CHAPTER 35

In the Shark's body Pinocchio finds whom？Read this chapter，my children，and you will know．

Pinocchio，as soon as he had said good-by to his good friend，the Tunny，tottered away in the darkness and began to walk as well as he could toward the faint light which glowed in the distance．

As he walked his feet splashed in a pool of greasy and slippery water，which had such a heavy smell of fish fried in oil that Pinocchio thought it was Lent．

The farther on he went，the brighter and clearer grew the tiny light．On and on he walked till finally he found—I give you a thousand guesses，my dear children！He found a little table set for dinner and lighted by a candle stuck in a glass bottle；and near the table sat a little old man，white as the snow，eating live fish．They wriggled so that，now and again，one of them slipped out of the old man's mouth and escaped into the darkness under the table．

At this sight，the poor Marionette was filled with such great and sudden happiness that he almost dropped in a faint．He wanted to laugh，he wanted to cry，he wanted to say a thousand and one things，but all he could do was to stand still，stuttering and stammering brokenly．At last，with a great effort，he was able to let out a scream of joy and，opening wide his arms he threw them around the old man's neck．

“Oh，Father，dear Father！Have I found you at last？Now I shall never，never leave you again！”

“Are my eyes really telling me the truth？” answered the old man，rubbing his eyes．“Are you really my own dear Pinocchio？”

“Yes，yes，yes！It is I！Look at me！And you have forgiven me，haven't you？Oh，my dear Father，how good you are！And to think that I—Oh，but if you only knew how many misfortunes have fallen on my head and how many troubles I have had！Just think that on the day you sold your old coat to buy me my A-B-C book so that I could go to school，I ran away to the Marionette Theater and the proprietor caught me and wanted to burn me to cook his roast lamb！He was the one who gave me the five gold pieces for you，but I met the Fox and the Cat，who took me to the Inn of the Red Lobster．There they ate like wolves and I left the Inn alone and I met the Assassins in the wood．I ran and they ran after me，always after me，till they hanged me to the branch of a giant oak tree．Then the Fairy of the Azure Hair sent the coach to rescue me and the doctors，after looking at me，said，‘If he is not dead，then he is surely alive，’ and then I told a lie and my nose began to grow．It grew and it grew，till I couldn't get it through the door of the room．And then I went with the Fox and the Cat to the Field of Wonders to bury the gold pieces．The Parrot laughed at me and，instead of two thousand gold pieces，I found none．When the Judge heard I had been robbed，he sent me to jail to make the thieves happy；and when I came away I saw a fine bunch of grapes hanging on a vine．The trap caught me and the Farmer put a collar on me and made me a watchdog．He found out I was innocent when I caught the Weasels and he let me go．The Serpent with the tail that smoked started to laugh and a vein in his chest broke and so I went back to the Fairy's house．She was dead，and the Pigeon，seeing me crying，said to me，‘I have seen your father building a boat to look for you in America，’ and I said to him，‘Oh，if I only had wings！’ and he said to me，‘Do you want to go to your father？’ and I said，‘Perhaps，but how？’ and he said，‘Get on my back．I'll take you there．’ We flew all night long，and next morning the fishermen were looking toward the sea，crying，‘There is a poor little man drowning，’ and I knew it was you，because my heart told me so and I waved to you from the shore—”

“I knew you also，” put in Geppetto，“and I wanted to go to you；but how could I？The sea was rough and the whitecaps overturned the boat．Then a Terrible Shark came up out of the sea and，as soon as he saw me in the water，swam quickly toward me，put out his tongue，and swallowed me as easily as if I had been a chocolate peppermint．”

“And how long have you been shut away in here？”

“From that day to this，two long weary years—two years，my Pinocchio，which have been like two centuries．”

“And how have you lived？Where did you find the candle？And the matches with which to light it—where did you get them？”

“You must know that，in the storm which swamped my boat，a large ship also suffered the same fate．The sailors were all saved，but the ship went right to the bottom of the sea，and the same Terrible Shark that swallowed me，swallowed most of it．”

“What！Swallowed a ship？” asked Pinocchio in astonishment．

“At one gulp．The only thing he spat out was the main-mast，for it stuck in his teeth．To my own good luck，that ship was loaded with meat，preserved foods，crackers，bread，bottles of wine，raisins，cheese，coffee，sugar，wax candles，and boxes of matches．With all these blessings，I have been able to live happily on for two whole years，but now I am at the very last crumbs．Today there is nothing left in the cupboard，and this candle you see here is the last one I have．”

“And then？”

“And then，my dear，we'll find ourselves in darkness．”

“Then，my dear Father，” said Pinocchio，“there is no time to lose．We must try to escape．”

“Escape！How？”

“We can run out of the Shark's mouth and dive into the sea．”

“You speak well，but I cannot swim，my dear Pinocchio．”

“Why should that matter？You can climb on my shoulders and I，who am a fine swimmer，will carry you safely to the shore．”

“Dreams，my boy！” answered Geppetto，shaking his head and smiling sadly．“Do you think it possible for a Marionette，a yard high，to have the strength to carry me on his shoulders and swim？”

