Encyclopedia of Fairytale Heroes: "Journey of the Blue Arrow". Journey of the Blue Arrow by Gianni Rodari

Page 1 of 14

CHAPTER I

“They call me,” she sometimes muttered to herself, “just Fairy, and I don’t protest: after all, one must have indulgence towards the ignorant.” But I'm almost a baroness; decent people know this.
“Yes, Signora Baroness,” the maid agreed.
“I'm not a 100% baroness, but I don't miss her that much. And the difference is almost imperceptible. Is not it?
“Invisible, Signora Baroness. And decent people don't notice it...
It was just the first morning of the new year. All night long, the Fairy and her maid traveled over the rooftops, delivering gifts. Their dresses were covered with snow and icicles.
“Fire 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 its place, grumbling:
“Nice business to fly on a broomstick!” This is in our time, when airplanes were invented! I've 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 that stood in front of desk.
“Just a minute, Baroness,” said the maid.
The fairy eyed her approvingly.
“She is a little lazy,” thought the Fairy, “but she knows the rules of good manners and knows how to behave with the signora of my circle. I promise her to increase wages. In fact, of course, I will not increase it, and so there is not enough money.
It must be said that the Fairy, for all her nobility, was rather stingy. Twice a year she promised the old maid to increase her wages, but limited herself to promises. The maid had long been tired of hearing only words, she wanted to hear the sound 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 sugar.
The fairy sighed and buried herself in her books.

So let's strike a balance. Things are not important this year, there is not enough money. Still, everyone wants to receive good gifts from the Fairy, and when it comes to paying for them, everyone starts to bargain. Everyone is trying to borrow, promising to pay later, as if the Fairy is some kind of sausage. However, today there is nothing to particularly complain about: all the toys that were in the store sold out, and now we will need to bring new ones from the warehouse.
She closed the book and began to open the letters she found in her mailbox.
- I knew it! she spoke. “I risk pneumonia by delivering my goods, and no thanks!” This one did not want a wooden saber - give him a pistol! Does he know that the gun costs a thousand lire more? Another, imagine, wanted to get an airplane! His father is the doorman of the courier of the secretary of one employee of the lottery, and he had only three hundred lire to buy a gift. What could I give him for such a pittance?
The fairy threw the letters back into the box, took off her glasses and called:
Teresa, is the decoction ready?
“Ready, ready, Signora Baroness.
And the old maid gave the Baroness a steaming glass.
“Did you put a drop of rum in here?”
- Two whole spoons!
- I would have had one ... Now I understand why the bottle is almost empty. To think we only bought it four years ago!
Sipping a boiling drink in small sips and managing not to get burned at the same time, as only old gentlemen can do.

The fairy roamed her little kingdom, carefully checking every corner of the kitchen, the store, and the small wooden ladder that led to the second floor where the bedroom was.
How sad the store looked, with the curtains drawn, the windows empty, and the cabinets littered with empty boxes of toys and heaps of wrapping paper!
- Prepare the keys to the warehouse and a candle, - said the fairy, - you need to bring new toys.
“But Signora Baroness, do you want to work even today, on the day of your holiday?” Do you really think that anyone will come shopping today? After all, New Year's Eve, the night of the Fairy, has already passed ...
Yes, but until the next new year's eve only three hundred and sixty-five days remained.
I must tell you that Fairy's shop remained open throughout the year and its windows were always lit. Thus, the children had enough time to choose one or another toy, and the parents had time to make their calculations in order to be able to order it.
And besides, there are still birthdays, and everyone knows that children find these days very suitable for receiving gifts.
Now you understand what the Fairy does from the first of January until the next New Year? She sits behind a shop window and looks at passers-by. She pays special attention to the faces of the children. She immediately understands whether they like or dislike a new toy, and if they do not like it, she removes it from the window and replaces it with another one.
Oh, sir, something now attacked me with doubt! That's how it was when I was little. Who knows if the Fairy now has this shop with a showcase lined with toy trains, dolls, rag dogs, guns, pistols, figures of Indians and puppets!
I remember it, this Fairy shop. How many hours I spent at this showcase, counting toys! It took a long time to count them, and I never had time to count to the end, because I had to take home the milk I bought.

Chapter II. THE SHOWCASE IS FILLING

The warehouse was in the basement, which was a car; once under the shop. The fairy and her maid had to go up and down the stairs twenty times to fill the cupboards and display cases with new toys.
Already during the third flight Teresa was tired.
“Signora,” she said, stopping in the middle of the stairs with a large bunch of dolls in her hands, “Signora Baroness, my heart is beating.
“That's good, my dear, that's very good,” said the Fairy, “it would be worse if it didn't beat anymore.
“My legs hurt, Signora Baroness.
- Leave them in the kitchen, let them rest, especially since you can’t wear anything with your feet.
“Signora Baroness, I don’t have enough air…
“I didn't steal it from you, my dear, I have enough of mine.
And indeed, it seemed that the Fairy never got tired. Despite her advanced age, she hopped up the steps as if she were dancing, as if she had springs 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 fashionable. Don't you think that this electric train is just a miracle?! I'll name him Blue Arrow and I swear I'll give up trading if tomorrow hundreds of childish eyes will not devour him from morning to evening.
Indeed, it was a wonderful train, with two barriers, with a station and the Chief Stationmaster, with a Driver, and a Trainmaster with glasses. After lying in the warehouse for so many months, the electric train was covered with dust, but the Fairy wiped it thoroughly with a cloth, and the blue paint sparkled like the water of an alpine lake: the entire train, including the Station Master, Train Master and Driver, was painted blue.

