lIst.

wen dYraTi waz left alOn SI bigAn t fIl haNgri. sO SI went t H kabard n kat harself sam bred, wic SI spred wiT batar. SI gEv sam t tOtO, n tEkN a pEl fram H shelf SI kErId i dQn t H litl brUk n fild i wiT klIr, spyrklN wotar. tOtO rAn Ovar t H crIz n bigAn t byrk At H bardz sitN HEr. dYraTi went t get him, n sY sac diliSas frMt hANN fram H brAncz Ht SI gAHard sam v i, fFndN i Jast wat SI wontd t help Qt har brekfast.

Hn SI went bAk t H hQs, n hAvN helpd harself n tOtO t a gUd JriNk v H kMl, klIr wotar, SI set abQt mEkN redi f har Jarni t H siti v emaraldz.

dYraTi hAd Onli wan aHar Jres, bat Ht hApand t b klIn n waz hANN on a peg bisFd H bed. i waz giNam, wiT ceks v wFt n blM; n YlHO H blM waz samwat fEdd wiT meni wYSiNz, i waz stil a priti frok. H garl wYSd harself kErfali, Jresd harself in H klIn giNam, n tFd har piNk san bonit on har hed. SI tUk a litl bAskit n fild i wiT bred fram H kabard, lEiN a wFt kloT Ovar H top. Hn SI lUkd dQn At har fIt n nOtisd hQ Old n wYrn har SMz war.

"HE Sarli wil nevar d f a loN Jarni, tOtO," SI sed. n tOtO lUkd ap intM har fEs wiT hiz litl blAk Fz n wAgd hiz tEl t SO hI nM wat sI ment.

At Ht mOmant dYraTi sY lFiN on H tEbl H silvar SMz Ht hAd biloNd t H wic v H Ist.

"F wandar if HE wil fit mI," SI sed t tOtO. "HE wUd b Jast H TiN t tEk a loN wYk in, f HE kUd not wEr Qt."

SI tUk of har Old leTar SMz n crFd on H silvar wanz, wic fitd har Az wel Az if HE hAd bin mEd f har.

fFnali SI pikd ap har bAskit.

"kam aloN, tOtO," SI sed. "wI wil gO t H emarald siti n Ask H grEt /oz hQ t get bAk t /kAnzas agen."

SI klOzd H dYr, lokd i, n pUt H kI kErfali in H pokit v har Jres. n sO, wiT tOtO crotN aloN sObarli bihFnd har, SI styrtd har Jarni.

HEr war sevaral rOdz nIrbF, bat i did not tEk har loN t fFnd H wan pEvd wiT jelO briks. wiHin a SYrt tFm SI waz wYkN briskli tYrd H emarald siti, har silvar SMz tiNklN mErili on H hyrd, jelO rOd-bed. H san SOn brFt n H bardz sAN swItli, n dYraTi did not fIl nIrli sO bAd Az jM mFt TiNk a litl garl wUd hM hAd bin sadanli wiskd awE fram har On kancrI n set dQn in H midst v a scrAnJ lAnd.

SI waz sarprFzd, Az SI wykd aloN, t sI hQ priti H kancri waz abQt har. HEr war nIt fensz At H sFdz v H rOd, pEntd a dEnti blM kalar, n bijond Hem war fIldz v grEn n veJtablz in abandans. evidantli H manckinz war gUd farmarz n Ebl t rEz lyrJ krops. wans in a wFl SI wUd pAs a hQs, n H pIpl kEm Qt t lUk At har n bQ lO Az SI went bF; f evrIwan nM SI hAd bin H mInz v discrqiN H wikid wic n setN Hem frI fram bondiJ. H hQsz v H manckinz war od-lUkN dwelNz, f in Hs kancri v H Ist blM waz H fEvarit kalar.

tYrd IvnN, wen dYraTi waz tFrd wiT har loN wYk n bigAn t wandar wEr SI SUd pAs H nFt, SI kEm t a hQs rAHar lyrJar Hn H rest. on H grIn lYn bifYr i meni men n wUman war dAnsN. fFv litl fidlarz plEd Az lQdli Az posabl, n H pIpl war lAfN n siNN, wFl a big tEbl nIr bF waz lOdd wiT diliSas frMts n nats, pFz n kEks, n meni aHar gUd TiNz t It.

H pIpl grItd dYraTi kFndli, n invFtd har t sapar n t pAs H nFt wiT Hem; f Hs waz H hOm v H ricist manckinz in H lAnd, n hiz frendz war gAHard wiT him t selabrEt HEr frIdam fram H bondiJ v H wikid wic.

dYraTi Et a hyrti sapar n waz wEtd apon bF H ric manckin himself, hMz nEm waz /bok. Hn SI sat apon a seti n wocd H pIpl dAns.

wen /bok sY har silvar SMz hI sed, "jM mast b a grEt sYrsaris."

"wF?" Askd H garl.

"bikYz jM wEr silvar SMz n hAv kild H wikid wic. bisFdz, jM hAv wFt in jYr frok, n Onli wicz n sYrsarisz wEr wFt."

"mF Jres z blM n wFt cekd," sed dYraTi, smMHN Qt H riNklz in i.

"i z kFnd v jM t wEr Ht," sed /bok. "blM z H kalar v H manckinz, n wEt z H wic kalar. sO wI nO jM r a frendli wic."

dYraTi did not nO wat t sE t Hs, f Yl H pIpl sImd t TiNk har a wic, n SI nM vEri wel SI waz Onli an YrdinEri litl garl hM hAd kam bF H cAns v a sFklOn intM a scrANJ lAnd.

wen SI hAd tFrd wocN H dAnsN, /bok led har intM H hQs, wEr hI gEv har a rMm wiT a priti bed in i. H SIts war mEd v blM kloT, n dYraTi slept sQndli in Hem til mYrnN, wiT tOtO karld ap on H blM rag bisFd har.

SI Et a hyrti brekfast, n wocd a wI manckin bEbi, hM plEd wiT tOtO n pUld hiz tEl n krOd n lAfd n a wE Ht grEtli amjMzd dYraTi. tOtO waz a fFn kjarIasiti t Yl H pIpl, f HE hAd nevar sIn a dog bifYr.

"hQ fyr z i t H emarald siti?" H garl Askd.

"F d not nO," Ansard /bok grEvli, "f F hAv nevar bin HEr. i z betar f pIpl t kIp awE fram /oz, anles HE hAv biznis wiT him. bat i z a loN wE t H emarald siti, n i wil tEk jM meni dEz. H kancri hIr z ric n plezant, bat jM mast pAs TrM raf n dEnJaras plEsz bifYr jM rIc H end v jYr Jarni."

Hs warId dYraTi a litl, bat SI nM Ht Onli H grEt /oz kUd help har get t /kAnzas agen, sO SI brEvli rizolvd not t tarn bAk.

SI bEd har frendz gUd-bF, n agen styrtd aloN H rOd v jelO brik. wen SI hAd gon sevaral mFlz SI TYt SI wUd stop t rest, n sO klFmd t H top v H fens bisFd H rOd n sAt dQn. HEr waz a grEt kYrnfIld bijond H fens, n not fyr awE SI sY a skErkrO, plEsd hF on a pOl t kIp H bardz fram H rFp kYrn.

dYraTi lInd har cin apon har hAnd n gEzd TYtfali At H skErkrO. its hed waz pEntd on i t reprizent a fEs. an Old, pqntd blM hAt, Ht hAd biloNd t sam manckin, waz parcd on hiz hed, n H rest v H figjar waz a blM sMt v klOz, wYrn n fEdd, wic hAd YlsO bin stafd wiT scrY. on H fIt war sam Old bMts wiT blM tops, sac Az evri mAn wYr in Hs kancri, n H figjar waz rEzd abav H stYks v kYrn bF mInz v H pOl stak ap its bAk.

wFl dYraTi waz lUkN arnistli intM H kwIr, pEntd fEs v H skErkrO, SI waz sarprFzd t sI wan v H Fz slOli wiNk At har. SI TYt SI mast hAv bin mistEkn At farst, f nan v H skErkrOz in /kAnzas evar wiNk; bat prezantli H figjar nodd its hed t har in a frendli wE. Hn SI klFmd dQn fram H fens n wYkd ap t i, wFl tOtO rAn arQnd H pOl n byrkd.

"gUd dE," sed H skErkrO, in a rAHar haski vqs.

"did jM spIk?" Askd H garl, in wandar.

"sartanli," Ansard H skErkrO. "hQ d jM d?"

"F'm priti wel, TANk jM," riplFd dYraTi palFtli. "hQ d jM d?"

"F'm not fIlN wel," sed H skErkrO, wiT a smFl, "f i z vEri tIdIas bIiN parcd ap hIr nFt n dE t skEr awE krOz."

"kAn't jM get dQn?" Askd dYraTi.

"nO, f Hs pOl z stak ap mF bAk. if jM wil plIz tEk awE H pOl F SAl b grEtli ablFJd t jM."

dYraTi rIcd ap bOT yrmz n liftd H figjar of H pOl, f, bIiN stufd wiT scrY, i waz kwFt lFt.

"TANk jM vEri mac," sed H skErkrO, wen hI hAd bin set dQn on H grQnd. "F fIl lFk a nM mAn."

dYraTi waz pazld At Hs, f i sQndd kwIr t hIr a stafd mAn spIk, n t sI him bQ n wYk aloN bisFd har.

"hM r jM?" Askd H skErkrO wen hI hAd screcd himself n jYnd. "n wEr r jM gOiN?"

"mF nEm z dYraTi," sed H garl, "n F Am gOiN t H emarald siti, t Ask H grEt /oz t send mI bAk t /kAnzas."

"wEr z H emarald siti?" hI inkwFrd. "n hM z /oz?"

"wF, dOn't jM nO?" SI ritarnd, in sarprFz.

"nO, indId. F dOn't nO enITiN. jM sI, F Am stafd, sO F hAv nO brEnz At Yl," hI Ansarf sAdli.

"O," sed dYraTi, "F'm Yfali syri f jM."

"d jM TiNk," hI Askd, "if F gO t H emarald siti wiT jM, Ht /oz wUd giv mI sam brEnz?"

"F kAn not tel," SI ritarnd, "bat jM mE kam wiT mI, if jM lFk. if /oz wil not giv jM eni brEnz jM wil b nO wars of Hn jM r nQ."

"Ht z crM," sed H skErkrO. "jM sI," hI kntinjMd konfidencali, "F dOn't mFnd mF legz n yrmz n bodi bIiN stafd, bikYz F kAn not get hart. if enIwan credz on mF tOz Yr stiks a pin intM mI, it dazn't mAtar, f F kAn't fIl i. bat F d not wYnt pIpl t kYl mI a fMl, n if mF hed stEz stafd wiT scrY insted v wiT brEnz, Az jYrz z, hQ Am F evar t nO enITiN?"

"F andarstAnd hQ jM fIl," sed H litl garl, hM waz crMli syri f him. "if jM wil kam wiT mI F'l Ask /oz t d Yl hI kAn f jM."

"TANk jM," hI Ansard grEtfali.

HE wYkd bAk t H rOd. dYraTi helpd him Ovar H fens, n HE styrtd aloN H pAT v jelO brik f H emarald siti.

tOtO did not lFk Hs adiSn t H pyrti At farst. hI smeld arQnd H stafd mAn Az if hI saspektd HEr mFt b a nest v rAts in H scrY, n h ofan grQld in an anfrendli wE At H skErkrO.

"dOn't mFnd tOtO," sed dYraTi t har nM frend. "hI nevar bFts."

"O, F'm not afrEd," riplFd H skErkrO. "hI kAn't hart H scrY. d let mI kEri Ht bAskit f jM. F SAl not mFnd i, f F kAn't get tFrd. F'l tel jM a sIkrit," hI kntinjMd, Az hI wYkd aloN. "HEr z Onli wan TiN in H warld F Am afrEd v."

"wat z Ht?" Askd dYraTi; "H manckin fyrmar hM mEd jM?"

"nO," Ansard H skErkrO; "it's a lFtd mAc."

Aftar a fjM Qrz H rOd bigAn t b raf, n H wYkN grM sO difikalt Ht H skErkrO ofan stambld Ovar H jelO briks, wic war hIr vEri anIvan. samtFmz, indId, HE war brOkan Yr misN YltageHar, lIvN hOlz Ht tOtO Jampd akros n dYraTi wYkd arQnd. Az f H skErkrO, hAvN nO brEnz, hI wYkd scrEt ahed, n stepd intM H hOlz n fel At fUl lengT on H hyrd briks. i nevar hart him, hQevar, n dYraTi wUd pik him ap n set him apon hiz fIt agen, wFl hI Jqnd har in lAfN mErili At hiz On mishAp.

H fyrmz war not nIrli sO wel kErd f hIr Az HE war fyrHar bAk. HEr war fjMr hQsz n fjMr frMt crIz, n H fyrHar HE went H mYr dizmal n lOnsam H kancri bikEm.

At nMn, HE sAt dQn bF H rOdsFd, nIr a litl brUk, n dYraTi Opand har bAskit n got Qt sam bred. SI ofard a pIs t H skErkrO, bat hI rifjMzd.

"F Am nevar haNgri," hI sed, "n i z a laki TiN F Am not, f mF mQT z Onli pEntd, n if F SUd kat a hOl in i sO F kUd It, H scrY F Am stafd wiT wUd kam Qt, n Ht wUd spql H SEp v mF hed."

dYraTi sY At wans Ht Hs waz crM, sO SI Onli nodd n went on ItN har bred.

"tel mI samTiN abQt jYrself n H kancri jM kEm fram," sed H skErkrO, wen SI hAd finiSd har dinar. sO SI tOld him Yl abQt /kAnzas, n hQ grE evrITiN waz HEr, n hQ H sFklOn hAd kErId har t Hs kwIr lAnd v /oz.

H skErkrO lisand kErfali, n sed, "F kAn not andarstAnd wF jM SUd wiS t lIv Hs bjMtifal kancri n gO bAk t H JrF, grE plEs jM kYl /kAnzas."

"Ht z bikYz jM hAv nO brEnz" Ansard H garl. "nO mAtar hQ JrIri n grE Qr hOmz r, wI pIpl v fleS n blad wUd rAHar liv HEr Hn in eni aHar kancri, b i evar sO bjMtifal. HEr iz nO plEs lFk hOm."

H skErkrO sFd.

"v kYrs F kAn not andarstAnd i," hI sed. "if jYr heds war stafd wiT scrY, lFk mFn, jM wUd probabli Yl liv in H bjMtifal plEsz, n Hn /kAnzas wUd hAv nO pIpl At Yl. i z fYrcanat f /kAnzas Ht jM hAv brEnz."

"wOn't jM tel mI a stYri. wFl wI r restN?" Askd H cFld.

H skErkrO lUkd At har riprOcfali, n Ansard:

"mF lFf hAz bin sO SYrt Ht F rIli nO naTiN watevar. F waz Onli mEd dE bifYr jestardE. wat hApand in H warld bifYr Ht tFm z Yl annOn t mI. lakili, wen H fyrmar mEd mF hed, wan v H farst TiNz hI did waz t pEnt mF Irz, sO Ht F hard wat waz gOiN on. HEr waz anaHar manckin wiT him, n H farst TiN F hard waz H fyrmar sEiN, 'hQ d jM lFk HOz Irz?'"

"'HE yrn't scrEt,'" Ansard H aHar.

"'nevar mFnd,'" sed H fyrmar. "'HE r Irz Jast H sEm,'" wic waz crM Inaf.

"'nQ F'l mEk H Fz,'" sed H fyrmar. sO hI pEntd mF rFt F, n Az sMn Az i waz finiSd F fQnd mFself lUkN At him n At evrITiN arQnd mI wiT a grEt dIl v kjarIositi, f Hs waz mF farst glimps v H warld.

"'HAt's a rAHar priti F,'" rimyrkd H manckin hM waz wocN H fyrmar. "'blM pEnt z Jast H kalar f Fz.'"

"'F TiNk F'l mEk H aHar a litl bigar,'" sed H fyrmar. n wen H sekand F waz dan F kUd sI mac betar Hn bifYr. Hn hI mEd mF nOz n mF mQT. bat F did not spIk, bikYz At Ht tFm F didn't nO wat a mQT waz f. F hAd H fan v wocN Hem mEk mF bodi n mF yrmz n legz; n wen HE fAsand on mF hed, At lAst, F felt vEri prQd, f F TYt F waz Jast Az gUd a mAn Az enIwan.

"'Hs felO wil skEr H krOz fAst Inaf,' sed H fyrmar. 'hI lUks Jast lFk a mAn.'"

"'wF, hI z a mAn,' sed H aHar, n F kwFt agrId wiT him. H fyrmar kErId mI andar hiz yrm t H kYrnfIld, n set mI ap on a tYl stikm wEr jM fQnd mI. hI n hiz frend sMn Aftar wYkd awE n left mI alOn.

"F did not lFk t b dizartd Hs wE. sO F crFd t wYk Aftar Hem. bat mF fIt wUd not tac H grQnd, n F waz fYrsd t stE on Ht pOl. i waz a lOnli lFf t lId, f F hAd naTiN t TiNk v, hAvN bin mEd sac a litl wFl bifYr. meni krOz n aHar bardz flM intM H kYrnfIld, bat Az sMn Az HE sY mI HE flM awE agen, TiNkN F waz a manckin; n Hs plIzd mI n mEd mI fIl Ht F waz kwFt an impYrtant parsan. bF n bF an Old krO flM nIr mI, n Aftar lUkN At mI kErfali hI parcd apon mF SOldar n sed:

"'F wandar v Ht fyrmar TYt t fMl mI in Hs klamzi mAnar. eni krO v sens kUd sI Ht jM r Onli stafd wiT scrY.' Hn hI hopd dQn At mF fIt n Et Yl H kYrn hI wYntd. H aHar bardz, sIiN hI waz not hyrmd bF mI, kEm t It H kYrn tM, sO in a SYrt tFm HEr waz a grEt flok v Hem abQt mI.

"F felt sAd At Hs, f i SOd F waz not sac a gUd skErkrO Aftar Yl; bat H Old krO kmfartd mI, 'if jM Onli hAd brEnz in jYr hed jM wUd b Az gUd a mAn Az eni v Hem, n a betar mAn Hn sam v Hem. brEnz r H Onli TiNz warT hAvN in Hs warld, nO mAtar weHar wan z a krO Yr a mAn.'

"Aftar H krOz hAd gon F TYt Hs Ovar, n disFdd F wUd crF hyrd t get sam brEnz. bF gUd lak jM kEm aloN n pUld mI of H stEk, n fram wat jM sE F Am Sar H grEt /oz wil giv mI brEnz Az sMn Az wI get t H emarald siti."

"F hOp sO," sed dYraTi arnistli, "sins jM sIm ANkSas t hAv Hem."

"O, jes; F Am AnkSas," ritarnd H skErkrO. "i z sac an ankamfartabl fIlN t nO wan z a fMl."

"wel," sed H garl, "let as gO." n SI hAndd H bAskit t H skErkrO.

HEr war nO fensz At Yl bF H rOdsFd nQ, n H lAnd waz raf n antild. tYrd IvnN HE kEm t a grEt fYrist, wEr H crIz grM sO big n klOs tageHar Ht HEr brAncz met Ovar H rOd v jelO brik. i waz YlmOst dyrk andar H crIz, f H brAncz Sat Qt H dElFt; bat H crAvalarz did not stop, n went on intM H fYrist.

"if Hs rOd gOz in, i mast kam Qt," sed H skErkrO, "n Az H emarald siti z At H aHar end v H rOd, wI mast gO wErevar i lIdz as."

"enIwan wUd nO Ht," sed dYraTi.

"sartanli; Ht z wF F nO i," ritarnd H skErkrO. "if i rikwFrd brEnz t figjar i Qt, F nevar SUd hAv sed i."

Aftar an Qr Yr sO H lFt fEdd awE, n HE fQnd Hemselvz stamblN aloN in H dyrknis. dYraTi kUd not sI At Yl, bat tOtO kUd, f sam dogz sI vEri wel in H dyrk; n H skErkrO diklErd hI kUd sI Az wel Az bF dE. sO SI tUk hOld v hiz yrm n mAniJd t get aloN fErli wel.

"if jM sI eni hQs, Yr eni plEs wEr wI kn pAs H nFt," SI sed, "jM mast tel mI; f i z vEri ankamfartabl wYkN in H dyrk."

sMn Aftar H skErkrO stopd.

"F sI a litl kotiJ At H rFt v as," hI sed, "bilt v logz n brAncz. SAl wI gO HEr?"

"jes, indId," Ansard H cFld. "F Am Yl tFrd Qt."

sO H skErkrO led har TrM H crIz antil HE rIcd H kotiJ, n dYraTi entard n fQnd a bed v JrFd lIvz in wan kYrnar. SI lE dQn At wans, n wiT tOtO bisFd har sMn fel intM a sQnd slIp. H skErkrO, hM nevar tFrd, stUd ap in anaHar kYrnar n wEtd pESantli antil mYrnN kEm.

wen dYraTi awOk H san waz SFnN TrM H crIz n tOtO hAd loN bin Qt cEsN bardz arQnd him n skwarlz. SI sat ap n lUkd arQnd har. HEr waz H skErkrO, stil stAndN pESantli in hiz kYrnar, wEtN f har.

"wI mast gO n sarc f wotar," SI sed t him.

"wF d jM wYnt wotar?" hI Askd.

"t wYS mF fEs klIn Aftar H dast v H rOd, n t JriNk, sO H JrF bred wil not stik in mF TrOt."

"i mast b inkanvInjant t b mEd v fleS," sed H skErkrO TYtfali, "f jM mast slIp, n It n JriNk. hQevar, jM hAv brEnz, n i z warT a lot v boHar t b Ebl t TiNk proparli."

HE left H kotiJ n wYkd TrM H crIz antil HE fQnd a litl spriN v klIr wotar, wEr dYraTi JrANk n bETd n Et har brekfast. SI sY HEr waz not mac bred left in H bAskit, n H garl waz TANkfal H skErkrO did not hAv t It enITiN, f HEr waz skErsli Inaf f harself n tOtO f H dE.

wen SI hAd finiSd har mIl, n waz abQt t gO bAk t H rOd v jelO brik, SI waz styrtld t hIr a dIp grOn nIr bF.

"wat waz Ht?" SI Askd timidli.

"F kAn not imAJin," riplFd H skErkrO; "bat wI kAn gO n sI."

Jast Hn anaHar grOn rIcd HEr Irz, n H sQnd sImd t kam fram bihFnd Hem. HE tarnd n wYkd TrM H fYrist a fjM steps, wen dYraTi diskavard samTiN SFnN in a rE v sanSFn Ht fel bitwIn H crIz. SI rAn t H plEs n Hn stopd SYrt, wiT a litl krF v sarprFz.

wan v H big crIz hAd bin pyrtli copd TrM, n stAndN bisFd i, wiT an apliftd Aks in hiz hAndz, waz a mAn mEd entFrli v tin. hiz hed n yrmz n legz war Jqntd apon hiz bodi, bat hI stUd parfiktli mOSanlis, Az if hI kUd not star At Yl.

dYraTi lUkd At him in amEzmnt, n sO did H skErkrO, wFl tOtO byrkd Syrpli n mEd a snAp At H tin legz, wic hart hiz tIT.

"did jM grOn?" Askd dYraTi.

"jes," Ansard H tin mAn, "F did. F'v bin grOnN f mYr Hn a jIr, n nO wan hAz evar hard mI bifYr Yr kam t help mI."

"wat kn F d f jM?" SI inkwFrd softli, f SI waz mMvd bF H sAd vqs in wic H mAn spOk.

"get an ql-kAn n ql mF jqnts," hI Ansard. "HE r rastd sO bAdli Ht F kn not mMv Hem At Yl; if F Am wel qld F SAl sMn b Yl rFt agen. jM wil fFnd an Ql-kAn on a Self in mF kotiJ."

dYraTi At wans rAn bAk t H kotiJ n fQnd H ql-kAn, n Hn SI ritarnd n Askd ANkSasli, "war r jYr Jqnts?"

"ql mF nek, farst," riplFd H tin wUdmAn. sO SI qld i, n Az i waz kwFt bAdli rastd H skErkrO tUk hOld v H tin hed n mMvd i Jentli fram sFd t sFd antil i warkd frIli, n Hn H mAn kUd tarn i himself.

"nQ ql H Jqnts in mF yrmz," hI sed. n dYraTi qld Hem n H skErkrO bent Hem kErfali antil HE war kwFt frI fram rast n Az gUd Az nM.

H tin wUdmAn gAv a sF v sAtisfAkSn n lOward hiz Aks, wic hI lInd agenst H crI.

"Hs z a grEt kamfart," hI sed. "F hAv bin hOldN Ht Aks in H Er evar sins F rastd, n F'm glAd t b Ebl t pUt i dQn At lAst. nQ, if jM wil ql H Jqnts v mF legz, F SAl b Yl rFt wans mYr."

sO HE qld hiz legz antil hI kUd mMv Hem frIli; n hI TANkd Hem agen n agen f hiz rilIs, f hI sImd a vEri palFt krIcar, n vEri grEtfal.

"F mFt hAv stUd HEr YlwEz if jM hAd not kam aloN," hI sed; "sO jM hAv sartanli sEvd mF lFf. hQ did jM hApan t b hIr?"

"wI r on Qr wE t H emarald siti t sI H grEt /oz," SI Ansard, "n wI stopd At jYr kotiJ t pAs H nFt."

"wF d jM wiS t sI /oz?" hI Askd.

"F wont him t send mI bAk t /kAnzas, n H skErkrO wonts him t pUt a fjM brEnz intM hiz hed," SI riplFd.

H tin wUdmAn apIrd t TiNk dIpli f a mOmant. Hn hI sed:

"d jM sapOz /oz kUd giv mI a hyrt?"

"wF, F ges sO," dyraTi Ansard. "i wUd b Az Izi Az t giv H skErkrO brEnz."

"crM," H tin wUdmAn ritarnd. "sO, if jM wil alQ mI t jqn jYr pyrti, F wil YlsO gO t H emarald siti n Ask /oz t help mI."

"kam aloN," sed H skErkrO hyrtili, n dYraTi Adid Ht SI wUd b plIzd t hAv hiz kampani. sO H tin wUdmAn SOldard hiz Aks n HE Yl pAsd TrM H fYrist antil HE kEm t H rOd Ht waz pEvd wiT jelO brik.

H tin wUdmAn hAd Askd dYraTi t pUt H ql-kAn in har bAskit. "f," hI sed, "if F SUd get kYt in H rEn, n rast agen, F wUd nId H ql-kAn bAdli."

i waz a bit v gUd lak t hAv HEr nM komrAd Jqn H pyrti, f sMn Aftar HE hAd bigan HEr Jarni agen HE kEm t a plEs wEr H crIz n brAncz grM sO Tik Ovar H rOd Ht H crAvalarz kUd not pAs. bat H tin wUdmAn set t wark wiT hiz Aks n copd sO wel Ht sMn hI klIrd a pAsiJ f H entFr pyrti.

dYraTi waz TiNkN sO arnistli Az HE wYkd aloN Ht SI did not nOtis wen H skErkrO stambld intM a hOl n rOld Ovar t H sFd v H rOd. indId hI waz oblFJd t kYl t har t help him ap agen.

"wF didn't jM wYk arQnd H hOl?" Askd H tin wUdmAn.

"F dOn't nO Inaf," riplFd H skErkrO cIrfUli. "mF hed z stafd wiT scrY, jM nO, n Ht z wF F Am gOiN t /oz t Ask him f sam brEnz."

"O, F sI," sed H tin wUdmAn. "bat, Aftar Yl, brEnz r not H best TiNz in H warld."

"hAv jM eni?" inkwFrd H skErkrO.

"nO, mF hed z kwFt empti," Ansard H wUdmAn. "bat wans F hAd brEnz, n a hyrt YlsO; sO, hAvN crFd Hem bOT, F SUd mac rAHar hAv a hyrt."

"n wF z Ht?" Askd H skErkrO.

"F wil tel jM mF stYri, n Hn jM wil nO."

sO, wFl HE war wYkN TrM H fYrist, H tin wUdmAn tOld H folOiN stYri:

"F waz bYrn H san v a wUdman hM copd dQn crIz in H fYrist n sOld H wUd f a livN. wen F grM ap, F tM bikEm a wUdcopar, n Aftar mF fYHar dFd F tUk kEr v mF Old maHar Az loN Az SI livd. Hn F mEd ap mF mFnd Ht insted v livN alOn F wUd mEri, sO Ht F mFt not bikam lOnli.

