1
THE DOCTOR AND HIS ANIMALS

Once upon a time there lived a doctor. He was kind. Aibolit knew him. And he had an evil sister, whose name was Sarah.

More than anything in the world, the doctor loved animals. There were hares living in his chest of drawers. In the cupboard where the dishes were, there lived a squirrel. There was a prickly hedgehog living under the sofa. White mice lived in the piano. The hares ate carrots, the white mice ate sugar, the squirrel ate nuts. Right there in the room stood an old, old horse, and next to it a cow.

But of all his animals, Doctor Aibolit loved most of all the duck Quack, the dog Ava, the little pig Oink-Oink, the parrot Popka and the owl, whose name was Buba.

His evil sister Sarah was very angry with the doctor because he had so many animals in his room.

Get them out! - she said. - They only dirty the rooms. I don't want to live with these nasty dogs, pigs, ducks.

No, Sarah, they are not bad,” said the doctor. - They are good. I can't drive them away because I love them.

People who came to Dr. Aibolit for treatment were afraid of his animals. One woman came to the doctor and wanted to sit on the sofa, and at that time a hedgehog was sitting on the sofa. The woman did not notice that there was a hedgehog sitting there, she sat on the hedgehog and pricked herself painfully, because the hedgehog is prickly. She jumped up, screamed and ran to the doors.

I will never be treated by such a doctor! - she shouted. - Let him treat his disgusting animals!

No, the animals are not nasty,” said the doctor. - I love them very much. And if people do not want to be treated by me, I will treat animals. Let sick cats, sick dogs, sick bears, sick elephants come to me, I will treat everyone with pleasure.

And the animals began to go to Doctor Aibolit for treatment. Soon the doctor learned to speak like an animal.

One day a horse came to him and said:

Lama-vono-fifi-kuku.

The doctor immediately understood what this meant in horse language:

My eyes hurt. Give me glasses.

The doctor told her:

Capucci! Kanuchi!

In horse terms, this means: “Please sit down.”

The horse sat down, the doctor put glasses on her, and her eyes stopped hurting. She began to see very well.

“Chaka,” said the horse, waved its tail and ran out into the street wearing glasses. “Chaka” means thank you in a horse way.

Soon all the animals who had bad eyes received glasses from Dr. Aibolit. Horses began to wear glasses, cows began to wear glasses, cats and dogs began to wear glasses.

Every day more and more animals came to the doctor for treatment. Goats and foxes came, crows, cranes and bats flew in. Doctor Aibolit treated everyone, but he didn’t take money from anyone, because what kind of money do dogs, crows and bats have!

2
MONKEY CHICHI

One evening, when all the animals were sleeping, someone knocked on the doctor’s door.

Who's there? - asked the doctor.

What is hurting you?

My neck hurts! - she said and cried.

Only then did the doctor see that there was a rope around her neck.

“I ran away from the evil organ grinder,” said the monkey. The organ grinder beat me, tortured me, did not let me eat and dragged me everywhere with a rope.

The doctor took the scissors, cut the rope, smeared the monkey’s neck with iodine, tied it with a handkerchief, gave the monkey something to eat and said:

Live with me, monkey. I don't want the organ grinder to torture you.

The monkey was very happy, but when she was sitting at the table and eating sweet semolina porridge, her angry owner, an organ grinder, ran into the room and began to demand that his monkey be given back to him.

Give me my monkey! - he shouted to Doctor Aibolit.

Will not give it back! - said the doctor. - I don't want you to torture her. Here's ten rubles for you and please get out of here. I won't give you the monkeys. And if you swear, I will call my dog ​​Ava, and she will bite you.

The organ grinder got scared, took the money and ran away. The monkey stayed with the doctor. The rest of the animals fell in love with her and named her Chichi; in the animal language Chichi means good fellow.

3
CROCODILE KROKODILOVICH

In the city where the doctor lived there was a circus, and in the circus there was a crocodile.

His name was Krokodil Krokodilovich.

One day a crocodile had a toothache, and he came to Doctor Aibolit. The doctor gave him medicine, and his teeth stopped hurting.

How good you are! - said the crocodile. - How many bunnies, birds, mice do you have! Let me stay with you forever.

Stay! - said the doctor. - Just be careful: don’t touch anyone. If you eat even one bunny, even one mouse, I will drive you out.

OK! - said the crocodile. - I promise you, doctor, that I will not eat bunnies, mice, or birds.

And the crocodile began to live with the doctor.

He was very quiet and nice. He didn’t offend anyone, he lay under his bed and kept thinking about his crocodiles who lived far, far away.

The doctor fell in love with the crocodile and often talked to him. But the evil Sarah could not stand the crocodile and demanded that Doctor Aibolit drive him away.

I can't see him! - she said. - He's as nasty as a frog. And he ruins everything, no matter what he touches. Yesterday I ate my black skirt that was lying on my window.

And he did well! - said the doctor. The skirt should be hidden in the closet, and not left on the window.

Because of this nasty crocodile,” said Sarah, “people are afraid to bring us to us.” Before, it used to be that many sick people came to you, and everyone paid you money for treatment, but now no one comes, and we have no money to buy bread for ourselves.

“I don’t need money,” said Doctor Aibolit. - I’m fine without money. I love my animals, and animals love me.

Evil Sarah began to cry and angrily said to the doctor:

If you don’t drive away the crocodile, I’ll go and get married tomorrow!

Please, even today! - said the doctor. - If you want to get married, get married. And please leave me alone.

He took his hat and went into the garden to walk with his animals.

4
ANIMALS AT WORK

Sarah told the truth: the doctor didn't have a penny left. He became very, very poor. He could not buy himself a single pound of bread from the store. He had no wood to light the stove, and his coat had holes in it.

The animals that lived in the house saw that the doctor was in trouble and began to think about how to help him in trouble. The cat, the dog and the pig went into the garden and set up a vegetable garden there: the pig dug the beds, and the cat planted potatoes. The cow began to treat the doctor with her milk every morning and evening. The hen laid eggs for him. And the bunnies took an ax, ran into the forest and chopped birch firewood for the doctor. They brought firewood home and lit the stove. The doctor felt warm and comfortable.

Roses grew in Doctor Aibolit's garden. Every day the monkey Chichi made bouquets of these roses and took them to the market to sell. He will sell a bouquet, receive money and buy bread for the doctor. When the potatoes ripened in the garden, the monkey began to prepare excellent lunches and dinners for the doctor. She became a cook in his house.

And everyone began to help the monkey.

The dog was sweeping the floors; the duck was wiping the dust; Buba the owl was washing clothes.

At first it was difficult for them to work, but then they got used to it and worked with great pleasure. Even Crocodile Krokodilovich sometimes carried water from the well and helped the owl wash clothes.

It was very funny to watch how the dog swept the floor: he tied a broom to his tail and started swinging it in different directions.

The doctor was happy and praised the animals.

I have never had such order and such cleanliness in my house. You are cute animals! How well you work! The owl washed my shirt so clean that my shirt became white as snow; and what delicious potatoes the monkey cooked for me!

5
MARTIN

But when winter came, the sheaf doctor began to go hungry because all the potatoes had been eaten. The cow was also hungry because she had eaten all the grass. The bunnies sat in the buffet and cried: they had no carrots left.

It became boring and cold in the doctor’s house. The crocodile was lying under the bed and crying. He shed so many tears that there was a large puddle on the floor. The dog did not have time to wipe it off.

Doctor Aibolit did not cry or complain. He sat in his chair and whistled happy songs, but he was very hungry.

One evening the owl Buba said:

Who's that scratching behind the door? It looks like a mouse.

Everyone listened, but heard nothing.

There is no one outside the door,” said Dr. Aibolit. - It seemed so to you.

No, it didn’t seem like it,” answered the owl. - I hear someone scratching behind the door. It's either a mouse or a bird.

The monkey ran to open the door and saw a swallow on the threshold. The swallow was cold, she sat on the cold snow and shivered.

Call her here! - said the doctor. - Let him go into the room and warm up.

At first the swallow was afraid to enter. She saw Crocodile Crocodilovich and thought that he would eat her. But the monkey Chichi told her that this crocodile is kind and that he does not eat swallows.

Then the swallow flew into the room, sat on the back of the chair and asked:

Please tell me, is this where the famous doctor John Aibolit lives, who treats animals?

Yes,” answered the doctor. - John Aibolit, it’s me.

I have a big favor to ask of you! - said the swallow. - You must go to Africa now. I flew from Africa on purpose to invite you there. The fact is that there are a lot of monkeys living in African forests, and these monkeys are sick.

What hurts them? - asked the doctor.

“They have a stomach ache,” answered the swallow. - They lie on the ground and cry. There is only one person who can save them, that is you. Take your medicines with you and let’s go to Africa as soon as possible. If you don't go to Africa, all the monkeys will die.

“Oh,” said the doctor, “I would gladly go to Africa.” I love monkeys and don't want them to be sick. But I don't have a penny of money. How can I buy myself a ticket?.. After all, to go to Africa, you need to buy a ticket. However, no, wait, I had a spot somewhere. Give me the box, Chichi, the one that’s on the table; I remember there was a patch there.

Chichi gave him a box, but the box was empty.

Yes, you had a snout,” Buba the owl told the doctor. - But have you forgotten that with this money you bought peas for a sick duckling?

“Oh, yes,” said the doctor. - Yes Yes. So I don't have a spot. How can I go to Africa?

Poor monkeys! - said the crocodile. - If the doctor does not go to Africa, they all must die.

And the crocodile cried such big tears that a river flowed across the floor.

Hello Robinson. Be so kind as to give me your ship.

Suddenly Doctor Aibolit shouted:

But I will still go to Africa! But I will still cure sick monkeys! I remembered: my friend the sailor Robinson has an excellent ship. I will go to Robinson and ask him to lend me his ship for a while. I will go to Africa on this ship.

He took his hat and went to the sailor Robinson.

Hello, Robinson, he said. - Be so kind as to give me your ship. I want to take it to Africa.

Okay,” Robinson said. - I'll give you my ship. But make sure you bring him back, because I have no other ship.

“I’ll definitely bring it,” said the doctor. - Don't worry. I just wish I could go to Africa.

Take it, take it,” Robinson said. - But be careful not to break it.

“Okay, I won’t break it,” said the doctor, said goodbye to Robinson and ran home.

Animals, get ready,” he shouted. - Tomorrow we are going to Africa!

The animals were very happy. The crocodile somersaulted twice, the monkey jumped up to the ceiling, and the parrot started dancing like crazy.

“I won’t take all my animals to Africa,” said the doctor. - The horse, bats and hares must stay here, in the apartment, guard the garden and garden. I will take with me a crocodile, a monkey and Popka, because they were born in Africa, Because their relatives live in Africa - brothers and sisters. In addition, I will take with me the dog Ava, the duck Quack, the owl Bubu and the pig Oink-Oink.

6
TO AFRICA!

The animals quickly packed their things and set off. There was an old horse, hares, and bats left at home.

Arriving ashore, the animals saw a wonderful ship. Robinson was standing right there, helping them carry in their suitcases.

When they all boarded the ship and were about to set off, the doctor shouted loudly:

Wait! Please wait!

What's happened? - asked the crocodile.

Wait! - the doctor shouted. - I'll go ashore and ask Robinson where to go... Because I don't know where Africa is.

The crocodile laughed and said:

No problem! The swallow will show you where to go. She often visited Africa.

Certainly! - said the swallow.

And she flew ahead of the ship, showing the doctor the way.

She was flying to Africa, and the ship was following her. Wherever the swallow goes, there goes the ship. At night it became dark, and the swallow was not visible. Then the swallow lit a small lantern and took it in its beak, so that the doctor could see where to go even at night.

They drove and drove, and suddenly they saw a crane flying towards them.

Crane, crane, where are you flying? - asked Crocodile Crocodilovich.

Tell me, please,” the crane grunted, “is the famous doctor Aibolit traveling on this ship?”

Yes, - answered the crocodile. - The famous doctor Aibolit is traveling on this ship.

Fine! - said the crocodile. - The doctor will arrive soon. The monkeys won't have to wait long.

Hearing this, the crane flew back to tell the monkeys that Doctor Aibolit was already close.

Africa! Africa!

The ship ran quickly across the waves. The crocodile was sitting on the deck and suddenly saw dolphins swimming towards the ship.

Tell me, please,” the dolphins asked, “is the famous doctor Aibolit traveling on this ship?”

Yes,” answered Crocodile Crocodilovich. - The famous doctor Aibolit is traveling on this ship.

Please ask the doctor to go quickly, because the monkeys are very sick.

Fine! - said Crocodile Crocodilovich. - The doctor will arrive soon. The monkeys won't have to wait long!

In the morning the doctor said to the crocodile:

Bring me my spyglass. Very soon we will see Africa.

The ship ran faster and faster, and suddenly land appeared ahead.

This is Africa! - the animals shouted. - Africa! Africa! Soon we will be in Africa!

7
STORM

But then a storm arose. Lightning! Thunder! Rain! The waves became so big that it was scary to watch.

And suddenly: bang-bang! - There was a terrible crash, and the ship tilted to one side.

Our ship hit a rock and crashed...

What's happened? What's happened? - asked the doctor.

Shipwreck! - the parrot shouted. - Our ship hit a rock and crashed. We're drowning. Save yourself who can.

Duck, duck! - the doctor shouted. - Jump into the water and see what happened.

The ship has crashed and is going down, said the duck. - Jump into the water and swim to Africa.

But I can't swim! - said the monkey Chichi.

I can't either! - said the pig Oink-Oink.

