Genre: literary fairy tale

The main characters of the fairy tale "Urfin Deuce and his wooden soldiers" and their characteristics

Ellie. A little girl from Kansas, a true friend. Kind, honest, selfless.
Charlie Black, Ellie's uncle. Resourceful, skillful, determined.
Urfin Deuce. Lonely, unhappy and therefore angry.
Scarecrow, wise ruler.
Tin Woodman. hardworking and humble
Bold lion. A little cowardly, but fighting his fears
Kaggi-carr. Crow, smart and resourceful.
Totoshka. Ellie the dog.
Dean Gior, soldier, loves his beard very much
Faramant, guardian of the gate, honest and kind.
Ruf Bilan, evil traitor. Escaped to the dungeon.
Guamoko, Gingema's former owl, is evil and cruel.

The shortest content of the fairy tale "Urfin Deuce and his wooden soldiers" for the reader's diary in 6 sentences

Oorfene Deuce creates magic powder and starts reviving wooden soldiers to take over Fairyland.
Oorfene Deuce conquers the Emerald City and puts the Scarecrow and the Woodcutter in the tower
Kaggi-karr brings Ellie and her uncle Charlie Black to the country.
Ellie frees the Munchkins, the Scarecrow and the Woodcutter, Faramant and Dean Gior.
Ellie liberates the land of Winkies and the Scarecrow invents a fire cannon.
In the battle, Oorfene Deuce is defeated and banished, the Scarecrow again rules the Emerald City.

The main idea of the fairy tale "Urfin Deuce and his wooden soldiers"
If a person has true friends, then a person can not be afraid of any trouble.

What does the fairy tale "Urfin Deuce and his wooden soldiers" teach
This fairy tale teaches to be kind and honest, to have a true heart, to be brave in deeds, not in words. It teaches that envy and anger are bad feelings, that bad people are doomed to be unhappy and lonely. This tale teaches to value friendship and always help your friends.

Review of the fairy tale "Urfin Deuce and his wooden soldiers"
This book again takes us to the Magic Land and again Ellie is on top. She liberates the country from the power of Oorfene Deuce and his wooden soldiers, saves her friends.
Ellie again behaves like a real hero, although she is just an ordinary girl. But this time, Uncle Charlie, a great inventor, helps her. I like how easy and simple it turned out to defeat the invincible blockheads - you just had to get everyone together.

Proverbs to the fairy tale "Urfin Deuce and his wooden soldiers"
Do not have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends.
Need for invention is cunning.
Going alone and drowning is boring.
Together we will move mountains.

Summary, brief retelling of the tale "Urfin Deuce and his wooden soldiers" by chapter
Part one. Great powder.
Lone carpenter.
In the country of living creatures, the evil sorceress Gingema once ruled, and next to her lived a lonely carpenter Urfin Deuce. Oorfene hated his fellow tribesmen because they never bought his toys. After all, these toys had such scary faces.
When Ellie fell on Gingem and killed her, Oorfene was not at home, and when he returned, he was very upset about the death of the sorceress.
But he decided to pretend that he himself was a sorcerer and therefore agreed with the owl of Gingema named Guamokolatoknit that he would live with him.
An extraordinary plant.
Once Oorfene discovered young weeds in his garden. By evening they had grown into huge plants. Oorfene tried for a long time to cut down the weeds, destroying the growth every day, but the next morning the weeds sprouted again.
Owl Guamoco advised Oorfene to dry the weeds in the sun, and Oorfene began to stack the plants on iron, dry them, and then pour the remaining powder into buckets.
So he conquered the weeds.
When Oorfene removed the last powder, he spilled it on a bearskin.
In the morning he was awakened by the revived bearskin and Oorfene realized that the powder could revive anything.
He revived a stuffed parrot and it flew out the window. He revived the antlers and barely escaped them. Oorfene revived the clown and he bit him on the finger.
The ambitious plans of Oorfene Deuce.
Oorfene Deuce began to think about becoming the ruler of the Zhivuns. He remembered the wealth of the Fairyland and decided that he should make wooden soldiers. To begin with, Oorfene Deuce began to teach the clown to march.
Then he stuffed the bearskin with sawdust and the bear became like a real one. Deuce gave him the name Thumper.
Then he harnessed Thumper to a cart and rode through the country of Zhivunov. The poor living creatures whispered that Deuce was a great wizard, since he revived a bear that died last year and were afraid of him.
The birth of the wooden army.
Oorfene Deuce decided to start by creating five platoons of soldiers, ten soldiers per platoon, placing corporals and a general over them.
The soldier Oorfene began to be made of pine, but he made their heads of oak. Oorfene understood that he could not do it alone and taught the first soldiers to carpentry.
The soldiers came out dumb, but obedient and strong. They could saw through everything in the yard while Deuce was away.
When Deuce scolded the soldiers, they answered that they were blockheads and Oorfene began to call the soldiers that way.
Then Oorfene made corporals of mahogany and gave them names.
Finally, Oorfene created a general from rosewood and named him Lan Pirot.
Lan Pirot quickly learned to command the soldiers and respect Oorfene and the bear Thumper.
The wooden army was ready.
Hike of blockheads.
Juce's army set off to conquer the Blue Country. They occupied the village of Kogida and all the villagers weepingly acknowledged Juce as their master.
In the morning, Oorfene saw that his soldiers were hiding behind leaves, because they were naked and people laughed at them.
Oorfene decided to give the soldiers clothes, but he couldn't think of any. Then the eagle owl Guamoko told him to use paint. Deuce painted each platoon a different color, and painted ribbons over the shoulders of the corporals. He convinced the general that his wooden drawing was better than any clothing.
Early in the morning, Juce went to the estate of the ruler of the Blue Country, Prem Kokus.
A look into the past.
When Eliya found herself in Enchanted Land, she met the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, and the Lion, who became her friends. After Goodwin granted the wishes of his friends and flew away in a balloon, Ellie and Toto also returned to Kansas.
The Scarecrow became the ruler of the Emerald City, the Woodcutter ruled the country of Winkies, and the Lion ruled in the forest.
New idea.
Oorfene Deuce easily conquered the Blue Country and decided to go on a campaign to the Emerald City, where, as he learned, the Scarecrow the Wise ruled.
The army of blockheads set out on a campaign. They lingered at the ravine, as they began to fall into it. But on the other hand, in the forest, the soldiers easily finished off the saber-toothed tigers.
Then the river blocked the path of the blockheads and the whole army was carried away by the current.
The soldiers were found downstream, in a shallow place, and Deuce had to repair the army for a whole day.
Finally, Oorfene's army entered the Emerald Country and the villagers fled in fear before the enemy.
History of the crow Kaggi-karr.
Once Kaggi-karr advised the Scarecrow to find brains, and therefore, having learned that a straw scarecrow became the ruler of the Emerald City, she immediately understood what was happening. The crow went to the Emerald City and achieved a meeting with the Scarecrow. The Scarecrow was very grateful to the crow and accepted her into the court staff as the first taster of all dishes.
Siege of the Emerald City.
The crow first saw Oorfene's army and, having ordered other birds to detain the soldiers, warned Faramant and Din Gior, the guard of the gate and the soldier. Therefore, when Oorfene Deuce approached the gate, they were closed.
Oorfene Deuce commanded the assault, but the gates did not give in, and the stone thrown by Din Gior overturned Deuce. The next hit the general and the army retreated.
The Scarecrow began to guard at night, when his defenders were sleeping, and thwarted Deuce's night attack.
He guessed that the soldiers would cover themselves with shields and prepared straw.
When the soldiers rushed to the assault, they were thrown from the walls with burning straw and many soldiers were burned.
Oorfene Deuce decided to starve the city, and the Scarecrow sent Kaggi-karr to the Woodcutter for help.
Treason.
Oorfene Deuce threw a wooden clown into the city to find the traitor. The clown quickly found the caretaker of the palace washrooms, Ruf Bilan, and agreed with him.
Ruf signed up to volunteer for the defense of the city, but mixed sleeping pills in his drink and Faramant and Din Gior fell asleep. Then Bilan tied the Scarecrow and opened the gate.
The Scarecrow and his assistants were thrown into the basement, and the Emerald City was captured by Oorfene Deuce.
The tin woodcutter is captured.
When the Woodcutter found out about the trouble, he immediately rushed to the aid of the Scarecrow. But a trap awaited him. As soon as he entered the gates of the Emerald City, he was entangled with ropes and the ax was taken away.
Deuce demanded that the Scarecrow and the Woodcutter serve him, and when they refused three times, he put them on a high tower and gave them six months to change their minds. Otherwise, friends were threatened with death.
On the tower, Kaggi-karr flew to her friends and broke the ropes with which they were tied with her beak.
The Scarecrow thought of writing a letter to Ellie, but none of them knew how to write. Then they simply drew on the sheet the Scarecrow and the Woodcutter behind bars. Kaggi-karr went to Ellie in Kansas.
The new ruler of the Emerald Country.
Oorfene Deuce ordered himself to be called a mighty ruler and arranged a solemn coronation. Then there was a dinner at which Oorfene ate smoked mice and live leeches, as an evil wizard should. But in fact, the mice were from the rabbit, and the leeches from the dough.
Then Urifn Deuce decided to create police officers - with long legs, big ears and many fingers.
After that, he continued building the army and soon the number of blockheads reached 120.

Part two. To help friends.
strange letter
One day a traveler came to the farm to Ellie and her parents. It turned out to be Ellie's mother's brother Charlie Black, an old sailor who was looking for a thousand to buy a ship and return to the island with his cannibal friends.
Charlie listened with amazement to the story of Ellie's adventures and quickly became friends with the girl.
One day, Ellie saw a crow, it was Kaggi-karr, which was being chased by a neighbor's boy.
Ellie took the crow and found a letter on its paw. The girl immediately recognized the Scarecrow and the Woodcutter, and Charlie realized that they were behind bars.
Through the desert
Soon, Ellie, Totoshka, crow and Charlie Black went to the Magic Land. They reached the great desert on foot, and then Charlie built a land ship that could travel through the desert.
The travelers waited for a fair wind and drove forward. Soon mountains appeared ahead.
But suddenly, the ship changed direction and crashed on a large black stone. The name "Gingema" was written on the stone. Such stones surrounded the entire magical country and did not allow anyone to get in. Charlie began to repair the ship.
Trapped by the black stone.
Charlie fixed the ship, but it couldn't move away from the stone. Even walking away from the stone did not work. Charlie and Ellie were starving and saving water. Ellie guessed to let go of the crow and she flew to the Magic Land.
The rescue.
On the seventh day, the travelers ran out of water.
But then a crow flew in and brought a huge bunch of grapes. The travelers ate the grapes and felt better.
And the crow seemed to be calling them after itself. Charlie went after the crow and the magic stone no longer held him. Then the travelers quickly walked away from the stone, until the action of the grapes ended. Very soon they reached the mountains.
Valley of wonderful grapes.
Friends ended up in a wonderful valley and Kaggi-karr finally spoke like a human being. She said that the Scarecrow and the Woodcutter were in captivity.
Then Charlie caught fish and the travelers ate heartily.
Kaggi-karr explained where she got the grapes. It turned out that the crow flew to the sorceress Villina and she found out that only grapes can free black stones from the power.
Villina herself carried the crow to the valley where the grapes grew, and she managed to save the travelers.
Road in the mountains.
In the morning, the crow told Ellie about Urfin Deuce and the girl dreamed of helping her friends faster. But the mountains were high. For two days the crow searched for a way through the mountains and finally found a small path.
Charlie and Ellie crossed the mountains and ended up in the land of munchkins. The little men immediately recognized Ellie and told them that Oorfene's viceroy, Djusa Kabr Gwin, and ten blockheads lived with him in their country.
Ellie sent Kaggi-karr to the forest after the Lion, and promised the munchkins to free them from blockheads.
The order has not been fulfilled.
Kaggai-karr informed Lev about Ellie's request and Dev immediately went to help. And the crow flew to the emerald city and told the Scarecrow about the arrival of Ellie. The Scarecrow was so inspired that he called the people together with a cry and told that good Ellie would soon come and free everyone.
Oorfene Deuce ordered the Scarecrow to be thrown into the punishment cell and he was hung on a nail in the punishment cell.
Meeting with a brave Leo.
Very soon Leo got to Ellie and friends embraced. The lion said that he walked through the forest for a long time, swam across the river, deceived the saber-toothed tigers.
A crow flew in and confessed that she let slip about Ellie's arrival. But she promised to lead the girl to the Emerald City by secret ways, and her friends forgave the crow for boasting.
Liberation of chewing gums.
Before going to the Emerald City, Ellie wanted to free the Munchkins. Charlie came up with the idea of using a lasso.
One munchkin told Kabr Gwyn about the hidden gold, and he hurriedly went after him along with blockheads.
On the way it was necessary to cross speeches on a log. And there Charlie caught all the blockheads one by one. Then he caught Gwin, who did not even resist.
The Munchkins tried Gwyn and sent him to the Emerald City through a forest with saber-toothed tigers.
And then friends went on a campaign to the Emerald City.
How the saber-toothed tigers were driven away.
Near the forest, the munchkins left Ellie and friends began to prepare for the transition through the tiger forest.
Uncle Charlie blew up the cloth and drew on it a terrible beast that glowed in the dark. The company went through the forest under the cloth, blowing trumpets, growling and croaking, and the saber-toothed tigers in guard fled into the thicket.
New worries.
With the help of a raft, friends crossed the river and the crow said that there were no soldiers of Oorfene around.
But Charlie assumed that the patrols might appear at night. Indeed, at night Lev caught the smell of paint. Totoshka went on reconnaissance and found two blockheads and one policeman, who was difficult to catch.
Therefore, the company climbed into the thorny bush and pitched a tent in the middle of it.
Adventures in a cave.
Oorfene placed patrols on all roads and friends decided to look for an underground passage to the Emerald City.
Ellie, with the help of a magic whistle, called Ramina, the queen of mice, and she sent her subjects in search of an underground passage. The mice returned with nothing, but one very old mouse remembered this move.
Friends entered the cave and soon stumbled upon an underground predator. It was a six-legged beast, overgrown with thick hair.
He was invulnerable to the teeth and claws of a lion, the crow could not gouge his skull, and Charlie could not do anything with a lasso.
But Ellie jabbed a torch into the monster's side, and the fur caught fire. The six-legged ran away.
Country of underground miners.
Friends made their way through the caves for a long time and suddenly Totoshka barked angrily. Ellie came up to him and saw a hole in the walls of the cave, She looked into it and saw the country of underground miners.
With the help of a spyglass, the travelers had a good look at the underground country. There was a big city, a water mill that was spun by a six-legged one, golden clouds shining over meadows and fields.
But the travelers were noticed by a guard on a winged monster and began to shoot at them with a bow.
Friends hurried to leave the dangerous place and soon found themselves in front of a large locked door.
Meeting with the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman.
Charlie drilled a hole in the door and the friends climbed the tower. The Scarecrow and the Woodcutter were overjoyed. But before saving themselves, it was necessary to help Faramant and Dean Gior, who were sitting in the basement.
Charlie offered to give the captives a steel file, but Kaggi-karr could not hold it in her beak.
Then they decided to lower Ellie on a rope, having previously disguised her as a local resident. Ellie entered the palace, met with the cook Baluol, and then handed over the nail file to the captives. The prisoners sawed through the grate and crawled out of the basement.
Then they climbed over the wall of the city and met with friends in a ravine.
In the morning, blockheads and policemen were sent in the footsteps of the fugitives, but the locals cleverly deceived them and the policemen themselves threw stones at their boss. The soldiers returned with nothing, and Bilan had to report the escape to Urfin Deuce.

