the adventures of pinocchio(木偶奇遇记)-第18章

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which　now　and　then　lifted　a　leg　or　an　arm　in　the　air。
One　would　have　thought　that　Pinocchio　had　turned　into
a　porpoise　playing　in　the　sun。

After　swimming　for　a　long　time；　Pinocchio　saw　a　large
rock　in　the　middle　of　the　sea；　a　rock　as　white　as　marble。
High　on　the　rock　stood　a　little　Goat　bleating　and　calling
and　beckoning　to　the　Marionette　to　come　to　her。

There　was　something　very　strange　about　that　little
Goat。　　Her　coat　was　not　white　or　black　or　brown　as　that
of　any　other　goat；　but　azure；　a　deep　brilliant　color　that
reminded　one　of　the　hair　of　the　lovely　maiden。

Pinocchio's　heart　beat　fast；　and　then　faster　and　faster。
He　redoubled　his　efforts　and　swam　as　hard　as　he　could
toward　the　white　rock。　　He　was　almost　halfway　over；
when　suddenly　a　horrible　sea　monster　stuck　its　head　out
of　the　water；　an　enormous　head　with　a　huge　mouth；　wide
open；　showing　three　rows　of　gleaming　teeth；　the　mere
sight　of　which　would　have　filled　you　with　fear。

Do　you　know　what　it　was？

That　sea　monster　was　no　other　than　the　enormous　Shark；
which　has　often　been　mentioned　in　this　story　and　which；
on　account　of　its　cruelty；　had　been　nicknamed
〃The　Attila　of　the　Sea〃　by　both　fish　and　fishermen。

Poor　Pinocchio！　　The　sight　of　that　monster　frightened
him　almost　to　death！　　He　tried　to　swim　away　from　him；
to　change　his　path；　to　escape；　but　that　immense　mouth
kept　coming　nearer　and　nearer。

〃Hasten；　Pinocchio；　I　beg　you！〃　bleated　the　little　Goat　on　the　high　rock。

And　Pinocchio　swam　desperately　with　his　arms；　his　body；　his　legs；　his　feet。

〃Quick；　Pinocchio；　the　monster　is　coming　nearer！〃

Pinocchio　swam　faster　and　faster；　and　harder　and　harder。

〃Faster；　Pinocchio！　　The　monster　will　get　you！　　There　he　is！
There　he　is！　　Quick；　quick；　or　you　are　lost！〃

Pinocchio　went　through　the　water　like　a　shotswifter　and　swifter。
He　came　close　to　the　rock。　　The　Goat　leaned　over　and　gave　him　one
of　her　hoofs　to　help　him　up　out　of　the　water。

Alas！　　It　was　too　late。　　The　monster　overtook　him　and
the　Marionette　found　himself　in　between　the　rows　of
gleaming　white　teeth。　　Only　for　a　moment；　however；
for　the　Shark　took　a　deep　breath　and；　as　he　breathed；
he　drank　in　the　Marionette　as　easily　as　he　would　have
sucked　an　egg。　　Then　he　swallowed　him　so　fast　that　Pinocchio；
falling　down　into　the　body　of　the　fish；　lay　stunned　for　a　half　hour。

When　he　recovered　his　senses　the　Marionette　could　not
remember　where　he　was。　　Around　him　all　was　darkness；
a　darkness　so　deep　and　so　black　that　for　a　moment　he
thought　he　had　put　his　head　into　an　inkwell。　　He　listened
for　a　few　moments　and　heard　nothing。　　Once　in　a　while　a
cold　wind　blew　on　his　face。　　At　first　he　could　not　understand
where　that　wind　was　coming　from；　but　after　a　while
he　understood　that　it　came　from　the　lungs　of　the　monster。
I　forgot　to　tell　you　that　the　Shark　was　suffering　from　asthma；
so　that　whenever　he　breathed　a　storm　seemed　to　blow。

Pinocchio　at　first　tried　to　be　brave；　but　as　soon　as　he
became　convinced　that　he　was　really　and　truly　in　the
Shark's　stomach；　he　burst　into　sobs　and　tears。　　〃Help！
Help！〃　he　cried。　　〃Oh；　poor　me！　　Won't　someone　come
to　save　me？〃

〃Who　is　there　to　help　you；　unhappy　boy？〃　said　a　rough
voice；　like　a　guitar　out　of　tune。

〃Who　is　talking？〃　asked　Pinocchio；　frozen　with　terror。

〃It　is　I；　a　poor　Tunny　swallowed　by　the　Shark　at　the
same　time　as　you。　　And　what　kind　of　a　fish　are　you？〃

〃I　have　nothing　to　do　with　fishes。　　I　am　a　Marionette。〃

〃If　you　are　not　a　fish；　why　did　you　let　this　monster　swallow　you？〃

〃I　didn't　let　him。　　He　chased　me　and　swallowed　me
without　even　a　‘by　your　leave'！　　And　now　what　are　we
to　do　here　in　the　dark？〃