And they cried bitterly. But the parrot shouted:

Rope, rope! Give me the rope. Hey you duck, come here! Do you see a tree there on the shore? Take this rope and tie it to the tree. Those who cannot swim should crawl to the ground along a rope.

The duck did just that: she stretched a rope between Africa and the ship, and everyone reached the shore safely. They are saved, but the ship is lost. A huge wave hit him and smashed him into small pieces.

It was getting dark. The doctor and all his animals really wanted to sleep. They walked along the shore and found a nice cave. There they lay down and fell asleep. The next morning we woke up, had breakfast, and the doctor said:

Hurry, hurry to the forest! To where the monkeys live!

But where is your hat? - asked the crocodile.

Only then did the doctor notice that he didn’t have a hat on his head.

She must have fallen into the sea, said the crocodile. - There she is! There she is! Floating on the wave!

Everyone looked at the sea. There, far from the shore, the black hat of Doctor Aibolit floated.

Duck, duck! - said the doctor. - Please fly there quickly and bring me my hat.

The duck flew over the sea and saw that a small white mouse was sitting in a hat, like in a small boat.

How did you get into this hat? - asked the duck.

“Oh,” answered the mouse, “I lived on your ship.” But when the ship began to sink, I fell into the water and almost drowned. Suddenly, I see a hat floating in the water. I was happy, put on my hat and sat there.

Well, hold on tight, said the duck. - I'll take you to the doctor.

The duck took the hat and flew to the shore. The mouse sat wearing a hat and was afraid to stick its head out.

Seeing the mouse, the doctor was happy.

Hello little mouse! - he said. - Get into my suitcase and I will carry you. We need to hurry to the monkeys. The poor monkeys are sick and they can't wait for me to cure them.

8
DOCTOR IN TROUBLE

But then the monkey Chichi ran up to the doctor and said:

Hush hush! Someone goes here. I hear someone's steps.

Everyone stopped and listened.

Soon a black man, very black, came out of the forest and asked them:

What are you doing here?

“I am Doctor Aibolit,” said the doctor. - I came to Africa to cure sick monkeys.

No, said the black man. - I won’t let you go to the monkeys! You are in the land of the terrible cannibal Chumaz, and I must take you to him.

But sick monkeys are waiting for us,” said the doctor.

“I don’t care about sick monkeys,” the black man answered. - I was ordered to take you to Chumaz.

Nothing to do. I had to obey. The doctor took his suitcases and followed the black man. The animals followed him.

They walked and walked and came to a high palace in which the cannibal lived.

When he saw the doctor, his eyes flashed menacingly and shouted in a terrible voice:

Why did you come here? Who allowed you to come here?

Please don't scream, said the doctor. - I came to treat the monkeys.

Who allowed you to treat monkeys! - he shouted more terribly.

And, turning to his black soldiers, he said:

Hey you soldiers! Take this doctor with all his beasts and put him behind bars!

The black soldiers ran up, grabbed the doctor, grabbed the crocodile, grabbed all the animals, took them to prison and locked them there.

The key was taken to Chumaz. Chumaz hid it under the pillow.

Black soldiers captured the doctor...

The doctor was very sad: he would not have to treat the monkeys. The pig grunted and the dog howled.

We are poor, poor,” said the crocodile. - Why did we go to Africa? We will never leave this prison. The walls here are strong, the doors are iron. We will no longer see the sun, flowers, or trees. Poor we are, poor!

And the crocodile cried with such big tears that a puddle became on the floor.

9
OVER THE MONKEY BRIDGE

Night has come. It became dark. The monkey Chichi carefully broke open the bars of the prison window and quietly whispered to the doctor:

The doctor was delighted and jumped out of prison onto the street. The animals ran after him. The soldiers were sleeping and did not notice that the doctor had run away. The doctor hid in the forest behind the trees. The animals also hid in the forest.

Thank you, monkey,” said the doctor. - You saved us from trouble. If it weren't for you, we would still be in prison.

When Chumaz found out that Doctor Aibolit had escaped from prison, he became terribly angry, stamped his feet, gnashed his teeth and ran out into the yard wearing only his shirt.

Hey you soldiers! - he shouted. - Run after the doctor! Look for him everywhere, in the forests and fields, catch him and bring him here.

The soldiers ran into the forests and fields to look for the doctor.

And at that time the doctor with all his animals was making his way to the Land of the Monkeys. He walked very quickly, but Oink-Oink the pig, who has small legs, could not keep up with him. The doctor picked her up and carried her, but she was quite heavy. In addition, the doctor was carrying two suitcases with him, and therefore was soon tired.

One day the monkey Chichi climbed a tall tree and shouted:

I see Monkey Country! Monkey Country is coming! In half an hour we will be in Monkey Country!

The monkeys saw the doctor from afar and shouted hurray. Healthy monkeys jumped through the trees, tumbled, and danced with joy. And the sick monkeys lay under the trees and smiled; they knew that soon they would all be healthy: Doctor Aibolit had arrived! Doctor Aibolit will cure them all!

The healthy monkeys ran towards the doctor, hugged and kissed him.

Welcome to the Land of the Monkeys!

But the soldiers of the cannibal Chumaz saw the doctor from afar and shouted: “Stop!”

The doctor looked around and saw that scary black people were chasing him. The doctor started to run. The crocodile ran after him, the pig followed the crocodile, and the dog Ava followed the pig. Hurry, hurry!

Chumaz's black soldiers ran behind and shouted: “Stop! Hold it!”

Now they will catch the doctor and take him to prison again.

The doctor runs as fast as he can. And suddenly there is a river in front of him. It is impossible to run further. If he had jumped to the other side, he would have been in the Land of the Monkeys. But you can't jump over. The river is wide. He stands there and doesn’t know what to do. Now the soldiers will catch him. Oh, if there was a bridge across this river, the doctor would run across the bridge, and the soldiers would not catch him.

Poor we are, poor! - said the pig Oink-Oink. - How do we get to the other side?

Poor we are, poor! - said the dog Ava. - In a minute the black soldiers will catch you and put you in prison again.

And they cried bitterly.

Bridge! Bridge! Make a bridge! Hurry up! Don't waste a single minute! Make a bridge! Bridge!

The monkeys saw the doctor from afar and shouted hurray.

The doctor looked around. What will they make the bridge out of? They have neither iron nor wood.

But the monkeys built the bridge not from wood, not from iron, but from living monkeys. They held hands and feet, tangled their tails and stretched like a bridge between the two high banks of the river.

Here's the bridge, run! - they shouted to the doctor.

Monkey Bridge.

The doctor grabbed the suitcases and ran over the living monkeys.

A pig ran in front, and a crocodile ran behind. Behind the crocodile are a duck, a dog and Popka.

Quicker! - the monkeys shouted. - Hurry up, hurry up!

It was difficult to walk across the living monkey bridge. The doctor was afraid that he was about to slip and splash into the water. But no, the bridge was strong, the monkeys held hands tightly, and the doctor ran to the other bank with all his animals. And as soon as he reached it, the monkeys let go of their hands, the bridge crumbled, and the soldiers remained on the other side.

Hooray! - the monkeys shouted. - Hooray! Doctor Aibolit is saved! Now he has no one to fear! Hooray! The soldiers did not catch him. Hooray!

10
STUPID LION

Doctor Aibolit hurried to the sick monkeys. They lay on the ground and moaned. They were very sick.

The doctor looked at them and said:

Sick people should not lie on the ground. Patients may catch a cold. Get them off the ground and into bed.

But we have no beds, said the monkeys.

“You need to arrange beds for your patients,” said the doctor.

But we don't know how to make beds! - said the monkeys.

“I’ll teach you,” said the doctor. And he showed them how to make beds.

When the beds were made, the doctor began to treat the sick monkeys.

It was necessary to put a thermometer on each monkey, it was necessary to give each monkey medicine, it was necessary to put a compress on each monkey's stomach. There were many sick monkeys, but only one doctor. One cannot cope with such a job. Helpers needed. But who will help the doctor treat the monkeys? We need to ask other animals to come and help.

And the doctor called the lion to him.

“Be so kind,” he said to the lion, “help me heal the monkeys.”

Leo was important. He raised his nose and said:

Why! I really need to treat the monkeys! I'll get my hands dirty! Do you know who I am? I am a lion, I am the king of beasts. And you dare ask me to treat some dirty monkeys!

It’s in vain that you call them dirty,” said the doctor. - They're not dirty. Today they all took a bath. But your dress is really not very clean. You need to take a brush and give it a good clean. It's a pity that you don't want to help the monkeys. If you do not help other animals, then other animals will not help you. After all, it may happen that you get sick - who then will want to help you! Go and help the monkeys.

“I don’t want to,” answered the lion. - You are talking nonsense. I can't get sick. I am a lion, I am a king of all animals, and kings are never sick.

And lifting his nose even higher, the lion walked away from the doctor with an important look, and thought that he was very smart.

Then the doctor called the leopards to him and said to them:

Leopards, leopards, help me treat the monkeys. They are lying sick.

But the evil leopards only laughed in response:

You’re stupid, doctor,” they said. - What nonsense are you talking about? We will help you. Be grateful that we didn't tear you to pieces.

And they ran away laughing.

I don't want to treat monkeys! - said the lion.

The doctor was very angry with the animals.

How evil and stupid you are,” he said. “Isn’t there anyone among you who would want to help the poor sick monkeys?” Can I alone cure so many sick people?

But it so happened that when the lion returned to his home, the lioness, his wife, said to him:

Our little son is sick. I don’t know what to do with him. - Lies in the crib and moans.

And the lioness wept bitterly, because she loved her son very much.

The lion went to the crib where his little son was lying and saw that the lion cub was actually sick. The lion cub lay in the heat and asked:

Let me drink, drink, drink...

The lion cub had scarlet fever.

Leo told his wife that a doctor came to see them in Africa the other day.

And can you imagine,” he said, “this doctor is so ignorant: today he asked me to help him treat some sick monkeys.”

What did you answer him? - asked the wife.

I replied that I did not want to help him. I am an important lion, and he is an unfortunate doctor. And why should I care about sick monkeys?

Oh, you're stupid! - exclaimed the wife. - Do you know that this man whom you call the doctor is the best, most wonderful doctor. All the animals in the forests and fields talk only about him. He alone of all people can speak like an animal. He alone of all people heals tigers, crocodiles, hares, monkeys and frogs. Yes, yes, he even heals frogs, because he is very kind. And you offended such a person! And he offended you just when your son was sick. What will you do now? Oh, you simpleton! Oh, you fool!

The lioness was so angry with her husband that she grabbed his hair.

Go see this doctor this minute! - she shouted. - And tell him that you apologize to him. Yes, take your friends with you, leopards and tigers - they are just as empty-headed as you. Help the doctor in any way you can, do whatever he says, and when the doctor forgives you for being such a rude person; ask him to cure our sick son. Hurry up!

And she pushed her husband out the door.

Nothing to do. The lion went to the doctor and said:

Hello! Well, how are you doing? Do animals help you treat monkeys?.. No? Oh, how bad they are... You see... I changed my mind... I came to help us... Just tell me what to do... I agree to give the monkeys medicine and apply cold compresses to them. Whatever you order, I will do... And I told all the other animals living in the forest to come help too. They promised to come... Leopards will come, and antelopes will come... By the way, my baby got sick today. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. It must be some small thing, but my wife is worried... If you happen to pass by us this evening, be kind enough to come in and see the boy.

“Okay, okay,” said the doctor. - Don’t worry: I will cure your son today.

11
PRESENT

And all the animals, large and small, that lived in the forests, mountains and deserts flocked to the doctor: everyone wanted to treat the monkeys.

Giraffes came, zebras came, leopards came, antelopes came, camels came, and everyone said: we want to help the famous doctor.

The doctor was very happy, but he did not need so many assistants. He chose the smartest ones and let the rest go.

The animals helped the doctor so well that the sick monkeys soon recovered. Soon there was not a single monkey left on the beds that the doctor had prepared: they all jumped up healthy, thanked the doctor and ran away into the forest.

It was very difficult for the doctor to treat the monkeys. The doctor worked and worked, and was terribly tired. When the monkeys recovered, he went to his room, lay down on the bed and fell asleep. He slept for three days and three nights in a row.

And while he was sleeping, the monkey Chichi stood at his door, making sure that no one made any noise. As soon as there was any noise in the forest, she whispered:

Silence please. Quiet! You're disturbing the doctor's sleep!

The doctor slept and slept and finally woke up. And when he woke up, he said:

Where's my suitcase? I'm driving home.

Dear doctor! - said the monkeys. - Do you really want to leave? Stay with us in the forest. We loved you so much.

But the doctor answered:

No, my friends, I must leave!

And he left to pack his suitcase.

Then the monkeys ran to Chichi and began to ask her why the doctor was in such a hurry to go home.

Chichi replied:

You see, the doctor would be glad to stay with you, he really liked you, but he needs to return. The fact is that when you invited him to Africa, he did not have the money to buy a ticket. Therefore, he took a ship from the sailor Robinson, and on this ship he came to you. He promised Robinson to return the ship intact, but the ship crashed on a rock near the very coast of Africa. Now the doctor wants to return home to buy Robinson another ship, because Robinson is poor, all he had was a ship.

The monkeys thought. Finally, one of the biggest monkeys stood up and said:

If the doctor needs to go, let him go. But he cured us, and for this we should give him some good gift.

Yes, yes, everyone shouted. - We must give him some good gift.

What will we give him?

Dates, dates, - some monkeys shouted. - We will give him a thousand dates!

Coconuts! - others shouted. - We'll give him a whole bunch of nuts!

