登陆注册
5240600000039

第39章 Chapter Seventeen The Nome King(1)

The Kingdom of the Nomes does not border on the Nonestic Ocean, from which it is separated by the Kingdom of Rinkitink and the Country of the Wheelers, which is a part of the Land of Ev. Rinkitink's country is separated from the country of the Nomes by a row of high and steep mountains, from which it extends to the sea. The Country of the Wheelers is a sandy waste that is open on one side to the Nonestic Ocean and on the other side has no barrier to separate it from the Nome Country, therefore it was on the coast of the Wheelers that King Cos landed -- in a spot quite deserted by any of the curious inhabitants of that country.

The Nome Country is very large in extent, and is only separated from the Land of Oz, on its eastern borders, by a Deadly Desert that can not be crossed by mortals, unless they are aided by the fairies or by magic.

The nomes are a numerous and mischievous people, living in underground caverns of wide extent, connected one with another by arches and passages. The word "nome" means "one who knows," and these people are so called because they know where all the gold and silver and precious stones are hidden in the earth -- a knowledge that no other living creatures share with them. The nomes are busy people, constantly digging up gold in one place and taking it to another place, where they secretly bury it, and perhaps this is the reason they alone know where to find it. The nomes were ruled, at the time of which I write, by a King named Kaliko.

King Gos had expected to be pursued by Inga in his magic boat, so he made all the haste possible, urging his forty rowers to their best efforts night and day.

To his joy he was not overtaken but landed on the sandy beach of the Wheelers on the morning of the eighth day.

The forty rowers were left with the boat, while Queen Cor and King Cos, with their royal prisoners, who were still chained, began the journey to the Nome King.

It was not long before they passed the sands and reached the rocky country belonging to the nomes, but they were still a long way from the entrance to the underground caverns in which lived the Nome King. There was a dim path, winding between stones and boulders, over which the walking was quite difficult, especially as the path led up hills that were small mountains, and then down steep and abrupt slopes where any misstep might mean a broken leg. Therefore it was the second day of their journey before they climbed halfway up a rugged mountain and found themselves at the entrance of the Nome King's caverns.

On their arrival, the entrance seemed free and unguarded, but Gos and Cor had been there before, and they were too wise to attempt to enter without announcing themselves, for the passage to the caves was full of traps and pitfalls. So King Gos stood still and shouted, and in an instant they were surrounded by a group of crooked nomes, who seemed to have sprung from the ground.

One of these had very long ears and was called The Long-Eared Hearer. He said: "I heard you coming early this morning."

Another had eyes that looked in different directions at the same time and were curiously bright and penetrating. He could look over a hill or around a corner and was called The Lookout. Said he: "I saw you coming yesterday."

"Then," said King Gos, "perhaps King Kaliko is expecting us."

"It is true," replied another nome, who wore a gold collar around his neck and carried a bunch of golden keys. "The mighty Nome King expects you, and bids you follow me to his presence."

With this he led the way into the caverns and Gos and Cor followed, dragging their weary prisoners with them, for poor King Kitticut and his gentle Queen had been obliged to carry, all through the tedious journey, the bags of gold and jewels which were to bribe the Nome King to accept them as slaves.

Through several long passages the guide led them and at last they entered a small cavern which was beautifully decorated and set with rare jewels that flashed from every part of the wall, floor and ceiling.

This was a waiting-room for visitors, and there their guide left them while he went to inform King Kaliko of their arrival.

Before long they were ushered into a great domed chamber, cut from the solid rock and so magnificent that all of them -- the King and Queen of Pingaree and the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos -- drew long breaths of astonishment and opened their eyes as wide as they could.

In an ivory throne sat a little round man who had a pointed beard and hair that rose to a tall curl on top of his head. He was dressed in silken robes, richly embroidered, which had large buttons of cut rubies. On his head was a diamond crown and in his hand he held a golden sceptre with a big jeweled ball at one end of it. This was Kaliko, the King and ruler of all the nomes. He nodded pleasantly enough to his visitors and said in a cheery voice:

"Well, Your Majesties, what can I do for you?"

