Как котенок Правду искал, стр. 13

can help his friend.

- But don’t go far away and come back before nightfall! – Mother-cat

shouted at his direction. Kitten promised to come back by daylight and

scampered away to a pond.

The sun was warming his back, the wind was tickling his whiskers and hair

and his paws were pacing bravely along the path. This little kitten really wanted to

help his friend and strongly believed that this is what exactly true friends should

do. And one more thing – he wanted to have a look at Truth badly.

«Maybe, - the kitten was wondering on his way to the water, - she’s very

tall and adult like Vania’s mother! Maybe, she’s kind and beautiful and gives milk

to kittens as Vania’s mother does. But why are people afraid of her then?..».

He reached the edge of the pinewood. A pure pond with a puddling

Duckling in it came to his view. He was diving in and coming up with a light

laughter. Ashore a Chick was waiting for him, clapping his wing-hands to his

Duckling-friend enthusiastically. He liked the Duckling diving. And every time the

letter came up the water, the chick jumped about and clapped his hands laughing

gladly.

The kitten looked at the baby-Chicken with interest and then at the

Duckling that now was showing only his little yel ow feathery tail. The world

seemed very bright, colourful and wonderful to the little kitten and everything new

he faced cheered him and interested incredibly. He studied every object of his

interest thoroughly, whatever it was. That’s why once he even put his nose into

the alveary. Of course, the bees sent him off their house, but as they were very

kind they didn’t sting the curious kitten. His friend Vanechka told him, that bees

sip honey and buzz crossly because he kept them from their important work. But

if he didn’t, they wouldn’t be angry, buzz and sting. Now the kitten knew it and

watched them working from the sidelines, nestling on a house’s sil and catching

a few rays of sun.

Though, he stil knew nothing about these little feathery nubbins.

- Good afternoon! – Murzik purred and came a little closer. He was a very

well-bred kitten and always wished good day to everyone he met on his way

saying “Good afternoon!”. That’s what his mother-cat taught him as well as her

mother did and so on.

The Chick got distracted from observing the Duckling and said hello back.

It was interesting for him to meet somebody who didn’t look like him at all.

- Good afternoon! –the Duckling greeted too? while getting out the water

and splashing the drops whenever he stepped.

At al times the kitten remembered that he had an important matter – he

had to rescue his friend, so he needed to find a strange creature called Truth.

«But maybe they know where to find it?» - the kitten thought hopefully.

- My name’s Murzik! I’m the mother’s-cat son. – The kitten introduced

himself by the proprieties. – And what are your names?

- I’m a Chick, - one of the babies gave him a nod. – I’m a hen’s son. Nice

to meet you.

- And my name’s Duckling. My mother is a duck. It’s nice to meet you too.

The kitten was glad to new acquaintances and right there he decided to

become friends. However, at this point he had to do an important task. So he

asked:

- Chick, Duckling, can you tell me please, have you seen Truth?

They just looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

- We haven’t ! – they answered in the same breath. They were really

upset, because they couldn’t help their new friend. But suddenly the three heard

a gentle voice that sounded like a melody.

- I haven’t seen Truth either, but they say she’s beautiful… - someone

whispered mysteriously. The kitten, Chick and the Duckling looked around but

there was no one but them. So the kitten lowered his eyes and saw the pond. He

understood that it was Water who talked to him. Kind Water decided to help the

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