"HEr waz wan v H manckin garlz hM waz sO bjMtifal Ht F sMn grM t lav har wiT Yl mF hyrt. SI, on har pyrt, promisd t mEri mI Az sMn Az F kUd arn Inaf mani t bild a betar hQs f har; sO F set t wark hyrdar Hn evar. bat H garl livd wiT an Old wUman hM did not wont har t mEri enIwan, f SI waz sO lEzi SI wiSd H garl t rimEn wiT har n d H kUkN n H hQswark. sO H Old wUman went t H wikid wic v H Ist, n promisd har tM SIp n a kQ if SI wUd privent H mEriJ. HErapon H wikid wic encAntd mF Aks, n wen F waz copN awE At mF best wan dE, f F waz AnkSas t get H nM hQs n mF wFf Az sMn Az posabl, H Aks slipd Yl At wans n kat of mF left leg.

"Hs At farst sImd a grEt misfYrcan, f F nM a wan-legd mAn kUd not d vEri wel Az a wUd-copar. sO F went t a tinsmiT n hAd him mEk mI a nM leg Qt v tin. H leg warkd vEri wel, wans F waz jMsd t i. bat mF AkSan ANgard h wikid wic v H Ist, f SI hAd promisd H Old wUman F SUd not mEri H priti manckin garl. wen F bigAn copN agen, mF Aks slipd n kat of mF rFt leg. agen F went t H tinsmiT, n agen hI mEd mI a leg Qt v tin. Aftar Hs H encAntd Aks kat of mF yrmz, wan Aftar H aHar; bat naTN dYntd, F hAd Hem riplEsd wiT tin wans. H wikid wic Hn mEd H Aks slip n kat of mF hed, n At farst F TYt Ht waz H end v mI. bat H tinsmiT hApand t kam aloN, n hI mEd mI a nM hed Qt v tin.

"F TYt F hAd bItan H wikid wic Hn, n F warkd hyrdar Hn evar; bat F litl nM hQ krMl mF enami kUd b. SI TYt v a nM wE t kil mF lav f H bjMtifUl manckin mEdan, n mEd mF Aks slip agen, sO Ht i kat rFt TrM mF bodi, splitN mI intM tM hAvz. wans mYr H tinsmiT kAm t mF help n mEd mI a bodi v tin, fAstanN mF tin yrmz n legz n hed t i, bF mInz v Jqnts, sO Ht F kUd mMv arQnd Az wel Az evar. bat, alAs! F hAd nQ nO hyrt, sO Ht F lost Yl mF lav f H manckin garl, n did not kEr weHar F mErId har Yr not. F sapOz SI iz stil livN wiT H Old wUman, wEtN f mI t kam Aftar har.

"mF bodi SOn sO brFtli in H san Ht F felt vEri prQd v i n i did not mAtar nQ if mF Aks slipd, f i kUd not kat mI. HEr waz Onli wan dEnJar -- Ht mF Jqnts wUd rast; bat F kept an ql-kAn in mF kotiJ n tUk kEr t ql mFself wenevar F nIdd i. hQevar, HEr kEm a dE wen F fYrgot t d Hs, n, bIiN kYt in a rEnstYrm, bifYr F TYt v H dEnJar mF Jqnts hAd rastd, n F waz left t stAnd in H wUdz antil jM kEm t help mI. i waz a tErabl TiN t andargO, bat darN H jIr F stUd HEr F hAd tFm t TiNk Ht H grEtist los F hAd nOn waz H los v mF hyrt. wFl F waz in lav F waz H hApIest mAn on arT; bat nO wan kn lav hM hAz not a hyrt, n sO F Am rizolvd t Ask /oz t giv mI wan. if hI daz, F wil gO bAk t H manckin mEdan n mEri har."

bOT dYraTi n H skErkrO hAd bin grEtli intarestd in H stYri v H tin wUdmAn, n nQ HE nM wF hI waz sO ANkSas t get a nM hyrt.

"Yl H sEm," sed H skErkrO, "F SAl Ask f brEnz insted v a hyrt; f a fMl wUd not nO wat t d wiT a hyrt if hI hAs wan."

"F SAl tEk H hyrt," ritarnd H tin wUdmAn; "f brEnz d not mEk wan hApi, n hApInes z H best TiN in H warld."

dYraTi did not sE enITiN, f SI waz pazld t nO wic v har tM frendz waz rFt, n SI disFdd if SI kUd Onli get bAk t /kAnzas n Ynt /em, i did not mAtar sO mac weHar H wUdmAn hAd nO brEnz n H skErkrO nO hyrt, Yr Ic got wat hI wontd.

wat warId har mOst waz Ht H bred waz nIrli gon, n anaHar mIl f harself n tOtO wUd empti H bAskit. t b SMr, nIHar H wUdmAn nYr H skErkrO evar Et enITiN, bat SI waz not mEd v tin nYr scrY, n kUd not liv anles SI waz fed.

Yl Hs tFm dYraTi n har kmpAnjamz hAd bin wYkN TrM H Tik wUdz. H rOd waz stil pEvd wiT jelO brik, bat HIz war mac kavard bF JrFd brAncz n ded lIvz fram H crIz, n H wYkN waz not At Yl gUd.

HEr war fjM bardz in Hs pyrt v H fYrist, f H bardz lav H Opan kancri wEr HEr z plenti v sanSFn. bat nQ n Hn HEr kEm a dIp grQl fram sam wFld Anaml hidan amaN H crIz. HIz sQndz mEd H litl garl'z hyrt bIt fAst, f SI did not nO wat mEd Hem; bat tOtO nM, n hI wYkd klOs t dyraTi'z sFd, n did not Ivan byrk in ritarn.

"hQ loN wil i b?" H cFld Askd v H tin wUdmAn, "bifYr wI r Qt v H fYrist?"

"F kn not tel," waz H Ansar, "f F hAv nevar bin t H emarald siti. bat mF fYHar went HEr wans, wen F waz a bq, n hI sed i waz a loN Jarni TrM a dEnJaras kancri, YlHO nIrar t H siti wEr /oz dwelz H kancri z bjMtifal. bat F Am not afrEd sO loN Az F hAv mF ql-kAn, n noTiN kn hart H skErkrO, wFl jM bEr apon jYr fYrhed H myrk v H gUd wic'z kis, n Ht wil pratekt jM fram hyrm."

"bat tOtO!" sed H garl ANkSasli. "wat wil pratekt him?"

"wI mast pratekt him Qrselvz if hI z in dEnJar," riplFd H tin wUdmAn.

Jast Az hI spOk HEr kEm fram H fYrist a tErabl rYr, n H nekst mOmant a grEt lFan bQndd intM H rOd. wiT wan blO v hiz pY hI sent H skErkrO spinN Ovar n Ovar t H eJ v H rOd, n Hn scrak At H tin wUdmAn wiT hiz Syrp klYz. bat, t H lFan'z sarprFz, hI mEd nO impreSn n H tin, YlTO H wUdmAn fel Ovar in H rOd n lE stil.

litl tOtO, nQ Ht hI hAd an enami t fEs, rAn byrkN tOward H lFan, n H grEt bIst hAd Opand hiz mQT t bFt H dog, wen dYraTi, fIrN tOtO wUd b kild, n hIdlis v dEnJar, raSd fYrward n slApd H lFan apon hiz nOz Az hyrd Az SI kUd, wFl SI krFd Qt:

"dOn't jM dyr t bFt tOtO! jM Yt t b aSEmd v jYrself, a big bIst lFk jM, t bFt a pYr litl dog!"

"F didn't bFt him," sed H lFan, Az hI rabd hiz nOz wiT hiz pY wEr dYraTi hAd hit i.

"nO, bat jM crFd t," SI ritYrtd. "jM r naTiN bat a big kQward."

"F nO i," sed H lFan, hANN hiz hed in SEm. "F'v YlwEz nOn i. bat hQ kn F help i?"

"F dOn't nO, F'm Sar. t TiNk v jYr scrFkN a stafd mAn, lFk H pYr skErkrO!"

"z hI stafd?" Askd H lFan in sarprFz, Az hI wocd har pik ap H skErkrO n set him apon hiz fIt, wFl SI pAtd him intM SEp agen.

"v kYrs hI'z stafd," riplFd dYraTi, hM waz stil ANgri.

"Ht's wF hI went dQn sO Izili," rimyrkd H lFan. "i astoniSd mI t sI him warl arQnd sO. z H aHar wan stafd YlsO?"

"nO," sed dYraTi, "hI'z mEd v tin." n SI helpd H wUdmAn ap agen.

"Ht'z wF hI nIrli blantd mF klYz," sed H lFan. "wen HE skrAcd agenst H tin i mEd a kOld Sivar ran dQn mF bAk. wat z Ht litl Animl jM r sO tenar v?"

"hI iz mF dog, tOtO," Ansard dYraTi.

"z hI mEd v tin, Yr stafd?" Askd H lFan.

"nIHar. hI'z a -- a -- a mIt dog," sed H garl.

"O! hI'z a kjarias Animl n sImz rimyrkabli smYl, nQ Ht F lUk At him. nO wan wUd TiNk v bFtN sac a litl TiN, eksept a kQward lFk mI," kntinjMd H lFan sAdli.

"wat mEks jM a kQward?" Askd dYraTi, lUkN At H grEt bIst in wandar, f hI waz Az big Az a smYl hYrs.

"it's a mistari," riplFd H lFan. "F sapOz F waz bYrn Ht wE. Yl H aHar Animlz in H fYrest nAcarali ekspekt mI t b brEv, f H lFan z evarwEr TYt t b H kiN v bIsts. F larnd Ht if H rOrd vEri lQdli evri livN TiN waz frFtand n got Qt v mF wE. wenevar F'v met a mAn F'v bin Yfali skErd; bat F Jast rOrd At him, n hI hAz YlwEz ran awE Az fASt Az hI kUd gO. if H elafants n H tFgarz n H bErz hAd evar crFd t fFt mI, F SUd hAv ran mFself -- F'm sac a kQward; bat Jast Az sMn Az HE hIr mI rOr HE Yl crF t get awE fram mI, n v kYrs F let Hem gO."

"bat Ht izn't rFt. H kiN v bIsts SUdn't b a kQward," sed H skErkrO.

"F nO i," ritarnd H lFan, wFpN a tIr fram hiz F wiT H tip v hiz tEl. "i z mF grEt sYrO, n mEks mF lFf vEri anhApi. bat wenevar HEr z dEnJar, mF hyrt bIginz t bIt fAst."

"parhAps jM hAv hyrt dizIz," sed H tin wUdmAn.

"i mE b," sed H lFan.

"if jM hAv," kntinjMd H tin wUdmAn, "jM Yt t b glAd, f i prMvz jM hAv a hyrt. f mF pyrt, F hAv nO hyrt; sO F kn not hAv hyrt dizIz."

"parhAps," sed H lFan TYtfali, "if F hAd nO hyrt F SUd not b a kQward."

"hAv jM brEnz?" Askd H skErkrO.

"F sapOz sO. F'v nevar lUkd t sI," riplFd H lFan.

"F Am gOiN t H grEt /oz t Ask him t giv mI sam," rimyrkd H skErkrO, "f mF hed z stafd wiT scrY."

"n F Am gOiN t Ask him t giv mI a hyrt," sed H wUdmAn.

"n F Am gOiN t Ask him t send tOtO n mI bAk t /kAnzas," Add dYraTi.

"d jM TiNk /oz kUd giv mI kariJ?" Askd H kQwardli lFan.

"Jast Az Izili Az hI kUd giv mI brEnz," sed H skErkrO.

"Yr giv mI a hyrt," sed H tin wUdmAn.

"Yr send mI bAk t /kAnzas," sed dYraTi.

"Hn, if jM dOn't mFnd, F'l gO wiT jM," sed H lFan, "f mF lFf z simpli anbErabl wiTQt a bit v kariJ.

"jM wil b vEri welcam," Ansard dYraTi, "f jM wil help t kIp awE H aHar wFld bIsts. i sImz t mI HE mast b mYr kQwardli Hn jM r if HE alQ jM t skEr Hem sO Izili."

"HE rIli r," sed H lFan, "bat Ht dazn't mEk mI eni brEvar, n Az loN Az F nO mFself t b a kQward F SAl b anhApi."

sO wans mYr H litl kampani set of apon H Jarni, H lFan wYkN wiT stEtli scrFdz At dYraTi'z sFd. tOtO did not aprMv v Hs nM komrAd At farst, f hI kUd not fYrget hQ nIrli hI hAd bin kraSd bitwIn H lFan'z grEt JYz. bat Aftar a tFm hI bikEm mYr At Iz, n prezantli tOtO n H kQwardli lFan Had grOn t b gUd frendz.

darN H rest v Ht dE HEr waz nO aHar Advencar t myr H pIs v HEr Jarni. wans, indId, H tin wUdmAn stepd apon a bItl Ht waz krYlN aloN H rOd, n kild H pYr litl TiN. Hs mEd H tin wUdmAn vEri anhApi, f hI waz YlwEz kErfal not t hart eni livN krIcar; n Az hI wYkd aloN hI wept sevaral tIrz v syrO n rigret. HIz tIrz rAn slOli dQn hiz fEs n Ovar H hinJz v hiz JY, n HEr HE rastd. wen dYraTi prezantli Askd him a kwescn H tin wUdmAn kUd nat Opan hiz mQT, f hiz JYz war tFtli rastd tageHar. hI bikEm grEtli frFtand At Hs n mEd meni mOSnz t dYraTi t rilIv him, bat SI kUd not andarstAnd. H lFan waz YlsO pazld t nO wat waz roN. bat H skErkrO sIzd H Ql-kAn fram dYraTi'z bAskit n Qld H wUdmAn'z JY, sO Ht Aftar a fjM mOmants hI kUd tYk Az wel Az bifYr.

"Hs wil sarv mI a lesan," sed hI, "t lUk wEr F step. f if F SUd kil anaHar bag Yr bItl F SUd Sarli krF agen, n krFiN rasts mF JYz sO Ht F kn not spIk."

HErAftar hI wYkd vEri kErfali, wiT hiz Fz on H rOd, n wen hI sY a tFni Ant tQlN bF hI wUd step Ovar i, sO Az not t hyrm i. H tin wUdmAn nM vEri wel hI hAd nO hyrt, n HErfYr hI tUk grEt kEr nevar t b krMl Yr ankFnd t enITiN.

"jM pIpl wiT hyrts," hI sed, "hAv samTiN t gFd jM, n nId nevar d roN; bt F hAv nO hyrt, n sO F mast b vEri kErfal. wen /oz givz mI a hyrt v kYrs F nedn't mFnd sO mac."

HE war ablFJd t kAmp Qt Ht nFt andar a lyrJ crI in H fYrist, f HEr war nO hQzz nIr. H crI mFd a gUd, Tik kavarN t prOtekt Hm fram H dM, n H tin wUdmAn copd a grEt pFl v wUd wiT hiz Aks n dYraTi bilt a splendid fFr Ht wyrmd har n mEd har fIl les lOnli. SI n tOtO Et H lAst v HEr bred, n nQ SI did not nO wat HE wUd d f brekfast.

"if jM wiS," sed H lFan, "F wil gO intM H fYrist n kil a dIr f jM. jM kn rOst i bF H fFr, sins jYr tEsts r sO pikjMliar Ht jM prifar kUkd fMd, n Hn jM wil hAv a vEri gUd brekfast."

"dOn't! plIz dOn't," begd H tin wUdmAn. "F SUd sartanli wIp if jM kild a pYr dIr, n Hn mF JYz wUd rast agen."

bat H lFan went awE intM H fYrist n fQnd hiz Qn sapar, n nO wan evar nM wat i waz, f hI didn't mencn i. n H skErkrO fQnd a crI fUl v nats n fild dYraTi'z bAskit wiT Hem, sO Ht SI wUd not b hangri f a loN tFm. SI TYt Hs waz vEri kFnd n TYtfal v H skErkrO, bat SI lAfd hyrtili At H Ykward wE in wic H pYr krIcar pikd ap H nats. hiz pAdd hAndz war sO klamzi n H nats war sO smYl Ht hI Jropd YlmOst Az meni Az hI pUt in H bAskit. bat H skErkrO did not mFnd hQ loN i tUk him t fil H bAskitm f i enEbld him t kIp awE fram H fYr, Az hI fIrd a spyrk mFt get intM hiz scrY n barn him ap. sO hI kept a gUd distans awE fram H flEmz, n Onli kEm nIr t kavar dYraTi wiT JrF lIvz wen SI lE dQn t slEp. HIz kept har vEri snag n wyrm, n SI slept sQndli antil mYrnN.

wen i waz dElFt, H garl bEHd har fEz in a litl riplN brUk, n sMn Aftar HE Yl styrtd tOard H emarald siti.

Hs waz t b an Iventfal dE f H crAvalarz. HE hAd hyrdli bin wYkN an Qr wen HE sY bifYr Hem a grEt dic Ht krosd H rOd n divFdd H fYrist Az fyr Az HE kUd sI on IHar sFd. i waz a vEri wFd dic, n HE kUd sI i waz YlsO vEri dIp, n HEr war meni big, JAgd roks At H botam. H sFdz war sO stIp Ht nan v Hem kUd klFm dQn, n f a mOmant i sImd Ht HEr Jarni mast end.

"wat SAl wI d?" Askd dYraTi dispErNli.

"F hAvn't H fEntist Fdia," sed H tin wUdmAn, n H lFan SUk hiz SAgi mEn n lUkd TYtfal.

bat H skErkrO sed, "wI kn not flF, Ht z sartan. nIHar kn wI klFm dQn intM Hs grEt dic. HErfYr, if wI kn not Jamp Ovar i, wI mast stop wEr wI r."

"F TiNk F kUd Jamp Ovar i," sed H kQwardli lFan, Aftar meZarN H distans kErfali in hiz mFnd.

"Hn wI r Yl rFt," Ansard H skErkrO, "f jM kn kEri as Yl Ovar on jYr bAk, wan At a tFm."

"wel, F'l crF i," sed H lFan. "hM wil gO farst?"

"F wil," diklErd H skErkrO, "f, if jM fQnd Ht jM kUd not Jamp Ovar H galf, dYraTi wUd b kild, Yr H tin wUdmAn bAdli dentd on H roks bilO. bat if F Am on jYr bAk i wil not mAtar sO mac, f H fYl wUd not hart mI At Yl."

"F Am tErabli afrEd v fYlN, mFself," sed H kQwardli lFan, "bat F sapOz Her z naTiN t d bat crF i. sO get on mF bAk n wI wil mEk H atempt."

H skErkrO sAt apon H lFan'z bAk, n H big bIst wYkd t H eJ v H galf n krQcd dQn.

"wF dOn't jM ran n Jamp?" Askd H skErkrO.

"bikYz Ht izn't H wE wI lFanz d HIz TiNz," hI riplFd. Hn givN a grEt spriN, hI Sot TrM H Er n lAndd sEfli on H aHar sFd. HE war Yl grEtli plIzd t sI hQ Izili hI did i, n Aftar H skErkrO hAd got dQn fram hiz bAk H lFan sprAN akros H dic agen.

dYraTi TYt SI wUd gO nekst; sO SI tUk tOtO in har yrmz n klFmd on H lFan'z bAk, hOldN tFtli t hiz mEn wiT wan hAnd. H nekst mOmant i sImd Az if SI war flFiN TrM H Er; n Hn, bifYr SI hAd tFm t TiNk abQt i, SI waz sEf on H aHar sFd. H lFan went bAk a Tard tFm n got H tin wUdmAn, n Hn HE Yl sAt dQn a fjM mOmants t giv H bIst a cAns t rest, f hiz grEt lIps hAd mEd hiz breT SYrt, n hI pAntd lFk a big dog Ht hAz bin ranN tM loN.

HE fQnd H fYrist vEri Tik on Hs sFd, n i lUkd dyrk n glMmi. Aftar H lFan restd HE styrtd aloN H rOd v jelO brik, sFlantli wandarN, Ic in hiz On mFnd, if evar HE wUd kam t H end v H wUdz n rIc H brFt sanSFn agen. t Ad t HEr diskamfart, HE sMn hard scrEnJ nqzs in H depTs v H fYrist, n H lFan wispard t Hm Ht i waz in Hs pYrt v H kancri Ht H /kalIdaz livd.

"wat r H /kalIdaz?" Askd H garl.

"HE r monscras bIsts wiT bodIz lFk bErz n hedz lFk tFgarz," riplFd H lFan, "n wiT klIz sO loN n Syrp Ht HE kUd tEr mI in tM Az Izili Az F kUd kil tOtO. F'm tErabli afrEd v H /kalIdaz."

"F'm not sarprFzd Ht jM r," ritarnd dYraTi. "HE mast b Jredfal bIsts."

H lFan waz abQt t riplF wen sadanli HE kEm t anaHar galf akros H rOd. bat Hs wan was s brod n dIp Ht H lFan nM At wans hI kUd not lIp akros i.

sO HE sAt dQn t knsidar wat HE SUd d, n Aftar sIrias TYt H skErkrO sed:

"hIr z a grEt crI, stAndN klOs t H dic. if H tin wUdmAn kn cop i dQn, sO Ht i wil fYl t H aHar sFd, wI kn wYk akros i Izili."

"Ht z a farst-rEt Fdia," sed H lFan. "wan wUd YlmOst saspekt jM hAd brEnz in jYr hed, insted v scrY."

H wUdmAn set t wark At wans, n sO Syrp waz hiz Aks Ht H crI waz sMn copd nIrli TrM. Hn H lFan pUt hiz scroN frant legz agenst H crI n pUSd wiT Yl hiz mFt, n slOli H big crI tipd n fel wiT a krAS akros H dic, wiT its top brAncz on H aHar sFd.

HE hAd Jast styrtd t kros Hs kwIr briJ wen a Syrp grQl mEd Hem Yl lUk ap, n t HEr hYrar HE sY ranN tYrd Hem tM grEt bIsts wiT bodIz lFk bErz n hedz lFk tFgarz.

"HE r H /kalIdaz!" sed H kQwardli lFan, biginN t crembl.

"kwik!" krFd H skErkrO. "let as kros Ovar."

sO dYraTi went farst, hOldN tOtO in har yrmz, H tin wUdmAn folOd, n H skErkrO kEm nekst. H lFan, YlTO hI waz sartanli afrEd, tarnd t fEs H /kalIdaz, n Hn hI gEv sO lQd n tErabl a rYr Ht dYraTi skrImd n H skErkrO fel Ovar bAkward, wFl Ivan H fIrs bIsts stopd SYrt n lUkd At him in sarprFz.

bat, sIiN HE war bigar Hn H lFan, n rimembarN Ht HEr war tM v Hem n Onli wan v him, H /kalIdaz agen raSd fYrward, n H lFan krosd Ovar H crI n tarnd t sI wat HE wUd d nekst. wiTQt stopN an instant H fIrs bIsts YlsO bigAn t kros H crI. n H lFan sed t dYraTi:

"wI r lost, f HE wil SUrli tEr as t pIsz wiT HEr Syrp klYz. bat stAnd klOs bihFnd mI, n F wil fFt Hem Az loN Az F Am alFv."

"wEt a minit!" kYld H skErkrO. hI hAd bin TiNkN wat waz best t b dan, n nQ hI Askd H wUdmAn t cop awE H end v H crI Ht restd on HEr sFd v H dic. H tin wUdmAn bigAn t jMz hiz Aks At wans, n, Jast Az H tM /kalIdaz war nIrli akros, H crI fel wiT a krAS intM H galf, kErIiN H agli, snyrlN brMts wiT i, n bOT war dASd t pIsz on H Syrp roks At H botam.

"wel," sed H kQwardli lFan, JrYiN a loN breT v rilIf, "F sI wI r gOiN t liv a litl wFl loNgar, n F Am glAd v i, f i mast b a vEri ankamfartabl TiN not t b alFv. HOz krIcarz frFtand mI sO bAdli Ht mF hyrt z bItN jet."

"Y," sed H tin wUdmAn sAdli, "F wiS F hAd a hyrt t bIt."

Hs Advencar mEd H crAvalarz mYr ANkSas Hn evar t get Qt v H fYrist, n HE wYkd sO fAst Ht dYraTi bikEm tFrd, n hAd t rFd H lFan'z bAk. t HEr grEt Jq H crIz bikEm Tinar H fyrHar HE AdvAnsd, n in H AftarnMn HE sadanli kEm apon a brod rivar, flOiN swiftli Jast bifYr Hem. on H aHar sFd v H wotar HE kUd sI H rOd v jelO brik ranN TrM a bjMtifal kancri, wiT grIn medOz dotd wiT brFt flQrz n Yl H rOd bYrdard wiT crIz hANN fUl v diliSas frMts. HE war grEtli plIzd t sI Hs dilFtfal kancri bifYr Hem.

"hQ SAl wI kros H rivar?" Askd dYraTi.

"Ht z Izili dan," riplFd H skErkrO. "H tin wUdmAn mast bild as a rAft, sO wI kn flOt t H aHar sFd."

sO H wUdmAn tUk hiz Aks n bigAn t cop dQn smYl crIz t mEk a rAft, n wFl hI waz bizi At Hs H skErkrO fQnd on H rivarbANk a crI fUl v fFn frMt. Hs plIzd dYraTi, hM hAd Itan naTiN bat nats Yl dE, n SI mEd a hyrti mIl v H rFp frMt.

bat i tEks tFm t mEk a rAft, Ivan wen wan z Az indascrias n antFrN Az H tin wUdmAn, n wen nFt kEm H wark waz nat dan. sO HE fQnd a kOzi plEs andar H crIz wEr HE slept wel antil H mYrnN; n dYraTi JrImd v H emarald siti, n v H gUd wizard/oz, hM wUd sMn send har bAk t har Qn hOm agen.

Qr litl pyrti v crAvalarz awEkand H nekst mYrnN rifreSd n fUl v hOp, n dYraTi brekfastd lFk a prinses of pIcz n plamz fram H crIz bisFd H rivar. bihFnd Hem waz H dyrk fYrist HE hAd pAsd sEfli TrM, YlTO HE hAd safard meni diskariJmants; bat bifYr Hem waz a lavli, sani kancri Ht sImd t bekan Hem on t H emarald siti.

t b Sar, H brod rivar nQ kat Hem of fram Hs bjMtifal lAnd. bat H rAft waz nIrli dan, n Aftar H tin wUdmAn hAd kat a fjM mYr logz n fAstand Hem tageHar wiT wUdan pinz, HE war redi t styrt. dYraTi sAt dQn in H midl v H rAft n held tOtO in har yrmz. wen H kQwardli lFan stepd apon H rAft i tipd bAdli, f hI waz big n hevi; bat H skErkrO n H tin wUdmAn stUd apon H aHar end t stedi i, n HE hAd loN pOlz in HEr hAndz t pUS H rAft TrM H wotar.

HE got aloN kwFt wel At farst, bat wen HE rIcd H midl v H rivar H swift karant swept H rAft dQnscrIm, fyrHar n fyrHar awE fram H rOf v jelO brik. n H wotar grM sO dIp Ht H loN pOlz wUd not tac H botam.

"Hs z bAd," sed H tin wUdmAn, "f i wI kn not get t H lAnd wI SAl b kErId intM H kancrI v H wikid wic v H west, n SI wil encAnt as n mEk as har slEvz."

"n Hn F SUd get nO brEnz," sed H skErkrO.

"n F SUd get nO kariJ," sed H kQwardli lFan.

"n F SUd get nO hyrt," sed H tin wUdmAn.

"n F SUd nevar get bAk t /kAnzas," sed dYraTi.

"wI mast sartanli get t H emarald siti if wI kn," H skErkrO kntinjMd, n h pUSd sO hyrd on hiz loN pOl Ht i stak fAst in H mad At H botam v H rivar. Hn, bifYr hI kUd pUl i Qt agen -- Yr let gO -- H rAft waz swept awE, n H pYr skErkrO waz left kliNN t H pOl in H midl v H rivar.

"gUd-bF!" hI kYld Aftar Hm, n HE war vEri syri t lIv him. indId, H tin wUdmAn bigAn t krF, bat fYrcanatli rimembard Ht hI mFt rast, n sO JrFd hiz tIrz on dYraTi'z Epran.

v kYrs Hs waz a bAd TiN f H skErkrO.

