【英】《绿野仙踪》 第2集： The Munchkins and the Witches

If Dorothy hadn’t been on the bed, the strong shock that woke her might have hurt her. Instead, it made her catch her breath. Toto whined.

The house had stopped moving and it wasn’t dark. Bright sunshine came in the window. Dorothy jumped up and opened the door.

“Oh my!” she cried as she looked at the wonderful sights.

The cyclone had set the house down gently in a beautiful country. Green grass was everywhere and tall trees full of fruit were surrounded by flowers. Bright birds sang in the trees. A small stream rushed along green banks.

As Dorothy looked at the beautiful sights, a group of the strangest people she’d ever seen came toward her. They were about as tall as her, but many years older.

Three men and one woman came, all oddly dressed. Their round hats were pointed and had little bells that rang sweetly. The woman wore a white hat and gown, full of little stars that glistened in the sun. Dorothy decided the men were about as old as Uncle Henry. The woman had to be much older. Her face was covered with wrinkles and her hair was almost white.

The woman walked up to Dorothy and bowed. “You are welcome, great Sorceress, to the land of the Munchkins. We thank you for killing the Wicked Witch of the East and freeing us from her slavery.”

Dorothy did not understand what she was talking about. She wasn’t a sorceress and had never killed anything.

Dorothy said, “There must be a mistake.”

The little old woman laughed. “Your house killed  her. See!”

Dorothy looked where she pointed and screamed. Under the corner of the house two feet stuck out wearing silver shoes with pointed toes.

“Oh dear!” she cried. “The house fell on her. 

Who was she?”

“She was the Wicked Witch of the East,” the little woman said. “She makes the Munchkins slave for her day and night. Now they are set free because of you.”

“Who are the Munchkins?” Dorothy asked. 

“They are the people in this land of the East,” 

the woman said. “I am their friend from the North. I am the Witch of the North.”

Dorothy shouted, “Are you a real witch?” 

“Yes. I am a good witch and the people love me.” 

She explained that there were four witches in the Land of Oz. The two from the North and South were good, but the ones in the East and West were wicked.

“Now there is only one evil witch in all of Oz,” she said.

“My Aunt Em in Kansas—where I am from—said witches are all dead.”

The Witch of the North thought for a moment. “I don’t know where Kansas is, but is it a civilized country?”

“Yes,” replied Dorothy.

“Oh,” the woman said. “The Land of Oz is not civilized. It’s cut off from the rest of the world. We still have witches and wizards.”

“Who are the wizards?” Dorothy asked.

“Oz is the Great Wizard,” the good witch said. “He is more powerful than all of us and lives in the City of Emeralds.”

Suddenly the Munchkins shouted and pointed to the house. The little old woman laughed. The dead witch’s feet had disappeared and only left the silver shoes.

“That is the end of her. The shoes are yours and you shall wear them.” The good witch dusted them off and gave them to Dorothy.“There is a charm with them, but what it is we never knew.”

Dorothy told them how much she wanted to get back to her aunt and uncle. “Can you help me find the way?” Dorothy asked.

None of them knew how and told her of great deserts all around.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to live with us,” the good witch said.

Dorothy began to cry. Her tears upset the kind Munchkins and they began to cry also. The little old woman took off her cap, balanced it on her nose, and counted to three. The cap changed to a board which had written on it: Let Dorothy go to the City of Emeralds.

“Is your name Dorothy?” she asked. 

“Yes,” Dorothy said.

“Then go to the City of Emeralds. Oz may be able to help you.”

Dorothy asked where the city was. The witch told her that it was in the center of the country, ruled by the Great Wizard. When Dorothy asked if he was a good man, she was told that he was a good wizard.

“I do not know if he is a man or not. I’ve never seen him,” the good witch said. “It is a long journey to walk. It will be pleasant at times, but dark and terrible as well.”

Dorothy wanted the old woman to go along, but she said she could only give her a kiss on the forehead. “No one can injure a person kissed by me.”

The witch continued, “The road to the city is yellow brick. Do not be afraid to ask him for help. Good-bye.”

The Munchkins bowed and walked away, while the witch nodded to Dorothy. Then she whirled on her left heel three times and disappeared.