Books: Pinocchio in Africa
C >>
Cherubini >> Pinocchio in Africa
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 | 6
Marameho shared the joy of his emperor, but a cloud of sadness came
over his face when he heard him build these castles in the air, and
make such plans for the future. The poor boy had already seen too many
changes to believe that anything in the world would last long. He was
aware that his emperor was in grave danger, but he did not dare to warn
him.
However, events quickly ran their course. The preparations were
completed, and on a bright, sunny day, Pinocchio the First, Emperor and
King of all the African kings, took his place upon a litter made of
branches, which was borne aloft by four robust men. Following these
came all the ministers, and the day's march was begun.
Wherever they went, there was loud applause for the emperor. The
mothers were pleased because their ruler had promised to stop
compulsory instruction. They expressed their thanks in flattering
words, some of which reached the emperor's ears.
"How fine is that wooden head!" said one. "It is easy to see that he
is a king of great endurance! They say he can jump wonderfully - just
like a marionette!"
Toward evening the tents were erected. In the largest of these
Pinocchio gave a supper to all the ministers, a splendid supper which
lasted till late that night. A blazing fire protected the court against
the attacks of wild animals and the cold of the night.
The ministers retired about midnight. Pinocchio, left alone, began
to walk up and down in his tent, with his hands behind him and his head
lowered. He had seen at school a picture of the great Napoleon in the
same attitude.
He thought of his stay in Africa, and of the strange things which
had befallen him. He thought of the treasures he had not yet found.
While pondering on all these things he approached the entrance of the
tent, and in the faint light of the dying fire, he saw a group of men
huddled together. Drawing nearer, he heard them talking.
"If things go well, as I hope they will, we shall gather many
presents," the prime minister was saying. "It cannot be denied that he
is attractive, and I am sure that all our people will vie with each
other in making gifts. Therefore, I entreat you to be patient. When the
visit is ended we will share what has been gathered."
After a long silence, interrupted only by the roar of a lion
prowling about, the prime minister continued: "As for him, we will
dispatch him in the quickest way. If he were not of wood," he added in
a deep voice, "he would be good roasted, but - "
Then some one threw an armful of branches on the fire. The flames
lit up the tent, but Pinocchio saw and heard no more, for he had
vanished out of sight.
At dawn, notices were sent throughout the whole country that the
emperor had disappeared, and that there was no trace of him to be
found!The confusion was terrible. The people everywhere were aroused,
charges were brought against the government. The matter became so
serious that the ministers were forced to flee.
Among those who escaped was the prime minister. He went into the
forests determined to find the emperor. Having strong legs and a keen
nose, he was well fitted to track any kind of animal, including a
marionette.
In fact, after many hours of hard work, he beheld the emperor
scampering away from a herd of wild beasts. They evidently wanted to
make a meal of him. The court gentleman knew that these animals would
soon give up the chase, and was content to follow at a distance. After
a while daylight drove the beasts away, and the poor, tired emperor
threw himself flat upon the ground to regain his breath. Scarcely had
he done so when a roaring more terrible than that of wild beasts caused
him to spring to his feet in the vain hope of making his escape.
41. Pinocchio Is Placed In A Cage
ALAS! there was the prime minister. He had caught hold of the
marionette and tied a rope around his neck.
It would be impossible to describe the wrath of the poor emperor. He
wanted to say a few things and to do even more, but the cruel minister
struck him with a whip.
This kind of argument convinced the emperor that it was best to
remain quiet.
"That is how I like to see you," said the minister, pushing
Pinocchio forward, and holding him by the rope as the farmers do their
donkeys on returning from market.
Thus they walked a great distance, until they came to the top of a
hill from which could be seen a large tract of country covered with
huts. The minister turned toward Pinocchio and spoke as follows: "My
dear emperor, we must decide upon some plan of action, if we do not
wish to starve. You see to what a miserable state we are reduced. We
have no money, nor have we any food; in short, if we do not earn
something before night, we shall not only be compelled to sleep in the
open, but we shall go to bed supperless. If you were not made of wood,
things would not be so hopeless, because I could eat you up and you
would last some time. But since this is impossible, I have resolved to
carry you around the village and place you on exhibition before the
public. You will make money, do you understand? Now be good enough to
give me your aid. Help me to put together a cage from the bark of these
trees. We shall make money, much money!" And the minister rubbed his
hands gleefully.
The marionette did not share in his joy. In fact, he was on the
point of showering bitter reproaches upon this unfaithful servant, who
was now going to exhibit him in the public squares, but he decided to
wait for a better opportunity. Accordingly, he began to strip the bark
from the trees without making any objection.
When the cage was completed, the minister turned to the marionette
and said: "Enter. From now on, there shall be no more talk of emperor.
