Part 14 (1/2)
”What kind of speech is he going to make?” thought Pinocchio. ”Is it necessary for him to say that the sun s.h.i.+nes?”
And as the rogue went on to speak of starry skies, blue waters, and things of that sort, the marionette lost his patience and shouted, ”But did you or did you not eat the sheep?”
”Your majesty,” replied the man, ”certainly I ate the sheep! Ask, however, who, on the day before, ate three fingers from my left hand!”
”Your majesty, I was hungry - ” groaned the shepherd. ”I was very hungry.”
Pinocchio shuddered. ”What kind of people are these? What sort of place have I fallen into? Fortunately for me I am made of wood.”
Meanwhile the two had lowered their heads, waiting for their sentence. Pinocchio was too much shocked to say a word.
The grand chamberlain came to his aid and whispered something in his ear.
”Speak!” replied the marionette, ”I bid you speak, for whatever you do is well done.”
The minister was pleased at the faith his majesty had in him. He turned his dark face toward the two offenders and said, ”One sheep and three fingers! You shall both be hanged.”
Pinocchio, half-dazed, watched the minister.
Case followed case, and at the end of each one Pinocchio said to the minister, ”Act. I bid you act. What you do is always well done.”
The minister knew so well how to act that on this one day there were sentences amounting to five hundred years of imprisonment, and two hundred years at hard labor, while a thousand prisoners were to be lashed, and one hundred were condemned to die.Justice had been done.
The emperor Pinocchio was led back to the royal palace amid the shouts of the people. He was declared to be the mildest, the wisest, and the most just of all kings, past, present, and future.
40. Pinocchio Travels Through The Empire
IN order that his faithful subjects might behold their new sovereign, Pinocchio the First resolved to make a tour of the villages of his vast empire and see with his own eyes the needs of his people.
The arrangements were made by the ministers of state. Messages were sent to all the governors to make preparations for the event, to select committees to meet the emperor, to provide entertainment, in short, to have everything in readiness.
It was a big task. The emperor, however, did not trouble himself about it. He amused himself watching the crickets and the birds, laughing at the antics of some little monkeys, and playing with his boy pages.
Sometimes he spoke of his past. He told his pages about his travels, his struggles, his suffering. He told them how he had struggles with the waves of a stormy sea, and about the fish from whose stomach he had rescued his father Geppetto. He recalled his dear Fatina, that gentle and beautiful lady with the blue hair, and, placing his hand upon his breast, took an oath, as emperor and king, that we would have her come to Africa. That thought made him happy, and he went on to describe the feast they would have on her arrival. He had resolved to make her queen of one of his states.
Marameho shared the joy of his emperor, but a cloud of sadness came over his face when he heard him build these castles in the air, and make such plans for the future. The poor boy had already seen too many changes to believe that anything in the world would last long. He was aware that his emperor was in grave danger, but he did not dare to warn him.
However, events quickly ran their course. The preparations were completed, and on a bright, sunny day, Pinocchio the First, Emperor and King of all the African kings, took his place upon a litter made of branches, which was borne aloft by four robust men. Following these came all the ministers, and the day's march was begun.
Wherever they went, there was loud applause for the emperor. The mothers were pleased because their ruler had promised to stop compulsory instruction. They expressed their thanks in flattering words, some of which reached the emperor's ears.
”How fine is that wooden head!” said one. ”It is easy to see that he is a king of great endurance! They say he can jump wonderfully - just like a marionette!”
Toward evening the tents were erected. In the largest of these Pinocchio gave a supper to all the ministers, a splendid supper which lasted till late that night. A blazing fire protected the court against the attacks of wild animals and the cold of the night.
The ministers retired about midnight. Pinocchio, left alone, began to walk up and down in his tent, with his hands behind him and his head lowered. He had seen at school a picture of the great Napoleon in the same att.i.tude.
He thought of his stay in Africa, and of the strange things which had befallen him. He thought of the treasures he had not yet found.
While pondering on all these things he approached the entrance of the tent, and in the faint light of the dying fire, he saw a group of men huddled together. Drawing nearer, he heard them talking.