the adventures of pinocchio-第13章

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〃It's　true；〃　answered　the　Fisherman；　〃but　since　I　see　that　you　are　a　fish；　well　able　to　talk　and　think　as　I　do；　I'll　treat　you　with　all　due　respect。〃

〃And　that　is〃

〃That；　as　a　sign　of　my　particular　esteem；　I'll　leave　to　you　the　choice　of　the　manner　in　which　you　are　to　be　cooked。　　Do　you　wish　to　be　fried　in　a　pan；　or　do　you　prefer　to　be　cooked　with　tomato　sauce？〃

〃To　tell　you　the　truth；〃　answered　Pinocchio；　〃if　I　must　choose；　I　should　much　rather　go　free　so　I　may　return　home！〃

〃Are　you　fooling？　　Do　you　think　that　I　want　to　lose　the　opportunity　to　taste　such　a　rare　fish？　　A　Marionette　fish　does　not　come　very　often　to　these　seas。　　Leave　it　to　me。　I'll　fry　you　in　the　pan　with　the　others。　　I　know　you'll　like　it。　It's　always　a　comfort　to　find　oneself　in　good　company。〃

The　unlucky　Marionette；　hearing　this；　began　to　cry　and　wail　and　beg。　　With　tears　streaming　down　his　cheeks；　he　said：

〃How　much　better　it　would　have　been　for　me　to　go　to　school！　I　did　listen　to　my　playmates　and　now　I　am　paying　for　it！　Oh！　　Oh！　　Oh！〃

And　as　he　struggled　and　squirmed　like　an　eel　to　escape　from　him；　the　Green　Fisherman　took　a　stout　cord　and　tied　him　hand　and　foot；　and　threw　him　into　the　bottom　of　the　tub　with　the　others。

Then　he　pulled　a　wooden　bowl　full　of　flour　out　of　a　cupboard　and　started　to　roll　the　fish　into　it；　one　by　one。　When　they　were　white　with　it；　he　threw　them　into　the　pan。　The　first　to　dance　in　the　hot　oil　were　the　mullets；　the　bass　followed；　then　the　whitefish；　the　flounders；　and　the　anchovies。　　Pinocchio's　turn　came　last。　　Seeing　himself　so　near　to　death　（and　such　a　horrible　death！）　he　began　to　tremble　so　with　fright　that　he　had　no　voice　left　with　which　to　beg　for　his　life。

The　poor　boy　beseeched　only　with　his　eyes。　　But　the　Green　Fisherman；　not　even　noticing　that　it　was　he；　turned　him　over　and　over　in　the　flour　until　he　looked　like　a　Marionette　made　of　chalk。

Then　he　took　him　by　the　head　and



CHAPTER　29

Pinocchio　returns　to　the　Fairy's　house　and　she　promises　him　that；　on　the　morrow；　he　will　cease　to　be　a　Marionette　and　become　a　boy。　A　wonderful　party　of　coffee…and…milk　to　celebrate　the　great　event



Mindful　of　what　the　Fisherman　had　said；　Pinocchio　knew　that　all　hope　of　being　saved　had　gone。　　He　closed　his　eyes　and　waited　for　the　final　moment。

Suddenly；　a　large　Dog；　attracted　by　the　odor　of　the　boiling　oil；　came　running　into　the　cave。

〃Get　out！〃　cried　the　Fisherman　threateningly　and　still　holding　onto　the　Marionette；　who　was　all　covered　with　flour。

But　the　poor　Dog　was　very　hungry；　and　whining　and　wagging　his　tail；　he　tried　to　say：

〃Give　me　a　bite　of　the　fish　and　I'll　go　in　peace。〃

〃Get　out；　I　say！〃　repeated　the　Fisherman。

And　he　drew　back　his　foot　to　give　the　Dog　a　kick。

Then　the　Dog；　who；　being　really　hungry；　would　take　no　refusal；　turned　in　a　rage　toward　the　Fisherman　and　bared　his　terrible　fangs。　　And　at　that　moment；　a　pitiful　little　voice　was　heard　saying：　　〃Save　me；　Alidoro；　if　you　don't；　I　fry！〃

The　Dog　immediately　recognized　Pinocchio's　voice。　Great　was　his　surprise　to　find　that　the　voice　came　from　the　little　flour…covered　bundle　that　the　Fisherman　held　in　his　hand。

Then　what　did　he　do？　　With　one　great　leap；　he　grasped　that　bundle　in　his　mouth　and；　holding　it　lightly　between　his　teeth；　ran　through　the　door　and　disappeared　like　a　flash！

The　Fisherman；　angry　at　seeing　his　meal　snatched　from　under　his　nose；　ran　after　the　Dog；　but　a　bad　fit　of　coughing　made　him　stop　and　turn　back。

Meanwhile；　Alidoro；　as　soon　as　he　had　found　the　road　which　led　to　the　village；　stopped　and　dropped　Pinocchio　softly　to　the　ground。

〃How　much　I　do　thank　you！〃　said　the　Marionette。

〃It　is　not　necessary；〃　answered　the　Dog。　　〃You　saved　me　once；　and　what　is　given　is　always　returned。　　We　are　in　this　world　to　help　one　another。〃