〃Wait　until　the　Shark　has　digested　us　both；　I　suppose。〃

〃But　I　don't　want　to　be　digested；〃　shouted　Pinocchio；
starting　to　sob。

〃Neither　do　I；〃　said　the　Tunny；　〃but　I　am　wise　enough
to　think　that　if　one　is　born　a　fish；　it　is　more　dignified　to　die
under　the　water　than　in　the　frying　pan。〃

〃What　nonsense！〃　cried　Pinocchio。

〃Mine　is　an　opinion；〃　replied　the　Tunny；　〃and　opinions
should　be　respected。〃

〃But　I　want　to　get　out　of　this　place。　　I　want　to　escape。〃

〃Go；　if　you　can！〃

〃Is　this　Shark　that　has　swallowed　us　very　long？〃　asked
the　Marionette。

〃His　body；　not　counting　the　tail；　is　almost　a　mile　long。〃

While　talking　in　the　darkness；　Pinocchio　thought　he
saw　a　faint　light　in　the　distance。

〃What　can　that　be？〃　he　said　to　the　Tunny。

〃Some　other　poor　fish；　waiting　as　patiently　as　we　to
be　digested　by　the　Shark。〃

〃I　want　to　see　him。　　He　may　be　an　old　fish　and　may
know　some　way　of　escape。〃

〃I　wish　you　all　good　luck；　dear　Marionette。〃

〃Good…by；　Tunny。〃

〃Good…by；　Marionette；　and　good　luck。〃

〃When　shall　I　see　you　again？〃

〃Who　knows？　　It　is　better　not　to　think　about　it。〃



CHAPTER　35

In　the　Shark's　body　Pinocchio　finds　whom？
Read　this　chapter；　my　children；　and　you　will　know



Pinocchio；　as　soon　as　he　had　said　good…by　to　his　good
friend；　the　Tunny；　tottered　away　in　the　darkness　and
began　to　walk　as　well　as　he　could　toward　the　faint　light
which　glowed　in　the　distance。

As　he　walked　his　feet　splashed　in　a　pool　of　greasy　and
slippery　water；　which　had　such　a　heavy　smell　of　fish　fried
in　oil　that　Pinocchio　thought　it　was　Lent。

The　farther　on　he　went；　the　brighter　and　clearer　grew
the　tiny　light。　　On　and　on　he　walked　till　finally　he　found
I　give　you　a　thousand　guesses；　my　dear　children！　　He
found　a　little　table　set　for　dinner　and　lighted　by　a　candle
stuck　in　a　glass　bottle；　and　near　the　table　sat　a　little　old
man；　white　as　the　snow；　eating　live　fish。　　They　wriggled
so　that；　now　and　again；　one　of　them　slipped　out　of　the　old
man's　mouth　and　escaped　into　the　darkness　under　the　table。

At　this　sight；　the　poor　Marionette　was　filled　with　such
great　and　sudden　happiness　that　he　almost　dropped　in　a
faint。　　He　wanted　to　laugh；　he　wanted　to　cry；　he　wanted
to　say　a　thousand　and　one　things；　but　all　he　could　do　was
to　stand　still；　stuttering　and　stammering　brokenly。　　At
last；　with　a　great　effort；　he　was　able　to　let　out　a　scream　of
joy　and；　opening　wide　his　arms　he　threw　them　around　the
old　man's　neck。

〃Oh；　Father；　dear　Father！　　Have　I　found　you　at　last？
Now　I　shall　never；　never　leave　you　again！〃

〃Are　my　eyes　really　telling　me　the　truth？〃　answered
the　old　man；　rubbing　his　eyes。　　〃Are　you　really　my　own
dear　Pinocchio？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　yes！　　It　is　I！　　Look　at　me！　　And　you　have
forgiven　me；　haven't　you？　　Oh；　my　dear　Father；　how
good　you　are！　　And　to　think　that　IOh；　but　if　you
only　knew　how　many　misfortunes　have　fallen　on　my　head
and　how　many　troubles　I　have　had！　　Just　think　that　on
the　day　you　sold　your　old　coat　to　buy　me　my　A…B…C
book　so　that　I　could　go　to　school；　I　ran　away　to　the
Marionette　Theater　and　the　proprietor　caught　me　and
wanted　to　burn　me　to　cook　his　roast　lamb！　　He　was　the
one　who　gave　me　the　five　gold　pieces　for　you；　but　I　met
the　Fox　and　the　Cat；　who　took　me　to　the　Inn　of　the　Red
Lobster。　　There　they　ate　like　wolves　and　I　left　the　Inn
alone　and　I　met　the　Assassins　in　the　wood。　　I　ran　and　they
ran　after　me；　always　after　me；　till　they　hanged　me　to　the
branch　of　a　giant　oak　tree。　　Then　the　Fairy　of　the　Azure
Hair　sent　the　coach　to　rescue　me　and　the　doctors；　after
looking　at　me；　said；　‘If　he　is　not　dead；　then　he　is　surely
alive；'　and　then　I　told　a　lie　and　my　nose　began　to　grow。
It　grew　and　it　grew；　till　I　couldn't　get　it　through　the
door　of　the　room。　　And　then　I　went　with　the　Fox　and　the
Cat　to　the　Field　of　Wonders　to　bury　the　gold　pieces。　　The
Parrot　laughed　at　me　and；　instead　of　two　thousand　gold
pieces；　I　found　none。　　When　the　Judge　heard　I　had　been
robbed；　he　sent　me　to　jail　to　make　the　thieves　happy；　and
when　I　came　away　I　saw　a　fine　bunch　of　grapes　hanging　on
a　vine。　　The　trap　caught　me　and　the　Farmer　put　a　collar　on
me　and　made　me　a　watchdog。　　He　found　out　I　was　innocent
when　I　caught　the　Weasels　and　he　let　me　go。　　The　Serpent
with　the　tail　that　smoked　started　to　laugh　and　a　vein　in　his
chest　broke　and　so　I　went　back　to　the　Fairy's　house。　　She
was　dead；　and　the　Pigeon；　seeing　me　crying；　said　to　me；　‘I
have　seen　your　father　building　a　boat　to　look　for　you　in
America；'　and　I　said　to　him；　‘Oh；　if　I　only　had　wings！'　and
he　said　to　me；　‘Do　you　want　to　go　to　your　father？'　and　I
said；　‘Perhaps；　but　how？'　and　he　said；　‘Get　on　my　back。　　I'll
take　you　there。'　We　flew　all　night　long；　and　next　morning
the　fishermen　were　looking　toward　the　sea；　crying；　‘There
is　a　poor　little　man　drowning；'　and　I　knew　it　was　you；
because　my　heart　told　me　so　and　I　waved　to　you　from　the　shore〃