"F Am nQ wars of Hn wen F farst met dYraTi," hI TYt. "Hn, F waz stak on a pOl in a kYrnfIld, wEr F kUd mEk-bilIv skEr H krOz, At eni rEt. bat Sarli HEr z nO jMz f a skErkrO stak on a pOl in H midl v a rivar. F Am afrEd F SAl nevar hAv eni brEnz, Aftar Yl!"

dQn H scrIm H rAft flOtd, n H pYr skErkrO waz left fyr bihFnd. Hn H lFan sed:

"samTiN mast b dan t sEv as. F TiNk F kn swim t H SYr n pUl H rAft Aftar mI, if jM wil Onli hOld fAst t H tip v mF tEl."

sO hI sprAN intM H wotar, n H tin wUdmAn kYt fAst hOld v hiz tEl. Hn H lFan bigAn t swim wiT Yl hiz mFt tYrd H SYr. i waz hyrd wark, YlHO hI waz sO big; bat bF n bF HE war JrYn Qt v H karant, n Hn dYraTi tUk H tin wUdmAn'z loN pOl n helpd pUS H rAft t H lAnd.

HE war Yl tFrd Qt wen HE rIcd H SYr At lAst n stepd of apon H priti grIn grAs, n HE YlsO nM Ht H scrIm hAd kErId Hem a loN wE pAst H rOd v jelO brik Ht led t H emarald siti.

"wat SAl wI d nQ?" Askd H tin wUdmAn, Az H lFan lE dQn on H grAs t let H san JrF him.

"wI mast get bAk t H rOd, in sam wE," sed dYraTi.

"H best plAn wil b t wYk aloN H rivarbANk antil wI kam t H rOd agen," rimyrkd H lFan.

sO, wen HE war restd, dYraTi pikd ap har bAskit n HE styrtd aloN H grAsi bANk, t H rOd fram wic H rivar hAd kErId Hem. i waz a lavli kancri, wiT plenti v flQrz n frMt crIz n sanSFn t cIr Hem, n hAd HE not felt sO syri f H pYr skErkrO, HE kUd hAv bin vEri hApi.

HE wYkd aloN Az fAst Az HE kUd, dYraTi Onli stopN wans t pik a bjMtifal flQr; n Aftar a tFm H tin wUdmAn krFd Qt: "lUk!"

Hn HE Yl lUkd At H rivar n sY H skErkrO parcd apon hiz pOl in H midl v H wotar, lUkN vEri lOnli n sAd.

"wat kn wI d t sEv him?" Askd dYraTi.

H lFan n H wUdmAn bOT SUk HEr hedz, f HE did not nO. sO HE sAt dQn apon H bANk n gEzd wistfali At H skErkrO antil a stYrk flM bF, hM, apon sIiN Hem, stopd t rest At H wotar'z eJ.

"hM r jM n wEr r jM gOiN?" Askd H stYrk.

"F Am dYraTi," Ansard H garl, "n HIz r mF frendz, H tin wUdmAn n H kQwardli lFan; n wI r gOiN t H emarald siti."

"Hs izn't H rOd," sed H stYrk, Az SI twistd har loN nek n lUkd Syrpli At H kwIr pyrti.

"F nO i," ritarnd dYraTi, "bat wI hAv lost H skErkrO, n r wandarN hQ wI SAl get him agen."

"wEr z hI?" Askd H stYrk.

"Ovar HEr in H rivar," Ansard H litl garl.

"if hI wazn't sO big n hevi F wUd get him f jM," rimyrkd H stYrk.

"hI izn't hevi a bit," sed dYraTi Igarli, "f hI z stafd wiT scrY; n if jM wil briN him bAk t as, wI SAl TANk jM evar n evar sO mac."

"wel, F'l crF," sed H stYrk, "bat if F fFnd hI z tM hevi t kEri F SAl hAv t Jrop him in H rivar agen."

sO H big bard flM intM H Er n Ovar H wotar til SI kEm t wEr H skErkrO waz parcd apon H pOl. Hn H stYrk wiT har grEt klYz grAbd H skErkrO bF H yrm n kErId him ap intM H Er n bAk t H bANk, wEr dYraTi n H lFan n H tin wUdmAn n tOtO war sitN.

wen H skErkrO fQnd himself amaN hiz frendz agen, hI waz sO hApi Ht hI hagd Hem Yl, Ivan H lFan n ToTo; n Az HE wYkd aloN hI sAN "tOl-de-rI-dE-O!" At evri step, hI felt sO gE.

"F waz afrEd F SUd hAv t stE in H rivar fYrevar," hI sed, "bat H kFnd stYrk sEvd mI, n if F evar get enI brEnz F SAl fFnd H stYrk agen n d har sam kFndnis in ritarn."

"Ht'z Yl rFt," sed H stYrk, hM waz flFiN aloN bisFd Hem. "F YlwEz lFk t help enIwan in crabl. bat F mast gO nQ, f mF bEbIz r wEtN in H nest f mI. F hOp jM wil fFnd H emarald siti n Ht /oz wil help jM."

"TANk jM," riplFd dYraTi, n Hn H kFnd stYrk flM intM H Er n waz sMn Qt v sFt.

HE wYkd aloN lisanN t H siNN v H brFtli kalard bardz n lUkN At H lavli flQrz wic nQ bikEm sO Tik Ht H grQnd waz kyrpetd wiT Hem. HEr war big jelO n wFt n blM n parpl blosamz, bisFdz grEt klastarz v skyrlit popIz, wic war sO briljant in kalar HE YlmOst dAzld dYraTi'z Fz.

"yrn't HE bjMtifal?" H garl Askd, Az SI brIHd in H spFsi sent v H brFt flQrz.

"F sapOz sO," Ansard H skErkrO. "wen F hAv brEnz, F SAl probabli lFk Hem betar."

"if F Onli hAd a hyrt, F SUd lav Hem," Add H tin wUdmAn.

"F YlwEz did lFk flQrz," sed H lFan. "HE sIm sO helplis n frEl. bat HEr r nan in H fYrist sO brFt Az HIz."

HE nQ kEm apon mYr n mYr v H big skyrlit popIz, n fjMr n fjMr v H aHar flQrz; n sMn HE fQnd Hemselvz in H midst v a grEt medO v popIz. nQ i z wel nOn Ht wen HEr r meni v HIz flQrz tageHar HEr Odar z sO pQrfal Ht enIwan hM brIHz i fYlz aslIp, n if H slIpar z not kErId awE fram H sent v H flQrz, hI slIps on n on fYrevar. bat dYraTi did not nO Hs, nYr kUd SI get awE fram H brFt red flQrz Ht war evrIwEr abQt; sO prezantli har Fz grM hevi n SI felt SI mast sit dQn t rest n t slIp.

bat H tin wUdmAn wUd not let har d Hs.

"wI mast hari n get bAk t H rOd v jelO brik bifYr dyrk," hI sed; n H skErkrO agrId wiT him. sO HE kept wYkN antil dYraTi kUd stAnd nO loNgar. har Fz klOzd in spFt v harself n SI fYrgot wEr SI waz n fel amoN H popIz, fAst aslIp.

"wat SAl wI d?" Askd H tin wUdmAn.

"if wI lIv har hIr SI wil dF," sed H lFan. "H smel v H flQrz z kilN as Yl. F mFself kn skErsli kIp mF Fz Opan, n H dog z aslIp Ylredi."

i waz crM; tOtO hAd folan dQn bisFd hiz litl miscris. bat H skErkrO n H tin wUdmAn, not bIiN mEd v fleS, war not crabld bF H sent v H flQrz.

"ran fAst," sed H skErkrO t H lFan, "n get Qt v Hs dedli flQr bed Az sMn Az jM kn. wI wil briN H litl garl wiT as, bat if jM SUd fYl aslIp jM r tM big t b kErId."

sO H lFan arQzd himself n bQndd fYrward Az fAst Az hI kUd gO. in a mOmant hI waz Qt v sFt.

"let as mEk a cEr wiT Qr hAndz n kEri har," sed H skErkrO. sO HE pikd ap tOtO n pat H dog in dYraTi'z lAp, n Hn HE mEd a cEr wiT HEr hAndz f H sIt n HEr yrmz f H yrmz n kErId H slIpN garl bitwIn Hem TrM H flQrz.

on n on HE wYkd, n i sImd Ht H grEt kyrpit v dedli flQrz Ht sarQndd Hem wUd nevar end. HE folOd H bend v H rivar, n At lAst kEm apon HEr frend H lFan, lFiN fAst aslIp amoN H popIz. H flQrz hAd bin tM scroN f H hjMJ bIst n hI hAd givan ap At lAst, n fYlan Onli a SYrt distans fram H end v H popi bed, wEr H swIt grAs spred in bjMtifal grIn fIldz bifYr Hem.

"wI kn d naTiN f him," sed H tin wUdmAn, sAdli; "f hI z mac tM hevi t lift. wI mast lIv him hIr t slIp on fYrevar, n parhAps hI wil JrIm Ht hI hAz fQnd kariJ At lAst."

"F'm syri," sed H skErkrO. "H lFan waz a vEri gUd komrAd f wan sO kQwardli. bat let as gO on."

HE kErId H slIpN garl t a priti spot bisFd H rivar, fyr Inaf fram H popi fIld t privent har brIHN eni mYr v H pqzan v H flQrz, n hIr HE lEd har Jentli on H soft grAs n wEtd f H freS brIz t wEkan har.

"wI kn not b fyr fram H rOd v jelO brik, nQ," rimyrkd H skErkrO, Az hI stUd bisFd H garl, "f wI hAv kam nIrli Az fyr Az H rivar kErId as awE."

H tin wUdmAn waz abQt t riplF wen hI hard a lO grQl, n tarnN hiz hed (wic warkd bjMtifali on hinJz) hI sY a scrEnJ bIst kam bQndN Ovar H grAs tYrd Hem. i waz, indId, a grEt jelO wFldkAt, n H wUdmAn TYt i mast b cEsN samTiN, f its Irz war lFiN klOs t its hed n its mQT waz wFd Opan, SOiN tM rOz v agli tIT, wFl its red Fz glOd lFk bYlz v fFr. Az i kEm nIrar H tin wUdmAn sY Ht ranN bifYr H bIst waz a litl grE fIld mQs, n YlHO hI hAd nO hyrt hI nM i waz roN f H wFldkAt t crF t kil sac a priti, hyrmlis krIcar.

sO H wUdMan rEzd hiz Aks, n Az H wFldkAt rAn bF hI gEv i a kwik blO Ht kat H bIst's hed klIn of fram its bodi, n i rOld Ovar At hiz fIt in tM pIsz.

H fIld mQs, nQ Ht i waz frId fram its enami, stopd SYrt; n kamN slOli ap t H wUdMan i sed, in a skIki litl vqs:

"O, TANk jM! HANk jM evar sO mac f sEvN mF lFf."

"dOn't spIk v i, F beg v jM," riplFd H wUdmAn. "F hAv nO hyrt, jM nO, sO F Am kErfal t help Yl HOz hM mE nId a frend, Ivan if i hApanz t b Onli a mQs."

"Onli a mQs!" krFd H litl Anaml, indignantli. "wF, F Am a kwIn -- H kwIn v Yl H fIld mFs!"

"O, indId," sed H wUdmAn, mEkN a bQ.

"HErfYr jM hAv dan a grEt dId, Az wel Az a brEv wan, in sEvN mF lFf," Add H kwIn.

At Ht mOmant sevaral mFs war sIn ranN ap Az fAst Az HEr litl legz kUd kEri Hem, n wen HE sY HEr kwIn HE eksklEmd:

"O, jYr mAJasti, wI TYt jM wUd b kild! hQ did jM mAniJ t eskEp H grEt wFldkAt?" HE Yl bQd sO lO t H litl kwIn Ht HE YlmOst stUd apon HEr hedz.

"Hs fani tin mAn," SI Ansard, "kild H wFldkAt n sEvd mF lFf. sO hIrAftar jM mast Yl sarv him, n ObE hiz slFtist wiS."

"wI wil!" krFd Yl H mFs, in a Sril kYras. n Hn HE skAmpard in Yl darekSnz, f tOtO hAd awEkand fram hiz slIp, n sIiN Yl HIz mFs arQnd him hI gEv wan byrk v dilFt n Jampd rFt intM H midl v H grMp. tOtO hAd YlwEz lavd t cEs mFs wen hI livd in /kAnzas, n hI sY nO hyrm in i.

bat H tin wUdmAn kYt H dog in hiz yrmz n held him tFt, wFl hI kYld t H mFs, "kam bAk! kam bAk! tOtO SAl not hart jM."

At Hs H kwIn v H mFs stak har hed Qt fram andarnIT a klamp v grAs n Askd, in a timid vqs, "r jM Sar hI wil not bFt as?"

"F wil not let him," sed H wUdmAn; "sO d not b afrEd."

wan bF wan H mFs kEm krIpN bAk, n tOtO did not byrk agen, YlHO hI crFd t get Qt v H wUdmAn'z yrmz, n wUd hAv bitan him hAd hI not nOn vEri wel hI waz mEd v tin. fFnali wan v H bigist mFs spOk.

"z HEr enITiN wI kn d," i Askd, "t ripE jM f sEvN H lFf v Qr kwIn?"

"naTiN Ht F nO v," Ansard H wUdmAn; bat H skErkrO, hM hAd bin crFiN t TiNk, bat kUd not bikaz hiz hed waz stafd wiT scrY, sed, kwikli, "O, jes; jM kn sEv Qr frend, H kQwardli lFan, hM z aslIp in H popI bed."

"a lFan!" krFd H litl kwIn. "wF, hI wUd It as Yl ap."

"O, nO," diklErd H skErkrO; "Hs lFan z a kQward."

"rIli?" Askd H mQs.

"hI sez sO himself," Ansard H skErkrO, "n hI wUd nevar hart enIwan hM z Qr frend. if jM wil help as t sEv him F promis Ht hI SAl crIt jM Yl wiT kFndnis."

"vEri wel," sed H kwIn, "wI crast jM. bat wat SAl wI d?"

"r HEr meni v HIz mFs wic kYl jM kwIn n r wilN t ObE jM?"

"O, jes; HEr r TQzanz," SI riplFd.

"Hn send f Hem Yl t kam hIr Az sMn Az posabl, n let Ic wan briN a loN pIs v sciN."

H kwIn tarnd t H mFs Ht atendd har n tOld Hem t gO At wans n get Yl har pIpl. Az sMn Az HE hard har Yrdarz HE rAn awE in evri darekSn Az fAst Az posabl.

"nQ," sed H skErkrO t H tin wUdmAn, "jM mast gO t HOz crIz bF H rivarsFd n mEk a crak Ht wil kEri H lFan."

sO H wUdmAn went At wans t H crIz n bigAn t wark; n hI sMn mEd a crak Qt v H limz v crIz, fram wic hI copd awE Yl H lIvz n brAncz. hI fAsand i tageHar wiT wUdan pegz n mEd fYr wIlz Qt v SYrt pIsz v a big crI craNk. sO fAst n sO wel did hI wark Ht bF H tFm H mFs bigAn t arFv H crak waz Yl redi f Hem.

HE kEm fram Yl darekSnz, n HEr war TQzandz v Hem; big mFs n litl mFs n midl-sFzd mFs; n Ic wan brYt a pIs v striN in hiz mQT. i waz abQt Hs tFm Ht dYraTi wOk fram har loN slIp n Opand har Fz. SI waz grEtli astoniSd t fFnd harself lFiN apon H grAs, wiT TQzandz v mFs stAndN arQnd n lUkN At har timidli. bat H skErkrO tOld har abQt evrITiN, n tarnN t H dignifFd litl mQs, hI sed:

"parmit mI t incrOdMs t jM har mAJasti, H kwIn."

dYraTi nodd grEvli n H kwIn mEd a kartsi, Aftar wic SI bikEm kwFt frendli wiT H litl garl.

H skErkrO n H wUdmAn nQ bigAn t fAsan H mFs t H crak, jMzN H scriNz HE hAd brYt. wan end v a scriN waz tFd arQnd H nek v Ic mQs n H aHar end t H crak. v kYrs H crak waz a TQsand tFmz bigar Hn enI v H mFs hM war t JrY i; bat wen Yl H mFs hAd bin hyrnisd, HE war Ebl t pUl i kwFt Izili. Ivan H skErkrO n H tin wUdmAn kUd sit on i, n war JrYn swiftli bF HEr kwIr litl hYrsz t H plEs wEr H lFan lE aslIp.

Aftar a grEt dIl v hyrd wark, f H lFan waz hevi, HE mAniJd t get him ap on H crak. Hn H kwIn haredli gEv har pIpl H Yrdar t styrt, f SI fIrd if H mFs stEd amaN H popIz tM loN HE YlsO wUd fYl aslIp.

At farst t litl krIcarz, meni HO HE war, kUd hyrdli star H hevili lOdd crak; bat H wUdmAn n H skErkrO bOT pUSd fram bihFnd, n HE got aloN betar. sMn HE rOld H lFan Qt v H popi bed t H grIn fIldz, wEr hI kUd brIT H swIt, freS Er agen, insted v H pqzanas sent v H flQrz.

dYraTi kEm t mIt Hem n TANkd H litl mFs wYrmli f sEvN har kmpAnjan fram deT. SI hAd grOn sO fond v H big lFan SI waz glAd hI hAd bin reskjMd.

Hn H mFs war anhyrnid fram H crak n skAmpard awE TrM H grAs t HEr hOmz. H kwIn v H mFs waz H lAst t lIv.

"if evar jM nId as agen," SI sed, "kam Qt intM H fIld n kYl, n wI SAl hIr jM n kam t jYr asistans. gUd-bF!"

"gUd-bF!" HE Yl Ansard, n awE H kwIn rAn, wFl dYraTi held tOtO tFtli lest hI SUd ran Aftar har n frFtan har.

Aftar Hs HE sAt dQn bisFd H lFan antil hI SUd awEkan; n H skErkrO brYt dYraTi sam frMt fram a crI nIr bF, wic SI Et f har dinar.

i waz sam tFm bifYr H kQwardli lFan awEkand, f hI hAd lEn amaN H popIz a loN wFl, brIHN in HEr dedli frEgrans; bat wen hI did Opan hiz Fz n rOl of H crak hI waz vEri glAd t fFnd himself stil alFv.

"F rAn Az fAst Az F kUd," hI sed, sitN dQn n jYnN, "bat H flQrz war tM scroN f mI. hQ did jM get mI Qt?"

Hn HE tOld him v H fIld mFs, n hQ HE hAd Jenarasli sEvd him fram deT; n H kQwardli lFan lAfd, n sed:

"F hAv YlwEz TYt mFself vEri big n tErabl; jet sac litl TiNz Az flQrz kEm nIr t kilN mI, n sac smYl Anamlz Az mFs hAv sEvd mF lFf. hQ scrEnJ i Yl z! bat, komrAdz, wat SAl wI d nQ?"

"wI mast Jarni on antil wI fFnd H rOd v jelO brik agen," sed dYraTi, "n Hn wI kn kIp on t H /emarald /siti."

sO, H lFan bIiN fUli rifreSd, n fIlN kwFt himself agen, HE Yl styrtd apon H Jarni, grEtli enJqiN H wYk TrM H soft, freS grAs; n i waz not loN bifYr HE rIcd H rOd f jelO brik n tarnd agen tQrd H /emarald /siti wEr H /grEt /oz dwelt.

H rOd waz smMH n wel pEvd, nQ, n H kancri abQt waz bjMtifal, sO Ht H crAvalarz riJqsd in lIvN H fYrist fyr bihFnd, n wiT i H meni dEnJarz HE hAd met in its glMmi SEdz. wans mYr HE kUd sI fensz bilt bisFd H rOd; bat HIz war pEntd grIn, n wen HE kEm t a smYl hQs, in wic a fyrmar evidantli livd, Ht YlsO waz pEntd grIn. HE pAsd bF sevarl v HIz hQzz darN H AftarnMn, n samtFmz pIpl kEm t H dYrz n lUkd At Hem Az if HE wUd lFk t Ask kwescnz; bat nO wan kEm nIr Hem nYr spOk t Hem bikYz v H grEt lFan, v wic HE war vEri mac afrEd. H pIpl war Yl Jresd in klOHN v a lavli emarald-grIn kalar n wYr pIkd hAts lFk HOz v H /manckinz.

"Hs mast b H lAnd v /oz," sed dYraTi, "n wI r Sarli getN nIr H /emarald /siti."

"jes," Ansard H skErkrO. "evrITiN z grIn hIr, wFl in H kancri v H /manckinz blM waz H fEvarit kalar. bat H pIpl d not sIm t b Az frendli Az H /manckinz, n F'm afrEf wI SAl b anEbl t fFnd a plEs t pAs H nFt."

"F SUd lFk samTiN t It bisFdz frMt," sed H garl, "n F'm Sar tOtO z nIrli styrvd. let as stop At H nekst hQs n tYk t H pIpl."

sO, wen HE kEm t a gUd-sFzd fyrmhQs, dYraTi wYkd bOldli ap t H dYr n nokd.

a wUman Opand i Jast fyr Inaf t lUk Qt, n sed, "wat d jM wont, cFld, n wF z Ht grEt lFan wiT jM?"

"wI wiS t pAs H nFt wiT jM, if jM wil alQ as," Ansard dYraTi; "n H lFan z mF frend n komrAd, n wUd not hart jM f H warld."

"z hI tEm?" Askd H wUman, OpanN H dYr a litl wFdar.

"O, jes," sed H garl, "n hI z a grEt kQward, tM. hI wil b mYr afrEd v jM Hn jM r v him."

"wel," sed H wUman, Aftar TiNkN i Ovar n tEkN anaHar pIp At H lFan, "if Ht z H kEs jM mE kam in, n F wil giv jM sam sapar n a plEs t slIp."

sO HE Yl entard H hQs, wEr HEr war, bisFdz H wUman, tM cildran n a mAn. H mAn hAd hart hiz leg, n waz lFiN on H kQc in a kYrnar. HE sImd grEtli sarprFzd t sI sO scrEnJ a kampani, n wFl H wUman waz bizi lEiN H tEbl H mAn Askd:

"wEr r jM Yl gOiN?"

"t H /emarald /siti," sed /dYraTi, "t sI H /grEt /oz."

"O, indId!" eksklEmd H mAn. "r jM Sar Ht /oz wil sI jM?"

"wF not?" SI riplFd.

"wF, i z sed Ht hI nevar lets enIwan kam intM hiz prezans. F hAv bin t H /emarald /siti meni tFmz, n i z a bjMtifal n wandarfal plEs; bat F hAv nevar bin parmitd t sI H /grEt /oz, nYr d F nO v eni livN parsan hM hAz sIn him."

"daz hI nevar gO Qt?" Askd H skErkrO.

"nevar. hI sits dE Aftar dE in H grEt /TrOn /rMm v hiz /pAlis, n Ivan HOz hM wEt apon him d not sI him fEs t fEs."

"wat z hI lFk?" Askd H garl.

"Ht z hyrd t tel," sed H mAn TYtfali. "jM sI, /oz z a /grEt /wizard, n kn tEk on eni fYrm hI wiSz. sO Ht sam sE hI lUks lFk a bard; n sam sE hI lUks lFk an elafant; n sam sE hI lUks lFk a kAt. t aHarz hI apIrz Az a bjMtifal fEri, Yr a brQni, Yr in eni aHar fYrm Ht plIzz him. bat hM H rIl /oz z, wen hI z in hiz Qn fYrm, nO livN parsan kn tel."

"Ht z vEri scrEnJ," sed dYraTi, "bat wI mast crF, in sam wE, t sI him, Yr wI SAl hAv mEd Qr Jarni f naTN."

"wF d jM wiS t sI H tErabl /oz?" Askd H mAn.

"F wont him t giv mI sam brEnz," sed H skErkrO Igarli.

"O, /oz kUd d Ht Izili Inaf," diklErd H mAn. "hI hAz mYr brEnz Hn hI nIdz."

"n F wont him t giv mI a hyrt," sed H /tin /wUdmAn.

"Ht wil not crabl him," kntinkMd H mAn, "f /oz hAz a lyrJ kalekSn v hyrts, v Yl sFzz n SEps."

"n F wont him t giv mI kariJ," sed H /kQwardli /lFan.

"/oz kIps a grEt pot v kariJ in hiz /TrOn /rMm," sed H mAn, "wic hI hAz kavard wiT a gOldan plEt, t kIp i fram ranN Ovar. hI wil b glAd t giv jM sam."

"n F wont him t send mI bAk t /kAnzas," sed /dYraTi.

"wEr z /kAnzas?" Askd H mAn, wiT sarprFz.

"F dOn't nO," riplFd /dYraTi syrOfali, "bat i z mF hOm, n F'm SUr it's samwEr."

"vEri lFkli. wel, /oz kn d enITiN; sO F sapOz hI wil fFnd /kAnzas f jM. bat farst jM mast get t sI him, n Ht wil b a hyrd tAsk; f H /grEt /wizard daz not lFk t sI enIwan, n hI jMzMali hAz hiz On wE. bat wat d /j/M wont?" hI kntinjMd, spIkN t /tOtO. /tOtO Onli wAgd hiz tEl; f, scrEnJ t sE, hI kUd not spIk.

H wUman nQ kYld t Hem Ht sapar waz redi, sO HE gAHard arQnd H tEbl n /dYraTi Et sam diliSas pYriJ n a diS a skrAmbald egz n a plEt v nFs wFt bred, n enJqd har mIl. H /lFan Et sam v H pYriJ, bat did not kEr f i, sEiN i waz mEd fram Ots n Ots war fMd f hYrsz, not f lFanz. H /skErkrO n H /tin wUdmAn Et naTiN At Yl. /tOtO Et a litl v evrITiN, n waz glAd t get a gUd sapar agen.

H wUman nQ gEv /dYraTi a bed t slIp in, n /tOtO lE dQn bisFd har, wFl H /lFan gyrdd H dYr v har rMm sO SI mFt not b distarbd. H /skErkrO n H /tin /wUdmAn stUd ap in a kYrnar n kept kwFit Yl nFt, YlHO v kYrs HE kUd not slIp.

H nekst mYrnN, Az sMn Az H san waz ap, HE styrtd on HEr wE, n sMn sY a bjMtifal grIn glO in H skF Jast bifYr Hem.

"Ht mast b H /emarald /siti," sed /dYraTi.

Az HE wYkd on, H grIn glO bikEm brFtar n brFtar, n i sImd Ht At lAst HE war nIrN H end v HEr crAvalz. jet i waz AftarnMn bifYr HE kEm t H grEt wYl Ht sarQndd H /siti. i waz hF n Tik n v a brFt grIn kalar.

in frant v Hem, n At H end v H rOd v jelO brik, waz a big gEt, Yl stadd wiT emaraldz Ht glitard sO in H san Ht Ivan H pEntd Fz v H skErkrO war dAzld bF HEr briljansi.

HEr waz a bel bisFd H gEt, n /dYraTi pUSd H batan n hard a silvari tiNkl sQnd wiHin. Hn H big gEt swaN slOli Opan, n HE Yl pAsd TrM n fQnd Hemselvz in a hF yrcd rMm, H wYlz v wic glisand wiT kQntlis emaraldz.

bifYr Hem stUd a litl mAn abQt H sEm sFz Az H /manckinz. hI waz klOHd Yl in grIn, fram hiz hed t hiz fIt, n Ivan hiz skin waz v a grIniS tint. At hiz sFd waz a lyrJ grIn boks.

wen hI sY /dYraTi n har kmpAnjanz H mAn Askd, "wat d jM wiS in H /emarald /siti?"

"wI kEm hIr t sI H /grEt /oz," sed /dYraTi.

H mAn waz sO sarprFzd At Hs Ansar Ht hI sAt dQn t TiNk i Ovar.

"i hAz bin meni jIrz sins enIwan Askd mI t sI /oz," hI sed, SEkN hiz hed in parpleksiti. "hI iz pQrfal n tErabl, n if jM kam on an Fdl Yr fMliS Erand t boHar H wFz riflekSnz v H /grEt /wizard, hi mFt b ANgri n discrq jM Yl in an instant."

"bat i z not a fMliS Erand, nYr an Fdl wan," riplFd H skErkrO; "i z impYrtant. n wI hAv bin tOld Ht /oz iz a gUd wizard."

"sO hI z," sed H grIn mAn, "n hI rMlz H /emarald /siti wFzli n wel. bat t HOz hM r not onist, Yr hM aprOc him fram kjarIositi, hI z mOst tErabl, n fjM hAv evar dErd Ask t sI hiz fEs. F Am H /gYrdian v H /gEts, n sins jM dimAnd t sI H /grEt /oz F mast tEk jM t hiz /pAlis. bat farst jM mast pUt on H spektaklz."

"wF?" Askd /dYraTi.

