The Blue Arrow Journey by Gianni Rodari.

Page 1 of 14

Chapter I. SIGNORA WITHOUT FIVE MINUTES OF BARONESS

“They call me,” she sometimes muttered to herself, “just a Fairy, and I don’t protest: you need to have indulgence towards the ignorant. But I am almost a baroness; decent people know this.
“Yes, Signora Baroness,” the maid assented.
“I’m not a 100% Baroness, but I don’t miss her so much. And the difference is almost imperceptible. Is not it?
“Invisible, Signora Baroness. And decent people do not notice her ...
It was just the first morning of the new year. All night long Fairy and her maid traveled on the rooftops, delivering gifts. Their dresses were covered with snow and icicles.
- Light the stove, - said the Fairy, - you need to dry your clothes. And put the broom in its place: now for a whole year you can not think about flying from roof to roof, and even with such a northerly wind.
The maid put the broom back in place, grumbling:
- A pretty little business - flying on a broom! This is in our time when airplanes were invented! I have already caught a cold because of this.
- Prepare me a glass of flower broth, - ordered the Fairy, putting on her glasses and sitting down in the old leather chair that stood in front of writing desk.
“Just a minute, Baroness,” said the maid.
The fairy looked at her approvingly.
“She's a little lazy,” thought Fairy, “but she knows the rules of good manners and knows how to behave with the lady of my circle. I will promise her to increase wages... In fact, of course, I will not increase it, and so there is not enough money. "
I must say that the Fairy, for all her nobility, was rather stingy. Twice a year she promised the old servant to increase her wages, but she confined herself to only promises. The servant had long been tired of hearing only words, she wanted to hear the jingle of coins. Once she even had the courage to tell the Baroness about it. But the Fairy was very indignant:
- Coins and coins! - she said, sighing, - Ignorant people only think about money. And how bad it is that you not only think, but also talk about it! Apparently teaching you good manners is like feeding a donkey with sugar.
The fairy sighed and buried herself in her books.

- So, let's sum up the balance. Business this year is unimportant, money is not enough. Still, everyone wants to get good gifts from the Fairy, and when it comes to paying for them, everyone starts bargaining. Everyone tries to borrow money, promising to pay later, as if the Fairy is some kind of sausage maker. However, there is nothing to complain about today: all the toys that were in the store have sold out, and now we will need to bring new ones from the warehouse.
She closed the book and began to print out the letters she found in her mailbox.
- I knew it! She said. “I run the risk of getting pneumonia by delivering my goods, and no thanks! This one did not want a wooden saber - give him a pistol! Does he know that a pistol costs a thousand lire more? Another, imagine, wanted to get an airplane! His father is the doorman of the courier of the secretary of a lottery employee, and he had only three hundred lire to buy a present. What could I give him for such a pittance?
The fairy threw the letters back into the drawer, took off her glasses and called:
"Teresa, is the broth ready?"
- Ready, ready, Signora Baroness.
And the old maid handed the Baroness a steaming glass.
- Did you pour a drop of rum in here?
- Two whole spoons!
- I would have had enough and one ... Now I understand why the bottle is almost empty. Just think, we bought it just four years ago!
Sipping a boiling drink in small sips and managing not to burn yourself, as only old ladies can do.

The fairy wandered through her little kingdom, carefully checking every corner of the kitchen, shop and small wooden ladder that led to the second floor, where there was a bedroom.
How sad the store looked with drawn curtains, empty windows and cabinets, piled high boxes of no toys, and heaps of brown paper!
- Prepare the keys to the warehouse and a candle, - said the fairy, - we need to bring new toys.
- But, Signora Baroness, do you want to work even today, on the day of your holiday? Do you think someone is coming to shop today? After all, New Year's Eve, Fairy's Night, has already passed ...
- Yes, but until next new year's eve there are only three hundred and sixty-five days left.
I must tell you that Fairy's store remained open throughout the year and its windows were always lit. Thus, the children had enough time to take a liking to this or that toy, and the parents had time to make their calculations in order to be able to order it.
And besides, there are also birthdays, and everyone knows that children find these days very suitable for receiving gifts.
Now do you understand what the Fairy does from January 1st to the next New Year? She sits behind a shop window and looks at passers-by. She looks especially closely at the faces of the children. She immediately understands whether they like it or not. new toy, and, if you don't like it, removes it from the window and replaces it with another.
Oh, signors, something has now attacked me with doubt! It was like that when I was still little. Who knows if the Fairy now has this shop with a display case lined with toy trains, dolls, rag dogs, guns, pistols, Indian and puppet figurines!
I remember him, this Fairy shop. How many hours did I spend in front of this window, counting the toys! It took a long time to count them, and I never had time to count to the end, because I had to take the purchased milk home.

Chapter II. SHOWCASE FILLS

The warehouse was in the basement, which was a car; once under the store. The fairy and her maid had to go down and up the stairs twenty times to fill the cabinets and display cases with new toys.
Already on the third voyage, Teresa was tired.
“Signora,” she said, stopping in the middle of the stairs with a large bundle of dolls in her hands, “Signora Baroness, my heart is beating.
- This is good, my dear, this is very good, - answered the Fairy, - it would be worse if it no longer beat.
“My legs hurt, Signora Baroness.
- Leave them in the kitchen, let them rest, especially since you can't carry anything with your feet.
- Signora Baroness, I do not have enough air ...
- I did not steal it from you, my dear, I have enough of mine.
Indeed, it seemed that the Fairy never gets tired. Despite her advanced age, she jumped up the steps, as if dancing, as if springs were hidden under her heels. At the same time, she continued to count.
- These Indians bring me an income of two hundred lire each, perhaps even three hundred lire. Now the Indians are very much in vogue. Don't you think this electric train is just a miracle ?! I will call it Blue Arrow and I swear I’ll give up the trade if from tomorrow hundreds of childish eyes will not devour it from morning to night.
Indeed, it was a wonderful train, with two barriers, with a train station and the Chief Station Master, with the Machinist, and the Chief of the Train wearing glasses. After spending so many months in the warehouse, the electric train was covered with dust, but the Fairy wiped it thoroughly with a rag, and the blue paint sparkled like the water of an alpine lake: the entire train, including the Station Master, the Train Master and the Engineer, was painted blue.