When the Fairy wiped the dust from the Machinist's eyes, he looked around and exclaimed:
At last I see! I have the impression that I was buried in a cave for several months. So when are we leaving? I'm ready.
“Calm down, calmly,” the Head of the Train interrupted him, wiping his glasses with a handkerchief. The train will not move without my order.
“Count the stripes on your beret,” a third voice said, “and you will see who is in charge here.
The Head of the Train counted his stripes. He had four. Then he counted the stripes from the Station Master - five. The Head of the Train sighed, hid his glasses and fell silent. The Station Master paced up and down the window, brandishing his baton to signal departure. On the square in front of the station lined up a regiment of tin shooters with a brass band and the Colonel. A little to the side there was a whole artillery battery headed by the General.
Behind the station was a green plain and scattered hills. On the plain around the chief, whose name was Silverfeather, the Indians were camped. At the top of the mountain, the mounted cowboys held their lasso at the ready.
An airplane suspended from the ceiling swayed over the roof of the station: 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 rise to his feet: he had no legs. It was the Seated Pilot.
Next to the airplane hung a red cage with a Canary, whose name was Yellow Canary. When the cage was slightly rocked, the Canary sang.
There were more puppets in the window, a Yellow Bear cub, a rag dog named Button, paints, Constructor, a small theater with three Puppets, and a fast two-masted sailboat. The Captain paced nervously along the captain's bridge of the sailboat. Only half of his beard was stuck on to him out of absent-mindedness, so he carefully hid the beardless half of his Face so as not to look like a freak.

The Station Master and the 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 decide on the high command in the display case.
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 no one else.
As for the rag dog, he would wag his tail with pleasure and jump for joy. But he could not show these signs of attention to all three, and he did not want to choose one of them, so as not to offend the other two. So he sat quietly and motionless, and he looked a little stupid. His name was written in red letters on the collar: "Button". Maybe it was called 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 poured into the window in a golden cascade, causing terrible fear in everyone, because no one had seen it before.
“A hundred thousand deaf whales!” barked the Half-bearded Captain. - What's happened?

- For help! For help! the dolls squealed, hiding behind each other.
The general ordered that the cannons be immediately turned towards the enemy in order to be ready to repel any attack. Only Silver Feather remained unfazed. He took a long pipe out of his mouth, which he did only in exceptional cases, and said:
Don't be afraid, toys. This is the Great Spirit - the Sun, the universal friend. Look how cheerful the whole square is, rejoicing at his arrival.

Everyone looked at the window. The area really sparkled under the rays of the sun. The jets of fountains seemed fiery. Gentle warmth penetrated through the dusty glass into Fairy's shop.
“A thousand drunken whales!” the Captain muttered again. - I'm a sea wolf, not a sun!
The dolls, happily chatting, immediately began to take sunbathing.
However, the sun's rays could not penetrate into one corner of the display case. The shadow fell just on the Engineer, and he was very angry:
“It must have happened that I was the one in the shadows!”
He looked out the window and keen eyes, accustomed to staring at the tracks for hours on long journeys, met with a pair of huge, wide-open eyes of a child.
One could look into those eyes the way one looks into a house when there are no curtains on the windows. And looking into them. The driver saw a great childish sadness.
Strange, Blue Arrow Engineer thought. 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 sad to me, 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 ever seen eyes from which water would flow, and this surprised everyone very much.
“A thousand lame whales!” the Captain exclaimed. - I will record this event in the logbook!
Finally, the boy wiped his eyes with his jacket sleeve, went to the door of the store, grabbed the handle and pushed the door open.
There was a dull bell ringing, which seemed to be complaining, calling for help.

CHAPTER I

The fairy was an old lady, very well-bred and noble, almost a baroness.
“They call me,” she sometimes muttered to herself, “just Fairy, and I don’t protest: after all, one must have indulgence towards the ignorant.” But I'm almost a baroness; decent people know this.
“Yes, Signora Baroness,” the maid agreed.
“I'm not a 100% baroness, but I don't miss her that much. And the difference is almost imperceptible. Is not it?
“Invisible, Signora Baroness. And decent people don't notice it...
It was just the first morning of the new year. All night long, the Fairy and her maid traveled over the rooftops, delivering gifts. Their dresses were covered with snow and icicles.
“Fire 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 its place, grumbling:
“Nice business to fly on a broomstick!” This is in our time, when airplanes were invented! I've already caught a cold because of this.
“Prepare me a glass of flower decoction,” the Fairy ordered, putting on her glasses and sitting down in an old leather chair that stood in front of the desk.
“Just a minute, Baroness,” said the maid.
The fairy eyed her approvingly.
“She is a little lazy,” thought the Fairy, “but she knows the rules of good manners and knows how to behave with the signora of my circle. I will promise her a pay raise. In fact, of course, I will not increase it, and so there is not enough money.
It must be said that the Fairy, for all her nobility, was rather stingy. Twice a year she promised the old maid to increase her wages, but limited herself to promises. The maid had long been tired of hearing only words, she wanted to hear the sound 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 sugar.
The fairy sighed and buried herself in her books.

So let's strike a balance. Things are not important this year, there is not enough money. Still, everyone wants to receive good gifts from the Fairy, and when it comes to paying for them, everyone starts to bargain. Everyone is trying to borrow, promising to pay later, as if the Fairy is some kind of sausage. However, today there is nothing to particularly complain about: all the toys that were in the store sold out, and now we will need to bring new ones from the warehouse.
She closed the book and began to type out the letters she found in her mailbox.
- I knew it! she spoke. “I risk pneumonia by delivering my goods, and no thanks!” This one did not want a wooden saber - give him a pistol! Does he know that the gun costs a thousand lire more? Another, imagine, wanted to get an airplane! His father is the doorman of the courier of the secretary of one employee of the lottery, and he had only three hundred lire to buy a gift. What could I give him for such a pittance?
The fairy threw the letters back into the box, took off her glasses and called:
Teresa, is the decoction ready?
“Ready, ready, Signora Baroness.
And the old maid gave the Baroness a steaming glass.
“Did you put a drop of rum in here?”
- Two whole spoons!
- I would have had one ... Now I understand why the bottle is almost empty. To think we only bought it four years ago!
Sipping a boiling drink in small sips and managing not to get burned at the same time, as only old gentlemen can do.