"bikYz if jM did not wEr spektaklz H brFtnis n glYri v H /emarald /siti wUd blFnd jM. Ivan HOz hM liv in H 'siti mast wEr spektaklz nFt n dE. HE r Yl lokd on, f /oz sO Yrdard i wen H /siti waz farst bilt, n F hAv H Onli kE Ht wil anlok Hem."

hI Opand H big boks, n /dYraTi sY Ht i waz fild wiT spektaklz v evari sFz n SEp. Yl v Hem hAd grIn glAsz in Hem. H /gyrdian v H /gEts fQnd a pEr Ht wUd fit /dYraTi n pUt Hem Ovar har Fz. HEr war tM gOldan bAndz fAsand t Hem Ht pAsd arQnd H bAk v har hed, wEr HE war lokd tageHar bF a litl kE Ht waz At H end v a cEn H /gyrdian v H /gEts wYr arQnd hiz nek. wen HE war on, /dYraTi kUd not tEk Hem of hAd SI wiSd, bat v kYrs SI did not wiS t b blFndd bF H glEr v H /emarald /siti, sO SI sed naTiN.

Hn H grIn mAn fitd spektaklz f H /skErkrO n H /tin wUdmAn n H /lFan, n Ivan on litl /tOtO; n Yl war lokd fAst wiT H kI.

Hn H /gyrdian v H /gEts pUt on hiz glAsz n tOld Hem hI waz redi t SO Hem H /pAlis. tEkN a big gOldan kI fram a peg on H wYl, hI Opand anaHar gEt, n HE Yl folOd him TrM H pYrtl intM H scrIts v H /emarald /siti.

Ivan wiT Fz pratektd bF H grIn spektaklz, /dYraTi n har frendz war At farst dAzld bF H briliansi v H wandarfal siti. H scrIts war lFnd wiT bjMtifal hQzz Yl bilt v grIn myrbl n stadd evrIwEr wiT spyrklN emeraldz. HE wYkd Ovar a pEvmnt v H grIn myrbl, n wEr H bloks war Jqnd tageHar war rOz v emaraldz, set klOsli, n glitarN in H brFtnis v H san. H windO pEnz war v grIn glAs; Ivan H skF abav H siti hAd a grIn tint, n H rEz v H san war grIn.

HEr war meni pIpl -- men, wiman, n cildran -- wYkN abQt, n HIz war Yl Jresd in grIn klOz n hAd grIniS skinz. HE lUkd At /dYraTi n har scrEnJli asYrtd kampani wiT wandarN Fz, n H cildran Yl rAn awE n hid bihFnd HEr maHarz wen HE sY H /lFan; bat nO wan spOk t Hem. meni Sops stUd in H scrIt, n /dYraTi sY Ht evrITiN in Hem waz grIn. grIn kAndi n grIn pop kYrn war ofard f sEl, Az wel Az grIn SMz, grIn hAts, n grIn klOz v Yl sYrts. At wan plEs a mAn waz selN grIn lemanEd, n wen H cildran bYt i /dYraTi kUd sI Ht HE pEd f i wiT grIn penIz.

HEr sImd t b nO hYrsz nYr Anamlz v enI kFnd; H men kyrId TiNz arQnd in litl grIn kyrts, wic HE pUSd bifYr Hem. evrIwan sImd hApi n kntentd n prosparas.

H /gyrdian v H /gEts led Hem TrM H scrIts antil HE kEm t a big bildN, egzAktli in H midl v H /siti, wic waz H /pAlis v /oz, H /grEt /wizard. HEr waz a sOlJar bifYr H dYr, Jresd in a grIn jMnifYrm n wErN a loN grIn bIrd.

"hIr r scrEnJarz," sed H /gyrdian v H /gEts t him, "n HE dimAnd t sI H /grEt /oz."

"step insFd," Ansard H sOlJar, "n F wil kEri jYr mesiJ t him."

sO HE pAsd TrM H /pAlis /gEts n war led intM a big rMm wiT a grIn kyrpit n lavli grIn farnicar set wiT emaraldz. H sOlJar mEd Hem Yl wFp HEr fIt apon a grIn mAt bifYr entarN Hs rMm, n wen HE war sItd hI sed palFtli:

"plIz mEk jYrselvz kamfartabl wFl F gO t H dYr v H /TrOn /rMm n tel /oz jM r hIr."

HE hAd t wEt a loN tFm bifYr H sOlJar ritarnd. wen, At lAst, hI kEm bAk, /dYraTi Askd:

"hAv jM sIn /oz?"

"O, nO," ritarnd H sOlJar; "F hAv nevar sIn him. bat F spOk t him Az hI sAt bihFnd hiz skrIn n gEv him jYr mesiJ. hI sed hI wil grAnt jM an odians, if jM sO dizFr; bat Ic wan v jM mast entar hiz prezans alOn, n hI wil Admit bat wan Ic dE. HErfYr, Az jM mast rimEn in H /pAlis f sevarl dEz, F wil hAv jM SOn t rMmz wEr jM mE rest in kamfart Aftar jYr Jarni."

"TANk jM," riplFd H garl; "Ht z vEri kFnd v /oz."

H sOlJar nQ blM a grIn wisl, n At wans a jaN garl, Jresd in a priti grIn silk gQn, entard H rMm. SI hAd lavli grIn hEr n grIn Fz, n sI bQd lO bifYr /dYraTi Az SI sed, "folO mI n F wil SO jM jYr rMm."

sO /dYraTi sed gUd-bF t Yl har frendz eksept /tOtO, n tEkN H dog in har yrmz folOd H grIn garl TrM sevan pAsiJz n ap TrI flFts v stErz antil HE kEm t a rMm At H frant v H /pAlis. i waz H swItist litl rMm in H warld, wiT a soft kamfartabl bed Ht hAd SIts v grIn silk n a grIn velvit kQntarpEn. HEr waz a tFni fQntan in H midl v H rMm, Ht Sat a sprE v grIn parfjMm intM H Er, t fYl bAk intM a bjMtifal kyrvd grIn myrbl bAsin. bjMtifal grIn flQrz stUd in H windOz, n Her waz a Self wiT a rQ v litl grIn bUks. wen /dYraTi hAd tFm t Open HIz bUks SI fQnd Hem fUl v kwIr grIn pikcarz Ht mEd har lAf, HE war sO fani.

in a wYrJrOb war meni grIn Jresz, mEd v silk n sAtin n velvit; n Yl v Hem fitd /dYraTi egzAktli.

"mEk jYrself parfiktli At hOm," sed H grIn garl, "n if jM wiS f enITiN riN H bel. /oz wil send f jM tamyrO mYrnN."

SI left /dYraTi aloN n went bAk t H aHarz. HIz SI YlsO led t rMmz, n Ic wan v Hem fQnd himself loJd in a vEri plezant pyrt v H /pAlis. v kYrs Hs palFtnis waz wEstd on H /skErkrO; f wen hI fQnd himself alOn in hiz rMm hI stUd stMpidli in wan spot, Jast wiHin H dYrwE, t wEt til mYrnN. i wUd not rest him t lF dQn, n hI kUd not klOz hiz Fz; sO hI rimEnd Yl nFt stErN At a litl spFdar wic waz wIvN its web in a kYrnar v H rMm, Jast Az if i war not wan v H mOst wandarfl rMmz in H warld. H /tin /wUdmAn lE dQn on hiz bed fram fYrs v hAbit, f h rimembard wen hI waz mEd v fleS; bat not bIiN Ebl t slIp, hI pAsd H nFt mMvN hiz Jqnts ap n dQn t mEk Sar HE kept in gUd warkN Yrdar/ H /lFan wUd hAv prifard a bed v JrFd lIvz in H fYrist, n did not lFk bIiN Sat ap in a rMm; bat hI hAd tM mac sens t let Hs wari him, sO hI sprAN apon H bed n rOld himself ap lFk a kAt n pard himself aslIp in a minit.

H nekst mYrnN, Aftar brekfast, H grIn mEdan kEm t fec /dYraTi, n SI Jresd har in wan v H pritIist gQnz, mEd v grIn brOkEdd sAtin. /dYraTi pUt on a grIn silk Epran n tFd a grIn ribin arQnd /tOtO'z nek, n HE styrtd f H /TrOn /rMm v H /grEt /oz.

farst HE kEm t a grEt hYl in wic war meni lEdIz n Jentalman v H kYrt, Yl Jresd in ric kostMmz. HIz pIpl hAd naTiN t d bat tok t Ic aHar, bat HE YlwEz kEm t wEt QtsFd H /TrOn /rMm evri mYrnN, YlHO HE war nevar parmitd t sI /oz. Az /dYraTi entard HE lUkd At har kjariasli, n wan v Hem wispard:

"r jM rIli gOiN t lUk apon H fEs v /oz H /tErabl?"

"v kYrs," Ansard H garl, "if hI wil sI mI."

"O, hI wil sI jM," sed H sOlJar hM hAd tEkan har mesiJ t H /wizard, "YlHO hI daz not lFk t hAv pIpl Ask t sI him. indId, At farst hI waz ANgri n sed F SUd send jM bAk wEr jM kEm fram. Hn hI Askd mI wat jM lUkd lFk, n wen F mencand jYr silvar SMz hI waz vEri mac intarestd. At lAst F tOld him abQt H myrk apon jYr fYrhed, n hI disFdd hI wUd Admit jM t hiz prezans."

Jast Hn a bel rAN, n H grIn garl sed t /dYraTi, "Ht z H signl. jM mast gO intM H /TrOn /rMm alOn."

SI Opand a litl dYr n /dYraTi wokd bOldli TrM n fQnd harself in a wandarfl plEs. i waz a big, rQnd rMm wiT a hF yrcd rMf, n H wYlz n sIlN n flYr war kavard wiT lyrJ emaraldz set klOsli tageHar. in H sentar v H rMf waz a grEt lFt, Az brFt Az H san, wic mEd H emaraldz spyrkl in a wandarfl mAnar.

bat wat intarestd /dYraTi mOst waz H big TrOn v grIn myrbl Ht stUd in H midl v H rUm. i waz SEpd lFk a cEr n spyrkld wiT Jemz, Az did evrITiN els. in H sentar v H cEr waz an InYrmas /hed, wiTQt a bodi t sapYrt i Yr eni yrmz Yr legz watevar. HEr waz nO hEr apon Hs hed, bat i hAd Ez n a nOz n mQT, n waz mac bigar Hn H hed v H bigist JFant.

Az /dYraTi gEzd apon Hs in wandar n fIr, H Fz tarnd slOli n lUkd At har Syrpli n stedili. Hn H mQT mMvd, n /dYraTi hard a vqs sE:

"F Am /oz, H /grEt n /tErabl. hM r jM, n wF d jM sIk mI?"

i waz not sac an ofal vqs Az SI hAd ekspektd t kam fram H big /hed; sO SI tUk kariJ n Ansard:

"F Am /dYraTi, H /smYl n /mIk. F hAv kam t jM f help."

H Fz lUkd At har TYtfali f a fUl minit. Hn sed H vqs:

"wEr did jM get H silvar SMz?"

"F got Hem fram H /wikid /wic v H /Ist, wen mF hQs fel on har n kild har," SI riplFd.

"wEr did jM get H myrk apon jYr fYrhed?" kntinjMd H vqs.

"Ht z wEr H /gUd /wic v H /nYrT kisd mI wen SI bEd mI gUd-bF n sent mI t jM," sed H garl.

agen H Fz lUkd At har Syrpli, n HE sY SI waz telN H crMT. Hn /oz Askd, "wat d jM wiS mI t d?"

"send mI bAk t /kAnzas, wEr mF /Ynt /em n /aNkl /henri r," SI Ansard arnistli. "F dOn't lFk jYr kancri, YlHO i z sO bjMtifal. n F Am Sar /Ynt /em wil b Jredfali warId Ovar mF bIiN awE sO loN."

H Fz wiNkd TrI tFmz, n Hn HE tarnd ap t H sIlN n dQn t H flYr n rOld arQnd sO kwIrli Ht HE sImd t sI evri pyrt v H rMm. n At lAst HE lUkd At /dYraTi agen.

"wF SUd F d Hs f jM?" Askd /oz.

"bikYz jM r scroN n F Am wIk; bikYz jM r a /grEt /wizard n F Am Onli a litl garl."

"bat jM war scroN Inaf t kil H /wikid /wic v H /Ist," sed /oz.

"Ht Jast hApand," ritarnd /dYraTi simpli; "F kUd not help i."

"wel," sed H /hed, "F wil giv jM mF Ansar. jM hAv nO rFt t ekspekt mI t send jM bAk t /kAnzas anles jM d samTiN f mI in ritarn. in Hs kancri evrIwan mast pE f evrITiN hI gets. if jM wiS mI t jMz mF mAJik pQrz t send jM hOm agen jM mast d samTiN f mI farst. help mI n F wil help jM."

"wat mast F d?" Askd H garl.

"kil H /wikid /wic v H /west," Ansard /oz.

"bat F kn not!" eksklEmd /dYraTi, grEtli sarprFzd.

"jM kild H /wic v H /Ist n jM wEr H silvar SMz, wic bEr a pQrfal cyrm. HEr z nQ bat wan wikid wic left in Yl Hs lAnd, n wen jM kn tel mI SI z ded F wil send jM bAk t /kAnzas -- bat not bifYr."

H litl garl bigAn t wIp, SI waz sO mac disapqntd; n H Fz winkd agen n lUkd apon har ANkSasli, Az if H /grEt /oz felt Ht SI kUd help him if SI wUd.

"F nevar kild enITiN, wiliNli," SI sobd. "Ivan if F wontd t, hQ kUd F kil H /wikid /wic? if jM, hM r /grEt n /tErabl, kn not kil har jYrself, hQ d jM ekspekt mI t d i?"

"F d not nO," sed H /hed; "bat Ht z mF Ansar, n antil H /wikid /wic dFz jM wil not sI jYr aNkl n Ynt agen. rimembar Ht H /wic z /wikid -- cremendasli -- n Yt t b kild. nQ gO, n d not Ask t sI mI agen antil jM hAv dan jYr tAsk."

sYrOfali /dYraTi left H /TrOn /rMm n went bAk wEr H /lFan n H /skErkrO n H /tin /wUdmAn war wEtN t hIr wat /oz hAd sed t har. "Har z nO hOp f mI," SI sed sAdli, "f /oz wil not send mI hOm antil F hAv kild H /wikid /wic v H /west; n Ht F kn nevar d."

har frendz war syri, bat kad d naTiN t help har; sO /dYraTi went t har On rMm n lE dQn on har bed n krFd harself t slIp.

H nekst mYrnN H sOlJar wiT H grIn wiskarz kEm t H /skErkrO n sed:

"kam wiT mI, f /oz hAz sent f jM."

sO H /skErkrO folOd him n waz Admitd intM H grEt /TrOn /rMm, wEr hI sY, sitN in H emarald TrOn, a mOst lavli /lEdi. SI waz Jresd in grIn silk gYz n wYr apon har flOiN grIn loks a krQn v JMlz. grOiN fram har SOldarz war wiNz, gYrJas in kolar n sO lFt Ht HE flatard if H slFtist breT v Er rIcd Hem.

wen H /skErkrO hAd bQd, Az pritili Az hiz scrY stafN wUd let him, bifYr Hs bjMtifal krIcar, SI lUkd apon him swItli, n sed:

"F Am /oz, H /grEt n /tErabl. hM r jM, n wF d jM sIk mI?"

nQ H /skErkrO, hM hAd ekspektd t sI H grEt /hed /dYraTi hAd tOld him v, waz mac astoniSd; bat hI Ansard har brEvli.

"F Am Onli a /skErkrO, stafd wiT scrY. HErfYr F hAv nO brEnz, n F kam t jM prEiN Ht jM wil pUt brEnz in mF hed insted v scrY, sO Ht F mE bikam Az mac a mAn Az eni aHar in jYr dOminjanz."

"wF SUd F d Hs f jM?" Askd H /lEdi.

"bikYz jM r wFz n pQrfal, n nO wan els kn help mI," Ansard H /skErkrO.

"F nevar grAnt fEvarz wiTQt sam ritarn," sed /oz; "bat Hs mac F wil promis. if jM wil kil f mI H /wikid /wic v H /west, F wil bistO apon jM a grEt meni brEnz, n sac gUd brEnz Ht jM wil b H wFzist mAn in Yl H /lAnd v /oz."

"F TYt jM Askd /dYraTi t kil H /wic," sed H /skErkrO, in sarprFz.

"sO F did. F dOn't kEr hM kilz har. bat antil SI z ded F wil not grAnt jYr wiS. nQ gO, n d not sIk mI agen antil jM hAv arnd H brEnz jM sO grEtli dizFr."

H /skErkrO went syrOfali bAk t hiz frendz n tOld Hem wat /oz hAd sed; n /dYraTi waz sarprFzd t fFnd Ht H /grEt /wizard waz not a hed, Az SI hAd sIn him, bat a lavli /lEdi.

"Yl H sEm," sed H /skErkrO, "SI nIdz a hyrt Az mac Az H /tin /wUdmAn."

on H nekst mYrnN H sOlJar wiT H grIn wiskarz kEm t H /tin /wUdmAn n sed:

"/oz hAz sent f jM. folO mI."

sO H /tin /wUdmAn folOd him n kEm t H grEt /TrOn /rMm. hI did not nO weHar hI wUd fFnd /oz a lavli /lEdi Yr a /hed, bat hI hOpd i wUd b H lavli /lEdi. "f," hI sed t himself, "if i z H hed, F Am Sar F SAl not b givan a hyrt, sins a hed hAz nO hyrt v its On n HErfYr kn not fIl f mI. bat if i z H lavli /lEdi F SAl beg hyrd f a hyrt, f Yl lEdIz r Hemselvz sed t b kFndli hYrtd."

bat wen H /wUdmAn entard H grEt /TrOn /rMm hI sY nIHar H /hed nYr H /lEdi, f /oz hAd tEkan H SEp v a mOst tErabl bIst. i waz nErli Az big Az an elafant, n H grIn TrOn sImd hyrdli scroN Inaf t hOld its wEt. H /nIst hAd a hed lFk Ht v a rFnosaras, oNli HEr war fFv Fz in its fEs. HEr war fFv loN yrmz grOiN Qt v its bodi, n i YlsO hAd fFv loN, slim legz. Tik, wUli hEr kavard evri pyrt v i, n a mYr Jredfal-lUkN monstar kUd not b imAJind. i waz fYrcanat H /tin /wUdmAn hAd nO hyrt At Ht mOmant, f i wUd hAv bIt lQd n fAst fram tErar. bat bIiN Onli tin, H /wUdmAn waz not At Yl afrEd, YlHO hI waz mac disapqntd.

"F Am /oz, H /grEt n /tErabl," spOk H /bIst, in a vqs Ht waz wan grEt rYr. "hM r jM, n wF d jM sIk mI?"

"F Am a /wUdmAn, n mEd v tin. HErfYr F hAv nO hyrt, n kn not lav. F prE jM t giv mI a hyrt Ht F mE b Az aHar men r."

"wF SUd F d Hs?" dimAndd H /bIst.

"bikYz F Ask i, n jM alOn kn grAnt mF rikwest," Ansard H /wUdmAn.

/oz gEv a lO grQl At Hs, bat sed, grafli: "if jM indId dizFr a hyrt, jM mast arn i."

"hQ?" Askd H /wUdmAn.

"help /dYraTi t kil H /wikid /wic v H /west," riplFd H /bIst. "wen H /wic z ded, kam t mI, b F wil Hn giv jM H bigist n kFndist n mOst lavN hyrt in Yl H /lAnd v /oz."

sO H /tin /wUdmAn waz fYrsd t ritarn syrOfali t hiz frendz n tel Hem v H tErabl /bIst hI hAd sIn. HE Yl wandard grEtli At H meni fYrmz H /grEt /wizard kUd tEk apon himself, n H /lFan sed:

"if hI z a /bIst wen F gO t sI him, F SAl rYr mF lQdist, n sO frFtan him Ht hI wil grAnt Yl F Ask. n if hI z H lavli /lEdi, F SAl pritend t spriN apon har, n sO kampel har t d mF bidN. n if hI z H grEt /hed, hI wil b At mF marsi; f F wil rOl Hs hed Yl abQt H rMm antil hI promisz t giv as wat wI dizFr. sO b v gUd cIr, mF frendz, f Yl wil jet b wel."

H nekst mYrnN H solJar wiT grIn wiskars led H /lFan t H grEt /TrOn /rMm n bEd him entar H prezans v /oz.

H /lFan At wans pAsd TrM H dYrm n glAnsN arQnd sY, t hiz sarprFz, Ht bifYr H TrOn waz a /bYl v /fYr, sO fIrs n glOiN hI kUd skErsli bEr t gEz apon i. hiz farst TYt waz Ht /oz hAd bF Aksidant kYt on fFr n waz barnN ap; bat wen hI crFd t gO nIrar, H hIt waz sO intens Ht i sinJd hiz wiskarz, n hI krept bAk cremblNli t a spot nIrar H dYr.

Hn a lO, kwFit vqs kEm fram H /bYl v /fFr, n HIz war H wardz i spOk:

"F Am /oz, H /grEt n /tErabl. hM r jM, n wF d jM sIk mI?"

n H /lFan Ansard, "F Am a /kQwardli /lFan, afrEd v evrITiN. F kEm t jM t beg Ht jM giv mI kariJ, sO Ht in rIAliti F mE bikam H /kiN v /bIsts, Az men kYl mI."

"wF SUd F giv jM kariJ?" dimAndd /oz.

"bikYz v Yl /wizardz jM r H grEtist, n alOn hAv pQr t grAnt mF rikwest," Ansard H /lFan.

H /bYl v /fFr barnd fIrsli f a tFm, n H vqs sed, "briN mI prMf Ht H /wikid /wic z ded, n Ht mOmant F wil giv jM kariJ. bat Az loN Az H /wic livz, jM mast rimEn a kQward."

H /lFan waz ANgri At Hs spIc, bat kUd sE naTiN in riplF, n wFl hI stUd sFlantli gEzN At H /bYl v /fFr i bikEm sO fjariasli hot Ht hI tarnd tEl n raSd fram H rMm. hI waz glAd t fFnd hiz frendz wEtN f him, n tOld Hem v hiz tErabl intarvjM wiT H /wizard.

"wat SAl wI d nQ?" Askd /dYraTi sAdli.

"HEr z Onli wan TiN wI kn d," ritarnd H /lFan, "n Ht z t gO t H lAnd v H /wiNkIz, sIk Qt H /wikid /wic, n discrq har."

"bat sapOz wI kn not?" sed H garl.

"Hn F SAl nevar hAv kariJ," diklErd H /lFan.

"n F SAl nevar hAv brEnz," Add H /skErkrO.

"n F SAl nevar hAv a hyrt," spOk H /tin /wUdmAn.

"n F SAl nevar sI /Ynt /em n /aNkl /henri," sed /dYraTi, biginN t krF.

"b kErfal!" krFd H grIn garl. "H tIrz wil fYl on jYr grIn silk gQn n spot i."

sO /dYraTi JrFd har tIrz n sed, "F sapOz wI mast crF i; bat F Am Sar F d not wont t kil enIbodi, Ivan t sI /Ynt /em agen."

"F wil gO wiT jM; bat F'm tM mac v a kQward t kil H /wic," sed H /lFan.

"F wil gO tM," diklErd H /skErkrO; "bat F SAl not b v mac help t jM, F Am sac a fMl."

"F hAvn't H hyrt t hyrm Ivan a /wic," rimyrkd H /tin /wUdmAn; "bat if jM gO F sartanli Sal gO wiT jM."

HErfYr i waz disFdd t styrt apon HEr Jarni H nekst mYrnN, n H /wUdmAn Syrpand hiz Aks on a grIn grFndstOn n hAd Yl hiz Jqnts proparli qld. H /skErkrO stafd himself wiT freS scrY n /dYraTi pUt nM pEnt on hiz Fz Ht hI mFt sI betar. H grIn garl, hM waz vEri kFnd t Hem, fild /dYraTi'z bAskit wiT gUd TiNz t It, n fAsand a litl bel arQnd /tOtO'z nek wiT a grIn riban.

HE went t bed kwFt arli n slept sQndli antil dE-lFt, wen HE war awEkand bF H krOiN v a grIn kok Ht livd in H bAk jyrd v H /pAlis, n H kAklN v a hen Ht hAd lEd a grIn eg.

H sOlJar wiT H grIn wiskarz led Hem TrM H scrIts v H /emarald /siti antil HE rIcd H rMm war H /gyrdian v H /gEts livd. Hs ofisar anlokd HEr spektaklz t pUt Hem bAk in hiz grIn boks, n Hn hI palFtli Opand H gEt f Qr frendz.

"wic rOd lIdz t H /wikid /wic v H /west?" Askd /dYraTi.

"HEr z nO rOd," Ansard H /gyrdian v H /gEts. "nO wan evar wiSz t g Ht wE."

"hQ, Hn, r wI t fFnd har?" inkwFrd H garl.

"Ht wil b Izi," riplFd H mAn, "f wen SI nOz jM r in H kancri v H /wiNkIz SI wil fFnd jM, n mEk jM Yl har slEvz."

"parhAps not," sed H /skErkrO, "f wI mIn t discrq har."

"O, Ht z difarant," sed H /gyrdian v H /gEts. "nO wan hAz evar discrqd har bifYr, sO F nAcarali TYt SI wUd mEk slEvz v jM, Az SI hAz v H rest. bat tEk kEr; f SI z wikid n fIrs, n mE not alQ jM t discrq har. kIp t H /west, wEr H san sets, n jM kn not fEl t fFnd har."

HE TANkd him n bEd him gUd-bF, n tarnd tYrd H /west, wYkN Ovar fIldz v soft grAs dotd hIr n HEr wiT dEzIz n batarkaps. /dYraTi stil wYr H priti silk Jres SI hAd pUt on in H pAlis, bat nQ, t har sarprFz, SI fQnd i waz nO loNgar grIn, bat pjar wFt. H riban arQnd /tOtO'z nek hAd YlsO lost its grIn kalar n waz Az wFt Az /dYraTi's Jres.

H /emarald /siti waz sMn left fyr bihFnd. Az HE AdvAnsd H grQnd bikEm rafar n hiliar, f HEr war nO fyrmz nYr hQsz in Hs kancri v H /west, n H grQnd waz antild.

in H AftarnMn H san SOn hot in HEr fEsz, f HEr war nO crIz t ofar Hem SEd; sO Ht bifYr nFt /dYraTi n /tOtO n H /lFan war tFrd, n lE dQn apon H grAs n fel aslIp, wiT H wUdmAn n H skErkrO kIpN woc.

nQ H /wikid /wic v H /west hAd bat wan F, jet Ht waz Az pQrfal Az a teleskOp, n kUd sI evrIwEr. sO, Az SI sAt in H dYr v har kAsl, SI hApand t lUk arQnd n sY /dYraTi lFiN aslIp, wiT har frendz Yl arQnd har. HE war a loN distans of, bat H /wikid wic waz ANgri t fFnd Hem in har kancri; sO SI blM apon a silvar wisl Ht haN arQnd har nek.

At wans HEr kEm ranN t har fram Yl darekSnz a pAk f grEt wUlvz. HE hAd loN legz n fIrs Fz n Syrp tIT.

"gO t HOz pIpl," sed H /wic, "n tEr Hem t pIsz."

"r jM not gOiN t mEk Hem jYr slEvz?" Askd H lIdar v H wUlvz.

"nO," SI Ansard, "wan z v tin, n wan v scrY; wan z a garl n anaHar a /lFan. nan v Hem z fit t wark, sO jM mE tEr Hem intM smYl pIsz."

"vEri wel," sed H wUlf, n hI dASd awE At fUl spId, folOd bF H aHarz.

i waz laki H /skErkrO n H /wUdmAn war wFd awEk n hard H wUlvz kamN.

"Hs z mF fFt," sed H /wUdmAn, "sO get bihFnd mI n F wil mIt Hem Az HE kam."

hI sIzd hiz Aks, wic hI hAd mEd vEri Syrp, n Az H lIdar v H wUlvz kEm on H /tin /wUdmAn swaN hiz yrm n copd H wUlf's hed fram its bodi, sO Ht i imIdiatli dFd. Az sMn Az hI kUd rEz hiz Aks anaHar wUlf kEm ap, n hI YlsO fel andar H Syrp eJ v H /tin /wUdmAn'z wepan. HEr war fYrti wUlvz, n fYrti tFmz a wUlf waz kild, sO Ht At lAst HE Yl lE ded in a hIp bifYr H /wUdmAn.

Hn hI pUt dQn hiz Aks n sAt bisFd H skErkrO, hM sed, "i waz a gUd fFt, frend."