When the Fairy wiped the dust from the Machinist's eyes, he looked around and exclaimed:
- I can see at last! I have the impression that I was buried in a cave for several months. So when do we leave? I'm ready.
“Calm, calm,” interrupted the Train Master, wiping his glasses with a handkerchief. “The train won't move without my order.
“Count the stripes on your beret,” a third voice said, “and you will see who is in charge here.
The Train Chief counted his stripes. He had four. Then he counted the Station Master's stripes - five. The Train Master sighed, hid his glasses and became quiet. The Stationmaster paced up and down the display case, waving the wand that gave the departure signal. A regiment of tin riflemen with a brass band and the Colonel lined up in the square in front of the station. A whole artillery battery, led by the General, was located a little to the side.
Behind the station was a green plain and hills were scattered. On the plain around the chieftain, who was called the Silver Feather, the Indians camped. At the top of the mountain, the riding cowboys held their lasso ready.
Above the roof of the station, an airplane swayed suspended from the ceiling: The pilot leaned out of the cockpit and looked down. I must tell you that this Pilot was made in such a way that he could not get to his feet: he had no legs. It was the Sitting Pilot.
Next to the airplane was a red cage with a Canary named Yellow Canary. When the cage was slightly rocked, the Canary sang.
There were also dolls in the window, a Yellow Bear, a rag dog named Button, paints, the Constructor, a small theater with three Puppets, and a fast two-masted sailing ship. The Captain walked nervously on the captain's bridge of the sailing ship. Out of absent-mindedness, only half of his beard was glued to him, so he carefully hid the beardless half of his face so as not to look ugly.

The Stationmaster and Half-Bearded Captain pretended not to notice each other, but perhaps one of them was already about to challenge the other to a duel to resolve the issue of supreme command in the window.
The dolls divided into two groups: some sighed for the Station Master, others cast tender glances at the Half-Bearded Captain, and only one black doll with eyes whiter than milk looked only at the Sitting Pilot and at no one else.
As for the rag dog, he would love to wag his tail and jump for joy. But he could not show these signs of attention to all three, and he did not want to choose one, so as not to offend the other two. Therefore, he sat quietly and motionless, and he looked a little silly. His name was written in red letters on the collar: "Button". Maybe they called it that because it was as small as a button.
But then an event occurred that immediately made me forget both jealousy and rivalry. Just at that moment, the Fairy lifted the curtain, and the sun rushed into the window in a golden cascade, causing everyone to fear terrible, because no one had seen him before.
- One hundred thousand deaf whales! Snapped the Half-Bearded Captain. - What's happened?

- For help! For help! - the dolls screeched, hiding behind each other.
The general ordered to immediately turn the cannons towards the enemy in order to be ready to repel any attack. Only the Silver Feather remained unperturbed. He took a long pipe from his mouth, which he did only in exceptional cases, and said:
- Do not be afraid toys. This is the Great Spirit - the Sun, everyone's friend. See how the whole square cheered up, rejoicing in his arrival.

They all looked at the display case. The square really sparkled under the rays of the sun. The jets of the fountains seemed fiery. A gentle warmth penetrated through the dusty glass into the Fairy's shop.
- Thousand drunken whales! The Captain muttered again. “I’m a sea wolf, not a sunny one!
The dolls, chatting happily, immediately began to accept sunbathing.
However, the sun's rays could not penetrate into one corner of the shop window. The shadow fell just on the Machinist, and he became very angry:
- It had to happen that I was the one in the shadows!
He looked out the window, and his keen eyes, accustomed to staring at the rails for hours on long journeys, met a pair of huge, wide-open eyes of a child.
It was possible to look into these eyes, as one looks into a house when there are no curtains on the windows. And looking into them. The machinist saw a great unchildish sadness.
Strange, thought the Blue Arrow Driver. - I have always heard that children are cheerful people. All they know is that they laugh and play from morning to evening. And this one seems to me sad, like an old man. What happened to him?"

The sad boy stared at the window for a long time. His eyes filled with tears. From time to time, tears rolled down the cheek and disappeared on the lips. Everyone in the window held their breath: no one had yet seen the eyes from which water would flow, and this surprised everyone very much.
- A thousand lame whales! - exclaimed the Captain. - I will record this event in the logbook!
Finally the boy wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket, went to the store door, grabbed the handle and pushed the door open.
A dull bell rang out, which seemed to be complaining, calling for help.

Chapter 1. SIGNORA WITHOUT FIVE MINUTES OF BARONESS

The fairy was an old lady, very well-bred and noble, almost a baroness.

“They call me,” she sometimes muttered to herself, “just a Fairy, and I don’t protest: you need to have indulgence towards the ignorant. But I am almost a baroness; decent people know this.

“Yes, Signora Baroness,” the maid assented.

“I’m not a 100% Baroness, but I don’t miss her so much. And the difference is almost imperceptible. Is not it?

“Invisible, Signora Baroness. And decent people do not notice her ...

It was just the first morning of the new year. All night long Fairy and her maid traveled on the rooftops, delivering gifts. Their dresses were covered with snow and icicles.

- Light the stove, - said the Fairy, - you need to dry your clothes. And put the broom in its place: now for a whole year you can not think about flying from roof to roof, and even with such a northerly wind.

The maid put the broom back in place, grumbling:

- A pretty little business - flying on a broom! This is in our time when airplanes were invented! I have already caught a cold because of this.

“Prepare me a glass of flower broth,” the Fairy ordered, putting on her glasses and sitting down in an old leather chair in front of the writing table.

“Just a minute, Baroness,” said the maid.

The fairy looked at her approvingly.

