登陆注册
5255700000041

第41章 Chapter Nineteen Ugu the Shoemaker(1)

A curious thing about Ugu the Shoemaker was that he didn't suspect, in the least, that he was wicked. He wanted to be powerful and great and he hoped to make himself master of all the Land of Oz, that he might compel everyone in that fairy country to obey him. His ambition blinded him to the rights of others and he imagined anyone else would act just as he did if anyone else happened to be as clever as himself.

When he inhabited his little shoemaking shop in the City of Herku he had been discontented, for a shoemaker is not looked upon with high respect and Ugu knew that his ancestors had been famous magicians for many centuries past and therefore his family was above the ordinary. Even his father practiced magic, when Ugu was a boy; but his father had wandered away from Herku and had never come back again. So, when Ugu grew up, he was forced to make shoes for a living, knowing nothing of the magic of his forefathers. But one day, in searching through the attic of his house, he discovered all the books of magical recipes and many magical instruments which had formerly been in use in his family. From that day he stopped making shoes and began to study magic.

Finally he aspired to become the greatest magician in Oz, and for days and weeks and months he thought on a plan to render all the other sorcerers and wizards, as well as those with fairy powers, helpless to oppose him.

From the books of his ancestors he learned the following facts:

(1) That Ozma of Oz was the fairy ruler of the Emerald City and the Land of Oz, and that she could not be destroyed by any magic ever devised. Also, by means of her Magic Picture she would be able to discover anyone who approached her royal palace with the idea of conquering it.

(2) That Glinda the Good was the most powerful Sorceress in Oz, among her other magical possessions being the Great Book of Records, which told her all that happened anywhere in the world. This Book of Records was very dangerous to Ugu's plans and Glinda was in the service of Ozma and would use her arts of sorcery to protect the girl Ruler.

(3) That the Wizard of Oz, who lived in Ozma's palace, had been taught much powerful magic by Glinda and had a bag of magic tools with which he might be able to conquer the Shoemaker.

(4) That there existed in Oz-in the Yip Country -- a jeweled dishpan made of gold, which dishpan possessed marvelous powers of magic. At a magic word, which Ugu learned from the book, the dishpan would grow large enough for a man to sit inside it. Then, when he grasped both the golden handles, the dishpan would transport him in an instant to any place he wished to go within the borders of the Land of Oz.

No one now living, except Ugu, knew of the powers of this Magic Dishpan; so, after long study, the shoemaker decided that if he could manage to secure the dishpan he could, by its means, rob Ozma and Glinda and the Wizard of Oz of all their magic, thus becoming himself the most powerful person in all the land.

His first act was to go away from the City of Herku and built for himself the Wicker Castle in the hills.

Here he carried his books and instruments of magic and here for a full year he diligently practiced all the magical arts learned from his ancestors. At the end of that time he could do a good many wonderful things.

同类推荐
  • 证治准绳·杂病

    证治准绳·杂病

    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。
  • 太清五十八愿文

    太清五十八愿文

    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。
  • 小问

    小问

    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。
  • 日知录之馀

    日知录之馀

    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。
  • Richard II

    Richard II

    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
  • 网游之瘟疫法师

    网游之瘟疫法师

    推荐新书:《我真的是画师》PS:前三十章?可以跳过,不影响阅读。有瘟疫的地方就有我的存在,有我存在的地方就有瘟疫,有兴趣的朋友可以加一下群:640874089,不定期有惊喜呦!
  • 怪物1

    怪物1

    过下午三点钟的时候,又开始刮风。灰尘扑头盖脑地朝脸上扑过来,风镜上很快糊了厚厚一层,视线几乎完全被阻挡。风刚起来的时候,检测器便发出了呜呜的哀鸣,李诺和唐勇飞快地将铁锨扛在肩上,转身就往院子里冲。即便如此,还是很快就被灰尘遮挡了视线,眼前一片模糊,只能依靠检测器的鸣叫辨别方向。灰尘如雨般落在身上,随着呼吸进入肺部。李诺抓起氧气罩罩在脸上,一边咳嗽,一边拽着唐勇。
  • 清穿人生

    清穿人生

    一路纠结着,一路挥霍着,最后一路幸福着,可是最后却是一路痛苦着的玉兰,她的人生为什么会变成这样?她本意不过是想好好的活着而已!可是当她活在胤禛身边,当她作为胤禛嫡福晋而活着的时候,她的人生就注定会是个悲剧……
  • 三凰求凤:喜欢你没道理

    三凰求凤:喜欢你没道理

    我不要求你离婚,我不要孩子,我让你去找她,我不要你去干任何工作,我只要你能陪着我,你为什么还要打我,浑身是伤的李静哭的肝肠寸断,但那无情的拳头还是落了下来……这是你第一次主动要我,恐怕也是最后一次,她躺在床上,心里的苦涩阵阵泛出,她不明白这倒底是为什么?她只想问老天,为什么她的爱会这么难……
  • 二十几岁要懂的商务礼仪

    二十几岁要懂的商务礼仪

    不管你对商务应酬了解与否、谙熟与否,《二十几岁要懂的商务礼仪》都能给你带来益处。《二十几岁要懂的商务礼仪》立足现实需要,囊括实际商务应酬的方方面面,它能给你指明商务应酬的总法则和大方向,也能教会你一些简单的商务应酬小技巧和小窍门。同时,这本书更多地指出了在商务应酬中容易出错的一些小的细节问题,让你在实际应用中有纲可循、有例可查。
  • 快穿女主拯救世界

    快穿女主拯救世界

    江殊有点无奈,稳坐星际宝座的她不知道怎么就被自己研发拿去坑人的系统绑定了,苦逼的在位面穿梭,做一个“真善美白莲花”女主,想撩尽天下美男的她原来发现都是一个人?!“殊,你可真是好样的。”某人咬牙道。
  • 金童话

    金童话

    《金童话》是一部令人灵魂战栗的小说。陈占敏以“黄金”作为镜子,以他一以贯之的冷峻、梦幻而诗性的想象,对人性、政治、权力、欲望、历史等等永恒的主题进行着悲壮的拷问与“挖掘”,写实与寓言、魔幻与现实、此岸与彼岸在小说中彼此交融,作家深邃的眼光、悲悯的思考更是穿透遥远的时空,使“黄金”拥有了艺术的灵光。散发出了超越自身、超越世俗的光芒。
  • 台湾杂记

    台湾杂记

    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。
  • 30岁结婚

    30岁结婚

    北京版《爱与黑暗的故事》。故事在主人公【东方岩】【东方鹤】兄妹及他们的共同好友【忆良】及他们身边的同事、朋友、同学、亲人、爱人身上展开。东方岩是本分老实的“北漂”打工者,因为没房没车,30岁的他一次次被分手。东方岩的妹妹东方鹤品学兼优,考入北京大学后也遭遇一系列感情问题。北京承载了年轻人的梦想与辛酸。故事围绕几个人年轻人展开。将都市生活、学习、职场、校园、家庭等矛盾、纠结、温馨场景串联,就当下年轻人关注的爱情、成长、婚姻等问题展开探索。都市生活的压力与无奈,爱情的偶然与必然,婚姻与家庭对人的永恒吸引力,韶华与老去……这一切都在人与人之间流动,在心与心的交流中坚固。
  • 重生之城市修仙

    重生之城市修仙

    在这浩瀚的都市,金钱,权利,皆为浮云,唯有至强实力,方可掌控一切,制霸天下!