HE wEtd antil /dYraTi awOk H nekst mYrnN. H litl garl waz kwFt frFtand wen SI sY H grEt pFl v SAgi wUlvz, bat H /tin /wUdmAn tOld har Yl. SI TANkd him f sEvN Hem n sAt dQn t brekfast, Aftar wic HE styrtd agen apon HEr Jarni.

nQ Hs sEm mYrnN H /wikid /wic kEm t H dYr v har kAsl n lUkd Qt wiT har wan F Ht kUd sI fyr of. SI sY Yl har wUlvz lFiN ded, n H scrEnJarz stil crAvlN TrM har kancri. Hs mEd har ANgriar Hn bifYr, n SI blM har silvar wisl twFs.

scrEtwE a grEt flok v wFld krOz kEm flFiN tYrd har, Inaf t dyrkan H skF.

n H /wikid /wic sed t H /kiN /krO, "flF At wans t H scrEnJarz; pek Qt HEr Fz n tEr Hem t pIsz."

H wFld krOz flM in wan grEt flok tYrd /dYraTi n har kmpAnjamz. wen H litl garl sY Hem kamN SI waz afrEd.

bat H /skErkrO sed, "Hs z mF bAtl, sO lF dQn bisFd mI n jM wil not b hyrmd."

sO HE Yl lE apon H grQnd eksept H /skErkrO, n hI stUd ap n screcd Qt hiz yrmz. n wen H krOz sY him HE war frFtand, Az HIz bardz YlwEz r bF skErkrOz, n did not dEr t kam enI nIrar. bat H /kiN /krO sed:

"i z Onli a stafd mAn. F wil pek hiz Fz Qt."

H /kiN /krO flM At H /skErkrO, hM kYt i bF H hed n twistd its nek antil i dFd. n Hn anaHar krO flM At him, n H /skErkrO twistd its nek YlsO. HEr war fYrti krOz, n fYrti tFmz H /skErkrO twistd a nek, antil At lAst Yl war lFiN ded bisFd him. Hn hI kYld t hiz kmpAnjanz t rFz, n agen HE went apon HEr Jarni.

wen H /wikid /wic lUkd Qt agen n sY Yl har krOz lFiN in a hIp, SI got intM a tErabl rEJ, n blM TrI tFmz apon har silvar wisl.

fYrTwiT HEr waz hard a grEt bazN in H Er, n a swYrm v blAk bIz kEm flFiN tYrd har.

"gO t H scrEnJarz n stiN Hem t deT!" kmAndd H /wic, n H bIz tarnd n flM rApidli antil HE kEm t wEr /dYraTi n har frendz war wokN. bat H /wUdmAn hAd sIn Hem kamN, n H /skErkrO hAd disFdd wat t d.

"tEk Qt mF scrY n skAtar i Ovar H litl garl n H dog n H /lFan," hI sed t H /wUdmAn, "n H bIz kn not stiN Hem." Hs H /wUdmAn did, N Az /dYraTi lE klOs bisFd H /lFan n held /tOtO in har yrmz, H scrY kovard Hem entFrli.

H bIz kEm n fQnd nO wan bat H /wUdmAn t stiN, sO HE flM At him n brOk of Yl HEr stiNz agenst H tin, wiTQt hartN H /wUdmAn At Yl. n Az bIz kn not liv wen HEr stiNz r brOkan Ht waz H end v H blAk bIz, n HE lE skAtard Tik abQt H /wUdmAn, lFk litl hIps v fFn kOl.

Hn /dYraTi n H /lFan got ap, n H garl helpd H /tin /wUdmAn pUt H scrY bAk intM H /skErkrO agen, antil hI waz Az gUd Az evar. sO HE styrtd apon HEr Jarni wans mYr.

H /wikid /wic waz sO ANgri wen SI sY har blAk bIz in litl hIps lFk fFn kOl Ht SI stAmpd har fUt n tYr har hEr n nASd har tIT. n Hn SI kYld a dazan v har slEvz, hM war H /wiNkIz, n gEv Hem Syrp spIrz, telN Hem t gO t H scrEnJarz n discrq Hem.

H /wiNkIz war not a brEv pIpl, bat HE hAd t d Az HE war tOld. sO HE myrcd awE antil HE kEm nIr t /dYraTi. Hn H /lFan gEv a grEt rYr n sprAN tYrdz Hem, n H pYr /wiNkIz war sO frFtand Ht HE rAn bAk Az fAst Az HE kUd.

wen HE ritarnd t H kAsl H /wikid /wic bIt Hem wel wiT a scrAp, n sent Hem bAk t HEr wark, Aftar wic SI sAt dQn t TiNk wat SI SUd d nekst. SI kUd not andarstAnd hQ Yl har plAnz t discrq HIz scrEnJarz hAd fEld; bat SI waz a pQrfal /wic, Az wel Az a wikid wan, n SI sMn mEd ap har mFnd hQ t Akt.

HEr waz, in har kabard, a /gOldan /kAp, wiT a sarkl v dFmandz n rMbIz ranN rQnd i. Hs /gOldan /kAp hAd a cyrm. hMevar Ond i kUd kYl TrI tFmz apon H /wiNd /maNkIz, hM wUd ObE enI Yrdar HE war givan. bat nO parsan kUd kmAnd HIz scrEnJ krIcarz mYr Hn TrI tFmz. twFs Ylredi H /wikid /wic hAd jMzd H cyrm v H /kAp. wans waz wen SI hAd mEd H /wiNkIz har slEvz, n set harself t rMl Ovar HEr kancri. H /wiNd /maNkIz hAd helpd har d Hs. H sekand tFm waz wen SI hAd fYt agenst H /grEt /oz himself, n Jrivan him Qt v H lAnd v H /west. H /wiNd /maNkIz hAd YlsO helpd har in dMiN Hs. Onli wans mYr kUd SI jMz Hs /gOldan /kAp, f wic rIzan SI did not lFk t d sO antil Yl har aHar pQrz war egzYstd. bat nQ Ht har fIrs wUlvz n har wFld krOz n har stiNN bIz war gon, n har slEvz hAd bin skErd awE bF H /kQwardli /lFan, SI sY HEr waz Onli wan wE left t discrq /dYraTi n har frendz.

sO H /wikid /wic tUk H /gOldan /kAp fram har kabard n plEsd i apon har hed. Hn SI stUd apon har left fUt n sed slOli:

"ep-pe, pep-pe, kyk-ke!"

nekst SI stUd apon har rFt fUt n sed:

"hil-lO, hol-lO, hel-lO!"

Aftar Hs SI stUd apon bOT fIt n krFd in a lQd vqs:

"ziz-zI, zaz-zI, zik!"

nQ H cyrm bigAn t wark. H skF waz dyrkand, n a lQ ramblN sQnd waz hard in H Er. HEr waz a raSN v meni wiNz, a grEt cAtarN n lAfNm n H san kEm Qt v H dyrk skF t SO H /wikid /wic sarQndd bF a krQd v maNkIz, Ic wiT a pEr a imens n pQrfal wiNz on hiz SOldarz.

wan, mac bigar Hn H aHarz, sImd t b HEr lIdar. hI flM klOs t H /wic n sed, "jM hAv kYld as f H Tard n lAst tFm. wat d jM kmAnd?"

"gO t H scrEnJarz hM r wiHin mF lAnd n discrq Hem Yl eksept H /lFan," sed H /wikid /wic. "briN H bIst t mI, f F hAv a mFnd t hyrnis him lFk a hYrs, n mEk him wark."

"jYr kmAndz SAl b ObEd," sed H lIdar. Hn, wiT a grEt dIl v cAtarN n nqz, H /wiNd /maNkIz flM awE t H plEs wEr /dYraTi n har frendz war wYkN.

sam v H /maNkIz sIzd H /tin /wUdmAn n kErId him TrM H Er antil HE war Ovar a kancri Tikli kavard wiT Syrp roks. hIr HE Jropd H pYr /wUdmAn, hM fel a grEt distans t H roks, wEr hI lE sO bAtard n dentd Ht hI kUd nIHar mMv nYr grOn.

aHarz v H /maNkIz kYt H /skErkrO, n wiT HEr loN fiNgarz pUld Yl v H scrY Qt v hiz klOz n hed. HE mEd hiz hAt n bMts n klOz intM a smYl bandl n TrM i intM H top brAncz v a tYl crI.

H rimEnN /maNkIz TrM pIsz v stQt rOp arQnd H /lFan n wQnd meni kqlz abQt hiz bodi n hed n legz, antil hI waz anEbl t bFt Yr skrAc Yr scragl in eni wE. Hn HE liftd him ap n flM awE wiT him t H /wic'z kAsl, wEr hI waz plEsd in a smYl jyrd wiT a hF Farn fens arQnd i, sO Ht hI kUd not eskEp.

bat /dYraTi HE did not hyrm At Yl. SI stUd, wiT /tOtO in har yrmz, wocN H sAd fEt v har komrAdz n TiNkN i wUd sMn b har tarn. H lIdar v H /wiNd /maNkIz flM ap t har, hiz loN, hEri yrmz screcd Qt n hiz agli fEs grinN tErabli; bat hI sY H myrk v H /gUd /wic'z kis apon har fYrhed n stopd SYrt, mOSnN H aHarz not t tac har.

"wI dEr not hyrm Hs litl garl," hI sed t Hem, "f SI z pratektd bF H /pQr v /gUd, n Ht z grEtar Hn H /pQr v /Ival. Yl wI kn d z t kEri har t H kAsal v H /wikid /wic n lIv har HEr."

sO, kErfali n Jentli, HE liftd /dYraTi in HEr yrmz n kErId har swiftli TrM H Er antil HE kEm t H kAsal, wEr HE set har dQn apon H frant dYrstep. Hn H lIdar sed t H /wic:

"wI hAv ObEd jM Az fyr Az wI war Ebal. H /tin /wUdmAn n H /skErkrO r discrqd, n H /lFan z tFd ap in jYr jyrd. H litl garl wI dEr not hyrm, nYr H dog SI kErIz in har yrmz. jYr pQr Ovar Qr bAnd z nQ endd, n jM wil nevar sI as agen."

Hn Yl H /wiNd /maNkIz, wiT mac lAfN n cAtarN n nqz, flM intM H Er n war sMn Qt v sFt.

H /wikid /wic waz bOT sarprFzd b warId wen SI sY H myrk on /dYraTi'z fYrhed, f SI nM wel Ht nIHar H /wiNd /maNkIz nYr SI, harself, dEr hart H garl in eni wE. SI lUkd dQn At /dYraTi'z fIt, n sIiN H /silvar /SMz, bigAn t crembal wiT fIr, f SI nM wat a pQrfal cyrm biloNd t Hem. At farst H /wic waz temptd t ran awE fram /dYraTi; bat SI hApand t lUk intM H cFld'z Fz n sY hQ simpal H sOl bihFnd Hem waz, n Ht H lital garl did not nO v H wandarfal pQr H /silvar SMz gEv har. sO H /wikid /wic lAfd t harself, n TYt, "F kn stil mEk har mF slEv, f SI daz not nO hQ t jMz har pQr." Hn SI sed t /dYraTi, hyrSli n sevIrli:

"kam t mI; n sI Ht jM mFnd evrITiN F tel jM, f if jM d not F wil mEk an end v jM, Az F did v H /tin /wUdmAn n H /skErkrO."

/dYraTi folOd har TrM meni v H bjMtifal rMmz in har kAsal antil HE kEm t H kican, wEr H /wic bEd har klIn H pots n ketalz n swIp H flYr n kIp H fFr fed wiT wUd.

/dYraTi went t wark mIkli, wiT har mFnd mEd ap t wark Az hyrd Az SI kUd; f SI waz glAd H /wikid /wic hAd disFdd not t kil har.

wiT /dYraTi hyrd At wark, H /wic TYt SI wUd gO intM H kYrtjyrd n hyrnis H /kQwardli /lFan lFk a hYrs; i wUd amjMz har, SI waz Sar, t mEk him JrY har cErIat wenevar SI wiSd t gO t JrFv. bat Az SI Opand H gEt H /lFan gEv a lQd rYr n bQndd At har sO fIrsli Ht H /wic waz afrEd, n rAn Qt n Sat H gEt agen.

"if F kn not hyrnis jM," sed H /wic t H /lFan, spIkN TrM H byrz v H gEt, "F kn styrv jM. jM SAl hAv naTiN t It antil jM d Az F wiS."

sO Aftar Ht SI tUk nO fMd t H imprizand /lFan; bat evri dE SI kEm t H gEt At nMn n Askd, "r jM redi t b hyrnisd lFk a hYrs?"

n H /lFan wUd Ansar, "nO. if jM kam in Hs jyrd, F wil bFt jM."

H rIzan H /lFan did not hAv t d Az H /wic wiSd waz Ht evri nFt, wFl H wUman waz aslIp, /dYraTi kErId him fUd fram H kabard. Aftar hI hAd Itan hI wUd lF dQn on hiz bed v scrY, n /dYraTi wUd lF bisFd him n pUt har hed on hiz soft, SAgi mEn, wFl HE tokd v HEr crabalz n crFd t plAn sam wE t eskEp. bat HE kUd fFnd nO wE t get Qt v H kAsal, f i waz konstantli gyrdd bF H jelO /wiNkIz, hM war H slEvz v H /wikid /wic n tM afrEd v har not t d Az SI tOld Hem.

H garl hAd t wark hyrd darN H dE, n ofan H /wic Tretand t bIt har wiT H sEm Old ambrela SI YlwEz kErId in har hAnd. bat, in crMT, SI did not dEr t scrFk /dYraTi, bikoz v H myrk apon har fYrhed. H cFld did not nO Hs, n waz fUl v fIr f harself n /tOtO. wans H /wic scrak /tOtO a blO wiT har ambrela n H brEv lital dog flM At har n bit har leg in ritarn. H /wic did not blId wEr SI waz bitan, f SI waz sO wikid Ht H blad in har hAd JrFd ap meni jIrz bifYr.

/dYraTi'z lFf bikEm vEri sAd Az SI grM t andarstAnd Ht i wUd b hyrdar Hn evar t get bAk t /kAnzas n /Ynt /em agen. samtFmz SI wUd krF bitarli f Qrz, wiT /tOtO sitN At har fIt n lUkN intM har fEs, wFnN fizmali t SO hQ syri hI waz f hiz lital miscris. /tOtO did not rIli kEr weHar hI waz in /kAnzas Yr H /lAnd v /oz sO loN Az /dYraTi waz wiT him; bat hI nM H lital garl waz anhApi, n Ht mEd him anhApi tM.

nQ H /wikid /wic hAd a grEt loNN t hAv f har Qn H /silvar SMz wic H garl YlwEz wYr. har bIz n har krOz n har wUlvz war lFiN in hIps n JrFiN ap, n SI hAd jMzd ap Yl H pQr v H /gOldan /kAp; bat if SI kUd Onli get hOld v H /silvar /SMz, HE wUd giv har mYr pQr Hn Yl H aHar TiNz SI hAd lost. SI wocd /dYraTi kErfali, t sI if SI evar tUk of har SMz, TiNkN SI mFt stIl Hem. bat H cFld waz sO prQd v har priti SMz Ht SI nevar tUk Hem of eksept At nFt n wen SI tUk a bAT. H /wic waz tM afrEd v H dyrk t dEr gO in /dYraTi'z rMm At nFt t tEk H SMz, n har Jred v wYtar waz grEtar Hn har fIr v H dyrk, sO SI nevar kEm nIr wen /dYraTi waz bETN. indId, H Old /wic nevar tacd wYtar, nYr evar let wYtar tac har in eni wE.

bat H wikid krIcar waz vEri kanN, n SI fFnali TYt v a crik Ht wUd giv har wat SI wYntd. SI plEsd a byr v Farn in H midal v H kican flYr, n Hn bF har mAJik yrts mEd H Farn invizabl t hjMman Fz. sO Ht /dYraTi wokd akros H flYr SI stambld Ovar H bYr, not bIiN Ebl t sI i, n fel At fUl leNgT. SI waz not mac hart, bat in H fYl wan v H /silvar /SMz kEm of; n bifYr SI kUd rIc i, H /wic hAd snAcd i awE n pUt i on har On skini fUt.

H wikid wUman waz grEtli plIzd wiT H sakses v H crik, f Az loN Az SI hAd wan v H SMz SI Ond hAf H pQr v HEr cyrm, n /dYraTi kUd not jMz i agenst har, Ivan hAd SI nOn hQ t d sO.

H lital garl, sIiN SI hAd lost wan v har priti SMz, grM ANgri, n sed t H /wic, "giv mI bAk mF SM!"

"F wil not," ritYrtd H /wic, "f i z nQ mF SM, n not jYrz."

"jM r a wikid krIcar!" krFd /dYraTi. "jM hAv nO rFt t tEk mF SM fram mI."

"F SAl kIp i, Jast H sEm," sed H /wic, lAfN At har, "n samdE F SAl get H aHar wan fram jM, tM."

Hs mEd /dYraTi sO vEri ANgri Ht SI pikd ap a bakit v wYtar Ht stUd nIr n dASd i Ovar H /wic, wetN har fram hed t fUt.

instantli H wikid wUman gEv a lQd krF v fIr, n Hn, Az /dYraTi lUkd At har in wandar, H /wic bigAn t SriNk n fYl awE.

"sI wat jM hAv dan!" SI skrImd. "in a minit F SAl melt awE."

"F'm vEri syri, indId," sed /dYraTi, hM waz crMli frFtand t sI H /wic AkSMali meltN awE lFk brQn Sagar bifYr har vEri Fz.

"didn't jM nO wotar wUd b H end v mI?" Askd H /wic, in a wElN, dispErN vqs.

"v kYrs not," Ansard /dYraTi. "hQ SUd F?"

"wel, in a fjM minits F SAl b Yl meltd, n jM wil hAv H kAsal t jYrself. F hAv bin wikid in mF dE, bat F nevar TYt a lital garl lFk jM wUd evar b Ebal t melt mI n end mF wikid dIdz. lUk Qt -- hIr F gO!"

wiT HIz wardz H /wic fel dQn in a brQn, meltd, SEplis mAs n bigAn t spred Ovar H klIn bYrdz v H kican flYr. sIiN Ht SI hAd rIli meltd awE t naTiN, /dYraTi JrM anaHar bakit v wotar n TrM i Ovar H mes. SI Hn swept i Yl Qt H dYr. Aftar pikN Qt H silvar SM, wic waz Yl Ht waz left v H Old wUman, SI klInd n JrFd i wiT a kloT, n pUt i on har fUt agen. Hn, bIiN At lAst frI t d Az SI cOz, SI rAn Qt t H kYrtjyrd t tel H /lFan Ht H /wikid /wic v H /west hAd kam t An end, n Ht HE war nO loNgar prizanarz in a scrEnJ lAnd.

H /kQwardli /lFan waz mac plIzd t hIr Ht H /wikid /wic hAd bin meltd bF a bakit v wotar, n /dYraTi At wans anlokd H gEt v hiz prizan n set him frI. HE went in tageHar t H kAsal, wEr /dYraTi'z farst Akt waz t kYl Yl H /wiNkIz tageHar n tel Hem Ht HE war nO loNgar slEvz.

HEr waz grEt riJqsN amaN H jelO /wiNkIz, f HE hAd bin mEd t wark hyrd darN meni jIrz f H /wikid /wic, hM hAd YlwEz crItd Hem wiT grEt krMlti. HE kept Hs dE Az a holidE, Hn n evar Aftar, n spent H tFm in fIstN n dAnsN.

"if Qr frendz, H /skErkrO n H /tin /wUdmAn, war Onli wiT as," sed H /lFan, "F SUd b kwFt hApi."

"dOn't jM sapOz wI kUd reskjM Hem?" Askd H garl ANkSasli.

"wI kn crF," Ansard H /lFan.

sO HE kYld H jelO /wiNkIz n Askd Hem if HE wUd help t reskjM HEr frendz, n H /wiNkIz sed Ht HE wUd b dilFtd t d Yl in HEr pQr f /dYraTi, hM hAd set Hem frI fram bondiJ. sO SI cOz a nambar v H /wiNkIz hM lUkd Az if HE nM H mOst, n HE Yl styrtd awE. HE crAvald Ht dE n pyrt v H nekst antil HE kEm t H roki plEn wEr H /tin /wUdmAn lE, Yl bAtard n bent. hiz Aks waz nIr him, bat H blEd waz rastd n H hAndal brOkan of SYrt.

H /wiNkIz liftd him tendarli in HEr yrmz, n kErId him bAk t H /jelO kasal agen, /dYraTi SedN a fjM tIrz bF H wE At H sAd plFt v har Old frend, n H /lFan lUkN sObar n syri. wen HE rIcd H kAsal /dYraTi sed t H /wiNkIz:

"r enI v jYr pIpl tinsmiTs?"

"O, jes. sam v as r vEri gUd tinsmiTs," HE tOld har.

"Hn briN Hem t mI," SI sed. n wen H tinsmiTs kEm, briNN wiT Hem Yl HEr tMlz in bAskits, SI inkwFrd, "kn jM scrEtan Qt HOz dents in H /tin /wUdmAn, n bend him bAk intM SEp agen, n sOldar him tageHar wEr hI z brOkan?"

H tinsmiTs lUkd H /wUdmAn Ovar kErfali n Hn Ansard Ht HE TYt HE kUd mend him sO hI wUd b Az gUd Az evar. sO HE set t wark in wan v H big jelO rMmz v H kAsal n warkd f TrI dEz n fYr nFts, hAmarN n twistN n bendN n sOldarN n poliSN n pQndN At H legz n bodi n hed v H /tin /wUdmAn, antil At lAst hI waz scrEtand Qt intM hiz Old fYrm, n hiz jqnts warkd Az wel Az evar. t b Sar, HEr war sevaral pAcz on him, bat H tinsmiTs did a gUd job, n Az H /wUdmAn waz not a vEn mAn hI did not mFnd H pAcs At Yl.

wen, At lAst, hI wokd intM /dYraTi'z rMm n TANkd har f reskjMiN him, hI waz sO plIzd Ht hI wept tIrz v Jq, n /dYraTi hAd t wFp evri tIr kErfali fram hiz fEs wiT har Epran, sO hiz Jqnts wUd not b rastd. At H sEm tFm har On tIrz fel Tik n fAst At H Jq v mItN har Old frend agen, n HIz tIrz did not nId t b wFpd awE. Az f H /lFan, hI wFpd hiz Fz sO ofan wiT H tip v hiz tEl Ht i bikEm kwFt wet, n hI waz oblFJd t gO Qt intM H kYrtjyrd n hOld i in H san til i JrFd.

"if wI Onli hAd H /skErkrO wiT as agen," sed H /tin /wUdmAn, wen /dYraTi hAd finiSd telN him evrITiN Ht hAd hApand, "F SUd b kwFt hApi."

"wI mast crF t fFnd him," sed H garl.

sO SI kYld H /wiNkIz t help har, n HE wokd Yl Ht dE n pyrt v H nekst antil HE kEm t H tYl crI in H brAncz v wic H /wiNd /maNkIz hAd tYsd H /skErkrO'z klOz.

i waz a vEri tYl crI, n H craNk waz sO smMH Ht nO wan kUd klFm i; bat H /wUdmAn sed At wans, "F'l cop i dQn, n Hn wI kn get H /skErkrO'z klOz."

nQ wFl H tinsmiTs hAd bin At wark mendN H /wUdmAn himself, anaHar v H /wiNkIz, hM waz a gOldsmiT, hAd mEd an Aks-hAndal v sYlid gOld n fitd i t H /wUdmAn'z Aks, insted v H Old brOkan hAndal. aHarz pYliSd H blEd antil Yl H rast waz rimMvd n i glisand lFk barniSd silvar.

Az sMn Az hI hAd spOkan, H /tin /wUdmAn bigAn t cop, n in a SYrt tFm H crI fel Ovar wiT a krAS, wErapon H /skErkrO'z klOz fel Qt v H brAncz n rOld of on H grQnd.

/dYraTi pikd Hem ap n hAd H /wiNkIz kEri Hem bAk t H kAsal, wEr HE war stafd wiT nFs, klIn scrY; n bIhOld! hIr waz H /skErkrO, Az gUd Az evar, TANkN Hem Ovar n Ovar agen f sEvN him.

nQ Ht HE war rIjMnFtd, /dYraTi n har frendz spent a fjM hApi dEz At H /jelO /kAsal, wEr HE fQnd evrITiN HE nIdd t mEk Hem kamfartabl.

bat wan dE H garl TYt v /Ynt /em, n sed, "wI mast gO bAk t /oz, n klEm hiz promis."

"jes," sed H /wUdmAn, "At lAst F SAl get mF hyrt."

"n F SAl get mF brEnz," Add H /skErkrO Jqfali.

"n F SAl get mF kariJ," sed H /lFan TYtfali.

"n F SAl get bAk t /kAnzas," krFd /dYraTi, klApN har hAndz. "O, let as styrt f H /emarald /siti tamyrO!"

Hs HE disFdd t d. H nekst dE HE kYld H /wiNkIz tageHar n bEd Hem gUd-bF. H /wiNkIz war syri t hAv Hem gO, n HE hAd grOn sO fond v H /tin /wUdmAn HAt HE begd him t stE n rMl Ovar Hem n H /jelO /lAnd v H /west. fFndN HE war ditarmind t gO, H /wiNkIz gEv /tOtO n H /lFan Ic a gOldan kolar; n t /dYraTi HE prizentd a bjMtifal brEslit stadd wiT dFamandz; n t H /skErkrO HE gEv a gOld-hIdd wokN stik, t kIp him fram stambalN; n t H /tin /wUdmAn HE ofard a silvar ql-kAn, inlEd wiT gOld n set wiT preSas JMlz.

evri wan v H crAvalarz mEd H /wiNkIz a priti spIc in ritarn, n Yl SUk hAndz wiT Hem antil HEr yrmz Ekd.

/dYraTi went t H /wic'z kabard t fil har bAskit wiT fMd f H Jarni, n HEr SI waz H /gOldan /kAp. SI crFd i on har On hed n fQnd Ht i fitd har egzAktli. SI did not nO enITiN abQt H cyrm v H /gOldan /kAp, bat SI sY Ht i waz priti, sO SI mEd ap har mFnd t wEr i n kEri har sanbonit in H bAskit.

Hn, bIiN pripErd f H Jarni, HE Yl styrtd f H /emarald /siti; n H /wiNkIz gEv Hem TrI cIrz n meni gUd wiSz t kEri wiT Hem.

jM wil rimembar HEr waz nO rOd -- not Ivan a pATwE -- bitwIn H kAsal v H /wikid /wic n H /emarald /siti. wen H fYr crAvalarz went in sarc v H /wic SI hAd sIn Hem kamN, n sO sent H /wiNd /maNkIz t briN Hem t har. i waz mac hyrdar t fFnd HEr wE bAk TrM H big fIldz v batarkaps n jelO dEzIz Hn i waz bIiN kErId. HE nM, v kYrs, HE mast gO scrEt Ist, tQrd H rFzN san; n HE styrtd of in H rFt wE. bat At nMn, wen H san waz Ovar HEr hedz, HE did not nO wic waz Ist n wic waz west, n Ht waz H rIzan HE war lost in H grEt fIldz. HE kept on wokN, hQevar, n At nFt H mMn kEm Qt n SOn brFtli. sO HE lE dQn amaN H swIt smelN jelO flQrz n slept sQndli antil mYrnN -- Yl bat H /skErkrO n H /tin /wUdmAn.

H nekst mYrnN H san waz bihFnd a klQd, bat HE styrtd on, Az if HE war kwFt Sar wic wE HE war gOiN.

"if wI wok fyr Inaf," sed /dYraTi, "F Am Sar wI SAl samtFm kam t sam plEs."

bat dE bF dE pAsd awE, n HE stil sY naTiN bifYr Hem bat skyrlit fIldz. H /skErkrO bigAn t grambal a bit.

"wI hAv Sarli lost Qr wE," hI sed, "n anles wI fFnd i agen in tFm t rIc H /emarald /siti, F SAl nevar get mF brEnz."

"nYr F mF hyrt," diklErd H /tin /wUdmAn. "i sImz t m F kn skErsli wEt til F get t /oz, n jM mast Admit Hs z a vEri loN Jarni."

"jM sI," sed H /kQwardli /lFan, wiT a wimpar, "F hAvan't H kariJ t kIp crAmpN fYrevar, wiTQt getN enIwEr At Yl."

Hn /dYraTi lost hyrt. SI sAt dQn on H grAs n lUkd At har kmpAnjanz, n HE sAt dQn n Lukd At har, n /tOtO fQnd Ht f H farst tFm in hiz lFf hI waz tM tFrd t cEs a batarflF Ht flM pAst hiz hed. sO hI pUt Qt hiz taN n pAntd n lUkd At /dYraTi Az if t Ask wat HE SUd d nekst.