“She's a little lazy,” thought Fairy, “but she knows the rules of good manners and knows how to behave with the lady of my circle. I will promise her to increase her salary. In fact, of course, I will not increase it, and so there is not enough money. "

I must say that the Fairy, for all her nobility, was rather stingy. Twice a year she promised the old servant to increase her wages, but she confined herself to only promises. The servant had long been tired of hearing only words, she wanted to hear the jingle of coins. Once she even had the courage to tell the Baroness about it. But the Fairy was very indignant:

- Coins and coins! - she said, sighing, - Ignorant people only think about money. And how bad it is that you not only think, but also talk about it! Apparently teaching you good manners is like feeding a donkey with sugar.

The fairy sighed and buried herself in her books.

She closed the book and began to print out the letters she found in her mailbox.

- I knew it! She said. “I run the risk of getting pneumonia by delivering my goods, and no thanks! This one did not want a wooden saber - give him a pistol! Does he know that a pistol costs a thousand lire more? Another, imagine, wanted to get an airplane! His father is the doorman of the courier of the secretary of a lottery employee, and he had only three hundred lire to buy a present. What could I give him for such a pittance?

The fairy threw the letters back into the drawer, took off her glasses and called:

"Teresa, is the broth ready?"

- Ready, ready, Signora Baroness.

And the old maid handed the Baroness a steaming glass.

- Did you pour a drop of rum in here?

- Two whole spoons!

- I would have had enough and one ... Now I understand why the bottle is almost empty. Just think, we bought it just four years ago!

Sipping a boiling drink in small sips and managing not to burn yourself, as only old ladies can do.

The fairy wandered through her little kingdom, carefully checking every corner of the kitchen, shop and small wooden ladder that led to the second floor, where there was a bedroom.

How sad the store looked with drawn curtains, empty windows and cabinets, piled high boxes of no toys, and heaps of brown paper!

- Prepare the keys to the warehouse and a candle, - said the fairy, - we need to bring new toys.

- But, Signora Baroness, do you want to work even today, on the day of your holiday? Do you think someone is coming to shop today? After all, New Year's Eve, Fairy's Night, has already passed ...

- Yes, but there are only three hundred and sixty-five days left until the next New Year's Eve.

I must tell you that Fairy's store remained open throughout the year and its windows were always lit. Thus, the children had enough time to take a liking to this or that toy, and the parents had time to make their calculations in order to be able to order it.

And besides, there are also birthdays, and everyone knows that children find these days very suitable for receiving gifts.

Now do you understand what the Fairy does from January 1st to the next New Year? She sits behind a shop window and looks at passers-by. She looks especially closely at the faces of the children. She immediately understands whether they like or dislike a new toy, and if she doesn’t like it, she takes it off the window and replaces it with another.

Oh, signors, something has now attacked me with doubt! It was like that when I was still little. Who knows if the Fairy now has this shop with a display case lined with toy trains, dolls, rag dogs, guns, pistols, Indian and puppet figurines!

I remember him, this Fairy shop. How many hours did I spend in front of this window, counting the toys! It took a long time to count them, and I never had time to count to the end, because I had to take the purchased milk home.

Gianni Rodari

Journey of the Blue Arrow

Gianni Rodari La freccia azzurra

* * *

Part one

Signora five minutes to the baroness

The fairy was an old lady, very well-bred and noble, almost a baroness.

“They call me,” she sometimes muttered to herself, “just a Fairy, and I don’t protest: you need to have indulgence towards the ignorant. But I am almost a baroness; decent people know this.

“Yes, Signora Baroness,” the maid assented.

“I’m not a 100% Baroness, but I don’t miss her so much. And the difference is almost imperceptible. Is not it?

“Invisible, Signora Baroness. And decent people do not notice her ...

It was just the first morning of the new year. All night long Fairy and her maid traveled on the rooftops, delivering gifts. Their dresses were covered with snow and icicles.

- Light the stove, - said the Fairy, - you need to dry your clothes. And put the broom in its place: now you don't have to think about flying from roof to roof for a whole year, and even with such a northerly wind.

The maid put the broom back in place, grumbling:

- A pretty little business - flying on a broom! This is in our time when airplanes were invented! I have already caught a cold because of this.

“Prepare me a glass of flower broth,” the Fairy ordered, putting on her glasses and sitting down in an old leather chair in front of the writing table.

“Just a minute, Baroness,” said the maid.

The fairy looked at her approvingly.

“She is a little lazy,” thought Fairy, “but she knows the rules of good manners and knows how to behave with the lady of my circle. I will promise her to increase her salary. In fact, of course, I will not increase it, and so there is not enough money. "

I must say that the Fairy, with all her nobility, was rather stingy. Twice a year she promised the old servant to increase her wages, but she confined herself to only promises. The servant had long been tired of hearing only words, she wanted to hear the jingle of coins. Once she even had the courage to tell the Baroness about it. But the Fairy was very indignant.

- Coins and coins! She said, sighing. - Ignorant people only think about money. And how bad it is that you not only think, but also talk about it! Apparently teaching you good manners is like feeding a donkey with sugar.

The fairy sighed and buried herself in her books.

- So, let's sum up the balance. Business this year is unimportant, money is not enough. Still, everyone wants from the Fairy good gifts and when it comes to paying for them, they start haggling. Everyone tries to borrow money, promising to pay later, as if the Fairy is some kind of sausage maker. However, there is nothing to complain about today: all the toys that were in the store have sold out, and now we will need to bring new ones from the warehouse.

She closed the book and began to print out the letters she found in her mailbox.

The fairy threw the letters back into the box. She took off her glasses and called:

"Teresa, is the broth ready?"

- Ready, ready, Signora Baroness.

And the old maid handed the Baroness a steaming glass.

- Did you pour a drop of rum in here?

- Two whole spoons!

- I would have had enough and one ... Now I understand why the bottle is almost empty. Just think, we bought it just four years ago!

Sipping a boiling drink in small sips and managing not to get scalded at the same time, as only old ladies can do, Fairy wandered through her little kingdom, carefully checking every corner of the kitchen, shop and small wooden ladder that led to the second floor, where there was a bedroom.

How sad the store looked with drawn curtains, empty windows and cabinets, piled high boxes of no toys and heaps of brown paper!