No, said Chichi. - He doesn’t need such gifts. Coconuts are heavy and difficult to transport across the sea. If you really want to please the doctor, give him an animal. He really, really loves animals. Give him an animal that people have never seen anywhere, that have never been seen in a zoological garden or a menagerie.

Let's give him a camel! - one monkey shouted.

No, said Chichi. - He doesn't need a camel. He saw camels... All people have seen camels.

Well, so ostrich! - another monkey shouted. - We'll give him an ostrich, an ostrich!

No, said Chichi. - He also saw ostriches.

Has he seen the Tyanitolkai? - asked the third monkey.

No, he’s never seen a tyanitolkai! - Chichi answered. - There has not yet been a single person who has seen pulling and pushing.

Okay, said the monkeys. - Now we know what to give the doctor. We'll give him a pull.

12
PULL

People have never seen tyanitolkai, because tyanitolkai are afraid of people: if they notice a person, they run into the bushes!

You can catch other animals when they fall asleep and close their eyes. You will approach them from behind and grab their tail.

But you cannot approach a tyanitolkai from behind, because the tyanitolkai has the same head from behind as in the front.

He has two heads: one in front, the other in back. When he wants to sleep, first one of his heads sleeps, and then the other. Immediately he never sleeps. When one head is asleep, the other looks around so that the hunter does not creep up. That is why not a single hunter has been able to catch a tyanitolkai: that is why this animal is not in any menagerie. There were hunters who walked through the forests and mountains all their lives, everyone tried to catch at least one puller, but in vain: so far not a single one has been caught.

And so the monkeys decided to catch one tyanitolkai for Dr. Aibolit. They ran as a whole horde into the very thicket of the forest and there they found a place where the tyanitolkai had taken refuge.

He saw them and started to run, but they surrounded him, grabbed him by the horns and said:

Dear push! Don't be afraid. We will not harm you. We just want to ask you if you would like to go with Doctor Aibolit to the Country of White People. You'll be fine there.

Tyanitolkai shook both his heads and replied:

Good doctor! - said the monkeys. - He won't hurt you. He will feed you, and if you get sick, he will cure you of your illness.

Doesn't matter! - Pull and push said. - I wish to stay here.

If you go, you will do a good deed, said the monkeys. - The doctor is poor, he has no money. He will show you to people, and people will pay him money for it. When the doctor has a lot of money, the doctor will buy a ship and give it to the sailor Robinson...

But pull and push repeated:

I don't want to. I don't want to. I don't want to.

The monkeys persuaded him for three days, and finally Pull and Pull said:

Show me this doctor. I want to look at him.

The monkeys led, pushing and pulling, to the house where Doctor Aibolit lived. Approaching the door, they knocked.

Sign in! - said the duck.

Chichi proudly led the two-headed beast into the room.

He had never seen such a monster.

What it is? - asked the surprised doctor.

“It’s a push,” Chichi replied. - He wants to meet you. The tyanitolkai is the rarest animal of our African forests. The only animal that has two heads. Take him with you to the Land of White Men, and you will become a rich man. People will pay you big money to watch it.

But I don't want to be rich! - said Doctor Aibolit. - What do I need wealth for? What do I need money for? I'm happy without money.

No, said the crocodile. - You need money. Have you forgotten that you must buy a ship for sailor Robinson?

Yes, yes, said the doctor. - You are right. I’ll probably need the money... But I don’t know whether he will agree to go with someone else to the Country of White People.

I agree! - Pull and push said. - I immediately saw that you, doctor, are a very good person. I'll be happy to go with you. But promise me that if I get bored in the Country of White People, you will let me go back to Africa.

Fine! - said the doctor. - I won’t hold you by force. If you want to leave, you will leave. But please tell me why you speak with only one mouth? Can't you tell others too?

Of course I can,” said Pull and Pull. - I can speak with two mouths. But I eat with one mouth and speak with the other.

And Pull and Pull laughed.

“I like you,” said the doctor. - I'm glad I met you. You will feel good with me.

13
MONKEYS SAY GOODBYE TO THE DOCTOR

Suddenly the monkeys entered the room and called the doctor for lunch. They gave him a wonderful farewell dinner! Honey! Bananas! Dates! Apricots! Oranges! Pineapples! Nuts!

When all the lunch was eaten, the doctor stood up and made a speech to the monkeys:

Dear friends. I'm so full that it's hard for me to speak. But I want to tell you that I liked you, and if it were up to me, I would stay with you for the rest of my life. But I must leave, because I have important things to do in the Country of White Men. Before you leave, I want to give you some good advice: wash your hands often; do not lie down on wet ground; don't eat green nuts. And then you will be healthy.

Having said these words, the doctor sat down. The monkeys clapped their hands and shouted:

Long live Doctor Aibolit! He is the kindest person on earth!

A large gorilla monkey, who has very strong arms, ran into the forest and rolled a huge heavy stone from there.

This stone,” she said, “will stand in the place where Doctor Aibolit treated our sick monkeys. This will be the Monument to the Good Doctor.

The doctor took off his hat, bowed to the monkeys and said:

Goodbye, dear friends! Thank you for your love. It's time for me to leave. Goodbye. I'll come to you again soon. In the meantime, I leave you with a crocodile, a parrot and Chichi. They were born in Africa, let them remain in Africa. Their brothers and sisters live here. Goodbye!

Having said this, the doctor walked along the road. The monkeys went to accompany him. They carried his suitcases behind him and thanked him endlessly. Finally, they went to the river bank and began to say goodbye again.

Goodbye, doctor! - the crocodile shouted and began to cry.

Come back quickly! - the parrot shouted.

We will be waiting for you! - Chichi shouted and waved her handkerchief. Every monkey wanted to shake Dr. Aibolit’s hand at all costs. And since there were many monkeys, they shook his hand until the evening. The doctor’s hand even hurt.

And then the lion came, hugged the doctor and said:

You cured my son. Thank you. I will never forget your kindness. And please don't be mad at me for being rude and ignorant. I have such a bad character. My wife asked me to give you this gift.

And he gave the doctor a pair of stockings, which the grateful lioness had knitted for the doctor.

14
AGAIN IN THE HOMELAND

When the doctor crossed the river, he again found himself in the country of the black and evil cannibal Chumaz.

Shh! - the owl whispered. - Speak more quietly! Otherwise, how can we avoid going to prison again?

Before she had time to utter these words, Chumaz’s black soldiers suddenly ran out of the forest and pounced straight on the doctor.

Yeah! - they shouted. - Finally, we caught you! Now you won't leave us!

The doctor trembled with fright. What was he supposed to do? Where can you hide from black soldiers?

But then he ran up to him, pulled him, and said:

Ride me! Yes, hold on tight. Like this!

The doctor sat down on the puller, and he galloped off like the fastest horse.

Black soldiers are behind him! But since the tyanitolkai had two heads, he bit everyone who tried to attack him from behind.

The soldiers were afraid of the two-headed beast and ran away. And the pull brought the doctor to the seashore, where Chumaz’s ship stood.

Seeing the ship, the doctor was very happy. He took a boat and went there with all his animals. There was no one on the ship. The Doctor raised the sails and set off to sea. But as soon as he drove away from the shore, Chumaz appeared on the shore.

Stop! - he shouted. -Where did you take my ship? Come back to me!

No! - answered the doctor. - I don't want to return to you. You are so stupid and evil. If you were kind, I would not have taken the ship from you, but you wanted to kill me, you put me in prison, you tortured my animals, and for this I take your ship from you. Next time be smarter.

Chumaz became terribly angry: he ran along the shore, swore and threw stones at Doctor Aibolit.

But Doctor Aibolit was already far away.

Where should he go? The sea is big. It's easy to get lost. How to get to the Country of White People? The waves tossed the ship here and there and there was no one to ask where the road was.

The poor doctor almost cried with grief.

Suddenly, high in the sky, a strange noise was heard.

What it is? - asked the doctor.

Ava the dog sniffed the air and said:

These are birds. There are a lot of them. We can't see them because it's dark.

At this time, the moon appeared from behind a cloud, and the doctor saw that, in fact, some birds were flying high, high.

Swallows! - Aibolit exclaimed.

Hello, hello, doctor! - the swallows chirped merrily. - We have been waiting for you for a long time. Don't be afraid. You won't go astray. We will fly ahead and show you where to go.

Swallows flew over the sea. The ship sailed after them. Where the swallows go, the ship goes.

Are we coming home soon? - asked the dog Ava.

She's tired of traveling.

Soon soon! - answered the doctor.

But they drove for a very long time. We drove, drove, drove and finally arrived home. As soon as they landed on the shore, they saw the sailor Robinson, who had been waiting for them for a long time.

Where is my ship? - he asked the doctor.

Ah, said the doctor. - Your ship is lost. He crashed on the rocks off the very coast of Africa. But I brought you a new ship, which is even better than yours.

OK! - said Robinson. - I'm not angry with you. This is a great ship. It's good that you brought it to me. I'll paint it green and it will be very beautiful.

The doctor said goodbye to Robinson, sat astride the pull-pull and rode through the city streets, straight to his home.

On every street, rabbits, cats, dogs, piglets, cows, horses ran out to him, and they all shouted loudly:

Malakucha! Malakucha!

In animal terms this means:

Long live Doctor Aibolit!

Birds flocked from all over the city: they flew over the doctor’s head and sang funny songs to him.

The doctor was very glad to have returned home.

In the doctor's house lived an old horse, a cow, bats, and hares. At first they were scared when they saw Pull Pushing, but then they got used to it and loved it.

Quack Duck immediately got to work: she took a dusty rag and started wiping off the dust - on the tables, on the chairs, on the chest of drawers. Quack had to do some work: there were cobwebs and dirt everywhere in the house.

Buba the owl began to wash the clothes - she washed all the sheets, tablecloths, shirts, towels, and stockings.

But the dog didn’t want to work. She ran into the garden and began running around the garden like crazy. She sniffed every corner and dug up old bones that she had buried under the bushes last year.

Little by little, Tyanitolkay stopped being afraid of people. As he walked the streets, little girls and boys would run up to him and ask him to give them a ride. He never refused them: he immediately dropped to his knees, boys and girls climbed onto his back, and he carried them throughout the city to the sea.

Part one.JOURNEY TO THE COUNTRY OF MONKEYS

Once upon a time there lived a doctor. He was kind. His name was Aibolit. And he had an evil sister, whose name was Varvara.

More than anything in the world, the doctor loved animals. Hares lived in his room. There was a squirrel living in his closet. A prickly hedgehog lived on the sofa. White mice lived in the chest.

But of all his animals, Dr. Aibolit loved most the duck Kiku, the dog Ava, the little pig Oink-Oink, the parrot Carudo and the owl Bumba.

His evil sister Varvara was very angry with the doctor because he had so many animals in his room.

Drive them away this very minute! - she shouted. - They only dirty the rooms. I don't want to live with these nasty creatures!

No, Varvara, they are not bad! - said the doctor. - I am very glad that they live with me.

From all sides, sick shepherds, sick fishermen, woodcutters, and peasants came to the doctor for treatment, and he gave medicine to everyone, and everyone immediately became healthy.

If some village boy hurts his hand or scratches his nose, he immediately runs to Aibolit - and, lo and behold, ten minutes later he, as if nothing had happened, is healthy, cheerful, playing tag with the parrot Karudo, and the owl Bumba treats him with candies and apples.

One day a very sad horse came to the doctor and quietly said to him:

Lama, von, fifi, kuku!

The doctor immediately understood that in animal language this meant: “My eyes hurt. Give me glasses, please." The doctor had long ago learned to speak like an animal. He said to the horse:

Kapuki, kanuki!

In animal terms, this means: “Please sit down.”

The horse sat down. The doctor put glasses on her, and her eyes stopped hurting.

Chaka! - said the horse, waved its tail and ran into the street.

“Chaka” means “thank you” in an animal way.

Soon all the animals who had bad eyes received glasses from Dr. Aibolit. Horses began to wear glasses, cows began to wear glasses, cats and dogs began to wear glasses. Even old crows did not fly out of the nest without glasses.

Every day more and more animals and birds came to the doctor.

Turtles, foxes and goats came, cranes and eagles flew in.

Doctor Aibolit treated everyone, but he didn’t take money from anyone, because what kind of money do turtles and eagles have!

Soon the following notices were posted on trees in the forest:

Hospital opened

For birds and animals.

Go get treatment

Get there quickly!

These advertisements were posted by Vanya and Tanya, neighbor children whom the doctor had once cured of scarlet fever and measles. They loved the doctor very much and willingly helped him.

2. Monkey Chichi

One evening, when all the animals were sleeping, someone knocked on the doctor’s door.

Who's there? - asked the doctor.

The doctor opened the door and a monkey, very thin and dirty, entered the room. The doctor sat her down on the sofa and asked:

What is hurting you?

“Neck,” she said and began to cry.

Only then did the doctor see that she had a large rope around her neck.

“I ran away from the evil organ grinder,” said the monkey and began to cry again. “The organ grinder beat me, tortured me and dragged me along with him everywhere on a rope.

The doctor took the scissors, cut the rope and smeared such an amazing ointment on the monkey’s neck that the neck immediately stopped hurting. Then he bathed the monkey in a trough, gave it something to eat and said:

Live with me, monkey. I don't want you to be offended.

The monkey was very happy. But when she was sitting at the table and gnawing on the large nuts that the doctor treated her to, an evil organ grinder ran into the room.

Give me the monkey! - he shouted. - This monkey is mine!

Will not give it back! - said the doctor. - I won’t give it up for anything! I don't want you to torture her.

The enraged organ grinder wanted to grab Doctor Aibolit by the throat.

But the doctor calmly told him:

Get out this minute! And if you fight, I will call the dog Ava, and she will bite you.

