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

case you decide to go with me, I start to-morrow morning at dawn."
"On what steamship?"
"What did you say?" asked Pinocchio.
"On what steamship do you sail?"
"Sail! I am going on foot."
At these words everybody laughed.
"There is little to laugh at, my dear people. If you knew how many miles I have
traveled on these legs by day and by night, over land and sea, you would not
laugh. What! do you think Fairyland, the country of the Blockheads, and the
Island of the Bees are reached in a single stride? I go to Africa, and I go on
foot."
"But it is necessary to cross the Mediterranean Sea."
"It will be crossed."
"On foot?"
"Either on foot or on horseback, it matters little. But pardon me, after
crossing the Mediterranean Sea, do you reach Africa?"
"Certainly, unless you wish to go by way of the Red Sea."
"The Red Sea? No, truly!"
"Perhaps the route over the Red Sea would be better."
"I do not wish to go near the Red Sea."
"And why?" asked the wolf man, who up to this time had not opened his mouth.
"Why? Why? Because I do not wish to get my clothes dyed; do you understand?"
More laughter greeted these words. Pinocchio's wooden cheeks got very red, and
he sputtered: "This is no way to treat a gentleman. I shall do as I please, and
I do not please to enter the Red Sea. That is enough. Now I shall leave you, and
he started off.
"Farewell, farewell, marionette!"
"Farewell, you impolite beasts!" Pinocchio wanted to call out, but he did not.
"Come back!" cried the bearded man; "here is the bucket; please fill it once
more, for I am still thirsty."
7. Pinocchio In Doubt
PINOCCHIO went away very angry, vowing that he would avenge himself on all who
had laughed at him.
"To begin with," said he, "I intend to make them all die of thirst. If they wait
to drink of the water that I bring, they will certainly die." With these
thoughts in his mind the marionette started homeward, carrying the bucket on his
head.
"The bucket will repay me for all the work I have had put upon me. How unlucky
we children are! Wherever we go, there is always something for us to do. To-day
I thought I would simply enjoy myself; instead, I have had to carry water for a
company of strangers. How absurd! two trips, one after the other, to give drink
to people I do not know! And how they drink! they seem to be sponges. For my
part they can be thirsty as long as they like. I feel now as if I would never
again move a finger for them. I am not going to be laughed at."
As he finished these remarks Pinocchio arrived at the fountain. It was
delightful to see the clear water rushing out, but he could not help thinking of
those poor creatures who were waiting for him. He had to stop.
"Shall I or shall I not?" he asked himself. "After all, they are good people,
who are forced to imitate wild animals; and besides, they have treated me with
some kindness. I may as well carry some water to them; a trip more or less makes