the adventures of pinocchio-第7章

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〃Drink　it　and　I'll　give　you　a　lump　of　sugar　to　take　the　bitter　taste　from　your　mouth。〃

〃Where's　the　sugar？〃

〃Here　it　is；〃　said　the　Fairy；　taking　a　lump　from　a　golden　sugar　bowl。

〃I　want　the　sugar　first；　then　I'll　drink　the　bitter　water。〃

〃Do　you　promise？〃

〃Yes。〃

The　Fairy　gave　him　the　sugar　and　Pinocchio；　after　chewing　and　swallowing　it　in　a　twinkling；　said；　smacking　his　lips：

〃If　only　sugar　were　medicine！　　I　should　take　it　every　day。〃

〃Now　keep　your　promise　and　drink　these　few　drops　of　water。　　They'll　be　good　for　you。〃

Pinocchio　took　the　glass　in　both　hands　and　stuck　his　nose　into　it。　　He　lifted　it　to　his　mouth　and　once　more　stuck　his　nose　into　it。

〃It　is　too　bitter；　much　too　bitter！　　I　can't　drink　it。〃

〃How　do　you　know；　when　you　haven't　even　tasted　it？〃

〃I　can　imagine　it。　　I　smell　it。　　I　want　another　lump　of　sugar；　then　I'll　drink　it。〃

The　Fairy；　with　all　the　patience　of　a　good　mother；　gave　him　more　sugar　and　again　handed　him　the　glass。

〃I　can't　drink　it　like　that；〃　the　Marionette　said；　making　more　wry　faces。

〃Why？〃

〃Because　that　feather　pillow　on　my　feet　bothers　me。〃

The　Fairy　took　away　the　pillow。

〃It's　no　use。　　I　can't　drink　it　even　now。〃

〃What's　the　matter　now？〃

〃I　don't　like　the　way　that　door　looks。　　It's　half　open。〃

The　Fairy　closed　the　door。

〃I　won't　drink　it；〃　cried　Pinocchio；　bursting　out　crying。　〃I　won't　drink　this　awful　water。　　I　won't。　　I　won't！　No；　no；　no；　no！〃

〃My　boy；　you'll　be　sorry。〃

〃I　don't　care。〃

〃You　are　very　sick。〃

〃I　don't　care。〃

〃In　a　few　hours　the　fever　will　take　you　far　away　to　another　world。〃

〃I　don't　care。〃

〃Aren't　you　afraid　of　death？〃

〃Not　a　bit。　　I'd　rather　die　than　drink　that　awful　medicine。〃

At　that　moment；　the　door　of　the　room　flew　open　and　in　came　four　Rabbits　as　black　as　ink；　carrying　a　small　black　coffin　on　their　shoulders。

〃What　do　you　want　from　me？〃　asked　Pinocchio。

〃We　have　come　for　you；〃　said　the　largest　Rabbit。

〃For　me？　　But　I'm　not　dead　yet！〃

〃No；　not　dead　yet；　but　you　will　be　in　a　few　moments　since　you　have　refused　to　take　the　medicine　which　would　have　made　you　well。〃

〃Oh；　Fairy；　my　Fairy；〃　the　Marionette　cried　out；　〃give　me　that　glass！　　Quick；　please！　　I　don't　want　to　die！　No；　no；　not　yetnot　yet！〃

And　holding　the　glass　with　his　two　hands；　he　swallowed　the　medicine　at　one　gulp。

〃Well；〃　said　the　four　Rabbits；　〃this　time　we　have　made　the　trip　for　nothing。〃

And　turning　on　their　heels；　they　marched　solemnly　out　of　the　room；　carrying　their　little　black　coffin　and　muttering　and　grumbling　between　their　teeth。

In　a　twinkling；　Pinocchio　felt　fine。　　With　one　leap　he　was　out　of　bed　and　into　his　clothes。

The　Fairy；　seeing　him　run　and　jump　around　the　room　gay　as　a　bird　on　wing；　said　to　him：

