the adventures of pinocchio-第5章

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〃Poor　Blackbird！〃　said　Pinocchio　to　the　Cat。　〃Why　did　you　kill　him？〃

〃I　killed　him　to　teach　him　a　lesson。　　He　talks　too　much。　Next　time　he　will　keep　his　words　to　himself。〃

By　this　time　the　three　companions　had　walked　a　long　distance。　　Suddenly；　the　Fox　stopped　in　his　tracks　and；　turning　to　the　Marionette；　said　to　him：

〃Do　you　want　to　double　your　gold　pieces？〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Do　you　want　one　hundred；　a　thousand；　two　thousand　gold　pieces　for　your　miserable　five？〃

〃Yes；　but　how？〃

〃The　way　is　very　easy。　　Instead　of　returning　home；　come　with　us。〃

〃And　where　will　you　take　me？〃

〃To　the　City　of　Simple　Simons。〃

Pinocchio　thought　a　while　and　then　said　firmly：

〃No；　I　don't　want　to　go。　　Home　is　near；　and　I'm　going　where　Father　is　waiting　for　me。　　How　unhappy　he　must　be　that　I　have　not　yet　returned！　　I　have　been　a　bad　son；　and　the　Talking　Cricket　was　right　when　he　said　that　a　disobedient　boy　cannot　be　happy　in　this　world。　　I　have　learned　this　at　my　own　expense。　　Even　last　night　in　the　theater；　when　Fire　Eater。　。　。　Brrrr！！！！！　。　。　。　The　shivers　run　up　and　down　my　back　at　the　mere　thought　of　it。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　the　Fox；　〃if　you　really　want　to　go　home；　go　ahead；　but　you'll　be　sorry。〃

〃You'll　be　sorry；〃　repeated　the　Cat。

〃Think　well；　Pinocchio；　you　are　turning　your　back　on　Dame　Fortune。〃

〃On　Dame　Fortune；〃　repeated　the　Cat。

〃Tomorrow　your　five　gold　pieces　will　be　two　thousand！〃

〃Two　thousand！〃　repeated　the　Cat。

〃But　how　can　they　possibly　become　so　many？〃　asked　Pinocchio　wonderingly。

〃I'll　explain；〃　said　the　Fox。　　〃You　must　know　that；　just　outside　the　City　of　Simple　Simons；　there　is　a　blessed　field　called　the　Field　of　Wonders。　　In　this　field　you　dig　a　hole　and　in　the　hole　you　bury　a　gold　piece。　　After　covering　up　the　hole　with　earth　you　water　it　well；　sprinkle　a　bit　of　salt　on　it；　and　go　to　bed。　　During　the　night；　the　gold　piece　sprouts；　grows；　blossoms；　and　next　morning　you　find　a　beautiful　tree；　that　is　loaded　with　gold　pieces。〃

〃So　that　if　I　were　to　bury　my　five　gold　pieces；〃　cried　Pinocchio　with　growing　wonder；　〃next　morning　I　should　findhow　many？〃

〃It　is　very　simple　to　figure　out；〃　answered　the　Fox。　〃Why；　you　can　figure　it　on　your　fingers！　　Granted　that　each　piece　gives　you　five　hundred；　multiply　five　hundred　by　five。　　Next　morning　you　will　find　twenty…five　hundred　new；　sparkling　gold　pieces。〃

〃Fine！　　Fine！〃　cried　Pinocchio；　dancing　about　with　joy。　〃And　as　soon　as　I　have　them；　I　shall　keep　two　thousand　for　myself　and　the　other　five　hundred　I'll　give　to　you　two。〃

〃A　gift　for　us？〃　cried　the　Fox；　pretending　to　be　insulted。　〃Why；　of　course　not！〃

〃Of　course　not！〃　repeated　the　Cat。

〃We　do　not　work　for　gain；〃　answered　the　Fox。　〃We　work　only　to　enrich　others。〃

〃To　enrich　others！〃　repeated　the　Cat。

〃What　good　people；〃　thought　Pinocchio　to　himself。　And　forgetting　his　father；　the　new　coat；　the　A…B…C　book；　and　all　his　good　resolutions；　he　said　to　the　Fox　and　to　the　Cat：

〃Let　us　go。　　I　am　with　you。〃



CHAPTER　13

The　Inn　of　the　Red　Lobster



Cat　and　Fox　and　Marionette　walked　and　walked　and　walked。　At　last；　toward　evening；　dead　tired；　they　came　to　the　Inn　of　the　Red　Lobster。

〃Let　us　stop　here　a　while；〃　said　the　Fox；　〃to　eat　a　bite　and　rest　for　a　few　hours。　　At　midnight　we'll　start　out　again；　for　at　dawn　tomorrow　we　must　be　at　the　Field　of　Wonders。〃

They　went　into　the　Inn　and　all　three　sat　down　at　the　same　table。　　However；　not　one　of　them　was　very　hungry。

The　poor　Cat　felt　very　weak；　and　he　was　able　to　eat　only　thirty…five　mullets　with　tomato　sauce　and　four　portions　of　tripe　with　cheese。　　Moreover；　as　he　was　so　in　need　of　strength；　he　had　to　have　four　more　helpings　of　butter　and　cheese。