- Prepare the keys to the warehouse and a candle, - said the Fairy, - we need to bring new toys.

- But, Signora Baroness, do you want to work even today, on the day of your holiday? Do you think someone is coming to shop today? After all, New Year's Eve, Fairy's Night, has already passed ...

- Yes, but there are only three hundred and sixty-five days left until the next New Year's Eve.

I must tell you that Fairy's store remained open throughout the year and its windows were always lit.

Thus, the children had enough time to take a liking to this or that toy, and the parents had time to make their calculations in order to be able to order it.

Besides, there are also birthdays, and everyone knows that children find these days very suitable for receiving gifts.

Now do you understand what the Fairy does from January 1st until the next New Year? She sits behind a shop window and looks at passers-by. She looks especially closely at the faces of the children. She immediately understands whether they like or dislike a new toy, and if she doesn’t like it, she takes it off the window and replaces it with another.

Oh, signors, something has now attacked me with doubt! It was like that when I was still little. Who knows if the Fairy now has this shop with a window lined with toy trains, dolls, ragdogs, guns, pistols, figures of Indians and puppets?

Showcase fills

The warehouse was in the basement, which was just below the store. The fairy and her maid had to go down and up the stairs twenty times to fill the cabinets and display cases with new toys.

Already on the third voyage, Teresa was tired.

“Signora,” she said, stopping in the middle of the stairs with a large bundle of dolls in her hands, “Signora Baroness, my heart is beating.

- This is good, my dear, this is very good, - answered the Fairy, - it would be worse if it no longer beat.

“My legs hurt, Signora Baroness.

- Leave them in the kitchen, let them rest, especially since you can't carry anything with your feet.

- Signora Baroness, I do not have enough air ...

- I did not steal it from you, my dear, I have enough of mine.

Indeed, it seemed that the Fairy never gets tired. Despite her advanced age, she jumped up the steps, as if dancing, as if springs were hidden under her heels. At the same time, she continued to count.

“These Indians bring me two hundred lire each. Even, perhaps, three hundred lire. Now the Indians are very much in vogue. Don't you think this electric train is just a miracle ?! I will call it Blue Arrow and I swear I’ll give up the trade if from tomorrow hundreds of childish eyes will not devour it from morning to night.

Indeed, it was a wonderful train: with two barriers, with a train station and the Chief Station Master, with the Machinist and the Chief of the Train wearing glasses. After spending so many months in the warehouse, the electric train was covered with dust, but the Fairy wiped it thoroughly with a rag, and the blue paint sparkled like the water of an alpine lake: the entire train, including the Station Master, the Train Master and the Engineer, was painted blue.

When the Fairy wiped the dust from the Machinist's eyes, he looked around and exclaimed:

- I can see at last! I have the impression that I was buried in a cave for several months. So when do we leave? I'm ready.

“Calm, calm,” interrupted the Train Master, wiping his glasses with a handkerchief. “The train won't move without my order.

“Count the stripes on your beret,” a third voice said, “and you will see who is in charge here.

The Train Chief counted his stripes. He had four. Then he counted the Station Master's stripes - five. The Train Master sighed, hid his glasses and fell silent. The Stationmaster paced up and down the display case, waving a wand that gave the departure signal. A regiment of tin riflemen with a brass band and the Colonel lined up in the square in front of the station. A whole artillery battery, led by the General, was located a little to the side.

Behind the station was a green plain and hills were scattered. On the plain around the chieftain, who was called the Silver Feather, the Indians camped. At the top of the mountain, the riding cowboys held their lassos at the ready.

Above the roof of the station, an airplane swayed suspended from the ceiling: The pilot leaned out of the cockpit and looked down. I must tell you that this Pilot was made in such a way that he could not get to his feet: he had no legs. It was the Sitting Pilot.

Next to the airplane was a red cage with a Canary named Yellow Canary. When the cage was slightly rocked, the Canary sang.

There were also dolls in the window, a Yellow Bear, a rag dog named Button, paints, Constructor, a small theater with three Puppets, and a fast two-masted sailing ship. The Captain walked nervously on the captain's bridge of the sailing ship. Out of absent-mindedness, only half of his beard was glued to him, so he carefully hid the beardless half of his face so as not to look ugly.

The dolls were divided into two groups: some sighed for the Station Master, others cast tender glances at the Half-Bearded Captain, and only one black doll with eyes whiter than milk looked only at the Sitting Pilot and no one else.

As for the rag dog, he would gladly wag his tail and jump for joy. But he could not show these signs of attention to all three, and he did not want to choose someone, so as not to offend the other two. Therefore, he sat quietly and motionless, and he looked a little silly. His name was written in red letters on the collar: "Button". Maybe they called it that because it was as small as a button.

But then an event occurred that immediately made me forget both jealousy and rivalry. Just at that moment, the Fairy lifted the curtain - and the sun rushed into the window in a golden cascade, causing everyone to fear terrible, because no one had seen him before.

- One hundred thousand deaf whales! Snapped the Half-Bearded Captain. - What's happened?

- For help! For help! - the dolls screeched, hiding behind each other.

The general ordered to immediately turn the cannons towards the enemy in order to be ready to repel any attack. Only the Silver Feather remained unperturbed. He took a long pipe from his mouth, which he did only in exceptional cases, and said:

- Do not be afraid toys. This is the Great Spirit - the Sun, everyone's friend. See how the whole square cheered up, rejoicing in his arrival.

They all looked at the display case. The square really sparkled under the rays of the sun. The jets of the fountains seemed fiery. Gentle warmth penetrated through the dusty glass into the Fairy's shop.

- Thousands of drunken whales! The Captain muttered again. “I’m a sea wolf, not a sunny one!

The dolls, chatting happily, immediately began to sunbathe. However, the sun's rays could not penetrate into one corner of the shop window. The shadow fell just on the Machinist, and he became very angry:

- It had to happen that I was the one in the shadows!

He peered out of the window, and his keen eyes, accustomed to staring at the rails for hours on long journeys, met a pair of huge, wide-open eyes of a child.