〃My　medicine　was　good　for　you；　after　all；　wasn't　it？〃

〃Good　indeed！　　It　has　given　me　new　life。〃

〃Why；　then；　did　I　have　to　beg　you　so　hard　to　make　you　drink　it？〃

〃I'm　a　boy；　you　see；　and　all　boys　hate　medicine　more　than　they　do　sickness。〃

〃What　a　shame！　　Boys　ought　to　know；　after　all；　that　medicine；　taken　in　time；　can　save　them　from　much　pain　and　even　from　death。〃

〃Next　time　I　won't　have　to　be　begged　so　hard。　　I'll　remember　those　black　Rabbits　with　the　black　coffin　on　their　shoulders　and　I'll　take　the　glass　and　pouf！down　it　will　go！〃

〃Come　here　now　and　tell　me　how　it　came　about　that　you　found　yourself　in　the　hands　of　the　Assassins。〃

〃It　happened　that　Fire　Eater　gave　me　five　gold　pieces　to　give　to　my　Father；　but　on　the　way；　I　met　a　Fox　and　a　Cat；　who　asked　me；　‘Do　you　want　the　five　pieces　to　become　two　thousand？'　　And　I　said；　‘Yes。'　And　they　said；　‘Come　with　us　to　the　Field　of　Wonders。'　And　I　said；　‘Let's　go。'　Then　they　said；　‘Let　us　stop　at　the　Inn　of　the　Red　Lobster　for　dinner　and　after　midnight　we'll　set　out　again。'　We　ate　and　went　to　sleep。　　When　I　awoke　they　were　gone　and　I　started　out　in　the　darkness　all　alone。　　On　the　road　I　met　two　Assassins　dressed　in　black　coal　sacks；　who　said　to　me；　‘Your　money　or　your　life！'　and　I　said；　‘I　haven't　any　money'；　for；　you　see；　I　had　put　the　money　under　my　tongue。　　One　of　them　tried　to　put　his　hand　in　my　mouth　and　I　bit　it　off　and　spat　it　out；　but　it　wasn't　a　hand；　it　was　a　cat's　paw。　　And　they　ran　after　me　and　I　ran　and　ran；　till　at　last　they　caught　me　and　tied　my　neck　with　a　rope　and　hanged　me　to　a　tree；　saying；　‘Tomorrow　we'll　come　back　for　you　and　you'll　be　dead　and　your　mouth　will　be　open；　and　then　we'll　take　the　gold　pieces　that　you　have　hidden　under　your　tongue。'〃

〃Where　are　the　gold　pieces　now？〃　the　Fairy　asked。

〃I　lost　them；〃　answered　Pinocchio；　but　he　told　a　lie；　for　he　had　them　in　his　pocket。

As　he　spoke；　his　nose；　long　though　it　was；　became　at　least　two　inches　longer。

〃And　where　did　you　lose　them？〃

〃In　the　wood　near　by。〃

At　this　second　lie；　his　nose　grew　a　few　more　inches。

〃If　you　lost　them　in　the　near…by　wood；〃　said　the　Fairy；　〃we'll　look　for　them　and　find　them；　for　everything　that　is　lost　there　is　always　found。〃

〃Ah；　now　I　remember；〃　replied　the　Marionette；　becoming　more　and　more　confused。　　〃I　did　not　lose　the　gold　pieces；　but　I　swallowed　them　when　I　drank　the　medicine。〃

At　this　third　lie；　his　nose　became　longer　than　ever；　so　long　that　he　could　not　even　turn　around。　　If　he　turned　to　the　right；　he　knocked　it　against　the　bed　or　into　the　windowpanes；　if　he　turned　to　the　left；　he　struck　the　walls　or　the　door；　if　he　raised　it　a　bit；　he　almost　put　the　Fairy's　eyes　out。

