"Blyton, Enid - Famous Five 21 - Five Are Together Again" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

СQuite right,Т said his father. СBut wait a minute - I seem to remember an odd clause that said something about a travelling show - a show that had rights to camp in the field since about 1066. Not even Cromwell could alter that - it was in the original deeds, long before Cromwell battled in that district. Now letТs see - that piece would come about the end, I expect.Т
The two girls and Tinker waited while the Professor pored over the old and beautiful lettering. He jabbed his finger on to three lines towards the end.
СYes. There it is. IТll quote it. Listen! УAnd let it be known that Ye Travelling Show so-named СTapperТs Travelling ShowТ, which has always had camping rights, shall still have the right to claim these once every ten years so long as the show travels the country ways - Given under my hand...Ф and so on and so on. Well - I donТt expect that TapperТs Travelling Show is going now, all these years and years after the document was drawn up and signed in the year 1648. See - hereТs the date - if you can read the old figures!Т
The children stared at the date, and then glanced up at Tinker. He looked angry and very red in the face. СYou might have told me all that before, Dad,Т he said.
СWhy?Т asked his father, astonished. СWhat possible interest can it have for you children?Т
СOnly that thereТs a circus called TapperТs Travelling Circus in that field this very minute,Т said Anne. СAnd the old man with it is called Tapper - and he said it was his right to be there, and...Т
СHe was rude to me and I want you to turn out this circus this very day!Т said Tinker. СWe want to camp there.Т
СIТm sure Mr Tapper would have no objection to you camping there,Т said his father. СArenТt you being rather silly, Tinker? You werenТt rude to any of the circus folk, were you?Т
Tinker went very red, turned his back and stalked out of the room, Mischief clinging to his neck. He rubbed his chest where the circus boy had punched him. СJust you wait!Т he said in a whisper. СIТll punch you one day!Т
СAnne, if you and the others want to camp in the field, IТll go and speak to Mr Tapper,Т said the Professor, puzzled by TinkerТs behaviour.
СOh no - itТs all right,Т said Anne, hastily. СHe has already said that it didnТt matter if we camped there. Oh - there are the boys back again. IТll just go and see if they have brought back all our bicycles safely. Thank you for showing us that marvellous old document, Professor!Т
And away she went looking rather hot and bothered!


Chapter Six

GETTING READY FOR CAMPING OUT

Dick and Julian were most interested to hear about Tinker and the Travelling Circus - and the old, old document.
СYou made a bit of a fool of yourself,Т said Julian, looking at Tinker. СStill, thereТs no harm done, apparently. I vote we go and see where we can put up our tents. Personally, I shall be thrilled to see a bit of circus life so close to me! I wonder how theyТll manage to put on a show. I suppose theyТve everything with them, and can put up a circus ring and a marquee and anything else necessary.Т
СThere are a lot of big vans,Т said Anne. СI went down to have a look about half an hour ago. The field is almost full now, except for one corner near our hedge that I suppose they have left for our tents.Т
СI saw the posters about the circus as we cycled back,Т said Dick. СDead-Shot Dick - Chimpanzee that plays Cricket - the Boneless Man - Madelon and her Beautiful Horses - Monty and Winks the clowns - the Dancing Donkey - Mr Wooh, the Wonder Wizard - gosh, it sounded quite a circus. IТm glad we can camp in the same field - we shall really see behind the scenes, then.Т
СDonТt forget there was Charlie the Chimp, and the Bonzo Band,Т said Julian. СWhat fun if the chimp got loose and peeped in at the kitchen window!Т
СIt wouldnТt be at all funny,Т said Anne. СJenny would run for miles! So would TinkerТs monkey!Т
СWhat about putting up our own tents after tea?Т said Dick. СThe carrier said heТd have them here by tea-time. ItТs hotter than ever today. I donТt feel I can do much at the moment. I just want to laze.Т
СWoof,Т said Timmy, who was lying down with his head on his paws, panting.
СYou feel the same, old chap, donТt you?Т said Julian, poking him with his toe. СYouТre tired out with your long run to Kirrin and back again, arenТt you?Т
СThe roads were so dusty!Т said Dick. СHe kept sneezing whenever a car passed us, because the dust got up his nose. Poor old Tim. You really are tired out with that long, long run!Т
СWoof!Т said Tim, suddenly sitting up straight and pawing vigorously at George. Everyone laughed.
СHe says heТs not at all tired, he wants a walk,Т chuckled Dick.
СWell, if heТs not tired, I am,Т said Julian. СIt really was a job sorting out all our things at Kirrin - and cycling there and back. No, Timmy - I am NOT going to take you for a walk!Т
Timmy whined, and at once Mischief the monkey leapt down from TinkerТs shoulder and went to cuddle against the big dog, making small comforting noises. He even put his thin little arms round TimmyТs neck!
СYouТre just being a little bit soppy, Mischief,Т said Tinker, but Mischief didnТt care. His big friend was sad about something, or he wouldnТt have whined. Timmy put out a big red tongue and licked the little creature delicately on his nose. Then he suddenly pricked up his ears, and sat straight up, He had heard a noise from somewhere. So had all the others.
СItТs music of some kind,Т said Anne. СOh - I believe I know what it is!Т
СWhat?Т said the others.
СIt must be TapperТs Travelling Circus Band practising for opening night,Т said Anne.
СWell, thatТs tomorrow,Т yawned George. СYes - it does sound like a band. Maybe we shall see the bandsmen after tea, when we put up our tents. IТd like to see the Boneless Man, wouldnТt you?Т
СNO!Т said Anne. СHeТd be all limp and wriggly and horrid - like a worm or a jellyfish! I shanТt go and see him. But IТd love to see the horses and the Dancing Donkey. Does he dance to the band, do you think?Т
СWeТll find out when we go,Т said Dick, Сas it opens tomorrow. If Mr Tapper isnТt annoyed about Tinker trying to turn them out, he might let us wander round.Т
СI donТt think I want to come,Т said Tinker. СMr Tapper was rude - and that boy knocked me flat.Т
СWell, I expect IТd do the same if I thought you were being rude to my Grandad,Т said Julian, lazily СNow - itТs settled, is it, that we go down with our things to the field after tea, and see if we can put up our tents in some sheltered corner?Т
СYes,Т said everyone. Dick idly tickled MischiefТs nose with a thin blade of grass. The monkey sneezed at once, and then again. He rubbed his little paw across his nose and stared disapprovingly at Dick. Then he sneezed once more.
СBorrow a hanky, old thing,Т said Julian. And, to everyoneТs intense amusement, Mischief leapt across to Dick and neatly pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket! Then he pretended to blow his nose.
Everyone roared with laughter, and Mischief was delighted. СYouТll be stolen to act in a circus one day, if you behave like that!Т said Dick, snatching back his hanky. СThe Pick-pocket Monkey!Т
СHeТd be very good in a circus,Т said Julian.
СIТd never let him join a circus!Т said Tinker at once. СHe might have a dreadful life.Т
СNo. I donТt think he would,Т said Julian. СCircus-folk love their animals and are proud of them. And after all, if they treated them unkindly, the animals wouldnТt be happy or healthy, and couldnТt enjoy their acts. Most circus people treat their animals like one of the family.Т
СWhat! Even a chimpanzee!Т said Anne, in horror.
СTheyТre nice creatures - and very clever,Т said Julian. СMischief, do not remove my handkerchief, please. It was funny the first time, but not a second time. Look at him now, trying to undo TimmyТs collar.Т
СCome and sit quietly by me, Mischief,Т ordered Tinker, and the little creature obediently went to him and cuddled on to his knee, making a soft, crooning noise.