Knjigice
Fairy tale · Classic fairy tales
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The story of Dorothy, carried by a cyclone to a wonderful land
Also in: Čarovnik iz Oza (Slovenian) · Čarodejník z krajiny Oz (Slovak)
In the middle of the wide grey Kansas prairie stood a little house. In it lived a girl called Dorothy with Aunt Em, Uncle Henry and her little dog Toto. One day a terrible whirling cyclone came from afar. Auntie ran down to the cellar, but Dorothy was chasing Toto — and before she could follow, the cyclone lifted the house high into the sky, Dorothy and Toto and all.
1
The house landed with a mighty thump — right on the Wicked Witch of the East, and that was the end of her. All around stood little people dressed in blue, bowing happily: "You have set us free!" The Good Witch of the North gave Dorothy the witch's silver shoes. "If you want to go home, follow the yellow road to the Emerald City. The great Wizard of Oz lives there."
2
Dorothy put on the silver shoes, took Toto in her arms and stepped onto the road of yellow bricks. The shoes tinkled softly at every step. The road wound away over green fields, past little blue houses and blossoming gardens, on and on into the distance. "Chin up, Toto," said Dorothy. "The Wizard of Oz will surely help us find our way home to Kansas."
3
In a cornfield, a scarecrow with a kindly painted face hung on a pole. "Please lift me down," it said. "I hang here all day, and my head holds nothing but straw. How I wish I had brains!" Dorothy helped him down. "Come with me to the Wizard," she said. "Perhaps he will give you brains." And the Scarecrow toddled happily beside her.
4
In the forest they heard a soft groaning. Among the trees stood a woodman made all of tin — the rain had rusted him, and he could not move at all. Dorothy oiled his joints, and the Tin Woodman bowed gratefully. "I have no heart in my chest," he said. "How I wish I had a heart, so I could love someone!" "Come with us to the Wizard," said the Scarecrow.
5
Just then a great lion sprang out of the thicket and roared. But when Toto bravely barked at him, the lion backed away and hung his head. "Forgive me," he said. "I only roar because I am afraid of everything. A lion without courage — what is that?" "Come with us," said Dorothy. "The Wizard will give you courage." And so four friends and Toto marched on down the yellow road.
6
The Emerald City sparkled like a thousand green lights. In the great hall boomed the mighty voice of the Wizard of Oz: "I know what you wish for. But first you must do one task: defeat the Wicked Witch of the West. Then I will grant your every wish." The friends looked at one another. They were afraid, but Dorothy said: "Together we can do it."
7
The Wicked Witch of the West had only one eye, but with it she saw farther than a telescope. She spotted the travellers and sent her wolves and crows against them, but the friends drove them off. Then she blew her silver whistle and ordered the girl brought to her. So Dorothy and Toto ended up in the witch's castle — and the witch kept squinting at her silver shoes.
8
One day the witch snatched one of the shoes. "Give it back!" cried Dorothy, and in her anger she grabbed a bucket of water and flung it over the witch. "Oh, what have you done!" shrieked the witch — and began to melt. She dissolved like sugar in the rain, until nothing was left of her but a wet puddle. Dorothy picked up her shoe and set everyone in the castle free.
9
They returned to the Emerald City. "Great Oz, keep your promise!" But just then Toto tipped over a screen in the corner of the hall — and behind it stood a small bald man with spectacles. "I am the Wizard," he said quietly. "I am neither great nor terrible. I am only an ordinary man whose balloon once drifted into this land." The friends were amazed.
10
"But I will keep my promise," said the little man, smiling. He sprinkled fresh thoughts into the Scarecrow's head, laid a silken heart in the Tin Woodman's chest, and poured the Lion a sip of courage. And behold: all three glowed with joy. They had had brains, heart and courage all along — they only had to believe it. "And you, Dorothy, shall fly with me — by balloon!"
11
A great balloon stood waiting in the square. But just before take-off, Toto ran after a cat, and Dorothy after him. The ropes slipped loose and the balloon rose — without her. "Farewell!" called the little man, vanishing in the clouds. Dorothy blinked back tears. "Never mind," said the Scarecrow. "Good Glinda in the South will surely help you."
12
They travelled far south, to the castle of Glinda the Good. "Nothing easier," smiled Glinda. "The silver shoes can carry you anywhere you wish — they always could. Knock your heels together three times and say where you want to go." Dorothy hugged the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Lion. "I will never forget you," she said, holding Toto close.
13
Then she knocked her heels together three times: "Home! To Aunt Em!" The world spun like the wind — and there she sat, in the middle of the familiar grey Kansas prairie. Aunt Em came running from the house. "My Dorothy!" They hugged, and Toto leapt joyfully around them. And at that moment the grey farm seemed to Dorothy the loveliest place in the whole wide world.
14The End
