Текст книги "Как котенок Правду искал"

Автор книги: Ангелина Крихели

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kitten to find Truth. She went on:

– Go, kitten, to the pinewood. Tel the old father Pinery that you’re looking

for Truth. The old man knows a lot, he is to prompt you.

Being happy about it, the kitten thanked everyone for their help and

kindness and hurried to the forest.

Coming close to old tall pines Murzik purred:

– The old father Pinery, I’m looking for Truth for my friend Vanechka. Don’t

you know where to find her? Mother-cat says that people fear her very much,

though Water in a pond thinks she’s beautiful. How can I find her, if I don’t even

know how she looks like?

Pines swayed in greetings and the kitten heard a thick rustling, with the

thousands of pine needles, voice of old Pinery:

– Don’t worry, kitten, Truth is hard to find, but if you have a heart you wil

definitely do it. Go to Titmouse, she knows where to find Truth.

The silence fell again. The kitten thanked the old man and bravely entered

the wood that wrapped him with a pine scent.

Murzik was walking down the path when he ran into a little birdie. She had

a yel ow breast, blue neck and dark blue wings.

– Good afternoon, birdie! – The kitten greeted her loudly.

The birdie leapt back and greeted the kitten cautiously. Then she flew

closer to him

– I’m looking for Titmouse, – he said her trustfully. – Old father Pinestry said

that Titmouse knows where I can find Truth.

The birdie looked at the kitten thoughtfully and then answered:

– I am Titmouse, – she nodded. – As old father Pinestry sent you to me, I’l

help you, except that I don’t know where to find Truth, but there’s someone who

knows her by name.

The kitten looked at a little bright birdie with delight and respect.

– Go deep into the forest. But be careful: different animals may crop up

along the way. When you reach the middle, you’l see a forest mushroom

Lesovichok-Borovichok. The old man by far knows Truth. However, Hedgehog wil

help you to find him.

The kitten nodded and hurried deep into the forest. The trees were

crowding him round, the sun was hiding far behind the tall pines and the kitten

began to fear. He felt tired and wanted to drink some milk badly. Vania’s mother

always poured it into his bowl. The kitten sat on a little stub as suddenly he heard

fearful:

– Оw!

Murzik was scared, so he jumped back and looked with all eyes at a stub.

Small, hidden under the huge amount of sharp needles eyes were staring at him.

«Hedgehog!» – thought the kitten happily when he remembered, that he

saw the same one in Vitia’s books.

– Good afternoon, uncle Hedgehog! – purred Murzik politely.

Hedgehog smiled back and greeted him too.

– How did you being so small happen to be here? – asked Hedgehog. – It’s

getting dark soon and kids shouldn’t go to the forest so late without their parents.

– My friend Vania got in trouble, – told him the kitten sincerely. – I have to

find Truth to help him. Then his mother won’t be upset. Mommy-cat told me, that

people fear Truth and that’s why they hardly can find her. Though, Water in pond

said Truth is beautiful. I asked the old father Pinestry and he sent me to Titmouse.

And Titmouse – to you.

Hedgehog listened to him carefully, nodded primly and said:

– Squirrel knows more. I just tread the ground and she can even jump from

tree to tree. She knows much better from there. You’ll find Squirrel in a hollow

where she hides her nuts from view and lay them in a store for winter.

– Thank you, uncle Hedgehog! – said the kitten and went on through the

wood without even knowing where to go and where to find Squirrel that knows

where Truth hides.

It seemed to little Murzik that he was walking for so much time whereas it

wasn’t more than one hour. The kitten was looking around frightenedly in a

gradually darkling forest when he heard threatening:

– Who-o-o! Who-o-o!

The kitten bristled, arched his back and started to move back to a tree

when he saw a huge Owl just in front of him.

– G-good evening, uncle Owl! – The kitten said stammering from fright and

began to straighten little by little.

Owl looked at him carefully before greeting. Then he said:

–Why are you strolling alone in the woods so late?

– I’m not strolling, uncle Owl, I’m looking for Truth, – the kitten answered.

– Truth, you say? Wel , to look for Truth is a good, noble thing. – Owl

nodded stately.