The fairy roamed her little kingdom, carefully checking every corner of the kitchen, the store, and the small wooden ladder that led to the second floor where the bedroom was.
How sad the store looked, with the curtains drawn, the windows empty, and the cabinets littered with empty boxes of toys and heaps of wrapping paper!
- Prepare the keys to the warehouse and a candle, - said the fairy, - you need to bring new toys.
“But Signora Baroness, do you want to work even today, on the day of your holiday?” Do you really think that anyone will come shopping today? After all, New Year's Eve, the night of the Fairy, has already passed ...
“Yes, but there are only three hundred and sixty-five days left until next New Year's Eve.
I must tell you that Fairy's shop remained open throughout the year and its windows were always lit. Thus, the children had enough time to choose one or another toy, and the parents had time to make their calculations in order to be able to order it.
And besides, there are still birthdays, and everyone knows that children find these days very suitable for receiving gifts.
Now you understand what the Fairy does from the first of January until the next New Year? She sits behind a shop window and looks at passers-by. She pays special attention to the faces of the children. She immediately understands whether they like or dislike a new toy, and if they do not like it, she removes it from the window and replaces it with another one.
Oh, sir, something now attacked me with doubt! That's how it was when I was little. Who knows if the Fairy now has this shop with a showcase lined with toy trains, dolls, rag dogs, guns, pistols, figures of Indians and puppets!
I remember it, this Fairy shop. How many hours I spent at this showcase, counting toys! It took a long time to count them, and I never had time to count to the end, because I had to take home the milk I bought.

Chapter II. THE SHOWCASE IS FILLING

The warehouse was in the basement, which was a car; once under the shop. The fairy and her maid had to go up and down the stairs twenty times to fill the cupboards and display cases with new toys.
Already during the third flight Teresa was tired.
“Signora,” she said, stopping in the middle of the stairs with a large bunch of dolls in her hands, “Signora Baroness, my heart is beating.
“That's good, my dear, that's very good,” said the Fairy, “it would be worse if it didn't beat anymore.
“My legs hurt, Signora Baroness.
- Leave them in the kitchen, let them rest, especially since you can’t wear anything with your feet.
“Signora Baroness, I don’t have enough air…
“I didn't steal it from you, my dear, I have enough of mine.
And indeed, it seemed that the Fairy never got tired. Despite her advanced age, she hopped up the steps as if she were dancing, as if she had springs 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 fashionable. Don't you think that this electric train is just a miracle?! I will call him the Blue Arrow and, I swear, I will give up trading if from tomorrow hundreds of childish eyes do not devour him from morning to evening.
Indeed, it was a wonderful train, with two barriers, with a station and the Chief Stationmaster, with a Driver, and a Trainmaster with glasses. After lying in the warehouse for so many months, the electric train was covered with dust, but the Fairy wiped it thoroughly with a cloth, and the blue paint sparkled like the water of an alpine lake: the entire train, including the Station Master, Train Master and Driver, was painted blue.

When the Fairy wiped the dust from the Machinist's eyes, he looked around and exclaimed:
At last I see! I have the impression that I was buried in a cave for several months. So when are we leaving? I'm ready.
“Calm down, calmly,” the Head of the Train interrupted him, wiping his glasses with a handkerchief. The train will not move without my order.
“Count the stripes on your beret,” a third voice said, “and you will see who is in charge here.
The Head of the Train counted his stripes. He had four. Then he counted the stripes from the Station Master - five. The Head of the Train sighed, hid his glasses and fell silent. The Station Master paced up and down the window, brandishing his baton to signal departure. On the square in front of the station lined up a regiment of tin shooters with a brass band and the Colonel. A little to the side there was a whole artillery battery headed by the General.
Behind the station was a green plain and scattered hills. On the plain around the chief, whose name was Silverfeather, the Indians were camped. At the top of the mountain, the mounted cowboys held their lasso at the ready.
An airplane suspended from the ceiling swayed over the roof of the station: 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 rise to his feet: he had no legs. It was the Seated Pilot.
Next to the airplane hung a red cage with a Canary, whose name was Yellow Canary. When the cage was slightly rocked, the Canary sang.
There were more puppets in the window, a Yellow Bear, a rag dog named Button, paints, Constructor, a small theater with three Puppets, and a fast two-masted sailboat. The Captain paced nervously along the captain's bridge of the sailboat. Only half of his beard was glued on to him out of absent-mindedness, so he carefully concealed the beardless half of his Face so as not to look like a freak.

The Station Master and the 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 decide on the high command in the display case.
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 no one else.
As for the rag dog, he would wag his tail with pleasure and jump for joy. But he could not show these signs of attention to all three, and he did not want to choose one of them, so as not to offend the other two. So he sat quietly and motionless, and he looked a little stupid. His name was written in red letters on the collar: "Button". Maybe it was called 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 poured into the window in a golden cascade, causing terrible fear in everyone, because no one had seen it before.
“A hundred thousand deaf whales!” barked the Half-bearded Captain. - What's happened?
- For help! For help! the dolls squealed, hiding behind each other.
The general ordered that the cannons be immediately turned towards the enemy in order to be ready to repel any attack. Only Silver Feather remained unfazed. He took a long pipe out of his mouth, which he did only in exceptional cases, and said:
Don't be afraid, toys. This is the Great Spirit - the Sun, the universal friend. Look how cheerful the whole square is, rejoicing at his arrival.

Everyone looked at the window. The area really sparkled under the rays of the sun. The jets of fountains seemed fiery. Gentle warmth penetrated through the dusty glass into Fairy's shop.
“A thousand drunken whales!” the Captain muttered again. - I'm a sea wolf, not a sun!
The dolls, happily chatting, immediately began to take sunbaths.
However, the sun's rays could not penetrate into one corner of the display case. The shadow fell just on the Engineer, and he was very angry:
“It must have happened that I was the one in the shadows!”
He peered out the window, and his keen eyes, accustomed to staring at the tracks for hours on long journeys, met a pair of huge, wide-open eyes of a child.
One could look into those eyes the way one looks into a house when there are no curtains on the windows. And looking into them. The driver saw a great childish sadness.
Strange, Blue Arrow Engineer thought. 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 sad to me, like an old man. What happened to him?"