It was possible to look into these eyes, as one looks into a house when there are no curtains on the windows. And, looking into them, the Engineer saw a great unchildish sadness.

Strange, thought the Blue Arrow Driver. - I have always heard that children are funny people. All they know is that they laugh and play from morning to evening. And this one seems to me sad, like an old man. What happened to him?"

- A thousand lame whales! - exclaimed the Captain. - I will enter this event in the logbook!

Finally, the boy wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket, went to the store door, grabbed the handle and pushed the door. A dull bell rang out, which seemed to be complaining, calling for help.

Half-bearded captain excited

“Signora Baroness, someone has entered the store,” the maid said.

The fairy, who was combing her hair in her room, quickly descended the stairs, holding hairpins in her mouth and pinning her hair on the way.

- Whoever it is, why doesn't he close the door? She muttered. - I did not hear the call, but immediately felt a draft.

For the sake of solidity, she put on her glasses and entered the shop with small, slow steps, as a real signora should walk, especially if she is almost a baroness. But seeing in front of you poor dressed boy, who was crumpling his blue beret in his hands, she realized that the ceremony was unnecessary.

- Well? What's the matter? - With all her appearance, the Fairy would like to say: "Speak quickly, I have no time."

- I ... Signora ... - whispered the boy.

Everyone froze in the window, but nothing was heard.

- What did he say? - whispered the Chief of the Train.

- Shh! - ordered the Chief of the Station. - Do not make noise!

- My boy! - exclaimed the Fairy, who felt that she was beginning to lose patience, as whenever she had to talk to people who were unaware of her noble titles. - My dear boy, I have very little time. Hurry up or leave me alone, and best of all write me a good letter.

“But, signora, I have already written to you,” the boy whispered hastily, afraid of losing courage.

- Oh, that's how! When?

- About a month ago.

- Let's see. What is your name?

- Monty Francesco.

- Quardicciolo ...

- Um ... Monty, Monti ... Here, Francesco Monti. Indeed, twenty-three days ago you asked me for an electric train as a present. Why just a train? You could ask me for an airplane or an airship, or better yet, a whole air fleet!

“But I like the train, Signora Feya.

- Ah, my dear boy, do you like the train ?! Do you know that two days after your letter your mother came here ...

- Yes, I asked her to come. I asked her so: go to the Fairy, I have already written everything to her, and she is so kind that she will not refuse us.

- I'm not good or bad. I work, but I cannot work for free. Your mother didn't have the money to pay for the train. She wanted to leave her old watch in exchange for the train. But I can't see them, this watch! Because they make time move faster. I also reminded her that she still has to pay me for the horse she took last year. And for the top, taken two years ago. Did you know about this?

No, the boy did not know that. Moms rarely share their troubles with their children.

“That's why you got nothing this year. Do you understand? Don't you think I'm right?

“Yes, signora, you're right,” muttered Francesco. “I just thought you forgot my address.

- No, on the contrary, I remember him very well. You see, I have it written down. And one of these days I will send my secretary to you to take money for last year's toys.

The old maid, who had listened to their conversation, upon hearing that they had named her secretary, nearly fainted and had to drink a glass of water to catch her breath.

- What an honor for me, Signora Baroness! She said to her mistress when the boy left.

- Good good! - Fairy muttered gruffly. - In the meantime, hang a sign on the door: "Closed until tomorrow," so that other annoying visitors do not come.

- Maybe lower the curtain?

- Yes, perhaps omit. I see that there will be no good trade today.

The maid ran to obey orders. Francesco was still standing outside the store, his nose buried in the window, and he waited, not knowing why. The curtain came down and almost hit him on the head. Francesco buried his nose in dusty curtain and sobbed.

In the shop window, these sobs had an extraordinary effect. One after another, the dolls also began to cry and cried so hard that the Captain could not stand it and swore:

- What monkeys! Have already learned to cry! - He spat on the deck and grinned: - A thousand slanting whales! Cry over the train! Yes, I would not trade my sailboat for all the trains of all railways the world.

Great Leader Silver Feather took the pipe out of his mouth, which he had to do every time he wanted to say something, and said:

- Captain Half-Beard doesn't tell the truth. He is very excited because of the poor white child.

- What am I? Explain to me, please, what does “excited” mean?

- It means that one side of the face is crying, and the other is ashamed of it.

The captain chose not to turn, as his beardless half of his face was actually crying.

- Shut up, you old rooster! He shouted. “Otherwise I’ll go downstairs and nibble you like a Christmas turkey!

And for a long time he continued to spew out curses, so colorful that the General, deciding that the war was about to begin, ordered the cannons to be loaded. But Silver Feather took the receiver in his mouth and fell silent, and then even dozed off sweetly. By the way, he always slept with a pipe in his mouth.

The stationmaster doesn't know what to do

The next day, Francesco returned, and his sad eyes were again fixed on Blue Arrow... He came both on the second day and on the third. Sometimes he stopped at the window for only a few minutes and then, without turning around, ran away. Sometimes I stood in front of the window for long hours. His nose was pressed against the glass, and his fair forelock descended over his forehead. He looked affectionately at the other toys, but it was clear that his heart belonged to the wonderful train.

The Stationmaster, Trainmaster and Engineer were very proud of this and with important species looked around, but no one was offended by them for this.

All the inhabitants of the window were in love with their Francesco. Other children came and looked at the toys for a long time, but the inhabitants of the shop window hardly noticed them. If Francesco did not show up at the usual time, the Stationmaster nervously paced up and down the tracks, casting anxious glances at his watch. The captain spewed curses. The sitting Pilot leaned out of the airplane, risking falling, and Silver Feather forgot to smoke, so that his pipe went out every minute, and he spent whole boxes of matches to re-light it.

And so all the days, all the months, the whole year.

The fairy received every day whole bundles of letters, which she carefully read, making notes and calculations. But now there were so many letters that it took half a day just to open the envelopes, and in the window they realized that the day of gifts - the New Year - was approaching.

