Біла пташка

           Itisablessingthathedidnotknow,forotherwisehewouldhavelostfaithinhispowertofly,andthemomentyoudoubtwhetheryoucanfly,youceaseforevertobeabletodoit.Thereasonbirdscanflyandwecan’tissimplythattheyhaveperfectfaith,fortohavefaithistohavewings.

           Now,exceptbyflying,noonecanreachtheislandintheSerpentine,fortheboatsofhumansareforbiddentolandthere,andtherearestakesroundit,standingupinthewater,oneachofwhichabird-sentinelsitsbydayandnight.ItwastotheislandthatPeternowflewtoputhisstrangecasebeforeoldSolomonCaw,andhealightedonitwithrelief,muchheartenedtofindhimselfatlastathome,asthebirdscalltheisland.Allofthemwereasleep,includingthesentinels,exceptSolomon,whowaswideawakeononeside,andhelistenedquietlytoPeter’sadventures,andthentoldhimtheirtruemeaning.

           “Lookatyournight-gown,ifyoudon’tbelieveme,”Solomonsaid,andwithstaringeyesPeterlookedathisnight-gown,andthenatthesleepingbirds.Notoneofthemworeanything.

           “Howmanyofyourtoesarethumbs?”saidSolomonalittlecruelly,andPetersawtohisconsternation,thatallhistoeswerefingers.Theshockwassogreatthatitdroveawayhiscold.

           “Ruffleyourfeathers,”saidthatgrimoldSolomon,andPetertriedmostdesperatelyhardtorufflehisfeathers,buthehadnone.Thenheroseup,quaking,andforthefirsttimesincehestoodonthewindow-ledge,herememberedaladywhohadbeenveryfondofhim.

           “IthinkIshallgobacktomother,”hesaidtimidly.