Ava ran into the room and said menacingly:

In animal language this means: “Run, or I’ll bite you!”

The organ grinder got scared and ran away without looking back. The monkey stayed with the doctor. The animals soon fell in love with her and named her Chichi. In animal language, “chichi” means “well done.”

As soon as Tanya and Vanya saw her, they exclaimed in one voice:

She's so cute! How wonderful!

And they immediately began to play with her as if they were their best friend. They played hide and seek and ball, and then all three took hands and ran to the seashore, and there the monkey taught them a funny monkey dance, which is called “tkella” in the animal language.

Every day animals came to Dr. Aibolit for treatment. Foxes, rabbits, seals, donkeys, camels - everyone came to him from afar. Some had a stomach ache, some had a toothache. The doctor gave each one medicine, and they all immediately recovered.

One day a tailless kid came to Aibolit, and the doctor sewed a tail on it.

And then a bear came from a distant forest, all in tears. She moaned and whimpered pitifully: a large splinter was sticking out of her paw. The doctor pulled out the splinter, washed the wound and lubricated it with his miraculous ointment. The bear's pain went away right away. - Chaka! - the bear shouted and ran home cheerfully - to the den, to her cubs.

Then a sick hare trudged towards the doctor, which was almost killed by dogs.

And then a sick ram came, who had a bad cold and was coughing.

And then two chickens came and brought a turkey, who was poisoned by toadstool mushrooms.

The doctor gave each one medicine, and everyone immediately recovered, and each one said “chucka” to him.

And then, when all the patients had left, Doctor Aibolit heard something rustling behind the doors.

Sign in! - the doctor shouted.

And a sad butterfly came to him:

“I burned my wing on a candle.

Help me, help me, Aibolit:

My wounded wing hurts!”

Doctor Aibolit felt sorry for the moth. He put it in his palm and looked at the burnt wing for a long time. And then he smiled and cheerfully said to the moth:

Don't be sad, moth!

You lie down on your side:

I'll sew you another one,

Silk, blue,

Wing!

And the doctor went into the next room and brought from there a whole heap of all kinds of scraps - velvet, satin, cambric, silk. The scraps were multi-colored: blue, green, black. The doctor rummaged among them for a long time, finally choosing one - bright blue with crimson spots. And he immediately cut out an excellent wing from it with scissors, which he sewed onto the moth.

The moth laughed

And rushed to the meadow

And flies under the birches

With butterflies and dragonflies.

And cheerful Aibolit

From the window he shouts:

"Okay, okay, have fun,

Just watch out for the candles!”

So the doctor fussed with his patients until late in the evening.

In the evening he lay down on the sofa and fell asleep sweetly, and he began to dream of polar bears, deer, and walruses. And suddenly someone knocked on his door again.

4. Crocodile

In the same city where the doctor lived there was a circus, and in the circus there lived a big Crocodile. There it was shown to people for money.

Crocodile had a toothache, and he came to Doctor Aibolit for treatment. The doctor gave him a wonderful medicine, and his teeth stopped hurting.

How good you are! - said the Crocodile, looking around and licking his lips. - How many bunnies, birds, mice do you have! And they are all so fatty and delicious! Let me stay with you forever. I don't want to go back to the circus owner. He feeds me poorly, beats me, offends me.

Stay,” said the doctor. - Please! Just be careful: if you eat even one hare, even one sparrow, I will drive you out.

Okay,” said the Crocodile and sighed. - I promise you, doctor, that I will not eat either hares or birds.

And the Crocodile began to live with the doctor.

He was quiet. He didn’t touch anyone, he lay under his bed and kept thinking about his brothers and sisters who lived far, far away, in hot Africa.

The Doctor fell in love with the Crocodile and often talked to him. But the evil Varvara could not stand the Crocodile and demanded that the doctor drive him away.

I don’t want to see him! - she shouted. - He's so nasty, toothy. And it ruins everything, no matter what it touches. Yesterday I ate my green skirt that was lying on my window.

And he did well,” said the doctor. - The dress should be hidden in the closet, and not thrown out of the window.

“Because of this nasty Crocodile,” Varvara continued, “many people are afraid to come to your house. Only poor people come, and you do not take payment from them, and now we are so poor that we have nothing to buy bread for ourselves.

“I don’t need money,” Aibolit answered. - I’m fine without money. The animals will feed both me and you.

5. Friends help the doctor

Varvara told the truth: the doctor was left without bread. For three days he sat hungry. He had no money.

The animals that lived with the doctor saw that he had nothing to eat and began to feed him. Bumba the owl and Oink-Oink the pig set up a vegetable garden in the yard: the pig was digging the beds with its snout, and Bumba was planting potatoes. The cow began to treat the doctor with her milk every morning and evening. The hen laid eggs for him.

And everyone began to care about the doctor. The dog Ava was sweeping the floors. Tanya and Vanya, together with the monkey Chichi, brought him water from the well. The doctor was very pleased.

I have never had such cleanliness in my house. Thank you, children and animals, for your work!

The children smiled cheerfully at him, and the animals answered in one voice:

Karabuki, marabuki, boo!

In animal language this means: “How can we not serve you? After all, you are our best friend."

And the dog Ava licked him on the cheek and said:

Abuzo, mabuzo, bang!

In animal language this means: “We will never leave you and will be your faithful comrades.”

6. Swallow

One evening the owl Bumba said:

Who is that scratching behind the door? It looks like a mouse.

Everyone listened, but heard nothing.

There is no one behind the door! - said the doctor. - It seemed so to you.

No, it didn’t seem like it,” the owl objected. - I hear someone scratching. It's a mouse or a bird. You can believe me. We owls hear better than humans.

Bumba was not mistaken.

The monkey opened the door and saw a swallow on the threshold.

Swallow - in winter! What a miracle! After all, swallows cannot stand frost and, as soon as winter sets in, they fly away to hot Africa. Poor thing, how cold she is! She sits in the snow and trembles.

Martin! - the doctor shouted. - Go into the room and warm yourself up by the stove.

At first the swallow was afraid to enter. She saw that a Crocodile was lying in the room and thought that he would eat her. But Chichi the monkey told her that this Crocodile is very kind. Then the swallow flew into the room, sat on the back of the chair, looked around and asked:

Chiruto, kisafa, poppy?

In animal language this means: “Please tell me, does the famous doctor Aibolit live here?”

“Aibolit is me,” said the doctor.

“I have a big request to ask you,” said the swallow. - You must go to Africa now. I flew from Africa on purpose to invite you there. There are monkeys down there in Africa, and now those monkeys are sick.

What hurts them? - asked the doctor.

“They have a stomach ache,” said the swallow. - They lie on the ground and cry. There is only one person who can save them, and that is you. Take your medicines with you and let’s go to Africa as soon as possible! If you don't go to Africa, all the monkeys will die.

“Oh,” said the doctor, “I would gladly go to Africa!” I love monkeys and I'm sorry they are sick. But I don't have a ship. After all, to go to Africa, you need to have a ship.

Poor monkeys! - said the Crocodile. - If the doctor does not go to Africa, they all must die. He alone can cure them.

And the Crocodile cried with such big tears that two streams flowed across the floor.

Suddenly Doctor Aibolit shouted:

Still, I will go to Africa! Still, I will cure sick monkeys! I remembered that my friend the old sailor Robinson, whom I once saved from an evil fever, had an excellent ship.

He took his hat and went to the sailor Robinson.

Hello, sailor Robinson! - he said. - Be kind, give me your ship. I want to go to Africa. There, not far from the Sahara Desert, there is a wonderful Land of Monkeys.

“Okay,” said the sailor Robinson. - I will give you a ship with pleasure. After all, you saved my life, and I am happy to provide you with any service. But look, bring my ship back, because I have no other ship.

“I’ll definitely bring it,” said the doctor. - Don't worry. I just wish I could go to Africa.

Take it, take it! - Robinson repeated. - But be careful not to break it on the pitfalls!

“Don’t be afraid, I won’t break you,” said the doctor, thanked the sailor Robinson and ran home.

Animals, gather together! - he shouted. - Tomorrow we are going to Africa!

The animals were very happy and began jumping around the room and clapping their hands. The monkey Chichi was the most happy:

I'm going, I'm going to Africa,
To lovely lands!
Africa, Africa,
My motherland!

“I won’t take all the animals to Africa,” said Doctor Aibolit. - Hedgehogs, bats and rabbits should stay here in my house. The horse will remain with them.

And I will take with me the Crocodile, the monkey Chichi and the parrot Carudo, because they come from Africa: their parents, brothers and sisters live there. In addition, I will take with me Ava, Kika, Bumba and Oink-Oink the pig.

What about us? - Tanya and Vanya shouted. - Are we really going to stay here without you?

Yes! - said the doctor and shook their hands firmly. - Goodbye, dear friends! You will stay here and take care of my garden and garden. We'll be back very soon.

And I will bring you a wonderful gift from Africa.

Tanya and Vanya hung their heads. But they thought a little and said:

There is nothing to be done: we are still small. Bon Voyage! Goodbye! And when we grow up, we will certainly go traveling with you.

Still would! - said Aibolit. -You just need to grow up a little.

7. To Africa

The animals quickly packed their things and set off. Only hares, rabbits, hedgehogs, and bats remained at home.

Arriving at the seashore, the animals saw a wonderful ship. The sailor Robinson stood right there on the hill. Vanya and Tanya, together with the pig Oink-Oink and the monkey Chichi, helped the doctor bring in suitcases with medicines.

All the animals boarded the ship and were about to set off, when suddenly the doctor shouted in a loud voice:

Wait, wait, please!

What's happened? - Asked the Crocodile.

Wait! Wait! - the doctor shouted. - After all, I don’t know where Africa is! You need to go and ask.

The crocodile laughed:

Do not go! Calm down! The swallow will show you where to sail. She often visited Africa. Swallows fly to Africa every winter.

Certainly! - said the swallow. - I will be happy to show you the way there.

And she flew ahead of the ship, showing Doctor Aibolit the way.

She flew to Africa, and Doctor Aibolit directed the ship after her. Wherever the swallow goes, there goes the ship. At night it became dark, and the swallow was not visible. Then she lit a flashlight, took it in her beak and flew with the flashlight, so that the doctor could see even at night where to lead his ship.

They drove and drove, and suddenly they saw a crane flying towards them.

Tell me, please, is the famous doctor Aibolit on your ship?

Yes, - answered the Crocodile. - The famous doctor Aibolit is on our ship.

Ask the doctor to swim quickly, said the crane, because the monkeys are getting worse and worse. They can't wait for him.

Do not worry! - said the Crocodile. - We are racing with full sails. The monkeys won't have to wait long.

Hearing this, the crane was happy and flew back to tell the monkeys that Doctor Aibolit was already close.

The ship ran quickly across the waves. The crocodile was sitting on the deck and suddenly saw dolphins swimming towards the ship.

Tell me, please, - asked the dolphins, - is the famous doctor Aibolit sailing on this ship?

Yes, - answered the Crocodile. - The famous doctor Aibolit is sailing on this ship.

Please, ask the doctor to swim quickly, because the monkeys are getting worse and worse.

Do not worry! - answered the Crocodile. - We are racing with full sails. The monkeys won't have to wait long.

In the morning the doctor said to the Crocodile:

What's that up ahead? Some big land. I think this is Africa.

Yes, this is Africa! - Crocodile shouted. - Africa! Africa! Soon we will be in Africa! I see ostriches! I see rhinos! I see camels! I see elephants!

Africa, Africa!

Dear lands!

Africa, Africa!

My motherland!

8. Storm

But then a storm arose. Rain! Wind! Lightning! Thunder! The waves became so big that it was scary to look at them. And suddenly - bang-tar-rah-rah! There was a terrible crash and the ship tilted on its side.

What's happened? What's happened? - asked the doctor.

Shipwreck! - the parrot shouted. - Our ship hit a rock and crashed! We're drowning. Save yourself who can!

But I can't swim! - Chichi screamed.

I can't either! - Oink-Oink screamed. And they cried bitterly. Fortunately, the Crocodile put them on his broad back and swam along the waves straight to the shore.

Hooray! Everyone is saved! Everyone reached Africa safely. But their ship was lost. A huge wave hit him and smashed him into small pieces.

How do they get home? After all, they have no other ship. And what will they say to the sailor Robinson?

It was getting dark. The doctor and all his animals really wanted to sleep. They were wet to the bone and tired. But the doctor didn’t even think about rest:

Hurry, hurry forward! We need to hurry! We need to save the monkeys! The poor monkeys are sick and they can't wait for me to cure them!

Then Bumba flew up to the doctor and said in a frightened voice:

Hush hush! Someone's coming! I hear someone's steps!

Everyone stopped and listened.

A shaggy old man with a long gray beard came out of the forest and shouted:

What are you doing here? And who are you? And why did you come here?

“I am Doctor Aibolit,” said the doctor. - I came to Africa to cure sick monkeys...

Ha ha ha! - the shaggy old man laughed. - “Cure sick monkeys”? Do you know where you ended up?

Where? - asked the doctor.

To the robber Barmaley!

To Barmaley! - exclaimed the doctor. - Barmaley is the most evil person in the whole world! But we would rather die than surrender to the robber! Let's quickly run there - to our sick monkeys... They cry, they wait, and we must cure them.

No! - said the shaggy old man and laughed even louder. - You won't leave here anywhere! Barmaley kills everyone who is captured by him.

Let's run! - the doctor shouted. - Let's run! We can save ourselves! We will be saved!

But then Barmaley himself appeared in front of them and, waving a saber, shouted:

Hey you, my faithful servants! Take this stupid doctor with all his stupid animals and put him in jail, behind bars! Tomorrow I will deal with them!