Part three. Victory
To the East!
In the country of the Winkers, a certain Enkin Fled ruled, a fat man, but very fond of weapons. He forced the Winkers to forge more and more new weapons for himself every day. With him was a platoon of blockheads and a corporal.
Ellie and her friends went east to liberate the country of the Winkies. On the way, the Woodcutter found his abandoned hammer and brandished it belligerently.
Ultimatum.
Ellie's friends decided to send an ultimatum to Fled, and Kaggi-karr went as a truce.
Fled was very surprised when he read the ultimatum. Din Gior offered him to surrender or threatened to put one fighter against the entire army of Fled.
Fled laughed and went to fight.
One against eleven.
In front of the platoon of his soldiers stood the Tin Woodman. With ten blows of his hammer, the Woodcutter destroyed ten soldiers, but the corporal crept up from behind and hit with a baton so hard that the heart donated by Goodwin flew out of the Woodcutter's chest. The woodcutter fell to his knees.
Charlie lassoed the corporal, and the Winkies and Ellie's friends surrounded Fled. The only thing left to do was to give up.
The Wink Masters decided that they would fix the overlord quickly.
Restoration of the Tin Woodman.
The Winkies quickly repaired the Woodcutter. They made him a new golden ax and a golden butter dish. They gave the Scarecrow a golden cane, Ellie a golden hat and silver shoes, Totoshka a golden collar, and Charlie a golden leg. But Charlie refused the heavy golden leg.
The rebels decided what to do with the blockheads. Charlie wanted to use Fled's stockpiled weapons, but the Winker Master suggested using beaters and spiked balls on chains.
The Scarecrow reminded them that the soldiers were made of wood and offered to create a cannon that shoots fire.
The last soldiers of Oorfene Deuce.
Oorfene Deuce hastily created new soldiers, their number was approaching 200. But suddenly he discovered that the powder was over. The last platoon received very little powder and the soldiers barely moved. Juice had to send them to the oven.
Victory.
From the police, Deuce learned that Ellie's army was moving towards him, and decided to go on a campaign himself.
The two armies met on a vast plain. Seeing Ellie and the winks, Deuce got scared and ordered a retreat. His army began to turn around, but suddenly the rebellious inhabitants of the Emerald Land appeared from all sides.
A large cannon was rolled out from the ranks of the Winkers and it fired, bombarding Deuce's army with burning rags and wood chips. Panic arose among the soldiers, they ran and were easily caught.
Charlie lassoed Deuce.
The inhabitants of the Emerald Country enthusiastically greeted Ellie, and frightened all her friends. Even Kaggi-karr has become an object of delight for the inhabitants.
Green glasses again.
The traitor Ruf Bilan hastened to escape through the underground passage. The woodcutter wanted to find him, but Bilan disappeared without a trace.
The eagle owl Guamoco also flew away, which settled in the forest and imposed a tribute on forest birds.
The craftsmen hurriedly replaced the stolen emeralds, and Faramant ordered everyone to put on green glasses. Emerald City is emerald again.
The winners decided to let Urfin Deuce go. because loneliness and universal hatred were already the most severe punishment for him. but the soldier managed to re-educate. For this, it was only necessary to change their face shape and the first to change was General Lan Pirot.
When he left the masters with a smiling face, he was unrecognizable. He laughed merrily and played with the children.
The Scarecrow is given another title Thrice Wise.

Drawings and illustrations for the fairy tale "Urfin Deuce and his wooden soldiers"

The south-west of the Magic Land was inhabited by the Munchkins - timid and sweet little men, in which an adult man did not exceed the height of an eight-year-old boy from those parts where people do not know miracles.

The ruler of the Blue Land of the Munchkins was Gingema, an evil sorceress who lived in a deep dark cave, to which the Munchkins were afraid to approach. But among them, to everyone's surprise, there was a man who built a house for himself not far from the sorceress's dwelling. It was a certain Oorfene Deuce.

From his kind, soft-hearted fellow tribesmen, Urfin, even in childhood, was distinguished by a grumpy character. He rarely played with the guys, and if he entered the game, he demanded that everyone obey him. And usually the game with his participation ended in a fight.

Urfin's parents died early, and the boy was taken as an apprentice by a carpenter who lived in the village of Kogida. Growing up, Oorfene became more and more unaccommodating, and when he studied carpentry, he left his teacher without regret, without even thanking him for his science. However, a kind craftsman gave him the tools and everything he needed to get started.

Oorfene became a skilled carpenter, he made tables, benches, agricultural implements and much more. But, oddly enough, the evil and grumpy character of the master was transferred to his products. The pitchforks made by him tried to butt their owner in the side, the shovels pounded on the forehead, the rake strove to hook on the legs and overturn.

Oorfene Deuce has lost customers.

He started making toys. But the hares, bears and deer carved by him had such fierce muzzles that the children, looking at them, were frightened and then cried all night. Toys gathered dust in Oorfene's closet, no one bought them.

Oorfene Deuce got angry, abandoned his usual craft and stopped showing up in the village. He began to live by the fruits of his garden.

The lone carpenter hated his relatives so much that he tried not to be like them in anything. The munchkins lived in round blue houses with gabled roofs and crystal balls on top. Oorfene Deuce built himself a quadrangular house, painted it brown, and planted a stuffed eagle on the roof.

The Munchkins wore blue caftans and blue over the knee boots, while Oorfene's caftan and over the knee boots were green. The Munchkins wore pointed, wide-brimmed hats, with silver bells dangling from the brim. Oorfene Deuce hated bells and wore a brimless hat. The soft-hearted Munchkins wept at every opportunity, and no one ever saw a tear in Oorfene's gloomy eyes.

Munchkins got their nickname because their jaws were constantly moving, as if they were chewing something. Deuce also had this habit, but he, although with great difficulty, got rid of it. Oorfene stared for hours at a time in the mirror and at the first attempt of his jaws to start chewing immediately stopped them.

Yes, this man had great willpower, only, unfortunately, he directed it not for good, but for evil.

Several years have passed. Once Oorfene Deuce came to Gingema and asked the old sorceress to take him into service. The evil sorceress was very happy: for centuries not a single Munchkin volunteered to serve Gingem, and all her orders were carried out only under the threat of punishment. Now the sorceress had an assistant who willingly performed all sorts of assignments. And the more unpleasant Gingema's orders were for the Munchkins, the more zealously Oorfene passed them on. The gloomy carpenter especially liked to walk around the villages of the Blue Country and impose tribute on the inhabitants - so and so many snakes, mice, frogs, leeches and spiders.

Munchkins were terribly afraid of snakes, spiders and leeches. Having received the order to collect them, the little timid men began to sob. At the same time, they took off their hats and put them on the ground so that the bells with their ringing would not prevent them from crying. And Oorfene looked at the tears of his relatives and laughed angrily. Then, on the appointed day, he would appear with large baskets, collect tribute and take it to Gingema's cave. There, this goodness either went into food for the sorceress, or was used for evil magic.

On the day when Ellie's house crushed Gingham, Oorfene was not near the sorceress: he went on her business to a remote part of the Blue Country. The news of the death of the sorceress caused Deuce both grief and joy. He regretted that he had lost a powerful patroness, but now he expected to take advantage of the wealth and power of the sorceress.

The area around the cave was deserted. Ellie and Toto left for the Emerald City.

Deuce had the idea to settle in a cave and declare himself the successor of Gingema and the ruler of the Blue Country - because the timid Munchkins will not be able to resist this.

But the smoky cave with bunches of smoked mice on studs, with a stuffed crocodile under the ceiling and other paraphernalia of magical craft looked so damp and gloomy that even Oorfene shuddered.

“Brrr!” he muttered. - To live in this grave? .. No, I thank you humbly!

Oorfene began looking for the witch's silver slippers, for he knew that Gingema valued them the most. But in vain he ransacked the cave, there were no shoes.

– Uh-uh-uh! - mockingly was heard from a high perch, and Oorfene shuddered.

From above, the eyes of an owl looked down at him, glowing yellow in the darkness of the cave.

Is that you, Guam?

“Not Guam, but Guamocolatokint,” the conceited eagle owl retorted grumpily.

- Where are the other owls?

- They flew away.

- Why did you stay?

What should I do in the forest? Catching birds like simple owls and owls? Phi! .. I'm too old and wise for such a troublesome task.

Juice had a sly thought.

- Listen, Guam... - Owl was silent... - Guamoco... - Silence. - Guamocolatokint!

“I’m listening to you,” the owl replied.

- Do you want to live with me? I will feed you mice and tender chicks.

- Not for nothing, of course? the wise bird muttered.

“People, when they see that you serve me, will consider me a magician.

“Good idea,” said the owl. - And to begin my service, I will say that you are looking for silver shoes in vain. They were carried away by a small animal of a breed unknown to me.

Looking sharply at Oorfene, the owl asked:

“And when will you start eating frogs and leeches?”

- What? Oorfene was surprised. - Are there leeches? What for?

“Because this food is due to evil wizards by law. Do you remember how conscientiously Gingema ate mice and ate leeches?

Oorfene remembered and shuddered: the food of the old sorceress always disgusted him, and during the breakfasts and dinners of Gingema, he left the cave under some pretext.

“Listen, Guamoko… Guamocolatoquint,” he said ingratiatingly, “is it possible to do without it?”

Oorfene with a sigh gathered some of the sorceress's belongings, put the owl on his shoulder and went home.

Oncoming Munchkins, seeing the gloomy Oorfene, scaredly shied aside.

Returning to his place, Oorfene lived in his house with an owl, not meeting people, not loving anyone, not loved by anyone.

Alexander Melentievich Volkov

Oorfene Deuce and his wooden soldiers

Part one

Miraculous Powder

lone carpenter

Oorfene Deuce has lost customers.

Oorfene Deuce got angry, abandoned his usual craft and stopped showing up in the village. He began to live by the fruits of his garden.

Yes, this man had great willpower, only, unfortunately, he directed it not for good, but for evil.

* * *

The area around the cave was deserted. Ellie and Toto left for the Emerald City.

Deuce had the idea to settle in a cave and declare himself the successor of Gingema and the ruler of the Blue Country - because the timid Munchkins will not be able to resist this.

But the smoky cave with bunches of smoked mice on studs, with a stuffed crocodile under the ceiling and other paraphernalia of magical craft looked so damp and gloomy that even Oorfene shuddered.

“Brrr!” he muttered. - To live in this grave? .. No, I thank you humbly!

Oorfene began looking for the witch's silver slippers, for he knew that Gingema valued them the most. But in vain he ransacked the cave, there were no shoes.

– Uh-uh-uh! - mockingly was heard from a high perch, and Oorfene shuddered.

From above, the eyes of an owl looked down at him, glowing yellow in the darkness of the cave.

Is that you, Guam?

“Not Guam, but Guamocolatokint,” the conceited eagle owl retorted grumpily.

- Where are the other owls?

- They flew away.

- Why did you stay?

What should I do in the forest? Catching birds like simple owls and owls? Phi! .. I'm too old and wise for such a troublesome task.

Juice had a sly thought.

- Listen, Guam... - Owl was silent... - Guamoco... - Silence. - Guamocolatokint!

“I’m listening to you,” the owl replied.

- Do you want to live with me? I will feed you mice and tender chicks.

- Not for nothing, of course? the wise bird muttered.

“People, when they see that you serve me, will consider me a magician.

“Good idea,” said the owl. - And to begin my service, I will say that you are looking for silver shoes in vain. They were carried away by a small animal of a breed unknown to me.

Looking sharply at Oorfene, the owl asked:

“And when will you start eating frogs and leeches?”

- What? Oorfene was surprised. - Are there leeches? What for?

“Because this food is due to evil wizards by law. Do you remember how conscientiously Gingema ate mice and ate leeches?

Oorfene remembered and shuddered: the food of the old sorceress always disgusted him, and during the breakfasts and dinners of Gingema, he left the cave under some pretext.

The heroes of this fairy tale - the girl Ellie and her friends, whom readers first met in the book "The Wizard of the Emerald City", - free the inhabitants of the Magic Land from the power of the evil and grumpy Oorfene Deuce and his wooden soldiers, which he made in his carpentry workshop.

Part one

Miraculous Powder

lone carpenter

Oorfene Deuce has lost customers.

Oorfene Deuce got angry, abandoned his usual craft and stopped showing up in the village. He began to live by the fruits of his garden.

Yes, this man had great willpower, only, unfortunately, he directed it not for good, but for evil.

* * *

The area around the cave was deserted. Ellie and Toto left for the Emerald City.

Deuce had the idea to settle in a cave and declare himself the successor of Gingema and the ruler of the Blue Country - because the timid Munchkins will not be able to resist this.

But the smoky cave with bunches of smoked mice on studs, with a stuffed crocodile under the ceiling and other paraphernalia of magical craft looked so damp and gloomy that even Oorfene shuddered.

“Brrr!” he muttered. - To live in this grave? .. No, I thank you humbly!

Oorfene began looking for the witch's silver slippers, for he knew that Gingema valued them the most. But in vain he ransacked the cave, there were no shoes.

