7 Fox and Cat and the Field of Wonders

CHAPTER 7 Fox and Cat and the Field of Wonders Oh, how the vain Pinocchio cried over that endless nose! But Fairy showed no pity. After all, she thought, he had to learn that lies had consequences. In the end, however, she felt sorry for him and summoned several thousand woodpeckers. They flew in through the window and pecked all of the extra nose length away. "Oh, Fairy," Pinocchio said. "I would like

to stay here and live with you forever." "I would like that, too," Fairy said. "We could be brother and sister." "But what about my father?" Pinocchio asked. "I already thought of that," Fairy replied. "I sent for your father. He's on his way here now." Pinocchio was so happy, he couldn't wait. He wanted to meet his father halfway, so he left Fairy's house and set out for the woods. Under the big oak where he had been hung, he heard a rustle in the bushes and was surprised to see Fox and Cat. "There you are, dear!" cried Fox, hugging him. "We've missed you!" "Where have you been and what has happened to you since last we saw you?" asked Cat. "It's a long story," Pinocchio said, and told

them about the muggers. "Rascals!" exclaimed Fox. "Of the worst kind!" added Cat. Pinocchio noticed that Cat's paw was wrapped in a bandage, but when he asked about it, Cat looked nervously away. Fox jumped in and explained that upon meeting a starving old wolf on the road, generous Cat had nibbled off a piece of his own paw and given it to the hungry beast. "Kind Cat," Pinocchio said, wiping away a tear. "So... where are your gold pieces," Cat asked casually. "Oh, I still have them in my pocket, except for the one I spent at the Inn of the Red Shrimp." "Wonderful," Fox and Cat cried. "Let's go to the Field of Wonders, where you can bury them and turn those four coins into two

thousand!" "It's impossible for me to go today. I am meeting my father. I'll go with you some other time." "Another day will be too late," said Fox. "The field closes tomorrow." "Oh," Pinocchio said, frowning. "I really shouldn't." But then, like all little boys with big hearts and small brains, he hesitated and asked, "Well, is it very far?" And so it was settled. Off the trio went, walking until they came to the City of Simpletons. What a strange place this city was. It was filled with pathetic creatures: hungry and hairless dogs, featherless chickens begging for grains of wheat, and large butterflies and peacocks who were missing their colorful wings and tails because they had sold them. Every once in a while, an elegant coach

passed through the poor and pathetic crowd. In it rode either a fox, a hawk, or a vulture, all of whom looked very healthy and wealthy. Finally, the trio arrived at the field. Fox instructed Pinocchio to dig a hole, plant the gold pieces, and sprinkle the earth with water and salt. Pinocchio obeyed. "What now?" Pinocchio asked. "Go for a walk," Fox said. "Come back in twenty minutes and you will find a beautiful gold tree with two thousand gold pieces as flowers."

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