the adventures of pinocchio-第18章

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unned　for　a　half　hour。

When　he　recovered　his　senses　the　Marionette　could　not　remember　where　he　was。　　Around　him　all　was　darkness；　a　darkness　so　deep　and　so　black　that　for　a　moment　he　thought　he　had　put　his　head　into　an　inkwell。　　He　listened　for　a　few　moments　and　heard　nothing。　　Once　in　a　while　a　cold　wind　blew　on　his　face。　　At　first　he　could　not　understand　where　that　wind　was　coming　from；　but　after　a　while　he　understood　that　it　came　from　the　lungs　of　the　monster。　I　forgot　to　tell　you　that　the　Shark　was　suffering　from　asthma；　so　that　whenever　he　breathed　a　storm　seemed　to　blow。

Pinocchio　at　first　tried　to　be　brave；　but　as　soon　as　he　became　convinced　that　he　was　really　and　truly　in　the　Shark's　stomach；　he　burst　into　sobs　and　tears。　　〃Help！　Help！〃　he　cried。　　〃Oh；　poor　me！　　Won't　someone　come　to　save　me？〃

〃Who　is　there　to　help　you；　unhappy　boy？〃　said　a　rough　voice；　like　a　guitar　out　of　tune。

〃Who　is　talking？〃　asked　Pinocchio；　frozen　with　terror。

〃It　is　I；　a　poor　Tunny　swallowed　by　the　Shark　at　the　same　time　as　you。　　And　what　kind　of　a　fish　are　you？〃

〃I　have　nothing　to　do　with　fishes。　　I　am　a　Marionette。〃

〃If　you　are　not　a　fish；　why　did　you　let　this　monster　swallow　you？〃

〃I　didn't　let　him。　　He　chased　me　and　swallowed　me　without　even　a　‘by　your　leave'！　　And　now　what　are　we　to　do　here　in　the　dark？〃

〃Wait　until　the　Shark　has　digested　us　both；　I　suppose。〃

〃But　I　don't　want　to　be　digested；〃　shouted　Pinocchio；　starting　to　sob。

〃Neither　do　I；〃　said　the　Tunny；　〃but　I　am　wise　enough　to　think　that　if　one　is　born　a　fish；　it　is　more　dignified　to　die　under　the　water　than　in　the　frying　pan。〃

〃What　nonsense！〃　cried　Pinocchio。

〃Mine　is　an　opinion；〃　replied　the　Tunny；　〃and　opinions　should　be　respected。〃

〃But　I　want　to　get　out　of　this　place。　　I　want　to　escape。〃

〃Go；　if　you　can！〃

〃Is　this　Shark　that　has　swallowed　us　very　long？〃　asked　the　Marionette。

〃His　body；　not　counting　the　tail；　is　almost　a　mile　long。〃

While　talking　in　the　darkness；　Pinocchio　thought　he　saw　a　faint　light　in　the　distance。

〃What　can　that　be？〃　he　said　to　the　Tunny。

〃Some　other　poor　fish；　waiting　as　patiently　as　we　to　be　digested　by　the　Shark。〃

〃I　want　to　see　him。　　He　may　be　an　old　fish　and　may　know　some　way　of　escape。〃

〃I　wish　you　all　good　luck；　dear　Marionette。〃

〃Good…by；　Tunny。〃

〃Good…by；　Marionette；　and　good　luck。〃

〃When　shall　I　see　you　again？〃

〃Who　knows？　　It　is　better　not　to　think　about　it。〃



CHAPTER　35

In　the　Shark's　body　Pinocchio　finds　whom？　Read　this　chapter；　my　children；　and　you　will　know



Pinocchio；　as　soon　as　he　had　said　good…by　to　his　good　friend；　the　Tunny；　tottered　away　in　the　darkness　and　began　to　walk　as　well　as　he　could　toward　the　faint　light　which　glowed　in　the　distance。