"It is my desire," answered King Gos, respectfully, "to place in your care two prisoners, whom you now see before you. They must be carefully guarded, to prevent them from escaping, for they have the cunning of foxes and are not to be trusted. In return for the favor I am asking you to grant, I have brought Your Majesty valuable presents of gold and precious gems.

同类推荐
  • The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays

    The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 高丽国普照禅师修心诀

    高丽国普照禅师修心诀

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明真破妄章颂

    明真破妄章颂

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 匋雅

    匋雅

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 女科证治准绳

    女科证治准绳

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 画天

    画天

    飘渺云雾画中天,执笔苍生仙中仙,一念轮回天外天,道海无涯欲成仙。
  • 风语2

    风语2

    《风语(2)》著述的正是中国黑室的故事。主人公是一个惊世骇俗的数学奇人、天才破译家,他手无缚鸡之力,却令敌人闻风丧胆,谈之色变;他不识枪炮,却是那场战争中最大的战斗英雄;他在纸上谈兵,却歼敌于千里之外;他孤身一人,但起的作用却抵得过一个野战军团;他门外有重兵把守,抽屉里有各种保健良药,却依然命悬一线,命运多舛。这是一个神奇的人,黑室让他变得更加神奇。他活着,就有更多的人能够幸免于死;他活着,就有更多的人要为他而死;他活着,就有传奇,就有故事,就有人世间最欢心的事、最揪心的痛。他是中国一代精英知识分子的代表,在历史的风云际会之中尽显热情与智慧,也深感无辜与无助。
  • 高上玉皇本行集经

    高上玉皇本行集经

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 废柴小姐逆袭妃

    废柴小姐逆袭妃

    穿越异世,却是不能修炼的废柴之人。家族三小姐,只是因为不能修炼,被处处欺侮。意外得到神龙的认同,签订契约。有高深师父带路,开启逆天修炼之路,废柴逆袭,谁说只有男人可以?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 九神变

    九神变

    简介:道术与魔法双修,生出九尾九翼,闯深渊魔域,破六道鸿蒙,取元晶,掠元丹,制魔杖法器,祭仙剑法宝,纵横异界大陆,争霸王朝帝国,挥舞着九双彩色翅膀的全系元素魔法师,摇曳着九条斑斓巨尾的全职元气修炼者,自由穿越九大位面空间和亿万个次空元,傲视九重天,武动天河星辰,天上地下横行无忌的九界至尊。。这一切都来源于一个神秘的图腾!
  • 虎龙天尊

    虎龙天尊

    一个人奔着巅峰中遇到无数事情最后走向巅峰
  • 上阳子金丹大要仙派

    上阳子金丹大要仙派

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 跟杨澜学做完美女人

    跟杨澜学做完美女人

    在很多女人眼里,她是幸福的,也是幸运的。她几乎拥有女人幸福的所有资质:智慧、美貌、气质、机遇。然而,鲜有人知,至今日,每一步,杨澜都走得很不容易。她的成功,她的幸福,靠的是对艰难困苦的战胜,靠的是孜孜不倦的勤奋,靠的是永不放弃的信念和乐观从容的心态。《跟杨澜学做完美女人》将杨澜的精彩成就与背后那些鲜为人知的经历,以及她在不同场合说过的精彩语录,一一呈现给读者,并围绕天下女人所渴望的幸福二字,为每一位女人讲述幸福的必经之旅,教会女性如何规划自己的人生。
  • 无量寿经义记

    无量寿经义记

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 农村的童年生活

    农村的童年生活

    你玩过纸枪吗?你小时候藏老母吗?你小时候爬过树吗?你小时候有被抢零食有让的经历吗?你小时候偷过钱吗?你小时候玩泥巴吗?什么主人公的脸被狗咬了??它分为上篇和下篇,上篇讲述的是村里的童年生活,下篇讲的是村学校里面的童年生活