"sapOz wI kYl H fIld mFs," SI saJestd. "HE kUd probabli tel as H wE t H /emarald /siti."

"t b Sar HE kUd," krFd H /skErkro. "wF didn't wI TiNk v Ht bifYr?"

/dYraTi blM H lital wisal SI hAd YlwEz kErId abQt har nek sins H /kwIn v H /mFs hAd givan i t har. in a fjM minits HE hard H pAtarN v tFni fIt, n meni v H smYl grE mFs kEm ranN ap t har. amaN Hem waz H /kwIn harself, hM Askd, in har skwIki lital vqs:

"wat kn F d f mF frendz?"

"wI hAv lost Qr wE," sed /dYraTi. "kn jM tel as wEr H /emarald /siti z?"

"sartanli," Ansard H /kwIn; "bat i z a grEt wE of, f jM hAv hAd i At jYr bAks Yl H tFm." Hn SI nOtisd /dYraTi'z /gOldan /kAp, n sed, "wF dOn't jM jMz H cyrm v H /kAp, n kYl H /wiNd /maNkIz t jM? HE wil kEri jM t H /siti v /oz in les Hn an Qr."

"F didn't nO HEr waz a cyrm," Ansard /dYraTi, in sarprFz. "/wat z i?"

"i z ritan insFd H /gOldan /kAp," riplFd H /kwIn v H /mFs. "bat if jM r gOiN t kYl H /wiNd /maNkIz wI mast ran awE, f HE r fUl v miscif n TiNk i grEt fan t plEg as."

"wOn't HE hart mI?" Askd H garl ANkSasli.

"O, nO. HE mast ObE H wErar v H /kAp. gUd-bF!" n SI skAmpard Qt v sFt, wiT Yl H mFs harIiN Aftar har.

/dYraTi lUkd insFd H /gOldan /kAp n sY sam wardz ritan apon H lFnN. HIz, SI TYt, mast b H cyrm, sO SI red H darekSnz kErfali n pUt H /kAp apon har hed.

"ep-pE, pep-pE, kAk-kE!" SI sed, stAndN on har left fUt.

"wat did jM sE?" Askd H skErkrO, hM did not nO wat SI waz dMiN.

"hil-lO, hol-lO, hel-lO!" /dYraTi went on, stAndN Hs tFm on har rFt fUt.

"helo!" riplFd H /tin /wUdmAn kYmli.

"ziz-zI, zaz-zI, zik!" sed /dYraTi, hM waz nQ stAndN on bOT fIt. Hs endd H sEiN v H cyrm, n HE hard a grEt cAtarN n flApN v wiNz, Az H bAnd v /wiNd /maNkIz flM ap t Hem.

H /kiN bQd lO bifYr /dYraTi, n Askd, "wat z jYr kamAnd?"

"wI wiS t gO t H /emarald /siti," sed H cFld, "n wI hAv lost Qr wE."

"wI wil kEri jM," riplFd H /kiN, n nO sMnar hAd hI spOkan Hn tM v H /maNkIz kYt /dYraTi in HEr yrmz n flM awE wiT har. aHarz tUk H /skErkrO n H /wUdmAn n H /lFan, n wan lital /maNki sIzd /tOtO n flM Aftar Hem, YlHO H dog crFd hyrd t bFt him.

H /skErkrO n H /tin /wUdmAn war rAHar frFtand At farst, f HE rimembard hQ bAdli H /wiNd /maNkIz hAd crItd Hem bifYr; bat HE sY Ht nO hyrm waz intendd, sO HE rOd TrM H Er kwFt cIrfali, n hAd a fFn tFm lUkN At H priti gyrdanz n wUdz fyr bilO Hem.

/dYraTi fQnd harself rFdN Izili bitwIn tM v H bigist /maNkIz, wan v Hem H /kiN himself. HE hAd mEd a cEr v HEr hAndz n war kErfal not t hart har.

"wF d jM hAv t ObE H cyrm v H /gOldan /kAp?" SI Askd.

"Ht z a loN stYri," Ansard H /kiN, wiT a wiNd lAf; "bat wI hAv a loN Jarni bifYr as, F wil pAs H tFm bF telN jM abQt i, if jM wiS."

"F SAl b glAd t hIr i," SI riplFd.

"wans," bigAn H lIdar, "wI war a frI pIpal, livN hApili in H grEt fYrist, flFiN fram crI t crI, ItN nats n frMt, n dMiN Jast Az wI plIzd wiTQt kYlN enIbodi mAstar. parhAps sam v as war rAHar tM fUl v miscif At tFmz, flFiN dQn t pUl H tElz v H Animalz Ht hAd nO wiNz, cAsN bardz, n TrOiN nats At H pIpal hM wYkd in H fYrist. bat wI war kErlis n hApi n fUl v fan, n enJqd evri minit v H dE. Hs waz meni jIrz agO, loN bifYr /oz kEm Qt v H klQdz t rMl Ovar Hs lAnd."

"HEr livd hIr Hn, awE At H /nYrT, a bjMtifal prinses, hM waz YlsO a pQrfal sYrsares. Yl har mAJik waz jMzd t help H pIpal, n SI waz nevar nOn t hart enIwan jM waz gUd. har nEm waz /gEalet, n SI livd in a hAndsam pAlis bilt fram grEt bloks v rMbi. evrIwan lavd har, bat har grEtist syrO waz Ht SI kUd fFnd nO wan t lav in ritarn, sins Yl H men war mac tM stMpid n agli t mEt wiT wan sO bjMtifal n wFs. At lAst, hQevar, SI fQnd a bq hM waz hAndsam n mAnli n wFz bIjond hiz jIrz. /gEalet mEd ap har mFnd Ht wen hI grM t b a mAn SI wUd mEk him har hazband, sO SI tUk him t har rMbi pAlis n jMzd Yl har mAJik pQrz t mEk him Az scroN n gUd n lavli Az enI wUman kUd wiS. wen hI grM t mAnhUd, /kElyly, Az hI waz kYld, waz sed t b H best n wFzist mAn in Yl H lAnd, wFl hiz mAnli bjMti waz sO grEt Ht /gEalet lavd him dIrli, n hAsand t mEk evrITiN redi f H wedN.

"mF grAndfoHar waz At H tFm H /kiN v H /wiNd /maNkIz wic livd in H fYrist nIr /gEalet's pAlis, n H Old felO lavd a jOk betar Hn a gUd dinar. wan dE, Jast bifYr H wedN, mF grAndfoHar waz flFiN Qt wiT hiz bAnd wen hI sY /kElyly wokN bisFd H rivar. hI waz Jresd in a ric kostMm v piNk silk n parpal velvit, n mF grAndfoHar TYt hI wUd sI wat hI kUd d. At hiz ward H bAnd flM dQn n sIzd /kElyly, kErId him in HEr yrmz antil HE war Ovar H midal v H rivar, n Hn Jropd him intM H wotar.

"'swim Qt, mF fFn felO,' krFd mF grAndfoHar, 'n sI if H wotar hAz spotd jYr klOz.' /kElyly waz mac tM wFz not t swim, n hI waz not in H lIst spqld bF Yl hiz gUd fyrcan. hI lAfd, wen hI kEm t H kEm t H top v H wotar, n swAm in t SYr. bat wen /gEalet kEm ranN Qt t him SI fQnd hiz silks n velvit Yl rMind bF H rivar.

"H prinses waz ANgri, n SI nM, v kYrs, hM did i. SI hAd Yl H /wiNd /maNkIz brYt bifYr har, n SI sed At farst Ht HEr wiNz SUd b tFd n HE SUd b crItd Az HE hAd crItd /kElyly, n Jropd in H rivar. bat mF grAndfoHar plIdd hyrd, f hI nM H /maNkIz wUd JrQn in H rivar wiT HEr wiNz tFd, n /kElyly sed a kFnd ward f Hem YlsO; sO Ht /gEalet fFnali spErd Hem, on kndiSn Ht H /wiNd /maNkIz SUd evar Aftar d TrI tFmz H bidN v H Onar v H /gOldan /kAp. Hs /kap hAd bin mEd f a wedN prezant t /kElyly, n i z sed t hAv kost H prinses hAf har kiNdam. v kYrs mF grAndfoHar n Yl H aHar /maNkIz At wans agrId t H kndiSn, n Ht z hQ i hApanz Ht wI r TrI tFmz H slEvz v H Onar v H /gOldan /kAp, hMsOevar hI mE b."

"n wat bikEm v Hem?" Askd /dYraTi, hM hAd bin grEtli intarestd in H stYri.

"/kElyly bIiN H farst Onar v H /gOldan /kAp," riplFd H /maNki, "hI waz H farst t lE hiz wiSz apon as. Az hiz brFd kUd not bEr H sFt v as, hI kYld as Yl t him in H fYrist Aftar hI hAd mErId har n Yrdard as YlwEz t kIp wEr SI kUd nevar agen set Fz on a /wiNd maNki, wic wI war glAd t d, f wI war Yl afrEd v har."

"Hs waz Yl wI evar hAd t d antil H /gOldan /kAp fel intM H hAndz v H /wikid /wic v H /westm hM mEd as enslEv H /wiNkIz, n Aftarward JrFv /oz himself Qt v H /lAnd v H /west. nQ H /gOldan /kAp z jYrz, n TrI tFmz jM hAv H rFt t lE jYr wiSz apon as."

Az H /maNki /kiN finiSd hiz stYri /dYraTi lUkd dQn n sY H grIn, SFnN wYlz v H /emarald /siti bifYr Hem. SI wandard At H rApid flFt v H /maNkIz, bat waz glAd H Jarni waz Ovar. H scrEnJ krIcarz set H crAvalarz dQn kErfali bifYr H gEt v H /siti, H /kiN bQd lO t /dYraTi, n Hn flM swiftli awE, folOd bF Yl hiz bAnd.

"Ht waz a gUd rFd," sed H lital garl.

"jes, n a kwik wE Qt v Qr crabalz," riplFd H /lFan. "hQ laki i waz jM brYt awE Ht wandarfal kEp!"

H fYr crAvalarz wYkd ap t H grEt gEt v /emarald /siti n rAN H bel. Aftar riNN sevaral tFmz, i waz Opand bF H sEm /gyrdian v H /gEts HE hAd met bifYr.

"wat! r jM bAk agen?" hI Askd, in sarprFz.

"d jM not sI as?" Ansard H /skErkrO.

"bat H TYt jM hAd gon t vizit H /wikid /wic v H /west."

"wI did vizit har," sed H /skErkrO.

"n SI let jM gO agen?" Askd H mAn, in wandar.

"SI kUd not help i, f SI z meltd," eksplEnd H /skErkrO.

"meltd! wel, Ht z gUd nMz, indId," sed H mAn. "hM meltd har?"

"i waz /dYraTi," sed H /lFan grEvli.

"gUd grESas!" eksklEmd H mAn, n hI bQd vEri lO indId bifYr har.

Hn hI led Hem intM hiz lital rMm n lokd H spektakalz fram H grEt boks on Yl HEr Fz, Jast Az hI hAd dan bifYr. Aftarward HE pAsd on TrM H gEt intM H /emarald /siti. wen H pIpal hard fram H /gyrdian v H /gEts Ht /dYraTi hAd meltd H /wikid /wic v H /west, HE Yl gAHard arQnd H crAvalarz n folOd Hem in a grEt krQd t H /pAlis v /oz.

H sOlJar wiT H grIn wiskarz waz stil on gyrd bifYr H dYr, bat hI let Hem in At wans, n HE war agen met bF H bjMtifal grIn garl, hM SOd Ic v Hem t HEr Old rMmz At wans, sO HE mFt rest antil H /grEt /oz waz redi t risIv Hem.

H sOlJar hAd H nMz kErId scrEt t /oz Ht /dYraTi n H aHar crAvalarz hAd kam bAk agen, Aftar discrqiN H /wikid /wic; bat /oz mEd nO riplF. HE TYt H /grEt /wizard wUd send f Hem At wans, bat hI did not. HE hAd nO ward fram him H nekst dE, nYr H nekstm nYr H nekst. H wEtN waz tFrsam n wErN, n At lAst HE grM veksd Ht /oz SUd crIt Hem in sO pYr a fASn, Aftar sendN Hem t andargO hyrdSips n slEvari. sO H skErkrO At lAst Askd H grIn garl t tEk anaHar mesiJ t /oz, sEiN if hI did not let Hem in t sI him At wans HE wUd kYl H /wiNd /maNkIz t help Hem, n fFnd Qt weHar hI kept hiz promisz Yr not. wen H /wizard waz givan Hs mesiJ hI waz sO frFtand Ht hI sent ward f Hem t kam t H /TrOn /rMm At fYr minits Aftar nFn O'klok H nekst mYrnN. hI hAd wans met H /wiNd /maNkIz in H /lAnd v H /west, n hI did not wiS t mIt Hem agen.

H fYr crAvalarz pAsd a slIplis nFt, Ic TiNkN v H gift /oz hAd promisd t bistO on him. /dYraTi fel aslIp Onli wans, n Hn SI JrImd SI waz in /kAnzas, wEr /Ynt /em waz telN har hQ glAd SI waz t hAv har lital garl At hOm agen.

promptli At nFn O'klok H nekst mYrnN H grIn-wiskard sOlJar kEm t Hem, n fYr minits lEtar HE Yl went intM H /TrOn /rMm v H /grEt /oz.

v kYrs Ic wan v Hem ekspektd t sI H /wizard in H SEp hI hAd tEkan bifYr, n Yl war grEtli sarprFzd wen HE lUkd abQt n sY nO wan At Yl in H rMm. HE kept klOs t H dYr n klOsar t wan anaHar, f H stilnis v H empti rMm waz mYr Jredfal Hn eni v H fYrmz HE hAd sIn /oz tEk.

prezantli HE hard a solam /vqs, Ht sImd t kam fram samwEr nIr H top v H grEt dOm, n i sed:

"F Am /oz, H /grEt n /tErabl. wF d jM sIk mI?"

HE lUkd agen in evri pyrt v H rUm, n Hn, sIiN nO wan, /dYraTi Asked, "wEr r jM?"

"F Am evrIwEr," Ansard H /vqs, "bat t H Fz v koman mYrtlz F Am invizabl. F wil nQ sIt mFself apon mF TrOn, Ht jM mE knvars wiT mI." indId, H /vqs sImd Jast Hn t kam scrEt fram H TrOn itself; sO HE wokd tYrd i n stUd in a rO wFl /dYraTi sed:

"wI hAv kam t klEm Qr promis, O /oz."

"wat promis?" Askd /oz.

"jM promisd t send mI bAk t /kAnzas wen H /wikid /wic waz discrqd," sed H garl.

"n jM promisd t giv mI brEnz," sed H /skErkrO.

"n jM promisd t giv mI a hyrt," sed H /tin /wUdmAn.

"n jM promisd t giv mI kariJ," sed H /kQrli /lFan.

"z H /wikid /wic rIli discrqd?" Askd H /vqs, n /dYraTi TYt i crembald a lital.

"jes," SI Ansard, "F meltd har wiT a bakit v wotar."

"dIr mI," sed H /vqs, "hQ sadan! wel, kam t mI tamyrO, f F mast hAv tFm t TiNk i Ovar."

"jM'v hAd plenti v tFm Ylredi," sed H /tin /wUdmAn ANgrili.

"wI SAn't wEt a dE loNgar," sed H /skErkrO.

"jM mast kIp jYr promisz t as!" eksklEmd /dYraTi.

H /lFan TYt i mFt b Az wel t frFtan H /wizard, sO hI gEv a lyrJ, lQd rYr, wic waz sO fIrs n Jredfal Ht /tOtO Jampd awE fram him in alyrm n tipt Ovar H skrIn Ht stUd in a kYrnar. Az i fel wiT a krAS HE lUkd Ht wE, n H nekst mOmant Yl v Hem war fild wiT wandar. f HE sY, stAndN in Jast H spot H skrIn hAd hidan, a lital Old mAn, wiT a bYld hed n a riNkld fEs, hM sImd t b Az mac sarprFzd Az HE war. H /tin /wUdmAn, rEzN hiz Aks, raSd tQd H lital mAn n krFd Qt, "hM r jM?"

"F Am /oz, H /grEt n /tErabl," sed H lital mAn, in a cremalN vqs. "bat dOn't scrFk mI -- plIz dOn't -- n F'l d enITiN jM wont mI t."

Qr frendz lUkd At him in sArpriz n dismE.

"F TYt /oz waz a grEt /hed," sed /dYraTi.

"n F TYt /oz waz a lavli /lEdi," sed H /skErkrO.

"n F TYt /oz waz a tErabl /bIst," sed H /tin /wUdmAn.

"n F TYt /oz waz a /bYl v /fFr," eksklEmd H /lFan.

"nO, jM r Yl roN," sed H lital mAn mIkli. "F hAv bin mEkN bilIv."

"mEkN bilIv!" krFd /dYraTi. "r jM not a /grEt /wizard?"

"haS, mF dIr," hI sed. "dOn't spIk sO lQd, Yr jM wil b Ovarhard -- n F SUd b rMind. F'm sapOsd t b a /grEt /wizard."

"n yrn't jM?" SI Askd.

"not a bit v i, mF dIr; F'm Jast a koman mAn."

"jY'r mYr Hn Ht," sed H /skErkrO, in a grIvd tOn; "jY'r a hambag."

"egzAkli sO!" diklErd H lital mAn, rabN hiz hAndz tageHar Az if t plIzd him. "F Am a hambag."

"bat Hs z tErabl," sed H /tin /wUdmAn. "hQ SAl F evar get mF hyrt?"

"Yr mF kariJ?" Askd H /lFan.

"Yr F mF brEnz?" wEld H /skErkrO, wFpN H tIrz fram hiz Fz wiT hiz kOt slIv.

"mF dIr frendz," sed /oz, "F prE jM not t spIk v HIz lital TiNz. TiNk v mI, n H tErabal crabal F'm in At bIiN fQnd Qt."

"dazn't enIwan els nO jY'r a hambag?" Askd /dYraTi.

"nO wan nOz i bat jM fYr -- n mFself," riplFd /oz. "F hAv fMld evrIwan sO loN Ht F TYt F SUd nevar n fQnd Qt. i waz a grEt mistEk mF evar letN jM intM H /TrOn /rMm. jMZjMali F wil not sI Ivan mF sabJekts, n sO HE bilIv F Am samTiN tErabl."

"bat, F dOn't andarstAnd," sed /dYraTi, in biwildarmant. "hQ waz i Ht jM apIrd t mI Az a grEt /hed?"

"Ht waz wan v mF criks," Ansard /oz. "step Hs wE, plIz, n F wil tel jM Yl abQt i."

hI led H wE t a smYl cEmbar in H rIr v H /TrOn /rMm, n HE Yl folOd him. hI pqntd t wan kYrnar, in wic lE H grEt /hed, mEd Qt v meni Tiknisz v pEpar, n wiT a kErfali pEntd fEs.

"Hs F haN fram H sIlN bF a wFr," sed /oz. "F stUd bihFnd H skrIn n pUld a Tred, t mEk H Fz mMv n H mQT Opan."

"bat hQ abQt H vqs?" SI inkwFrd.

"O, F Am a vencrilOkwist," sed H lital mAn. "F kn TrO H sQnd v mF vqs wErevar F wiS, sO Ht jM TYt i waz kamN Qt v H /hed. hIr r H aHar TiNz F jMzd t disIv jM." hI SOd H /skErkrO H Jres n H mAsk hI hAd wYrn wen hI sImd t b H lavli /lEdi. n H /tin /wUdmAn sY Ht hiz tErabl /bIst waz naTN bat a lot v skinz, sOn tageHarm wiT slAts t kIp HEr sFdz Qt. Az f H /bYl v /fFr, H fYls /wizard hAd haN Ht AlsO fram H sIlN. i waz rIli a bYl v kotan, bat wen Ql waz pYrd apon i H bYl barnd fIrsli.

"rIli," sed H /skErkrO, "jM Yt t b aSEmd v jYrself f bIiN sac a hambag."

"F Am -- F sartanli Am," Ansard H lital mAn syrOfali; "bat i waz H Onli TiN F kUd d. sit dQn, plIz, HEr r plenti v cErz; n F wil tel jM mF stYri."

sO HE sAt dQn n lisand wFl hI tOld H folOiN tEl.

"F waz bYrn in /Omahy--"

"wF, Ht izn't vEri fyr fram /kAnzas!" krFd /dYraTi.

"nO, bat it's fyrHar fram hIr," hI sed, SEkN hiz hed At har sAdli. "wen F grM ap F bikEm a vencrilakwist, n At Ht F waz vEri wel crEnd bF a grEt mAstar. F kn imitEt eni kFnd v a bard Yr bIst." hIr h mjMd sO lFk a kitan Ht /tOtO prikd ap hiz Irz n lUkd evrIwEr t sI wEr SI waz. "Aftar a tFm," kntinjMd /oz, "F tFrd v Ht, n bikEm a balMnist."

"wat z Ht?" Askd /dYraTi.

"a mAn hM gOz ap in a balMn on sarkas dE, sO Az t JrY a krQd v pIpal tageHar n get Hem t pE t sI H sarkas," hI eksplEnd.

"O," SI sed, "F nO."

"wel, wan dE F went ap in a balMn n H rOps got twistd, sO Ht F kUdn't kam bAk dQn agen. i went Yl H wE ap abav H klQdz, sO fyr Ht a karant v Er stak i n kErId i meni, meni mFlz awE. f a dE n a nFt F crAvald TrM H Er, n on H mYrnN v H sekand dE F awOk n fQnd H balMn flOtN Ovar a scrEnJ n bjMtifal kancri."

"i kEm dQn grAJjMali, n F waz not hart a bit. bat F fQnd mFself in H midst v a scrEnJ pIpal, hM, sIiN mI kam fram H klQdz, TYt F waz a /grEt /wizard. v kYrs F let Hem TiNk sO, bikYz HE war afrEd v mI, n promisd t d enITiN F wiSd Hem t."

"Jast t amjMz mFself, n kIp H gUd pIpal bizi, F Yrdard Hem t bild Hs /siti, n mF /pAlis; n HE did i Yl wiliNli n wel. Hn F TYt, Az a kancri waz sO grIn n bjMtifal, F wUd kYl i H /emarald /siti; n t mEk H nEm fit betar F pUt grIn spektakalz on Yl H pIpal, sO Ht evrITiN HE sY waz grIn."

"bat izn't evrITiN hIr grIn?" Askd /dYraTi.

"nO mYr Hn in eni aHar siti," riplFd /oz; "bat wen jM wEr grIn spektakalz, wF v kYrs evrITiN jM sI lUks grIn t jM. H /emarald /siti waz bilt a grEt meni jIrz agO, f F waz a jaN mAn wen H balMn brYt mI hIr, n F Am a vEri Old mAn nQ. bat mF pIpal hAv wYrn grIn glAsz on HEr Fz sO loN Ht mOst v Hem TiNk i rIli z an /emarald /siti, n i sartanli z a bjMtifal plEs, abQndN in JMalz n preSas metalz, n evri gUd TiN Ht z nIdd t mEk wan hApi. F hAv bin gUd t H pIpal, n HE lFk mI; bat evar sins Hs /pAlis waz bilt, F hAv Sat mFself ap n wUd not sI eni v Hem."

"wan v mF grEtist fIrz waz H /wicz, f wFl F hAd nO mAJikal pQrz At Yl F sMn fQnd Qt Ht H /wicz war Ebal t d wandarfal TiNz. HEr war fYr v Hem in Hs kancri, n HE rMld H pIpal hM liv in H /nYrT n /sQT n /Ist n /west. fYrcanatli, H /wicz v H /nYrT n /sQT war gUd, n F nM HE wUd d mI nO hYrm; bat H /wicz v H /Ist n /west war tErabli wikid, n hAd HE not TYt F waz mYr pQrfal Hn HE Hemselvz, HE wUd Sarli hAv discrqd mI. Az i waz, F livd in dedli fIr v Hem f meni jIrz; sO jM kn imAJin hQ plIzd F waz wen F hard jYr hQs hAd fYlan on H /wikid /wic v H /Ist. wen jM kEm t mI, F waz wilN t promis enITiN if jM wUd Onli d awE wiT H aHar /wic; bat, nQ Ht jM hAv meltd har, F Am aSEmd t sE Ht F kAn not kIp mF promisz."

"F TiNk jM r a vEri bAd mAn," sed /dYraTi.

"O, nO, mF dIr; F'm rIli a vEri gUd mAn, bAt F'm a vEri bAd /wizard, F mast Admit."

"kAn't jM giv mI brEnz?" Askd H /skErkrO.

"jM dOn't nId Hem. jM r larnN samTiN evri dE. a bEbi hAz brEnz, bat i dazn't nO mac. ekspIrians z H Onli TiN Ht briNz noliJ, n H loNgar jM r on arT H mYr ekspIrians jM r Sar t get."

"Ht mE Yl b crM," sed H /skErkrO, "bat F SAl b vEri anhApi anles jM giv mI brEnz."

H fYls /wizard lUkd At him kErfali.

"wel," hI sed wiT a sF, "F'm not mac v a maJiSn, Az F sed; bat if jM wil kam t mI tamyrO mYrnN, F wil stuf jYr hed wiT brEnz. F kn not tel jM hQ t jMz Hem, hQevar; jM mast fFnd Ht Qt f jYrself."

"O, TANk jM -- TANk jM!" krFd H /skErkrO. "F'l fFnd a wE t jMz Hem, nevar fIr!"

"bat hQ abQt mF kariJ?" Askd H /lFan ANkSasli.

"jM hAv plenti v kariJ, F Am Sar," Ansard /oz. "Yl jM nId z konfidans in jYrself. HEr iz nO livN TiN Ht z not afrEd wen i fEsz dEnJar. H /crM kariJ z in fEsN dEnJar wen jM r afrEd, n Ht kFnd v kariJ jM hAv in plenti."

"parhAps F hAv, bat F'm skErd Jast H sEm," sed H /lFan. "F SAl rIli b vEri anhApi anles jM giv mI H sYrt v kariJ Ht mEks wan fYrget hI z afrEd."

"vEri wel, F wil giv jM Ht sYrt v kariJ tamyrO," riplFd /oz.

"hQ abQt mF hyrt?" Askd H /tin wUdmAn.

"wF, Az f Ht," Ansard /oz, "F TiNk jM r roN t wont a hyrt. i mEks mOst pIpal anhApi. if jM Onli nM i, jM r in lak not t hAv a hyrt."

"Ht mast b a mAtar v apinjan," sed H /tin /wUdmAn. "f mF pyrt, F wil bEr Yl H anhApInis wiTQt a marmar, if jM wil giv mI H hyrt."

"vEri wel," Ansard /oz mIkli. "kam t mI tamyrO n jM SAl hAv a hyrt. F plEd /wizard f sO meni jIrz Ht F mE Az wel kntinjM H pyrt a lital loNgar."

"n nQ," sed /dYraTi, "hQ Am F t get bAk t /kAnzas?"

"wI SAl hAv t TiNk abQt Ht," riplFd H lital mAn. "giv mI tM Yr TrI dEz t knsidar H mAtar n F'l crF t fFnd a wE t kEri jM Ovar H dezart. in H mIntFm jM SAl Yl b crItd Az mF gests, n wFl jM liv in H /pAlis mF pIpal wil wEt apon jM n ObE jYr slFtist wiS. HEr z Onli wan TiN F Ask in ritarn f mF help -- sac Az i z. jM mast kIp mF sIkrit n tel nO wan F Am a hambag."

HE agrId t sE naTiN v wat HE hAd larnd, n went bAk t HEr rMmz in hF spIrits, Ivan /dYraTi hAd hOp Ht "/H /grEt n /tErabl /hambag," Az SI kYld him, wUd fFnd a wE t send har bAk t /kAnzas, n if hI did SI waz wilN t fYrgiv him evrITiN.

nekst mYrnN H /skErkrO sed t hiz frendz:

"kngrAJMlEt mI. F Am gOiN t /oz t get mF brEnz At lAst. wen F ritarn F SAl b Az aHar men r."

"F hAv YlwEz lFkd jM Az jM war," sed /dYraTi simpli.

"i z kFnd v jM t lFk a /skErkrO," hI riplFd. "bat Sarli jM wil TiNk mYr v mI wen jM hIr H splendid TYts mF nM brEn z gOiN t tarn Qt." Hn hI sed gUd-bF t Hem Yl in a cIrfal vqs n went t H /TrOn /rMm, wEr hI rApd apon H dYr.

"kam in," sed /oz.

H /skErkrO went in n fQnd H lital mAn sitN dQn bF H windO, engEJd in dIp TYt.

"F hAv kam f mF brEnz," rimyrkd H /skErkrO, a lital anIzili.