The　Fox；　after　a　great　deal　of　coaxing；　tried　his　best　to　eat　a　little。　　The　doctor　had　put　him　on　a　diet；　and　he　had　to　be　satisfied　with　a　small　hare　dressed　with　a　dozen　young　and　tender　spring　chickens。　　After　the　hare；　he　ordered　some　partridges；　a　few　pheasants；　a　couple　of　rabbits；　and　a　dozen　frogs　and　lizards。　　That　was　all。　He　felt　ill；　he　said；　and　could　not　eat　another　bite。

Pinocchio　ate　least　of　all。　　He　asked　for　a　bite　of　bread　and　a　few　nuts　and　then　hardly　touched　them。　　The　poor　fellow；　with　his　mind　on　the　Field　of　Wonders；　was　suffering　from　a　gold…piece　indigestion。

Supper　over；　the　Fox　said　to　the　Innkeeper：

〃Give　us　two　good　rooms；　one　for　Mr。　Pinocchio　and　the　other　for　me　and　my　friend。　　Before　starting　out；　we'll　take　a　little　nap。　　Remember　to　call　us　at　midnight　sharp；　for　we　must　continue　on　our　journey。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　answered　the　Innkeeper；　winking　in　a　knowing　way　at　the　Fox　and　the　Cat；　as　if　to　say；　〃I　understand。〃

As　soon　as　Pinocchio　was　in　bed；　he　fell　fast　asleep　and　began　to　dream。　　He　dreamed　he　was　in　the　middle　of　a　field。　　The　field　was　full　of　vines　heavy　with　grapes。　The　grapes　were　no　other　than　gold　coins　which　tinkled　merrily　as　they　swayed　in　the　wind。　　They　seemed　to　say；　〃Let　him　who　wants　us　take　us！〃

Just　as　Pinocchio　stretched　out　his　hand　to　take　a　handful　of　them；　he　was　awakened　by　three　loud　knocks　at　the　door。　　It　was　the　Innkeeper　who　had　come　to　tell　him　that　midnight　had　struck。

〃Are　my　friends　ready？〃　the　Marionette　asked　him。

〃Indeed；　yes！　　They　went　two　hours　ago。〃

〃Why　in　such　a　hurry？〃

〃Unfortunately　the　Cat　received　a　telegram　which　said　that　his　first…born　was　suffering　from　chilblains　and　was　on　the　point　of　death。　　He　could　not　even　wait　to　say　good…by　to　you。〃

〃Did　they　pay　for　the　supper？〃

〃How　could　they　do　such　a　thing？　　Being　people　of　great　refinement；　they　did　not　want　to　offend　you　so　deeply　as　not　to　allow　you　the　honor　of　paying　the　bill。〃

〃Too　bad！　　That　offense　would　have　been　more　than　pleasing　to　me；〃　said　Pinocchio；　scratching　his　head。

〃Where　did　my　good　friends　say　they　would　wait　for　me？〃　he　added。

〃At　the　Field　of　Wonders；　at　sunrise　tomorrow　morning。〃

Pinocchio　paid　a　gold　piece　for　the　three　suppers　and　started　on　his　way　toward　the　field　that　was　to　make　him　a　rich　man。

He　walked　on；　not　knowing　where　he　was　going；　for　it　was　dark；　so　dark　that　not　a　thing　was　visible。　　Round　about　him；　not　a　leaf　stirred。　　A　few　bats　skimmed　his　nose　now　and　again　and　scared　him　half　to　death。　　Once　or　twice　he　shouted；　〃Who　goes　there？〃　and　the　far…away　hills　echoed　back　to　him；　〃Who　goes　there？　　Who　goes　there？　　Who　goes。　。　。　？〃

As　he　walked；　Pinocchio　noticed　a　tiny　insect　glimmering　on　the　trunk　of　a　tree；　a　small　being　that　glowed　with　a　pale；　soft　light。

〃Who　are　you？〃　he　asked。

〃I　am　the　ghost　of　the　Talking　Cricket；〃　answered　the　little　being　in　a　faint　voice　that　sounded　as　if　it　came　from　a　far…away　world。

〃What　do　you　want？〃　asked　the　Marionette。

〃I　want　to　give　you　a　few　words　of　good　advice。　Return　home　and　give　the　four　gold　pieces　you　have　left　to　your　poor　old　father　who　is　weeping　because　he　has　not　seen　you　for　many　a　day。〃

〃Tomorrow　my　father　will　be　a　rich　man；　for　these　four　gold　pieces　will　become　two　thousand。〃

〃Don't　listen　to　those　who　promise　you　wealth　overnight；　my　boy。　　As　a　rule　they　are　either　fools　or　swindlers！　Listen　to　me　and　go　home。〃

〃But　I　want　to　go　on！〃

〃The　hour　is　late！〃

〃I　want　to　go　on。〃

〃The　night　is　very　dark。〃

〃I　want　to　go　on。〃

〃The　road　is　dangerous。〃

〃I　want　to　go　on。〃

〃Remember　that　boys　who　insist　on　having　their　own　way；　sooner　or　later　come　to　grief。〃

