The Magic of Oz Page 4

  THE HAWK

  CHAPTER 2

  Even a hawk has to fly high in order to cross the Deadly Desert, fromwhich poisonous fumes are constantly rising. Kiki Aru felt sick andfaint by the time he reached good land again, for he could not quiteescape the effects of the poisons. But the fresh air soon restored himand he alighted in a broad table-land which is called Hiland. Justbeyond it is a valley known as Loland, and these two countries are ruledby the Gingerbread Man, John Dough, with Chick the Cherub as his PrimeMinister. The Hawk merely stopped here long enough to rest, and then heflew north and passed over a fine country called Merryland, which isruled by a lovely Wax Doll. Then, following the curve of the Desert, heturned north and settled on a tree-top in the Kingdom of Noland.

  Kiki was tired by this time, and the sun was now setting, so he decidedto remain here till morning. From his tree-top he could see a house nearby, which looked very comfortable. A man was milking a cow in the yardand a pleasant-faced woman came to the door and called him to supper.

  That made Kiki wonder what sort of food hawks ate. He felt hungry, butdidn't know what to eat or where to get it. Also he thought a bed wouldbe more comfortable than a tree-top for sleeping, so he hopped to theground and said: "I want to become Kiki Aru again--Pyrzqxgl!"

  Instantly he had resumed his natural shape, and going to the house, heknocked upon the door and asked for some supper.

  "Who are you?" asked the man of the house.

  "A stranger from the Land of Oz," replied Kiki Aru.

  "Then you are welcome," said the man.

  Kiki was given a good supper and a good bed, and he behaved very well,although he refused to answer all the questions the good people ofNoland asked him. Having escaped from his home and found a way to seethe world, the young man was no longer unhappy, and so he was no longercross and disagreeable. The people thought him a very respectable personand gave him breakfast next morning, after which he started on his wayfeeling quite contented.

  Having walked for an hour or two through the pretty country that isruled by King Bud, Kiki Aru decided he could travel faster and see moreas a bird, so he transformed himself into a white dove and visited thegreat city of Nole and saw the King's palace and gardens and many otherplaces of interest. Then he flew westward into the Kingdom of Ix, andafter a day in Queen Zixi's country went on westward into the Land ofEv. Every place he visited he thought was much more pleasant than thesaucer-country of the Hyups, and he decided that when he reached thefinest country of all he would settle there and enjoy his future life tothe utmost.

  In the Land of Ev he resumed his own shape again, for the cities andvillages were close together and he could easily go on foot from one toanother of them.

  Toward evening he came to a good Inn and asked the inn-keeper if hecould have food and lodging.

  "You can if you have the money to pay," said the man, "otherwise youmust go elsewhere."

  This surprised Kiki, for in the Land of Oz they do not use money at all,everyone being allowed to take what he wishes without price. He had nomoney, therefore, and so he turned away to seek hospitality elsewhere.Looking through an open window into one of the rooms of the Inn, as hepassed along, he saw an old man counting on a table a big heap of goldpieces, which Kiki thought to be money. One of these would buy himsupper and a bed, he reflected, so he transformed himself into a magpieand, flying through the open window, caught up one of the gold pieces inhis beak and flew out again before the old man could interfere. Indeed,the old man who was robbed was quite helpless, for he dared not leavehis pile of gold to chase the magpie, and before he could place the goldin a sack and the sack in his pocket the robber bird was out of sightand to seek it would be folly.

  Kiki Aru flew to a group of trees and, dropping the gold piece to theground, resumed his proper shape, and then picked up the money and putit in his pocket.

  "You'll be sorry for this!" exclaimed a small voice just over his head.

 

  Kiki looked up and saw that a sparrow, perched upon a branch, waswatching him.

  "Sorry for what?" he demanded.

  "Oh, I saw the whole thing," asserted the sparrow. "I saw you look inthe window at the gold, and then make yourself into a magpie and rob thepoor man, and then I saw you fly here and make the bird into your formershape. That's magic, and magic is wicked and unlawful; and you stolemoney, and that's a still greater crime. You'll be sorry, some day."

 

  "I don't care," replied Kiki Aru, scowling.

  "Aren't you afraid to be wicked?" asked the sparrow.

  "No, I didn't know I was being wicked," said Kiki, "but if I was, I'mglad of it. I hate good people. I've always wanted to be wicked, but Ididn't know how."

  "Haw, haw, haw!" laughed someone behind him, in a big voice; "that's theproper spirit, my lad! I'm glad I've met you; shake hands."

  The sparrow gave a frightened squeak and flew away.