登陆注册
5240600000040

第40章 Chapter Seventeen The Nome King(2)

He then commanded Kitticut and Garee to lay before the Nome King the bags of gold and jewels, and they obeyed, being helpless.

"Very good," said King Kaliko, nodding approval, for like all the nomes he loved treasures of gold and jewels. "But who are the prisoners you have brought here, and why do you place them in my charge instead of guarding them, yourself? They seem gentle enough, I'm sure."

"The prisoners," returned King Gos, "are the King and Queen of Pingaree, a small island north of here. They are very evil people and came to our islands of Regos and Coregos to conquer them and slay our poor people.

Also they intended to plunder us of all our riches, but by good fortune we were able to defeat and capture them. However, they have a son who is a terrible wizard and who by magic art is trying to find this awful King and Queen of Pingaree, and to set them free, that they may continue their wicked deeds. Therefore, as we have no magic to defend ourselves with, we have brought the prisoners to you for safe keeping."

"Your Majesty," spoke up King Kitticut, addressing the Nome King with great indignation, "do not believe this tale, I implore you. It is all a lie!"

"I know it," said Kaliko. "I consider it a clever lie, though, because it is woven without a thread of truth. However, that is none of my business. The fact remains that my good friend King Gos wishes to put you in my underground caverns, so that you will be unable to escape. And why should I not please him in this little matter? Gos is a mighty King and a great warrior, while your island of Pingaree is desolated and your people scattered. In my heart, King Kitticut, I sympathize with you, but as a matter of business policy we powerful Kings must stand together and trample the weaker ones under our feet."

King Kitticut was surprised to find the King of the nomes so candid and so well informed, and he tried to argue that he and his gentle wife did not deserve their cruel fate and that it would be wiser for Kaliko to side with them than with the evil King of Regos. But Kaliko only shook his head and smiled, saying:

"The fact that you are a prisoner, my poor Kitticut, is evidence that you are weaker than King Cos, and I prefer to deal with the strong. By the way," he added, turning to the King of Regos, "have these prisoners any connection with the Land of Oz?"

"Why do you ask?" said Gos.

"Because I dare not offend the Oz people," was the reply. "I am very powerful, as you know, but Ozma of Oz is far more powerful than I; therefore, if this King and Queen of Pingaree happened to be under Ozma's protection, I would have nothing to do with them."

"I assure Your Majesty that the prisoners have nothing to do with the Oz people," Gos hastened to say.

And Kitticut, being questioned, admitted that this was true.

"But how about that wizard you mentioned?" asked the Nome King.

"Oh, he is merely a boy; but he is very ferocious and obstinate and he is assisted by a little fat sorcerer called Rinkitink and a talking goat."

"Oho! A talking goat, do you say? That certainly sounds like magic; and it also sounds like the Land of Oz, where all the animals talk," said Kaliko, with a doubtful expression.

But King Gos assured him the talking goat had never been to Oz.

"As for Rinkitink, whom you call a sorcerer," continued the Nome King, "he is a neighbor of mine, you must know, but as we are cut off from each other by high mountains beneath which a powerful river runs, I have never yet met King Rinkitink. But I have heard of him, and from all reports he is a jolly rogue, and perfectly harmless. However, in spite of your false statements and misrepresentations, I will earn the treasure you have brought me, by keeping your prisoners safe in my caverns.

"Make them work," advised Queen Cor. "They are rather delicate, and to make them work will make them suffer delightfully."

"I'll do as I please about that," said the Nome King sternly. "Be content that I agree to keep them safe."

The bargain being thus made and concluded, Kaliko first examined the gold and jewels and then sent it away to his royal storehouse, which was well filled with like treasure. Next the captives were sent away in charge of the nome with the golden collar and keys, whose name was Klik, and he escorted them to a small cavern and gave them a good supper.

"I shall lock your door," said Klik, "so there is no need of your wearing those heavy chains any longer." He therefore removed the chains and left King Kitticut and his Queen alone. This was the first time since the Northmen had carried them away from Pingaree that the good King and Queen had been alone together and free of all bonds, and as they embraced lovingly and mingled their tears over their sad fate they were also grateful that they had passed from the control of the heartless King Gos into the more considerate care of King Kaliko.

They were still captives but they believed they would be happier in the underground caverns of the nomes than in Regos and Coregos.

Meantime, in the King's royal cavern a great feast had been spread. King Gos and Queen Cor, having triumphed in their plot, were so well pleased that they held high revelry with the jolly Nome King until a late hour that night. And the next morning, having cautioned Kaliko not to release the prisoners under any consideration without their orders, the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos left the caverns of the nomes to return to the shore of the ocean where they had left their boat.

同类推荐
  • 顶轮王大曼荼罗灌顶仪轨

    顶轮王大曼荼罗灌顶仪轨

    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。
  • 观无量寿佛经疏

    观无量寿佛经疏

    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。
  • 佛说大乘大方广佛冠经

    佛说大乘大方广佛冠经

    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。
  • 文说

    文说

    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。
  • Three Men on the Bummel

    Three Men on the Bummel

    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
  • 岛屿和远航:当代爱尔兰四诗人选

    岛屿和远航:当代爱尔兰四诗人选

    本书是包慧怡和彭李菁合作翻译的当代爱尔兰四位诗人的作品集。四位诗人中,迈克尔·朗礼、哈利·克里夫顿和葆拉·弥罕分别为最近三届爱尔兰桂冠诗人,保罗·默顿曾经任牛津大学的诗歌教授,现任普林斯顿大学人文学院教授。本诗集所选四位诗人的作品,多是诗人对普世价值观与国家身份认同的思考、对爱尔兰语和英语的情感与考量、对诗歌与人类社会关系的反思,均有极深的文学意义和现实意义。
  • 幻兮儿

