Chapter 17 Pinocchio Finds His Father.
Pinocchio walked for what felt like miles to get to the source of the light.
Finally, he found it, and can you guess what it was?
A candle stuck in a glass bottle sitting on a table.
At the table sat not a fish, but a little old man munching on something.
Pinocchio squinted and looked closer.
Wait, could it possibly be?
He wanted to laugh, he wanted to cry, he wanted to say a thousand and one things, but all he could do was stand still, stuttering and stammering brokenly.
At last, with a great effort, he opened his arms wide and ran rushing to embrace the little old man.
"'Father, I have found you at last!' the old man rubbed his eyes.
"'Could it possibly be?' he stammered and blinked.
"'Are you really my dear little Pinocchio?'
Pinocchio assured him that indeed he was.
Sitting on his father's lap.
He then proceeded to tell him, in an excited rush, everything that had happened to him since they had parted ways.
I saw you when you swam out to reach me.
Geppetto exclaimed, but I couldn't get the boat back to shore.
The waves were so rough and then this terrible shark came and swallowed me.
And you have been here in the shark's stomach for these past two years, Pinocchio asked, amazed.
How have you survived?
Geppetto explained that the shark had also swallowed a large sunken ship, free of sailors but loaded with meat, canned goods crackers raisins cheese coffee sugar, candles and matches.
Unfortunately, Geppetto said, I am down to my final crumbs and my very last candle.
And then, And then, my son, we shall find ourselves sitting in darkness.
Then there's no time to lose, Pinocchio cried.
We must try to escape.
Pinocchio suggested that they run out of the shark's mouth and dive into the sea.
But Geppetto, like the Tunny, was scared and unsure.
I can't swim, he added.
Well, I can, Pinocchio replied.
I will carry you on my shoulders.
Don't be afraid.
Come on.
Father and son walked a long while through the stomach and the whole body of the shark.
When they reached the throat, they stopped and hid behind a tonsil, waiting for just the right moment to make their move.
That poor old asthmatic shark slept with its mouth open in order to breathe.
Pinocchio could look out and see the starry sky.
Grabbing Geppetto's hand, Pinocchio whispered.
The two climbed up the throat, walking carefully on their tiptoes across the shark's thick, spongy tongue, trying not to tickle him, but tickle him they must have.
For at that moment the shark gave a terrible wheeze, violently sucking them back down into his stomach.
To make matters worse, the candle had now gone out and the two were left in darkness.
Oh, well, Geppetto said, we tried.
And we will try again, Pinocchio vowed.
Give me your hand, dear father, and don't be scared.
With these words, Pinocchio led his father back up the throat, across the tongue and carefully over three rows of teeth.
At the edge of the shark's mouth, Pinocchio told his father to climb aboard.
With Geppetto seated comfortably on his shoulders, Pinocchio did a swan, dive into the ocean and began to swim.
The sea was smooth and the moon lit their way.
Finally, they were free, reunited, and headed home.
Everything seemed fine until Pinocchio noticed that his father was shivering violently in the cold water.
Hang in there, Pinocchio said.
We're almost at the shore.
Geppetto weakly lifted up his head.
I see nothing but sea and sky.
Pinocchio had to admit that his father was right and he himself was getting weak and starting to shiver from the cold of the water.
Still, he tried to comfort the old man.
'I see it' he lied, and this time, perhaps because his lie was for a very good cause, his nose stayed put'.
Pinocchio continued to try his best.
Soon, however, he could not fake it any longer.
He was exhausted, too.
It was over.
'I'm so sorry, father'.
He whispered, his head just barely above the water, and father and son started to sink.
Just then, a gravelly voice called out from the water beneath them.
What's the trouble?
A head popped up and, wouldn't you know it, it was the tunny fish that had been with them in the terrible shark's stomach.
Tunny?
Pinocchio asked.
How did you escape?
I thought you had given up.
I had.
The Tunny said, but then I decided to be brave.
I followed you.
You saved my life, and now I shall save yours.
Climb aboard my back, and I shall soon have you safely to shore.
Are we too heavy? asked Pinocchio once they were aboard.
You're as light as seashells, answered the fish.
And in just a few seconds, they had reached the shore.
After thanking Natani and wishing him well, Geppetto and Pinocchio began to walk.
Almost immediately, they came upon two rough-looking characters.
It took Pinocchio a second, but eventually he realized it was Fox and Cat.
After pretending to be blind for so many years, Cat had now really lost sight in both of his eyes, and Fox old, thin and almost hairless, had been forced to sell his bushy fancy tail for some bread.
They were pathetic.
Help us, Pinocchio, they begged.
Give us something.
This time, however, Pinocchio was not fooled by these false friends.
He gave them only some priceless advice.
Remember he said money, and especially stolen money, never bears fruit in the field of wonders or anywhere else.
That's it?
Cat asked.
That's all you're going to give us?
It's more than you deserve, Pinocchio said, and he and Geppetto continued on their way.
They soon came upon a tiny cottage built of straw, and they knocked on the door.
Who is it? said a little voice from inside.
A poor father and a poorer son, they replied, nearly drowned and now starving and without shelter.
Come in, the little voice cried.
Geppetto and Pinocchio entered.
They looked high and low, but saw no one there.
I am up here, the voice cried from above.
There on a beam sat Cricket.
Dear Cricket!
Pinocchio cried happily.
Oh, now you call me your dear Cricket, but do you remember when you threw your hammer at me and ignored my warnings?
I am so sorry, Pinocchio replied.
You're right.
You've always been right.
I don't deserve forgiveness, but help my poor father, won't you?
Cricket smiled.
I will help you both, he said.
I only wanted to remind you that in this world, we must treat each other the way we wish to be treated.