Chapter III. 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 up her hair as she went.
"Whoever it is, why doesn't he close the door?" she muttered. “I didn’t hear the bell, but I immediately felt a draft.
She put on her spectacles for the sake of solidity and entered the shop with small slow steps, as a real lady should walk, especially if she is almost a baroness. But when she saw a poorly dressed boy in front of her, who was crumpling his blue beret in his hands, she realized that the ceremonies were superfluous.
- Well? What's the matter? - With all her appearance, the Fairy seemed to want to say: “Speak quickly, I don’t have time.”
“I… Signora…” the boy whispered.
Everyone in the window froze, but nothing was heard.
- What did he say? whispered the Head of the Train.
- Shh! ordered the Station Master. - Do not make noise!

- My boy! exclaimed the Fairy, who felt that she was beginning to lose patience, as she always did when she had to speak 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 to me good letter.
“But, signora, I have already written to you,” the boy whispered hastily, afraid of losing his courage.
- Oh, that's how! When?
“About a month ago.
- Let's see. What is your name?
— Monty Francesco.
- The address?
- Quardicciolo...
“Um… Monty, Monty… Here, Francesco Monti. Indeed, twenty-three days ago you asked me for an electric train as a gift. Why only the train? You could ask me for an airplane or an airship, or even better, 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 am neither good nor bad. I work, but I can't work for free. Your mother didn't have the money to pay for the train. She wanted to leave me an old watch in exchange for the train. But I can't see them, these hours! 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 it?
No, the boy didn't know that. Mothers rarely share their troubles with their children.
“That's why you didn't get anything this year. Do you understand? Don't you think I'm right?
“Yes, signora, you are right,” Francesco muttered, “I just thought you forgot my address.
No, on the contrary, I remember him very well. You see, here 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 was listening in on their conversation, hearing that she was called the secretary, almost lost consciousness 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 was gone.
- Okay, I'm burying you! Fairy muttered rudely. “In the meantime, hang a sign on the door: “Closed until tomorrow” so that other annoying visitors do not come.
“Perhaps lower the curtain?”
- Yes, please drop it. I see that there will not be good trading today.
The maid ran to follow orders. Francesco was still standing outside the store with his nose in the window, waiting for what he didn't know. The curtain, descending, almost hit him on the head. Francesco stuck his nose in dusty curtain and sobbed.
In the window, these sobs produced an extraordinary effect. One after another, the dolls also began to cry and wept so hard that the Captain could not stand it and cursed:

- What monkeys! Already learned to cry! He spat on the deck and chuckled. “A thousand skew whales!” Cry for the train! Yes, I would not exchange my sailboat for all the trains of all railways peace.
Grand Chief Silverfeather took his pipe out of his mouth, as he had to do every time he wanted to say something, and said:
“Captain Halfbeard does not 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 cock!" he shouted. “Or I’ll go downstairs and pluck you like a Christmas turkey!”
And for a long time he continued to spew curses, so flowery that the General, deciding that a war was about to begin, ordered the cannons to be loaded. But Silver Feather took the pipe into his mouth and fell silent, and then even dozed sweetly. By the way, he always slept with a pipe in his mouth.

Chapter IV. STATION HEAD DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO

The next day, Francesco returned, and his sad eyes were again fixed on blue arrow. He came on the second day, and on the third. Sometimes he would stop at the shop window for only a few minutes and then run away without turning around. Sometimes he stood idle in front of the shop window for long hours. His nose was pressed against the glass, and his blond forelock hung down on his forehead. He affectionately glanced at the other toys, but it was clear that his heart belonged to the wonderful train.
The Station Master, the Train Master and the Engineer were very proud of this and with important view looked around, but no one was offended by them for this.

All the inhabitants of the shop window were in love with their Francesco. Other children came, who also looked at the toys for a long time, but the inhabitants of the shop window hardly noticed them. If Francesco didn't show up at the usual time. The Station Master paced nervously up and down the tracks, glancing anxiously at his watch. The captain cursed. The seated 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 relight it.
And so all the days, all the months, the whole year.
The fairy daily received whole bundles of letters, which she carefully read, making notes and calculations. But 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 was approaching - New Year.
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 come up with something, some idea. But he only took off and put on his beret with five stripes, or looked at the toes of his boots, as if seeing them for the first time.

Chapter V. THE BUTTON IDEA

The idea - who would have thought - was given by a rag dog - 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 came into his head, he thought for a long time before telling his friends about it. But who could he talk to? The dolls were too elegant gentlemen to pay attention to a dog that belonged to God knows what breed. The lead soldiers wouldn't refuse to talk to him, but the officers certainly wouldn't let them. 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 learned how to bark...
So this time, when he opened his mouth to explain his brilliant idea to them, there was such a strange sound, midway 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 redskins 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 says. The dog always talks little and thinks a lot. Who think a lot, 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," said the Stationmaster. “His mother didn’t come here anymore, and she doesn’t write letters anymore – I always keep a close eye on the mail.
- Well, - continued Button, - it also seems to me that Francesco will not receive anything. But I really wouldn't want to go to any other boy.
"Me too," muttered Yellow Bear, scratching the back of his head.
“So are we,” said the three Puppets, who all spoke in unison.
“What do you say,” continued the dog, “if we surprise him?”
Ha ha ha, surprise! the dolls laughed. - What is it?
“Shut up,” the Captain ordered, “women must always keep quiet.”
“I beg your pardon,” the Sitting Pilot shouted, “don’t make such a noise, otherwise you can’t hear anything upstairs!” Let the button speak.
“We know his name,” Button said when silence returned. We know his address. Why don't we all go to him?
- To whom? one of the dolls asked.
- To Francesco.
Silence reigned for a moment, then a lively discussion unfolded: everyone shouted his own, not listening to what others were saying.
But this is a riot! exclaimed the General. “I can't afford such a thing. I suggest you obey my orders!
- So what is next?
- Farther? Nothing! You need to be disciplined!
“And go where the Fairy takes us?” Then Francesco will not receive anything this year either, because his name is written in the debt book ...
- A thousand whales!
"However," the Station Master intervened, "we know the address, but we don't know the road."