– Uh-uh-uh! - mockingly was heard from a high perch, and Oorfene shuddered.

From above, the eyes of an owl looked down at him, glowing yellow in the darkness of the cave.

Is that you, Guam?

“Not Guam, but Guamocolatokint,” the conceited eagle owl retorted grumpily.

- Where are the other owls?

- They flew away.

- Why did you stay?

What should I do in the forest? Catching birds like simple owls and owls? Phi! .. I'm too old and wise for such a troublesome task.

Juice had a sly thought.

- Listen, Guam... - Owl was silent... - Guamoco... - Silence. - Guamocolatokint!

“I’m listening to you,” the owl replied.

- Do you want to live with me? I will feed you mice and tender chicks.

- Not for nothing, of course? the wise bird muttered.

“People, when they see that you serve me, will consider me a magician.

“Good idea,” said the owl. - And to begin my service, I will say that you are looking for silver shoes in vain. They were carried away by a small animal of a breed unknown to me.

Looking sharply at Oorfene, the owl asked:

“And when will you start eating frogs and leeches?”

- What? Oorfene was surprised. - Are there leeches? What for?

“Because this food is due to evil wizards by law. Do you remember how conscientiously Gingema ate mice and ate leeches?

Oorfene remembered and shuddered: the food of the old sorceress always disgusted him, and during the breakfasts and dinners of Gingema, he left the cave under some pretext.

“Listen, Guamoko… Guamocolatoquint,” he said ingratiatingly, “is it possible to do without it?”

Oorfene with a sigh gathered some of the sorceress's belongings, put the owl on his shoulder and went home.

Oncoming Munchkins, seeing the gloomy Oorfene, scaredly shied aside.

Returning to his place, Oorfene lived in his house with an owl, not meeting people, not loving anyone, not loved by anyone.

unusual plant

One evening a violent storm broke out. Thinking that the evil Oorfene Deuce had caused this storm, the Munchkins cowered in fear and waited for their houses to collapse.

But nothing like that happened. But, getting up in the morning and looking around the garden, Oorfene Deuce saw several bright green sprouts of an unusual appearance on the bed with lettuce. Obviously, their seeds were brought into the garden by a hurricane. But from what part of the country they flew in, forever remained a mystery.

- How long have I been weeding the beds, - Oorfene Deuce grumbled, - and now these weeds are climbing again. Well, wait, I'll deal with you tonight.

Oorfene went to the forest, where he had snares placed, and spent the whole day there. Secretly from Guamoco, he took with him a frying pan and oil, fried a fat rabbit and ate it with pleasure.

Returning home, Deuce gasped in surprise. On the lettuce bed, powerful bright green plants with oblong fleshy leaves rose to the height of a man.

- That's the thing! cried Oorfene. “Those weeds wasted no time!”

He walked over to the bed and yanked on one of the plants to pull it up by the roots. It wasn't there! The plant did not even give way, and Oorfene Deuce stabbed his hands with small sharp thorns that covered the trunk and leaves.

Oorfene got angry, pulled the thorns out of his palms, put on leather mittens and again began to pull the plant out of the garden. But he didn't have the strength. Then Deuce armed himself with an ax and began to cut the plants under the root.

“Boar, boar, boar,” the ax cut into the succulent stems, and the plants fell to the ground.

- So so so! Oorfene Deuce triumphed. He fought the weeds as if they were living enemies.

When the massacre was over, night fell, and the weary Oorfene went to bed.

The next morning he went out onto the porch, and the hair on his head stood on end in amazement.

And on the lettuce bed, where the roots of unknown weeds remained, and on the smoothly trodden path, where the carpenter dragged the cut stems - everywhere tall plants with bright green fleshy leaves stood in a dense wall.

- Oh, you are! Oorfene Deuce roared angrily and rushed into battle.

Cut down stems and uprooted roots, the carpenter chopped into small pieces on a block of wood for chopping firewood.

At the end of the garden, behind the trees, was a wasteland. There Oorfene Deuce dragged the plants chopped into porridge and threw them in anger in all directions.

The work went on all day, but at last the garden was cleared of the invaders, and the weary Oorfene Deuce went to rest. He slept badly: he was tormented by nightmares, it seemed to him that unknown plants surrounded him and tried to injure him with thorns.

Getting up at dawn, the carpenter first went to the wasteland to see what was happening there. Opening the gate, he groaned softly and sank helplessly to the ground, shocked by what he saw. The life force of unfamiliar plants was extraordinary. The barren land of the wasteland was completely covered with young growth.

When Oorfene in a rage scattered green crumble the day before, his splashes fell on fence posts, on tree trunks: these sprays took root there, and young plants looked out from there.

Struck by a sudden insight, Oorfene threw off his boots. Tiny sprouts were densely green on their soles. The sprouts peeked out from the seams of the clothes. The log for chopping wood bristled all over with shoots. Deuce rushed into the closet: the handle of the ax was also covered with young growth.

Oorfene sat on the porch and thought. What to do? Leave here and settle somewhere else? But it is a pity to leave a comfortable roomy house, a garden.

Oorfene went up to the owl. He sat on a perch, his yellow eyes screwed up in the daylight. Deuce spoke about his trouble. Owl swayed on the perch for a long time, thinking.

“Try roasting them in the sun,” he advised.

Oorfene Deuce finely chopped several young shoots, folded them on an iron sheet with curved edges, and carried them out into the open area under the hot rays of the sun.

Let's see if you grow here! he muttered angrily. “If you germinate, I will leave these places.

The plants didn't germinate. The roots did not have the strength to go through the iron. A few hours later, the hot sun of Fairyland turned the green mass into a brown powder.

“Still, it’s not in vain that I feed Guam,” said Oorfene, satisfied. - Wise bird...

Having seized a wheelbarrow, Deuce went to Kogida to collect iron pans from the owners, on which pies are baked. He returned with a wheelbarrow filled to the brim with baking sheets.

Oorfene shook his fist at his enemies.

"Now I'll deal with you," he hissed through clenched teeth.

Hard labor began right away. Oorfene Deuce worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk, only taking a short break during the day.

He acted very carefully. Having outlined a small area, he carefully cleared it of plants, leaving not the slightest particle. He crushed the plants dug out with roots in an iron basin and laid them out to dry on baking sheets arranged in even rows in a sunny place. Brown powder Oorfene Deuce poured into iron buckets and covered with iron lids. Perseverance and perseverance did their job. The carpenter did not give the enemy the slightest loophole.

The area occupied by bright green thorny weeds was shrinking every day. And then the moment came when the last bush turned into a light brown powder.

For a week of work, Deuce was so exhausted that he could hardly stand on his feet.

Stepping over the threshold, Oorfene stumbled, the bucket tilted, and part of the brown powder spilled onto the bearskin that lay at the threshold instead of a carpet.

The carpenter did not see this; he removed the last pail, closed it as usual, dragged himself to the bed, and fell into a dead sleep.

He woke up because someone was persistently pulling his hand, hanging from the bed. Opening his eyes, Oorfene was numb with horror: a bear was standing by the bed and holding the sleeve of his caftan in his teeth.

“I am dead,” thought the carpenter. - He will bite me ... But where did the bear come from in the house? The door was closed…”

Minutes passed, the bear did not show hostile intentions, but only dragged Oorfene by the sleeve, and suddenly a hoarse bass voice was heard:

- Master! It's time to wake up, you've been sleeping too long!

Oorfene Deuce was so astounded that he fell head over heels from the bed: the bearskin, which had previously been lying at the threshold, stood on all fours by the carpenter's bed and shook his head.

“It is the skin of my pet bear that has come to life. She walks, talks... But why is that? Really spilled powder? .. "

To test his guess, Urfin turned to the owl:

- Guam ... Guamoko! ..

Finn was silent.

“Listen, you cheeky bird! the carpenter yelled savagely. "I've had enough of breaking my tongue, completely pronouncing your damned name!" If you don't want to answer, get out into the woods and get your own food!

Flynn replied conciliatoryly:

- All right, don't boil! Guamoco is so Guamoco, but I don't settle for less. What did you want to ask me?

“Is it true that the vitality of an unknown plant is so great that even its powder revived the skin?”

- Truth. I heard about this plant from the wisest of the owls, my great-grandfather Karitofilaksi ...

- Enough! ' snapped Oorfene. - Shut up! And you, skin, get out of your place, don't bother me thinking!

The skin obediently moved to the threshold and lay down in its usual place.

- That's the thing! muttered Oorfene Deuce, sitting down at the table and resting his shaggy head in his hands. “The question now is, is this thing useful to me or not?”

After much thought, the ambitious carpenter decided that this thing was useful for him, as it gave him great power over things.

But it was still necessary to check how great the power of the life-giving powder is. On the table stood a stuffed parrot made by Oorfene with blue, red and green feathers. The carpenter took out a pinch of brown powder and sprinkled it on the head and back of the effigy.

An amazing thing happened. The powder smoked with a slight hiss and began to disappear. Its brown grains seemed to melt, being sucked into the parrot's skin between the feathers. The scarecrow moved, raised its head, looked around… The resurrected parrot flapped its wings and flew out the open window with a sharp cry.

- It works! shouted Oorfene Deuce in delight. - It works! .. What else to try?

Huge deer antlers were nailed to the wall in the form of decoration, and Oorfene generously sprinkled them with life-giving powder.

“Let’s see what happens,” the carpenter grinned.

The result did not have to wait very long. Again, a light smoke over the horns, the disappearance of grains ... Nails torn out of the wall crackled, the horns fell to the floor and rushed at Oorfene Deuce with wild fury.

- Guard! yelled the frightened carpenter, running away from the horns.

But those with unexpected dexterity pursued him everywhere: on the bed, on the table and under the table. The bearskin cowered in fear at the closed door.

- Master! she screamed. - Open the door!..

Dodging blows, Oorfene pushed back the bolt and flew out onto the porch. Behind him, a bearskin roared, and then the horns jumped wildly. All this mixed up on the porch in a screaming and somersaulting heap, rolled down the steps. And from the house came the mocking hoot of an owl. The horns knocked down the gate and rushed towards the forest in huge leaps. Oorfene Deuce, bruised and bruised, got up from the ground.

- Damn it! he groaned, feeling his sides. - This is too much!

The skin reproachfully said:

“Don’t you know, master, that now is the time when the deer are terribly pugnacious. It's also good that you survived ... Well, now the deer in the forest will get from these horns! And the bearskin laughed hoarsely. From this, Oorfene concluded that the powder should be handled with care and not revive anything. The room was utterly devastated: everything was broken, overturned, the dishes were broken, fluff from the torn pillow was spinning in the air. Deuce angrily said to the owl:

"Why didn't you warn me that it was dangerous to revive the horns?"

The angry bird replied:

“Guamocolatokint would have warned, and Guamoco lacked the insight to do so.

Deciding to settle accounts with the owl for his deceit later, Oorfene began to restore order in the room. He picked up a wooden clown he had once made from the floor. The clown had a fierce face and a mouth with bared sharp teeth, and therefore no one bought it.

“Well, I think you won’t do as many troubles as horns,” said Oorfene and sprinkled the clown with powder.

Having done this, he put the toy on the table, and he himself sat down on a stool nearby and dreamed. He came to his senses from a sharp pain: the revived toy grabbed his finger with its teeth.

- And you there too, rubbish! Oorfene Deuce got furious and threw the clown on the floor with a flourish.

He hobbled into a far corner, hid behind a chest and remained sitting there, shaking his arms, legs and head for his own pleasure.

The ambitious plans of Oorfene Deuce

One day Oorfene sat on the porch and listened to how the bearskin and Guamoco quarreled in the house.

“You, owl, don’t love your master,” grumbled the skin. “He was silent on purpose when he revived the horns, but he knew that it was dangerous ... And yet you are cunning, owl, you are cunning everything. I saw enough of your brother when I lived in the forest. Here, I'll get to you...

– Uh-uh-uh! - mocked the owl from a high perch. - Well, you scared me, you empty talker!

“It’s true that I’m empty,” the skin admitted contritely. “I’ll ask the owner to fill me with sawdust, otherwise I’m very light on the go, no stability, any breeze will knock me off my feet ...

"That's a good idea," Deuce remarked to himself, "I'll have to do it that way."

- Well, you are there, cleared up! Shut up!

The disputants continued to scold in whispers. Oorfene Deuce made plans for the future. Of course, he must now take a higher position in the Blue Country. Oorfene knew that after the death of Gingema, the Munchkins chose the respected old man Prem Kokus as ruler.

Under the guidance of the good Caucus, the Munchkins lived easily and freely.

Returning to the house, Oorfene went around the room. The owl and the bearskin fell silent. Deuce spoke out loud.

“Why is the Munchkins ruled by Prem Kokus?” Is he smarter than me? Is he such a skilled craftsman as I am? Does he have the same stately posture? - Oorfene Deuce proudly straightened up, puffed out his chest, puffed out his cheeks. - No, Premu Kokusu is far from me!

Bearskin obligingly confirmed:

“That’s right, master, you have a very impressive appearance!”

“They don’t ask you,” Oorfene barked and continued: “Prem Kokus is much richer than me, it’s true!” It has large fields where many people work. But now that I have the life-giving powder, I can make myself as many workers as I want, they will clear the forest, and I will also have fields ... Stop! And what if not workers, but soldiers? Yes Yes Yes! I will make myself fierce, strong soldiers, and then may the Munchkins dare not recognize me as their ruler!

Oorfene was running about the room in agitation.

“Even the crappy little clown bit me so that it still hurts,” he thought, “and if you make wooden people in human height, teach them to use weapons ... Why, then I can measure my strength with Goodwin himself ...”

But the carpenter immediately timidly covered his mouth: it seemed to him that he had said these bold words aloud. What if the Great and Terrible heard them? Oorfene sank his head into his shoulders and expected that he was about to be struck by an invisible hand. But everything was calm, and Deuce was relieved in his soul.

“You have to be careful, though,” he thought. - For the first time, the Blue Country is enough for me. And there… there…”

But he did not even mentally dare to stretch his dreams further.

... Oorfene Deuce knew the beauty and wealth of the Emerald City. In his youth, he had a chance to visit there, and memories have not left him until now.

Oorfene saw amazing houses there: their upper floors hung over the lower ones, and the roofs of the opposing houses almost converged over the streets. It was always gloomy and cool on the pavements, the hot rays of the sun did not penetrate there. In this dusk, the inhabitants of the city walked leisurely, all in green glasses. Emeralds shone with a mysterious light, interspersed not only in the walls of houses, but even between the stones of the pavements ...