The　Fairy　sat　looking　at　him　and　laughing。

〃Why　do　you　laugh？〃　the　Marionette　asked　her；　worried　now　at　the　sight　of　his　growing　nose。

〃I　am　laughing　at　your　lies。〃

〃How　do　you　know　I　am　lying？〃

〃Lies；　my　boy；　are　known　in　a　moment。　　There　are　two　kinds　of　lies；　lies　with　short　legs　and　lies　with　long　noses。　Yours；　just　now；　happen　to　have　long　noses。〃

Pinocchio；　not　knowing　where　to　hide　his　shame；　tried　to　escape　from　the　room；　but　his　nose　had　become　so　long　that　he　could　not　get　it　out　of　the　door。



CHAPTER　18

Pinocchio　finds　the　Fox　and　the　Cat　again；　and　goes　with　them　to　sow　the　gold　pieces　in　the　Field　of　Wonders



Crying　as　if　his　heart　would　break；　the　Marionette　mourned　for　hours　over　the　length　of　his　nose。　　No　matter　how　he　tried；　it　would　not　go　through　the　door。　　The　Fairy　showed　no　pity　toward　him；　as　she　was　trying　to　teach　him　a　good　lesson；　so　that　he　would　stop　telling　lies；　the　worst　habit　any　boy　may　acquire。　　But　when　she　saw　him；　pale　with　fright　and　with　his　eyes　half　out　of　his　head　from　terror；　she　began　to　feel　sorry　for　him　and　clapped　her　hands　together。　　A　thousand　woodpeckers　flew　in　through　the　window　and　settled　themselves　on　Pinocchio's　nose。　　They　pecked　and　pecked　so　hard　at　that　enormous　nose　that　in　a　few　moments；　it　was　the　same　size　as　before。

〃How　good　you　are；　my　Fairy；〃　said　Pinocchio；　drying　his　eyes；　〃and　how　much　I　love　you！〃

〃I　love　you；　too；〃　answered　the　Fairy；　〃and　if　you　wish　to　stay　with　me；　you　may　be　my　little　brother　and　I'll　be　your　good　little　sister。〃

〃I　should　like　to　staybut　what　about　my　poor　father？〃

〃I　have　thought　of　everything。　　Your　father　has　been　sent　for　and　before　night　he　will　be　here。〃

〃Really？〃　cried　Pinocchio　joyfully。　　〃Then；　my　good　Fairy；　if　you　are　willing；　I　should　like　to　go　to　meet　him。　I　cannot　wait　to　kiss　that　dear　old　man；　who　has　suffered　so　much　for　my　sake。〃

〃Surely；　go　ahead；　but　be　careful　not　to　lose　your　way。　Take　the　wood　path　and　you'll　surely　meet　him。〃

Pinocchio　set　out；　and　as　soon　as　he　found　himself　in　the　wood；　he　ran　like　a　hare。　　When　he　reached　the　giant　oak　tree　he　stopped；　for　he　thought　he　heard　a　rustle　in　the　brush。　　He　was　right。　　There　stood　the　Fox　and　the　Cat；　the　two　traveling　companions　with　whom　he　had　eaten　at　the　Inn　of　the　Red　Lobster。

〃Here　comes　our　dear　Pinocchio！〃　cried　the　Fox；　hugging　and　kissing　him。　　〃How　did　you　happen　here？〃

〃How　did　you　happen　here？〃　repeated　the　Cat。

〃It　is　a　long　story；〃　said　the　Marionette。　　〃Let　me　tell　it　to　you。　　The　other　night；　when　you　left　me　alone　at　the　Inn；　I　met　the　Assassins　on　the　road〃

〃The　Assassins？　　Oh；　my　poor　friend！　　And　what　did　they　want？〃

〃They　wanted　my　gold　pieces。〃

〃Rascals！〃　said　the　Fox。

〃The　worst　sort　of　rascals！〃　added　the　Cat。

〃But　I　began　to　run；〃　continued　the　Marionette；　〃and　they　after　me；　until　they　overtook　me　and　hanged　me　to　the　limb　of　that　oak。〃