“Try it and see！And in any case，if it is written that we must die，we shall at least die together．”

Not adding another word，Pinocchio took the candle in his hand and going ahead to light the way，he said to his father：

“Follow me and have no fear．”

They walked a long distance through the stomach and the whole body of the Shark．When they reached the throat of the monster，they stopped for a while to wait for the right moment in which to make their escape．

I want you to know that the Shark，being very old and suffering from asthma and heart trouble，was obliged to sleep with his mouth open．Because of this，Pinocchio was able to catch a glimpse of the sky filled with stars，as he looked up through the open jaws of his new home．

“The time has come for us to escape，” he whispered，turning to his father．“The Shark is fast asleep．The sea is calm and the night is as bright as day．Follow me closely，dear Father，and we shall soon be saved．”

No sooner said than done．They climbed up the throat of the monster till they came to that immense open mouth．There they had to walk on tiptoes，for if they tickled the Shark's long tongue he might awaken—and where would they be then？The tongue was so wide and so long that it looked like a country road．The two fugitives were just about to dive into the sea when the Shark sneezed very suddenly and，as he sneezed，he gave Pinocchio and Geppetto such a jolt that they found themselves thrown on their backs and dashed once more and very unceremoniously into the stomach of the monster．

To make matters worse，the candle went out and father and son were left in the dark．

“And now？” asked Pinocchio with a serious face．

“Now we are lost．”

“Why lost？Give me your hand，dear Father，and be careful not to slip！”

“Where will you take me？”

“We must try again．Come with me and don't be afraid．”

With these words Pinocchio took his father by the hand and，always walking on tiptoes，they climbed up the monster's throat for a second time．They then crossed the whole tongue and jumped over three rows of teeth．But before they took the last great leap，the Marionette said to his father：

“Climb on my back and hold on tightly to my neck．I'll take care of everything else．”

As soon as Geppetto was comfortably seated on his shoulders，Pinocchio，very sure of what he was doing，dived into the water and started to swim．The sea was like oil，the moon shone in all splendor，and the Shark continued to sleep so soundly that not even a cannon shot would have awakened him．

第三十五章

匹诺曹在鲨鱼的身体里找到了谁？孩子们，读了这一章，你们就会知道。

匹诺曹向他的好朋友金枪鱼道过别后，就在黑暗中蹒跚而去，开始尽可能走向远处闪动的微光。

他走着走着，只觉得两脚踏在又油又滑的水池里，水散发出炸鱼一样浓烈的气味，使他觉得像在大斋期。

他越往前走，火光越亮越清晰。他走啊走，最后发现——发现了什么？我让你们猜一千次，我亲爱的孩子们，你们也别想猜出来！他发现一张小桌子，桌子上摆着吃的，一支点燃的蜡烛插在一个玻璃瓶里；桌边坐着一位像雪一样白的小老头，他正在吃活鱼。这些鱼扭来扭去，不时地从他的嘴里滑出来，逃向桌子下面的黑暗中。

见此情景，可怜的匹诺曹突然心花怒放，差点儿昏倒。他想笑，他想哭，他有千言万语想说，但他所能做的只是静立不动，结结巴巴，语无伦次。最后，他好不容易才欢叫出来，张开怀抱，扑过去抱住老人的脖子。

“噢，爸爸，亲爱的爸爸！我终于找到你了吗？现在我永远、永远、永远不再离开你了！”

“我的眼睛看到的是真的吗？”老人揉了揉眼，反问道，“你真的是我亲爱的匹诺曹吗？”

“是，是，是！就是我啊！看看我！你已经饶恕我了，对吗？噢，我亲爱的爸爸，你真好啊！想一想，我——噢，可你要是知道有多少不幸落在我的头上，我碰到了多少麻烦，该多好啊！请想一下，你那天卖掉自己的旧上衣，给我买识字课本，好让我上学，我却跑去看木偶戏，木偶戏班班主抓住我，想把我烧掉，去烤他那只小羊！后来，也是他给了我五枚金币，叫我带回家送给你。可是，我碰到了狐狸和猫，它们把我带到了红虾客栈，它们在那里狼吞虎咽。后来我独自离开了客栈，在林中遇到了两个杀人强盗。我跑，它们追，而且紧追不放，直到它们把我吊在一棵大橡树的树枝上。后来，天蓝色头发的仙女派了一辆马车救了我。医生看过我后说：‘要是他没有死，那他就肯定活着。’这时，我说了个谎，我的鼻子开始长了起来，它长啊长，一直长到我连房间都出不来了。随后，我跟狐狸和猫去奇迹宝地种那些金币。鹦鹉嘲笑我。我没有发现两千枚金币，什么也没有发现。法官听说我被偷了，就把我关进了牢房，让那些小偷开心。离开牢房后，我看到葡萄藤上有一串漂亮的葡萄。捕兽夹夹住了我。农夫给我套上了狗脖圈，让我当看家狗。等我抓住那些黄鼠狼，他发现我清白无罪时，就放走了我。一条尾巴喷烟的蛇放声大笑，笑得肚子上的一条血管破裂。于是我回到了仙女的家，可她已经死了。鸽子看到我哭，就对我说：‘我曾看到你的爸爸做了一只小船要去美洲找你。’我对它说：‘噢，我要是有翅膀就好了！’它对我说：‘你想到你的爸爸那儿去吗？’我说：‘也许想，可怎么去呢？’它说：‘骑到我的背上，我送你去那儿。’#我们飞了整整一夜。第二天早上，渔民们望着大海，哭道：‘有一个可怜人要淹死了。’我知道那就是你，因为是我的心这样告诉我的。我从岸边向你挥手——”