〃But　how　did　you　get　in　that　cave？〃

〃I　was　lying　here　on　the　sand　more　dead　than　alive；　when　an　appetizing　odor　of　fried　fish　came　to　me。　　That　odor　tickled　my　hunger　and　I　followed　it。　　Oh；　if　I　had　come　a　moment　later！〃

〃Don't　speak　about　it；〃　wailed　Pinocchio；　still　trembling　with　fright。　　〃Don't　say　a　word。　　If　you　had　come　a　moment　later；　I　would　be　fried；　eaten；　and　digested　by　this　time。　　Brrrrrr！　　I　shiver　at　the　mere　thought　of　it。〃

Alidoro　laughingly　held　out　his　paw　to　the　Marionette；　who　shook　it　heartily；　feeling　that　now　he　and　the　Dog　were　good　friends。　　Then　they　bid　each　other　good…by　and　the　Dog　went　home。

Pinocchio；　left　alone；　walked　toward　a　little　hut　near　by；　where　an　old　man　sat　at　the　door　sunning　himself；　and　asked：

〃Tell　me；　good　man；　have　you　heard　anything　of　a　poor　boy　with　a　wounded　head；　whose　name　was　Eugene？〃

〃The　boy　was　brought　to　this　hut　and　now〃

〃Now　he　is　dead？〃　Pinocchio　interrupted　sorrowfully。

〃No；　he　is　now　alive　and　he　has　already　returned　home。〃

〃Really？　　Really？〃　cried　the　Marionette；　jumping　around　with　joy。　　〃Then　the　wound　was　not　serious？〃

〃But　it　might　have　beenand　even　mortal；〃　answered　the　old　man；　〃for　a　heavy　book　was　thrown　at　his　head。〃

〃And　who　threw　it？〃

〃A　schoolmate　of　his；　a　certain　Pinocchio。〃

〃And　who　is　this　Pinocchio？〃　asked　the　Marionette；　feigning　ignorance。

〃They　say　he　is　a　mischief…maker；　a　tramp；　a　street　urchin〃

〃Calumnies！　　All　calumnies！〃

〃Do　you　know　this　Pinocchio？〃

〃By　sight！〃　answered　the　Marionette。

〃And　what　do　you　think　of　him？〃　asked　the　old　man。

〃I　think　he's　a　very　good　boy；　fond　of　study；　obedient；　kind　to　his　Father；　and　to　his　whole　family〃

As　he　was　telling　all　these　enormous　lies　about　himself；　Pinocchio　touched　his　nose　and　found　it　twice　as　long　as　it　should　be。　　Scared　out　of　his　wits；　he　cried　out：

〃Don't　listen　to　me；　good　man！　　All　the　wonderful　things　I　have　said　are　not　true　at　all。　　I　know　Pinocchio　well　and　he　is　indeed　a　very　wicked　fellow；　lazy　and　disobedient；　who　instead　of　going　to　school；　runs　away　with　his　playmates　to　have　a　good　time。〃

At　this　speech；　his　nose　returned　to　its　natural　size。

〃Why　are　you　so　pale？〃　the　old　man　asked　suddenly。

〃Let　me　tell　you。　　Without　knowing　it；　I　rubbed　myself　against　a　newly　painted　wall；〃　he　lied；　ashamed　to　say　that　he　had　been　made　ready　for　the　frying　pan。

〃What　have　you　done　with　your　coat　and　your　hat　and　your　breeches？〃

〃I　met　thieves　and　they　robbed　me。　　Tell　me；　my　good　man；　have　you　not；　perhaps；　a　little　suit　to　give　me；　so　that　I　may　go　home？〃

〃My　boy；　as　for　clothes；　I　have　only　a　bag　in　which　I　keep　hops。　　If　you　want　it；　take　it。　　There　it　is。〃

Pinocchio　did　not　wait　for　him　to　repeat　his　words。　He　took　the　bag；　which　happened　to　be　empty；　and　after　cutting　a　big　hole　at　the　top　and　two　at　the　sides；　he　slipped　into　it　as　if　it　were　a　shirt。　　Lightly　clad　as　he　was；　he　started　out　toward　the　village。

Along　the　way　he　felt　very　uneasy。　　In　fact　he　was　so　unhappy　that　he　went　along　taking　two　steps　forward　and　one　back；　and　as　he　went　he　said　to　himself：

〃How　shall　I　ever　face　my　good　little　Fairy？　　What　will　she　say　when　she　sees　me？　　Will　she　forgive　this　last　trick　of　mine？　　I　am　sure　she　won't。　　Oh；　no；　she　won't。　And　I　deserve　it；　as　usual！　　For　I　am　a　rascal；　fine　on　promises　which　I　never　keep！〃

He　came　to　the　village　late　at　night。　　It　was　so　dark　he　could　see　nothing　and　it　was　raining　pitchforks。

Pinocchio　went　straight　to　the　Fairy's　house；　firmly　resolved　to　knock　at　the　door。

