The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Книга для чтения на английском языке - страница 7

“How far is it to the Emerald City?” the girl asked.

“I do not know,” answered Boq gravely, “for I have never been there. It is better for people to keep away from Oz, unless |только если| they have business with him. But it is a long way to the Emerald City, and it will take you many days. The country here is rich and pleasant, but you must pass through rough and dangerous places before you reach the end of your journey.”

This worried Dorothy a little, but she knew that only the Great Oz could help her get to Kansas again, so she bravely resolved not to turn back.

She bade her friends good-bye |Она попрощалась с друзьями|, and again started along the road of yellow brick. When she had gone several miles she thought she would stop to rest, and so climbed to the top of the fence beside the road and sat down. There was a great cornfield beyond the fence, and not far away she saw a Scarecrow, placed high on a pole |на палке| to keep the birds from the ripe corn.

Dorothy leaned |облокотила| her chin upon her hand and gazed thoughtfully |внимательно посмотрела| at the Scarecrow. Its head was a small sack stuffed with straw |мешок, набитый соломой|, with eyes, nose, and mouth painted on it to represent a face. An old, pointed |заостренная| blue hat, that had belonged to some Munchkin, was perched |была насажена| on his head, and the rest of the figure was a blue suit of clothes, worn and faded, which had also been stuffed with straw. On the feet were some old boots with blue tops, such as every man wore in this country, and the figure was raised above the stalks of corn by means of the pole stuck up its back |стебли кукурузы из-за шеста, втыкались ему в спину|.

While Dorothy was looking earnestly |серьезно| into the queer, painted face of the Scarecrow, she was surprised to see one of the eyes slowly wink at her |подмигнул ей|. She thought she must have been mistaken |должно быть ошиблась| at first, for none of the scarecrows in Kansas ever wink; but presently the figure nodded its head to her in a friendly way. Then she climbed down from the fence and walked up to it, while Toto ran around the pole and barked.

“Good day,” said the Scarecrow, in a rather husky |хриплым| voice.

“Did you speak?” asked the girl, in wonder.

“Certainly,” answered the Scarecrow. “How do you do?”

“I’m pretty well, thank you,” replied Dorothy politely. “How do you do?”

“I’m not feeling well,” said the Scarecrow, with a smile, “for it is very tedious being perched up here |утомительно сидеть здесь наверху| night and day to scare away crows.”

“Can’t you get down?” asked Dorothy.

“No, for this pole is stuck up my back. If you will please take away the pole I shall be greatly obliged |буду неимоверно обязан| to you.”

Dorothy reached up both arms and lifted the figure off the pole, for, being stuffed with straw, it was quite light.

“Thank you very much,” said the Scarecrow, when he had been set down on the ground. “I feel like a new man.”

Dorothy was puzzled at this, for it sounded queer to hear a stuffed man speak, and to see him bow and walk along beside her.

“Who are you?” asked the Scarecrow when he had stretched himself and yawned. “And where are you going?”