“I thought about it,” Button whispered timidly, “I can find my way with my instincts.”
“And I can read the earth,” said Silverfeather. - I also tell everyone to go to Francesco.
Now it was necessary not to chat, but to make a decision. Everyone looked towards the General of Artillery.
For some time the General, scratching his chin, paced in front of his five cannons, lined up in battle order, 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…
– Hurrah! shouted the gunners.
A band of riflemen played a march capable of resurrecting the dead, and the Machinist turned on the horn of the locomotive and honked until everyone was almost deaf.
The trip was scheduled for next New Year's Eve. At midnight, the Fairy was supposed to come, as usual, to the store to fill her basket with toys ... But the showcase would be empty.
“Imagine what her face will look like!” the Captain grinned, spitting on the deck of his sailboat.
And the next evening...

Chapter VI. FOR THE NEXT EVENING

The first thing the toys had to decide was how to get out of the store. Cut through the curtain like it suggested Chief Engineer turned out to be beyond their power. And the store door was locked with three locks.
“I thought about that, too,” said Button.
Everyone looked with admiration at the little rag puppy, who had been thinking 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 stick our nose everywhere. Sometimes this shortcoming is useful.
“Very well,” the General retorted sharply, “but I can’t imagine how you can lower the artillery down all these ladders into the warehouse. What about Blue Arrow? Have you ever seen a train going down stairs?
Silverfeather took the pipe out of his mouth. Everyone was silent, waiting.
“White people always quarrel and forget the Sitting Pilot.
What do you mean by that, great leader?
Seated Pilot to transport everyone in an airplane.
Indeed, it was the only way to get down to the warehouse. The seated Pilot liked the offer:

Gianni Rodari

Journey of the Blue Arrow

Gianni Rodari La freccia azzurra

* * *

Part one

Signora without five minutes baroness

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

“Yes, Signora Baroness,” the maid agreed.

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

“Invisible, Signora Baroness. And decent people don't notice it...

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

“Fire 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 its place, grumbling:

“Nice business to fly on a broomstick!” This is in our time, when airplanes were invented! I've already caught a cold because of this.

“Prepare me a glass of flower decoction,” the Fairy ordered, putting on her glasses and sitting down in an old leather chair that stood in front of the desk.

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

The fairy looked at her approvingly.

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

It must be said that the Fairy, for all her nobility, was rather stingy. Twice a year she promised the old maid to increase her wages, but limited herself to promises. The maid had long been tired of hearing only words, she wanted to hear the sound 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 sugar.

The fairy sighed and buried herself in her books.

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

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

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

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

Teresa, is the decoction ready?

“Ready, ready, Signora Baroness.

And the old maid gave the Baroness a steaming glass.

“Did you put a drop of rum in here?”

- Two whole spoons!

- I would have had one ... Now I understand why the bottle is almost empty. To think we only bought it four years ago!

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

How sad the store looked with its curtains down, empty windows and cupboards littered with toy boxes and piles of wrapping paper!

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

“But Signora Baroness, do you want to work even today, on the day of your holiday?” Do you really think that anyone will come shopping today? After all, New Year's Eve, the night of the Fairy, has already passed ...

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

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

Thus, the children had enough time to choose one or another toy, and the parents had time to make their calculations in order to be able to order it.

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

Now you understand what the Fairy does from the first of January until the next New Year? She sits behind a shop window and looks at passers-by. She pays special attention to the faces of the children. She immediately understands whether they like or dislike a new toy, and if they do not like it, she removes it from the window and replaces it with another one.

Oh, sir, something now attacked me with doubt! That's how it was when I was little. Who knows if the Fairy now has this shop with a showcase lined with toy trains, dolls, rag dogs, guns, pistols, figures of Indians and puppets?

I remember it, this Fairy shop. How many hours I spent at this showcase, counting toys! It took a long time to count them, and I never had time to count to the end, because I had to take home the milk I bought.

The showcase is filling up

The warehouse was in the basement, which was just under the store. The fairy and her maid had to go down and up the stairs twenty times to fill the cupboards and showcases with new toys.

Already during the third flight Teresa was tired.

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

“That's good, my dear, that's very good,” said the Fairy, “it would be worse if it didn't beat anymore.

“My legs hurt, Signora Baroness.

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

“Signora Baroness, I don’t have enough air…

“I didn't steal it from you, my dear, I have enough of mine.

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

“These Indians bring me an income of two hundred lire each. Even, perhaps, three hundred lire. Now the Indians are very fashionable. Don't you think that this electric train is just a miracle?! I will call him the Blue Arrow and, I swear, I will give up trading if from tomorrow hundreds of childish eyes do not devour him from morning to evening.

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

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

At last I see! I have the impression that I was buried in a cave for several months. So when are we leaving? I'm ready.

“Calm down, calmly,” the Head of the Train interrupted him, wiping his glasses with a handkerchief. The train will not move without my order.

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

The Head of the Train counted his stripes. He had four. Then he counted the stripes from the Station Master - five. The Head of the Train sighed, hid his glasses and fell silent. The Station Master paced up and down the window, brandishing his baton to signal departure. On the square in front of the station lined up a regiment of tin shooters with a brass band and the Colonel. A little to the side there was a whole artillery battery headed by the General.

Behind the station was a green plain and scattered hills. On the plain around the chief, whose name was Silverfeather, the Indians were camped. At the top of the mountain, the mounted cowboys held their lassoes at the ready.

An airplane suspended from the ceiling swayed over the roof of the station: 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 rise to his feet: he had no legs. It was the Seated Pilot.