So many treasures! The wizard did not maintain a large army to protect them - the entire army of Goodwin consisted of a single Soldier, whose name was Din Gior. However, why did Goodwin need an army if with one look he could incinerate hordes of enemies?

Dean Gior had one concern - to look after his beard. Well, it was a beard too! She stretched to the very ground, the Soldier combed her from morning to evening with a crystal comb, and sometimes braided her like a braid.

On the occasion of the palace festival, Din Gior showed soldiers' tricks on the square for the amusement of the assembled onlookers. He wielded his sword, spear, and shield so skillfully that he delighted the spectators.

When the parade ended, Oorfene went up to Dean Gior and asked:

“Venerable Dean Gior, I cannot but express my admiration to you. Tell me, where did you learn these wisdoms?

The flattered Soldier replied:

- In the old days, there were often wars in our country, I read about this in the annals. I found old military manuscripts that tell how commanders taught soldiers, what military techniques were, how orders were given. I diligently studied all this, put it into practice ... and here are the results! ..

To remember the Soldier's military techniques, Oorfene decided to work with a wooden clown.

- Hey clown! he shouted. - Where are you?

“I am here, master,” a squeaky voice called from behind the chest. Are you going to fight again?

“Get out, don’t be afraid, I’m not angry with you.” And by the way, since you have come to life, I will give you a human name: henceforth you will be called Eot Ling.

Eot Ling got out of his hiding place.

“Now I will see what you are capable of,” said Oorfene. - Can you march?

“What is it, master?”

- Call me not the master, but the master! I'm telling you the same, skin!

- Marching means walking, repelling a step, turning right and left or around on orders.

This Ling turned out to be quite quick-witted and adopted the soldier's science quickly, but he could not take a wooden saber, hewn by Oorfene. The clown had no fingers, and the brushes simply ended in fists.

“My future soldiers will have to make flexible fingers,” Oorfene Deuce decided.

The teaching continued until the evening. Oorfene was tired of giving orders, but the wooden clown was fresh and alert all the time, he did not show any signs of fatigue. Of course, this was to be expected: how can a tree get tired?

During the lesson, the bearskin looked with admiration at its master and repeated in a whisper all his orders. And Guamoco screwed up his yellow eyes contemptuously.

Oorfene was delighted. But now he was seized by a disturbing thought: what if the life-giving powder is stolen from him? He closed the door with three bolts, boarded up the closet where the buckets of powder stood, and yet he slept uneasily, waking up at every rustle and knock.

It was possible to distribute to the Munchkins the iron pans taken from them, which the carpenter no longer needed. Deuce decided to stage his new appearance in Kogid solemnly. He converted the wheelbarrow into a cart in order to harness a bearskin to it. And then he remembered the overheard conversation of the skin with the owl.

“Listen, skin! - he said. - I noticed that you are too light and unstable on the move, and therefore I decided to stuff you with sawdust.

- Oh, lord, how wise you are! the ingenuous skin yelled in delight.

Heaps of sawdust accumulated in Oorfene's shed, and the stuffing went quickly. After finishing it, Deuce thought about it.

“Here’s the skin,” he said. "I'll give you a name too."

- Oh, lord! - the bearskin shouted joyfully. - And this name will be as long as that of an owl?

"No," Deuce replied dryly. On the contrary, it will be short. You will be called Thumper, Bear Thumper.

The good-natured bear liked the new name very much.

- That's lovely! he exclaimed. “I will have the most sonorous name in the Blue Country. That-po-tun! Let the owl now try to turn up his nose in front of me!

The thumper stomped heavily from the barn, grumbling happily:

– Now, at least, you feel like a real bear.

Oorfene harnessed Thumper to the cart, took Guamoko and the clown with him, and rode into Cogida with great pomp. The iron pans rumbled as the cart bounced over the bumps, and the startled Munchkins ran in droves.

“Oorfene Deuce is a powerful wizard,” they whispered. - He revived a tame bear that died last year ...

Deuce heard snippets of these conversations, and his heart overflowed with pride. He ordered the housewives to take apart the trays, and they, timidly looking sideways at the bear and the owl, cleaned the cart.

– Do you understand now who is the master in Kogid? Oorfene asked sternly.

“We understand,” the Munchkins answered humbly and began to cry.

At home, on reflection, Oorfene Deuce decided that he would use the powder extremely sparingly. He ordered a tinsmith to make some flasks with tight screw caps, filled them with powder, and buried the flasks under a tree in the garden. He no longer believed in the reliability of the closet.

The birth of the wooden army

Oorfene Deuce understood that if he alone worked on the creation of a wooden army, even a small one, then the work would drag on for a long time.

A bear appeared in Kogid and roared with a trumpet voice. Frightened Munchkins fled.

“Our lord Oorfene Deuce,” announced the Stomper, “ordered that six men come to him every day to prepare logs in the forest. They must come with their axes and saws.

The Munchkins thought, cried... and agreed.

In the forest, Oorfene Deuce marked the trees that needed to be felled and indicated how they should be sawn.

Harvested ridges from the forest to Urfin's yard were transported by Topotun. There, the carpenter arranged them to dry, but not in the sun, but in the shade so that they would not crack.

A few weeks later, when the logs were dry, Oorfene Deuce set to work. He rough-hewn the torso, made blanks for the arms and legs. Oorfene planned for the first time to limit himself to five platoons of soldiers, ten in each platoon: he believed that this was quite enough to seize power over the Blue Country.

At the head of each ten will be a corporal, and the general will command everyone - the leader of the wooden army.

Urfin wanted to make soldiers' bodies from pine, as it is easier to process, but the carpenter decided to attach oak heads to them in case the soldiers had to fight with their heads. And in general, for soldiers who do not have to reason, oak heads are best suited.

For the corporals, Oorfene prepared a mahogany, and for the general, with great difficulty, he found a precious rosewood in the forest. Oak-headed pine soldiers will revere mahogany corporals, and these in turn will revere the handsome rosewood general.

The manufacture of wooden figures in full human growth was new for Oorfene, and for a start he built a trial soldier. Of course, this soldier had a fierce face, glass buttons served as his eyes. Reviving the soldier, Oorfene sprinkled his head and chest with a wonderful powder, hesitated a little, and suddenly a wooden hand, straightening up, dealt him such a strong blow that he flew off five steps. Angry, Oorfene grabbed an ax and wanted to chop up the figure lying on the floor, but immediately came to his senses.

“I’ll do my own work,” he thought. “However, he also has strength ... With such soldiers, I will be invincible!”

Having made the second soldier, Oorfene Deuce thought: it will take many months to create his army. And he couldn't wait to go hiking. And he decided to turn the first two soldiers into apprentices.

It was not easy to train the wooden people in carpentry. Things progressed so slowly that even the persistent Deuce lost patience and showered his wooden students with frantic abuse:

- Well, you fool! What a dunce!..

And then one day, to the angry question of the teacher: “Well, who are you after that?” - the student, loudly slapping his wooden chest with a wooden fist, answered: “I am a blockhead!”

Oorfene burst into a loud laugh:

- Okay! So call yourself blockheads, this is the most suitable name for you!

When the blockheads learned to carpentry a little, they began to help the master in his work: they carved out the torsos, arms and legs, and cut out the fingers for future soldiers.

But the case was not without funny incidents. Once Oorfene needed to leave. He gave the apprentices saws and ordered a dozen logs to be cut into pieces. Returning and seeing what his henchmen had done, Oorfene became furious. The workers quickly sawed the logs, and since there was no more work, they began to saw everything that came to hand: workbenches, fences, gates ... Heaps of debris lay in the yard, suitable only for firewood. However, even this was not enough for the wooden sawyers, while the owner, to his misfortune, lingered: the apprentices sawed each other's legs with senseless zeal!

Another time, a blockhead split a thick block of wood with wedges. Knocking out wedges with an ax that he held in his right hand, an inexperienced journeyman stuck the fingers of his other hand into the slot. The wedges flew out, and the fingers were tightly pinched. The blockhead tugged at them in vain, and then, in order to free himself, chopped off the fingers of his left hand.

Since then, Oorfene tried not to leave his assistants unattended.

Having established the production of soldiers, Oorfene began to make corporals from mahogany.

The corporals turned out to be famous: they were taller than soldiers, with even more powerful arms and legs, with angry red faces that could scare anyone.

The soldiers were not supposed to know that their commanders were carved out of wood, like themselves, so Oorfene made corporals in another room.

Oorfene Deuce devoted a lot of time to the education of corporals. The corporals had to understand that in comparison with their master they are nothingness and any of his orders for them is the law. But for the soldiers, they, corporals, are demanding and harsh bosses, their subordinates are obliged to honor and obey them. As a sign of power, Oorfene handed the corporals batons made of iron wood and said that he would not exact if they broke the batons on the backs of their subordinates.

To elevate the corporals above the rank and file, Oorfene gave them their own names - Arum, Befar, Vatis, Giton and Daruk. When the training of the corporals was completed, they appeared in front of the soldiers with an important air and immediately beat them up for their lack of diligence. The soldiers felt no pain. But they looked with dismay at the marks of blows on their smoothly planed bodies.

Having selected the necessary materials and tools, Oorfene Deuce locked himself in the house, entrusted Thumper with the supervision of the wooden army, and he himself began work on the rosewood general. Oorfene diligently trimmed the future commander, who would lead his wooden soldiers into battle.

It took two weeks to dress the general, and a simple soldier was obtained in three days. The general came out luxurious: beautiful multi-colored patterns went all over his torso, arms and legs, head and face, his whole body was polished and shiny.

Oorfene revived the general, who jumped off the workbench and, rolling his eyes ferociously, moved towards the owner. Deuce was timid at first, and then, emboldened, commanded:

- Stop! Quietly! The general froze. - Listen to my words! You are General Lan Pirot, commander of the invincible army of Oorfene Deuce. And Oorfene Deuce is me, your lord and master! Understandably? Repeat!

The wooden figure hoarsely but clearly repeated:

“I am General Lan Pirot, commander of the invincible army of Oorfene Deuce. You are Oorfene Deuce, my lord and master... And why are you my master? the general suddenly hesitated. - Maybe the other way around? I am taller than you, and I have more strength ...

The general stepped menacingly towards Oorfene, who stepped back in fright, and then shouted angrily:

- Stomp! Show this brat who's in charge here!

The bear gave the general a healthy slap, he flew somersault. Standing up, he said in embarrassment:

“Well, why such drastic measures at once, my lord?” Look what a dent turned out on the head ...

“I’ll fix the dent, but now you know which of us is in charge.”

- Yes, I will know. And where is my invincible army?

Upon learning that he would have five corporals and fifty ordinary blockheads under his command, and subsequently even more, Lap Pirot was consoled.

While Lan Pirot, under the guidance of Oorfene Deuce, studied military science, mastered weapons and mastered general manners, work in the workshop went on day and night, since the wooden apprentices never got tired.

And then Oorfene Deuce and the brilliant, imposing General Lan Pirot appeared in the yard. The blockheads were immediately imbued with reverence for such a representative boss.

The general reviewed the army and smashed it for not being brave enough.

“I’ll beat the warrior spirit into you,” the commander growled in a hoarse commanding bass. - You will understand what service is!

At the same time, he shook the general's mace, which was three times heavier than the corporal's batons: with one blow of this mace, any oak head could be broken.

From that day on, Lan Pirot gave his army many hours of daily exercises, and Oorfene Deuce quickly replenished it with new soldiers.

For the persistence with which Urfin created a wooden army, the cunning owl Guamoco began to respect him. Owl realized that his services were not so necessary for Juice, and the life of the new wizard was satisfying and carefree. Guamoco stopped his mockery of Oorfene and began to call him master more often. Juice liked this, and a good relationship was established between him and the owl.

And the bear Thumper was beside himself with delight, seeing what miracles his lord performs. And he demanded that all blockheads show the ruler the greatest honor.

Once Lan Pirot did not get up very quickly when Oorfene Deuce appeared and did not bow low enough to him. For this, the bear gave the general such a cuff with his mighty paw that he rolled head over heels. Fortunately, the soldiers did not see this, and the general's authority was not damaged, which cannot be said about his polished sides.

But since then, Lan Pirot has become unusually respectful not only to the master, but also to his faithful bear.

Finally, the blockhead army, consisting of a general, five corporals and fifty privates, was trained in order and handling of weapons. The soldiers did not have sabers, but Oorfene armed them with clubs. That was enough for a start: blockheads could not be shot with bows or stabbed with spears.

Hike blockheads

One morning, unfortunate for them, the inhabitants of Kogida were alarmed by a strong clatter: it was the wooden army of Oorfene Djus marching along the street. Ahead, a rosewood general strode importantly with a huge mace in his hand, followed by an army with corporals in front of each platoon.

- At-two, at-two! - corporals commanded, and the soldiers unanimously beat off the step with wooden feet.

Oorfene Deuce rode a bear on the side and admired his army.

- R-r-miya, stop! Lan Pirot roared deafeningly, wooden legs clattered against one another and the army halted.

The frightened inhabitants of the village, pouring out of their houses, stood on the porches and at the gates.

“Listen to me, people of Kogida! Oorfene Deuce announced loudly. “I declare myself the ruler of the Blue Country!” For hundreds of years, the Munchkins served the sorceress Gingema. Gingema died, but her magical art did not disappear, it passed to me. You see these wooden people: I made and revived them. All I have to do is say a word, and my invulnerable wooden army will kill you all and destroy your homes. Do you acknowledge me as your master?

“We admit it,” the Munchkins answered, and sobbed desperately.

The heads of the Munchkins shook with uncontrollable weeping, and the bells under their hats raised a joyful peal. This ringing sounded so out of tune with the gloomy mood of the Munchkins that they pulled off their hats and hung them on specially dug posts near the porches.

Oorfene ordered everyone to go home, but delayed the blacksmiths. He ordered the blacksmiths to forge sabers for the corporals and the general and sharpen them sharply.

So that none of the inhabitants of Kogida warned Prem Kokus and that he could not prepare for defense, Oorfene Deuce ordered blockheads to surround the village and not let anyone out of it.

Oorfene Deuce drove everyone out of the headman's house, put the bear at the door on guard and went to bed.

Oorfene slept for a long time, woke up only in the evening and went to check the guards.

