Read the adventures of the emerald city online. Yellow brick road
The world-famous book “The Wizard of the Emerald City” and all the parts in order following the main one were read by everyone: young and old, rereading and reading the books several times, because the stories were really exciting and interesting, unusual for those times the plot of Volkov's books.
Summary of “The Wizard of the Emerald City”
This is the story of a girl Ellie and her dog Toto, who, by a strange coincidence or indeed thanks to witchcraft, ended up in the Magic Land.
In the process of trying to return home, she meets three creatures: one made of straw, another made of iron, and the third is an ordinary-looking lion, but speaks a human language, however, like all the other inhabitants of the fairy-tale place. The author of “The Wizard of the Emerald City” described the experiences of his friends so colorfully and in detail that children all over the world sincerely worried about them and wrote heartfelt letters to Alexander Volkov.
Book two: “Oorfene Deuce and his wooden soldiers”
An apprentice of an evil witch and a part-time carpenter accidentally became the owner of a powerful powder that turns any object into a living creature. Thanks to his ability to work with wood, he creates an entire army and usurps power in the world of fairy-tale men.
Resourceful friends find a way to warn Ellie, who goes to the rescue with her uncle and frees the country from the oppression of Oorfene Deuce, who was expelled in disgrace.
"Seven Underground Kings" - a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz"
Contents Volkov brought up the moment of the founding of the fairy-tale country, how it was divided into sectors and thanks to what circumstances the country of miners arose. The life of seven kings in one kingdom is described, and the reader also learns the history of the emergence of the sacred Sleeping Spring. Ellie couldn’t do it here either: again, quite by accident, she ends up in the world of miners along with her cousin and again helps the locals achieve justice.
“The Fire God of the Marrans” - the fourth part of the story
In the fourth part, Oorfene Deuce again comes to the fore, having accumulated within himself for years hatred and a desire for revenge, as well as to once again enslave the inhabitants of the fairy-tale country. He manages to subjugate the Marrano tribe, who were one of the most primitive tribes in the Magic Land. He begins to gradually seize territories and again becomes a usurper. In parallel with these events in Kansas, Ellie’s grown-up sister and her friend, having heard enough stories about a wonderful world, go to visit and arrive on time. After a series of adventures, they save the inhabitants from oppression and happily return home.
Book Five: “Yellow Fog”
In this part, Oorfene Deuce appears in a completely new guise: he seems to have been reborn anew and stood on the bright side in the fight against the ancient sorceress, who wants to turn the inhabitants of the Magic Land into her slaves and sends attacks on them.
The whole country rebels against the witch, and Annie and Uncle Charlie are also summoned, who again must help their friends. New adventures and a lot of interesting twists delight the reader.
“The Mystery of the Abandoned Castle”: the final part
Here the author departed from the idea of all parts of “The Wizard of the Emerald City”: all sorceresses and witches, peoples, were mentioned in order. Now Volkov decided to include an alien race in the plot, because the year of writing (1975) just corresponded to various fantasies on the theme of space.
Taught by bitter experience, the residents immediately send messengers to Annie, who asks Freddie and Tim for help. All residents of the Magic Land are involved in the battle with alien creatures and good, as usual, triumphs.
Significant Characters
Of course, it is unlikely that it will be possible to list and mention the interesting inhabitants of all parts of “The Wizard of Oz” in order, but the most important are:
- Ellie - main character the first part, a girl from the human world, originally from Kansas.
- Toto, aka Totoshka, is Ellie's dog.
- The Scarecrow is a fairy-tale man made of straw, later the ruler of the Emerald City.
- The Cowardly Lion, later called Brave.
- Tin Woodman - a man made of iron tends to rust when exposed to water.
- Oorfene Deuce is a carpenter, a student of the sorceress Gingema, who twice tried to usurp the Magic Land.
- Gingema is an evil witch who lives in the Blue Country. She was accidentally killed by Ellie's house.
- Bastinda is an evil sorceress who was afraid of water on pain of death, the ruler of the Violet Country.
- Dean Gior is a soldier with a very long beard who guarded the entrance to the Emerald Palace.
- Kaggi-Kar - a crow that can talk human language, close girlfriend Scarecrows.
- The Great Goodwin is the ruler of the Emerald City before the Scarecrow, a man who accidentally became a "powerful wizard".
- Faramant is a close friend of Dean Gior, the keeper of the green glasses.
“The Wizard of the Emerald City” and all subsequent books in this wonderful series were written by Alexander Melentyevich Volkov, a Russian writer who simultaneously worked as a teacher, a school director in Yaroslavl and studied at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, which he graduated at the age of forty. He had a great passion for learning languages, which served as the basis for writing his first book, “The Wizard of the Emerald City.” Volkov was attracted by the story “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”: he took it in his native English language as exercises in translation, the notes of which he eventually corrected and published as a separate novel.
The book was so popular that it was necessary to write the subsequent parts of “The Wizard of the Emerald City”, telling in order about all the inhabitants of this fabulous area: the munchkins and their battle with the wooden soldiers, the gloomy carpenter Dzhusa and his repeated attempts to enslave the entire Magical Land, about the girl Ellie, her relatives and friends who, by the will of fate, ended up in this country.
The main idea, which runs as the main thread through all the parts in the order of “The Wizard of Oz” and subsequent books, touches on the most important spiritual values, which are held in high esteem not only in the human world, but also among fairy-tale characters and even animals: loyalty in friendship, a sense of compassion to one's neighbor, justice and honor.
Emerald City - 1
HURRICANE
Among the vast Kansas steppe lived a girl named Ellie. Her father is farmer John, whole
I worked in the field all day, my mother Anna was busy with the housework.
They lived in a small van, taken off its wheels and placed on the ground.
The furnishings of the house were poor: an iron stove, a wardrobe, a table, three chairs and two
beds. A “hurricane cellar” was dug next to the house, right next to the door. In the cellar
the family sat out during the storms.
Steppe hurricanes have overturned farmer John's light home more than once. But
John did not lose heart: when the wind died down, he raised the house, set up the stove and beds
to their places, Ellie collected tin plates and mugs from the floor - and everything was in order
until the next hurricane.
