Pinocchio in Africa
Page 5
Don't be afraid; if Ifind any roses, I promise to gather them for you."
The nose became quiet, the mouth ate, the hunger was satisfied, andwhen the meal was finished Pinocchio jumped to his feet and shoutedjoyously; "I have had my first meal in Africa. Now I must begin mysearch for wealth." He forgot the night, his father, and Fatina. Hisonly thought was to get farther away from home.
What an easy thing life is to a wooden marionette!
CHAPTER XIIPINOCCHIO IS WELL RECEIVED
"First of all," he said, "I must go to the nearest castle I can find.The master will not refuse me shelter and food. Some soup, a leg ofroast chicken, and a glass of milk will put me in fine spirits."
The journey across the rocks was full of difficulties, but themarionette overcame them readily, leaping from rock to rock like agoat. He walked, walked, walked! The rocks seemed to have no ending,and the castle, which he imagined he saw in the distance, appeared tobe always farther and farther away. As the marionette drew nearer, thetowers began to disappear and the walls to crumble. He walked onbroken-hearted. Finally he sat down in despair and put his head in hishands. "Farewell, castle! good-by, roast chicken and soup!" He wasabout to weep again when he saw in the distance a village of greatbeauty lying at the foot of a gentle slope.
At the sight he gave a cry of joy and without a moment's delay set outin that direction. He leaped over the rocks and bushes, putting toflight several flocks of birds in his haste. Of course only amarionette could go as fast as he did. "How beautiful Africa is!" saidhe. "If I had known this I would have come here long ago."
In a short time he reached the main square of the town. Men, women, andchildren were lounging about, gossiping, buying, and selling. When theysaw the marionette they gathered around him, and many began to shout:"It is Pinocchio! Look, here is Pinocchio! Pinocchio! Pinocchio!"
"Well, this is strange!" said the marionette to himself. "I am knowneven in Africa. Surely I am a great person."
Like most great men, Pinocchio was annoyed at his noisy reception. Insome anger he made his way through the crowd, pushing people right andleft with his elbows. He ran down a side street and finally stoppedbefore a restaurant, over which was the sign printed in huge letters:
MARIONETTES SERVED HERE.
"This is what I have been looking for," said Pinocchio, and he went in.
CHAPTER XIIIPINOCCHIO IS ARRESTED
Pinocchio found himself facing a man of about fifty years of age. Hewas stout and good-natured, and like all good hosts, asked what thegentleman would have to eat. Pinocchio, hearing himself called"gentleman," swelled with pride, and very gravely gave his order. Hewas served promptly, and devoured everything before him in a way knownonly to hungry marionettes.
In the meantime the innkeeper eyed his customer from head to foot. Headdressed Pinocchio in a very respectful manner, but the marionettegave only short answers. Persons of rank ate here, and to appear likeone of them he could not allow himself to waste words on common folk.
Having finished his meal, the marionette asked for something to drink.
"What is this drink called?" he asked, as he put down the glass andthrust his thumb into his vest pocket after the manner of a gentleman.
"Nectar, your excellency."
Upon hearing himself called "excellency" Pinocchio fairly lost hishead. He felt a strange lightness in his feet; indeed, he found it hardwork to resist the temptation to get up and dance. "I knew that inAfrica I should make my fortune," he thought, and called for a box ofcigarettes.
Having smoked one of these, the brave Pinocchio arose to go out, whenthe host handed him a sheet of paper on which was written a row offigures.
"What is this?" asked the marionette.
"The bill, your excellency; the amount of your debt for the dinner."
Pinocchio stroked his wooden chin and looked at the innkeeper insurprise.
"Is there anything astonishing about that, your excellence? Is it notusual in your country to pay for what you eat?"
"It is amazing! I do not know what you mean! What strange custom isthis that you speak of?"
"In these parts, your excellency," remarked the innkeeper, "when oneeats, one must pay. However, if your lordship has no money, and intendsto live at the expense of others, I have a very good remedy. Oneminute!"