He was surprised by the unexpected sight. The general, corporals and soldiers were at their posts, but they were all covered by large green leaves and branches.

- What's the matter? asked Oorfene Deuce sharply. - What happened to you?

“We are ashamed…” Lan Pirot replied embarrassed. We are naked...

- Here's some more news! Oorfene shouted angrily. You are wood!

“But we are humans, lord, you said it yourself,” Lan Pirot objected. “People wear clothes… And they tease us…”

- There was no sadness! I'll give you clothes!

The wooden host was so delighted that they shouted “Hurrah” three times in honor of Oorfene Deuce.

Having dismissed his army, Oorfene thought about it: it was easy to promise clothes to fifty-six wooden warriors, but where to get them? In the village, of course, there is no material for uniforms, leather for boots and belts, and there are no craftsmen to do such a great job.

Oorfene told the owl about his difficulty. Guamoko looked around with his large yellow eyes and threw out only one word:

- Dye!

This word explained everything to Oorfene. Indeed: why wear wooden bodies that do not need protection from the cold, when you can just paint them?

Oorfene Deuce summoned the headman to him and demanded to bring him paints of all colors that are in the village.

Arranging the cans of paints around him and spreading out the brushes, Oorfene set to work. He decided to paint a sample of one soldier and see what happens. He painted a yellow uniform with white buttons and a belt on a wooden body, and pants and boots on his legs.

When the ruler showed his work to the wooden soldiers, they were delighted and wished to be brought in the same form.

It was difficult for Oorfene alone to cope with the work, so he attracted all the local painters to her.

The case boiled over. Two days later the army was gleaming with fresh paint, reeking of turpentine and drying oil for a mile.

The first platoon was painted yellow, the second platoon blue, the third platoon green, the fourth platoon orange, and the fifth platoon purple.

To distinguish themselves from soldiers, corporals were attached with ribbons over the shoulder of the corresponding color, which the corporals were very proud of. The only bad thing is that the soldiers did not have the sense to wait for the paint to dry. Admiring each other, they poked each other in the stomach, chest, shoulders. It turned out spots, and from this blockheads became a bit like leopards.

General Deuce managed to prove that his beautiful multi-colored patterns are better than any clothing.

The painted army was delighted, but then an unexpected difficulty arose. The blockheads looked alike in their faces, like two peas in a pod, and if the commanders used to distinguish them by the location of the knots, now the knots were painted over, and this possibility disappeared.

Oorfene Deuce, however, did not lose his head. He drew a serial number on the chest and back of each soldier.

These identification marks became the names of the soldiers, which was very convenient.

Previously, you had to call the soldiers like this:

- Hey you, with a knot on your belly, step forward! Wait, wait, where are you? Do you also have a knot on your belly? Well, I don’t need you, but the one over there with two more little knots on his left shoulder ...

Now things were much easier:

“Green number one, two steps forward!” How do you stand in the ranks, I ask you? Here you are, here you are, here you are!

The muffled blows of the club were heard, and the punished returned to the ranks.

The campaign was no longer delayed: the sabers were forged and honed, the painted uniforms and trousers were dry. Oorfene made a saddle so that it would be more convenient to ride on a bear's back. He strapped capacious bags to the saddle, and in them he hid flasks with life-giving powder - his greatest treasure. The entire army - up to the general - was strictly forbidden to touch the bags.

Some blockheads carried tools from Oorfene's workshop: saws, axes, planes, drills, as well as a supply of wooden heads, legs and arms.

Oorfene Deuce locked his house with big locks and ordered the inhabitants of Kogida not to approach him. He put the wooden clown in his bosom, warning him not to bite. Owl perched on Oorfene's shoulder.

- At-two, at-two! Left, right!

The army marched on the estate of Prem Kokusa in the early morning. She cheerfully kicked her leg, and Oorfene Deuce rode behind the bear and was glad that he had drawn identification marks not only on the chest of each soldier, but also on the back. If one of them gets scared in battle and runs, then the culprit can immediately be recognized and cut into firewood.

New concept

The conquest of the Blue Country came to Juice very easily. Prem Kokus and his workers were taken by surprise. They did not even try to resist the ferocious blockheads and immediately recognized themselves as defeated.

The coup d'etat took place: Oorfene Deuce became the ruler of the vast country of the Munchkins.

Two years earlier, there had been an earthquake in Fairyland. The road to the Emerald City was crossed by two deep ravines, and communication between it and the country of the Munchkins was interrupted. During the trip to the Emerald City, Ellie and her friends crossed the ravines, but it cost them a lot of work. The timid Munchkins could not do such a feat, they preferred to stay at home and be content with the news that the birds carried from one region to another.

Eavesdropping on bird conversations (magpies turned out to be the most knowledgeable), the Munchkins learned that Goodwin had left Fairyland a few months ago, leaving the Scarecrow the Wise as his successor. It also became known to them that the Fairy of the Killing House, whom the Munchkins fell in love with because she freed them from Gingema, also returned to her homeland.

Oorfene Deuce also learned about all this. News came to him from Guamoco, and he was told about it by forest owls and eagle owls.

When this important news reached Oorfene, the former carpenter, and now the ruler of the Blue Country of Munchkins, thought. It seemed to him that the right moment had come to fulfill his dream and seize power over the Emerald City. The mysterious personality of Goodwin and his amazing ability to turn into various animals and birds frightened Oorfene Deuce, but the current ruler of the Scarecrow did not inspire him with any fear. True, Oorfene was embarrassed by the nickname the Wise, which was given to the Scarecrow by Goodwin.

But Oorfene spoke to the owl like this:

“Suppose the Scarecrow has wisdom. But I have strength. What can he do with his wisdom when I have a powerful army and he only has one long-bearded soldier? He has a reliable ally - the Tin Woodman, but he will not have time to come to the rescue ... It's decided - I'm going to conquer the Emerald City!

Guamoco approved the overlord's plan. The army of Oorfene Deuce set out on a campaign.

* * *

In vain did the formidable conqueror hope that his warlike designs would remain a mystery to the Scarecrow. The same birds that spread the latest news of the Emerald City in the country of the Munchkins brought the alarming news to the city that trouble was approaching its civilians: an army of powerful wooden soldiers, nicknamed blockheads, was coming. And they are led by the former carpenter Urfin Deuce, who has already conquered the country of the Munchkins.

The Emerald City has existed for several decades, and has never been threatened by an enemy invasion. When Goodwin ruled the city, everyone considered him an invincible wizard, and no one dared to go to war with him.

“I am, of course, a nonentity in comparison with Goodwin the Great and Terrible,” the Scarecrow reflected sorrowfully. - As soon as I became the ruler, and now enemies are coming to the Emerald City. But I won't give up without a fight...

The Scarecrow called a council of war. This council was attended by the Long-bearded Soldier Din Gior, the Guardian of the Gate Faramant, the crow Kaggi-Karr, the one that advised the Scarecrow to get brains (she has since become his best friend and adviser), and several eminent citizens.

Having made a short report on the plans of Oorfene Deuce, the Scarecrow ended like this:

It's good that we learned about the danger. There is no time to lose, we must prepare a strong defense. Honorable Dean Gior, I appoint you Field Marshal of our armed forces.

The field marshal immediately stated his thoughts. He said:

“I will immediately assemble the masters, and they will begin to raise the city walls today, where they are available for attack. We will sheath the gates with sheets of iron so that they cannot be rammed. I'll have special teams haul as many stones and heavy logs as possible onto the walls. And if necessary, we will even dig out emeralds from the city pavements!

- Very pre-du-look-three-tel-on-I program, very! - the Scarecrow admired. – It is immediately clear that you are a great theoretician of military affairs. Go and get to work! And you, venerable Faramant, I appoint the head of supply.

Faramant also put forward his project of action.

"I'll send out food parties to all the farms at once," he said. - We will collect stocks of flour, butter, cheese, eggs in the city, we will drive herds of cattle and store hay for them. The enemy may stand under the walls for a whole year, but he will not starve us. We will send women and children into the interior of the country so that we do not have extra eaters.

“A very fine plan, very much! approved the Scarecrow. - Go ahead and do it. You, venerable Kaggi-Karr, I appoint the head of communications. I think you, with your strong wings, will like such a position.

“Oh, I can handle her better than anyone!” exclaimed Kaggi-Karr. “I will send the birds from the city to the country of the Munchkins, and through this relay race we will have the most accurate information about the advance of the enemy. And besides that, I will send winged messengers for the Tin Woodman, let him hasten to our aid.

- Bravo, bravo! I made no mistake in choosing assistants. Go, Kaggi-Karr! (She immediately flew away through the open window, and the ruler turned to the townspeople.) You, my friends, will have to act as simple fighters for the freedom of your native city.

The townspeople responded enthusiastically. Ruf Bilan, a stocky man with a round, purple face, was especially zealous. He was shouting and waving his arms even when everyone else was already silent.

With great dignity the Scarecrow said:

- I do not thank you, friends, for your pat-ri-o-ti-che-sky feelings, protecting your hometown is your sacred duty. But enough words, let's get down to business.

And everyone went to where their help was most needed. So Oorfene Deuce's hope to take the Emerald City by surprise was dashed.

* * *

After three days of accelerated march, the wooden army approached the first ravine, which cut the road paved with yellow bricks. Here the blockheads had an adventure.

The wooden soldiers were accustomed to walking on level ground, and the ravine did not seem dangerous to them. The first line of blockheads with Corporal Arum raised their right legs into the air, hovered over the ravine for a moment, and then hooted down in unison. A few seconds later, a roar announced that the brave warriors had reached their goal. It taught the other blockheads nothing. The second line moved after the first, and Oorfene, his face contorted with horror, yelled:

- General, stop the army!

Lan Pirot commanded:

Army, stop!

The death of wooden soldiers was prevented, and it only remained to fish out the victims from the ravine and repair them. This work, and then the construction of a reliable wooden bridge across the ravine, required a stop for five days.

But now the first ravine was left behind, and the blockheads entered the forest. This forest was notorious in the country: it was inhabited by huge tigers of extraordinary strength and ferocity. They had long sharp fangs protruding from their mouths like sabers, and therefore these animals were called saber-toothed tigers. There were many stories among the Munchkins about terrible incidents that happened in the Tiger Forest.

Oorfene looked around fearfully. It was solemn and alarming all around. Huge trees, covered with hanging garlands of gray moss, closed at the top with their tops, and under the dark green vaults it was gloomy and damp. The yellow-brick road was thick with dead leaves, and the heavy steps of the blockheads sounded muffled.

At first everything went well, but suddenly Lan Pirot jumped up to Oorfene.

- Lord! he shouted. - Animal faces peek out from the forest. Their eyes are yellow, and white sabers stick out of their mouths...

“These are saber-toothed tigers,” said the frightened Oorfene. Looking closely, he saw dozens of lights in the thickets: these were the eyes of predators. - General, put the army on alert!

- Listen, my lord!

Oorfene was surrounded by a ring of wooden soldiers with clubs and sabers in their hands.

Saber-toothed tigers impatiently fumbled and puffed in the thicket, but did not yet dare to attack: the unusual type of prey embarrassed them. And besides, they did not smell the smell of a person, and a person was their favorite delicacy. Suddenly a breeze carried the smell of Oorfene Deuce to the forest, and two tigers, the most hungry and impatient of the whole company, decided. They jumped out of the thickets and soared high above the road.

But when the tigers were ready to descend into the center of the protected circle, the sabers of the corporals, on the orders of Lan Pirot, instantly shot up, and the animals, howling, hung on their points. The soldiers' clubs began to work, crushing the heads and ribs of the tigers. The predators were finished in a moment, and the blockheads threw their tormented bodies to the side of the road. Oorfene Deuce was in a frenzy of delight. He immediately thanked the army.

The frightened tigers did not dare to attack such dangerous enemies anymore. They lay still, their eyes flashing, growling for the sake of propriety, and, ashamed, crawled away into the thicket.

Oorfene Deuce came up with the idea to revive the skins of dead tigers - he will have servants, stronger than whom there are none in the Magic Land. He had already ordered to remove the skins from the tigers, but suddenly, having changed his mind, he canceled the order. After all, if the skins of saber-toothed tigers, known for their fierce temper, rise up against him, Oorfene, then it will be impossible to cope with them.

At the second ravine, the blockheads themselves stopped.

Having crossed the ravine along the bridge built over it, the army entered the field. And then Oorfene was waiting for a new trouble, which he did not think about, did not guess.

Blockheads saw too little in their short lives and, having met something new, they were lost, not knowing how to behave.

Had the third ravine been caught on the road, the wooden soldiers would have been careful. But, unfortunately, they met the Big River, through which they had to cross on the way from the country of the Munchkins to the Emerald City. And before that, blockheads saw only small streams, they stepped over them without even getting their feet wet. Therefore, the vast expanse of the river seemed to General Lan Pirot some new type of road, very convenient for walking.

Oorfene Deuce did not have time to blink an eye, as the wooden general barked:

Follow me, my brave army!

With these words, he ran down the slope into the river, and obedient blockheads fell after him.

The water near the shore was deep and flowed quickly. She picked up the general, corporals, soldiers and dragged them, somersaulting and pushing each other. In vain Oorfene Deuce rushed about in despair along the shore and yelled at the top of his voice:

- Stop, you bastards! Stop!

The soldiers only followed the orders of their general, in addition, they did not understand what was happening, and platoon after platoon stepped into the water.

Two or three minutes - and the conqueror was left without an army: the river carried it all away!

Oorfene tore his hair out of anger and despair.

Flynn muttered:

"Don't be upset, my lord. When I was young, I was in these parts, and I remember that a few miles below the river was overgrown with reeds: our soldiers must linger there ...

The words of the owl calmed Oorfene a little. Having loaded the surviving carpenter's tool onto the Stomper, Deuce set off along the shore. After an hour and a half of fast walking, he saw that the river had become wider and shallower, reed islands had appeared on it, and colorful spots were moving around them. Oorfene Deuce breathed a sigh of relief: the matter could be fixed.

Having examined Lan Pirot among the soldiers, Oorfene shouted:

- Hey, general, order the blockheads to swim to the shore!

- What does it mean to swim? Lan Pirot replied.

- Well then, rave if it's small!

- And how is it - delusional?

Oorfene Deuce angrily spat and began to build a raft. Saving the army took him more than a day. The wooden army had a pitiful appearance: the paint on the bodies was peeling off, the arms and legs swollen from water moved with difficulty.