All around, the steppe, smooth as a tablecloth, stretched all the way to the horizon. Somewhere
one could see houses as poor as John's house. There were arable fields around them, where
farmers planted wheat and corn.
Ellie knew all the neighbors well for three miles around. An uncle lived in the west
Robert with his sons Bob and Dick. In a house in the north lived old Rolf, who
made wonderful windmills for children.
The wide steppe did not seem dull to Ellie: after all, this was her homeland. Ellie didn't know
no other places. She saw mountains and forests only in pictures, and they did not attract
perhaps because the cheap Hellenic books were poorly drawn.
When Ellie got bored, she called the cheerful dog Totoshka and
went to visit Dick and Bob, or went to Grandpa Rolf, from whom
I never returned without a homemade toy.
Toto jumped across the steppe, barking, chasing crows and was infinitely happy
yourself and your little mistress. Toto had black fur and pointy ears
and small, funny sparkling eyes. Toto was never bored and could play with
girl all day.
Ellie had a lot to worry about. She helped her mother with housework, and her father taught her
read, write and count, because the school was far away, and the girl was still
too young to go there every day.
One summer evening, Ellie sat on the porch and read aloud a story. Anna
washed clothes.
- “And then the strong, mighty hero Arnaulf saw a wizard as tall as
tower,” Ellie read in a sing-song voice, running her finger along the lines. - From the mouth and nostrils
fire flew out of the wizard..."
“Mommy,” Ellie asked, looking up from her book. - Are there any wizards now?
- No, my dear. There were wizards in the old days, but now they have disappeared.
And what are they for? There will be enough trouble without them.
Ellie wrinkled her nose funny:
- Still, it’s boring without wizards. If I suddenly became a queen, then
I would definitely order that in every city and every village there should be
wizard. And so that he performs various miracles for children.
- What kind, for example? - the mother asked smiling.
- Well, what... So that every girl and every boy, waking up in the morning,
found a large sweet gingerbread under the pillow... Or... - Ellie looked reproachfully at
their rough, worn shoes. - Or so that all children have nice lungs
shoes...
“You’ll get the shoes even without the wizard,” Anna objected. - Will you go with dad?
to the fair, he will buy...
While the girl was talking to her mother, the weather began to deteriorate.
Hurricane
Among the vast Kansas steppe lived a girl named Ellie. Her father, farmer John, worked in the field all day, and her mother Anna was busy with the housework.
They lived in a small van, taken off its wheels and placed on the ground.
The furnishings of the house were poor: an iron stove, a wardrobe, a table, three chairs and two beds. A “hurricane cellar” was dug next to the house, right next to the door. The family holed up in the cellar during storms.
Steppe hurricanes more than once overturned the light dwelling of farmer John. But John did not lose heart: when the wind died down, he raised the house, the stove and beds fell into place. Ellie collected tin plates and mugs from the floor - and everything was in order until the next hurricane.
The steppe, smooth as a tablecloth, stretched all the way to the horizon. Here and there one could see houses as poor as John’s house. Around them were arable fields where farmers sowed wheat and corn.
Ellie knew all the neighbors well for three miles around. Uncle Robert lived in the west with his sons Bob and Dick. Old Rolf lived in a house in the north. He made wonderful windmills for children.
The wide steppe did not seem dull to Ellie: after all, this was her homeland. Ellie didn't know any other places. She saw mountains and forests only in pictures, and they did not attract her, perhaps because they were poorly drawn in Ellen’s cheap books.
When Ellie got bored, she called the cheerful dog Toto and went to visit Dick and Bob or went to grandpa Rolf, from whom she never returned without a homemade toy.
Toto jumped across the steppe, barking, chasing crows and was infinitely pleased with himself and his little mistress. Toto had black fur, pointy ears and small, funny sparkling eyes. Toto was never bored and could play with the girl all day long.
Ellie had a lot to worry about. She helped her mother with the housework, and her father taught her to read, write and count, because the school was far away and the girl was too young to go there every day.
One summer evening, Ellie sat on the porch and read aloud a story. Anna was washing clothes.
“And then the strong, mighty hero Arnaulf saw a wizard as tall as a tower,” Ellie intoned, running her finger along the lines. “Fire flew out of the wizard’s mouth and nostrils...” Mommy,” Ellie asked, looking up from the book, “are there wizards now?”
- No, my dear. There were wizards in the old days, and then they disappeared. And what are they for? And without them it’s quite a hassle...
Ellie wrinkled her nose funny:
– Still, it’s boring without wizards. If I suddenly became queen, I would definitely order that there be a wizard in every city and every village. And so that he performs all sorts of miracles for children.
– What kind, for example? – the mother asked smiling.
“Well, what kind... So that every girl and every boy, waking up in the morning, finds a big sweet gingerbread under their pillow... Or...” Ellie looked sadly at her rough, worn shoes. “Or so that all children have nice, lightweight shoes.”
“You’ll get the shoes even without the wizard,” Anna objected. - If you go with dad to the fair, he’ll buy...
While the girl was talking to her mother, the weather began to deteriorate.
* * *
Just at this very time, in a distant country, behind the high mountains, the evil sorceress Gingema was casting a spell in a gloomy deep cave.
It was scary in Gingema's cave. There, hanging from the ceiling was a stuffed huge crocodile. Large eagle owls sat on high poles, and bundles of dried mice, tied to strings by their tails like onions, hung from the ceiling. A long, thick snake coiled itself around the post and shook its flat head evenly. And there were many other strange and creepy things in the vast cave of Gingema.
Gingema was brewing a magic potion in a large, smoky cauldron. She threw mice into the cauldron, tearing one by one from the bunch.
-Where did the snake heads go? – Gingema grumbled angrily. – I didn’t eat everything at breakfast!.. And, here they are, in a green pot! Well, now the potion will be a success!.. These damned people will get it! I hate them! Spread around the world! The swamps have been drained! They cut down the thickets!.. All the frogs were taken out!.. The snakes are destroyed! There is nothing tasty left on earth! Unless you just eat a worm!..
Gingema shook her bony, withered fist into space and began throwing snake heads into the cauldron.
- Wow, hateful people! So my potion is ready for your destruction! I will sprinkle the forests and fields, and a storm will arise, such as has never happened in the world!