As　he　walked　his　feet　splashed　in　a　pool　of　greasy　and　slippery　water；　which　had　such　a　heavy　smell　of　fish　fried　in　oil　that　Pinocchio　thought　it　was　Lent。

The　farther　on　he　went；　the　brighter　and　clearer　grew　the　tiny　light。　　On　and　on　he　walked　till　finally　he　found　I　give　you　a　thousand　guesses；　my　dear　children！　　He　found　a　little　table　set　for　dinner　and　lighted　by　a　candle　stuck　in　a　glass　bottle；　and　near　the　table　sat　a　little　old　man；　white　as　the　snow；　eating　live　fish。　　They　wriggled　so　that；　now　and　again；　one　of　them　slipped　out　of　the　old　man's　mouth　and　escaped　into　the　darkness　under　the　table。

At　this　sight；　the　poor　Marionette　was　filled　with　such　great　and　sudden　happiness　that　he　almost　dropped　in　a　faint。　　He　wanted　to　laugh；　he　wanted　to　cry；　he　wanted　to　say　a　thousand　and　one　things；　but　all　he　could　do　was　to　stand　still；　stuttering　and　stammering　brokenly。　　At　last；　with　a　great　effort；　he　was　able　to　let　out　a　scream　of　joy　and；　opening　wide　his　arms　he　threw　them　around　the　old　man's　neck。

〃Oh；　Father；　dear　Father！　　Have　I　found　you　at　last？　Now　I　shall　never；　never　leave　you　again！〃

〃Are　my　eyes　really　telling　me　the　truth？〃　answered　the　old　man；　rubbing　his　eyes。　　〃Are　you　really　my　own　dear　Pinocchio？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　yes！　　It　is　I！　　Look　at　me！　　And　you　have　forgiven　me；　haven't　you？　　Oh；　my　dear　Father；　how　good　you　are！　　And　to　think　that　IOh；　but　if　you　only　knew　how　many　misfortunes　have　fallen　on　my　head　and　how　many　troubles　I　have　had！　　Just　think　that　on　the　day　you　sold　your　old　coat　to　buy　me　my　A…B…C　book　so　that　I　could　go　to　school；　I　ran　away　to　the　Marionette　Theater　and　the　proprietor　caught　me　and　wanted　to　burn　me　to　cook　his　roast　lamb！　　He　was　the　one　who　gave　me　the　five　gold　pieces　for　you；　but　I　met　the　Fox　and　the　Cat；　who　took　me　to　the　Inn　of　the　Red　Lobster。　　There　they　ate　like　wolves　and　I　left　the　Inn　alone　and　I　met　the　Assassins　in　the　wood。　　I　ran　and　they　ran　after　me；　always　after　me；　till　they　hanged　me　to　the　branch　of　a　giant　oak　tree。　　Then　the　Fairy　of　the　Azure　Hair　sent　the　coach　to　rescue　me　and　the　doctors；　after　looking　at　me；　said；　‘If　he　is　not　dead；　then　he　is　surely　alive；'　and　then　I　told　a　lie　and　my　nose　began　to　grow。　It　grew　and　it　grew；　till　I　couldn't　get　it　through　the　door　of　the　room。　　And　then　I　went　with　the　Fox　and　the　Cat　to　the　Field　of　Wonders　to　bury　the　gold　pieces。　　The　Parrot　laughed　at　me　and；　instead　of　two　thousand　gold　pieces；　I　found　none。　　When　the　Judge　heard　I　had　been　robbed；　he　sent　me　to　jail　to　make　the　thieves　happy；　and　when　I　came　away　I　saw　a　fine　bunch　of　grapes　hanging　on　a　vine。　　The　trap　caught　me　and　the　Farmer　put　a　collar　on　me　and　made　me　a　watchdog。　　He　found　out　I　was　innocent　when　I　caught　the　Weasels　and　he　let　me　go。　　The　Serpent　with　the　tail　that　smoked　started　to　laugh　and　a　vein　in　his　chest　broke　and　so　I　went　back　to　the　Fairy's　house。　　She　was　dead；　and　the　Pigeon；　seeing　me　crying；　said　to　me；　‘I　have　seen　your　father　building　a　boat　to　look　for　you　in　America；'　and　I　said　to　him；　‘Oh；　if　I　only　had　wings！'　and　he　said　to　me；　‘Do　you　want　to　go　to　your　father？'　and　I　said；　‘Perhaps；　but　how？'　and　he　said；　‘Get　on　my　back。　　I'll　take　you　there。'　We　flew　all　night　long；　and　next　morning　the　fishermen　were　looking　toward　the　sea；　crying；　‘There　is　a　poor　little　man　drowning；'　and　I　knew　it　was　you；　because　my　heart　told　me　so　and　I　waved　to　you　from　the　shore〃