I had to make a long stop. The soldiers lay on the shore in whole platoons led by corporals and dried up, and Oorfene knocked together a large strong raft.

The yellow brick road went north, and it was clear that it had not been looked after for a long time. It was overgrown with bushes, and only in the middle there was a narrow path.

Blockheads stretched out into a column one at a time. Corporal Befar went first, General Lan Pirot closed the long line. Then I rode on Topotun Oorfin Deuce.

Only one person from this strange army could feel tired and hungry, and that was its creator and master, Oorfene Deuce.

Dinner hour approached, it was time to make a halt, but Corporal Befar stomped and stomped forward, and tireless blockheads beat off his step. Oorfene finally broke down and said to Lan Pirot:

“General, pass it on ahead so that the army stops.

Lan Pirot lightly jabbed his mace at the back of the last soldier and began:

- Pass it on...

Dubolom did not listen to the end. He realized that for some reason, known to the authorities and to which he, the yellow number ten, did not care, it was necessary to pass the received blow forward. And with the word "Pass!" he thrust the club into the back of the yellow ninth. But the blow was a little stronger.

- Pass it on! - shouted the ninth yellow and hit the yellow eighth so that he staggered.

- Pass it on, pass it on, pass it on! - was heard along the chain, and the blows became more frequent and stronger.

The blockheads got excited. Batons pounded on the painted backs, some soldiers fell ...

A lot of time passed before Oorfene managed to restore order, and the battered wooden army got out into a clearing in the middle of the bushes, where a halt was arranged.

* * *

The reader, of course, has long guessed that the Scarecrow quickly learned about all the misadventures of the wooden army from the signalmen of Kaggi-Karr. The incident with the ravine made the ruler rejoice and think that Oorfene would stop the campaign against the Emerald City and lead his stupid soldiers back. But when a few days later the blue jay reported that the blockheads had been repaired and the army was already building a bridge across the second ravine, the Scarecrow realized that Oorfene Deuce was a stubborn, dangerous enemy and no obstacles would stop him on his way to the goal.

The adventure on the Big River confirmed this opinion. Yes, there was nothing left for the subjects of the Scarecrow but to prepare their beautiful city for defense. And they worked selflessly, sparing no effort. The masons raised the walls, the roofers strengthened the gates, the townspeople carried piles of cobblestones and bricks on stretchers. Everywhere flashed energetic, fit figures of the Scarecrow, Dean Gior, Faramant. Kaggi-Karr received reports from the intermittent couriers.

Wagons filled with provisions, drawn by small horses, rushed into the city. At a gallop, with their tails up, the cows galloped, driven by the shepherds.

Having crossed the Great River, Urfin's army entered a completely deserted region. Everything here was green: the rich houses of the inhabitants, standing along the edges of the road, and the fences, and the road signs. But the inhabitants, warned by the messengers of the Scarecrow, left their homes. Combat-ready men left to defend the city, and the old men, women and children, having seized provisions and livestock, hid in forest shelters.

Oorfene realized that the Scarecrow was aware of his approach, and with all his might urged on his tireless, zealous soldiers.

Will the defenders of the Emerald City have time to prepare for a meeting of a terrible enemy? That's what the question was.

History of the Kaggi-Karr Crow

The idea to get brains was suggested to the Scarecrow by the crow Kaggi-Karr, a little talkative and grumpy, but in general a good-natured bird. Here it is necessary to tell what happened to her after Ellie removed the Scarecrow from the pole in the wheat field and took it with her to the Emerald City.

This time Kaggi-Karr did not follow Ellie and the Scarecrow. She considered the wheat field her lawful prey and remained on it to live in a large company of crows, jackdaws and magpies. It was managed so well that when the farmer came to harvest, he found only straw there.

“So the scarecrow didn’t help,” the farmer sighed sadly and, not interested in the fate of the disappeared Scarecrow, went home with nothing.

And some time later news came to Kaggi-Karr by bird mail that some effigy, after the departure of the great wizard Goodwin, had become the ruler of the Emerald City. Since it is unlikely that another living scarecrow would be found in Fairyland, Kaggi-Karr rightly decided that this was the one she advised to look for brains.

A reward should have been demanded for such a wonderful idea, and the crow, without wasting time, flew to the Emerald City. Getting a reception from the Scarecrow the Wise was not so easy: Din Gior did not want to let a simple crow through, as he said.

Kaggi-Karr was terribly indignant.

- A simple crow! - she exclaimed. “Do you know, Longbeard, that I am the oldest friend of the ruler, that I can be said to be his tutor and mentor, and without me he would never have reached his distinguished post! And if you do not immediately report me to the Wise Scarecrow, then you will not do well.

The Long-bearded Soldier reported the raven to the ruler and, to his great amazement, was ordered to immediately bring it in and give it court honors.

The grateful Scarecrow forever remembered the crow that rendered him such a service. He received Kaggi-Karr in the presence of the courtiers with great joy. The ruler descended from the throne and walked on his soft, weak legs three steps towards the guest. In the annals of his court, this was recorded as the greatest honor ever given to anyone!

By order of the Scarecrow the Wise, Kaggi-Karr was listed among the courtiers with the rank of the first taster of the palace cuisine. The Scarecrow himself did not need food, but kept an open table for his courtiers. Since there was no such custom under Goodwin, the courtiers loudly praised the new ruler for his generosity.

At the same time, Kaggi-Karr was given the possession of an excellent wheat field not far from the walls of the city.

Siege of the Emerald City

Kaggi-Karr, not content with her important position as head of communications, decided to prove to Oorfene Deuce that the Emerald City is not such an easy prey as he believes. And the bird army, called by the crow from all over the country, was supposed to prove this.

In anticipation of an enemy invasion, the birds needed to feed, and Kaggi-Karr generously provided them with her wheat field. She knew that not a grain would be left there, but what would you not sacrifice for the freedom of your native country!

And now, on the road paved with yellow brick, a mile from the city, wooden people with fierce faces appeared loudly stomping. Kaggi-Karr immediately sent a quick sparrow to the Scarecrow with a report, and she herself led her army against the enemy.

A huge flock of jackdaws, magpies and sparrows flew into the soldiers of Oorfene Deuce. The birds rushed about in front of their faces, scratched their backs with their claws, perched on their heads, trying to peck out their glassy eyes.

Kaggi-Karr boldly attacked Lan Pirot himself.

The blockheads waved their sabers and clubs in vain, the birds deftly dodged, and the blows fell in the wrong place. The blue soldier poked the green one in the hand, and the latter, angry, attacked him. And when Corporal Giton rushed to separate them, an orange blockhead, aiming at a jackdaw, cut off the corporal's ear.

A general riot ensued. Oorfene Deuce screamed and stamped his feet. The stomper roared wildly and gave the soldiers slaps left and right, trying to beat discipline into them.

Yes, from this too heated meeting, Oorfene Deuce realized that he had a difficult task ahead of him. Some insignificant birds, not even eagles and hawks, but magpies and ravens managed to make such a turmoil in his army, and in front of them are the city walls and on them people who will desperately defend their freedom.

Finally, order was restored, the birds were driven away, and the army moved disorganized to the gates.

On the city wall stood the Scarecrow with his staff and a large detachment of fighters. Among the townspeople, the red-faced Ruf Bilan was especially bustling, urging fellow citizens to bravely defend their native city, although no one needed his calls.

The ruler and his advisers carefully looked at the wooden army, putting themselves in order. They were not deceived by the first small success, realizing that ahead was a fierce stubborn struggle. They waited without taking any military action.

Oorfene Deuce mistook their inaction for indecision. He walked up to the gate with a white flag and rang the bell.

- Who's there? asked the Scarecrow.

- It's me - the powerful Oorfene Deuce, the ruler of the Blue Country of Munchkins.

- What you need?

“I want the Emerald City to surrender and recognize me as their master.

"That won't happen," the Scarecrow retorted with dignity.

“Then I will take your city by storm, and none of you will be spared.

“Try it,” said the governor. The townspeople supported him with a friendly rumble.

Oorfene stepped back from the wall and sent Corporal Befar with his platoon to a nearby grove. There they felled a long tree, cleared it of knots and, under the leadership of Oorfene Deuce and the general, moved towards the wall. Lined up in two rows, the blockheads swung the pillar like a battering ram and hit the gate. The gates crackled.

And then logs, cobblestones and fragments of bricks flew from above. One stone hit Oorfene Deuce in the shoulder and knocked him to the ground. A log hit the general's uncovered head. A dent formed on Lan Pirot's rosewood head, and cracks ran from it in all directions.

Oorfene Deuce jumped up and ran away from the gate, followed closely by the rosewood general. This turned out to be enough. Seeing that the leaders were running, the blockheads immediately turned and ran after them.

Interspersed, bumping into each other, knocking one another down, jumping over the fallen and throwing clubs and sabers on the run, corporals and privates rushed, a frightened Thumper rode behind with a roar. They were accompanied by deafening laughter from the townspeople.

The army stopped far from the walls of the city. Oorfene Deuce rubbed his shoulder and angrily scolded the general for his cowardice, who justified himself with a severe wound, feeling his broken rosewood head.

“You retreated too, lord,” said Lan Pirot.

- Here is a tree, - Oorfene Deuce was indignant. “I’ll repair your head, polish it, and it will become as good as new, and if they break my head, it’s death!”

– What is death?

Oorfene didn't talk to the general anymore. The case ended with the soldiers being blamed for everything, and blows of clubs rained down on them.

The army did not decide on the next attack, and a camp was set up far from the gate.

The siege of the city began. Two or three times the wooden soldiers approached the gate, and each time they retreated when stones were thrown at them from the wall.

It seemed that the siege could be held indefinitely. But there was a weak spot in the defense of the city. Unaccustomed to military service, the townspeople were broken by fatigue and longing for the families who left the city. At night, they were overcome by sleep, and although Field Marshal Din Gior introduced the watch, the watchmen also fell off their feet. The Scarecrow, who never got tired or slept, decided to take over the night search. It made a big difference on the first night.

The Scarecrow sat on the wall and looked out into the field with his sleepless painted eyes. And he saw how preparations for the assault began in the camp of Oorfene Deuce.

Not hearing any movement behind the wall, the enemies began to sneak up to the gate unnoticed. They carried crowbars and axes taken from nearby farms. The scarecrow woke up the fighters, logs and stones fell on the heads of the attackers, and the army of Oorfene Deuce fled.

The Scarecrow, embracing with his soft arms the faithful assistants of Dean Gior and Faramant, reasoned:

- If I were in the place of Oorfene Deuce, I would order my soldiers to protect their heads from stones with wooden shields. And I'm sure they will. Under the cover of shields, they can safely break the gate.

“But what then, sir?” Dean Gior asked.

“These wooden people must be afraid of the same thing that I am afraid of,” the Scarecrow said thoughtfully, “fire.” And therefore it is necessary to prepare more straw on the wall and keep matches at hand.

The guesses of the Scarecrow the Wise turned out to be absolutely correct. After some time, at the deadest hour of the night, a new attack began. Oorfene Deuce's soldiers crept up to the wall, holding over their heads the halves of the gates taken from the farms. And then armfuls of burning straw flew at them. The wooden soldiers had already suffered disaster from the water, as they did not know what it was. They had no idea about fire either: while Oorfene Deuce was making them, he was very afraid of fire and did not even heat the stove in the house. Now that caution has turned against him.

Burning straw fell to the ground, on the shields that covered blockheads. And they looked with curiosity at an unprecedented spectacle. Tongues of flame in the darkness of the night seemed to them amazing bright colors that grew with extraordinary speed. The blockheads did not even think of defending themselves from the fire. On the contrary, some put their hands into the flames and, feeling no pain, stupidly watched red flowers bloom on their fingertips. And already several wooden people were on fire, spreading the suffocating smell of burnt paint ...

Oorfene Deuce saw that his wooden army was in danger of something more terrible than an adventure on the river. But what to do? There was no water nearby.

The exit was prompted by Guamoco.

- Throw the earth! he shouted to the bewildered Oorfene.

Topotun was the first to get down to business. Having knocked down the corporal, whose head was on fire, the bear began to dig the ground with powerful paws and cover up the flames. Then the blockheads themselves realized the danger and began to run away from the burning straw.

The army retreated from the gates of the city with great damage. Several blockheads had their heads burned to the point that they had to be replaced with new ones. Some had their eyes bulging out, their ears burned, and many lost their fingers...

- Oh, blockheads, blockheads! sighed the conqueror. - You are good to everyone: strong, brave, tireless ... If only you had more mind!

But what is not, is not!

It became clear to Oorfene Deuce that the Emerald City could only be taken by starvation. The same was clear to the Scarecrow. He arranged a council of war, in which Kaggi-Karr also participated.

The Scarecrow thought so hard that pins and needles came out of his head and his head looked like a hedgehog with iron bristles. He spoke:

- Oorfene Deuce brought a lot of soldiers with him, but they are all wooden. My friend the Woodcutter, the ruler of the Migunov country, is alone, but he is made of iron. Iron is not cut with wood, but wood is cut with iron. This means that iron is stronger than wood, and if the Tin Woodman arrives in time to help us, he will defeat Oorfene's wooden army.

The crow replied:

“You are quite right, my friend, and I have sent air messengers for him a long time ago. But, unfortunately, the Woodcutter is undergoing preventive repairs, and this repair has been delayed for some reason.

- How, how did you say? the Scarecrow was startled. - Pro-li-fa ... Repeat!

– Preventive.

- Oh, what a good word. And what does it mean?

- Well, how can I tell you? the crow hesitated. - Well, this is something that is done just in case, so that something does not work out.

“Pro-fi-lak-ti-che-sky,” the Scarecrow said slowly over the warehouses, and it was clear that he remembered this word well and would use it on occasion. Such a habit has appeared in the ruler lately: it gave his speeches a very learned tone.

Since of all the members of the headquarters, only Kaggi-Karr could quickly and safely travel to the Purple Country, she was sent on a mission to hurry the Tin Woodman. She promised not to linger anywhere and to return as soon as possible with help.

Two more days passed. Oorfene's attempts to take the city by storm were not successful. After each attack, Deuce had to stand behind the camp bench and repair the broken soldiers. The unfortunate conqueror decided to consult Lan Pirot and the eagle owl Guamoko. Settled away from the city wall under a large tree, they spoke in low voices.

