voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第31节
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you risk it？'
〃 'I will；' she said'and gladly。'
〃So next morning two fidgits were found by the keeper floating on the
top of the water in their tank； stiff and dead。 We gave a mighty good
imitation of dead fishalthough I say it myself。 The keeper ran and got the
old gentlemen with spectacles and whiskers。 They threw up their hands in
horror when they saw us。 Lifting us carefully out of the water they laid us
on wet cloths。 That was the hardest part of all。 If you're a fish and get
taken out of the water you have to keep opening and shutting your mouth
to breathe at alland even that you can't keep up for long。 And all this
time we had to stay stiff as sticks and breathe silently through half…closed
lips。
〃Well； the old fellows poked us and felt us and pinched us till I thought
they'd never be done。 Then； when their backs were turned a moment； a
wretched cat got up on the table and nearly ate us。 Luckily the old men
turned round in time and shooed her away。 You may be sure though that
we took a couple of good gulps of air while they weren't looking； and that
was the only thing that saved us from choking。 I wanted to whisper to
Clippa to be brave and stick it out。 But I couldn't even do that； because； as
you know； most kinds of fish…talk cannot be heardnot even a shout
unless you're under water。
〃Then； just as we were about to give it up and let on that we were alive；
one of the old men shook his head sadly； lifted us up and carried us out of
the building。
〃 'Now for it！' I thought to myself。 'We'll soon know our fate： liberty or
the garbage…can。'
〃Outside； to our unspeakable horror； he made straight for a large ash…
barrel which stood against the wall on the other side of a yard。 Most
happily for us； however； while he was crossing this yard a very dirty man
with a wagon and horses drove up and took the ash…barrel away。 I suppose
it was his property。
〃Then the old man looked around for some other place to throw us。 He
seemed about to cast us upon the ground。 But he evidently thought that
this would make the yard untidy and he desisted。 The suspense was
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
terrible。 He moved outside the yard…gate and my heart sank once more as I
saw that he now intended to throw us in the gutter of the roadway。 But
（fortune was indeed with us that day）； a large man in； blue clothes and
silver buttons stopped him in the nick of time。 Evidently； from the way the
large man lectured and waved a short thick stick； it was against the rules
of the town to throw dead fish in the streets。
〃At last； to our unutterable joy； the old man turned and moved off with
us towards the harbor。 He walked so slowly； muttering to himself all the
way and watching the man in blue out of the corner of his eye； that I
wanted to bite his finger to make him hurry up。 Both Clippa and I were
actually at our last gasp。
〃Finally he reached the sea…wall and giving us one last sad look he
dropped us into the waters of the harbor。
〃Never had we realized anything like the thrill of that moment； as we
felt the salt wetness close over our heads。 With one flick of our tails we
came to life again。 The old man was so surprised that he fell right into the
water； almost on top of us。 From this he was rescued by a sailor with a
boat…hook； and the last we saw of him； the man in blue was dragging him
away by the coat…collar； lecturing him again。 Apparently it was also
against the rules of the town to throw dead fish into the harbor。
〃But we？What time or thought had we for his troubles？ WE WERE
FREE！ In lightning leaps； in curving spurts； in crazy zig…zagswhooping；
shrieking with delight； we sped for home and the open sea！
〃That is all of my story and I will now； as I promised last night； try to
answer any questions you may ask about the sea； on condition that I am
set at liberty as soon as you have done。〃
The Doctor： Is there any part of the sea deeper than that known as the
Nero DeepI mean the one near the Island of Guam？〃
The Fidgit： 〃Why； certainly。 There's one much deeper than that near
the mouth of the Amazon River。 But it's small and hard to find。 We call it
'The Deep Hole。' And there's another in the Antarctic Sea。〃
The Doctor： 〃Can you talk any shellfish language yourself？〃
The Fidgit： 〃No； not a word。 We regular fishes don't have anything to
do with the shellfish。 We consider them a low class。〃
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The Doctor： 〃But when you're near them； can you hear the sound they
make talkingI mean without necessarily understanding what they say？〃
The Fidgit： 〃Only with the very largest ones。 Shellfish have such weak
small voices it is almost impossible for any but their own kind to hear
them。 But with the bigger ones it is different。 They make a sad； booming
noise； rather like an iron pipe being knocked with a stoneonly not nearly
so loud of course。〃
The Doctor： 〃I am most anxious to get down to the bottom of the sea
to study many things。 But we land animals； as you no doubt know； are
unable to breathe under water。 Have you any ideas that might help me？〃
The Fidgit： 〃I think that for both your difficulties the best thing for you
to do would be to try and get hold of the Great Glass Sea Snail。〃
The Doctor： 〃Erwho； or what； is the Great Glass Sea Snail？〃
The Fidgit： 〃He is an enormous salt…water snail； one of the winkle
family； but as large as a big house。 He talks quite loudlywhen he speaks；
but this is not often。 He can go to any part of the ocean； at all depths
because he doesn't have to be afraid of any creature in the sea。 His shell is
made of transparent mother…o'…pearl so that you can see through it； but it's
thick and strong。 When he is out of his shell and he carries it empty on his
back； there is room in it for a wagon and a pair of horses。 He has been
seen carrying his food in it when traveling。〃
The Doctor： 〃I feel that that is just the creature I have been looking for。
He could take me and my assistant inside his shell and we could explore
the deepest depths in safety。 Do you think you could get him for me？〃
The Fidgit： 〃Alas！ no。 I would willingly if I could； but he is hardly
ever seen by ordinary fish。 He lives at the bottom of the Deep Hole； and
seldom comes out And into the Deep Hole； the lower waters of which are
muddy； fishes such as we are afraid to go。〃
The Doctor： 〃Dear me！ That's a terrible disappointment。 Are there
many of this kind of snail in the sea？〃
The Fidgit： 〃Oh no。 He is the only one in existence； since his second
wife died long； long ago。 He is the last of the Giant Shellfish。 He belongs
to past ages when the whales were land…animals and all that。 They say he
is over seventy thousand years old。〃
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The Doctor： 〃Good Gracious； what wonderful things he could tell me！
I do wish I could meet him。〃
The Fidgit： 〃Were there any more questions you wished to ask me？
This water in your tank is getting quite warm and sickly。 I'd like to be put
back into the sea as soon as you can spare me。〃
The Doctor： 〃Just one more thing： when Christopher Columbus
crossed the Atlantic in 1492； he threw overboard two copies of his diary
sealed up in barrels。 One of them was never found。 It must have sunk。 I
would like to get it for my library。 Do you happen to know where it is？〃
The Fidgit： 〃Yes； I do。 That too is in the Deep Hole。 When the barrel
sank the currents drifted it northwards down what we call the Orinoco
Slope； till it finally disappeared into the Deep Hole。 If it was any other part
of the sea I'd try and get it for you； but not there。〃
The Doctor： 〃Well； that is all； I think。 I hate to put you back into the
sea； because I know that as