Barmaley's servants ran up, grabbed the doctor, grabbed the Crocodile, grabbed all the animals and took them to prison. The doctor bravely fought them off. The animals bit, scratched, and tore themselves out of their hands, but there were many enemies, the enemies were strong. They threw their prisoners into prison, and the shaggy old man locked them there with a key. And he gave the key to Barmaley. Barmaley took it away and hid it under his pillow.

Poor we are, poor! - Chichi said. - We will never leave this prison. The walls here are strong, the doors are iron. We will no longer see the sun, flowers, or trees. Poor we are, poor!

The pig grunted and the dog howled. And the Crocodile cried with such big tears that a wide puddle became on the floor.

10. The feat of the parrot Karudo

But the doctor said to the animals:

My friends, we must not lose heart! We must break out of this damned prison - because sick monkeys are waiting for us! Stop crying! Let's think about how we can be saved.

No, dear doctor! - said the Crocodile and cried even harder. - We cannot be saved. We are dead! The doors of our prison are made of strong iron. Can we really break down these doors? Tomorrow morning, at first light, Barmaley will come to us and kill us all!

Kika the duck whined. Chichi took a deep breath. But the doctor jumped to his feet and exclaimed with a cheerful smile:

Still, we will be saved from prison!

And he called the parrot Carudo to him and whispered something to him. He whispered so quietly that no one except the parrot heard. The parrot nodded his head, laughed and said:

And then he ran up to the bars, squeezed between the iron bars, flew out into the street and flew to Barmaley.

Barmaley was fast asleep on his bed, and under his pillow was hidden a huge key - the same one with which he locked the iron doors of the prison.

Quietly the parrot crept up to Barmaley and pulled out the key from under the pillow. If the robber had woken up, he would certainly have killed the fearless bird. But, fortunately, the robber was fast asleep. Brave Karudo grabbed the key and flew as fast as he could back to prison.

Wow, this key is so heavy! Karudo almost dropped it on the way. But still he flew to the prison - and right out the window, to Doctor Aibolit. The doctor was delighted when he saw that the parrot had brought him the key to the prison!

Hooray! We are saved! - he shouted. - Let’s run quickly before Barmaley wakes up!

The doctor grabbed the key, opened the door and ran out into the street. And behind him are all his animals. Freedom! Freedom! Hooray!

Thank you, brave Karudo! - said the doctor. - You saved us from death. If it weren't for you, we would be lost. And the poor sick monkeys would have died along with us.

No! - said Carudo. - It was you who taught me what to do to get out of this prison!

Hurry, hurry to the sick monkeys! - said the doctor and hastily ran into the thicket of the forest. And with him - all his animals.

11. Over the monkey bridge

When Barmaley found out that Doctor Aibolit had escaped from prison, he became terribly angry, his eyes sparkled, and he stamped his feet.

Hey you, my faithful servants! - he shouted. - Run after the doctor! Catch him and bring him here!

The servants ran into the thicket of the forest and began to look for Doctor Aibolit. And at this time, Doctor Aibolit with all his animals was making his way through Africa to the Land of the Monkeys. He walked very quickly. Oink-Oink the pig, who had short legs, could not keep up with him. The doctor picked her up and carried her. The mumps was severe, and the doctor was terribly tired!

How I wish I could rest! - he said. - Oh, if only we could get to the Land of the Monkeys sooner!

Chichi climbed a tall tree and screamed loudly:

I see Monkey Country! Monkey Country is coming! Soon, soon we will be in the Land of the Monkeys!

The doctor laughed with joy and hurried forward.

The sick monkeys saw the doctor from a distance and cheerfully clapped their hands.

Hooray! Doctor Aibolit has come to us! Doctor Aibolit will cure us immediately, and we will be healthy tomorrow!

But then Barmaley’s servants ran out of the thicket of the forest and rushed in pursuit of the doctor.

Hold him! Hold it! Hold it! - they shouted.

The doctor ran as fast as he could. And suddenly there is a river in front of him. It is impossible to run further. The river is wide and cannot be crossed. Now Barmaley's servants will catch him! Oh, if there was a bridge across this river, the doctor would run across the bridge and immediately find himself in the Land of the Monkeys!

Poor we are, poor! - said the pig Oink-Oink. - How do we get to the other side? In a minute, these villains will catch us and put us in prison again.

Then one of the monkeys shouted:

Bridge! Bridge! Make a bridge! Hurry up! Don't waste a minute! Make a bridge! Bridge!

The doctor looked around. Monkeys have neither iron nor stone. What will they make the bridge out of?

But the monkeys built the bridge not from iron, not from stone, but from living monkeys. There was a tree growing on the bank of the river. One monkey grabbed this tree, and the other grabbed this monkey by the tail. So all the monkeys stretched out like a long chain between the two high banks of the river.

Here's the bridge, run! - they shouted to the doctor.

The Doctor grabbed Bumba the owl and ran over the monkeys, over their heads, over their backs. Behind the doctor are all his animals.

Quicker! - the monkeys shouted. - Quicker! Quicker!

It was difficult to walk across the living monkey bridge. The animals were afraid that they were about to slip and fall into the water.

But no, the bridge was strong, the monkeys held each other tightly - and the doctor quickly ran to the other bank with all the animals.

Hurry, hurry forward! - the doctor shouted. - You can’t hesitate for a minute. After all, our enemies are catching up with us. See, they are also running across the monkey bridge... They will be here now!

Hurry up!.. Hurry up!..

But what is it? What's happened? Look: in the very middle of the bridge, one monkey unclenched his fingers, the bridge fell through, crumbled, and Barmaley’s servants fell head over heels from a great height straight into the river.

Hooray! - the monkeys shouted. - Hooray! Doctor Aibolit is saved! Now he has no one to fear! Hooray! The enemies didn't catch him! Now he will cure our sick! They are here, they are close, they are moaning and crying!

12. Stupid animals

Doctor Aibolit hurried to the sick monkeys.

They lay on the ground and moaned. They were very sick.

The doctor began to treat the monkeys. It was necessary to give each monkey medicine: one - drops, the other - pills. Each monkey had to put a cold compress on its head, and mustard plasters on its back and chest. There were many sick monkeys, but only one doctor. One cannot cope with such a job.

Kika, Crocodile, Carudo and Chichi tried their best to help him, but they soon got tired and the doctor needed other assistants. He went into the desert - where the lion lived.

“Be so kind,” he said to the lion, “please help me treat the monkeys.”

Leo was important. He looked menacingly at Aibolit:

Do you know who I am? I am a lion, I am the king of beasts! And you dare ask me to treat some filthy monkeys!

Then the doctor went to the rhinoceroses.

Rhinos, rhinos! - he said. - Help me treat the monkeys! There are many of them, but I am alone. I can't do my job alone.

The rhinoceroses only laughed in response:

We will help you! Be thankful that we didn't gore you with our horns!

The doctor became very angry with the evil rhinoceroses and ran into the neighboring forest - where the striped tigers lived.

Tigers, tigers! Help me treat the monkeys!

Rrr! - answered the striped tigers. - Leave while you're still alive!

The doctor left them very sad.

But soon the evil animals were severely punished.

When the lion returned home, the lioness said to him:

Our little son is sick - he cries and moans all day. What a pity that there is no famous doctor Aibolit in Africa! He heals wonderfully. No wonder everyone loves him. He would have cured our son.

Doctor Aibolit is here,” said the lion. - Behind those palm trees, in Monkey Country! I just talked to him. - What happiness! - exclaimed the lioness. - Run and call him to our son!

No, said the lion, I won’t go to him. He will not treat our son because I hurt him very much.

You offended Doctor Aibolit! What are we going to do now? Do you know that Doctor Aibolit is the best, most wonderful doctor? He alone of all people can speak like an animal. He treats tigers, crocodiles, hares, monkeys and frogs. Yes, yes, he even heals frogs, because he is very kind. And you offended such a person! And he offended you just when your son was sick! What will you do now?

Leo was dumbfounded. He didn't know what to say.

“Go to this doctor,” cried the lioness, “and tell him that you ask for forgiveness!” Help him in any way you can. Do whatever he says, beg him to cure our poor son!

There is nothing to do, the lion went to Doctor Aibolit.

“Hello,” he said. - I came to apologize for my rudeness. I am ready to help you... I agree to give the monkeys medicine and apply all sorts of compresses to them.

And the lion began to help Aibolit. For three days and three nights he looked after the sick monkeys, and then he approached Doctor Aibolit and timidly said:

My son, whom I love very much, is sick... Please, be so kind as to cure the poor lion cub!

Fine! - said the doctor. - Willingly! I will cure your son today.

And he went into the cave and gave his son such medicine that within an hour he was healthy.

Leo was delighted, and he felt ashamed that he had offended the good doctor.

And then the children of rhinoceroses and tigers got sick. Aibolit immediately cured them. Then the rhinoceroses and tigers said:

We are very ashamed that we offended you!

“Nothing, nothing,” said the doctor. - Next time, be smarter. Now come here and help me treat the monkeys.

13. Gift

The animals helped the doctor so well that the sick monkeys soon recovered.

“Thank you doctor,” they said. “He cured us of a terrible disease, and for this we should give him something very good.” Let's give him a beast that people have never seen before. Which is not found either in the circus or in the zoological park.

Let's give him a camel! - one monkey shouted.

No,” said Chichi, “he doesn’t need a camel.” He saw camels. All people saw camels. In zoological parks and on the streets.

Well, so ostrich! - another monkey shouted. - We'll give him an ostrich, an ostrich!

No,” said Chichi, “he also saw ostriches.”

Did he see the Tyanitolkai? - asked the third monkey.

No, he’s never seen a tyanitolkai,” Chichi answered. “There hasn’t been a single person who has seen a tyanitolkai.”

“Okay,” said the monkeys. - Now we know what to give the doctor: we will give him a tyanitolkay.

14. Pull

People have never seen a tyanitolkay, because tyanitolkay are afraid of people: if they notice a person, they run into the bushes!

You can catch other animals when they fall asleep and close their eyes. You will approach them from behind and grab their tail. But you cannot approach a tyanitolkai from behind, because the tyanitolkai has the same head from behind as in the front.

Yes, he has two heads: one in front, the other in back. When he wants to sleep, first one head sleeps, and then the other. Immediately he never sleeps. One head is asleep, the other is looking around so that the hunter does not creep up. That is why not a single hunter has been able to catch a pulley, that is why not a single circus or zoological park has this animal.

The monkeys decided to catch one tyanitolkai for Dr. Aibolit. They ran into the very thicket of the forest and there they found a place where the tyanitolkai had taken refuge.

He saw them and started to run, but they surrounded him, grabbed him by the horns and said:

Dear Pull! Would you like to go with Doctor Aibolit far, far away and live in his house with all the animals? You will feel good there: both satisfying and fun.

Tyanitolkay shook both heads and answered with both mouths:

“Good doctor,” said the monkeys. - He will feed you honey gingerbread, and if you get sick, he will cure you of every disease.

Doesn't matter! - said Pull Pull. - I wish to stay here.

The monkeys persuaded him for three days, and finally Tyanitolkai said:

Show me this vaunted doctor. I want to look at him.

The monkeys led Tyanitolkay to the house where Aibolit lived. Approaching the door, they knocked.

Come in,” said Kika.

Chichi proudly led the two-headed beast into the room.

What it is? - asked the surprised doctor. He had never seen such a miracle.

This is Pull-Push,” Chichi answered. - He wants to meet you. The tyanitolkai is the rarest animal of our African forests. Take him with you to the ship and let him live in your house.

Will he want to come to me?

“I’ll go to you willingly,” Tyanitolkai said unexpectedly. “I immediately saw that you are kind: you have such kind eyes.” The animals love you so much, and I know that you love the animals. But promise me that if I get bored with you, you will let me go home.

Of course, I’ll let you go,” said the doctor. - But you will feel so good with me that you are unlikely to want to leave.

That's right, that's right! This is true! - Chichi screamed. - He is so cheerful, so brave, our doctor! We live so comfortably in his house! And next door, two steps away from him, live Tanya and Vanya - you will see, they will love you deeply and become your closest friends.

If so, I agree, I'm going! - Tyanitolkay said cheerfully and nodded to Aibolit for a long time, first one head, then the other.

15. Monkeys say goodbye to the doctor

Then the monkeys came to Aibolit and invited him to dinner. They gave him a wonderful farewell dinner: apples, honey, bananas, dates, apricots, oranges, pineapples, nuts, raisins!

Long live Doctor Aibolit! - they shouted. - He is the kindest person on earth!

Then the monkeys ran into the forest and rolled out a huge, heavy stone.

This stone, they said, will stand in the place where Doctor Aibolit treated the sick. This will be a monument to the good doctor.

The doctor took off his hat, bowed to the monkeys and said:

Goodbye, dear friends! Thank you for your love. I'll come to you again soon. Until then, I will leave with you the Crocodile, the parrot Carudo and the monkey Chichi. They were born in Africa - let them remain in Africa. Their brothers and sisters live here. Goodbye!

“I myself will be bored without you,” said the doctor. - But you won’t stay here forever! In three or four months I will come here and take you back. And we will all live and work together again.

“If so, we will stay,” the animals answered. - But look, come quickly!

The doctor said a friendly goodbye to everyone and walked along the road with a cheerful gait. The monkeys went to accompany him. Every monkey wanted to shake Dr. Aibolit’s hand at all costs. And since there were many monkeys, they shook his hand until the evening. The doctor’s hand even hurt.

And in the evening a misfortune happened. As soon as the doctor crossed the river, he again found himself in the country of the evil robber Barmaley.