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

There were more puppets in the window, a Yellow Bear cub, a rag dog named Button, paints, Constructor, a small theater with three Puppets, and a fast two-masted sailboat. The Captain paced nervously along the captain's bridge of the sailboat. Only half of his beard was glued on, out of absent-mindedness, so he carefully concealed the beardless half of his face so as not to look like a freak.

The dolls divided into two groups: some sighed for the Stationmaster, 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 wag his tail with pleasure and jump for joy. But he could not give these signs of attention to all three, and he did not want to choose anyone, so as not to offend the other two. So he sat quietly and motionless, and he looked a little stupid. His name was written in red letters on the collar: "Button". Maybe it was called 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 poured into the window in a golden cascade, causing terrible fear in everyone, because no one had seen it before.

“A hundred thousand deaf whales!” barked the Half-bearded Captain. - What's happened?

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

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

Don't be afraid, toys. This is the Great Spirit - the Sun, the universal friend. Look how cheerful the whole square is, rejoicing at his arrival.

Everyone looked at the window. The area really sparkled under the rays of the sun. The jets of fountains seemed fiery. Gentle warmth penetrated through the dusty glass into Fairy's shop.

“Thousands of drunken whales!” the Captain muttered again. - I'm a sea wolf, not a sun!

The dolls, happily chatting, immediately began to take sunbaths. However, the sun's rays could not penetrate into one corner of the display case. The shadow fell just on the Engineer, and he was very angry:

“It must have happened that I was the one in the shadows!”

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

One could look into those eyes the way 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, Blue Arrow Engineer thought. I have always heard that children are fun people. All they know is that they laugh and play from morning to evening. And this one seems sad to me, like an old man. What happened to him?"

“A thousand lame whales!” the Captain exclaimed. "I'll record this event in the ship's log!"

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

The half-bearded captain is 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 up her hair as she went.

"Whoever it is, why doesn't he close the door?" she muttered. “I didn’t hear the bell, but I immediately felt a draft.

She put on her spectacles for the sake of solidity and entered the shop with small slow steps, as a real lady should walk, especially if she is almost a baroness. But when she saw a poorly dressed boy in front of her, who was crumpling his blue beret in his hands, she realized that the ceremonies were superfluous.

- Well? What's the matter? - With all her appearance, the Fairy seemed to want to say: “Speak quickly, I don’t have time.”

“I… Signora…” the boy whispered.

Everyone in the window froze, but nothing was heard.

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

- Shh! ordered the Station Master. - Do not make noise!

- My boy! exclaimed the Fairy, who felt herself beginning to lose her patience, as she always did when she had to speak to people who were unaware of her noble titles. “My dear boy, I have very little time. Hurry up, or leave me alone, or best of all, write me a good letter.

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

- Oh, that's how! When?

“About a month ago.

- Let's see. What is your name?

— Monty Francesco.

- Quardicciolo...

“Um… Monty, Monty… Here, Francesco Monti. Indeed, twenty-three days ago you asked me for an electric train as a gift. Why only the train? You could ask me for an airplane or an airship, or even better, 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 am neither good nor bad. I work, but I can't work for free. Your mother didn't have the money to pay for the train. She wanted to keep her old watch in exchange for the train. But I can't see them, these hours! Because they make time move faster. I also reminded her that she still had to pay me for the horse she took last year. And for the top, taken two years ago. Did you know about it?

No, the boy didn't know that. Mothers rarely share their troubles with their children.

“That's why you didn't get anything this year. Do you understand? Don't you think I'm right?

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

No, on the contrary, I remember him very well. You see, here 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 was listening in on their conversation, upon hearing that she was called the secretary, nearly passed out 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 had gone.

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

“Perhaps lower the curtain?”

- Yes, please drop it. I see that there will not be good trading today.

The maid ran to follow orders. Francesco was still standing outside the store with his nose in the window, waiting, he didn't know what. The curtain, descending, almost hit him on the head. Francesco stuck his nose into the dusty curtain and sobbed.

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

- What monkeys! Already learned to cry! He spat on the deck and chuckled. “A thousand skew whales!” Cry for the train! Yes, I would not exchange my sailboat for all the trains of all the railways in the world.

Grand Chief Silverfeather took his pipe out of his mouth, as he had to do every time he wanted to say something, and said:

“Captain Halfbeard does not 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 cock!" he shouted. “Or I’ll go downstairs and pluck you like a Christmas turkey!”

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

The stationmaster doesn't know what to do

Francesco returned the next day, his sad eyes fixed on the Blue Arrow again. He came on the second day, and on the third. Sometimes he would stop at the shop window for only a few minutes and then run away without turning around. Sometimes he stood idle in front of the shop window for long hours. His nose was pressed against the glass, and his blond forelock hung down on his forehead. He affectionately glanced at the other toys, but it was clear that his heart belonged to the wonderful train.

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

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

The fairy daily received 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 come up with something, some idea. But he only took off and put on his beret with five stripes, or looked at the toes of his boots, as if seeing 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 came into his head, he thought for a long time before telling his friends about it. But who could he talk to? The dolls were too elegant gentlemen to pay attention to a dog that belonged to God knows what breed. The lead soldiers wouldn't refuse to talk to him, but the officers certainly wouldn't let them. 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 learned how to bark...

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

Only Silver Feather didn't laugh, because redskins 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 says. The dog always talks little and thinks a lot. Who think a lot, 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," said the Station Master. “His mother didn’t come here anymore, and she doesn’t write letters anymore – I always keep a close eye on the mail.

- Well, - continued Button, - it also seems to me that Francesco will not receive anything. But I really wouldn't want to go to any other boy.

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

“What do you say,” continued the dog, “if we surprise him?”

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

“Shut up,” the Captain ordered, “women must always keep quiet.”

“I beg your pardon,” the Sitting Pilot shouted, “don’t make such a noise, otherwise you can’t hear anything upstairs!” Let the button speak.

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

- To whom? one of the dolls asked.

- To Francesco.

Silence reigned for a moment, then a lively discussion unfolded: everyone shouted his own, not listening to what others were saying.

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

“And go where the Fairy takes us?” Then Francesco will not receive anything this year either, because his name is written in the debt book ...

