登陆注册
37944300000026

第26章 Chapter Eleven The Famous Fellowship of Fairies(2)

Ann was greatly provoked at this mark of favor shown to the humble Clockwork Man, but Shaggy seemed much pleased that his old friend's importance had been recognized by the ruler of this remarkable country. The Citizen now began to question Tik-Tok, who told in his mechanical voice about Shaggy's quest of his lost brother, and how Ozma of Oz had sent the Clockwork Man to assist him, and how they had fallen in with Queen Ann and her people from Oogaboo. Also he told how Betsy and Hank and Polychrome and the Rose Princess had happened to join their party.

"And you intended to conquer Ruggedo, the Metal Monarch and King of the Nomes?" asked the Citizen.

"Yes. That seemed the on-ly thing for us to do," was Tik-Tok's reply. "But he was too cle-ver for us. When we got close to his cav-ern he made our path lead to the Tube, and made the op-en-ing in-vis-i-ble, so that we all fell in-to it be-fore we knew it was there. It was an eas-y way to get rid of us and now Rug-gedo is safe and we are far a-way in a strange land."

The Citizen was silent a moment and seemed to be thinking. Then he said:

"Most noble Private Soldier, I must inform you that by the laws of our country anyone who comes through the Forbidden Tube must be tortured for nine days and ten nights and then thrown back into the Tube. But it is wise to disregard laws when they conflict with justice, and it seems that you and your followers did not disobey our laws willingly, being forced into the Tube by Ruggedo.

Therefore the Nome King is alone to blame, and he alone must be punished."

"That suits me," said Tik-Tok. "But Rug-ge-do is on the o-ther side of the world where he is a-way out of your reach."

The Citizen drew himself up proudly.

"Do you imagine anything in the world or upon it can be out of the reach of the Great Jinjin?" he asked.

"Oh! Are you, then, the Great Jinjin?" inquired Tik-Tok.

"I am."

"Then your name is Ti-ti-ti-Hoo-choo?"

"It is."

Queen Ann gave a scream and began to tremble.

Shaggy was so disturbed that he took out a handkerchief and wiped the perspiration from his brow. Polychrome looked sober and uneasy for the first time, while Files put his arms around the Rose Princess as if to protect her. As for the officers, the name of the great Jinjin set them moaning and weeping at a great rate and every one fell upon his knees before the throne, begging for mercy. Betsy was worried at seeing her companions so disturbed, but did not know what it was all about. Only Tik-Tok was unmoved at the discovery.

"Then," said he, "if you are Ti-ti-ti-Hoo-choo, and think Rug-ge-do is to blame, I am sure that some-thing queer will hap-pen to the King of the Nomes."

"I wonder what 'twill be," said Betsy.

The Private Citizen--otherwise known as Tititi-Hoochoo, the Great Jinjin--looked at the little girl steadily.

"I will presently decide what is to happen to Ruggedo," said he in a hard, stern voice. Then, turning to the throng of Kings and Queens, he continued: "Tik-Tok has spoken truly, for his machinery will not allow him to lie, nor will it allow his thoughts to think falsely. Therefore these people are not our enemies and must be treated with consideration and justice. Take them to your palaces and entertain them as guests until to-morrow, when I command that they be brought again to my Residence. By then I shall have formed my plans."

No sooner had Tititi-Hoochoo spoken than he disappeared from sight. Immediately after, most of the Kings and Queens likewise disappeared. But several of them remained visible and approached the strangers with great respect. One of the lovely Queens said to Betsy:

"I trust you will honor me by being my guest. I am Erma, Queen of Light."

"May Hank come with me?" asked the girl.

"The King of Animals will care for your mule," was the reply. "But do not fear for him, for he will be treated royally. All of your party will be reunited on the morrow."

"I--I'd like to have some one with me," said Betsy, pleadingly.

Queen Erma looked around and smiled upon Polychrome.

"Will the Rainbow's Daughter be an agreeable companion?" she asked.

"Oh, yes!" exclaimed the girl.

So Polychrome and Betsy became guests of the Queen of Light, while other beautiful Kings and Queens took charge of the others of the party.

The two girls followed Erma out of the hall and through the gardens of the Residence to a village of pretty dwellings. None of these was so large or imposing as the castle of the Private Citizen, but all were handsome enough to be called palaces--as, in fact, they really were.