    幻兮儿

    是冰嫌相虐,还是爱火重生?爱我者倾尽所有为我,我为爱者陷世浮沉。这一世我愿百转千寻,只求冰火相融之时便是你我情爱相守之日。
  • 将甲型H1N1流感抗击到底

    将甲型H1N1流感抗击到底

    甲型H1N1流感离我们到底有多远?它的传播途径有哪些?一旦被感染之后我们如何应对……对我们来说,有太多的疑问。于是,《将甲型H1N1流感抗击到底》一书应运而生。本书结合墨西哥等国的流感疫情以及我国目前的防疫状况,从认识流感入手,深入浅出地为您介绍了如何应对此次疫情的一些基本知识。
  • 冷酷校草别吻我

    冷酷校草别吻我

    星海学院,星海四少,是贵族学校的明星……呆萌的女主,是一个只知道学习的学霸……当霸道的校草遇上呆萌的校花,是一场笑话,还是一场青春的爱情?郑重提示:严西西绝不扮蠢,本书不是霸道总裁爱上保洁小妹,或者腹黑校草恋上纯洁女孩……严西西的智商是很高的,只不过是有些萌,有些可爱……
  • 梦里六弦琴

    梦里六弦琴

    赵炎只是一个流浪吉他手,他穿越了。赵炎只想和几位新朋友一同在世间流浪,找到那个从天外而来的老和尚,想辄回家。可他没想到,自己被卷入了一个巨大的阴谋之中,更成了到道魔妖佛鬼与魔神殿争斗漩涡中的一颗棋子。为了朋友,为了生存,为了爱人,他也只有弹着六弦琴去战斗,哪怕有一天,自己坠入万劫不复之地。
  • 让你受益一生的自我疗愈心理学

    让你受益一生的自我疗愈心理学

    牧之所著《让你受益一生的自我疗愈心理学》全面系统地解析了自我疗愈心理学的原理,多角度探讨了现代人常见的各种不良心理,剖析了自卑、愤怒、焦虑、忧郁、抱怨、悔恨、烦恼等各种心理问题的内在根源,提供了一些简单、易行、有效的心理自愈方法,同时也阐明了职场、交际、爱情、婚姻、生活中心理问题的应对之道,为每一个深受心理问题困扰的人提供了切实有效的解决方案和参考指南。
  • 暴力织女

    暴力织女

    作为一个穿成一本穿越玛丽苏修仙小说中活不到三集的炮灰女配,董知和认为自己还可以被拯救一下。?有完结作品《路人甲日常》、《开挂人生之修真界的假仙》
  • 超神学院之奥特曼

    超神学院之奥特曼

    叶洛因为一个无限奥特曼系统穿越到了奥特曼世界用了十万年时间拥有了比肩神秘四奥的实力,在最后与宇宙最强大帝卡拉法尔大帝对战时引爆了自身,最后穿越到了超神学院世界且看一代奥特战神如何在超神学院世界搅动风云。PS:作者新人不要认真认真你就输了此书为无敌文
  • 重生空间之田园医女

    重生空间之田园医女

    现代中医世家传人凌筱雅只是在飞机上迷迷糊糊的睡了一觉。醒来之后,竟然成为大梁朝被人一巴掌扇死的悲催小农女。秀才爹爹早逝,娘亲病弱,姐姐弟弟都是软柿子,任人打来任人骂。一家子挤在一个破陋不堪的小屋,极品亲戚见天儿的欺负人!丫丫的!姑娘不发威,你就把我当病猫啊!好不容易分了家,可日子如此穷困,脱贫致富是关键!娘亲病弱,没关系,俺有空间灵泉包治百病!姐姐弟弟是软柿子,没关系,俺将他们调教成腹黑包子!买土地,种果树,酿果酒;建大棚,种蔬菜,做美食!终于,凌筱雅利用空间将日子过的红红火火!极品亲戚又来打秋风!丫的,极品亲戚来一个,我打一个,来一双打一双!可是谁来告诉她,原主的身份竟然如此不简单,竟然是公主的女儿——回到京城之后,凌筱雅才知道原先她认为的极品亲戚真不算什么,京城的这些才是真正的极品中的极品啊!精彩片段抢先看某女咬牙启齿的看着眼前的冰山男子,冷飕飕的开口,“就是你在外面说,我是你的人?”冰山美男面不改色,一本正经的开口,眼底是化不开的浓浓深情,“除了我,你还想嫁给谁?”某女不爽的瞥了一眼冰山男子,“除了你,想娶本郡主的人,能从这里排到凤阳村!”“这世上只有我一个能娶你,要是你敢嫁给别人——”“如何!”某女不服气的抬起下巴,一脸傲娇的开口。“要是你敢嫁其他男人,你就只有当寡妇的命了!所以你还是乖乖地等着嫁给本将军吧!”某女的嘴角抽了抽,她绝对相信这冰山能做出这种事情,其实想想,这冰山长得也不错,而且没通房没小妾,嫁给他也不亏!于是某女决定了!“好,嫁给你也行!不过你要立马出去辟谣,本郡主才不是你的人,你是本郡主的人才对!”某女可是立志要做女王的!某冰山脸迅速崩溃!
  • 余音暖暖皆为你

    余音暖暖皆为你

    【甜宠1v1】【元气唱见VS电竞大神】她是声音甜美的元气唱见,他是超人气电竞大神。三岁那年,小封兮就被大灰狼江之卿给拐回了家当小媳妇。长大以后,拉她小手就算了,竟然还天天亲亲抱抱举高高!当本仙女是你的宠物啊摔!“怎么会是宠物呢?你分明是一只小蠢猪。”“......江之卿你大爷的!”