Gingema grabbed the cauldron by the “ears” and with effort pulled it out of the cave. She put a large broom into the cauldron and began to splash her brew around.
- Break out, hurricane! Fly around the world like a mad beast! Tear, break, destroy! Knock over houses, lift them into the air! Susaka, masaka, lema, rema, gema!.. Burido, furido, sama, pema, fema!..
She shouted magic words and splashed a disheveled broom around, and the sky darkened, clouds gathered, and the wind began to whistle. Lightning flashed in the distance...
- Smash, tear, break! – the witch screamed wildly. - Susaka, masaka, burido, furido! Destroy, hurricane, people, animals, birds! Just don’t touch the frogs, mice, snakes, spiders, hurricane! Let them multiply all over the world to the joy of me, the mighty sorceress Gingema! Burido, furido, susaka, masaka!
And the whirlwind howled stronger and stronger, lightning flashed, thunder rumbled deafeningly.
Gingema spun on the spot in wild delight, and the wind fluttered the hem of her long robe...
* * *
The hurricane caused by Gingema's magic reached Kansas and was approaching John's house every minute. In the distance, clouds were gathering on the horizon and lightning was flashing.
Toto ran restlessly, raising his head, and barked provocatively at the clouds that were quickly rushing across the sky.
“Oh, Totoshka, how funny you are,” said Ellie. - You scare the clouds, but you yourself are a coward!
The dog was indeed very afraid of thunderstorms. He had already seen a lot of them in his short life. Anna became worried.
“I’ve been chatting with you, daughter, but look, a real hurricane is approaching...
The menacing rumble of the wind was already clearly audible. The wheat in the field lay flat to the ground, and waves rolled along it, like along a river. An excited farmer John came running from the field.
- Storm, a terrible storm is coming! - he shouted. - Hide in the cellar quickly, and I’ll run and drive the cattle into the barn!
Anna rushed to the cellar and threw back the lid.
- Ellie, Ellie! Hurry here! - she shouted.
But Totoshka, frightened by the roar of the storm and the incessant peals of thunder, ran into the house and hid there under the bed, in the farthest corner. Ellie didn’t want to leave her pet alone and rushed into the van after him.
And at this time an amazing thing happened.
The house turned two or three times, like a carousel. He found himself in the middle of a hurricane. The whirlwind spun him, lifted him up and carried him through the air.
A frightened Ellie appeared at the door of the van with Toto in her arms. What to do? Jump to the ground? But it was too late: the house was flying high above the ground...
The wind ruffled Anna's hair. She stood near the cellar, stretched out her hands and screamed desperately. Farmer John came running from the barn and rushed to the place where the wagon stood. The orphaned father and mother looked for a long time into the dark sky, constantly illuminated by the brilliance of lightning...
The hurricane continued to rage, and the house, swaying, rushed through the air. Totoshka, shocked by what was happening around him, ran around the dark room barking in fear. Ellie, confused, sat on the floor, clutching her head in her hands. She felt very lonely. The wind blew so hard that it deafened her. It seemed to her that the house was about to fall and break. But time passed, and the house was still flying. Ellie climbed onto the bed and lay down, holding Toto close to her. Under the roar of the wind, gently rocking the house, Ellie fell fast asleep.
Part one
yellow brick road
Ellie in the amazing land of munchkins
Ellie woke up because the dog was licking her face with a hot, wet tongue and whining. At first it seemed to her that she had seen an amazing dream, and Ellie was about to tell her mother about it. But, seeing the overturned chairs and the stove lying on the floor, Ellie realized that everything was real.
The girl jumped out of bed. The house didn't move. The sun was shining brightly through the window. Ellie ran to the door, opened it and screamed in surprise.
The hurricane brought the house to a land of extraordinary beauty. A green lawn spread around; trees with ripe, juicy fruits grew along its edges; in the clearings one could see flower beds of beautiful pink, white and blue flowers. Tiny birds fluttered in the air, sparkling with bright plumage. Golden-green and red-breasted parrots sat on tree branches and screamed in high, strange voices. Not far away, a clear stream gurgled and silver fish frolicked in the water.
While the girl stood hesitantly on the threshold, the funniest and sweetest people imaginable appeared from behind the trees. The men, dressed in blue velvet caftans and tight trousers, were no taller than Ellie; blue boots with cuffs shone on their feet. But most of all Ellie liked the pointed hats: their tops were decorated with crystal balls, and underneath wide brim The little bells rang gently.
An old woman in a white robe stepped forward importantly in front of the three men; Tiny stars sparkled on her pointed hat and on her robe. The old woman's gray hair fell onto her shoulders.
In the distance, behind the fruit trees, a whole crowd of small men and women could be seen; they stood, whispering and exchanging glances, but did not dare to come closer.
Approaching the girl, these timid little people smiled warmly and somewhat timidly at Ellie, but the old woman looked at her with obvious bewilderment. The three men moved forward together and took off their hats at once. “Ding-ding-ding!” - the bells rang. Ellie noticed that the little men's jaws were constantly moving, as if chewing something.
The old woman turned to Ellie:
- Tell me, how did you end up in the country of the Munchkins, dear child?
“I was brought here by a hurricane in this house,” Ellie answered timidly.
- Strange, very strange! – the old woman shook her head. – Now you will understand my bewilderment. Here is how it was. I learned that the evil sorceress Gingema had lost her mind and wanted to destroy the human race and populate the earth with rats and snakes. And I had to use all my magical art...
- How, madam! – Ellie exclaimed with fear. -Are you a sorceress? But why did my mother tell me that there are no wizards now?
- Where does your mom live?
- In Kansas.
“I’ve never heard of such a name,” said the sorceress, pursing her lips. “But no matter what your mother says, wizards and sages live in this country.” There were four of us sorceresses here. Two of us – the sorceress of the Yellow Country (that’s me, Villina!) and the sorceress of the Pink Country, Stella – are kind. And the sorceress of the Blue Country, Gingema, and the sorceress of the Violet Country, Bastinda, are very evil. Your house was crushed by Gingema, and now there is only one evil sorceress left in our country.
Ellie was amazed. How could she, a little girl who had never killed even a sparrow in her life, destroy the evil sorceress?
