Chapter 9 Pinocchio Mourns the Fairy.
With the weight of the dog collar off his neck, Pinocchio felt so light.
He practically flew across meadows and fields beyond the tree where he had been hung.
He ran until he got to the road that would take him to Fairy's house.
When he reached the spot where the house used to be, however, there was nothing there.
In fact, there was only a marble slab on which was carved.
Here lies the lovely fairy who died of grief when abandoned by Pinocchio.
Pinocchio gasped and burst into tears.
He could not believe that his beloved fairy was dead.
He said to the air, because there was no one there to hear him.
You are not really dead, are you?
Please come back.
I am so lonely.
Don't you feel sorry for me?
You are dead and my father is lost.
Who will take care of me?
Pinocchio was so upset that he tried to tear his hair off, but it was painted on his wooden head, so he couldn't even grab it.
He was attempting to flake off some of the paint instead when a large pigeon flew overhead.
"'Excuse me,' the pigeon said.
"'I do not mean to interrupt you, but do you by any chance know where I can find a boy named Pinocchio?'
Pinocchio leaped up.
"'Why, I am Pinocchio,' he cried.
"'So you know Geppetto?'
"'Do I know him?
He's my father.
Is he still alive?
Will you take me to him?'
He is on the beach, the pigeon replied.
He thinks you are across the sea.
He's building a boat to cross the ocean to find you.
Pinocchio cried.
I must get to him at once, but how should I get there if I only had your wings?
Are you heavy, the pigeon asked.
Why, I'm light as a feather, Pinocchio replied.
What's one more of those, the pigeon said.
Climb aboard.
I will take you.
Within a few seconds, the pigeon and his passenger were in the cool and misty clouds.
They flew and flew, and by the next day they had reached the shore.
Thank you, Pinocchio exclaimed.
Good luck, the pigeon replied, and flew away.
Turning toward the ocean, Pinocchio quickly realized that something was wrong.
Crowds of people stood at the edge of the shore, wailing as they looked out over the water.
Running over to join them, Pinocchio asked an old woman what was happening.
A poor old father lost his only son some time ago and just today he finished the tiny boat he was building to go find him.
We were all very excited for him, but when he set out to sea a few minutes ago but the water is very rough and we are now afraid he will drown
Pinocchio squinted and looked out at the sea.
Finally, he spotted the tiny boat which was by then so far out on the horizon that it was only a speck.
'Father'.
He cried, waving energetically, but of course Geppetto was too far away to hear her see him.
Rushing onto a high rock.
Pinocchio even tried to wave his nose like a long skinny flag to signal and guide Geppetto to shore'.
Suddenly, however, Geppetto did seem to see Pinocchio.
The old man stood up and waved.
'I'm coming back in' he seemed to be saying with his hand gestures, and he might have done just that had not a huge wave suddenly come and overtaken the boat'.
The sea seemed to swallow Geppetto in one gulp.
Poor man, the crowd sighed.
A few people muttered prayers, then thinking the excitement over, most of them turned to go home.
But just then, a desperate cry was heard.
The people turned around and watched as that little puppet Pinocchio dove bravely into the ocean.
I'll save you, father, he uttered the first time he came up for air.
Oh, poor puppet, the crowd sighed again.
A few people muttered some more prayers.
Then, thinking the excitement really over this time, most of them once again turned to go home.
