THE FIRST NIGHT IN AFRICA
And now I must pass another night here alone on these bare rocks! he
thought.
The unhappy marionette began to tremble. He tried to walk, but the
night was so dark that it was impossible to see where to go. The tears
rolled down his wooden cheeks. He thought of his disobedience and of
his stubbornness. He remembered the warnings his father had given him,
the advice of his teacher, and the kindly words of the good Fairy. He
remembered the promises he had made to be good, obedient, and studious.
How happy he had been! He recalled the day when his fathers face
beamed with pleasure at his progress. He saw the happy smile with which
his protecting Fairy greeted him. His tears fell fast, and sobs rent
his heart.
If I should die, here in this gloomy place! If I should die of
weariness, of hunger, of fear! To die a marionette without having had
the happiness of becoming a real boy!
He wept bitterly, and yet his troubles had scarcely begun. Even while
his tears were flowing down his cheeks and into the dark water, he
heard prolonged howls. At the same time he saw lights moving to and
fro, as if driven by the wind.
What in the world is this? Who is carrying those lanterns? asked
Pinocchio, continuing to sob.
As if in answer to his questions, two lights came down the rocky coast
and drew nearer to him.
Along with the lights came the howls, which sounded like those he had
heard at the circus, only more natural and terrible.
I hope this will end well, the marionette said to himself, but I
have some doubt about it.
He threw himself on the ground and tried to hide between the rocks. A
minute later and he felt a warm breath on his face. There stood the
shadowy form of a hyena, its open mouth ready to devour the marionette
at one gulp.
I am done for! and Pinocchio shut his eyes and gave a last thought to
his dear father and his beloved Fatina. But the beast, after sniffing
at him once or twice from head to foot, burst into a loud, howling
laugh and walked away. He had no appetite for wooden boys.
May you never return! said Pinocchio, raising his head a little and
straining his eyes to pierce the darkness about him. Oh, if there were
only a tree, or a wall, or anything to climb up on!
The marionette was right in wishing for something to keep him far above
the ground. During the whole night these visitors were coming and
going. They came around him howling, sniffing, laughing, mocking. As
each one ran off, Pinocchio would say, May you never return! He lay
there shivering in the agony of his terror. If the night had continued
much longer, the poor fellow would have died of fright. But the dawn
came at last. All these strange night visitors disappeared. Pinocchio
tried to get up. He could not move. His legs and arms were stiff. A
terrible weakness had seized him, and the world swam around him. Hunger
overpowered him. The poor marionette felt that he should surely die.
How terrible, he thought, to die of hunger! What would I not eat!
Dry beans and cherry stems would be delicious. He looked eagerly
around, but there was not even a cricket or a snail in sight. There was
nothing, nothing but rocks.
Suddenly, however, a faint cry came from his parched throat. Was it
possible? A few feet from him there was something between the rocks
which looked like food. The marionette did not know what it was. He
dragged himself along on hands and knees, and commenced to eat it. His
nose wished to have nothing to do with it, and would even have drawn
back, but the marionette said; It is necessary to accustom yourself to
all things, my friends. One must have patience. Dont be afraid; if I
find any roses, I promise to gather them for you.
The nose became quiet, the mouth ate, the hunger was satisfied, and
when the meal was finished Pinocchio jumped to his feet and shouted
joyously; I have had my first meal in Africa. Now I must begin my
search for wealth. He forgot the night, his father, and Fatina. His
only thought was to get farther away from home.
What an easy thing life is to a wooden marionette!