Poor Francesco! Every day his face became more and more sad. Something had to be done for him. Everyone was waiting for the Blue Arrow Station Master to suggest something, suggest an idea. But he only took off and put on his beret with five stripes, or looked at the toes of his boots, as if he had seen them for the first time.

Button idea

Poor Button. No one ever paid attention to him, because, firstly, it was difficult to understand what breed he was, and secondly, he was silent all the time like a fish. Button was timid and afraid to open his mouth. If any thought crossed his mind, he hesitated for a long time before communicating it to his friends. However, with whom could he speak? The dolls were too elegant lords to pay attention to a dog of god knows what breed. The lead soldiers would not have refused to talk to him, but the officers, of course, would not have allowed them to do so. In general, everyone had some reason not to notice the rag dog, and he was forced to remain silent. And do you know what came of it? He forgot how to bark ...

This time, too, when he opened his mouth to explain his brilliant idea to them, there was such a strange sound - in between a cat's meow and a donkey's roar - that the whole shop window burst into laughter.

Only Silver Feather didn't laugh, because reds never laugh. And when the others had finished laughing, he took the pipe out of his mouth and said:

- Signors, listen to everything that Button has to say. The dog always speaks little and thinks a lot. Who thinks a lot is a wise thing to say.

Hearing the compliment, Button blushed from head to tail, cleared his throat and finally explained his idea.

- This boy ... Francesco ... Do you think he will receive any present from the Fairy this year?

“I don’t think so,” the Stationmaster replied. “His mother never came here, and she no longer writes letters — I always keep a close eye on the mail.

- Well, - continued Button, - I also think that Francesco will not get anything. But I honestly wouldn't want to see any other boy.

“Me too,” said the three Puppets, who all spoke in unison.

- What do you say, - continued the dog, - if we present him with a surprise?

- Ha ha ha, surprise! - the dolls laughed. - What is it?

“Shut up,” the Captain ordered. “Women should always keep quiet.

- I beg your pardon, - shouted the Sitting Pilot, - don't make such a noise, otherwise you can't hear anything above! Let Button speak.

“We know his name,” Button said when silence was restored. - We know his address. Why don't we all go to him?

- To whom? One of the dolls asked.

- To Francesco.

For a moment, silence reigned, then a lively discussion unfolded: each shouted his own, not listening to what others were saying.

- But this is a riot! - exclaimed the General. “I just can't allow such a thing. I suggest you obey my orders!

- And go where the Fairy takes us? Then Francesco will receive nothing this year either, because his name is recorded in the debt book ...

- A thousand whales! ..

“However,” the Stationmaster intervened, “we know the address, but we do not know the road.

- I thought about it, - Button whispered timidly, - I can find the way with my instinct.

Now it was necessary not to chat, but to make a decision. Everyone looked in the direction of the General of Artillery.

For a while, the General, scratching his chin, paced in front of his five cannons, lined up in battle formation, then said:

- Good. I will cover the movement with my troops. Frankly, I don't really like being under the command of the old Fairy either ...

- Urrah! - shouted the gunners.

The band of riflemen began to play a march capable of resurrecting the dead, and the Engineer turned on the whistle of the locomotive and hummed until everyone was almost deaf. The hike was scheduled for the next New Year's Eve. At midnight, the Fairy had to come, as usual, to the store to fill her basket with toys ... But the showcase will be empty.

- Imagine what her face will be! - the Captain grinned, spitting on the deck of his sailing ship.

And the next evening ...

Part two

Next evening

The first thing the toys had to do was decide how to get out of the store. Cut through the curtain as suggested Chief Engineer, turned out to be beyond their power. And the store door was locked with three locks.

“I thought about that too,” Button said.

Everyone looked with admiration at the little rag puppy who thought for a whole year without saying a single word.

- Do you remember the warehouse? Remember the pile of empty boxes in the corner? Well, I was there and found a hole in the wall. On the other side of the wall is a cellar with a ladder that leads to the street.

- And how do you know all this?

- We, dogs, have such a disadvantage - to poke our nose everywhere. Sometimes this flaw is useful.

“Very well,” the General objected sharply, “but I have no idea how you can lower the artillery down all these stairs into the warehouse. And the Blue Arrow? Have you ever seen a train go down the stairs?

Silver Feather took the pipe out of his mouth. Everyone fell silent expectantly.

- White people always quarrel and forget the Sitting Pilot.

- What do you mean by this, great leader?

- Sitting Pilot to transport everyone in an airplane.

Indeed, this was the only way to go down to the warehouse.

The Sitting Pilot liked the proposal:

- A dozen flights - and the transition is done!

The dolls were already looking forward to the pleasure of traveling in an airplane, but Silver Feather disappointed them:

- He who has legs does not need wings.

Thus, everyone who had legs went down on their own, and the artillery, wagons and a sailboat were transported by plane.

But the Captain, even during the flight, refused to leave the bridge. To the envy of the General and the Station Master who descended the steep steps, the Captain flew overhead.

The last to descend was the Acrobat Motorcyclist. For him, riding a motorcycle down the stairs was like drinking a glass of water.

He was still halfway there when the maid shouted in the store:

- Help, help! Signora Baroness, thieves, robbers!

- All toys were stolen from the window!

But the Chief Engineer of "Constructor" had already broken through the warehouse door, and the fugitives rushed to the corner, littered with a heap of empty boxes.

As soon as they disappeared, the footsteps of two old women were heard, who hurriedly ran down the stairs and buried their noses in the locked door.

- Rather, the keys! - cried the Fairy.

“The castle won't open, Signora Baroness.

- They locked themselves from the inside! Well, they can't get out of there. We'll have to sit here and wait until they give up.

Needless to say, the Fairy was a brave old woman. But this time her courage was useless. Our fugitives, following Knobka, who showed the way, had already crossed a mountain of empty boxes and one after another made their way through a hole in the wall into the neighboring basement.

It was not the first time that the Blue Arrow went through the tunnels. The Station Master and the Train Master took their places next to the Engineer, the smallest dolls, who had already begun to get tired, settled in the cars, and the wonderful train, whistling softly, entered the tunnel.

