"Cherubini-PinocchioInAfrica" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cherubini)

strong friendship sprang up between Pinocchio and the wild beasts.
Being a woodenhead he forgot about his father and did not go away as he had
intended to do. In fact, he was curious to know something of the history of
these people, who were forced to play at being wild animals.
After a moment's silence he turned to the one who had asked him to go for the
water and said, "You are from Africa?"
"Yes, I am an African, and all my companions are African."
"How interesting! but pardon me, is Africa a beautiful country?"
"I should say so! A country, my dear boy, full of plenty, where everything is
given away free! A country in which at any moment the strangest things may
happen. A servant may become a master; a plain citizen may become a king. There
are trees, taller than church steeples, with branches touching the ground, so
that one may gather sweet fruit without the least trouble. My boy, Africa is a
country full of enchanted forests, where the game allows itself to be killed,
quartered, and hung; where richesЧ"
No one knows how far this description would have gone, if at that moment the
voice of the director had not been heard. The music had stopped, and the
director was talking to the people, who did not seem very willing to part with
their money.
6. Pinocchio Determines To Go To Africa
PINOCCHIO had already resolved to go to Africa to eat of the fruit and to gather
riches. He was eager to learn more, and impatient of interruption.
"And the director is an African also?"
"Certainly he is an African."
"And is he very rich?"
"Is he rich? Take my word for it that if he would, he could buy up this whole
country."
Pinocchio was struck dumb. Still he wanted to make the men believe that what he
had heard was not altogether new to him. "Oh, I know that Africa is a very
beautiful country, and I have often planned to go there, andЧif I were sure that
it would not be too much trouble I would willingly go with you."
"With us? We are not going to Africa."
"What a pity! I thought I could make the journey in your company."
"Are you in earnest?" asked the bearded man. "Do you believe that there is any
Africa outside this tent?"
"Tent or no tent, I have decided to go to Africa, and I shall go," boldly
replied the marionette.
"I like that youngster," said the man who played the part of a crocodile. "That
boy will make his fortune someday."
"Of course I shall!" continued Pinocchio. "I ought to have fifty thousand
francs, because I must get a new jacket for my father, who sold his old one to
buy me a spelling book. If there is so much gold and silver in Africa, I will
fill up a thousand vessels. Is it true that there is a great deal of gold and
silver?"
"Did we not tell you so?" replied another voice. "Why, if I had not lost all
that I had put in my pockets before leaving Africa, by this time I should have
become a prince. And now were it not for the fact that I have promised to stay
with these people, to be a panther at two francs and a half a day, I would
gladly go along with you."
"Thank you; thank you for your good intentions," answered the marionette. "In