同类推荐
  • 黄箓九幽醮无碍夜斋次第仪

    黄箓九幽醮无碍夜斋次第仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 陆九渊文选

    陆九渊文选

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 鹿门子

    鹿门子

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大乘同性经

    大乘同性经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 童蒙诗训

    童蒙诗训

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 魔王的我和圣女妹妹

    魔王的我和圣女妹妹

    我觉醒成为了魔王?我妹妹觉醒是圣女?不不不,你妹妹是病娇(柴刀警告)
  • 桔梗花的花语是无望的爱

    桔梗花的花语是无望的爱

    乔幼祎:“我爱你,但我没有奢望我们能够在一起,因为我深知,从始至终,这都是无望的爱。”池谦:“我知道你爱我,可我没有办法和你在一起,没有办法给你承诺。”施静淇:“我爱你,你也爱我,我们要一直一直在一起。”宋致宸:“你的眼里只有他,却从未在我身上停留,你不知道,我对你的爱也是无望的爱。”这是一个悲伤的故事。你知道桔梗花的花语吗?是永恒的爱也是无望的爱,就像我对你的爱。爱上你,从始至终都是我一个人的事,与你无关,你只要幸福就好。真正的爱不是占有,是成全。
  • 分魂者:独宠妖孽妃

    分魂者:独宠妖孽妃

    这个故事的结尾是女主为男主生下可爱的小宝宝然后幸福的生活在了一起。
  • 重生之王者血脉

    重生之王者血脉

    “只要你帮我保住皇位,你要什么我都可以给你!”“我要的你给不了。”“你到底要什么!我可以封你亲王,可以给你比罗斯平原还要大的封地,可以给你无数金币,妖娆美女!”听到这里,林迪终于露出最绅士的笑容,“这样么,那么,尊敬的陛下,请把你的王位让出来吧。”英雄王的一生是传奇的一生,从来没有一个人能抓准英雄王的心思,也没有人知道英雄王想要什么。或者说,从来没有一个人真正地懂英雄王。——语出《希伯来语》新人写作不易,望各位大大多多支持,一个收藏,一个推荐,就是对闷猫最大的鼓励!
  • 人生之事不过三

    人生之事不过三

    波橘云诡,亲身历练,所闻所见,见证平民!
  • 时锦韶华

    时锦韶华

    混沌初开,与盘古神斧相伴生的是两把剑,一曰宿命,一曰轮回。那日,少年一袭浅金色长袍缓缓走到他的面前,带来的,是缠绵千年的蚀骨执念。最后,他拿着宿命剑,空洞的目光注视着轮回剑,用力将宿命插在它旁边,头也不回的离开了他用力的想要握住,只是却握不住……我得到了这个世界……却失去了他……
  • 如如不动智慧生

    如如不动智慧生

    一个吊在树梢的老倭瓜意外的被外星球的一个神秘零件植入体内,与世间的一段因缘就此开始。老倭瓜的神秘能量沟通着地上和地下的生命讯息,也连通着外星球的讯息,为了地上和地下生命共同生存的地球,为了守护地上生命和地下生命,老倭瓜最终爆裂了自己的躯壳。而它的魂灵转世,静默守候,以待山洞中小方盒重启之日,天上、地上和地下的讯息互通!
  • 宸垣门之冥河鬼候

    宸垣门之冥河鬼候

    芸芸小众生,袅袅长绕梁。一曲塞外高歌,三千世界呢喃。累生累世的纠葛,纷纷扰扰的情愫。预知阴阳断魂之阡陌交通,请君听我娓娓道来。
  • 凤飞九重,盛世无双

    凤飞九重,盛世无双

    有着“暗夜修罗”之名的黎若楠却窝囊的死在所谓男朋友与好姐妹的手里,连带着无辜的林晨,再次睁眼,她成了黎家废材大小姐,毫无修为,任人宰割。废物?胆小懦弱?没人喜欢?双上古神兽亮瞎你们的眼;神鬼莫测的身法,进阶神速的玄力将一众渣滓踩在脚下;轻轻松松撩得一只武力爆表、相貌盛世、宠她入骨的夜王殿下,黎若楠觉得自己人生圆满了!“楠儿,本王爱你,我的人,我的命统统给你好不好?”“本姑娘不爱死人,给我好好活着!”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 网游之三界游

    网游之三界游

    这里不是武侠世界,所以没有武当少林。这里非同西方魔幻,所以拒绝法师战士。《三界游》里包含了一个漫画般的游戏世界,里面有的是近千万的玩家和十六个各具特色的种族,我只是这里面的一员。原本只是想安心、安逸、安全的玩游戏的我无奈地发现,在各种各样莫名其妙的事情堆积下,我的实力随着游戏的进行是越来越靠近传说中的顶峰,所以游戏里的我毫无疑问不可能安心,更不可能安逸,也绝对不可能安全,我是一个时刻被610万对立阵营玩家所惦记的人。同时,我的现实生活也因为这个游戏发生了改变,最起码的一点我想我是肯定当不了宅男了。