It was more difficult to drag a sailboat through the hole, which could only move on water. But the workers of "Konstruktor" took care of this. In an instant, they built a cart with eight wheels and loaded the ship with the Captain onto it.

We made it just in time.

The fairy, tired of waiting, pushed the door open with a push of her shoulder and began to search the warehouse.

- What a strange story! The old woman muttered trembling with fear.

“There’s no one, Signora Baroness. Maybe the earthquake is to blame?

“The Blue Arrow is gone,” Fairy whispered sadly. - Disappeared without leaving any trace.

Let's leave the poor old ladies for a while and follow our friends.

They had no idea what adventures lay ahead of them. I know all of them from start to finish. Among them there are scary ones, there are also funny ones, and I will tell you everything in order.

The yellow bear comes out at the first stop

Immediately, adventures began on the other side of the wall. The General raised the alarm. As you may have noticed, the General had a fiery temperament and was constantly involved in all sorts of quarrels and incidents.

“My cannons,” he said, twirling his mustache, “my cannons are rusty. It takes a little war to clean them up. Let it be small, but still you need to shoot at least a quarter of an hour.

This thought stuck like a nail in his head. As soon as the fugitives found themselves outside the warehouse wall, the General drew his sword and shouted:

- Anxiety, anxiety!

- What's the matter, what happened? - asked each other the soldiers, who had not noticed anything yet.

“There’s an enemy on the horizon, don’t you see?” All to the guns! Load your guns! Prepare to shoot!

An incredible commotion arose. The gunners lined up the cannons in battle formation, the shooters loaded their guns, the officers shouted the words of command in sonorous voices and, imitating the General, twirled their mustaches.

- A thousand deaf and dumb whales! - the Captain barked from the height of his sailing ship. “Order me to immediately drag a few guns aboard my ship, or they will let me go down.

The Blue Arrow driver took off his beret and scratched the back of his head.

- I don’t understand how it is possible to go to the bottom here. In my opinion, there is only water here, in the wash basin, and all around the stone floor.

The Stationmaster looked at him sternly.

- If the Signor General says that an enemy has appeared, then this is how it really is.

- I saw, I saw too! - Shouted the Sitting Pilot, flying a little forward.

- What you see?

- The enemy! I tell you I saw him with my own eyes!

The frightened dolls hid in the Blue Arrow cars. The Rose doll complained:

- Ah, signors, now the war will begin! I just styled my hair, and who knows what will happen to my hair now!

The general ordered to sound the alarm.

- Shut up all! He commanded. “Because of your chatter, the soldiers do not hear my orders.

He was about to open fire, when Button's voice suddenly rang out:

- Stop! Please stop!

- What is this? Since when did dogs begin to command troops? Shoot him immediately! - ordered the General.

But Button didn't get scared:

- Please, I beg you, hang up! I assure you, this is not really the enemy. It's just a child, a sleeping child!

- Child?! - exclaimed the General. - What is the child doing on the battlefield?

- But, Signor General, we are not on the battlefield - that's the whole point. We're in the basement, can't you see? Signors, I ask you to look around. We are, as I said, in a basement from which you can go outside. It turns out that this basement is inhabited. And in the depths of it, where the light is burning, there is a bed, and a boy is sleeping in the bed. Do you want to wake him up with shots?

- The dog is right. I see a child and not see the enemy.

“This is, of course, some kind of trick,” the General insisted, not wanting to give up the battle. - The enemy pretended to be an innocent and unarmed creature.

But who was listening to him now?

Even the dolls came out of their hiding places and gazed into the twilight of the basement.

“True, it's a child,” one said.

“This is an ill-bred child,” said the third, “he is asleep and holds his finger in his mouth.

In the basement, near the walls, there was old tattered furniture, a tattered straw mattress lay on the floor, there was a basin with a broken edge, an extinct hearth and a bed in which the child slept. Obviously, his parents went to work, or maybe they asked for alms, and the child was left alone. He went to bed, but did not extinguish the small oil lamp on the nightstand. Maybe he was afraid of the dark, or maybe he liked to look at the large fluctuating shadows that the lamp cast on the ceiling. And looking at these shadows, he fell asleep.

Our brave General was endowed with rich imagination: he mistook the kerosene lamp for the lights of the enemy camp and raised the alarm.

- A thousand newborn whales! - Thundered the Half-Bearded Captain, nervously stroking the beardless half of his chin. - And I already thought that a pirate ship appeared on the horizon. But, if my spyglass does not deceive me, this child does not look like a pirate. He has no grappling hooks, no black eye patch, no black pirate flag with skull and bones. It seems to me that this brigantine is peacefully floating in the ocean of dreams.

The sitting Pilot flew to the bed itself for reconnaissance, flew two or three times directly over the boy, who waved his hand in a dream, as if driving away an annoying fly, and, returning, reported:

“No danger, Signor General. Opponent, I'm sorry, I wanted to say, child, fell asleep.

“Then we'll take him by surprise,” the General announced.

But this time the cowboys were outraged:

- Capture the child? Is this what our lassos are for? We catch wild horses and bulls, not children. On the very first cactus, we will hang the one who dares to harm the child!

With these words, they galloped their horses and surrounded the General, ready to throw a lasso over him at any moment.

“I just spoke like that,” the General grumbled. - You can't even joke a little. You have no imagination!

The column of fugitives approached the bed. I will not assure you that all hearts were beating calmly. Some dolls had not yet recovered from their fright and were hiding behind others, for example, behind the back of the Yellow Bear. His little sawdust brain was thinking very slowly. He did not perceive the events taking place immediately, but in the order of their sequence. If you had to understand two things at the same time, the Yellow Bear immediately had a terrible headache. But he had good eyesight. He was the first to see that the little sleeping boy was mistaken for the enemy.

The bear was immediately seized with the desire to jump on the bed and play with him. He didn’t even think that sleeping boys don’t play with cubs, even toy ones.