So saying, the man stepped out of the door, uttered a curious sound,and then returned.
Pinocchio lost his courage. He broke down and began to weep. He beggedthe man to have patience. The first piece of gold he found would payfor the meal. The innkeeper smiled as he said, "I am sorry, but thething is done."
"What is done?" asked the marionette.
"I have sent for the police."
"The police!" cried the marionette, shaking with fear. "The police!Even in Africa there are policemen? Please, sir, send them back! I donot want to go to prison."
All this was useless talk. Two black policemen were already there.Straight toward the marionette they went and asked his name.
"Pinocchio," he answered in a faint voice.
"What is your business?"
"I am a marionette."
"Why have you come to Africa?"
"I will tell you," replied Pinocchio, "You gentlemen must know that mypoor father sold his coat to buy me a spelling book, and as I haveheard that there is plenty of gold and silver in Africa, I have comehere."
"What kind of talk is this?" asked the elder of the two policemen. "Nononsense! Show us your papers."
"What papers! I left all I had at school."
The policemen cut short the marionette's words by taking out theirhandcuffs and preparing to lead him away to prison. But the innkeeperwas a good-hearted man, and he was sorry for the poor blockhead. Hebegged them to leave Pinocchio in his charge.
"So long as you are satisfied, we are satisfied," said the policemen."If you wish to give away your food, that is your own affair;" and theywent off without saying another word.
CHAPTER XIVPINOCCHIO'S FATHER
Pinocchio blushed with shame.
"Then you are the marionette Pinocchio?"
Upon hearing himself addressed in this familiar way, Pinocchio felt alittle annoyed, but recalling the unsettled account, he thought it bestto answer politely that he was Pinocchio.
"I am pleased," continued the man; "I am very much pleased, because Iknew your father."
"You knew my father?" exclaimed the marionette.
"Certainly I knew him! I was a servant in his house before you wereborn."
"In my house as a servant? When has father Geppetto had servants?"asked the marionette, his eyes wide with surprise.
"But who said Geppetto? Geppetto is not your father's name."
"Oh, indeed! Well, then, what is his name?"
"Your father's name is not Geppetto, but Collodi. A wonderful man, myboy."
Pinocchio understood less and less. It was strange, he thought, to havecome to Africa to learn the story of his family. He listened withastonishment to all that the innkeeper said.
"Remember, however, that even if you are not really the son of the goodGeppetto, it does not follow that you should forget the care he hasgiven you. What gratitude have you shown him? You ran away from homewithout even telling him. Who knows how unhappy the poor old man maybe! You never will understand what suffering you cause your parents.Such blockheads as you are not fit to have parents. They work frommorning till night so that you may want for nothing, and may grow up tobe good and wise men, useful to yourselves, to your family, and to yourcountry. What do you do? Nothing! You are worthless!"
Pinocchio listened very thoughtfully. He had never expected that inAfrica he was to hear so many disagreeable truths, and he was on theverge of weeping.
"For your father's sake you have been let off easily. From now on youmay regard this as your home. I am not very rich, and I need a boy tohelp me. You will do. You may as well begin to work at once." And hehanded the marionette a large broom.
Pinocchio was vexed at this, but the thought of
the black policemen andthe unsettled bill cooled his anger, and he swept as well as he knewhow. "From a gentleman to a sweeper! What fine progress I have made!"he thought, as the tears rolled down his cheeks.
"If my father were to see me now, or my good Fairy, or my companions atschool! What a fine picture I should make!" And he continued to sweepand dust.
CHAPTER XVPINOCCHIO SELLS DRINKING WATER
The time passed quickly. At the dinner hour Pinocchio had a greatappetite and ate with much enjoyment. The master praised him highly forthe tidy appearance of the store and urged him to keep up his goodwork.
"At the end of twenty years," he said, "You will have put aside enoughto return home, and a little extra money to spend