Shh! - Bumba whispered. - Please speak more quietly! Otherwise, we might not be captured again.

16. New troubles and joys

Before she had time to utter these words, Barmaley’s servants ran out of the dark forest and attacked the good doctor. They had been waiting for him for a long time.

Yeah! - they shouted. - We finally caught you! Now you won't leave us!

What to do? Where to hide from merciless enemies?

But the doctor was not at a loss. In an instant, he jumped onto Tyanitolkai, and he galloped like the fastest horse. Barmaley's servants are behind him. But since Tyanitolkai had two heads, he bit everyone who tried to attack him from behind. And another will be hit with his horns and thrown into a thorny bush.

Of course, Pull Pull alone could never defeat all the villains. But his faithful friends and comrades rushed to the doctor’s aid. Out of nowhere, the Crocodile came running and began to grab the robbers by the bare heels. The dog Ava flew at them with a terrible growl, knocked them down and sank its teeth into their throats. And above, along the branches of the trees, the monkey Chichi rushed and threw large nuts at the robbers.

The robbers fell, groaned in pain, and in the end they were forced to retreat.

They fled in shame into the thicket of the forest.

Hooray! - Aibolit shouted.

Hooray! - the animals shouted.

And the pig Oink-Oink said:

Well, now we can rest. Let's lie down here on the grass. We are tired. We want to sleep.

No, my friends! - said the doctor. - We must hurry. If we hesitate, we will not be saved.

And they ran forward as fast as they could. Soon Tyanitolkai carried the doctor to the seashore. There, in the bay, near a high rock, stood a large and beautiful ship. It was Barmaley's ship.

The doctor was delighted.

We are saved! - he shouted.

There was not a single person on the ship. The doctor with all his animals quickly and silently climbed onto the ship, raised the sails and wanted to set off into the open sea. But as soon as he set sail from the shore, Barmaley himself ran out of the forest.

Stop! - he shouted. - Stop! Wait a minute! Where have you taken my ship? Come back this very minute!

No! - the doctor shouted to the robber. - I don’t want to return to you. You are so cruel and evil. You tortured my animals. You threw me in jail. You wanted to kill me. You are my enemy! I hate you! And I take your ship from you so that you will no longer commit robbery at sea! So that you do not rob defenseless sea vessels passing by your shores.

Barmaley became terribly angry: he ran along the shore, cursed, shook his fists and threw huge stones after him.

But Doctor Aibolit only laughed at him. He sailed on Barmaley's ship straight to his country and a few days later he landed on his native shores.

17. Pull and Varvara

Ava, Bumba, Kika and Oink-Oink were very happy to return home. On the shore they saw Tanya and Vanya, who were jumping and dancing for joy. The sailor Robinson stood next to them.

Hello, sailor Robinson! - Doctor Aibolit shouted from the ship.

Hello, hello, doctor! - answered the sailor Robinson. - Was it good for you to travel? Did you manage to cure sick monkeys? And please tell me, where did you put my ship?

“Ah,” answered the doctor, “your ship is lost!” He crashed on the rocks off the very coast of Africa. But I brought you a new ship! This one will be better than yours.

Well, thank you! - said Robinson. - I see, an excellent ship. Mine was also good, but this one is just a sight for sore eyes: so big and beautiful!

The doctor said goodbye to Robinson, sat astride Tyanitolkai and rode through the city streets straight to his home. On every street, geese, cats, turkeys, dogs, piglets, cows, horses ran out to him, and they all shouted loudly:

Malakucha! Malakucha!

In animal terms this means: “Long live Doctor Aibolit!”

Birds flew in from all over the city; they flew over the doctor's head and sang funny songs to him.

The doctor was very glad to have returned home.

Hedgehogs, hares and squirrels still lived in the doctor's office. At first they were afraid of Tyanitolkai, but then they got used to him and fell in love with him.

And Tanya and Vanya, when they saw Tyanitolkaya, laughed, squealed, and clapped their hands with joy. Vanya hugged one of his necks, and Tanya hugged the other. For an hour they stroked and caressed him. And then they held hands and danced “tkella” in joy - that cheerful animal dance that Chichi taught them.

You see,” said Doctor Aibolit, “I fulfilled my promise: I brought you a wonderful gift from Africa, the likes of which children have never been given before.” I'm very glad that you liked it.

At first, Tyanitolkai was shy of people, hiding in the attic or cellar. And then he got used to it and went out into the garden, and he even liked that people came running to look at him and called him “The Miracle of Nature.”

Less than a month had passed before he was already boldly walking through all the streets of the city together with Tanya and Vanya, who were inseparable from him. Guys kept running up to him and asking him to give them a ride. He did not refuse anyone: he immediately dropped to his knees, boys and girls climbed onto his back, and he carried them all over the city, all the way to the sea, cheerfully shaking his two heads.

And Tanya and Vanya wove beautiful multi-colored ribbons into his long mane and hung a silver bell on each neck. The bells were ringing, and when Tyanitolkai walked through the city, you could hear from afar: ding-ding, ding-ding! And, hearing this ringing, all the residents ran out into the street to take another look at the wonderful beast.

Evil Varvara also wanted to ride Tyanitolkai. She climbed onto his back and started hitting him with an umbrella:

Run quickly, two-headed donkey!

Tyanitolkay got angry, ran up a high mountain and threw Varvara into the sea.

Help! Save! - Varvara shouted.

But no one wanted to save her. Varvara began to drown.

Ava, Ava, dear Ava! Help me get to the shore! - she shouted.

But Ava answered: “Rry!..”

In animal language this means: “I don’t want to save you, because you are evil and disgusting!”

The old sailor Robinson sailed past on his ship. He threw Varvara a rope and pulled her out of the water. Just at this time, Doctor Aibolit was walking along the shore with his animals. He shouted to the sailor Robinson:

And the sailor Robinson took her far, far away, to a desert island, where she could not offend anyone.

And Doctor Aibolit lived happily in his small house and from morning to night he treated birds and animals that flew and came to him from all over the world. Three years passed like this. And everyone was happy.

Part two

PENTA AND THE SEA PIRATES

Chapter 1. CAVE

Doctor Aibolit loved to walk.

Every evening after work, he took an umbrella and went with his animals somewhere into the forest or field.

Tianitolkai walked next to him, Kika the duck was running in front, Ava the dog and Oink-Oink the pig were behind him, and the old owl Bumba was sitting on the doctor’s shoulder.

They went very far, and when Doctor Aibolit was tired, he sat astride Tyanitolkai, and he merrily raced him through the mountains and meadows.

One day, while walking, they saw a cave on the seashore. They wanted to enter, but the cave was locked. There was a large lock on the door.

What do you think, said Ava, what is hidden in this cave?

There must be honey gingerbreads there,” said Tyanitolkai, who loved sweet honey gingerbreads more than anything in the world.

No, said Kika. - There are candies and nuts.

No, said Oink-Oink. - There are apples, acorns, beets, carrots...

“We need to find the key,” said the doctor. - Go find the key.

The animals ran in all directions and began to look for the key to the cave. They searched under every stone, under every bush, but did not find the key anywhere.

Then they again crowded around the locked door and began to look through the crack. But it was dark in the cave and they saw nothing. Suddenly the owl Bumba said:

Hush hush! It seems to me that there is something alive in the cave. It's either a man or a beast.

Everyone began to listen, but heard nothing.

Doctor Aibolit said to the owl:

I think you're wrong. I hear nothing.

Still would! - said the owl. - You can’t hear. You all have worse ears than mine.

No, said the animals. - We don't hear anything.

“And I hear,” said the owl.

What do you hear? - asked Doctor Aibolit.

I hear; a man put his hand in his pocket.

Such miracles! - said the doctor. “I didn’t know you had such wonderful hearing.” Listen again and tell me what you hear?

I hear a tear rolling down this man’s cheek.

A tear! - the doctor shouted. - A tear! Is there really someone crying behind the door? We need to help this person. He must be in great grief. I don't like it when they cry. Give me the axe. I'll break down this door.

Chapter 2. PENTA

Tyanitolkay ran home and brought a sharp ax to the doctor. The doctor swung and hit the locked door with all his might. Once! Once! The door shattered into splinters, and the doctor entered the cave.

The cave is dark, cold, damp. And what an unpleasant, nasty smell it has!

The doctor lit a match. Oh, how uncomfortable and dirty it is here! No table, no bench, no chair! There is a pile of rotten straw on the floor, and a little boy sits on the straw and cries.

Seeing the doctor and all his animals, the boy got scared and cried even more. But when he noticed how kind the doctor’s face was, he stopped crying and said:

So you're not a pirate?

No, no, I'm not a pirate! - said the doctor and laughed. - I am Doctor Aibolit, not a pirate. Do I look like a pirate?

No! - said the boy. - Even though you have an axe, I’m not afraid of you. Hello! My name is Penta. Do you know where my father is?

“I don’t know,” the doctor answered. - Where could your father have gone? Who is he? Tell!

My father is a fisherman,” Penta said. - Yesterday we went out to sea to fish. Me and him, together in a fishing boat. Suddenly, sea robbers attacked our boat and took us prisoner. They wanted their father to become a pirate, so that he would rob and sink ships with them. But my father did not want to become a pirate. “I am an honest fisherman,” he said, “and I don’t want to commit robbery!” Then the pirates got terribly angry, grabbed him and took him to an unknown location, and they locked me in this cave. I haven't seen my father since then. Where is he? What did they do to him? They must have thrown him into the sea and he drowned!

The boy began to cry again.

Do not Cry! - said the doctor. - What's the use of tears? It’s better to think about how we can save your father from the robbers. Tell me, what is he like? - He has red hair and a red beard, very long.

Doctor Aibolit called Kiku the duck to him and quietly said in her ear:

Chari-bari, chava-cham!

Chuka-chuk! - Kika answered.

Hearing this conversation, the boy said:

How funny you say! I don't understand a word.

I talk to my animals like animals. “I know animal language,” said Doctor Aibolit.

What did you tell your duck?

I told her to call the dolphins.

Chapter 3. DOLPHINS

The duck ran to the shore and shouted in a loud voice:

Dolphins, dolphins, swim here! Doctor Aibolit is calling you.

The dolphins immediately swam to the shore.

Hello, doctor! - they shouted. - What do you want from us?

“There’s a problem,” said the doctor. - Yesterday morning, pirates attacked one fisherman, beat him and, it seems, threw him into the water. I'm afraid he drowned. Please search the entire sea. Will you find him in the depths of the sea?

What is he like? - asked the dolphins.

“Red,” the doctor answered. - He has red hair and a large, long red beard. Please find it!

“Okay,” said the dolphins. - We are glad to serve our beloved doctor. We will search the whole sea, we will ask all the crayfish and fish. If the red fisherman drowned, we will find him and tell you tomorrow.

The dolphins swam out to sea and began to look for the fisherman. They searched the whole sea up and down, they sank to the very bottom, they looked under every stone, they asked all the crayfish and fish, but nowhere did they find the drowned man.

In the morning they swam ashore and told Doctor Aibolit:

We haven't found your fisherman anywhere. We looked for him all night, but he was not in the depths of the sea.

The boy was very happy when he heard what the dolphins said.

So my father is alive! Alive! Alive! - he shouted and jumped and clapped his hands.

Of course he's alive! - said the doctor. - We will certainly find him!

He put the boy astride Tyanitolkai and rode him for a long time along the sandy seashore.

Chapter 4. EAGLES

But Penta remained sad all the time. Even riding Tyanitolkai did not amuse him. Finally he asked the doctor:

How will you find my father?

“I will call the eagles,” said the doctor. - Eagles have such keen eyes, they see far, far away. When they fly under the clouds, they see every insect that crawls on the ground. I will ask them to search the whole earth, all the forests, all the fields and mountains, all the cities, all the villages - let them look for your father everywhere.

Oh, how smart you are! - Penta said. - You came up with this wonderfully. Call the eagles quickly!

The doctor knows eagles, and the eagles flew to him.

Hello, doctor! What do you want?

Fly to all ends, said the doctor, and find a red-haired fisherman with a long red beard.

“Okay,” said the eagles. - We will do everything possible for our beloved doctor. We will fly high, high and examine the whole earth, all the forests and fields, all the mountains, cities and villages and try to find your fisherman.

And they flew high, high above the forests, above the fields, above the mountains. And each eagle peered vigilantly to see if there was a red-haired fisherman with a large red beard.

The next day the eagles flew to the doctor and said:

We searched the whole land, but did not find the fisherman anywhere. And if we haven’t seen him, it means he’s not on earth!

Chapter 5. ABBA THE DOG LOOKS FOR A FISHERMAN

What do we do? - asked Kika. - The fisherman must be found at all costs: Penta is crying, not eating, not drinking. It's sad for him to live without his father.

But how will you find him! - said Pull Pull. - The eagles didn’t find him either. That means no one will find it.

Not true! - Ava said. - Eagles, of course, are smart birds, and their eyes are very keen, but only a dog can search for a person. If you need to find a person, ask the dog, and it will certainly find him.

Why do you offend the eagles? - said Ava Oink-Oink. - Do you think it was easy for them to fly around the whole earth in one day, inspect all the mountains, forests and fields? You were lying on the sand, idle, and they were working and searching.

How dare you call me a slacker? - Ava got angry. - Do you know that if I want, I can find the fisherman in three days?

Well, whatever you want! - said Oink-Oink. - Why don’t you want to? Want it!.. You won’t find anything, you’ll just brag!

And Oink-Oink laughed.

So, do you think I'm a braggart? - Ava shouted angrily. - Well, okay, we'll see!

And she ran to the doctor.