"O, jes; sit dQn in Ht cEr, plIz," riplFd /oz. "jM mast ekskjMz mI f tEkN jYr hed of, bat F SAl hAv t d i in Yrdar t pUt jYr brEnz in HEr propar plEs."

"Ht's Yl rFt," sed H /skErkrO. "jM r kwFt welkam t tEk mF hed of, Az loN Az i wil b a betar wan wen jM pUt i on agen."

sO H /wizard anfAsand hiz hed n empId Qt H scrY. Hn hI entard H bAk rMm n tUk ap a meZar v brAn, wic hI miksd wiT a grEt meni pinz n nIdalz. hAvN SEkan Hem tageHar Tarali, hI fild H top v H /skErkrO'z hed wiT H mikscar n stafd H rest v H spEs wiT scrY, t hOld i in plEs.

wen hI hAd fasand H /skErkrO'z hed on hiz bodi agen hI sed t him, "hIrAftar jM wil b a grEt mAn, f F hAv givan jM a lot v brAn-nM brEnz."

H /skErkrO waz bOT plIzd n prQd At H falfilmnt v hiz grEtist wiS, n hAvN TANkd /oz wyrmli hI went bAk t hiz frendz.

/dYraTi lUkd At him kjariasli. hiz hed waz kwFt balJd Qt At H top wiT brEnz.

"hQ d jM fIl?" SI Askd.

"F fIl wFz indId," hI Ansard arnistli. "wen F get jMst t mF brEnz F SAl nO evrITiN."

"wF r HOz nIdalz n pinz stikN Qt v jYr hed?" Askd H /tin /wUdmAn.

"Ht z prMf Ht hI z Syrp," rimyrkd H /lFan.

"wel, F mast gO t /oz n get mF hyrt," sed H /wUdmAn. sO hI wYkd t H /TrOn /rMm n nokd At H dYr.

"kam in," kYld /oz, n H /wUdmAn entard n sed, "F hAv kam f mF hyrt."

"vEri wel," Ansard H lital mAn. "bat F SAl hAv t kat a hOl in jYr brest, sO F kn pUt jYr hyrt in H rFt plEs. F hOp i wOnt hart jM."

"O, nO," Ansard H /wUdmAn. "F SAl not fIl i At Yl."

sO /oz brYt a pEr v tinsmiT's SIrz n kat a smYl, skwEr hOl in H left sFd v H /tin /wUdmAn'z brest. Hn, gOiN t a cest v JrYrz, hI tUk Qt a priti hyrt, mEd entFrli v silk n stafd wiT sYdast.

"izn't i a bjMti?" hI Askd.

"i z, indId!" riplFd H /wUdman, hM waz grEtli plIzd. "bat z i a kFnd hyrt?"

"O, vEri!" Ansard /oz. hI pUt H hyrt in H /wUdmAn'z brest n Hn riplEsd H skwEr v tin, sOldarN i nItli tageHar wEr i hAd bin kat.

"HEr," sed hI; "nQ jM hAv a hyrt Ht eni mAn mFt b prQd v. F'm syri F hAd t pUt a pAc on jYr brest, bat i rIli kUdn't b helpd."

"nevar mFnd H pAc," eksklEmd H hApi /wUdmAn. "F Am vEri grEtfal t jM, n SAl nevar fYrget jYr kFndnis."

"dOn't spIk v i," riplFd /oz.

Hn H /tin /wUdmAn went bAk t hiz frendz, hM wiSd him evri Jq on akQnt v hiz gUd fYrcan.

H /lFan nQ wYkd t H /TrOn /rMm n nokd At H dYr.

"kam in," sed /oz.

"F hAv kam f mF kariJ," anQnsd H /lFan, entarN H rMm.

"vEri wel," Ansard H lital mAn; "F wil get i f jM."

hI went t a kabard n rIcN ap t a hF Self tUk dQn a skwEr grIn botal, H kontents v wic hI pYrd intM a grIn-gOld diS, bjMtifali kyrvd. plEsN Hs bifYr H /kQwardli /lFan, hM snifd At i Az if hI did not lFk i, H /wizard sed:

"JriNk."

"wat z i?" Askd H /lFan.

"wel," Ansard /oz, "if i war insFd v jM, i wUd b kariJ. jM nO, v kYrs, Ht kariJ z YlwEz insFd wan; sO Ht Hs rIli kn not b kYld kariJ antil jM hAv swYlOd i. HErfYr F AdvFz jM t JriNk i Az sMn Az posabal."

H /lFan hezitEtd nO loNgar, bat JrANk til H diS waz empti.

"hQ d jM fIl nQ?" Askd /oz.

"fUl v kariJ," riplFd H /lFan, hM went Jqfali bAk t hiz frendz t tel Hem v hiz gUd fYrcan.

/oz, left t himself, smFld t TiNk v hiz sakses in givN H /skErkrO n H /tin /wUdmAn n H /lFan egzAktli wat HE TYt HE wontd. "hQ kn F help bIiN a hambug," hI sed, "wen Yl HIz pIpal mEk mI d TiNz Ht evrIbodi nOz kAn't b dan? i waz Izi t mEk H /skErkrO n H /lFan n H /wUdmAn hApi, bikYz HE imAJind F kUd d enITiN. bat i wil tEk mYr Hn imAJinESn t kEri /dYraTi bAk t /kAnzas, n F'm Sar F dOn't nO hQ i kn b dan."

f TrI dEz /dYraTi hard naTiN fram /oz. HIz war sAd dEz f H lital garl, YlHO har frendz war Yl kwFt hApi n kntentd. H /skErkrO tOld Hem HEr war wandarfal TYts in hiz hed; bat hI wUd not sE wat HE war bikYz hI nM nO wan kUd andarstAnd Hem bat himself. wen H /tin wUdmAn wYkd abQt hI felt hiz hyrt rAtalN arQnd in hiz brest; n hI tOld /dYraTi hI hAd diskavard i t b a kFndar n mYr tendar hyrt Hn H wan hI hAd Ond wen hI waz mEd v fleS. H /lFan diklErd hI waz afrEd v naTiN on arT, n wUd glAdli fEs an yrmi Yr a dazan v H fIrs /kalIdaz.

Has Ic v H lital pyrti waz sAtisfFd eksept /dYraTi, hM loNd myr Hn evar t get bAk t /kAnzas.

on H fYrT dE, t har grEt Jq, /oz sent f har, n wen SI entard H /TrOn /rMm hI grItd har plezantli:

"sit dQn, mF dIr; F TiNk F hAv fQnd H wE t get jM Qt v Hs kancri."

"n bAk t /kAnzas?" SI Askd Igarli.

"wel, F'm not Sar abQt /kAnzas," sed /oz, "f F hAvan't H fEntist nOSn wic wE i lFz. bat H farst TiN t d z t kros H dezart, n Hn i SUd b Izi t fFnd jYr wE hOm."

"hQ kn F kros H dezart?" SI inkwFrd.

"wel, F'l tel jM wat F TiNk," sed H lital mAn. "jM sI, wen F kEm t Hs kancri i waz in a balMn. jM YlsO kEm TrM H Er, bIiN kErId bF a sFklOn. sO F bilIv H best wE t get akros H dezart wil b TrM H Er. nQ, i z kwFt bIjond mF pQrz t mEk a sFklOn; bat F'v bin TiNkN H mAtar Ovar, n F bilIv F kn mEk a balMn."

"hQ?" Askd /dYraTi.

"a balMn," sed /oz, "z mEd v silk, wic z kOtd wiT glM t kIp H gAs in i. F hAv plenti v silk in H /pAlis, sO i wil b nO crabal t mEk H balMn. bat in Yl Hs kancri HEr z nO gAs t fil H balMn wiT, t mEk i flOt."

"if i wOn't flOt," rimyrkd /dYraTi, "i wil b v nO jMs t as."

"crM," Ansard /oz. "bat HEr z anaHar wE t mEk i flOt, wic z t fil i wiT hot Er. hot Er izn't Az gUd Az gAs, f if H Er SUd get kOld H balMn wUd kam dQn in H dezart, n wI SUd b lost."

"wI!" eksklEmd H garl. "r jM gOiN wiT mI?"

"jes, v kYrs," riplFd /oz. "F Am tFrd v bIiN sac a hambag. if F SUd gO Qt v Hs /pAlis mF pIpal wUd sMn diskavar F Am not a /wizard, n Hn HE wUd b veksd wiT mI f hAvN disIvd Hem. sO F hAv t stE Sat ap in HIz rMmz Yl dE, n i gets tFrsam. F'd mac rAHar gO bAk t /kAnzas wiT jM n b in a sarkas agen."

"F SAl b glAd t hAv jYr kampani," sed /dYraTi.

"TANk jM," hI Ansard. "nQ, if jM wil help mI sO H silk tageHar, wI wil bigin t wark on Qr balMn."

sO /dYraTi tUk a nIdal n Tred, n Az fAst Az /oz kat H scrips v silk intM propar SEp H garl sOd Hem nItli tageHar. farst HEr waz a scrip v lFt grIn silk, Hn a scrip v dyrk grIn n Hn a scrip v emarald grIn; f /oz hAd a fAnsi t mEk H balMn in difarant SEdz v H kalar abQt Hem. i tUk TrI dEz t sO Yl H scrips tageHar, bat wen i waz finiSd HE hAd a big bAg v grIn silk mYr Hn twenti fIt loN.

Hn /oz pEntd i on H insFd wiT a kOt v Tin glM, t mEk i ErtFt, Aftar wic hI anQnsd Ht H balMn waz redi.

"bat wI mast hAv a bAskit t rFd in," hI sed. sO hI sent H sOlJar wiT H grIn wiskarz f a big klOz bAskit, wic hI fAsand wiT meni rOps t H botam v H balMn.

wen i waz Yl redi, /oz sent ward t hiz pIpal Ht hI waz gOiN t mEk a vizit t a grEt braHar /wizard hM livd in H klQdz. H nMz spred rApidli TrMQt H siti n evrIwan kEm t sI H wandarfal sFt.

/oz Yrdard H balMn kErId Qt in frant v H /pAlis, n H pIpal gEzd apon i wiT mac kjarIositi. H /tin /wUdmAn hAd copd a big pfl v wUd, n nQ hI mEd a fFr v i, n /oz held H botam v H balMn Ovar H fFr sO Ht H hot Er Ht arOz fram i wUd b kYt in H silkan bAg. grAJMali H balMn sweld Qt n rOz intM H Er, antil fFnali H bAskit Jast tacd H grQnd.

Hn /oz got intM H bAskit n sed t Yl H pIpal in a lQd vqs:

"F Am nQ gOiN awE t mEk a vizit. wFl F Am gon H /skErkrO wil rMl Ovar jM. F kmAnd jM t ObE him Az jM wUd mI."

H balMn waz bF Hs tFm tagN hyrd At H rOp Ht held i t H grQnd, f H Er wiHin i waz hot, n Hs mEd i sO mac lFtar in wEt Hn H Er wiTQt Ht i pUld hyrd t rFz intM H skF.

"kam, /dYraTi!" krFd H /wizard. "hari ap, Yr H balMn wil flF awE."

"F kAn't fFnd /tOtO enIwEr," riplFd /dYraTi, hM did not wic t lIv har lital dog bihFnd. /tOtO hAd ran intM H krQd t byrk At a kitan, n /dYraTi At lAst fQnd him. SI pikd him ap n rAn tYrdz H balMn.

SI waz wiHin a fjM steps v i, n /oz waz hOldN Qt hiz hAndz t help har intM H bAskit, wen, krAk! went H rOps, n H balMn rOz intM H Er wiTQt har.

"kam bAk!" SI skrImd. "F wont t gO, tM!"

"F kAn't kam bAk, mF dIr," kYld /oz fram H bAskit. "gUd-bF!"

"gUd-bF!" SQtd evrIwan, n Yl Fz war tarnd apward t wEr H /wizard waz rFdN in H bAskit, rFzN evri mOmant fyrHar n fyrHar intM H skF.

n Ht waz H lAst eni v Hem evar sY v /oz, H /wandarfal /wizard, HO hI mE hAv rIcd /Omahy sEfli, n b HEr nQ, f Yl wI nO. bat H pIpal rimembard him laviNli, n sed t wan anaHar:

"/oz waz YlwEz Qr frend. wen hI waz hIr hI bilt f as Hs bjMtifal /emarald /siti, n nQ hI z gon hI hAz left H /wFz /skErkrO t rMl Ovar as."

stil, f meni dEz HE grIvd Ovar H los v H /wandarfal /wizard, n wUd not b kamfartd.

/dYraTi wept bitarli At H pAsN v har hOp t get hOm t /kAnzas agen; bat wen SI TYt i Yl Ovar SI waz glAd SI hAd not gon ap in a balMn. n SI felt syri At lMzN /oz, n sO did har kmpAnjanz.

H /tin /wUdmAn kEm t har n sed:

"crMli F SUd b angrEtfal if F fEld t mYrn f H mAn hM gEv mI mF lavli hyrt. F SUd lFk t krF a lital bikYz /oz z gon, if jM wil kFndli wFp awE mF tIrz, sO Ht F SAl not rast."

"wiT pleZar," SI Ansard, n brYt a tQwal At wans. Hn H /tin /wUdmAn wept f sevral minits, n sI wocd H tIrz kErfali n wFpd Hem awE wiT H tQwal. wen hI finiSd, hI TANkd har kFndli n qld himself TarOli wiT hiz JMld ql-kAn, t gyrd agenst mishAp.

H /skErkrO waz nQ H rMlar v H /emarald /siti, n YlTO hI waz not a /wizard H pIpal war prQd v him. "f," HE sed, "HEr z not anaHar siti in Yl H warld Ht z rMld bF a stafd mAn." n, sO fyr Az HE nM, HE war kwFt rFt.

H mYrnN Aftar H balMn hAd gon ap wiT /oz, H fYr crAvalarz met in H /TrOn /rMm n tYkd mAtarz Ovar. H /skErkrO sAt in H big TrOn n H aHarz stUd respektfali bifYr him.

"wI r not sO anlaki," sed H nM rMlar, "f Hs /pAlis n H /emarald /siti biloN t as, n wI kn d Jast Az wI plIz. wen F rimembar Ht a SYrt tFm agO F waz ap on a pOl in a fyrmar's kYrnfIld, n Ht nQ F Am H rMlar v Hs bjMtifal /siti, F Am kwFt sAtisfFd wiT mF lot."

"F YlsO," sed H /tin /wUdmAn, "Am wel-plIzd wiT mF nM hyrt; n, rIli, Ht waz H Onli TiN F wiSd in Yl H warld."

"f mF pyrt, F Am kantent in nOiN F Am Az brEv Az eni bIst Ht evar livd, if not brEvar," sed H /lFan modestli.

"if /dYraTi wUd Onli b kantentd t liv in H /emarald /siti," kntinjMd H /skErkrO, "wI mFt Yl b hApi tageHar."

"bat F dOn't wont t liv hIr," krFd /dYraTi. "F wont t g t /kAnzas, n liv wiT /Ynt /em n /aNkal /henri."

"wel, Hn, wat kn b dan?" inkwFrd H /wUdmAn.

H /skErkrO disFdd t TiNk, n hI Tyt sO hyrd Ht H pinz n nIdalz bigAn t stik Qt v hiz brEnz. fFnali hI sed:

"wF not kYl H /wiNgd /maNkIz, n Ask Hem t kEri jM Ovar H dezart?"

"F nevar TYt v Ht!" sed /dYraTi Jqfali. "it's Jast H TiN. F'l gO At wans f H /gOldan /kAp."

wen SI brYt i intM H /TrOn /rMm SI spOk H mAJik wardz, n sMn H bAnd v /wiNgd /maNkIz flM in TrM H Opan windO n stUd bisFd har.

"Hs z H sekand tFm jM hAv kYld as," sed H /maNkI /kiN, bQiN bifYr H lital garl. "wat d jM wiS?"

"F wont jM t flF wiT mI t /kAnzas," sed /dYraTi.

bat H /maNki /kiN SUk hiz hed.

"Ht kn not b dan," hI sed. "wI biloN t Hs kancri alOn, n kn not lIv i. HEr hAz nevar bin a /wiNgd /maNki in /kAnzas jet, n F sapOz HEr nevar wil b, f HE dOn't biloN HEr. wI SAl b glAd t sarv jM in eni wE in Qr pQr, bat wI kn not kros H dezart. gUd-bF."

n wiT anaHar bQ, H /maNki /kiN spred hiz wiNz n flM awE TrM H windO, folOd bF Yl hiz bAnd.

/dYraTi waz redi t krF wiT disapqntmant. "F hAv wEstd H cyrm v H /gOldan /kAp t nO parpas," SI sed, "f H /wiNgd /maNkIz kn not help mI."

"i z sartanli tM bAd!" sed H tendar-hyrtd /wUdmAn.

H /skErkrO waz TiNkN agen, n hiz hed balJd Qt sO hYrabli Ht /dYraTi fIrd i wUd barst.

"let as kYl in H sOlJar wiT H grIn wiskarz," hI sed, "n Ask hiz AdvFs."

sO H sOlJar waz samand n entard H /TrOn /rMm timidli, f wFl /oz waz alFv hI nevar waz alQd t kam fyrHar Hn H dYr.

"Hs lital garl," sed H /skErkrO t H sOlJar, "wiSz t kros H dezart. hQ kn SI d sO?"

"F kn not tel," Ansard H sOlJar, "f nObadi hAz evar krosd H dezart, anles i z /oz himself."

"z HEr nO wan hM kn help mI?" Askd /dYraTi arnistli.

"/glinda mFt," hI saJestd.

"hM z /glinda?" inkwFrd H /skErkrO.

"H /wic v H /sQT. SI z H mOst pQrfal v Yl H /wicz, n rMlz Ovar H /kwodlNz. bisFdz, har kAsal stAndz on H eJ v H dezart, sO SI mE nO a wE t kros i."

"/glinda z a /gUd /wic, izn't SI?" Askd H cFld.

"/kwodlNz TiNk SI z gUd," sed H sOlJar, "n SI z kFnd t evrIwan. F hAv hard Ht /glinda z a bjMtifal wUman, hM nOz hQ t kIp jaN in spFt v H meni jIrz SI hAz livd."

"hQ kn F get t har kAsal?" Askd /dYraTi.

"H rOd z scrEt t H /sQT," hI Ansard, "bat i z sed t b fUl v dEnJarz t crAvalarz. HEr r wFld bIsts in H wUdz, n a rEs v kwIr men hM d not lFk scrEnJarz t kros HEr kancri. f Hs rIzan nan v H /kwodlNz evar kam t H /emarald /siti."

H sOlJar Hn left Hem n H /skErkrO sed:

"i sImz, in spFt v dEnJarz, Ht H best TiN /dYraTi kn d z t crAval t H /lAnd v H /sQT n Ask /glinda t help har. f, v kYrs, if /dYraTi stEz hIr SI wil nevar get bAk t /kAnzas."

"jM mast hAv bin TiNkN agen," rimyrkd H /tin /wUdmAn.

"F hAv," sed H /skErkrO.

"F SAl gO wiT /dYraTi," diklErd H /lFan, "f F Am tFrd v jYr siti n loN f H wUdz n H kancri agen. F Am rIli a wFld bIst, jM nO. bisFdz, /dYraTi wil nId samwan t pratekt har."

"Ht z crM," agrId H /wUdmAn. "mF Aks mE b v sarvis t har; sO F YlsO wil gO wiT har t H /lAnd v H /sQT."

"wen SAl wI styrt?" Askd H /skErkrO.

"r jM gOiN?" HE Askd, in sarprFz.

"sartanli. if i wazn't f /dYraTi F SUd nevar hAv hAd brEnz. SI liftd mI fram H pOl in H kYrnfIld n brYt mI t H /emarald /siti. sO mF gUd lak z Yl dM t har, n F SAl nevar lIv har antil SI styrts bAk t /kAnzas f gUd n Yl."

"TANk jM," sed /dYraTi grEtfali. "jM r Yl vEri kFnd t mI. bat F SUd lFk t styrt Az sMn Az posabl."

"wI SAl gO tamyrO mYrnN," ritarnd H /skErkrO. "sO nQ let as Yl get redi, f i wil b a loN Jarni."

H nekst mYrnN /dYraTi kisd H priti grIn garl gUd-bF, n HE Yl SUk hAndz wiT H sOlJar wiT H grIn wiskarz, hM hAd wYkd Hem Az fyr Az H gEt. wen H /gyrdian v H /gEt sY Hem agen hI wandard grEtli Ht HE kUd lIv H bjMtifal /siti t get intM nM crabl. bat hI At wans anlokd HEr spektaklz, wic hI pUt bAk intM H grIn boks, n gEv Hem meni gUd wiSz t kEri wiT Hem.

"jM r nQ Qr rMlar," hI sed t H /skErkrO; "sO jM mast kam bAk t as Az sMn Az posabl."

"F sartanli SAl if F Am Ebl," H /skErkrO riplFd; "bat F mast help /dYraTi t get hOm, farst."

Az /dYraTi bEd H gUd-nEcard /gyrdian a lAst fErwel SI sed:

"F hAv bin vEri kFndli crItd in jYr lavli /siti, n evrIwan hAz bin gUd t mI. F kn not tel jM hQ grEtfal F Am."

"dOn't crF, mF dIr," hI Ansard. "wI SUd lFk t kIp jM wiT as, bat if i z jYr wiS t ritarn t /kAnzas, F hOp jM wil fFnd a wE." hI Hn Opand H gEt v H Qtar wYl, n HE wYkd fYrT n styrtd apon HEr Jarni.

H san SOn brFtli Az Qr frendz tarnd HEr fEsz tYrd H /lAnd v H /sQT. HE war Yl in H best v spIrits, n lAfd n cAtd tageHar. /dYraTi waz wans mYr fild wiT H hOp v getN hOm, n H /skErkrO n H /tin /wUdmAn war glAd t b v jMs t har. Az f H /lFan, hI snifd H freS Er wiT dilFt n wiskd hiz tEl fram sFd t sFd in pjar Jq At bIiN in H kancri agen, wFl /tOtO rAn arQnd Hem n cEsd H moTs n batarflFz, byrkN mErali Yl H tFm.

"siti lFf daz not agrI wiT mI At Yl," rimyrkd H /lFan, Az HE wYkd aloN At a brisk pEs. "F hAv lost mac fleS sins F livd HEr, n nQ F Am AnkSas f a cAns t SO H aHar bIsts hQ karEJas F hAv grOn."

HE nQ tarnd n tUk a lAst lUk At H /emarald /siti. Yl HE kUd sI waz a mAs v tQrz n stIpalz bihFnd H grIn wYlz, n hF ap abav evrITiN H spFrz n dOm v H /pAlis v /oz.

"oz waz not sac a bAd /wizard, Aftar Yl," sed H /tin /wUdmAn, Az hI felt hiz hyrt rAtalN arQnd in hiz brest.

"hI nM hQ t giv mI brEnz, n vEri gUd brEnzm tM," sed H /skErkrO.

"if /oz hAd tEkan a dOs v H sEm kariJ hI gEv mI," Add H /lFan, "hI wUd hAv bin a brEv mAn."

/dYraTi sed naTiN. /oz hAd not kept H promis hI mEd har, bat hI hAd dan hiz best, sO SI fYrgEv him. Az hI sed, hI waz a gUd mAn, Ivan if hI waz a bAd /wizard.

H farst dE'z Jarni waz TrM H grIn fIldz n brFt flQrz Ht screcd abQt H /emarald /siti on evri sFd. HE slept Ht nFt on H grAs, wiT naTiN bat H styrz Ovar Hem; n HE restd vEri wel indId.

in H mYrnN HE crAvald on antil HE kEm t a Tik wUd. HEr waz nO wE v gOiN arQnd i, f i sImd t ekstend t H rFt n left Az fYr Az HE kUd sI; n, bisFdz, HE did not dEr cEnJ H darekSn v HEr Jarni f fIr v getN lost. sO HE lUkd f H plEs wEr i wUd b IzIist t get intM H fYrist.

H /skErkrO, hM waz in H lId, fFnali diskavard a big crI wiT wFd-spredN brAnz Ht HEr waz rMm f H pyrti t pAs andarnIT. sO hI wYkd fYrward t H crI, bat Jast Az hI kEm andar H farst brAncz HE bent dQn n twFnd arQnd him, n H nekst minit hI waz rEzd fram H grQnd n flaN hedloN amaN hiz felO crAvalarz.

Hs did not hart H /skErkrO, bat i sarprFzd him, n hI lUkd rAHar dizi wen /dYraTi pikd him ap.

"hIr z anaHar spEs bitwIn H crIz," kYld H /lFan.

"let mI crF i farst," sed H /skErkrO, "f i dazn't hart mI t get TrOn abQt." hI wYkd ap t anaHar crI, Az hI spOk, bat its brAncz imIdiatli sIzd him n tosd him bAk agen.

"Hs z scrEnJ," eksklEmd /dYraTi. "wat SAl wI d?"

"H crIz sIm t hAv mEd ap HEr mFndz t fFt as, n stop Qr Jarni," rimyrkd H /lFan.

"F bilIv F wil crF i mFself," sed H /wUdmAn, n SOldarN hiz Aks, hI myrcd ap t H farst crI Ht hAd hAndald H /skErkrO sO rafli. wen a big brAnc bent dQn t sIz him H /wUdmAn copd At i sO fIrsli Ht hI kat i in tM. At wans H crI bigAn SEkN Yl its brAncz Az if in pEn, n H /tin /wUdmAn pAsd sEfli andar i.

"kam on!" hI SQtd t H aHarz. "b kwik!" HE Yl rAn fYrward n pAsd andar H crI wiTQt inJari, eksept /tOtO, hM waz kYt bF a smYl brAnc n SEkan antil hI hQld. bat H /wUdmAn promptli copd of H brAnc n set H lital dog frI.

H aHar crIz v H fYrist did naTN t kIp Hem bAk, sO HE mEd ap HEr mFndz Ht Onli H farst rO v crIz kUd bend dQn HEr brAncz, n Ht probabli HIz war H palIsman v H fYrist, n givan Hs wandarfal pQr in Yrdar t kIp scrEnJarz Qt v i.

H fYr crAvalarz wYkd wiT Iz TrM H crIz antil HE kEm t H fyrHar eJ v H wUd. Hn, t HEr sarprFz, HE fQnd bifYr Hem a hF wYl wic sImd t b mEd v wFt cFna. i waz smMH, lFk H sarfas v a diS, n hFar Hn HEr hedz.

"wat SAl wI d nQ?" Askd /dYraTi.

"F wil mEk a lAdar," sed H /tin /wUdmAn, "f wI sartanli mast klFm Ovar H wYl."

wFl H /wuDmAn waz mEkN a lAdar fram wUd wic hI fQnd in H fYrist /dYraTi lE dQn n slept, f SI waz tFrd bF H loN wYk. H /lFan YlsO karld himself ap t slIp n /tOtO lE bisFd him.

H /skErkrO wocd H /wUdmAn wFl hI warkd, n sed t him:

"F kn not TiNk wF Hs wYl z hIr, nYr wat i z mEd v."

"rest jYr brEnz n d not wari abQt H wYl," riplFd H /wUdmAn. "wen wI hAv klFmd Ovar i, wI SAl nO wat z on H aHar sFd."

Aftar a tFm H lAdar waz finiSd. i lUkd klamzi, bat H /tin /wUdmAn waz Sar i waz scroN n wUd Ansar HEr parpas. H /skErkrO wEkd /dYraTi n H /lFan n /tOtO, n tOld Hem Ht H lAdar waz redi. H /skErkrO klFmd ap H lAdar farst, bat hI waz sO Ykward Ht /dYraTi hAd t folO klOs bihFnd n kIp him fram fYlN of. wen hI got hiz hed Ovar H top v H wYl H /skErkrO sed, "O, mF!"

"gO on," eksklEmd /dYraTi.

sO H /skErkrO klFmd fyrHar ap n sAt dQn on H top v H wYl, n /dYraTi pUt har hed Ovar n krFd, "O, mF!" Jast Az H /skErkrO hAd dan.

Hn /tOtO kEm ap, n imIdiatli bigAn t byrk, bat /dYraTi mEd him b stil.