〃I　knew　you　also；〃　put　in　Geppetto；　〃and　I　wanted　to　go　to　you；　but　how　could　I？　　The　sea　was　rough　and　the　whitecaps　overturned　the　boat。　　Then　a　Terrible　Shark　came　up　out　of　the　sea　and；　as　soon　as　he　saw　me　in　the　water；　swam　quickly　toward　me；　put　out　his　tongue；　and　swallowed　me　as　easily　as　if　I　had　been　a　chocolate　peppermint。〃

〃And　how　long　have　you　been　shut　away　in　here？〃

〃From　that　day　to　this；　two　long　weary　yearstwo　years；　my　Pinocchio；　which　have　been　like　two　centuries。〃

〃And　how　have　you　lived？　　Where　did　you　find　the　candle？　　And　the　matches　with　which　to　light　itwhere　did　you　get　them？〃

〃You　must　know　that；　in　the　storm　which　swamped　my　boat；　a　large　ship　also　suffered　the　same　fate。　　The　sailors　were　all　saved；　but　the　ship　went　right　to　the　bottom　of　the　sea；　and　the　same　Terrible　Shark　that　swallowed　me；　swallowed　most　of　it。〃

〃What！　　Swallowed　a　ship？〃　asked　Pinocchio　in　astonishment。

〃At　one　gulp。　　The　only　thing　he　spat　out　was　the　main…　mast；　for　it　stuck　in　his　teeth。　　To　my　own　good　luck；　that　ship　was　loaded　with　meat；　preserved　foods；　crackers；　bread；　bottles　of　wine；　raisins；　cheese；　coffee；　sugar；　wax　candles；　and　boxes　of　matches。　　With　all　these　blessings；　I　have　been　able　to　live　happily　on　for　two　whole　years；　but　now　I　am　at　the　very　last　crumbs。　　Today　there　is　nothing　left　in　the　cupboard；　and　this　candle　you　see　here　is　the　last　one　I　have。〃

〃And　then？〃

〃And　then；　my　dear；　we'll　find　ourselves　in　darkness。〃

〃Then；　my　dear　Father；〃　said　Pinocchio；　〃there　is　no　time　to　lose。　　We　must　try　to　escape。〃

〃Escape！　　How？〃

〃We　can　run　out　of　the　Shark's　mouth　and　dive　into　the　sea。〃

〃You　speak　well；　but　I　cannot　swim；　my　dear　Pinocchio。〃

〃Why　should　that　matter？　　You　can　climb　on　my　shoulders　and　I；　who　am　a　fine　swimmer；　will　carry　you　safely　to　the　shore。〃

〃Dreams；　my　boy！〃　answered　Geppetto；　shaking　his　head　and　smiling　sadly。　　〃Do　you　think　it　possible　for　a　Marionette；　a　yard　high；　to　have　the　strength　to　carry　me　on　his　shoulders　and　swim？〃

〃Try　it　and　see！　　And　in　any　case；　if　it　is　written　that　we　must　die；　we　shall　at　least　die　together。〃