Ellie said:
“You are, of course, mistaken: I didn’t kill anyone.”
“I don’t blame you for this,” the sorceress Villina calmly objected. - After all, it was I, in order to save people from trouble, who deprived the hurricane of its destructive power and allowed it to capture only one house in order to throw it on the head of the insidious Gingema, because I read in my magic book that it is always empty during a storm...
Ellie answered embarrassedly:
“It’s true, madam, during hurricanes we hide in the cellar, but I ran to the house to get my dog...
- Such a reckless act is mine magic book I couldn't have foreseen it! – the sorceress Villina was upset. - So, this little beast is to blame for everything...
- Totoshka, aw-aw, with your permission, madam! – the dog suddenly intervened in the conversation. - Yes, I sadly admit, it’s all my fault...
- How did you start talking, Toto? – Ellie screamed in surprise.
“I don’t know how it happens, Ellie, but, aw-aw, human words involuntarily fly out of my mouth...
“You see, Ellie,” Villina explained, “in this wonderful country, not only people talk, but also all animals and even birds.” Look around, do you like our country?
“She’s not bad, madam,” answered Ellie, “but we’re better at home.” Should you look at our barnyard! You should look at our Pestryanka, madam! No, I want to return to my homeland, to my mom and dad...
“It’s hardly possible,” said the sorceress. “Our country is separated from the whole world by desert and huge mountains, which not a single person has crossed. I'm afraid, my baby, that you will have to stay with us.
Ellie's eyes filled with tears. The good Munchkins were very upset and also began to cry, wiping their tears with blue handkerchiefs. The munchkins took off their hats and put them on the ground so that the ringing of the bells would not interfere with their sobbing.
- And you won’t help me at all? – Ellie asked sadly.
“Oh yes,” Villina realized, “I completely forgot that my magic book was with me.” You need to look into it: maybe I’ll read something useful for you there...
Villina took out from the folds of her clothing a tiny book the size of a thimble. The sorceress blew on her, and before the eyes of the surprised and slightly frightened Ellie, the book began to grow, grow and turned into a huge volume. It was so heavy that the old woman laid it on a large stone.
Villina looked at the pages of the book, and they themselves turned over under her gaze.
- Found it, found it! – the sorceress suddenly exclaimed and began to read slowly: “Bambara, chufara, skoriki, moriki, turabo, furabo, loriki, eriki... The great wizard Goodwin will return home the little girl brought to his country by a hurricane if she helps three creatures achieve the fulfillment of their most cherished desires, pickapoo, tripapoo, botalo, shake..."
“Pikapoo, trikapoo, botalo, motalo...” the Munchkins repeated in sacred horror.
-Who is Goodwin? – Ellie asked.
“Oh, this is the Greatest Sage of our country,” whispered the old woman. “He is more powerful than all of us and lives in the Emerald City.”
– Is he evil or good?
- Nobody knows this. But don’t be afraid, find three creatures, fulfill their cherished desires, and the Wizard of the Emerald City will help you return to your country!
– Where is the Emerald City? – Ellie asked.
- It is in the center of the country. The Great Sage and Wizard Goodwin himself built it and manages it. But he surrounded himself with extraordinary mystery, and no one saw him after the construction of the city, and it ended many, many years ago.
- How will I get to the Emerald City?
- The road is long. Not everywhere the country is as good as it is here. There are dark forests with terrible animals, there are fast rivers - crossing them is dangerous...
-Won't you come with me? – the girl asked.
“No, my child,” answered Villina. – I can’t leave the Yellow Country for a long time. You must go alone. The road to the Emerald City is paved with yellow bricks, and you won't get lost. When you come to Goodwin, ask him for help...
- How long will I have to live here, madam? – Ellie asked, lowering her head.
“I don’t know,” Villina answered. - Nothing is said about this in my magic book. Go, search, fight! I will look into the magic book from time to time to know how you are doing... Farewell, my dear!
Villina leaned towards the huge book, and it immediately shrank to the size of a thimble and disappeared into the folds of her robe. A whirlwind came, it became dark, and when the darkness dissipated, Villina was no longer there: the sorceress had disappeared. Ellie and the Munchkins trembled with fear, and the bells on the little people's hats rang of their own accord.
When everyone had calmed down a little, the bravest of the Munchkins, their foreman, turned to Ellie:
- Powerful fairy! Welcome to the Blue Country! You killed the evil Gingema and freed the Munchkins!
Ellie said:
– You are very kind, but there is a mistake: I am not a fairy. And you heard that my house fell on Gingema on the orders of the sorceress Villina...
“We don’t believe this,” Sergeant Major Zhevunov stubbornly objected. “We heard your conversation with the good sorceress, botalo, motalo, but we think that you are a powerful fairy too.” After all, only fairies can travel through the air in their houses, and only a fairy could free us from Gingema, the evil sorceress of the Blue Country. Gingema ruled us for many years and forced us to work day and night...
“She made us work day and night!” – the Munchkins said in unison.
“She ordered us to catch spiders and bats, collect frogs and leeches from the ditches. These were her favorite foods...
“And we,” the Munchkins cried, “we are very afraid of spiders and leeches!”
-What are you crying about? – Ellie asked. - After all, all this has passed!
- True true! “The munchkins laughed in unison, and the bells on their hats began to ring.
– Mighty Lady Ellie! – the foreman spoke. – Do you want to become our mistress instead of Gingema? We are sure that you are very kind and will not punish us too often!..
“No,” Ellie objected, “I’m only a little girl and I’m not fit to be the ruler of the country.” If you want to help me, give me the opportunity to fulfill your deepest desires!
– We had only one desire - to get rid of the evil Gingema, pikapu, trikapoo! But your house is crap! crack! – crushed it, and we have no more desires!.. – said the foreman.
“Then I have nothing to do here.” I will go looking for those who have desires. Only my shoes are very old and torn - they won’t last a long way. Really, Toto? – Ellie turned to the dog.
“Of course they won’t stand it,” Toto agreed. “But don’t worry, Ellie, I saw something nearby and I’ll help you!”
- You? – the girl was surprised.
