Приключения Пиноккио / The adventures of Pinocchio. Уровень 1

He stopped to listen. Those sounds came from a little street that led to a small village.

“What is that noise?”

He was very much puzzled.

“Today I’ll follow the pipes, and tomorrow I’ll go to school,” decided the little rascal.

He went down the street. Soon, he found himself in a large square. There was a little wooden building in brilliant colors.

“What is that house?” Pinocchio asked a little boy near him.

“Read the sign and you’ll know.”

“I can’t read.”

“Oh, really? Listen. It says: Great Marionette Theater.

“When will the show start?”

“Now.”

“And how much is it?”

“Four pennies.”

Pinocchio lost all his pride and said to the boy shamelessly:

“Will you give me four pennies until tomorrow?”

“Gladly,” answered the other, “but not now.”

“For the price of four pennies, I’ll sell you my coat.”

“If it rains, what shall I do with a coat of paper?”

“Do you want to buy my shoes?”

“To light a fire?”

“What about my hat?”

“A cap of dough! The mice will eat it from my head!”

Pinocchio was almost in tears. At last he said:

“Will you give me four pennies for the book?”

“I am a boy and I buy nothing from boys,” said the little fellow.

“I’ll give you four pennies for your ABC book,” said a ragpicker who stood nearby.

Chapter 10

The Marionettes recognize their brother Pinocchio

So Pinocchio disappeared into the Marionette Theater. And then something happened. The performance started. Harlequin and Pulcinella were on the stage. The theater was full of people.

The play continued for a few minutes, and then suddenly Harlequin pointed to Pinocchio and yelled wildly:

“Look, look! Am I asleep? Or do I really see Pinocchio there?”

“Yes, yes! It is Pinocchio!” screamed Pulcinella.

“It is! It is!” shrieked Signora Rosaura.

“It is Pinocchio! It is Pinocchio!” yelled all the Marionettes. “It is Pinocchio. It is our brother Pinocchio! Hurrah for Pinocchio!”

“Pinocchio, come up to me!” shouted Harlequin. “Come to the arms of your wooden brothers!”

Pinocchio, with one leap, landed on the stage. It is impossible to describe the shrieks of joy and the friendly greetings with which actors and actresses received Pinocchio.

But the audience became angry and began to yell:

“The play, the play, we want the play!”

The Marionettes lifted up Pinocchio on their shoulders, and carried him around the stage in triumph. At that very moment, the Director came out of his room. He had a fearful appearance. His beard was as black as pitch, and it reached from his chin down to his feet. His mouth was as wide as an oven, his teeth like yellow fangs, and his eyes like two red coals. The poor Marionettes trembled like leaves in a storm.

“Why are you here, in my theater?” the Director asked Pinocchio with the voice of an ogre.

“Believe me, your Honor, this is not my fault.”

“Enough! Be quiet! I’ll talk to you later.”

As soon as the play was over, the Director went to the kitchen. There was a fine big lamb on the spit. The Director called Harlequin and Pulcinella and said to them:

“Bring that Marionette to me! He is made of wood. That’s good for the fire.”

Harlequin and Pulcinella, frightened, left the kitchen. A few minutes later they returned with poor Pinocchio.

“Father, save me! I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die!” cried Pinocchio.

Chapter 11

The Director sneezes and forgives Pinocchio

The Director was very ugly, but he was not very bad. When he saw the poor Marionette he felt sorry for him and began to sneeze. At that sneeze, Harlequin smiled happily and whispered to the Marionette:

“Good news, my brother! The Director feels sorry for you.”