When　he　found　himself　there；　he　lost　courage　and　ran　back　a　few　steps。　　A　second　time　he　came　to　the　door　and　again　he　ran　back。　　A　third　time　he　repeated　his　performance。　　The　fourth　time；　before　he　had　time　to　lose　his　courage；　he　grasped　the　knocker　and　made　a　faint　sound　with　it。

He　waited　and　waited　and　waited。　　Finally；　after　a　full　half　hour；　a　top…floor　window　（the　house　had　four　stories）　opened　and　Pinocchio　saw　a　large　Snail　look　out。　　A　tiny　light　glowed　on　top　of　her　head。　　〃Who　knocks　at　this　late　hour？〃　she　called。

〃Is　the　Fairy　home？〃　asked　the　Marionette。

〃The　Fairy　is　asleep　and　does　not　wish　to　be　disturbed。　Who　are　you？〃

〃It　is　I。〃

〃Who's　I？〃

〃Pinocchio。〃

〃Who　is　Pinocchio？〃

〃The　Marionette；　the　one　who　lives　in　the　Fairy's　house。〃

〃Oh；　I　understand；〃　said　the　Snail。　　〃Wait　for　me　there。　I'll　come　down　to　open　the　door　for　you。〃

〃Hurry；　I　beg　of　you；　for　I　am　dying　of　cold。〃

〃My　boy；　I　am　a　snail　and　snails　are　never　in　a　hurry。〃

An　hour　passed；　two　hours；　and　the　door　was　still　closed。　Pinocchio；　who　was　trembling　with　fear　and　shivering　from　the　cold　rain　on　his　back；　knocked　a　second　time；　this　time　louder　than　before。

At　that　second　knock；　a　window　on　the　third　floor　opened　and　the　same　Snail　looked　out。

〃Dear　little　Snail；〃　cried　Pinocchio　from　the　street。　〃I　have　been　waiting　two　hours　for　you！　　And　two　hours　on　a　dreadful　night　like　this　are　as　long　as　two　years。　Hurry；　please！〃

〃My　boy；〃　answered　the　Snail　in　a　calm；　peaceful　voice；　〃my　dear　boy；　I　am　a　snail　and　snails　are　never　in　a　hurry。〃　　And　the　window　closed。

A　few　minutes　later　midnight　struck；　then　one　o'clock　two　o'clock。　　And　the　door　still　remained　closed！

Then　Pinocchio；　losing　all　patience；　grabbed　the　knocker　with　both　hands；　fully　determined　to　awaken　the　whole　house　and　street　with　it。　　As　soon　as　he　touched　the　knocker；　however；　it　became　an　eel　and　wiggled　away　into　the　darkness。

〃Really？〃　cried　Pinocchio；　blind　with　rage。　　〃If　the　knocker　is　gone；　I　can　still　use　my　feet。〃

He　stepped　back　and　gave　the　door　a　most　solemn　kick。　He　kicked　so　hard　that　his　foot　went　straight　through　the　door　and　his　leg　followed　almost　to　the　knee。　　No　matter　how　he　pulled　and　tugged；　he　could　not　pull　it　out。　　There　he　stayed　as　if　nailed　to　the　door。

Poor　Pinocchio！　　The　rest　of　the　night　he　had　to　spend　with　one　foot　through　the　door　and　the　other　one　in　the　air。

As　dawn　was　breaking；　the　door　finally　opened。　　That　brave　little　animal；　the　Snail；　had　taken　exactly　nine　hours　to　go　from　the　fourth　floor　to　the　street。　　How　she　must　have　raced！

〃What　are　you　doing　with　your　foot　through　the　door？〃　she　asked　the　Marionette；　laughing。

〃It　was　a　misfortune。　　Won't　you　try；　pretty　little　Snail；　to　free　me　from　this　terrible　torture？〃

〃My　boy；　we　need　a　carpenter　here　and　I　have　never　been　one。〃

〃Ask　the　Fairy　to　help　me！〃

〃The　Fairy　is　asleep　and　does　not　want　to　be　disturbed。〃

〃But　what　do　you　want　me　to　do；　nailed　to　the　door　like　this？〃

〃Enjoy　yourself　counting　the　ants　which　are　passing　by。〃

〃Bring　me　something　to　eat；　at　least；　for　I　am　faint　with　hunger。〃

〃Immediately！〃

In　fact；　after　three　hours　and　a　half；　Pinocchio　saw　her　return　with　a　silver　tray　on　her　head。　　On　the　tray　there　was　bread；　roast　chicken；　fruit。

〃Here　is　the　breakfast　the　Fairy　sends　to　you；〃　said　the　Snail。

At　the　sight　of　all　these　good　things；　the　Marionette　felt　much　better。

What　was　his　disgust；　however；　when　on　tasting　the　food；　he　found　the　bread　to　be　made　of　chalk；　the　chicken　of　cardboard；　and　the　brilliant　fruit　of　colored　alabaster！

He　wanted　to　cry；　he　wanted　to　give　himself　up　to　despair；　he　wanted　to　throw　away　the　tray　and　all　that　was　on　it。　　Instead；　either　from　pain　or　weakness；　he　fell　to　the　floor　in　a　dead　faint。

When　he　regained　his　senses；　he　found　himself　stret