H /lFan klFmd H lAdar nekst, n H /tin /wUdmAn kEm lAst; bat bOT v Hem krFd, "O, mF!" Az sMn Az HE lUkd Ovar H wYl. wen HE war Yl sitN in a rO on H top v H wYl, HE lUkd dQn n sY a scrEnJ sFt.

bifYr Hem waz a grEt screc v kancri hAvN a flYr Az smMH n SFnN n wFt Az H botam v a big plAtar. skAtard arQnd war meni hQzz mEd entFrli v cFna n pEntd in H brFtist kalarz. HIz hQzz war kwFt smYl, H bigist v Hem rIcN Onli Az hF Az /dYraTi'z wEst. HEr war YlsO priti lital byrnz, wiT cFna fensz arQnd Hem; n meni kQz n SIp n hYrsz n pigz n cikanz, Yl mEd v cFna, war stAndN abQt in grMps.

bat H scrEnJist v Yl war H pIpal hM livd in Hs kwIr kancri. HEr war milkmEdz n Separdesz, wiT brFtli kalard bodisz n gOldan spots Yl Ovar HEr gQnz; n prinsesz wiT mOst gYrJas froks v silvar n gOld n parpal; n SEpardz Jresd in nI brIcz wiT piNk n jelO n blM scrFps dQn Hem, n gOldan bakalz on HEr SMz; n prinsz wiT JMld krQnz apon HEr hedz, wErN armin rObz n sAtin dablits; n fani klQnz in rafald gQnz, wiT rQnd red spots apon HEr cIks n tYl, pqntd kAps. n, scrEnJist v Yl, HIz pIpal war Yl mEd v cFna, Ivan t HEr klOz, n war sO smYl Ht H tYlist v Hem waz nO hFar Hn /dYraTi'z nI.

nO wan did sO mac Az lUk At H crAvalarz At farst, eksept wan lital parpal cFna dog wiT an ekscra-lyrJ hed, wic kEm t H wYl n byrkd At Hem in a tFni vqs, Aftarwardz ranN awE agen.

"hQ SAl wI get dQn?" Askd /dYraTi.

HE fQnd H lAdar sO hevi HE kUd not pUl i ap, sO H /skErkrO fel of H wYl n H aHarz Jampd dQn apon him sO Ht H hyrd flYr wUd not hart HEr fIt. v kYrs HE tUk pEnz not t lFt on hiz hed n get H pinz in HEr fIt. wen Yl war sEfli dQn HE pikd ap H /skErkrO, hMz bodi waz kwFt flAtand Qt, n pAtd hiz scrY intM SEp agen.

"wI mast kros Hs scrEnJ plEs in Yrdar t get t H aHar sFd," sed /dYraTi, "f i wUd b anwFz f as t gO eni aHar wE eksept dM sQT."

HE bigAn wYkN TrM H kancri v H cFna pIpal, n H farst TiN HE kEm t waz a cFna milkmEd milkN a cFna kQ. Az HE JrM nIr, H kQ sadanli gEv a kik n kikd Ovar H stMl, H pEl, n Ivan H milkmEd harself, n Yl fel on H cFna grQnd wiT a grEt klAtar.

/dYraTi waz Sokd t sI Ht H kQ hAd brOkan har leg of, n Ht H pEl waz lFiN in sevaral smYl pIsz, wFl H pYr milkmEd hAd a nik in har left elbO.

"HEr!" krFd H milkmEd ANgrili. "sI wat jM hAv dan! mF kQ hAz brOkan har leg, n F mast tEk har t H mendar'z Sop n hAv i glMd on agen. wat d jM mIn bF kamN hIr n frFtanN mF kQ?"

"F'm vEri syri," ritarnd /dYraTi. "plIz fYrgiv as."

bat H priti milkmEd waz mac tM veksd t mEk eni Ansar. SI pikd ap H leg salkili n led har kQ awE, H pYr Anamal limpN on TrI legz. Az SI left Hem H milkmEd kAst meni riprOcfal glAnsz Ovar har SOlfar At H klamzi scrAnJarz, hOldN har nikd elbO klOs t har sFd.

/dYraTi waz kwFt grIvd At Hs mishAp.

"wI mast b vEri kErfal hIr," sed H kFnd-hyrtd /wUdmAn, "Yr wI mE hart HIz priti lital pIpal sO HE wil nevar get Ovar i."

a lital fyrHar on /dYraTi met a mOst bjMtifali Jresd jaN /prinses, hM stopd SYrt Az SI sY H scrEnJarz n styrtd t ran awE.

/dYraTi wontd t sI mYr v H /prinses, sO SI rAn Aftar har. bat H cFna garl krFd Qt:

"dOn't cEs mI! dOn't cEs mI!"

SI hAd sac a frFtand vqs Ht /dYraTi stopd n sed, "wF not?"

"bikYz," Ansard H /prinses, YlsO stopN, a sEf distans awE, "if F ran F mE fYl dQn n brEk mFself."

"bat kUd jM not b mendd?" Askd H garl.

"O, jes; bat wan z nevar sO priti Aftar bIiN mendd, jM nO," riplFd H /prinses.

"F sapOz not," sed /dYraTi.

"nQ HEr z /mr. /JOkar, wan v Qr klQnz," kntinjMd H cFna lEdi, "hM z YlwEz crFiN t stAnd apon hiz hed. hI hAz brOkan himself sO ofan Ht hI z mendd in a hanJred plEsz, n dazn't lUk At Yl priti. hIr hI kamz nQ, sO jM kn sI f jYrself."

indId, a Joli lital klQn kEm wokN tYrd Hem, n /dYrATi kUd sI Ht in spFt v hiz priti klOz v red n jelO n grIn hI waz kmplItli kavard in krAks, ranN evri wic wE n SOiN plEnli Ht hI hAd bin mendd in meni plEsz.

H /klQn pUt hiz hAndz in his pokits, n Aftar pafN Qt hiz cIks n nodN hiz hed At Hem sYsili, hI sed:

"mF lEdi fEr, wF d jM stEr At pYr Old /mr. /JOkar? jY'r kwFt Az stif n prim Az if jM'd Itan ap a pOkar!"

"b kwFit, sar!" sed H /prinses. "kAn't jM sI HIz r scrEnJarz, n SUd b crItd wiT rispekt?"

"wel, Ht's rispekt, F ekspekt," diklErd H /klQn, n imIdiatli stUd apon hiz hed.

"dOn't mFnd /mr. /JOkar," sed H prinses t /dYraTi. "hI z knsidarabli krAkd in hiz hed, n Ht mEks him fMliS."

"O, F dOn't mFnd him a bit," sed /dYraTi. "bat jM r sO bjMtifal," SI kntinjMd, "Ht F Am Sar F kUd lav jM dIrli. wOn't jM let mI kEri jM bAk t /kAnzas, n stAnd jM on /Ynt /em'z mAntal? F kUd kEri jM in mF bAskit."

"Ht wUd mEk mI vEri anhApi," Ansard H cFna /prinses. "jM sI, hIr in Qr kancri wI liv kntentli, n kn tYk n mMv arQnd Az wI plIz. bat wenevar eni v as r tEkan awE Qr Jqnts At wans stifan, n wI kn Onli stAnd scrEt n lUk priti. v kYrs Ht z Yl Ht z ekspektd v as wen wI r on mAntalz n kAbanits n JrYiN-rMm tEbalz, bat Qr lFvz r mac plezantar hIr in Qr On kancri."

"F wUd not mEk jM anhApi f Yl H warld!" eksklEmd /dYraTi. "sO F'l Jast sE gUd-bF."

"gUd-bF," riplFd H /prinses.

HE wYkd kErfali TrM H cFna kancri. H lital Anamalz n Yl H pIpal skAmpard Qt v H wE, fIrN H scrAnJarz wUd brEk Hem, n Aftar an Qr Yr sO H crAvalarz rIcd H aHar sFd v H kancri n kEm t anaHar cFna wYl.

i waz not sO hF Az H farst, hQevar, n bF stAndN apon H /lFan'z bAk HE Yl mAniJd t skrAmbal t H top. Hn H /lFan gAHard hiz legz andar him n Jampd on H wYl; bAt Jast Az hI Jampd, hI apset a cFna carc wiT hiz tEl n smASd i Yl t pIsz.

"Ht waz tM bAd," sed /dYraTi, "bat rIli F TiNk wI war laki in not dOiN HIz lital pIpal mYr hyrm Hn brEkN a kQ'z leg n a carc. HE r Yl sO brital!"

"HE r, indId," sed H /skErkrO, "n F Am TANkfal F Am mEd v scrY n kn not b Izili dAmiJd. HEr r wars TiNz in H warld Hn bIiN a skErkrO."

Aftar klFmN dQn fram H cFna wYl H crAvalarz fQnd Hemselvz in a disagrIabl kancri, fUl v bogz n myrSz n kavard wiT tYl, rANk grAs. i waz difikalt t wYk wiTQt fYlN intM madi hOlz, f H grAs waz sO Tik Ht i hid Hem fram sFt. hQevar, bF kErfali pikN HEr wE, HE got sEfli aloN antil HE rIcd solid grQnd. bat hIr H kancri sImd wFldar Hn evar, n Aftar a loN n tFrsam wYk TrM H andarbraS HE entard anaHar fYrist, wEr H crIz war bigar n Oldar Hn eni HE hAd evar sIn.

"Hs fYrist z parfektli dilFtfal," diklErd H /lFan, lUkN arQnd him wiT Jq. "nevar hAv F sIn a mYr bjMtifal plEs."

"i sImz glMmi," sed H /skErkrO.

"not a bit v i," Ansard H /lFan. "F SUd lFk t liv hIr Yl mF lFf. sI hQ soft H JrFd lIvz r andar jYr fIt n hQ ric n grIn H mos z Ht kliNz t HIz Old crIz. Sarli nO wFld bIst kUd wiS a plezantar hOm."

"parhAps HEr r wFld bIsts in H fYrist nQ," sed /dYraTi.

"F sapOz HEr r," ritarnd H /lFan, "bat F d not sI eni v Hem abQt."

HE wYkd TrM H fYrist antil i bikEm tM dyrk t gO eni fyrHar. /dYraTi n /tOtO n H /lFan lE dQn t slIp, wFl H /wUdmAn n H /skErkrO kept woc Ovar Hem Az jMZMal.

wen mYrnN kEm, HE styrtd agen. bifYr HE hAd gon fyr HE hard a lO rambal, Az v H grQlN v meni wFld Anamalz. /tOtO wimpard a lital, bat nan v H aHarz waz frFtand, n HE kept aloN H wel-crodan pAT antil HE kEm t an OpanN in H wUd, in wic war gAHard hanJredz v bIsts evri varFiti. HEr war tFgarz n elafants n bErz n wUlvz n foksz n Yl H aHarz in H nAcaral histari, n fYr a mOmant /dYraTi waz afrEd. bat H /lFan eksplEnd Ht H Anamalz war hOldN a mItN, n hI JaJd bF HEr snyrlN n grQlN Ht HE war in grEt crabal.

Az hI spOk sevaral v H bIsts kYt sFt v him, n At wans H grEt asembliJ haSd Az if bF mAJik. H bigist v H tFgarz kEm ap t H /lFan n bQd, sEiN:

"welkam, O /kiN v /bIsts! jM hAv kam in gUd tFm t fFt Qr enami n briN pIs t Yl H Anamalz v H fYrist wans mYr."

"wat z jYr crabal?" Askd H /lFan kwFitli.

"wI r Yl Tretand," Ansard H tFgar, "bF a fIrs enami wic hAs lEtli kam intM Hs fYrist. i z a mOst cremendas monstar, lFk a grEt spFdar, wiT a bodi Az big Az an elafant n legz Az loN Az a crI craNk. i hAz Et v HIz loN legz, n Az H monstar krYlz TrM H fYrist hI sIzs an Anamal wiT a leg n JrAgz i t hiz mQT, wEr hI Its i Az a spFdar daz a flF. not wan v as z sEf wFl Hs fIrs krIcar z alFv, n wI hAd kYld a mItN t disFd hQ t tEk kEr v Qrselvz wen jM kEm amaN as."

H /lFan TYt f a mOmant.

"r HEr eni aHar lFanz in Hs fYrist?" hI Askd.

"nO; HEr war sam, bat H monstar hAz Itan Hem Yl. n, bisFdz, HE war nan v Hem nIrli sO lyrJ n brEv Az jM."

"if F pUt an end t jYr enami, wil jM bQ dQn t mI n ObE mI Az /kiN v H /fYrist?" inkwFrd H /lFan.

"wI wil d Ht glAdli," ritarnd H tFgar; n Yl H aHar bIsts rYrd wiT a mFti rYr: "wI wil!"

"wEr z Hs grEt spFdar v jYrz nQ?" Askd H /lFan.

"jondar, amaN H Ok crIz," sed H tFgar, pqntN wiT hiz fYrfUt.

"tEk gUd kEr v HIz frendz v mFn," sed H /lFan, "n F wil gO At wans t fFt H monstar."

hI bEd hiz komrAdz gUd-bF n myrcd prQdli awE t d bAtal wiT H enami.

H grEt spFdar waz lFiN aslIp wen H /lFan fQnd him, n i lUkd sO agli Ht its fO tarnd ap hiz nOz in disgast. its legz war kwFt Az loN Az H tFgar hAd sed, n its bodi kavard wiT kYrs blAk hEr. i hAd a grEt mQT, wiT a rO v Syrp tIT a fUt loN; bat its hed waz Jqnd t H paJi bodi bF a nek Az slendar Az a wosp's wEst. Hs gEv H /lFan a hint v H best wE t atAk H krecar, n Az hI nM i waz Iziar t fFt i aslIp Hn awEk, hI gEv a grEt spriN n lAndd darektli apon H monstar'z bAk. Hn, wiT wan blO v hiz hevi pY, Yl yrmd wiT Syrp klYz, hI nokd H spFdar'z hed fram its bodi. JampN dQn, hI wocd i antil H loN legz stopd wigalN, wen hI nM i waz kwFt ded.

H /lFan went bAk t H OpanN wEr H bIsts v H fYrist war wEtN f him n sed prQdli:

"jM nId fIr jYr enami nO loNgar."

Hn H bIsts bQd dQn t H /lFan Az HEr /kiN, n hI promisd t kam bAk n rMl Ovar Hem Az sMn Az /dYraTi waz sEfli on har wE t /kAnzas.

H fYr crAvalarz pAsd TrM H rest v H fYrist in sEfti, n wen HE kEm Qt fram its glMm sY bifYr Hem a stIp hil, kavard fram top t botam wiT grEt pIsz v rok.

"Ht wil b a hyrd klFm," sed H /skErkrO, "bat wI mast get Over H hil, nevar H les."

sO hI led H wE n H aHarz folOd. HE hAd nIrli rIcd H farst rok wen HE hard a raf vqs krF Qt, "kIp bAk!"

"hM r jM?" Askd H /skErkrO.

Hn a hed SOd itself Ovar H rok n H sEm vqs sed, "Hs hil biloNz t as, n wI dOn't alQ enIwan t kros i."

"bat wI mast kros i," sed H /skErkrO. "wI'r gOiN t H kancri v H /kwodlNz."

"bat jM SAl not!" riplFd H vqs, n HEr stepd fram H rok H scrEnJist mAn H crAvalarz hAd evar sIn.

hI waz kwFt SYrt n stQt n hAd a big hed, wic waz flAt At H top n sapYrtd bF a Tik nek fUl v riNkalz. bat hI hAd nO yrmz At Yl, n sIiN Tis, H /skErkrO did not fIr Ht sO helplis a krIcar kUd privent Hem fram klFmN H hil. sO hI sed, "F'm syri not t d Az jM wiS, bat wI mast pAs Ovar jYr hil weHar jM lFk i Yr not," n hI wokd bOldli fYrward.

Az kwik Az lFtniN H mAn'z hed Sot fYrward n hiz nek screcd Qt antil H top v hiz hed, wEr i waz flAt, scrak H /skErkrO in H midal n sent him tamblN, Ovar n Ovar, dQn H hil. YlmOst Az kwikli Az i kEm H hed went bAk t H bodi, n H mAn lAfd hyrSli Az hI sed, "i izn't Az Izi Az jM TiNk!"

a kYras v bqscaras lAftar kEm fram H aHar roks, n /dYraTi sY hanJredz v H yrmlis /hAmar-/hedz apon H hilsFd, wan bihFnd evri rok.

H /lFan bikEm kwFt ANgri At H lAftar kYzd bF H /skErkrO'z mishAp, n givN a lQd rYr Ht ekOd lFk Handar, hI dASd ap H hil.

agen a hed Sot swiftli Qt, n H grEt /lFan went rOlN dQn H hil Az if hI hAd bin scrak bF a kAnan bYl.

/dYraTi rAn dQn n helpd H /skErkrO t hiz fIt, n H /lFan kEm ap t har, fIlN rAHar brMzd n sYr, n sed, "i z jMslis t fFt pIpal wiT SMtN hedz; nO wan kn wiTstAnd Hem."

"wat kn wI d, Hn?" SI Askd.

"kYl H /wiNd /maNkIz," saJestd H /tin /wUdmAn. "jM hAv stil H rFt t kmAnd Hem wans mYr."

"vEri wel," SI Ansard, n pUtN on H /gOldan /kAp SI atard H mAJik wardz. H /maNkIz war Az prompt Az evar, n in a fjM mOmants H entFr bAnd stUd bifYr har.

"wat r jYr kmAndz?" inkwFrd H /kiN v H /maNkIz, bQiN lO.

"kEri as Ovar H hil t H kancri v H /kwodlNz," Ansard H garl.

"i SAl b dan," sed H /kiN, n At wans H /wiNd /maNkIz kYt H fYr crAvalarz n /tOtO ap in HEr yrmz n flM awE wiT Hem. Az HE pAsd Ovar H hil H /hAmar-hedz jeld wiT veksESn, n Sot HEr hedz hF in H Er, bat HE kUd not rIc H /wiNd /maNkIz, wic kErId /dYraTi n har komrAdz sEfli Ovar H hil n set Hem dQn in H bjMtifal kancri v H /kwodlNz.

"Hs z H lAst tFm jM kn saman as," sed H lIdar t /dYraTi; "sO gUd-bF n gUd lak t jM."

"gUd-bF, n TANk jM vEri mac," ritarnd H garl; n H /maNkIz rOz intM H Er n war Qt v sFt in a twiNklN.

H kancri v H /kwodlNz sImd ric n hApi. HEr waz fIld apon fIld v rFpanN grEn, wiT wel-pEvd rOdz ranNbitwIn, n priti riplN brUks wiT scroN briJz akros Hem. H fensz n hQzz n briJz war Yl pEntD brFt red, Jast Az HE hAd bin pEntd jelO in H kancri v H /wiNkIz n blM in H kancri v H /manckinz. H /kwodlNz Hemselvz, hM war SYrt n fAt n lUkd cabi n gUd-nEcard, war Jresd Yl in red, wic SOd brFt agenst H grIn grAs n H jelOiN grEn.

H /maNkIz hAd set Hem dQn nIr a fyrmhQs, N H fYr crAvalarz wokd ap t i n nokd At H dYr. i waz Opand bF H fyrmar'z wFf, n wen /dYraTi Askd f samTiN t It H wUman gEv Hem Yl a gUd dinar, wiT TrI kFndz v kEk n fYr kFndz v kUkIz, n a bOl v milk f /tOtO.

"hQ fyr z i t H /kAsal v /glinda?" Askd H cFld.

"i z not a grEt wE," Ansard H fyrmar'z wFf. "tEk H rOd t H /sQT n jM wil sMn rIc i."

TANkN H gUd wUman, HE styrtd afreS n wokd bF H fIldz n akros H priti briJz antil HE sY bifYr Hem a vEri bjMtifal /kAsal. bifYr H gEts war TrI jaN garlz, Jresd in hAndsam red jMifYrmz crimd wiT gOld brEd; n Az /dYraTi aprOcd, wan v Hem sed t har:

"wF hAv jM kam t H /sQT /kancri?"

"t sI H /gUd /wic hM rMlz hIr," SI Ansard. "wil jM tEk mI t har?"

"let mI hAv jYr nEm, n F wil Ask /glinda if SI wil risIv jM." HE tOld hM HE war, n H garl sOlJar went intM H kAsal. Aftar a fjM mOmants SI kEm bAk t sE Ht /dYraTi n H aHarz war t b Admitd At wans.

bifYr HE went t sI /glinda, hQevar, HE war tEkan t a rUm v H /kAsal, wEr /dYraTi woSd har fEs n kOmd har hEr, n H /lFan SUk H dast Qt v hiz mEn, n H /skErkrO pAtd himself intM hiz best SEp, n H /wUdmAn poliSd hiz tin n qld hiz Jqnts.

wen HE war Yl kwFt prizentabl HE folOd H sOlJar garl intM a big rMm wEr H /wic /glinda sAt apon a TrOn v rMbIz.

SI waz bOT bjMtifal n jaN t HEr Fz. har hEr waz a ric red in kalar n fel in flOiN riNlits Ovar har SOldarz. har Jres waz pjar wFt bat har Fz war blM, n HE lUkd kFndli apon H lital garl.

"wat kn F d f jM, mF cFld?" SI Askd.

/dYraTi tOld H /wic Yl har stYri: hQ H sFklOn hAd brYt har t H /lAnd v /oz, hQ SI hAd fQnd har kmpAnjanz, n v H wandarfal Advancarz HE hAd met wiT.

"mF grEtist wiS nQ," SI Add, "z t get bAk t /kAnzas, f /Ynt /em wil Sarli TiNk samTiN Jredfal hAz hApand t mI, n Ht wil mEk har pUt on mYrnN; n anles H krops r betar Hs jIr Hn HE war lAst, F Am Sar /aNkal /henri kn not afYrd i."

/glinda lInd fYrward n kisd H swIt, aptarnd fEs v H lavN lital garl.

"bles jYr dIr hyrt," SI sed, "F Am Sar F kn tel jM v a wE t get bAk t /kAnzas." Hn SI Add, "bat, if F d, jM mast giv mI H /gOldan /kAp."

"wiliNli!" eksklEmd /dYraTi; "indId, i z v nO jMs t mI nQ, n wen jM hAv i jM kn kmAnd H /wiNd /maNkIz TrI tFmz."

"n F TiNk F SAl nId HEr sarvis Jast HOz TrI tFmz," Ansard /glinda, smFlN.

/dYraTi Hn gEv har H /gOldan /kAp, n H /wic sed t H /skErkrO, "wat wil jM d wen /dYraTi hAz left as?"

"F wil ritarn t H /emarald /siti," hI riplFd, "f /oz hAz mEd mI its rMlar n H pIpal lFk mI. H Onli TiN Ht warIz mI z hQ t kros H hil v H /hAmar-/hedz."

"bF mInz v H /gOldan /kAp F SAl kmAnd H /wiNd /maNkIz t kEri jM t H gEts v H /emarald /siti," sed /glinda, "f i wUd b a SEm t diprFv H pIpal v sO wandatfal a rMlar."

"Am F rIli wandarfal?" Askd H /skErkrO.

"jM r anjMZMal," riplFd /glinda.

tarnN t H /tin /wUdmAn, SI Askd, "wat wil bikam v jM wen /dYraTi lIvz Hs kancri?"

hI lInd on hiz Aks n TYt f a mOmant. Hn hI sed, "H /wiNkIz war vEri kFnd t mI, n wontd mI t rMl Ovar Hem Aftar H /wikid /wic dFd. F Am fond v H /wiNkIz, n if F kUd get bAk agen t H /kancri v H /west, F SUd lFk naTiN betar Hn t rMl Ovar Hem fYrevar."

"mF sekand kmAnd t H /wiNd /maNkIz," sed /glinda, "wil b Ht HE kEri jM sEfli t H lAnd v H /wiNkIz. jYr brEn mE not b sO lyrJ t lUk At Az HOz v H /skErkrO, bat jM r rIli brFtar Hn hI z -- wen jM r wel poliSd -- n F Am Sar jM wil rMl H /wiNkIz wFzli n wel."

Hn H /wic lUkd At H big, SAgi /lFan n Askd, "wen /dYraTi hAz ritarnd t har On hOm, wat wil bikam v jM?"

"Ovar H hil v H /hAmar-hedz," hI Ansard, "lFz a grAnd Old fYrist, n Yl H bIsts Ht liv HEr hAv mEd mI HEr /kiN. if F kUd Onli get bAk t Hs fYrist, F wUd pAs mF lFf vEri hApili HEr."

"mF Tard kmAnd t H /wiNd /maNkIz," sed /glinda, "SAl b t kEri jM t jYr fYrist. Hn, hAvN jMzd ap H pQrz v H /gOldan /kAp, F SAl giv i t H /kiN v H /maNkIz, Ht hI n hiz bAnd mE HErAftar b frI f evarmYr."

H /skErkrO n H /tin /wUdmAn n H /lFan nQ TANkd H /gUd /wic arnistli f har kFndnis; n /dYraTi eksklEmd:

"jM r sartanli Az gUd Az jM r bjMtifal! bat jM hAv not jet tOld mI hQ t get bAk t /kAnzas."

"jYr /silvar /SMz wil kEri jM Ovar H dezart," riplFd /glinda. "if jM hAd nOn HEr pQr jM kUd hAv gon bAk t jYr /Ynt /em H vEri farst dE jM kEm t Hs kancri."

"bat Hn F SUd not hAv hAd mF wandarfal brEnz!" krFd H /skErkrO. "F mFt hAv pAsd mF hOl lFf in H fyrmar'z kYrnfIld."

"n F SUd not hAv hAd mF lavli hyrt," sed H /tin /wUdmAn. "F mFt hAv stUd n rastd in H fYrist til H end v H warld."

"n F SUd hAv livd a kQward fYrevar," diklErd H /lFan, "n nO bIst in Yl H fYrist wUd hAv hAd a gUd ward t sE t mI."

"Hs z Yl crM," sed /dYraTi, "n F Am glAd F waz v jMs t HIz gUd frendz. bat nQ Ht Ic v Hem hAz hAd wat hI mOst dezFrd, n Ic z hApi in hAvN a kiNdam t rMl bisFdz, F TiNk F SUd lFk t gO bAk t /kAnzas."

"H /silvar /SUz," sed H /gUd /wic, "hAv wandarfal pQrz. n wan v H mOst kjMrias TiNz abQt Hem z Ht HE kn kEri jM t enI plEs in H warld in TrI steps, n Ic step wil b mEd in H wiNk v an F. Yl jM hAv t d z t nok H hIlz tageHar TrI tFmz n kmAnd H SMz t kEri jM wErevar jM wiS t gO."

"if Ht z sO," sed H cFld Jqfali, "F wil Ask Hem t kEri mI bAk t /kAnzas At wans."

SI TrM har yrmz arQnd H /lFan'z nek n kisd him, pAtN hiz big hed tendarli. Hn SI kisd H /tin /wUdmAn, hM waz wIpN in a wE mOst dEnJaras t hiz Jqnts. bat SI hagd H soft, staft bodi v H /skErkrO in har yrmz insted v kisN hiz pEntd fEs, n fQnd SI waz krFiN harself At Hs syrOfal pyrtN fram har lavN komrAdz.

/glinda H /gUd stepd dQn fram har rMbi TrOn t giv H lital garl a gUd-bF kis, n /dYraTi TANkd har f Yl H kFndnis SI hAd SOn t har frendz n harself.

/dYraTi nQ tUk /tOtO solamli in har yrmz, n hAvN sed wan lAst gUd-bF SI klApt H hIlz v har SMz tageHar TrI tFmz, sEiN:

"tEk mI hOm t /Ynt /em!"

instantli SI waz warlN TrM H Er, sO swiftli Ht Yl SI kUd sI Yr fIl waz H wind wislN pAst har Irz.

H /silvar /SMz tUk bat TrI steps, n Hn SI stopt sO sadanli Ht SI rOld Ovar apon H grAs sevaral tFmz bifYr SI nM wEr SI waz.

At leNT, hQevar, SI sAt ap n lUkd abQt har.

"gUd grASas!" SI krFd.

f SI waz sitN on H brod /kAnzas prEri, n Jast bifYr har waz H nM fyrmhQs /ankal /henri bilt Aftar H sFklOn hAd kErId awE H Old wan. /ankal /henri waz milkN H kQz in H byrnjyrd, n /tOtO hAd Jampd Qt v har yrmz n waz ranN tYrd H byrn, byrkN fjariasli.

/dYraTi stUd ap n fQnd SI waz in har stokN-fIt. f H /silvar /SMz hAd folan of in har flFt TrM H Er, n war lost fYrevar in H dezart.

/Ynt /em hAd Jast kam Qt v H hQs t wotar H kAbiJz wen SI lUkd ap n sY /dYraTi ranN tYrd har.

"mF dyrlN cFld!" SI krFd, fOldN H lital garl in har yrmz n kavarN har fEs wiT kisz. "wEr in H warld did jM kam fram?"

"fram H /lAnd v /oz," sed /dYraTi grEvli. "n hIr z /tOtO, tM. n O, /Ynt /em! F'm sO glAd t b At hOm agen!"