I am your master, and you are my faithful slave. Forward, march!"
The command had been given in a way which made its repetition
unnecessary, and Pinocchio knew that he must obey.
42. Pinocchio Performs For The Public
WITH the cage on his head the ex-minister walked into the village,
whistling as he went to attract the attention of the people.
"P-r-r-p, p-r-r-p, p-r-r-p!"
It was a holiday, and the people flocked around him. Everybody
wanted to see, everybody wanted to admire the rare animal in the cage.
Shouts of wonder burst forth on all sides.
It is easy to fancy how Pinocchio felt! He longed to be a cricket,
or a mouse, so that he might hide in some hole. How he wished that he
were a butterfly or a bird and could fly to his home!
He stood there, huddled up in one corner of the cage, trying to
present as little of his body as possible to the eager eyes of the
crowd. He prayed for aid with all his heart. It was useless. The cruel
master saw that the square was filled with people, eager to look at the
marionette. He opened the cage, and when Pinocchio stepped out he made
him run around in circles like a monkey.
Then the minister addressed the people:
"Africans of Africa! What you see here is not, as you believe, an
animal; at least, it is not a wild animal. It is a boy. He is like many
other boys that are to be found in certain parts of the earth. How he
happened to fall into my hands would be too long a story. When I tell
you about his habits and his mode of living, you will be able to judge
for yourselves how strange a creature he is. Just think, on arising in
the morning, he wants to wash his face, neck, and hands, and with what?
Water!"
At these words, a murmur of surprise arose from the spectators, and
some of the people laughed outright.
"That is not all," he continued. "When he has washed himself, he
passes through his hair an object, made of bone, that has long, pointed
teeth. Do you understand his purpose?"
The mothers looked at one another, and some of them touched the
woolly hair of their children, glad that their little ones did not have
to undergo such hardships.
"Nor is that all. You must know that when he wishes to blow his
nose, he takes from his pocket a piece of linen, called a handkerchief,
and blows his nose upon that."
An outburst of laughter greeted these words and completely drowned
the voice of the speaker.
"But there is more, my people! This individual possesses the ability
to eat raw butter, yet his meat must be cooked. He takes porridge with
a spoon and caries it to his mouth. He is even stupid enough to cut
bread with a weapon called a knife."
The astonishment was great! When it had subsided a little there was
a rush to the huts. The people came out carrying water, raw meat, and
butter. One brought a chicken, which the minister immediately killed
and cooked.
At the word of command, Pinocchio washed his hands, neck, and face.
This the marionette did willingly, for he felt the need of it. Then the
broiled chicken was given to him. Pinocchio, to the delight of all, cut
off one of the legs with his knife, and having spread it with pieces of
butter, proceeded to eat it with evident relish.
The women then wished to see him comb his hair. Pinocchio, who had
no comb, passed his fingers through his tangled locks, and finally
succeeded in parting them. Then he drew a handkerchief from his pocket
and blew his nose. The children shouted with glee, and even the parents
could not help laughing at the queer things the marionette did.
43. Pinocchio Breaks The Cage And Makes His Escape
FOR the next few days the poor Emperor and King of all African kings
was compelled to exhibit himself, and to repeat his performances before
thousands of eyes eager to see his strange accomplishments. He was
compelled from morning till night to hear the insults of the boys and
the laughter of the men. All this made him very miserable.
What annoyed him most was the warning he received not to refuse to
eat whenever food was brought to him. "That is what the monkeys and the
elephants do," said the marionette sorrowfully, recalling what he and
his school companions had seen when they went to the circus.
It is unnecessary to say that he thought of his father, of his dear
Fatina, and of his home. They were constantly in his mind. Slowly,
slowly it dawned upon him that this way of living could no longer be
endured, and finally he was convinced that if he did not soon see his
little home, if he did not soon eat the hard, black crust given him by
the loving hands of his father, if he did not soon drink the water from
his own well, he should die of a broken heart.
"My home, my home!" he cried, the tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Home, my home!" he repeated, no longer thinking of the gold and silver
for which he had come to Africa.
"I want to see my father again." And then he stood erect in his
cage. His head went through the top of it and the side fell apart. Away
he leaped over the heads of the crowd, away like lightning! Out of the
village, across the plains, beyond the hills! Compared with him, the
swift south wind would have seemed no faster than a snail.
He ran and ran and ran. Nor did he make an end of running until he
reached the wide waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
There he stopped. He looked back at Africa, the land of all his
empty dreams; then flinging himself into the water, he said aloud, "I
will return when I have a little more sense."
At that moment a familiar voice shouted to him: "Good Pinocchio!
Hurrah for Pinocchio!"
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 | 6