Part 3 (1/2)
Then and there, the book changed hands And to think that poor old Geppetto sat at ho sold his coat to buy that little book for his son!
CHAPTER 10
The Marionettes recognize their brother Pinocchio, and greet him with loud cheers; but the Director, Fire Eater, happens along and poor Pinocchio almost loses his life
Quick as a flash, Pinocchio disappeared into the Marionette Theater And then so happened which almost caused a riot
The curtain was up and the performance had started
Harlequin and Pulcinella were reciting on the stage and, as usual, they were threatening each other with sticks and blows
The theater was full of people, enjoying the spectacle and laughing till they cried at the antics of the two Marionettes
The play continued for a few , Harlequin stopped talking Turning toward the audience, he pointed to the rear of the orchestra, yelling wildly at the same time: ”Look, look! Am I asleep or awake? Or do I really see Pinocchio there?”
”Yes, yes! It is Pinocchio!” screanora Rosaura, peeking in froe
”It is Pinocchio! It is Pinocchio!” yelled all the Marionettes, pouring out of the wings ”It is Pinocchio It is our brother Pinocchio! Hurrah for Pinocchio!”
”Pinocchio, come up to me!” shouted Harlequin ”Come to the ar invitation, Pinocchio, with one leap from the back of the orchestra, found himself in the front rows With another leap, he was on the orchestra leader's head With a third, he landed on the stage
It is impossible to describe the shrieks of joy, the wars hich that strange company of dramatic actors and actresses received Pinocchio
It was a heart-rending spectacle, but the audience, seeing that the play had stopped, becaan to yell: ”The play, the play, ant the play!”
The yelling was of no use, for the Marionettes, instead of going on with their act,up Pinocchio on their shoulders, carried hie in triumph
At that very moment, the Director came out of his room He had such a fearful appearance that one look at him would fill you with horror His beard was as black as pitch, and so long that it reached from his chin down to his feet His s, and his eyes, two glowing red coals In his huge, hairy hands, a long whip, ether, swished through the air in a dangerous way
At the unexpected apparition, no one dared even to breathe One could alo by Those poor Marionettes, one and all, treht such excitee fellow asked Pinocchio with the voice of an ogre suffering with a cold
”Believe h! Be quiet! I'll take care of you later”
As soon as the play was over, the Director went to the kitchen, where a fine big la on the spit More as needed to finish cooking it He called Harlequin and Pulcinella and said to the that Marionette to me! He looks as if he were made of well-seasoned wood He'll make a fine fire for this spit”
Harlequin and Pulcinella hesitated a bit Then, frightened by a look from their master, they left the kitchen to obey hi poor Pinocchio, riggling and squir pitifully: ”Father, save me! I don't want to die! I don't want to die!”
CHAPTER 11
Fire Eater sneezes and forgives Pinocchio, who saves his friend, Harlequin, froned
Fire Eater (this was really his na as bad as he looked Proof of this is that, when he saw the poor Marionette being brought in to hi, ”I don't want to die! I don't want to die!” he felt sorry for hian first to waver and then to weaken Finally, he could control hiave a loud sneeze
At that sneeze, Harlequin, who until then had been as sad as a weeping , s toward the Marionette, whispered to him: ”Good news, brother n that he feels sorry for you You are saved!”
For be it known, that, while other people, when sad and sorrowful, weep and wipe their eyes, Fire Eater, on the other hand, had the strange habit of sneezing each tiood as any other to show the kindness of his heart
After sneezing, Fire Eater, ugly as ever, cried to Pinocchio: ”Stop crying! Your wails givedown here in my stomach and--E--tchee!--E--tchee!” Two loud sneezes finished his speech
”God bless you!” said Pinocchio
”Thanks! Are your father and ?” demanded Fire Eater
”My father, yes My mother I have never known”
”Your poor father would suffer terribly if I were to use you as firewood Poor old man! I feel sorry for him! E--tchee! E--tchee! E--tchee!” Three more sneezes sounded, louder than ever
”God bless you!” said Pinocchio
”Thanks! However, I ought to be sorry for ood dinner is spoiled I have no more wood for the fire, and the lamb is only half cooked Never mind! In your place I'll burn some other Marionette Hey there! Officers!”
At the call, tooden officers appeared, long and thin as a yard of rope, with queer hats on their heads and swords in their hands
Fire Eater yelled at them in a hoarse voice: ”Take Harlequin, tie him, and throw him on the fire I want my lamb well done!”
Think how poor Harlequin felt! He was so scared that his legs doubled up under him and he fell to the floor
Pinocchio, at that heartbreaking sight, threw hi bitterly, asked in a pitiful voice which could scarcely be heard: ”Have pity, I beg of you, signore!”
”There are no signori here!”