Doctor! - she said. - Ask Penta to give you something that his father held in his hands. The doctor went to the boy and said:

Do you have any thing that your father held in his hands?

Here,” said the boy and took a large red handkerchief from his pocket.

The dog ran up to the scarf and began to sniff it greedily.

“It smells like tobacco and herring,” she said. - His father smoked a pipe and ate good Dutch herring. I don’t need anything else... Doctor, tell the boy that in less than three days I will find his father. I will run up that high mountain.

“But it’s dark now,” said the doctor. - You can’t search in the dark!

“Nothing,” said the dog. “I know its smell, and I don’t need anything else.” I can smell even in the dark.

The dog ran up a high mountain.

Today the wind is from the north, she said. - Let's smell what it smells like.

Snow... A wet fur coat... another wet fur coat... wolves... seals, wolf cubs... smoke from a fire... birch...

Can you really smell so many smells in one breeze? - asked the doctor.

“Of course,” Ava said. - Every dog ​​has an amazing nose. Any puppy can smell smells that you will never smell.

And the dog began to sniff the air again. For a long time she did not say a word and finally said:

Polar bears... deer... little mushrooms in the forest... ice... snow, snow and... and... and...

Gingerbread? - asked Tyanitolkay.

No, not gingerbread,” Ava answered.

Nuts? - asked Kika.

No, not nuts,” Ava answered.

Apples? - asked Oink-Oink.

No, not apples,” Ava answered. - Not nuts, not gingerbread, not apples, but fir cones. This means there are no fisherman in the north. Let's wait for the wind to blow from the south.

“I don’t believe you,” said Oink-Oink. - You're making it all up. You don’t hear any smells, you’re just talking nonsense.

Leave me alone,” Ava shouted, “or I’ll bite your tail off!”

Hush hush! - said Doctor Aibolit. - Stop swearing!.. I see now, my dear Ava, that you really have an amazing nose.

Let's wait until the wind changes. And now it's time to go home. Hurry! Penta is shaking and crying. He is cold. We need to feed him. Well, Pull, expose your back. Penta, mount! Ava and Kika, follow me!

Chapter 6. ABBA CONTINUES TO SEARCH FOR THE FISHERMAN

The next day, early in the morning, Ava again ran up the high mountain and began to smell the wind. The wind was from the south. Ava sniffed for a long time and finally said:

It smells like parrots, palm trees, monkeys, roses, grapes and lizards. But it doesn't smell like a fisherman.

Give it another whiff! - said Bumba.

It smells like giraffes, turtles, ostriches, hot sands, pyramids... But it doesn't smell like a fisherman.

You'll never find a fisherman! - Oink-Oink said with a laugh. - There was nothing to brag about.

Ava didn't answer. But the next day, early in the morning, she again ran up the high mountain and sniffed the air until the evening. Late in the evening she rushed to the doctor, who was sleeping with Penta.

Get up, get up! - she screamed. - Get up! I found a fisherman! Wake up! Enough sleep. Do you hear - I found a fisherman, I found, I found a fisherman! I can smell him. Yes Yes! The wind smells of tobacco and herring!

The doctor woke up and ran after the dog.

“The west wind is blowing from across the sea,” the dog shouted, “and I smell the fisherman!” He is across the sea, on the other side. Hurry, hurry there!

Ava barked so loudly that all the animals rushed to run up the high mountain. Penta is ahead of everyone.

“Run quickly to the sailor Robinson,” Ava shouted to the doctor, “and ask him to give you a ship!” Hurry up, otherwise it will be too late!

The doctor immediately started running to the place where the sailor Robinson’s ship stood.

Hello, sailor Robinson! - the doctor shouted. - Be so kind as to borrow your ship! I need to go to sea again on one very important matter.

Please, said the sailor Robinson. - But be careful not to get caught by pirates! Pirates are terrible villains, robbers! They will take you prisoner, and my ship will be burned or sunk...

But the doctor did not listen to the sailor Robinson. He jumped onto the ship, seated Penta and all the animals and rushed into the open sea.

Ava ran onto the deck and shouted to the doctor:

Zaksara! Zaksara! Xu!

In dog language this means:

“Look at my nose! On my nose! Wherever I turn my bow, lead your ship there.”

The doctor unfurled the sails and the ship ran even faster.

Hurry, hurry! - the dog screamed.

The animals stood on the deck and looked ahead to see if they would see the fisherman.

But Penta did not believe that his father could be found. He sat with his head down and cried.

Evening came. It became dark. Kika the duck said to the dog:

No, Ava, you won't find a fisherman! I feel sorry for poor Penta, but there is nothing to do - we must return home.

And then she turned to the doctor:

Doctor, doctor! Turn your ship around! We won't find a fisherman here either.

Suddenly the owl Bumba, who was sitting on the mast and looking forward, shouted:

I see a big rock in front of me - over there, far, far away!

Hurry there! - the dog screamed. - The fisherman is there on the rock. I can smell him... He's there!

Soon everyone saw that a rock was sticking out of the sea. The Doctor steered the ship straight towards this rock.

But the fisherman was nowhere to be seen.

I knew that Ava wouldn’t find the fisherman! - Oink-Oink said with a laugh. “I don’t understand how the doctor could believe such a braggart.”

The doctor ran up the rock and began to call the fisherman. But no one responded.

Gin-gin! - Bumba and Kika shouted.

“Gin-gin” means “ay” in animal language.

But only the wind rustled over the water and the waves crashed against the rocks.

Chapter 7. FOUND

There was no fisherman on the rock. Ava jumped from the ship onto the rock and began running along it back and forth, sniffing every crack. And suddenly she barked loudly.

Kinedele! Nop! - she screamed. - Kinedele! Nop!

In animal language this means:

“Here, here! Doctor, follow me, follow me!

The doctor ran after the dog.

There was a small island next to the rock. Ava rushed there. The doctor did not lag behind her a single step. Ava ran back and forth and suddenly slipped into some kind of hole. It was dark in the pit. The doctor lowered himself into the pit and lit his lantern. And what? In a hole, on the bare ground, lay some red-haired man, terribly thin and pale.

It was Penta's father.

The doctor tugged at his sleeve and said:

Please get up. We've been looking for you for so long! We really, really need you!

The man thought it was a pirate, clenched his fists and said:

Get away from me, robber! I will defend myself to the last drop of blood!

But then he saw how kind the doctor’s face was and said:

I see that you are not a pirate. Give me something to eat. I am starving.

The doctor gave him bread and cheese. The man ate every last crumb and stood up.

How did you get here? - asked the doctor.

I was thrown here by evil pirates, bloodthirsty, cruel people! They didn't give me any food or drink. They took my son from me and took me to an unknown location. Do you know where my son is?

What is your son's name? - asked the doctor.

His name is Penta,” answered the fisherman.

Follow me,” the doctor said and helped the fisherman get out of the hole.

Ava the dog ran ahead.

Penta saw from the ship that his father was coming towards him, and rushed towards the fisherman and shouted:

Found! Found! Hooray!

Everyone laughed, rejoiced, clapped their hands and sang:

Honor and glory to you,
Daring Ava!

Only Oink-Oink stood aside and sighed sadly.

Forgive me, Ava,” she said, “for laughing at you and calling you a braggart.”

Okay,” Ava answered, “I forgive you.” But if you hurt me again, I'll bite your tail off.

The doctor took the red-haired fisherman and his son home to the village where they lived.

When the ship landed on the shore, the doctor saw a woman standing on the shore. It was Penta's mother, a fisherman. For twenty days and nights she stood on the shore and kept looking into the distance, out to sea: was her son returning home? Is her husband coming home?

Seeing Penta, she rushed to him and began to kiss him.

She kissed Penta, she kissed the red-haired fisherman, she kissed the doctor; she was so grateful to Ava that she wanted to kiss her too.

But Ava ran into the bushes and grumbled angrily:

What nonsense! I can't stand kissing! If she so wants, let him kiss Oink-Oink.

But Ava was only pretending to be angry. In fact, she was happy too.

In the evening the doctor said:

Well, goodbye! Time to go home.

No, no,” the fisherman shouted, “you must stay with us!” We will catch fish, bake pies and give Tyanitolkai sweet gingerbread.

“I would gladly stay another day,” said Tyanitolkay, smiling with both mouths.

And I! - Kika screamed.

And I! - Bumba picked up.

That's good! - said the doctor. - In that case, I will stay with them to stay with you.

And he went with all his animals to visit the fisherman and fisherman.

Chapter 8. ABBA RECEIVES A GIFT

The doctor rode into the village riding Tyanitolkai. When he drove along the main street, everyone bowed to him and shouted:

Long live the good doctor!

Village schoolchildren met him on the square and gave him a bouquet of wonderful flowers.

And then the dwarf came out, bowed to him and said:

I would like to see your Ava.

The dwarf's name was Bambuco. He was the oldest shepherd in that village. Everyone loved and respected him.

Ava ran up to him and waved her tail.

Bambuco took out a very beautiful dog collar from his pocket.

Ava the dog! - he said solemnly. - The residents of our village give you this beautiful collar because you found a fisherman who was kidnapped by pirates.

Ava wagged her tail and said:

You may remember that in animal language this means: “Thank you!” Everyone began to look at the collar. In large letters on the collar was written:

ABVE IS THE SMARTEST AND BRAVE DOG.

Aibolit stayed with Penta’s father and mother for three days. It was a very fun time. Tyanitolkai chewed sweet honey gingerbread from morning to night. Penta played the violin, and Oink-Oink and Bumba danced. But the time has come to leave.

Goodbye! - the doctor said to the fisherman and fisherwoman, sat astride Tyanitolkai and rode to his ship.

The whole village saw him off.

It would be better if you stayed with us! - the dwarf Bambuco told him. - Now pirates roam the sea. They will attack you and take you captive along with all your animals.

I'm not afraid of pirates! - the doctor answered him. - I have a very fast ship. I will spread my sails and the pirates will not catch up with my ship!

With these words, the doctor set sail from the shore.

Everyone waved their handkerchiefs at him and shouted “hurray.”

Chapter 9. PIRATES

The ship ran quickly across the waves. On the third day, the travelers saw some deserted island in the distance. There were no trees, no animals, no people visible on the island - only sand and huge stones. But there, behind the stones, lurked terrible pirates. When a ship sailed past their island, they attacked that ship, robbed and killed people, and let the ship sink. The pirates were very angry with the doctor because he kidnapped the red fisherman and Penta from them, and they had been lying in wait for him for a long time.

The pirates had a large ship, which they hid behind a wide rock.

The Doctor did not see either the pirates or their ship. He walked along the deck with his animals. The weather was beautiful, the sun was shining brightly. The doctor felt very happy. Suddenly the pig Oink-Oink said:

Look, what kind of ship is that there?

The doctor looked and saw that from behind the island on black sails a black ship was approaching them - black, like ink, like soot.

I don't like these sails! - said the pig. - Why are they not white, but black? Only on ships do pirates have black sails.

Oink-Oink guessed right: villainous pirates were racing under black sails. They wanted to catch up with Doctor Aibolit and take cruel revenge on him for kidnapping the fisherman and Penta from them.

Quicker! Quicker! - the doctor shouted. - Unfurl all sails!

But the pirates were getting closer.

They're catching up with us! - Kika shouted. - They're close. I see their scary faces! What evil eyes they have!.. What should we do? Where to run? Now they will attack us and throw us into the sea!

Look,” said Ava, “who is that standing there at the stern?” Don't you recognize it? This is him, this is the villain Barmaley! He has a saber in one hand and a pistol in the other. He wants to destroy us, shoot us, destroy us!

But the doctor smiled and said:

Don't be afraid, my dears, he won't succeed! I came up with a good plan. Do you see a swallow flying over the waves? She will help us escape from the robbers.

In animal language this means:

“Swallow, swallow! Pirates are chasing us. They want to kill us and throw us into the sea!”

The swallow came down to his ship.

Listen, swallow, you have to help us! - said the doctor. - Karafu, marafu, duk!

In animal language this means:

“Fly quickly and call the cranes!”

The swallow flew away and a minute later returned with the cranes.

Hello, Doctor Aibolit! - the cranes shouted. - Don’t worry, we’ll help you out now!

The doctor tied a rope to the bow of the ship, the cranes took hold of the rope and pulled the ship forward.

There were a lot of cranes, they rushed forward very quickly and pulled the ship behind them. The ship flew like an arrow. The doctor even grabbed his hat to prevent it from flying into the water.

The animals looked back - the pirate ship with black sails was left far behind.

Thank you, cranes! - said the doctor. - You saved us from pirates.

If it weren't for you, we would all be lying at the bottom of the sea.

Chapter 10. WHY THE RATS RAN AWAY

It was not easy for the cranes to drag a heavy ship behind them. After a few hours they were so tired that they almost fell into the sea. Then they pulled the ship to the shore, said goodbye to the doctor and flew away to their native swamp.

The doctor waved his handkerchief after them for a long time.

But then the owl Bumba came up to him and said:

Look there. You see, there are rats on the deck! They jump from the ship straight into the sea and swim to the shore one after another!

That's good! - said the doctor. - Rats are evil, cruel, and I don’t like them.

No, this is very bad! - Bumba said with a sigh. - After all, rats live below, in the hold, and as soon as a leak appears at the bottom of the ship, they see this leak before anyone else, jump into the water and swim straight to the shore. This means our ship will sink. Just listen to what the rats are saying.

Just at this time two rats crawled out of the hold. And the old rat said to the young one:

Last night I went to my hole and saw that water was pouring into the crack. Well, I think we need to run. Tomorrow this ship will sink. Run away before it's too late.

And both rats rushed into the water.