〃The　same　nonsense。　　Good…by；　Cricket。〃

〃Good　night；　Pinocchio；　and　may　Heaven　preserve　you　from　the　Assassins。〃

There　was　silence　for　a　minute　and　the　light　of　the　Talking　Cricket　disappeared　suddenly；　just　as　if　someone　had　snuffed　it　out。　　Once　again　the　road　was　plunged　in　darkness。



CHAPTER　14

Pinocchio；　not　having　listened　to　the　good　advice　of　the　Talking　Cricket；　falls　into　the　hands　of　the　Assassins



〃Dear；　oh；　dear！　　When　I　come　to　think　of　it；〃　said　the　Marionette　to　himself；　as　he　once　more　set　out　on　his　journey；　〃we　boys　are　really　very　unlucky。　　Everybody　scolds　us；　everybody　gives　us　advice；　everybody　warns　us。　If　we　were　to　allow　it；　everyone　would　try　to　be　father　and　mother　to　us；　everyone；　even　the　Talking　Cricket。　Take　me；　for　example。　　Just　because　I　would　not　listen　to　that　bothersome　Cricket；　who　knows　how　many　misfortunes　may　be　awaiting　me！　　Assassins　indeed！　　At　least　I　have　never　believed　in　them；　nor　ever　will。　　To　speak　sensibly；　I　think　assassins　have　been　invented　by　fathers　and　mothers　to　frighten　children　who　want　to　run　away　at　night。　　And　then；　even　if　I　were　to　meet　them　on　the　road；　what　matter？　　I'll　just　run　up　to　them；　and　say；　‘Well；　signori；　what　do　you　want？　　Remember　that　you　can't　fool　with　me！　　Run　along　and　mind　your　business。'　At　such　a　speech；　I　can　almost　see　those　poor　fellows　running　like　the　wind。　　But　in　case　they　don't　run　away；　I　can　always　run　myself。　。　。〃

Pinocchio　was　not　given　time　to　argue　any　longer；　for　he　thought　he　heard　a　slight　rustle　among　the　leaves　behind　him。

He　turned　to　look　and　behold；　there　in　the　darkness　stood　two　big　black　shadows；　wrapped　from　head　to　foot　in　black　sacks。　　The　two　figures　leaped　toward　him　as　softly　as　if　they　were　ghosts。

〃Here　they　come！〃　Pinocchio　said　to　himself；　and；　not　knowing　where　to　hide　the　gold　pieces；　he　stuck　all　four　of　them　under　his　tongue。

He　tried　to　run　away；　but　hardly　had　he　taken　a　step；　when　he　felt　his　arms　grasped　and　heard　two　horrible；　deep　voices　say　to　him：　　〃Your　money　or　your　life！〃

On　account　of　the　gold　pieces　in　his　mouth；　Pinocchio　could　not　say　a　word；　so　he　tried　with　head　and　hands　and　body　to　show；　as　best　he　could；　that　he　was　only　a　poor　Marionette　without　a　penny　in　his　pocket。

〃Come；　come；　less　nonsense；　and　out　with　your　money！〃　cried　the　two　thieves　in　threatening　voices。

Once　more；　Pinocchio's　head　and　hands　said；　〃I　haven't　a　penny。〃

〃Out　with　that　money　or　you're　a　dead　man；〃　said　the　taller　of　the　two　Assassins。

〃Dead　man；〃　repeated　the　other。

〃And　after　having　killed　you；　we　will　kill　your　father　also。〃

〃Your　father　also！〃

〃No；　no；　no；　not　my　Father！〃　cried　Pinocchio；　wild　with　terror；　but　as　he　screamed；　the　gold　pieces　tinkled　together　in　his　mouth。

〃Ah；　you　rascal！　　So　that's　the　game！　　You　have　the　money　hidden　under　your　tongue。　　Out　with　it！〃

But　Pinocchio　was　as　stubborn　as　ever。

〃Are　you　deaf？　　Wait；　young　man；　we'll　get　it　from　you　in　a　twinkling！〃

One　of　them　grabbed　the　Marionette　by　the　nose　and　the　other　by　the　chin；　and　they　pulled　him　unmercifully　from　side　to　side　in　order　to　make　him　open　his　mouth。

All　was　of　no　use。　　The　Marionette's　lips　might　have　been　nailed　together。　　They　would　not　open。

In　desperation　the　smaller　of　the　two　Assassins　pulled　out　a　long　knife　from　his　pocket；　and　tried　to　pry　Pinocchio's　mouth　open　with　it。

Quick　as　a　flash；　the　Marionette　sank　his　teeth　deep　into　the　Assassin's　hand；　bit　it　off　and　spat　it　out。　　Fancy　his　surprise　when　he　saw　that　it　was　not　a　hand；　but　a　cat's　paw。

Encouraged　by　this　first　victory；　he　freed　himself　from　the　claws　of　his　assailers　and；　leaping　over　the　bushes　along　the　road；　ran　swiftly　across　the　fields。　　His　pursuers　were　after　him　at　once；　like　two　dogs　chasing　a　hare。

After　running　seven　miles　or　so；