- Yes I! - Toto answered proudly and disappeared behind the trees. A minute later he returned with a beautiful silver shoe in his teeth and solemnly laid it at Ellie’s feet. A gold buckle glittered on the shoe.
-Where did you get it from? – Ellie was amazed.
- I’ll tell you now! - answered the out of breath dog, disappeared and returned again with another shoe.
- How lovely! - Ellie said admiringly and tried on the shoes - they fit her feet just right, as if they were tailored for her.
“When I was running on reconnaissance,” Toto began importantly, “I saw a large black hole in the mountain behind the trees...
- Ah ah ah! – the Munchkins screamed in horror. – After all, this is the entrance to the cave of the evil sorceress Gingema! And you dared to enter there?..
- What's so scary about that? After all, Gingema died! - Toto objected.
“You must be a wizard too!” – the foreman said with fear; all the other Munchkins nodded their heads in agreement, and the bells under their hats rang in unison.
“It was there, when I entered this cave, as you call it, that I saw many funny and strange things, but most of all I liked the shoes standing at the entrance. Some big birds with scary yellow eyes tried to stop me from taking the shoes, but will Toto be afraid of anything when he wants to serve his Ellie?
- Oh, my dear daredevil! – Ellie exclaimed and gently pressed the dog to her chest. - In these shoes I can walk tirelessly as long as I want...
“It’s very good that you received the shoes of the evil Gingema,” the elder Munchkin interrupted her. - It seems they contain Magic power, because Gingema only wore them on the most important occasions. But what kind of power this is, we don’t know... And you are still leaving us, dear Mrs. Ellie? – the foreman asked with a sigh. “Then we’ll bring you something to eat for the road.”
The munchkins left and Ellie was left alone. She found a piece of bread in the house and ate it on the bank of the stream, washing it down with clear water. cold water. Then she began to get ready for a long journey, and Toto ran under the tree and tried to grab a noisy motley parrot sitting on a lower branch, who was teasing him all the time.
Ellie got out of the van, carefully closed the door and wrote on it in chalk: “I’m not at home.”
Meanwhile, the Munchkins returned. They brought in enough food to last Ellie for several years. There were lambs, roasted geese and ducks, a fruit basket...
Ellie said with a laugh:
- Well, where do I need so much, my friends?
She put some bread and fruit in the basket, said goodbye to the Munchkins and boldly set off on the road with the cheerful Toto.
* * *
Not far from the house there was a crossroads: several roads diverged here. Ellie chose the road paved with yellow bricks and walked briskly along it. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the little girl, abandoned in an amazing foreign country, felt quite good.
The road was fenced on both sides with beautiful blue hedges. Behind them began the cultivated fields. Here and there you could see round houses. Their roofs looked like the pointed hats of Munchkins. Crystal balls sparkled on the roofs. The houses were painted blue.
Little men and women worked in the fields; they took off their hats and bowed cordially to Ellie. After all, now every Munchkin knew that the girl in the silver shoes liberated their country from the evil sorceress, lowering her house - crack! crack! - right on her head.
All the Munchkins that Ellie met on the way looked at Toto with fearful surprise and, hearing his barking, covered their ears. When the cheerful dog ran up to one of the Munchkins, he ran away from him at full speed: there were no dogs at all in Goodwin’s country.
In the evening, when Ellie got hungry and was thinking about where to spend the night, she saw a big house. Little men and women danced on the front lawn. The musicians played diligently on small violins and flutes. Children were frolicking right there, so tiny that Ellie’s eyes widened in amazement: they looked like dolls. On the terrace there were long tables with vases full of fruits, nuts, sweets, delicious pies and large cakes.
Seeing Ellie, a handsome tall old man came out of the crowd of dancers (he was a whole finger taller than Ellie) and said with a bow:
– My friends and I are celebrating today the liberation of our country from the evil sorceress. Do I dare ask the powerful fairy of the Killing House to take part in our feast?
– Why do you think I’m a fairy? – Ellie asked.
– You crushed the evil sorceress Gingema – crack! crack! - like empty eggshells; you are wearing her magic shoes; with you is an amazing beast, the likes of which we have never seen, and, according to the stories of our friends, he is also gifted with magical powers...
Ellie was unable to object to this and went after the old man, whose name was Prem Kokus. She was greeted like a queen, and the bells rang incessantly, and there were endless dances, and a great many cakes were eaten and countless quantities of soft drinks were drunk, and the whole evening passed so cheerfully and pleasantly that Ellie remembered about dad and mom only as she fell asleep in bed.
In the morning, after a hearty breakfast, she asked the Caucus:
– How far is it from here to the Emerald City?
“I don’t know,” the old man answered thoughtfully. - I've never been there. It's best to stay away from the Great Goodwin, especially if you don't have important business with him. And the road to the Emerald City is long and difficult. You will have to go through dark forests and cross fast, deep rivers.
Ellie was a little sad, but she knew that only the Great Goodwin would bring her back to Kansas, so she said goodbye to her friends and set off again along the yellow brick road.
ALEXANDER VOLKOV
THE WIZARD OF OZ
HURRICANE
Among the vast Kansas steppe lived a girl named Ellie. Her father is a farmer
John worked in the field all day, mother Anna was busy with the housework.
They lived in a small van, taken off its wheels and placed on the ground.
The furnishings of the house were poor: an iron stove, a wardrobe, a table, three chairs and
two beds. A “hurricane cellar” was dug next to the house, right next to the door.
The family holed up in the cellar during storms.
Steppe hurricanes have more than once overturned a farmer’s light home
Jonah. But John did not lose heart: when the wind died down, he raised the house, the stove and
the beds were being moved into place, Ellie was collecting tin plates from the floor and
mugs - and everything was fine until the new hurricane.
All around, the steppe, smooth as a tablecloth, stretched all the way to the horizon.
Here and there one could see houses as poor as John’s house. Around them
there were arable fields where farmers sowed wheat and corn.
Ellie knew all the neighbors well for three miles around. Lived in the west
Uncle Robert and sons Bob and Dick. In a house in the north lived an old
Rolf, who made wonderful windmills for children.
The wide steppe did not seem dull to Ellie: after all, this was her homeland. Ellie
I didn't know any other places. She saw mountains and forests only in pictures,
and they did not attract her, perhaps because in Ellen’s cheap books there were
poorly drawn.