- A thousand whales!

"However," the Station Master intervened, "we know the address, but we don't know the road."

“I thought about it,” Button whispered timidly, “I can find my way with my instincts.”

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

For some time 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…

– Hurrah! shouted the gunners.

A band of riflemen played a march capable of resurrecting the dead, and the Machinist turned on the horn of the locomotive and honked until everyone was almost deaf. The trip was scheduled for next New Year's Eve. At midnight, the Fairy was supposed to come, as usual, to the store to fill her basket with toys ... But the showcase would be empty.

Imagine what her face will look like! the Captain grinned, spitting on the deck of his sailboat.

And the next evening...

Part two

The next evening

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

“I thought about that, too,” said Button.

Everyone looked with admiration at the little rag puppy, who had been thinking 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 stick our nose everywhere. Sometimes this shortcoming is useful.

“Very well,” the General retorted sharply, “but I can’t imagine how you can lower the artillery down all these ladders into the warehouse. What about Blue Arrow? Have you ever seen a train going down stairs?

Silverfeather took the pipe out of his mouth. Everyone was silent, waiting.

“White people always quarrel and forget the Sitting Pilot.

“What do you mean by that, great leader?

- Seated Pilot to transport everyone in an airplane.

Indeed, it was the only way to get down to the warehouse.

The seated Pilot liked the offer:

- A dozen flights - and the transition is done!

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

Whoever has legs does not need wings.

Thus, everyone who had legs descended on their own, and 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 were descending the steep stairs, the Captain flew over their heads.

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

He was still halfway there when a maid screamed in the store:

Help, help! Signora Baroness, thieves, robbers!

- All the toys were stolen from the window!

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

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

- Get the keys! Fairy screamed.

“The lock won't open, Signora Baroness.

They've locked themselves in! Okay, they can't get out of there. We'll have to sit here and wait until they give up.

Needless to say, Fairy was a brave old woman. But this time her courage was useless. Our fugitives, following the Button, which pointed the way, had already crossed the mountain of empty boxes and, one by one, through a hole in the wall, made their way to the neighboring basement.

It was not the first time for the Blue Arrow to go through the tunnels. The Head of the Station and the Head of the Train took their places next to the Driver, the smallest puppets, who had already begun to get tired, settled into 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 the "Constructor" took care of this. They built a cart on eight wheels in an instant and loaded the ship onto it along with the Captain.

Made it just in time.

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

What a strange story! the old woman muttered, trembling with fear.

“There is no one, Signora Baroness. Maybe an earthquake is to blame?

“The Blue Arrow has disappeared,” the Fairy whispered sadly. She disappeared without leaving any trace.

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

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

Yellow Bear gets off at the first stop

Adventures began immediately on the other side of the wall. The General raised the alarm. As you may have noticed, the General had an ardent temperament and constantly got involved in all sorts of quarrels and incidents.

“My guns,” he said, twirling his moustache, “my guns 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 in his head like a nail. As soon as the fugitives found themselves behind the wall of the warehouse, the General drew his sword and shouted:

- Alarm, alarm!

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

“The enemy is on the horizon, can't you see? All to guns! Load the guns! Get ready to shoot!

There was an incredible commotion. The gunners lined up their cannons in battle formation, the riflemen loaded their guns, the officers shouted out the words of command in sonorous voices and, imitating the General, twirled their mustaches.

- A thousand deaf-mute whales! the Captain barked from the height of his sailboat. - Order immediately to drag a few guns aboard my ship, otherwise they will let me go to the bottom.

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

“I don’t understand how it can go to the bottom here. In my opinion, there is only water here, which is in the washbasin, and all around the stone floor.

The Station Master looked at him sternly.

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

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

- What you see?

- Enemy! I tell you I saw it with my own eyes!

The frightened puppets hid in the Blue Arrow carriages. Rose doll complained:

“Oh, gentlemen, the war is about to begin!” I just got my hair done and who knows what will happen to my hair now!

The general ordered the alarm to be sounded.

- Shut up everyone! 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 it? Since when did dogs start commanding troops? Shoot him immediately! the General ordered.

But Button was not afraid:

“Please, I beg you, hang up!” I assure you, this is not really an enemy. It's just a baby, a sleeping baby!

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

“But, Signor General, we are not on the battlefield, that is 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 the basement, from which you can go outside. It turns out that this basement is inhabited. And in the depths of it, where the light burns, there is a bed, and a boy is sleeping in the bed. Do you really want to wake him up with shots?

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

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

But who listened to him now?

Even the puppets came out of their hiding places and looked into the semi-darkness of the basement.

“It’s true, it’s a child,” said one.

- This is an ill-mannered child, - said the third, - he is sleeping and holding his finger in his mouth.

In the basement, near the walls, there was old, peeled furniture, on the floor lay a peeled straw mattress, there was a basin with a chipped edge, an extinct hearth, and a bed in which a child slept. Obviously, his parents went to work, or maybe they were begging and the child was left alone. He went to bed, but did not put out the small kerosene lamp that was on the bedside table. Maybe he was afraid of the dark, or maybe he liked to look at the big wavering shadows that the lamp cast on the ceiling. And, looking at these shadows, he fell asleep.

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

- A thousand newborn whales! boomed the Half-bearded Captain, nervously stroking the beardless half of his chin. “I thought there was a pirate ship on the horizon. But if my spyglass doesn't deceive me, this kid doesn't look like a pirate. He has no grappling hooks, no black eyepatch, no black pirate flag with a skull and crossbones. It seems to me that this brigantine floats peacefully in the ocean of dreams.

The seated Pilot flew for reconnaissance to the very bed, flew two or three times directly over the boy, who waved his hand in his sleep, as if driving away annoying fly, and, returning, reported:

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

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

But this time the cowboys were outraged:

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

With these words, they launched the horses into a gallop and surrounded the General, ready at any moment to throw a lasso on him.

“I was just talking like that,” the General grumbled. - You can't joke a little. You don't have any imagination!