〃I　knew　you　also；〃　put　in　Geppetto；　〃and　I　wanted　to
go　to　you；　but　how　could　I？　　The　sea　was　rough　and　the
whitecaps　overturned　the　boat。　　Then　a　Terrible　Shark
came　up　out　of　the　sea　and；　as　soon　as　he　saw　me　in　the
water；　swam　quickly　toward　me；　put　out　his　tongue；　and
swallowed　me　as　easily　as　if　I　had　been　a　chocolate　peppermint。〃

〃And　how　long　have　you　been　shut　away　in　here？〃

〃From　that　day　to　this；　two　long　weary　yearstwo
years；　my　Pinocchio；　which　have　been　like　two　centuries。〃

〃And　how　have　you　lived？　　Where　did　you　find　the
candle？　　And　the　matches　with　which　to　light　itwhere
did　you　get　them？〃

〃You　must　know　that；　in　the　storm　which　swamped　my
boat；　a　large　ship　also　suffered　the　same　fate。　　The　sailors
were　all　saved；　but　the　ship　went　right　to　the　bottom　of
the　sea；　and　the　same　Terrible　Shark　that　swallowed　me；
swallowed　most　of　it。〃

〃What！　　Swallowed　a　ship？〃　asked　Pinocchio　in　astonishment。

〃At　one　gulp。　　The　only　thing　he　spat　out　was　the　main…
mast；　for　it　stuck　in　his　teeth。　　To　my　own　good　luck；　that
ship　was　loaded　with　meat；　preserved　foods；　crackers；
bread；　bottles　of　wine；　raisins；　cheese；　coffee；　sugar；　wax
candles；　and　boxes　of　matches。　　With　all　these　blessings；　I
have　been　able　to　live　happily　on　for　two　whole　years；　but
now　I　am　at　the　very　last　crumbs。　　Today　there　is　nothing
left　in　the　cupboard；　and　this　candle　you　see　here　is　the
last　one　I　have。〃

〃And　then？〃

〃And　then；　my　dear；　we'll　find　ourselves　in　darkness。〃

〃Then；　my　dear　Father；〃　said　Pinocchio；　〃there　is　no
time　to　lose。　　We　must　try　to　escape。〃

〃Escape！　　How？〃

〃We　can　run　out　of　the　Shark's　mouth　and　dive　into　the　sea。〃

〃You　speak　well；　but　I　cannot　swim；　my　dear　Pinocchio。〃

〃Why　should　that　matter？　　You　can　climb　on　my　shoulders
and　I；　who　am　a　fine　swimmer；　will　carry　you　safely
to　the　shore。〃

〃Dreams；　my　boy！〃　answered　Geppetto；　shaking　his
head　and　smiling　sadly。　　〃Do　you　think　it　possible　for　a
Marionette；　a　yard　high；　to　have　the　strength　to　carry　me
on　his　shoulders　and　swim？〃

〃Try　it　and　see！　　And　in　any　case；　if　it　is　written　that　we
must　die；　we　shall　at　least　die　together。〃

Not　adding　another　word；　Pinocchio　took　the　candle　in　his　hand
and　going　ahead　to　light　the　way；　he　said　to　his　father：

〃Follow　me　and　have　no　fear。〃

They　walked　a　long　distance　through　the　stomach　and
the　whole　body　of　the　Shark。　　When　they　reached　the
throat　of　the　monster；　they　stopped　for　a　while　to　wait　for
the　right　moment　in　which　to　make　their　escape。

I　want　you　to　know　that　the　Shark；　being　very　old　and
suffering　from　asthma　and　heart　trouble；　was　obliged　to
s