When Ellie got bored, she called the cheerful dog Totoshka and
went to visit Dick and Bob, or went to Grandpa Rolf, from whom
I never returned without a homemade toy.
Totoshka jumped barking across the steppe, chased crows and was endlessly
happy with himself and his little mistress. Toto had black fur
pointy ears and small, funny sparkling eyes. Toto never
I was bored and could play with the girl all day.
Ellie had a lot to worry about. She helped her mother with housework, and her father
taught her to read, write and count, because the school was far away, and
the girl was still too young to go there every day.
One summer evening, Ellie sat on the porch and read aloud a story.
Anna was washing clothes.
- “And then the strong, mighty hero Arnaulf saw the wizard
as tall as a tower,” Ellie intoned, running her finger along the lines. - From mouth
and fire flew out of the wizard’s nostrils..."
“Mommy,” Ellie asked, looking up from her book. - And now the wizards
There is?
- No, my dear. There were wizards in the old days, but now
transferred. And what are they for? There will be enough trouble without them.
Ellie wrinkled her nose funny:
- Still, it’s boring without wizards. If I suddenly became
queen, she would definitely order that in every city and in every
there was a wizard in the village. And so that he performs various miracles for children.
- What kind, for example? - the mother asked smiling.
- Well, what... So that every girl and every boy, waking up
in the morning, we found a large sweet gingerbread under the pillow... Or... - Ellie with
She looked reproachfully at her rough, worn shoes. - Or so that everyone
the children had nice, light shoes...
“You’ll get the shoes even without the wizard,” Anna objected. - Will you go?
with dad to the fair, he will buy...
While the girl was talking to her mother, the weather began to deteriorate.
Just at this very time in a distant country, behind the high mountains,
The evil sorceress Gingema was casting a spell in a gloomy deep cave.
It was scary in Gingema's cave. There was a scarecrow hanging from the ceiling
huge crocodile. Large eagle owls sat on high poles, from the ceiling
hanging bundles of dried mice tied to strings by their tails,
like onions. A long thick snake coiled itself around the post and evenly
shook her motley and flat head. And many more strange and creepy things
things were in the vast cave of Gingema.
Gingema was brewing a magic potion in a large, smoky cauldron. She
threw mice into the cauldron, tearing one by one from the bunch.
-Where did the snake heads go? - Gingema grumbled angrily, - no
I still ate it at breakfast!.. And, here they are, in a green pot! Well, now
the potion will be a success!.. These damned people will get it! I hate
them... Spread around the world! The swamps have been drained! They cut down the thicket!.. All the frogs
brought out!.. The snakes are destroyed! There is nothing tasty left on earth! Isn't it
just a worm and a spider to feast on!..
Gingema shook her bony withered fist into space and began
throwing snake heads into the cauldron.
- Wow, hateful people! So my potion is ready for your destruction!
I will sprinkle the forests and fields, and a storm will arise, such as has never happened in the world!
Gingema forcefully grabbed the cauldron by the ears and pulled it out of the cave. She
she lowered a large broom into the cauldron and began to splash her brew around.
- Break out, hurricane! Fly around the world like a mad beast! Rip, break,
smash it! Knock over houses, lift them into the air! Susaka, masaka, lema, rema,
gema!.. Burido, furido, sema, pema, fema!..
She shouted magic words and splashed her disheveled hair around
with a broom, and the sky darkened, clouds gathered, and the wind began to whistle. In the distance
lightning flashed...
- Smash, tear, break! - the witch screamed wildly. - Susaka, masaka,
Burido, furido! Destroy, hurricane, people, animals, birds! Only
Don’t touch frogs, mice, snakes, spiders, hurricane! Let them all over
multiply in the world to the joy of me, the mighty sorceress Gingema! Burido,
furido, susaka, masaka!
And the whirlwind howled stronger and stronger, lightning flashed, deafeningly
thunder roared.
Gingema spun on the spot in wild delight and the wind blew her skirts
long black robe...
Caused by the magic of Gingema, the hurricane reached Kansas and with each
In a minute he was approaching John's house. Clouds were gathering in the distance,
Lightning flashed among them.
Toto ran restlessly, raising his head and barking provocatively at the clouds,
which quickly rushed across the sky.
“Oh, Totoshka, how funny you are,” said Ellie. - You're scaring the clouds, huh?
you yourself are a coward!
The dog was indeed very afraid of thunderstorms, of which he had already seen many
your short life.
Anna became worried.
“I’ve been chatting with you, daughter, and yet, look, the worst is approaching.”
a real hurricane...
The menacing rumble of the wind was already clearly audible. Wheat lay down on the field
to the ground, and waves rolled along it like a river. Came running from the field
excited farmer John.
- Storm, a terrible storm is coming! - he shouted. - Hide quickly in
cellar, and I’ll run and drive the cattle into the barn!
Anna rushed to the cellar and threw back the lid.
- Ellie, Ellie! Hurry here! - she shouted.
But Totoshka, frightened by the roar of the storm and the incessant peals of thunder,
ran into the house and hid there under the bed, in the farthest corner. Ellie doesn't
I wanted to leave my pet alone and rushed into the van after him.
And at this time an amazing thing happened.
The house turned two or three times, like a carousel. He found himself in the most
middle of a hurricane. The whirlwind spun him, lifted him up and carried him through the air.
A frightened Ellie appeared at the door of the van with Toto in her arms. What
do? Jump to the ground? But it was already too late: the house was flying high above
earth...
The wind ruffled the hair of Anna, who stood near the cellar, holding out
raised her hands and screamed desperately. Farmer John came running from the barn and was in despair.
rushed to the place where the van stood. Orphaned father and mother for a long time
looked into the dark sky, constantly illuminated by the sparkle of lightning...
The hurricane continued to rage, and the house, swaying, rushed through the air. Totoshka,
dissatisfied with what was going on around him, he ran around the dark room with
frightened barking. Ellie, confused, sat on the floor, clutching her hands
head. She felt very lonely. The wind was so loud it was deafening
her. It seemed to her that the house was about to fall and break. But time passed, and
the house was still flying. Ellie climbed onto the bed and lay down, hugging
Toto. Under the roar of the wind, gently rocking the house, Ellie fell fast asleep.