– Uncle Hedgehog advised me to address Squirrel.

– It is truly advised. Wait here a minute and don’t go anywhere. I’l be back

right now.

Owl spread his huge wings, flapped and went out of sight reaching into the

sky. The kitten was following him with his eyes trying to trace a big wise bird but

he didn’t see anything but the darkling sky above the crowns of the old pines. He

sat down by a tree and began to wait.

Owl was back shortly – he dived down with a gentle flap, folded his wings

along his strong body and landed steadily. A din of voices was heard from a tree

and by the next moment squirrel kits went down one by one with their mother

Squirrel behind. Kits were chatting cheerfully, looking at the kitten and hiding

behind old Owl.

The kitten admired funny switches on their ears, golden tint of their hair

and enormous fluffy tails. He unwittingly waved his tail to see it better and grew

sad as it wasn’t so fluffy. Squirrel passed her kids paying attention to everyone

and turned to the kitten.

– They say you went bravely into the deep dark forest to find Truth for your

friend… – Squirrel started speaking.

The kitten nodded humbly, standing in front of two adults and the whole

brood of playing squirrel kits.

Squirrel smiled to the kitten encouragingly.

– Why does your friend need Truth? – she asked little Murzik.

– Aunt Squirrel, my friend Vanechka got into trouble. His mother is very

upset because of a broken vase and he needs to bring back her good mood

badly. He said that Truth could help him. I heard it and went to look for her. On my

way I met a chick and a duckling, kind Water from the pond, the old father

Pinestry, Titmouse and Hedgehog. Then, Owl flew away to find you, because

you’re said to know for sure where to find Lesovichok-Borovichok, who knows

where to find Truth. – The kitten pattered.

– Wel , – Squirrel replied sedately. – Returning Vania’s mother her good

mood is worthwhile. And looking for Truth is a good idea as well. I’l help you.

Squirrel whistled as ever she could and the kitten even covered his ears

with his paws. The sound broke but nothing happened. The kitten began looking

around and squirrel kits ran to their mother to protect them. She hugged them all

and cuddled. And suddenly they heard heavy:

– Pooh, pooh, pooh…

The kitten also snuggled frightenedly against Squirrel, looking away the

side where the sound was coming. A minute after a bear cub stepped forward

from the trees. He was puffing heavily, trying to recover his breath from a fast run.

Slowing down he came to Squirrel.

– Good evening, aunt Squirrel! I heard you called me and came racing

along. – A bear cub sniffed.

Squirrel waved her paw to her kits and they darted away on a tree at once.

There they were sitting on a branch and observing the events happening down

with their enormous fluffy tails and pricked ears with funny golden tassels. One kit

was constantly eating nuts and was the plumpest one. The second couldn’t sit stil

even for a minute and was the slimmest and the most energetic. The third one

heard everything because he always had his ears pricked. And two other kits

always cuddled their mother in search of her warm and protection as they were

the youngest ones.

– You did everything right, little Potapych, – Squirrel replied to a bear cub.

– Lead him to Lesovichok-Borovichok.

– Alright, – a bear cub sniffed and moved his back up to the kitten. Murzik

stretched his paw out flabbily and then jerked it back frightenedly. Though, there

was no moment when he forgot that he had to help his friend by all means.

That’s why he climbed on the bear cub back. They took to the road after saying

goodbye to everyone. A bear cub was making his way through the forest and the

sky above their heads shone with a lot of stars. They were lightening their way in

order to help them.

The kitten was yawning sleepily and even curled into a ball several times

on a cub’s back, but did his best no to fall asleep. Soon his patience and

persistence were awarded. Just in front of them a forest meadow full of fireflies

came into the view. Small Potapych helped the kitten to get down his back.

– We have already come, – the bear puffed. – Hear you’l find Borovichok.

But be careful, because this whitebeard is sly. And for me it’s time to go home,

because my mother wil begin to worry.

– Thank you, bear, – the kitten said farewell and a splay-footed went back

into the thick and dark forest. Murzik thought ashamedly that his mother-cat is

probably also worrying now about where her kitten went. But he was sure that

mother-cat would necessarily understand him when she knew that he managed

to find Truth.