“General, I am getting desperate,” admitted Oorfene Deuce. - We stormed the city seven times, day and night, and all attacks were repulsed with great damage to us. I don't have time to fix the crippled blockheads.

- A real soldier should rush into battle even without a head! – bravo objected Lan Pirot.

“I don’t see how headless soldiers can fight,” Deuce said doubtfully.

- Diligence overcomes everything!

“Um… I don’t think so. However, I will try again to persuade the Scarecrow to surrender. - Waving a white flag, Oorfene went to the wall. “Listen, Your Excellency, Mr. Ruler, for the last time I suggest you capitulate.

- Ka-pi-tu-li-ro-vat? Ringing word! And what does it mean?

- And that you must surrender. And then I will deal with you mercifully, you will become my deputy.

“Listen, Oorfene,” asked the Scarecrow, “have your blockheads already grown wings?

“Sir, I don’t understand you.

“But it's very simple. To fly up the wall, your soldiers must turn into birds, and I think they are still far from that.

– Ho-ho-ho! Ruf Bilan burst out laughing. “Our ruler is a brilliant wit!” I envy your amazing brains, Mr Scarecrow!

Oorfene returned to his interlocutors.

“I threatened the Scarecrow with a new assault, but I understand that it is useless,” said Oorfene with a sigh. “The walls of the city have been raised, the breaches have been patched up, the gates have been fortified, the supply of throwing weapons is inexhaustible. The damned birds did their job, warning the townspeople of our invasion. There is only one thing left for us: to besiege the city and wait until its inhabitants begin to die of hunger.

"That won't help, lord," Guamoco protested. - At night, I flew to the city for reconnaissance and made sure that there was a lot of food there: barns were littered with flour, barrels of butter and cheese, herds of cows in the squares ...

“Damn Scarecrow, he thought of everything,” groaned Deuce.

Owl flew down from the tree, sat on Oorfene's shoulder and said quietly:

- He provided for everything except treason ...

– Treason?! Oorfene screamed.

- Hush, lord! Do you see that red-faced fat man over there who fusses the most on the wall and praises the Scarecrow?

- I see. So what?

“This is Ruf Bilan, caretaker of the palace washroom. When I was on reconnaissance, I rested on the balcony of his house. He talked with a friend and cursed the Scarecrow in every possible way. Ruf Bilan is rich, he is a noble family and he himself aimed at the rulers of the Emerald City. But Goodwin appointed not him, but the Scarecrow, as his successor, and since then Bilan has hated the straw man and will gladly betray him to the enemy.

Oorfene was overjoyed.

“Your information is invaluable, my dear Guamocolatokinte!” That same night, fly to the city, seduce Bilan, promise that he will be my chief state administrator and that I ... In a word, whip him whatever you want, as long as he goes over to my side ...

- I will achieve this, lord, - the owl assured, - and I think that I will not have to try very hard.

The trumpeter played the evening dawn.

Oorfene solemnly went to his tent, accompanied by Stomper, an eagle owl, and a guard of honor made of blockheads. The soldiers saluted him, and Oorfene's face flushed with happiness.

* * *

That night the Scarecrow, as usual, was awake alone on the wall, and his fighters were sound asleep. And then a shadow crept up behind the ruler. There was a short struggle, and the Scarecrow's weak soft hands were entangled with a rope.

A minute later the gate creaked and a short stocky man appeared. He moved forward, but Oorfene Deuce was already hurrying towards him.

- If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Ruf Bilan? Oorfene asked.

“Yes, my gracious lord. Owl Guamoco gave me your suggestions, and here I am.

But how did you manage to fulfill your plan?

“Very simple,” Bilan chuckled. - My servant brought a treat to the next change of defenders: a barrel of wine, and a sleeping potion was mixed into it.

- Bravo, bravo! Jess was delighted. “You are a man of my taste, and I am appointing you chief administrator of the state.

Bilan bowed to the ground.

- Thank you, Your Majesty! I was born for a high position and will carry it with honor.

The army of Oorfene moved into the wide-open gates of the Emerald City.

In the morning, the inhabitants woke up at the sound of a trumpet, looked out the windows and heard how the herald, in whom they recognized the servant of Bilan, announced that from now on the powerful Oorfene Deuce rules the Emerald City, to whom everyone must render unquestioning obedience under fear of severe punishment.

The Scarecrow the Wise sat at that time in the palace basement. He was not so much tormented by regret for the lost power, but by the thought that the Tin Woodman, having come to his rescue, would get into trouble.

And there was no way to warn a friend! Faramant and Din Gior, imprisoned in the same basement, tried in vain to console the former ruler.

The Tin Woodman is captured

The next day, the herald walked down the street again. He announced that the inhabitants of the Emerald City, who wish to serve the powerful Oorfene Deuce, will be graciously received by him and will receive positions at court.

There were few such applicants. In addition to Ruf Bilan, there were only a few people of the same kind - one of the most disrespectful people in the city.

Ruf Bilan received the post of chief state administrator, which was equal to the rank of the first minister, but when he reminded the ruler of the promise to generously reward him with gold, Oorfene Deuce was very surprised. Owl probably messed up something, he was not instructed to say anything like that.

The rest, who defected to the side of Oorfene Deuce, also received the positions of stewards and caretakers ... But there were too few of them to form a magnificent courtyard, which Oorfene Deuce dreamed of. In vain did he send messengers to the former courtiers of the Scarecrow. Although they were accustomed to hanging around all day in the palace, chatting all sorts of nonsense and laughing, believing that they were busy with important state affairs, they did not respond to the invitation of Oorfene Deuce.

Everyone despised the new courtiers. But Ruf Bilan deserved special contempt and even hatred, because it became known about his betrayal.

Since then, he dared to walk around the city only accompanied by two blockheads. I had to give guides and other advisers.

From Ruf Bilan, the ruler learned that the Scarecrow had sent a crow for the Tin Woodman. Oorfene Deuce calculated when the Woodcutter should appear. An ambush was prepared for him.

Faramant's place in the booth at the gate was taken by Ruf Bilan, who replaced the magnificent court attire for a simple caftan for this occasion. A platoon of wooden soldiers hid under the arch of the gate under the command of Corporal Arum. They were waiting for the Woodcutter with ropes in his hands...

Kaggi-Karr flew to the land of the Winkies without any delay. She found the ruler on the road with a large blacksmith's hammer in his hands.

A few months before that, when the Winkies asked the Tin Woodman to rule their country, they said this:

“A ruler like you will be very convenient for us: you don’t eat, you don’t drink and, therefore, you won’t burden us with taxes…”

The Winkies got more than they expected. The Tin Woodman not only did not collect taxes from his subjects, but, on the contrary, he himself worked for them. Missing Ellie, the Scarecrow and the Bold Lion and not accustomed to living in idleness, the Woodcutter went to the field in the morning, crushed large stones there and paved the roads with them. The Winkers received two benefits at once: their fields were cleared of stones, and excellent, strong communication routes ran to all parts of the country.

Having learned from Kaggi-Karr that the Scarecrow was in danger, the Tin Woodman did not hesitate for a minute. He threw aside the hammer, ran to the palace for an ax and set off. The crow perched on his shoulder and told the sad news in detail.

Winkers rubbed their eyes and blinked sadly, seeing off their beloved ruler.

... The Tin Woodman was approaching the Emerald City. Everything around was calm, Oorfene Deuce's camp had disappeared, the gates were locked, as usual.

The woodcutter pounded on the gate, and the crimson face of Ruf Bilan appeared in the small window.

“Where is Faramant?” The woodcutter was surprised.

He's sick, I'll replace him.

– What are you doing here?

- Nothing special. The enemies approached, but we beat them off with great damage to them, and they left.

- Like the Scarecrow?

- Cheerful and cheerful, looking forward to meeting you, dear Mr. Woodcutter! Please, come in!

Ruf Bilan slightly opened the gate. And as soon as the Tin Woodman stepped into the darkness of the arch, an ax was pulled out of his hands, and ropes were entangled in his torso. After a brief violent struggle, the Tin Woodman was knocked to the ground and tied up. Kaggi-Karr with a sharp cry of "Treason!" managed to dodge the blockheads and flew up the wall.

Kaggi-Karr saw the disarmed Woodcutter being led into the palace with his hands tied. The few inhabitants who remained in the city looked at him through half-open windows with sympathy and pity.

The crow followed the mournful procession from a distance and perched on the cornice of the palace, at the open window of the throne room. From here she saw and heard everything that happened here.

Oorfene Deuce, in a luxurious robe, sat on a throne adorned with emeralds; his gloomy eyes glittered with triumph under his knitted black brows. A small handful of courtiers crowded around the throne. Yellow and green wooden soldiers stood like statues on either side of the hall, gleaming with fresh patches.

The Tin Woodman was brought in; he walked calmly, and the patterned parquet shook under his heavy steps. Behind, two soldiers were carrying a huge shining axe.

Oorfene Deuce shuddered at the thought of what this hero could do with his army if he had not been seized by deceit. The Tin Woodman fearlessly met the dictator's searching gaze, and he made a sign to Bilan, and the traitor trotted out of the hall.

A few minutes later the Scarecrow was brought in. The Tin Woodman looked at his torn dress, from which shreds of straw stuck out, at his helplessly lowered hands, and he felt unbearably sorry for his friend, the recent ruler of the Emerald City, who was proud of the wonderful brains received from Goodwin. Tears flowed from the eyes of the Tin Woodman.

“Be careful, you don’t have an oiler with you!” cried the Scarecrow in fright. - You will rust!

- Sorry friend! said the Tin Woodman. - I fell into a vile trap and could not help you out.

“No, it’s you who forgive me for sending for you so thoughtlessly,” objected the Scarecrow.

- Enough sweetness! shouted Oorfene Deuce rudely. “Now it’s not about which of you is to blame for whom, but about your fate. Are you willing to serve me? I will give you high positions, I will make you my deputies, and you will continue to rule the countries, but only under my supreme dominion.

The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman looked at each other and answered in one voice:

“You have not yet come to your senses from your defeat and do not understand what you are saying,” Oorfene Deuce said angrily. – Think that I can destroy you, and answer me again!

- Not! repeated the Woodcutter and the Scarecrow.

“I will give you time to reflect, to reflect on your position. Tomorrow at the same time you will appear before me again. Hey, guards, take them to the basement!

The soldiers, led by a red-faced corporal, led the captives, and Kaggi-Karr flew into the forest and there somehow quenched her hunger. The next morning, she waited on the ledge of the palace for the captives to be brought into the throne room.

The Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow again answered Oorfene Deuce with a decisive refusal.

And on the third day, the captives again appeared before the enraged dictator.

- No, no and NO! was their final decision.

“P…r…quickly!” Ur ... r ... rfin ... dr ... r ... yang! .. - a jubilant exclamation came from the window.

Kaggi-Karr couldn't help but speak her mind. By order of Oorfene, the courtiers rushed to catch the crow, but in vain. Kaggi-Karr flew up to the top ledge of the window with a derisive croak.

- Here's my solution! said Oorfene Deuce, and there was silence in the hall. “I could burn the Scarecrow, and beat the Tin Woodman into nails, but I leave them life ...

The courtiers began to loudly praise the generosity of the ruler.

Urfin continued:

– Yes, impudent stubborn ones, I leave you to live, but only for half a year. If after six months you do not submit to my will, you will be doomed! In the meantime, you will be imprisoned, and not in the basement, but on a high tower, where everyone can see you and, having seen, be convinced of the power of Oorfene Deuce. Take them away! - the master turned to the guard.

Loudly stamping their feet, the blockheads led the captives away.

* * *

Not far from the Emerald City stood an ancient tower, erected long ago by some king or wizard. When Goodwin built a city here, he used the tower as an observation post. There were always sentries on the tower, watching for any evil sorceress approaching the city. But since Ellie had exterminated the evil sorceresses and Goodwin left the country, the tower had lost its significance and stood alone and gloomy, although still strong.

There was a door at the bottom of the tower, from which a narrow and dusty spiral staircase led to the upper platform. By order of the ruler, the platform was covered from above with a tiled cap. Oorfene Deuce did not want the Woodcutter to rust from the rain, and the Scarecrow to lose his face - because this would prevent them from going to the service of the new ruler.

The blockheads took the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, whose hands were still tied, up to the tower. The jailers, knowing about his strength, were afraid of the Woodcutter, even unarmed.

Left alone, the friends looked around. To the south, the green houses of the farmers were visible, surrounded by gardens and fields, and between them winding and ending at the gates of the city was a witness to many stories and adventures - a road paved with yellow bricks.

To the north lies the Emerald City. Since its wall was inferior in height to the prison tower, it was possible to distinguish houses that almost converged with roofs over narrow streets, the main square, where fountains used to beat; one could also see the spiers of the palace, decorated with huge emeralds.

The Scarecrow and the Woodcutter saw that the fountains were no longer working, and some figures were crawling along the spiers, getting close to the emeralds.

– What is going on there? asked the Scarecrow.

“A simple thing,” the crow replied mockingly. - By order of the new ruler, all emeralds from the towers and walls will be removed and will go to the personal treasury of Oorfene Deuce. Our Emerald City will cease to be emerald. That's what's going on there!

- Damn it! exclaimed the Tin Woodman. “I wish I were face to face with that Oorfene Deuce and his pieces of wood, with an ax in my hand!” I would forget for such an occasion that I have a soft heart!

“To do this, you need to act, and not sit with your hands tied,” the crow said sarcastically.

“I tried to untie the Woodcutter’s hands, but I didn’t have enough strength,” the Scarecrow admitted embarrassedly.

- Oh you! Look, here's how!

Kaggi-Karr worked with her strong beak, and in a few minutes the ropes fell off the Woodcutter.

- How good! The woodcutter stretched with pleasure. - I was all the same as rusty ... Now let's go downstairs? I'm sure I can break down the door.

“No use,” said the crow. - There are wooden soldiers with clubs on guard. We need to come up with something else.

“Things are the business of the Scarecrow,” said the Tin Woodman.

“Aha, I always told you that brains are better than hearts,” exclaimed the flattered Scarecrow.

“But the heart is also a worthwhile thing,” the Woodcutter objected. - Without a heart, I would be a worthless person and could not love my bride, left in the Blue Country.

“And the brains…” the Scarecrow began again.

Brains, heart, brains! - angrily interrupted the crow. - Only one thing from you and hear! There is no need to argue, but to act.