PART ONE. YELLOW BRICK ROAD
ELLIE IN THE AMAZING COUNTRY OF MUNCHMUNKS
Ellie woke up to the dog licking her face with hot wet
tongue and whined. At first it seemed to her that she had seen an amazing dream,
and Ellie was about to tell her mother about him. But, seeing the overturned
chairs, a stove lying in the corner, Ellie realized that everything was real.
The girl jumped out of bed. The house did not move and the sun was shining brightly
out the window. Ellie ran to the door, opened it and screamed in surprise.
The hurricane brought the house to a land of extraordinary beauty. Spread around
green lawn; along its edges grew trees with ripe, juicy fruits; on
In the clearings one could see flower beds of beautiful pink, white and blue flowers. IN
Tiny birds fluttered in the air, sparkling with their bright plumage. On
golden-green and red-breasted parrots sat on tree branches and screamed
in high strange voices. Not far away a clear stream gurgled; in water
silver fish frolicked.
While the girl stood hesitantly on the threshold, from behind the trees appeared
the funniest and sweetest people you can imagine. Men,
dressed in blue velvet caftans and tight trousers, they were no taller
Ellie; blue boots with cuffs shone on their feet. But more
All Ellie liked were the pointed hats: their tops were decorated
crystal balls, and under the wide brim small ones tinkled gently
bells.
An old woman in a white robe walked importantly in front of the three men; on
Tiny stars sparkled on her pointed hat and on her robe. Gray haired
the old woman's hair fell onto her shoulders.
In the distance, behind the fruit trees, a whole crowd of small men could be seen
and women, they stood, whispering and exchanging glances, but did not dare
come closer.
Approaching the girl, these timid little people affably and somewhat
They smiled timidly at Ellie, but the old woman looked at her with obvious bewilderment.
The three men moved forward together and took off their hats at once.
"Ding-ding-ding!" - the bells rang. Ellie noticed that the jaws
The little men moved incessantly, as if chewing something.
The old woman turned to Ellie:
- Tell me, how did you end up in the land of munchkins, young child?
“A hurricane brought me here in this house,” she timidly answered the old woman.
Ellie.
- Strange, very strange! - The old woman shook her head. - Now you
you will understand my bewilderment. Here is how it was. I found out that the evil sorceress
Gingema went crazy and wanted to destroy the human race and populate the earth
rats and snakes. And I had to use all my magic
art...
- How, madam! - Ellie exclaimed with fear. -Are you a sorceress? A
How did my mother tell me that there are no wizards now?
- Where does your mom live?
- In Kansas.
“I’ve never heard such a name,” said the sorceress, tucking her
lips. - But, no matter what your mother says, wizards live in this country and
sages. There were four of us sorceresses here. Two of us - the sorceress Yellow
countries (it's me, Villina!) and the sorceress of the Pink Country, Stella, are kind. A
sorceress of the Blue Country Gingema and sorceress of the Violet Country Bastinda
- very angry. Your house was crushed by Gingema, and now there is only one left
evil sorceress in our country.
Ellie was amazed. How could she destroy the evil sorceress,
a little girl who has never killed even a sparrow in her life.
Ellie said:
- You are, of course, mistaken: I didn’t kill anyone.
“I don’t blame you for this,” the sorceress Villina calmly objected. -
After all, it was I, in order to save people from harm, who deprived the hurricane of its destructive power
and allowed him to take only one house in order to throw it on his head
insidious Gingham, because she read in her magic book that he
always empty during a storm...
Ellie answered embarrassedly:
- It’s true, madam, during hurricanes we hide in the cellar, but I
ran to the house to get my dog...
- My magic book could not have done such a reckless act.
foresee! - the sorceress Villina was upset. - So it’s all my fault
this little beast...
- Totoshka, aw-aw, with your permission, madam! - suddenly
The dog intervened in the conversation. - Yes, I sadly admit, it’s me in everything
guilty...
- How did you start talking, Totoshka!? - the astonished woman cried out in surprise
Ellie.
- I don’t know how it happens, Ellie, but, aw-aw, out of my mouth involuntarily
human words fly out...
“You see, Ellie,” Villina explained. - In this wonderful country
Not only people talk, but also all animals and even birds. Look
around, do you like our country?
“She’s not bad, madam,” Ellie answered. - But it’s better at home.
Should you look at our barnyard! Should you look at our moth,
madam! No, I want to return to my homeland, to my mom and dad...
“It’s hardly possible,” said the sorceress. - Our country is separated
from the whole world by desert and huge mountains, through which no one has crossed
one man. I'm afraid, my baby, that you will have to stay with us.
Ellie's eyes filled with tears. The good munchkins were very upset and also
They began to cry, wiping their tears with blue handkerchiefs. The munchkins took off their hats and
They placed them on the ground so that the ringing of the bells would not interfere with their sobbing.
- And you won’t help me at all? - Ellie asked sadly
sorceresses.
“Oh yes,” Villina realized, “I completely forgot that my magic
I have the book with me. I need to look into it: maybe I’ll read something there
useful for you...
Villina took out from the folds of her clothes a tiny book the size of
?
Among the vast Kansas steppe lived a girl named Ellie. Her father, farmer John, worked in the fields all day, and her mother, Anna, worked around the house.
They lived in a small van, removed from its wheels and placed on the ground.
The furnishings of the house were poor: an iron stove, a wardrobe, a table, three chairs and two beds. A “hurricane cellar” was dug next to the house, right next to the door. The family holed up in the cellar during storms.
Steppe hurricanes have overturned farmer John's light home more than once. But John did not lose heart: when the wind died down, he raised the house, the stove and beds were put in place, Ellie collected tin plates and mugs from the floor - and everything was in order until the next hurricane.
All around, the steppe, smooth as a tablecloth, stretched all the way to the horizon. Here and there one could see houses as poor as John’s house.
Around them were arable fields where farmers sowed wheat and corn.
Ellie knew all the neighbors well for three miles around. Uncle Robert lived in the west with his sons Bob and Dick. Old Rolf lived in a house in the north. He made wonderful windmills for children.