On the nightstand next to the lamp lay a sheet of paper folded in four. The address was written in large letters on one side.

“I assure you that this is a coded message,” said the General, who had already suspected the boy as an enemy spy.

“Possibly,” the Stationmaster agreed. - But, anyway, all the same we could not read it. It is not addressed to us. See? It says here: Signoret Fee.

“Very interesting,” said the General. - The letter is addressed to Signora Feya, that is, our mistress. Or maybe the boy is giving her information about us? Maybe he was following us? We must read this letter by all means!

“You can't,” the Stationmaster persisted. - This is a violation of postal secrecy.

But, oddly enough, this time the Silver Feather agreed with the General.

“Read it,” he said unexpectedly, and put his pipe into his mouth again.

This turned out to be enough. The general climbed onto a chair, unfolded the sheet, cleared his throat, as if he were about to announce the decree on the beginning of the war, and began to read:

“Signora Feya, I have heard of you for the first time this year; I had never received a gift from anyone before. This evening I am not putting out the lamp and I hope to see you when you come here. Then I will tell you what kind of toy I would like to receive. I am afraid to fall asleep and therefore I am writing this letter. I beg you, signora Feya, do not refuse me: I am a good boy, everyone says that, and I will be even better if you make me happy. And why should I be good boy?

Yours Giampaolo. "

The toys held their breath, and only one doll sighed so hard that everyone turned and looked at her, and she was very embarrassed.

- What does it mean to become bad? - asked the doll Rose.

But no one answered her, and the other dolls pulled her skirt so that she would be silent.

“Something needs to be done,” said the Stationmaster.

“A volunteer is required,” the Colonel said.

At this time, there was a strange cough. When people cough like that, it means that they want to say something, but they are afraid.

- Speak more boldly! - shouted the Pilot, who from above was always the first to see what happened.

- So, - said the Yellow Bear, coughing again to hide his embarrassment, - to tell the truth, I don't like traveling too long. I am already tired of wandering around the world and would like to rest. Don't you think that I could stay here?

Poor Yellow Bear! He wanted to pass himself off as a sly man, he wanted to hide his kind heart. Who knows why people with a good heart always try to hide it from others?

“Don't look at me like that,” he said, “or I'll turn into Red Bear. It seems to me that on this bed I can do a wonderful nap while waiting for dawn, and you will wander the streets in such a cold and look for Francesco.

“Okay,” said the Captain, “stay here. Children and bears live together, because at least in one respect they are alike: they always want to play.

All agreed and began to say goodbye. Everyone wanted to shake the Yellow Bear's paw, wish him happiness. But at this time there was a loud, long beep. The Station Master raised his whistle to his lips, the Train Master shouted:

- Hurry, signors, on the wagons! Train departs! On the wagons, signors!

The dolls, fearing to fall behind the train, made an unimaginable commotion.

The shooters settled on the roofs of the cars, and the Captain's sailboat was loaded onto the platform.

The train started slowly.

The basement door was open and opened onto a dark, narrow alley. The Yellow Bear, perched near the pillow, next to the head of Giampaolo, looked with some sadness at his comrades, who were slowly moving away. The teddy bear sighed so hard that the boy's hair began to stir as if the wind was blowing.

- Hush, hush, my friend, - the Bear said to himself, - do not wake him up.

The boy did not wake up, but a slight smile flashed across his lips.

“He's having a dream,” said Bear Cub to himself. - He sees in a dream that just now the Fairy passed beside him, putting a gift on his chair, and the breeze raised by her long skirt ruffled his hair. I'm willing to bet that this is what he sees now. But who knows what gift the Fairy will give him in a dream? "

And so the Bear went on a trick that would never have occurred to you: he bent down to the boy's ear and began to whisper quietly:

- The fairy has already come and left you the Yellow Bear. Wonderful Bear, I assure you! I know him well, because I have seen him in the mirror so many times. From his back sticks out a key for the spring winding, and when it is wound, the Bear dances, like bears dance at fairs and in the circus. I'll show you now.

With great difficulty, the Yellow Bear reached the spring and started it.

At the same moment, he felt that something strange was happening to him. At first, a shiver ran down the Bear's back, and he became unusually cheerful. Then a shiver ran down his legs, and they themselves began to dance.

The Yellow Bear has never danced so well. The boy laughed in his sleep and woke up laughing. He patted his eyelashes to get used to the light, and when he saw the Yellow Bear, he realized that the dream had not deceived him. While dancing, the Bear winked at him, as if saying: "You will see, we will be friends."

Gianni Rodari La freccia azzurra

* * *

Part one

Chapter I
Signora five minutes to the baroness

The fairy was an old lady, very well-bred and noble, almost a baroness.

“They call me,” she sometimes muttered to herself, “just a Fairy, and I don’t protest: you need to have indulgence towards the ignorant. But I am almost a baroness; decent people know this.

“Yes, Signora Baroness,” the maid assented.

“I’m not a 100% Baroness, but I don’t miss her so much. And the difference is almost imperceptible. Is not it?

“Invisible, Signora Baroness. And decent people do not notice her ...

It was just the first morning of the new year. All night long Fairy and her maid traveled on the rooftops, delivering gifts. Their dresses were covered with snow and icicles.

The maid put the broom back in place, grumbling:

- A pretty little business - flying on a broom! This is in our time when airplanes were invented! I have already caught a cold because of this.

“Prepare me a glass of flower broth,” the Fairy ordered, putting on her glasses and sitting down in an old leather chair in front of the writing table.

“Just a minute, Baroness,” said the maid.

The fairy looked at her approvingly.

The fairy sighed and buried herself in her books.

- So, let's sum up the balance. Business this year is unimportant, money is not enough. Still, everyone wants good gifts from the Fairy, and when it comes to paying for them, they start bargaining. Everyone tries to borrow money, promising to pay later, as if the Fairy is some kind of sausage maker. However, there is nothing to complain about today: all the toys that were in the store have sold out, and now we will need to bring new ones from the warehouse.

She closed the book and began to print out the letters she found in her mailbox.