HIS FIRST NIGHT AS EMPEROR
Pinocchio, his heart filled with joy, entered the capital of his new
empire amid the shouts of the people who crowded the streets. The
children, rolling on the ground in glee, raised such a dust that one
could hardly see.
Forward, forward, they marched through the streets until the main
square was reached. The city was not a large city. Pinocchio was a
little disappointed. The houses were only huts plastered with mud. The
streets and even the main square were dirty.
I will change all that, Pinocchio gravely said to himself. I will
build a new city. To the marionette such a task appeared to be an easy
matter.
In a corner of the square stood a hut somewhat larger than the others.
This was the royal palace. Pinocchio was not pleased. The king of all
Africa should have something far better than this. However, he thought
it would not do, just at this time, to utter any words of complaint.
In the huts about the palace lived the people of the court. These were
the advisers and the leaders, who stood ready to carry out the commands
of his majesty.
Like many another in such a situation, Pinocchio did nothing but bow
his head in agreement with everything that was said to him. This
greatly pleased the people of the court and gained for him their
admiration and applause. They called him Pinocchio the Wise!
Night came and all the people withdrew. The emperor was left alone with
his servant, a gigantic African, who invited his majesty to pass into
the royal bedchamber.
The furniture was as simple as the palace itself. A string, stretched
across the room, served as a clothes-hanger. The bed was a leopards
skin that swung from four poles. Having displayed with pride these
equipments, the servant pointed to a frying pan, which was to be struck
with a wooden mallet in case his majesty desired to call the
attendants. He then withdrew from the chamber, bowing as he went out.
Apparently they do not eat here, said the marionette. Maybe these
people think that an emperor is never hungry! However, night passes
quickly. Then he undressed himself and lay down. He was quite tired
out, and he felt sure that in a few moments he should be fast asleep.
But soon he began to roll and toss about uneasily. The bed was hard and
uncomfortable. He opened his eyes. There was a spider crawling over
him, and he shivered. Other spiders, as large as crabs, were creeping
quietly over the ground and the walls as if this was their home and not
the kings!
There was one spider twice as large as the others. Surely he was the
head of that large family. He fixed his fiery eyes upon the marionette
and spoke in the voice of the Talking Cricket: Where have you come
fromfool that you are? What do you think you have gained by becoming
the emperor of these people? Return to your home, and be content to be
a boy like the rest, and to learn a trade by which you may help your
father and be happy yourself.
Upon hearing these familiar words the marionette wanted to beat the pan
and call for help, but, he reflected, this would show that he lacked
courage and might lower him in the eyes of his subjects. So he endured
his fate, thinking: A night soon passes. To-morrow night I will have a
sentinel on guard. And he drew himself up, mallet in hand, ready to
fight the spiders if they came too near him. All was still, and
Pinocchio tried a second time to close his eyes to sleep.
Buzz! buzz! buzz!
The place swarmed with flies.
Zz! zz! Zeeee, zeeee, zmm, zmmm!
Out in the night frogs croaked, birds cried, wild animals howled.
What a place to sleep in! whined the poor emperor, flinging himself
about on his hard bed.
Then he thought of his own small cot, neat and clean, in which he had
so often peacefully slept and dreamed pleasant dreams. It will not seem
strange that Pinocchio wished that he were at home again, instead of
being a king in Africa.
Pinocchio the First, Emperor and King of all the African kings, passed
a very wretched night. He felt hot and feverish, and he was afraid that
he was going to die before morning came.