The wide steppe did not seem dull to Ellie: after all, this was her homeland. Ellie didn't know any other places. She saw mountains and forests only in pictures, and they did not attract her, perhaps because they were poorly drawn in the cheap Hellenic books.
When Ellie got bored, she called the cheerful dog Totoshka and went to visit Dick and Bob or went to grandpa Rolf, from whom she never returned without a homemade toy.
Toto jumped across the steppe, barking, chasing crows and was infinitely pleased with himself and his little mistress. Toto had black fur, pointy ears and small funny sparkling eyes. Toto was never bored and could play with the girl all day long.
Ellie had a lot to worry about. She helped her mother with the housework, and her father taught her to read, write and count, because the school was far away, and the girl was still too young to go there every day.
One summer evening, Ellie sat on the porch and read aloud a story. Anna was washing clothes.
“And then the strong, mighty hero Arnaulf saw a wizard as tall as a tower,” Ellie intoned, running her finger along the lines. “Fire flew out of the wizard’s mouth and nostrils...”
“Mommy,” Ellie asked, looking up from her book. - Are there any wizards now?
No, my dear. There were wizards in the old days, and then they disappeared. And what are they for? And without them it’s quite a hassle...
Ellie wrinkled her nose funny.
But it’s still boring without wizards. If I suddenly became queen, I would definitely order that there be a wizard in every city and every village. And so that he would perform all sorts of miracles for children...
What kind, for example? - the mother asked smiling.
Well, what kind... So that every girl and every boy, waking up in the morning, finds a big sweet gingerbread under their pillow... Or... - Ellie looked reproachfully at her rough, worn shoes. - Or so that all children have nice, lightweight shoes.
You’ll get the shoes even without the wizard,” Anna objected. - You’ll go to the fair with dad, he’ll buy...
While the girl was talking to her mother, the weather began to deteriorate.
Just at this very time, in a distant country behind the high mountains, the evil sorceress Gingema was casting a spell in a gloomy, deep cave.
It was scary in Gingema's cave. There, hanging from the ceiling was a stuffed huge crocodile. Large eagle owls sat on high poles, and bundles of dried mice, tied to strings by their tails like onions, hung from the ceiling. A long, thick snake coiled itself around the post and shook its flat head evenly. And there were many other strange and creepy things in the vast cave of Gingema.
Gingema was brewing a magic potion in a large, smoky cauldron. She threw mice into the cauldron, tearing one by one from the bunch.
Where did the snake heads go? - Gingema grumbled angrily, “I didn’t eat everything at breakfast?.. And, here they are, in a green pot!” Well, now the potion will be a success!.. These damned people will get it! I hate them! Spread around the world! The swamps have been drained! The thickets have been cut down! All the frogs have been taken out! The snakes have been destroyed! There is nothing tasty left on earth! Unless you just feast on a worm and a spider!
Gingema shook her bony, withered fist into space and began throwing snake heads into the cauldron.
Wow, hateful people! So my potion is ready for your destruction! I will sprinkle the forests and fields, and a storm will arise, the likes of which have never happened before!
Gingema grabbed the cauldron by the ears and with effort pulled it out of the cave. She put a large broom into the cauldron and began to splash her brew around.
Break out, hurricane! Fly around the world like a mad beast! Tear, break, destroy! Knock over houses, lift them into the air! Susaka, masaka, lema, rema, gema!.. Burido, furido, sema, pema, fema!..
She shouted magic words and splashed a disheveled broom around, and the sky darkened, clouds gathered, and the wind began to whistle. Lightning flashed in the distance...
Smash, tear, break! - the witch screamed wildly. - Susaka, masaka, burido, furido! Destroy, hurricane, people, animals, birds! Just don’t touch frogs, mice, snakes, spiders, hurricane! Let them multiply all over the world to the joy of me, the mighty sorceress Gingema! Burido, furido, susaka, masaka!
And the whirlwind howled stronger and stronger, lightning flashed, thunder rumbled deafeningly.
Gingema spun on the spot in wild delight, and the wind blew the hem of her long robe...
Caused by Gingema's magic, the hurricane reached Kansas and was approaching John's house every minute. In the distance, near the horizon, clouds were gathering and lightning was flashing.
Toto ran restlessly, raising his head, and barked provocatively at the clouds that were quickly rushing across the sky.
“Oh, Totoshka, how funny you are,” said Ellie. - You scare the clouds, but you yourself are a coward!
The dog was really very afraid of thunderstorms. He had already seen a lot of them in his short life.
Anna became worried.
I’ve been chatting with you, daughter, but look, a real hurricane is approaching...
The menacing rumble of the wind was already clearly audible. The wheat in the field lay flat to the ground, and waves rolled along it, like along a river.
An excited farmer John came running from the field.
Storm, a terrible storm is coming! - he shouted. - Hide in the cellar quickly, and I’ll run and drive the cattle into the barn!
Anna rushed to the cellar and threw back the lid.
Ellie, Ellie! Hurry here! - she shouted.
But Totoshka, frightened by the roar of the storm and the incessant peals of thunder, ran into the house and hid there under the bed, in the farthest corner.
Ellie did not want to leave her pet alone and rushed into the van after him.
And at this time an amazing thing happened.
The house turned two or three times, like a carousel. He found himself in the middle of a hurricane. The whirlwind swirled him, lifted him up and carried him through the air.
A frightened Ellie appeared at the door of the van with Toto in her arms. What to do? Jump to the ground? But it was already too late: the house was flying high above the ground...
The wind ruffled Anna's hair. She stood near the cellar, stretched out her hands and screamed desperately. Farmer John came running from the barn and rushed to the place where the wagon stood. The orphaned father and mother looked for a long time into the dark sky, constantly illuminated by the brilliance of lightning...
The hurricane continued to rage, and the house, swaying, rushed through the air. Totoshka, shocked by what was happening around him, ran around the dark room barking in fear. Ellie, confused, sat on the floor, clutching her head in her hands. She felt very lonely. The wind roared so loudly that it deafened her. It seemed to her that the house was about to fall and break. But time passed, and the house was still flying. Ellie climbed onto the bed and lay down, holding Toto close to her. Under the roar of the wind, gently rocking the house, Ellie fell fast asleep. tales.