Приключения Пиноккио / The adventures of Pinocchio. Уровень 1

”

Suddenly, the Fox turned to the Marionette and said to him:

“Do you want to double your gold pieces?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you want one hundred, a thousand, two thousand gold pieces?”

“Yes, but how?”

“It is very easy. Just come with us.”

“And where will you take me?”

“To the City of Sillies.”

Pinocchio thought a while and then said firmly:

“No, I don’t want to go. Home is near. The Cricket was right when he said that a disobedient boy could not be happy in this world.

Even last night in the theater, when The Director… Brrrr!”

“Well, then,” said the Fox, “if you really want to go home, go ahead, but you’ll be sorry.”

“You’ll be sorry,” repeated the Cat.

“Think well, Pinocchio. Tomorrow your five gold pieces will be two thousand!” said the Fox.

“Two thousand!” repeated the Cat.

“But how can they possibly become so many?” asked Pinocchio wonderingly.

“I’ll explain,” said the Fox.

“You must know that, just outside the City of Simple Sillies, there is a blessed field called the Field of Wonders. In this field you dig a hole and in the hole you bury a gold piece. Then cover up the hole with earth and water it well, sprinkle a bit of salt on it, and go to bed. During the night, the gold piece sprouts, grows, blossoms. Next morning you find a beautiful tree with gold pieces.”

“Really? Fine! Fine!” cried Pinocchio. “If it’s true, I’ll give you a gift.

”

“A gift for us?” cried the Fox. “Why, of course not!”

“Of course not!” repeated the Cat.

“We work absolutely unselfishly,” answered the Fox. “We work only to enrich others.”

“To enrich others!” repeated the Cat.

“What good people,” thought Pinocchio. And he said to the Fox and to the Cat:

“Let us go. I am with you.”

Chapter 13

The Inn of the Red Lobster

Cat and Fox and Marionette walked and walked and walked.

At last, toward evening, tired, they came to the Inn of the Red Lobster.

“Let us stop here a while,” said the Fox, “to eat and rest. At midnight we’ll start out again, for at dawn tomorrow we must be at the Field of Wonders.”

They went into the Inn and all three sat down at the table. The poor Cat felt very weak, and he was able to eat only thirty-five mullets with tomato sauce and four portions of tripe with cheese and butter.