“我也认出了你，”杰佩托插话说，“我也想回到你的身边，可我怎么办呢？海水汹涌，白浪翻滚，打翻了小船。这时，一条可怕的鲨鱼游出了海面，它一看到我在水里，就马上向我游来，伸出舌头，然后一口把我吞了下去，容易得就像我是一颗巧克力薄荷糖似的。”

“你在这儿关多久了？”

“从那天到现在，都两年了——漫长乏味的两年，我的匹诺曹啊，这两年就像两个世纪一样长！”

“那你是怎么过的呢？你在哪儿找的蜡烛？还有点蜡烛的那些火柴，你是在哪儿找到的呢？”

“我这就原原本本告诉你。淹没我的小船的那场风暴，把一艘大船也淹没了。尽管海员们全都得救，但船沉到了海底。吞下我的这条可怕的鲨鱼也吞下了那艘大船。”

“什么？吞下了整艘船？”匹诺曹惊讶地问道。

“一口吞下。它唯一吐出来的东西就是主桅，因为主桅卡在了它的牙缝里。我真幸运，那艘船装的是肉、罐头食品、饼干、面包、一瓶瓶酒、葡萄干、干酪、咖啡、食糖、蜡烛和一盒盒火柴。由于这些恩赐，我才能快乐地活了整整两年，而现在，我在吃最后的面包屑。今天食橱里什么也没有了。你看到的这支蜡烛是最后一支。”

“那然后呢？”

“然后，我的宝贝，我们就要生活在黑暗中了。”

“那么，我亲爱的爸爸，”匹诺曹说，“我们不能浪费时间了，必须设法逃走。”

“逃走？怎么逃走？”

“我们可以逃出鲨鱼嘴，跳进海里。”

“你说得不错，但我不会游泳，我亲爱的匹诺曹。”

“这有什么关系？你可以爬到我的肩上。我是一个游泳高手，可以把你安全地带上岸。”

“你这是做梦，我的孩子！”杰佩托摇了摇头，微微苦笑着回答说，“你以为一米高的木偶有力气把我扛在肩上游泳吗？”

“试试看！不管怎样，要是我们注定要死，那至少我们要死在一起。”

匹诺曹二话不说，拿起蜡烛，走在前面照路，对爸爸说：“跟着我，不要怕。”

他们走了好长一段路，穿过鲨鱼的整个肚子，来到怪物的喉咙口时，停了一会儿，想等待适当时机逃出去。

我想要你们知道，这条鲨鱼年纪很大，正患哮喘病和心脏病，睡觉时只好张开嘴巴。正因为这样，当通过鲨鱼张开的嘴巴抬头望时，匹诺曹可以看到繁星点点的天空。

“我们逃跑的时候到了，”他转身对爸爸低声说道，“鲨鱼睡熟了。大海平静，夜明如昼。紧紧跟着我，亲爱的爸爸，我们马上就得救了。”

说干就干。他们顺着海怪的喉咙往上爬，一直爬到它硕大无比的嘴巴边，这时他们不得不踮起脚尖走，因为要是弄痒了鲨鱼的长舌头，它就可能醒来——那时他们会在哪儿呢？鲨鱼的舌头又宽又长，看上去就像一条乡村公路。正当两个逃亡者将要跳进海里时，鲨鱼突然打了个喷嚏。它打喷嚏时先要吸一口气，它一吸气，匹诺曹和杰佩托就被吸了回去，重新落到怪物的肚子里头，他们摔了个大跟头。

更糟的是，蜡烛灭了，父子俩被留在了黑暗中。

“现在怎么办？”匹诺曹一脸认真地问道。

“现在我们没命了。”

“为什么没命？把你的手给我，亲爱的爸爸，小心别滑倒！”

“你带我去哪儿？”

“我们必须再试一次。跟我来，不要怕。”

说着，匹诺曹拉住爸爸的手，一直踮着脚尖走，第二次爬上怪物的喉咙，然后走过整条舌头，跳过三排牙齿，在狠狠地一跳之前，木偶对爸爸说道：“爬到我的背上，紧紧抱住我的脖子，其他的一切我来办。”

杰佩托在儿子的肩上一坐好，匹诺曹就蛮有把握地潜入水里，游了起来。海面如油，月光朗照，鲨鱼继续酣睡，就连大炮也轰不醒它。