第25章

Pinocchio weeps upon learning that the Lovely Maiden with Azure Hair is dead.He meets a Pigeon, who carries him to the seashore.He throws himself into the sea to go to the aid of his fatherAs soon as Pinocchio no longer felt the shameful weight of the dog collar around his neck, he started to run across the fields and meadows, and never stopped till he came to the main road that was to take him to the Fairy's house.

When he reached it, he looked into the valley far below him and there he saw the wood where unluckily he had met the Fox and the Cat, and the tall oak tree where he had been hanged; but though he searched far and near, he could not see the house where the Fairy with the Azure Hair lived.

He became terribly frightened and, running as fast as he could, he finally came to the spot where it had once stood.

The little house was no longer there.In its place lay a small marble slab, which bore this sad inscription:

HERE LIES

THE LOVELY FAIRY WITH AZURE HAIR

WHO DIED OF GRIEF

WHEN ABANDONED BY

HER LITTLE BROTHER PINOCCHIO

The poor Marionette was heartbroken at reading these words.He fell to the ground and, covering the cold marble with kisses, burst into bitter tears.He cried all night, and dawn found him still there, though his tears had dried and only hard, dry sobs shook his wooden frame.But these were so loud that they could be heard by the faraway hills.

As he sobbed he said to himself:

"Oh, my Fairy, my dear, dear Fairy, why did you die?

Why did I not die, who am so bad, instead of you, who are so good? And my father--where can he be? Please dear Fairy, tell me where he is and I shall never, never leave him again! You are not really dead, are you? If you love me, you will come back, alive as before.Don't you feel sorry for me? I'm so lonely.If the two Assassins come, they'll hang me again from the giant oak tree and I will really die, this time.What shall I do alone in the world?

Now that you are dead and my father is lost, where shall I eat? Where shall I sleep? Who will make my new clothes? Oh, I want to die! Yes, I want to die! Oh, oh, oh!"Poor Pinocchio! He even tried to tear his hair, but as it was only painted on his wooden head, he could not even pull it.

Just then a large Pigeon flew far above him.Seeing the Marionette, he cried to him:

"Tell me, little boy, what are you doing there?""Can't you see? I'm crying," cried Pinocchio, lifting his head toward the voice and rubbing his eyes with his sleeve.

"Tell me," asked the Pigeon, "do you by chance know of a Marionette, Pinocchio by name?""Pinocchio! Did you say Pinocchio?" replied the Marionette, jumping to his feet."Why, I am Pinocchio!"At this answer, the Pigeon flew swiftly down to the earth.

He was much larger than a turkey.

"Then you know Geppetto also?"

"Do I know him? He's my father, my poor, dear father!

Has he, perhaps, spoken to you of me? Will you take me to him?

Is he still alive? Answer me, please! Is he still alive?""I left him three days ago on the shore of a large sea.""What was he doing?"

"He was building a little boat with which to cross the ocean.

For the last four months, that poor man has been wandering around Europe, looking for you.Not having found you yet, he has made up his mind to look for you in the New World, far across the ocean.""How far is it from here to the shore?" asked Pinocchio anxiously.