The column of fugitives approached the bed. I will not assure you that all hearts beat calmly. Some dolls had not yet recovered from the fright and hid behind others, for example, behind the back of the Yellow Bear cub. His little sawdust brain was very slow. He did not perceive the events at once, but in the order of their sequence. If it was necessary to understand two things at the same time, the Yellow Bear cub immediately began to have a terrible headache. But he had good eyesight. He was the first to see that a small sleeping boy was mistaken for an enemy.

The bear cub was immediately seized by the desire to jump on the bed and play with him. He did not even think about the fact that sleeping boys do not play with bear cubs, even if they are toys.

On the bedside table, next to the lamp, was a piece of paper folded in four. On one side of it capital letters address was written.

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

"Perhaps," agreed the Stationmaster. “But anyway, we still couldn’t read it. It is not directed to us. See? It says here: Signor Fey.

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

"You can't," the Station Master persisted. “This is a violation of postal secrecy.

But, oddly enough, this time Silverfeather agreed with the General.

“Read it,” he said suddenly, and put his pipe back into his mouth.

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

“Signora Feya, I heard about you for the first time this year; I had never received a gift from anyone before. I am not putting out the lamp this evening and hope to see you when you come here. Then I will tell you what kind of toy I would like to have. I'm afraid to fall asleep and that's why I'm 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. Why else should I be a good boy?

Your Giampaolo."

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

What does it mean to be bad? Rose doll asked.

But no one answered her, and other dolls pulled her skirt to silence her.

“Something must be done,” said the Station Master.

“Volunteer needed,” 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 bolder! shouted the Pilot, who was always the first to see what had happened from above.

“So,” said the Yellow Bear, coughing again to hide his embarrassment, “to tell the truth, I don’t like too long trips. I'm 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 one, he wanted to hide his good 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 a Red Bear. It seems to me that on this bed I can take a wonderful nap while waiting for the dawn, and you will wander the streets in this cold and look for Francesco.

“All right,” the Captain said, “stay here. Children and bears live together because they have at least one thing in common: they always want to play.

Everyone agreed and began to say goodbye. Everyone wanted to shake the paw of the Yellow Bear cub, wish him happiness. But at that moment there was a loud, long blast. The Stationmaster raised his whistle to his lips, the Trainmaster shouted:

“Hurry, gentlemen, to the wagons!” Train departs! On the wagons, gentlemen!

The dolls, fearful of falling behind the train, raised an unimaginable commotion.

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

The train moved slowly.

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

“Hush, hush, my friend,” Little Bear said to himself, “don’t wake him up.”

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

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

And then the Bear cub set off on a trick that you would never have thought of: he leaned over to the boy’s ear and began to whisper softly:

– The Fairy has already come and left you the Yellow Bear. Wonderful Little Bear, I assure you! I know him well, because I have seen him in the mirror so many times. From his back he has a key for winding the spring, and when it is wound up, Little Bear dances, as bears dance at fairs and in the circus. Now I'll show you.

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

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

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

Gianni Rodari La freccia azzurra

* * *

Part one

Chapter I
Signora without five minutes baroness

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

“Yes, Signora Baroness,” the maid agreed.

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

“Invisible, Signora Baroness. And decent people don't notice it...

It was just the first morning of the new year. All night long, the 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 its place, grumbling:

“Nice business to fly on a broomstick!” This is in our time, when airplanes were invented! I've already caught a cold because of this.

“Prepare me a glass of flower decoction,” the Fairy ordered, putting on her glasses and sitting down in an old leather chair that stood in front of the desk.

“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 strike a balance. Things are not important this year, there is not enough money. Still, everyone wants good gifts from the Fairy, and when it comes to paying for them, they begin to bargain. Everyone is trying to borrow, promising to pay later, as if the Fairy is some kind of sausage maker. However, today there is nothing to particularly complain about: all the toys that were in the store sold out, and now we will need to bring new ones from the warehouse.

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

What could I give him for such a pittance?

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

Teresa, is the decoction ready?

“Ready, ready, Signora Baroness.

And the old maid gave the Baroness a steaming glass.

“Did you put a drop of rum in here?”

- Two whole spoons!

- I would have had one ... Now I understand why the bottle is almost empty. To think we only bought it four years ago!

How sad the store looked with its curtains down, empty windows and cupboards littered with toy boxes and piles of wrapping paper!

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

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

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

Thus, the children had enough time to choose one or another toy, and the parents had time to make their calculations in order to be able to order it.

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

Chapter II
The showcase is filling up

The warehouse was in the basement, which was just under the store. The fairy and her maid had to go down and up the stairs twenty times to fill the cupboards and showcases with new toys.

Already during the third flight Teresa was tired.

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

“That's good, my dear, that's very good,” said the Fairy, “it would be worse if it didn't beat anymore.

“My legs hurt, Signora Baroness.

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

“Signora Baroness, I don’t have enough air…

“I didn't steal it from you, my dear, I have enough of mine.

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

At last I see! I have the impression that I was buried in a cave for several months. So when are we leaving? I'm ready.

“Calm down, calmly,” the Head of the Train interrupted him, wiping his glasses with a handkerchief. The train will not move without my order.

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

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

“A hundred thousand deaf whales!” barked the Half-bearded Captain. - What's happened?

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

Don't be afraid, toys. This is the Great Spirit - the Sun, the universal friend. Look how cheerful the whole square is, rejoicing at his arrival.

Everyone looked at the window. The area really sparkled under the rays of the sun. The jets of fountains seemed fiery. Gentle warmth penetrated through the dusty glass into Fairy's shop.

“Thousands of drunken whales!” the Captain muttered again. - I'm a sea wolf, not a sun!

“It must have happened that I was the one in the shadows!”

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

One could look into those eyes the way one looks into a house when there are no curtains on the windows. And, looking into them, the Machinist saw a great unchildish sadness.

“A thousand lame whales!” the Captain exclaimed. "I'll record this event in the ship's log!"

Chapter III
The half-bearded captain is excited