Part 16 (1/2)
”Oh Do you think it'll happen soon?”
”Oh, no,But we uess you're right I think he's hateful!”
”I cannot disagree with you there, eneral, the advancee is power But on days like this I sohest aiht and allow others to do the saht, Phoenix--but then, you always are I was just thinking the sa It's funnyI meanwell, _you_ know Why can't people leave other people alone--and--and--well, just _enjoy_ themselves and lie in the sun and listen to the wind?”
”That is the way of the world,But come! Why should orry over the follies of the rest of the world? A day like this was one, dull care!”
And they would forget the Scientist and watch a pair of butterflies chase each other instead
But one day the Phoenix suddenly stood up with a startled expression on its face ”My dear chap!” it exclaimed ”I have just remembered!
Tomorrow”
”What about tomorrow?”
”Why, my boy, tomorrow another century rounds its mark To be brief, tomorrow is ratulations, Phoenix!”
”Thank you, my boy Five hundred Destiny Have I nificent destiny?”
”No What is it, Phoenix?”
”I--well, it is strange, nificent no one can doubt”
”Do I have one too?”
”Of course, lad of that He did not know exactly what a destiny was, however, and he tried to think of how one would look But the only picture which came to hisup in ad to the eyes--the Phoenix'sspecial tohtful ”I think we had better do whatever we are going to do _today_,” it said
”Well, we can do so today _and_ tomorrow, then,” said David
”After all, a birthday only comes once a year, and it seems a shame to spend only one day on it Especially when it's a five hundredth birthday”
”Toe feeling, my boy--for once, I find myself unable to explain--most odd, _most_ oddfive hundredth birthday”
”Ah, well,” it went on more cheerfully, ”I shall undoubtedly re question is, what shall we do now?”
David got up, thought for a while, and suddenly flung his arms wide
”Oh, Phoenix,” he cried, ”it's such a beautiful day, I wish it could go on forever! Couldn't we go somewhere--somewhere where we--oh, I don't know I can't explain it Anywhere _you_ say, Phoenix”
The Phoenix looked at hi time ”I think I understand, otten places I told you about?