Not　adding　another　word；　Pinocchio　took　the　candle　in　his　hand　and　going　ahead　to　light　the　way；　he　said　to　his　father：

〃Follow　me　and　have　no　fear。〃

They　walked　a　long　distance　through　the　stomach　and　the　whole　body　of　the　Shark。　　When　they　reached　the　throat　of　the　monster；　they　stopped　for　a　while　to　wait　for　the　right　moment　in　which　to　make　their　escape。

I　want　you　to　know　that　the　Shark；　being　very　old　and　suffering　from　asthma　and　heart　trouble；　was　obliged　to　sleep　with　his　mouth　open。　　Because　of　this；　Pinocchio　was　able　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　the　sky　filled　with　stars；　as　he　looked　up　through　the　open　jaws　of　his　new　home。

〃The　time　has　come　for　us　to　escape；〃　he　whispered；　turning　to　his　father。　　〃The　Shark　is　fast　asleep。　　The　sea　is　calm　and　the　night　is　as　bright　as　day。　　Follow　me　closely；　dear　Father；　and　we　shall　soon　be　saved。〃

No　sooner　said　than　done。　　They　climbed　up　the　throat　of　the　monster　till　they　came　to　that　immense　open　mouth。　There　they　had　to　walk　on　tiptoes；　for　if　they　tickled　the　Shark's　long　tongue　he　might　awakenand　where　would　they　be　then？　　The　tongue　was　so　wide　and　so　long　that　it　looked　like　a　country　road。　　The　two　fugitives　were　just　about　to　dive　into　the　sea　when　the　Shark　sneezed　very　suddenly　and；　as　he　sneezed；　he　gave　Pinocchio　and　Geppetto　such　a　jolt　that　they　found　themselves　thrown　on　their　backs　and　dashed　once　more　and　very　unceremoniously　into　the　stomach　of　the　monster。

To　make　matters　worse；　the　candle　went　out　and　father　and　son　were　left　in　the　dark。

〃And　now？〃　asked　Pinocchio　with　a　serious　face。

〃Now　we　are　lost。〃

〃Why　lost？　　Give　me　your　hand；　dear　Father；　and　be　careful　not　to　slip！〃

〃Where　will　you　take　me？〃

〃We　must　try　again。　　Come　with　me　and　don't　be　afraid。〃

With　these　words　Pinocchio　took　his　father　by　the　hand　and；　always　walking　on　tiptoes；　they　climbed　up　the　monster's　throat　for　a　second　time。　　They　then　crossed　the　whole　tongue　and　jumped　over　three　rows　of　teeth。　　But　before　they　took　the　last　great　leap；　the　Marionette　said　to　his　father：

〃Climb　on　my　back　and　hold　on　tightly　to　my　neck。　I'll　take　care　of　everything　else。〃

As　soon　as　Geppetto　was　comfortably　seated　on　his　shoulders；　Pinocchio；　very　sure　of　what　he　was　doing；　dived　into　the　water　and　started　to　swim。　　The　sea　was　like　oil；　the　moon　shone　in　all　splendor；　and　the　Shark　continued　to　sleep　so　soundly　that　not　even　a　cannon　shot　would　have　awakened　him。



CHAPTER　36

Pinocchio　finally　ceases　to　be　a　Marionette　and　becomes　a　boy




〃My　dear　Father；　we　are　saved！〃　cried　the　Marionette。　〃All　we　have　to　do　now　is　to　get　to　the　shore；　and　that　is　easy。〃

Without　another　word；　he　swam　swiftly　away　in　an　effort　to　reach　land　as　soon　as　possible。　　All　at　once　he　noticed　that　Geppetto　was　shivering　and　shaking　as　if　with　a　high　fever。

Was　he　shivering　from　fear　or　from　cold？　　Who　knows？　Perhaps　a　little　of　both。