The Kaggi-Karr was a somewhat grumpy bird, but an excellent companion. Feeling her rightness, the friends were not offended, and the Scarecrow began to think.

He thought for a long time, three hours. Needles and pins stuck out of his head from the tension, and the Woodcutter was worried that this might be harmful to his friend.

- Found! the Scarecrow finally shouted and slapped his forehead with such force that a dozen pins and needles pierced his palm.

The crow, meanwhile sweetly dozing, woke up and said:

– Speak!

“We need to send a letter to Kansas, to Ellie. She is a very smart girl, she will definitely come up with something.

“Good idea,” said Kaggi-Karr mockingly. - I wonder who will carry the letter?

- Who? Yes you, of course! replied the Scarecrow.

- I? Kaggi-Karr was surprised. “Should I fly over mountains and deserts to an unfamiliar country where birds are speechless?” Good invention!

“If you do not agree,” said the Scarecrow, “we will not insist. We'll send another crow to Kansas, younger than you.

Kaggi-Karr was indignant:

– Another? Get younger?! If I am only one hundred and two years old, are you ready to call me an old woman? So know that with us, the raven, such an age is considered very young. And what will the other crow do? First, she'll get lost and never make it to Kansas. Secondly, she will not find Ellie in Kansas, because she has not seen her. Thirdly ... in a word, I will carry the letter.

The Tin Woodman said:

– For writing, you need a soft but strong wood sheet that can be tied around your leg. And besides, you need a needle.

“I can pull a needle out of my head,” said the Scarecrow, “I have enough of them there.

The crow flew away and returned with a large smooth leaf. The Scarecrow handed the leaf and needle to the Tin Woodman:

He was amazed:

But I thought you would write. After all, you came up with the idea of sending a letter!

“When I came up with this, I was counting on you. I haven't learned to write yet.

“And I didn’t bother with state affairs,” the Woodcutter admitted. - How to be now?

- We will not write a letter, but draw! the Scarecrow guessed.

“I don’t understand how you can draw a letter,” said the Tin Woodman.

“We need to draw me and you behind bars. Ellie is a smart girl, she will immediately understand that we are in trouble and ask for help.

“That’s right,” said the Woodcutter, delighted. - Draw!

But the Scarecrow did nothing. The needle slipped from his soft, unruly fingers, and he could not draw the simplest line. The Tin Woodman took over. He himself did not expect that he would succeed so well: it is clear that he had a natural talent for drawing.

The Scarecrow pulled out a long thread from the skirt of his caftan, the leaf was wrapped around Kaggi-Karr's leg, tied tightly, the crow said goodbye to her friends, slipped through the bars, flapped her wings and soon disappeared into the blue distance.

The new ruler of the Emerald Country

Having mastered the Emerald City, Oorfene Deuce thought for a long time about how to call him, and in the end settled on a title that looked like this: Oorfene the First, the powerful King of the Emerald City and neighboring countries, the Lord, whose boots trample the Universe.

The first to hear the new title were Topotun and Guamoko. The simple-hearted bear stormily admired the sonorous words of the royal naming, but the eagle owl mysteriously screwed up his yellow eyes and said curtly:

“First, let the courtiers learn to pronounce this title.

Deuce decided to follow his advice. He called Ruf Bilan and several other high-ranking courtiers into the throne room and, trembling with pride, pronounced the title twice. Then he ordered Bilan:

- Repeat, mister chief state administrator!

The short and fat Ruf Bilan turned purple from fear of the stern gaze of the ruler and muttered:

- Oorfene the First, the mighty King of the Emerald City and self-made countries, the Owner, whose boots rest against the Universe ...

- Bad, very bad! Oorfene Deuce said sternly and turned to the next one: “Now you, caretaker of the shops of city merchants and stalls of market traders!”

He stammered and spoke:

- You should be called Oorfene the First, the predominant King of the Emerald City and idle countries, Who is trampled under boots from the Universe ...

There was a hoarse, choking cough. It was the eagle owl Guamoko who tried to hide the unrestrained laughter that had taken possession of him.

All red with anger, Oorfene expelled the courtiers.

After spending a few more hours in thought, he shortened the title, which from now on should have sounded like this: "Oorfene the First, the mighty King of the Emerald City and all of Fairyland."

The courtiers were again assembled, and this time the test went well. The new title was announced to the people, and its distortion began to be equated with high treason.

On the occasion of the assignment of the royal title to Oorfene, a grand national celebration was scheduled. Knowing that none of the inhabitants of the city and its environs would voluntarily come to him, the chief administrator and General Lan Pirot took their measures. On the eve of the holiday, at night, when everyone was sleeping, blockheads went home. They woke up the inhabitants and dragged the sleepy ones to the palace square. There they could sleep or stay awake at will, but they could not leave from there.

And so, when Urfin appeared on the balcony of the palace in a luxurious royal robe, he saw a huge crowd of people in the square. There were thin cries of "Hurrah!" It was Oorfene's henchmen and wooden soldiers who were shouting.

The orchestra boomed. But this was not the orchestra whose skillful playing was famous in the country. Despite threats, the musicians refused to play, and the instruments were handed over to courtiers and wooden soldiers. Blockheads received percussion instruments: drums, cymbals, triangles, timpani. And the courtiers were given wind instruments: trumpets, flutes, clarinets.

And how this orchestra created by order played!

Trumpets wheezed, clarinets screeched, flutes howled like angry cats, drums and timpani beat out of tune. However, the blockheads beat the drums with sticks so zealously that their skin burst, and the drums fell silent. And the copper plates immediately cracked and began to rattle wildly. And then the people gathered in the square were seized by unbridled joy. People writhed with laughter, covered their mouths with their palms, but violent laughter broke out. Others fell to the ground and lay exhausted.

The court chronicler wrote in a book that this popular fun was a sign of joy from the ascension to the throne of the powerful king Oorfene the First.

The ceremony ended with an invitation to everyone to a feast to be held in the king's palace.

Oorfene, despite all the insistence of Guamoko the owl, could not dare to swallow even one leech or eat a mouse - this is the usual food of wizards. And he conceived a clever deception.

On the eve of the feast, the cook Baluol was summoned to Oorfene and had a long private conversation with him. Departing from the ruler, the fat man made terrible grimaces, trying to suppress the laughter bursting out of him. The cook would give dearly for the opportunity to reveal to someone the secret that connected him with Oorfene. But alas! It was forbidden to him on pain of death. Baluol drove the cooks out of the kitchen, closed the door, and set to work cooking.

The feast was coming to an end. The courtiers drained many glasses for the emperor's health.

Oorfene sat at the head of the table, on the throne of Goodwin, which was purposely brought here from the throne room to always remind of the greatness of the conqueror. Emeralds were taken out from everywhere except the throne, and when Oorfene Deuce sat on it, the radiance of precious stones made the expression of the dictator's gloomy dry face even more unpleasant.

On the back of the throne sat the eagle-owl Guamoko, sleepily closing his yellow eyes. And on the side stood the bear Thumper, vigilantly peering at the feasters in order to punish anyone who does not show due respect to the ruler. The door opened and a fat cook entered, carrying two dishes on a golden tray.

Your Majesty's favorite foods are ready! he exclaimed loudly and placed the dishes in front of the king.

The courtiers trembled when they saw what the cook had brought. On one dish stood a pile of smoked mice with twisted tails, on the other lay black slippery leeches.

Urfin said:

“We wizards have our own taste, and it may seem strange to you, ordinary people ...

Thumper Bear grumbled:

“I would like to see someone who would find the master’s taste strange!”

In the deathly silence of those present, Oorfene Deuce ate several smoked mice, and then raised a leech to his lips, and it began to writhe in his fingers.

The courtiers lowered their eyes, and only the chief steward, Ruf Bilan, faithfully looked into the sovereign's mouth.

But how surprised the audience of this unusual picture would be if they learned a secret known only to the king and the cook. The magical food was an elaborate forgery. The mice were made from tender rabbit meat. Leeches Baluol baked from sweet chocolate dough, and Oorfene's deft fingers made them wriggle.

With his trick, Oorfene hoped to kill two birds with one stone: to convince the owl that he had become a real magician, and to surprise and frighten his subjects. And he achieved both. Guamoco, who did not see very well by candlelight, fell into deceit and nodded his head approvingly. Oorfene's second wish was also fully satisfied.

Returning from the feast, the stewards and advisers told their household what they had seen, and, of course, not without exaggeration.

A rumor went around the country that the magician Oorfene swallowed live lizards and snakes at a feast. This news filled the hearts of the people with horror and disgust.

Three days after the feast, the court chronicler presented an extensive report, where with irrefutable clarity he deduced the clan of Urfin from the ancient kings who once ruled the entire Fairyland.

The chronicler drew two important conclusions from this. Firstly, Oorfene came to the throne by legal right, as the heir of the ancient rulers. Secondly, the sorceresses Stella and Villina, without any right or reason, appropriated the lands of Oorfene, and these impudent invaders must go to war and deprive them of their possessions.

As a reward for his work, the chronicler received a silver cup holder, taken from one merchant and not yet found in the palace storerooms.

* * *

In order to monitor people and catch the dissatisfied, Oorfene Deuce decided to create a police force. The soldiers were too slow for that.

Deuce made the first policeman for the model, entrusted the work to his apprentices, and the police in a short time flooded the city and the surrounding area.

The policemen were thinner and weaker than the soldiers, but their long legs made them unusually quick, and their huge ears made it possible to eavesdrop on any conversations. For speed, apprentices attached branched tree rhizomes to police officers instead of hands, chopping off the processes that served as fingers if they turned out to be excessively long. Another policeman had seven or ten fingers on each hand, but Oorfene believed that this would only make his hands tenacious. The ruler armed the police with slingshots, and, thanks to great practice, they used this weapon extremely skillfully.

The chief of police had the longest legs, the largest ears, more fingers on his hands than any of his subordinates, and, along with the chief state administrator, he had the right to enter Oorfene Deuce at any time for a report.

In the basement of the palace, former soldiers, now corporals, green and blue, worked tirelessly day and night, turned into skilled carpenters. They released headless blockheads one by one and stacked them in a corner of the workshop. Heads lay in separate piles. A mahogany corporal was made for each platoon.

Oorfene Deuce would lock himself in a special room in the evening and there he would cut out faces for heads, and then attach green, red, violet glass buttons instead of eyes.

He attached heads to headless bodies and sprinkled soldiers with life-giving powder. The replenishment of the blockhead army called to life was painted and, after drying, was assigned to the backyard, where it entered the training of corporals and the rosewood general Lan Pirot. The hole in the General's head was repaired and polished by Oorfene.

Platoon after platoon marched out of the palace gates under the command of corporals ...

Oorfene Deuce's army approached a hundred and twenty soldiers in number. Patrols constantly walked around the city and its environs. Squads of soldiers were sent to the Blue Munchkin Country and the Purple Munchkin Country, so that the governors appointed there could keep the people in line.

Oorfene Deuce built himself a quadrangular house, painted it brown, and planted a stuffed eagle on the roof.

Deuce had the idea to settle in a cave and declare himself the successor of Gingema and the ruler of the Blue Country - because the timid Munchkins will not be able to resist this.

From above, the eyes of an owl looked down at him, glowing yellow in the darkness of the cave.

One evening a violent storm broke out.

Then Deuce armed himself with an ax and began to cut the plants under the root.

Struck by a sudden insight, Oorfene threw off his boots.

Nails torn out of the wall crackled, horns fell to the floor and rushed at Oorfene Deuce with wild fury.

Oorfene began to restore order in the room. He picked up a wooden clown he had once made from the floor. The clown had a fierce face and a mouth with bared sharp teeth, and therefore no one bought it.

Well, I think you will not do as many troubles as horns, - said Oorfene and sprinkled the clown with powder.

Having done this, he put the toy on the table, and he himself sat down on a stool nearby and dreamed. He came to his senses from a sharp pain: the revived toy grabbed his finger with its teeth.

Oorfene Deuce made plans for the future. Of course, he must now take a higher position in the Blue Country.

Oorfene Deuce is a powerful wizard, they whispered. - He revived a tame bear that died last year ...

Having made the second soldier, Oorfene Deuce thought: it will take many months to create his army. And he couldn't wait to go hiking. And he decided to turn the first two soldiers into apprentices.

I am General Lan Pirot, commander of Oorfene Deuce's invincible army. You are Oorfene Deuce, my lord and lord... And why are you my lord? - suddenly doubted the general. - Maybe the other way around? I am taller than you, and I have more strength ...

When the ruler showed his work to the wooden soldiers, they were delighted and wished to be brought in the same form.

It was difficult for Oorfene alone to cope with the work, so he attracted all the local painters to her.

The first platoon was painted yellow, the second platoon blue, the third platoon green, the fourth platoon orange, and the fifth platoon purple.

Oorfene Deuce, however, did not lose his head. He drew a serial number on the chest and back of each soldier.

General, stop the army!

The water near the shore was deep and flowed quickly. She picked up the general, corporals, soldiers and dragged them, somersaulting and pushing each other.

Lined up in two rows, the blockheads swung the pillar like a battering ram and hit the gate.

The Scarecrow, embracing with his soft arms the faithful assistants of Dean Gior and Faramant, reasoned:

If I were in Oorfene Deuce's place, I would order my soldiers to protect their heads from stones with wooden shields.

And then armfuls of burning straw flew at them. The wooden soldiers had already suffered disaster from the water, as they did not know what it was. They had no idea about fire either: while Oorfene Deuce was making them, he was very afraid of fire and did not even heat the stove in the house. Now that caution has turned against him.

The Scarecrow the Wise sat at that time in the palace basement.

The soldiers, led by a red-faced corporal, led the captives, and Kaggi-Karr flew into the forest and there somehow quenched her hunger.

The Tin Woodman said:

Writing requires a soft but strong piece of wood that can be tied around your leg.

The short and fat Ruf Bilan turned purple from fear of the stern gaze of the ruler and muttered:

Oorfene the First, the mighty King of the Emerald City and self-made countries, the Owner, whose boots rest against the Universe ...

Your Majesty's favorite dishes are ready! he exclaimed loudly and placed the dishes in front of the king.

The courtiers trembled when they saw what the cook had brought. On one dish stood a pile of smoked mice with twisted tails, on the other lay black slippery leeches.

Oorfene Deuce would lock himself in a special room in the evening and there he would cut out faces for heads, and then attach green, red, violet glass buttons instead of eyes.

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