Incontro con Oz
Aprì una porta e Dorothy la varcò con un gran batticuore.
Si trovò in un posto favoloso. Era una stanza grande con il soffitto a cupola costellato di smeraldi, così come le pareti e il pavimento. Dall'alto pioveva una luce verde, intensissima, che traeva barbagli dagli smeraldi. Ma ciò che più colpì la sua attenzione fu il grande trono di marmo verde al centro della sala e scintillante anch'esso di gemme. E, sul trono, c'era una testa enorme, senza tronco, né gambe né braccia. Una testa calva con enormi occhi, un enorme naso e un enorme bocca.
Mentre la fissava Dorothy vide quegli occhi roteare lentamente e fissarla con uno sguardo penetrante, indagatore. Poi la bocca si aprì e pronunciò queste parole:
«Io sono Oz, il grande e terribile Oz. Chi sei tu? E perché hai voluto venire al mio cospetto?»
She opened a little door and Dorothy walked boldly through and found herself in a wonderful place. It was a big, round room with a high arched roof, and the walls and ceiling and floor were covered with large emeralds set closely together. In the center of the roof was a great light, as bright as the sun, which made the emeralds sparkle in a wonderful manner.But what interested Dorothy most was the big throne of green marble that stood in the middle of the room. It was shaped like a chair and sparkled with gems, as did everything else. In the center of the chair was an enormous Head, without a body to support it or any arms or legs whatever. There was no hair upon this head, but it had eyes and a nose and mouth, and was much bigger than the head of the biggest giant.As Dorothy gazed upon this in wonder and fear, the eyes turned slowly and looked at her sharply and steadily. Then the mouth moved, and Dorothy heard a voice say:
"I am Oz, the Great and Terrible. Who are you, and why do you seek me?