Pinocchio　pointed　to　the　giant　oak　near　by。

〃Could　anything　be　worse？〃　said　the　Fox。

〃What　an　awful　world　to　live　in！　　Where　shall　we　find　a　safe　place　for　gentlemen　like　ourselves？〃

As　the　Fox　talked　thus；　Pinocchio　noticed　that　the　Cat　carried　his　right　paw　in　a　sling。

〃What　happened　to　your　paw？〃　he　asked。

The　Cat　tried　to　answer；　but　he　became　so　terribly　twisted　in　his　speech　that　the　Fox　had　to　help　him　out。

〃My　friend　is　too　modest　to　answer。　　I'll　answer　for　him。　　About　an　hour　ago；　we　met　an　old　wolf　on　the　road。　He　was　half　starved　and　begged　for　help。　　Having　nothing　to　give　him；　what　do　you　think　my　friend　did　out　of　the　kindness　of　his　heart？　　With　his　teeth；　he　bit　off　the　paw　of　his　front　foot　and　threw　it　at　that　poor　beast；　so　that　he　might　have　something　to　eat。〃

As　he　spoke；　the　Fox　wiped　off　a　tear。

Pinocchio；　almost　in　tears　himself；　whispered　in　the　Cat's　ear：

〃If　all　the　cats　were　like　you；　how　lucky　the　mice　would　be！〃

〃And　what　are　you　doing　here？〃　the　Fox　asked　the　Marionette。

〃I　am　waiting　for　my　father；　who　will　be　here　at　any　moment　now。〃

〃And　your　gold　pieces？〃

〃I　still　have　them　in　my　pocket；　except　one　which　I　spent　at　the　Inn　of　the　Red　Lobster。〃

〃To　think　that　those　four　gold　pieces　might　become　two　thousand　tomorrow。　　Why　don't　you　listen　to　me？　Why　don't　you　sow　them　in　the　Field　of　Wonders？〃

〃Today　it　is　impossible。　　I'll　go　with　you　some　other　time。〃

〃Another　day　will　be　too　late；〃　said　the　Fox。

〃Why？〃

〃Because　that　field　has　been　bought　by　a　very　rich　man；　and　today　is　the　last　day　that　it　will　be　open　to　the　public。〃

〃How　far　is　this　Field　of　Wonders？〃

〃Only　two　miles　away。　　Will　you　come　with　us？　　We'll　be　there　in　half　an　hour。　　You　can　sow　the　money；　and；　after　a　few　minutes；　you　will　gather　your　two　thousand　coins　and　return　home　rich。　　Are　you　coming？〃

Pinocchio　hesitated　a　moment　before　answering；　for　he　remembered　the　good　Fairy；　old　Geppetto；　and　the　advice　of　the　Talking　Cricket。　　Then　he　ended　by　doing　what　all　boys　do；　when　they　have　no　heart　and　little　brain。　He　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　said　to　the　Fox　and　the　Cat：

〃Let　us　go！　　I　am　with　you。〃

And　they　went。

They　walked　and　walked　for　a　half　a　day　at　least　and　at　last　they　came　to　the　town　called　the　City　of　Simple　Simons。　　As　soon　as　they　entered　the　town；　Pinocchio　noticed　that　all　the　streets　were　filled　with　hairless　dogs；　yawning　from　hunger；　with　sheared　sheep；　trembling　with　cold；　with　combless　chickens；　begging　for　a　grain　of　wheat；　with　large　butterflies；　unable　to　use　their　wings　because　they　had　sold　all　their　lovely　colors；　with　tailless　peacocks；　ashamed　to　show　themselves；　and　with　bedraggled　pheasants；　scuttling　away　hurriedly；　grieving　for　their　bright　feathers　of　gold　and　silver；　lost　to　them　forever。

Through　this　crowd　of　paupers　and　beggars；