In the meantime, he was looking around a forest meadow, trying to follow

the fireflies, but every time he lagged behind their direction.

– Good evening, fireflies! – The kitten said and the whole choir of voices

replied to him.

– Good evening, kitten!

– I’m looking for Lesovichok-Borovichok. I really have to help my friend

Vanechka – the kitten explained, sitting down next to a huge mushroom with a

wide brown cap that could easily serve the kitten an umbrella in case of rain.

Luckily, the rain didn’t come. However, the mushroom appeared to be not an

ordinary one. That’s because while the kitten was talking, the mushroom

suddenly opened his eyes and straightened, facing the kitten. It turned out that

wasn’t a mushroom at all, but a short whitebeard with a huge hat.

The fireflies giggled looking at a surprised kitten and flew away in different

sides.

Borovichok smiled to the kitten gladly.

– Wel , good evening, Murzkik, – he said with a clap and a bowl with milk

appeared in front the kitten.

– Good evening, Borovichok-Lesovichok. Thank you, – and the kitten

started to lap. After quenching his thirst he thanked a whitebeard one more time

and a bowl disappeared.

– Your story about poor Ivan has already gone around the whole forest, -

an old father addressed to the kitten. – I know that you’re looking for Truth to help

your friend too. It’s amazing! It’s difficult to find such a friend that can go to a dark

forest because of you and is not afraid of danger. – A whitebeard with a huge

brown hat said and looked at the kitten.

Murzik too thought for a minute.

– Vanechka would go to a forest for me as well, – the kitten added finally. –

What’s more, I met very kind and good griends on my way. A chick would stand

up for a duckling, old father Pinestry – for aunt Water, Hedgehog – for Titmouse

and Owl with a bear cub for Squirrel.

Starichok-Borovichok clapped his hands.

– Oh dear! – He felt happy. – Then, my little brave kitten, you need my help

indeed!

– Indeed, – the kitten nodded and told Borovichok the whole story from the

very beginning. – I don’t even know what it is – Truth? Is it an animal or a human?

Is she beautiful or terrible? And where I can find her?

Borovichok smiled archly dropped on his knees in front him.

–

There’s no need to look for Truth, – a forest creature answered the

surprised cat. – Everyone has his own Truth.

– But how? And why Vanechka couldn’t find it?

– In the house where Goodness lives, – answered Borovichok, – Honesty

settles down too. She definitely knows where to find Truth.She often asks her

over, treats with sweets, lures and welcomes.

The kitten didn’t understand anything and meanwhile Borovichok

continued:

– But if there’s somebody in a house who doesn’t get along with Honesty

well, Truth also stops coming and Goodness moves to another house. Truth is

neither beautiful, nor terrible – she’s of all sorts depending on your point of view, -

an old man said reasonably. – Each Truth has own course. For example, wil you

see the starts if you look at them in the middle of the day?

– No, – the kitten answered but looked with pleasure at stars that seemed

to be winking right from the skies.

– And what if you look at the night?

– Then, I wil , – the kitten answered dreamily looking at the starts again.

– Therefore, you need to learn to wait from day til night to see the stars

and sunrise. Everything is good in its season. – Borovichok said looking closely at

a curious kitten that was listening carefully to an old man and admiring both

fireflies and stars at the same time.

– It means that if Vania didn’t find Truth, our Goodness has moved to

another house? – The kitten asked frightenedly.

– Not yet –the old man answered. – Given that you went to the forest

because of your friend and Vania himself wants to find Truth to bring back his

mother her good mood, Goodness stil lives in your house. But hurry up to invite

Honesty and then these three wil keep Happiness in your house.

– But where should I look for Honesty? – The kitten kept asking.

– Truth is where the candy wrappings are…– Borovichok answered with a

mysterious smile. – And now hurry up, otherwise your mother wil worry. The

fireflies wil lead you so you won’t get lost in a dark forest.

– Thank you, uncle Borovichok! – The kitten cried out at last and rushed

after the fireflies.

The road turned to be not so long as it seemed when Murzik was looking

for Borovichok. Soon the kitten found himself near the pond. He gladly thanked

aunt Water and uncle Pinestry for their help and told them how he found

Borovichok and what advise he gave him. The forest creatures wished the kitten

luck and he went home briskly. There his worried mother-cat was waiting for him

with his friend Vanechka beside her.

The kitten stretched with pleasure and sat himself on boy’s knees. He was

stroking kitten’s head and back and the kitten started purring his mother-cat about

the things he found out in the woods. Mother-cat was listening to him carefully

and went to the house when he fell asleep. She went around the whole house

and talked with the mouth that lived in a hole. And then her eyes caught a glint in

the corner. It was the moon that was helping her find Truch and was shining on a

bright wrapper on the floor next to Misha’s bed.

The boy himself was sitting at the table and reading a book. Mother-cat

meowed loudly trying to attract his attention. The boy tore himself away from

reading and turned to her. The cat rased a bright wrapper and it rustled loudly.

She looked closely at the boy, the wrapper and the door of a child room. A boy

frowned but said nothing. The cat stood up, went to the other bed and began

washing herself. But it would appear at first sight. Actually, mother-cat hided her

face with shame and Misha felt ashamed for himself too. Goodness stil lived in

their house and the boy didn’t want his brother and mother to feel upset at all.

Misha picked up a wrapper that he threw away in the morning and shuffled

off to “give up”. Mother-cat followed him with her pleased eyes and went back to

the sil where her kitten was kicking up his paws and purring asleep as he stil

was in the forest and saw incredibly kind and sympathetic animals and birds.

Mother-cat was proud of her son badly, as Murzik was a real true friend to

Vanechka.

Meanwhile Mishenka entered the living room where his mother and father

were reading in the armchairs.

– Mother… – the boy called quietly and lowered his eyes ashamedly.

Mum turned her attention to him at once and put a book aside.

– What happened, Mishenka?

The boy stretched a candy wrapper to her and confessed:

– I feel so embarrassed that I lied to you today in the morning when you

asked me who broke the vase. It was me who stretched out for a candy, didn’t

reach it and dropped the vase unwittingly.

– But why didn’t you tell me al at once? – Mother surprised and father also

put his book aside, listening carefully to their conversation. – Didn’t I teach you to

be always honest?

– You did, – the boy nodded. – But I thought you’d get upset when you

found out that it was me.

– That’s right, sonny, – his mother answered him, sitting him on her knees.

– But I would upset more if Honesty left our house together with Truth.

– Otherwise we would lose Goodness and Happiness forever, – said father.

– Would it be good?

– No, – Misha shook his head and gave a hug at first to his mother and then

to his father. – I wil never cheat. After all, Goodness and Happiness should live in

every house! And in our as well!

Vanechka entered the room to wish everyone good night and saw his

mother, father and brother hugging each other. Mother was smiling and didn’t feel

upset anymore. Vanechka felt so happy that he flew into their arms immediately.

Misha told his brother about the candies and a broken vase.

– I’m so happy that Truth is found! – the boy yelled and parents laughed.

But the kitten who found Truth and helped to keep Happiness in the house

was the happiest.

My dear young reader and his loving parents!

We have come a long way together with a kitten and helped him to find

Truth.

Do you remember his name?

________________________________________

Has he met anyone on his way?

___________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_____________________

Is the kitten a true friend?

___________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

______________

Together with your parents try to draw the fairytale characters you liked the

most on a separate page. Tel about them. What are they like? How do they look

like? Are they kind or evil? Why did you choose them?

How do you imagine the fairytale

heroes?

Литературно-художественное издание

Ангелина Крихели

КАК КОТЕНОК ПРАВДУ ИСКАЛ

Перевод на украинский – Ангелина Крихели (Ангеліна Кріхелі)

Литературный редактор – Ольга Кухаренко (Ольга Кухаренко)

Перевод на английский, редактор – преподаватель английского

языковой школы «Аддриан» Вероника Писарева (Вероніка

Пісарєва)

Иллюстрация на обложке Ангелины Крихели (Ангеліни Кріхелі)

Дизайнер (макет, верстка) – Ирина Шатура (Ірина Шатура)

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