Yes, yes,” cried the doctor, “I remembered!” Rats always run away before the ship sinks. We must escape from the ship now, otherwise we will go down with it! Animals, follow me! Quicker! Quicker!

He collected his things and quickly ran ashore. The animals hurried after him.

They walked for a long time along the sandy shore and were very tired.

Let’s sit down and rest,” said the doctor. - And let's think about what to do.

Are we really going to stay here for the rest of our lives? - said Tyanitolkay and began to cry.

Large tears were rolling down from all four of his eyes.

And all the animals began to cry with him, because everyone really wanted to return home.

But suddenly a swallow flew in.

Doctor, doctor! - she screamed. - A great misfortune has happened: your ship has been captured by pirates!

The doctor jumped to his feet.

What are they doing on my ship? - he asked.

“They want to rob him,” answered the swallow. - Run quickly and drive them out of there!

No,” said the doctor with a cheerful smile, “there is no need to drive them away.” Let them sail on my ship. They won't swim far, you'll see! We’d better go and, before they notice, we’ll take their ship in exchange. Let's go and capture the pirate ship!

And the doctor rushed along the shore. Behind him - Pull and all the animals.

Here comes the pirate ship.

There's no one on it! All the pirates are on Aibolit's ship!

Hush, hush, don't make noise! - said the doctor. - Let's sneak onto the pirate ship slowly so that no one sees us!

Chapter 11. Trouble after Trouble

The animals quietly boarded the ship, quietly raised the black sails and quietly sailed along the waves. The pirates didn't notice anything. And suddenly a big disaster happened.

The fact is that the pig Oink-Oink caught a cold.

At that very moment, when the doctor tried to silently swim past the pirates, Oink-Oink sneezed loudly. And once, and twice, and three times.

The pirates heard someone sneezing. They ran out onto the deck and saw that the doctor had captured their ship.

Stop! Stop! - they shouted and set off after him.

The Doctor let go of his sails. The pirates are about to catch up with their ship. But he rushes forward and forward, and little by little the pirates begin to fall behind.

Hooray! We are saved! - the doctor shouted.

But then the most terrible pirate, Barmaley, raised his pistol and fired. The bullet hit Tyanitolkay in the chest. Tyanitolkai staggered and fell into the water.

Doctor, doctor, help! I am drowninig!

Poor Pull-Push! - the doctor shouted. - Stay in the water a little longer! Now I will help you.

The Doctor stopped his ship and threw a rope to Pull-Push.

Pull and Pull grabbed the rope with his teeth. The doctor dragged the wounded animal onto the deck, bandaged its wound and set off again. But it was too late: the pirates rushed with full sail.

We'll finally catch you! - they shouted. - And you and all your animals! There, on your mast, sits a nice duck! We'll fry her soon.

Haha, this will be a delicious meal. We'll roast the pig too. We haven't eaten ham for a long time! Tonight we'll have pork cutlets. Ho-ho-ho! And you, doctor, we’ll throw you into the sea - among the toothy sharks.

Oink-Oink heard these words and began to cry.

Poor me, poor me! - she said. - I don't want to be fried and eaten by pirates!

Ava also cried - she felt sorry for the doctor:

I don't want him to be swallowed by sharks!

Only the owl Bumba was not afraid of the pirates. She calmly said to Ava and Oink-Oink:

How stupid you are! What are you afraid of? Don't you know that the ship on which the pirates are chasing us will soon sink? Remember what the rat said? She said that today the ship will certainly sink. There is a wide gap in it and it is full of water. And the pirates will drown along with the ship.

What have you to fear? The pirates will drown, but we will remain safe and sound.

But Oink-Oink continued to cry.

By the time the pirates drown, they will have time to fry both Kiku and me! - she said.

Meanwhile, the pirates were sailing closer and closer. Ahead, at the bow of the ship, stood the chief pirate, Barmaley. He waved his saber and shouted loudly:

Hey you monkey doctor! You don't have long to heal the monkeys - soon we'll throw you into the sea! There you will be swallowed by sharks.

The doctor shouted back:

Beware, Barmaley, lest the sharks swallow you! There is a leak in your ship, and you will soon go to the bottom!

You are lying! - Barmaley shouted. - If my ship sank, rats would run away from it!

The rats have long since escaped, and soon you will be at the bottom along with all your pirates!

Only then did the pirates notice that their ship was slowly sinking into the water. They began to run around the deck, began to cry, and shouted:

Save!

But no one wanted to save them.

The ship sank deeper and deeper to the bottom. Soon the pirates found themselves in the water.

They floundered in the waves and kept shouting:

Help, help, we're drowning!

Barmaley swam to the ship on which the doctor was and began to climb the rope onto the deck. But the dog Ava bared his teeth and said menacingly:

“Rrr!..” Barmaley got scared, screamed and flew headfirst back into the sea.

Help! - he shouted. - Save me! Get me out of the water!

Chapter 13. OLD FRIENDS

Suddenly sharks appeared on the surface of the sea - huge, scary fish with sharp teeth and a wide open mouth.

They chased the pirates and soon swallowed them all.

That's where they belong! - said the doctor. - After all, they robbed, tortured, killed innocent people. So they paid for their crimes.

The doctor swam for a long time on the stormy sea. And suddenly he heard someone shouting:

Boen! Boen! Baravan! Baven!

In animal language this means:

"Doctor, doctor, stop your ship!"

The Doctor lowered his sails. The ship stopped and everyone saw Karudo the parrot. He flew quickly over the sea.

Carudo! It's you? - the doctor cried. - How glad I am to see you! Fly, fly here!

Carudo flew up to the ship, sat on the high mast and shouted:

Look who's following me! Over there, right on the horizon, in the west!

The doctor looked at the sea and saw that a Crocodile was swimming far, far away in the sea. And on the back of the Crocodile sits the monkey Chichi. She waves a palm leaf and laughs.

The Doctor immediately sent his ship towards Crocodile and Chichi and lowered a rope from the ship for them.

They climbed the rope onto the deck, rushed to the doctor and began to kiss him on the lips, cheeks, beard, and eyes.

How did you end up in the middle of the sea? - the doctor asked them.

He was happy to see his old friends again.

Ah, doctor! - said the Crocodile. - We were so bored without you in our Africa! It's boring without Kiki, without Ava, without Bumba, without cute Oink-Oink! We so wanted to return to your house, where squirrels live in the closet, a hedgehog lives on the sofa, and a hare and bunnies live in the chest of drawers. We decided to leave Africa, cross all the seas and settle with you for life.

Please! - said the doctor. - I am very happy.

Hooray! - Bumba screamed.

Hooray! - all the animals shouted.

And then they held hands and began to dance around the mast:

Shita rita, tita drita!
Shivandada, shivanda!
We are our native Aibolit
We will never leave!

Only the monkey Chichi sat aside and sighed sadly.

What happened to you? - asked Tyanitolkay.

Ah, I remembered the evil Varvara! Again she will offend us and torment us!

“Don’t be afraid,” cried Tyanitolkay. - Varvara is no longer in our house! I threw her into the sea, and she now lives on a desert island.

On a desert island?

Everyone was happy - Chichi, Crocodile, and Carudo: Varvara lives on a desert island!

Long live Tyanitolkay! - they shouted and started dancing again:

Shivandars, shivandars,
Hazelnuts and hazelnuts!
It's good that Varvara is not there!
It's more fun without Varvara!

Tyanitolkai nodded his two heads at them, and both his mouths smiled.

The ship raced with full sails, and by evening the duck Kika, having climbed the high mast, saw her native shores.

We've arrived! - she screamed. - Another hour and we will be home!.. In the distance is our city - Pindemonte. But what is it? Look, look! Fire! The whole city is on fire! Is our house on fire? Oh, what horror! What a misfortune!

There was a high glow over the city of Pindemonte.

Hurry to the shore! - the doctor commanded. - We must put out this fire! Let's take buckets and fill it with water!

But then Karudo flew up the mast. He looked through the telescope and suddenly laughed so loudly that everyone looked at him in surprise.

You don’t need to put out this flame,” he said and laughed again, “because it’s not a fire at all.”

What is it? - asked Doctor Aibolit.

Illuminations! - answered Karudo.

What does it mean? - asked Oink-Oink. - I have never heard such a strange word.

Now you’ll find out,” said the parrot. - Be patient for another ten minutes.

Ten minutes later, when the ship approached the shore, everyone immediately understood what illumination was. On all the houses and towers, on the coastal cliffs, on the tops of the trees - lanterns were shining everywhere: red, green, yellow, and on the shore there were bonfires, the bright flames of which rose almost to the sky.

Women, men and children in festive, beautiful clothes danced around these fires and sang funny songs.

As soon as they saw that the ship on which Doctor Aibolit had returned from his journey had moored to the shore, they clapped their hands, laughed and everyone, as one person, rushed to greet him.

Long live Doctor Aibolit! - they shouted. - Glory to Doctor Aibolit!

The doctor was surprised. He did not expect such a meeting. He thought that only Tanya and Vanya and, perhaps, the old sailor Robinson would meet him, but he was met by a whole city with torches, with music, with cheerful songs! What's the matter? Why is he being honored? Why is his return celebrated so much?

He wanted to board Tyanitolkaya and go to his home, but the crowd picked him up and carried him in their arms - straight to the wide Primorskaya Square, the best square in the city.

People looked from all the windows and threw flowers to the doctor.

The doctor smiled, bowed - and suddenly saw Tanya and Vanya making their way towards him through the crowd.

When they approached him, he hugged them, kissed them and asked:

How did you know that I defeated Barmaley?

“We learned about this from Penta,” Tanya and Vanya answered. - Penta came to our city and told us that you freed him from terrible captivity and saved his father from robbers.

Only then did the doctor see that Penta was standing on a hillock, far, far away, waving his father’s red handkerchief at him.

Hello Penta! - the doctor shouted to him.

But at that moment the old sailor Robinson approached the doctor, smiling, shook his hand firmly and said in such a loud voice that everyone in the square heard him:

Dear, beloved Aibolit! We are so grateful to you for clearing the entire sea of ​​vicious pirates who stole our ships. After all, until now we did not dare to set off on a long voyage, because pirates threatened us. And now the sea is free and our ships are safe. We are proud that such a brave hero will fall in our city. We have built a wonderful ship for you, and let us bring it to you as a gift.

Glory to you, our beloved, our fearless doctor Aibolit! - the crowd shouted in one voice. - Thank you, thank you!

The doctor bowed to the crowd and said:

Thank you for the kind meeting! I'm happy that you love me. But I would never, never have been able to cope with the sea pirates if my faithful friends, my animals, had not helped me. Here they are here with me, and I want to welcome them with all my heart and express my gratitude to them for their selfless friendship!

Hooray! - the crowd shouted. - Glory to the fearless animals of Aibolit!

After this solemn meeting, the doctor sat on Tyanitolkaya and, accompanied by animals, headed to the door of his house. The bunnies, squirrels, hedgehogs and bats were happy to see him!

But before he could greet them, a noise was heard in the sky. The doctor ran out onto the porch and saw that it was cranes flying. They flew up to his house and, without saying a word, brought him a large basket of magnificent fruits: the basket contained dates, apples, pears, bananas, peaches, grapes, oranges!

This is for you, doctor, from the Land of the Monkeys!

The doctor thanked them and they immediately flew back.

And an hour later a great feast began in the doctor’s garden. On long benches, at a long table, in the light of multi-colored lanterns, all Aibolit’s friends sat down: Tanya, Vanya, Penta, the old sailor Robinson, the swallow, Oink-Oink, Chichi, Kika, Carudo, and Bumba. , and Tyanitolkay, and Ava, and squirrels, and hares, and hedgehogs, and bats.

The doctor treated them to honey, candies and gingerbread, as well as those sweet fruits that were sent to him from the Land of the Monkeys.

The feast was a great success. Everyone joked, laughed and sang, and then got up from the table and went to dance right there in the garden, in the light of multi-colored lanterns.

Suddenly Petna noticed that the doctor had stopped smiling, frowned and, with a worried look, was running as fast as he could into his house. - What's happened? - asked Penta.

The doctor didn't answer. He took Penta by the hand and quickly ran up the stairs with him. At all the doors in the hallway there were sick people sitting and lying: a bear bitten by a rabid wolf, a seagull wounded by evil boys, and a small furry fawn who moaned all the time because he had scarlet fever. He was brought to the doctor by the same horse to which, if you remember, the doctor gave wonderful big glasses last year.

Look at these animals,” said the doctor, “and you will understand why I left our wonderful holiday so soon.” I can’t have fun if my favorite animals are moaning and crying in pain behind my wall!

The doctor quickly walked into the office and immediately began preparing the medicine.

Let me help you! - Penta said.

Please! - the doctor responded. - Put a thermometer on the bear and bring the fawn to my office here. He is very sick, he is dying. He must be saved before anyone else!

Penta turned out to be a good help. Less than an hour had passed before the doctor cured all the patients. As soon as they became healthy, they laughed with happiness, said “chucka” to the doctor and rushed to kiss him. The doctor led them into the garden, introduced them to other animals, and then shouted: “Make way!” - and together with the monkey Chichi danced a cheerful animal “tkella”, and so dashingly and deftly that even the bear, even the horse could not stand it and began to dance with him.

Thus ended the adventures of the good doctor. He settled not far from the sea and began to treat not only animals, but also crayfish, fish, and dolphins that swam to the shore with their children.

The doctor lived a calm and cheerful life. Everyone in the town of Pindemonte loved him. And suddenly one amazing incident happened to them, which you will read about on subsequent pages, and not now, but in a few days, because you need to rest - both you, and Doctor Aibolit, and me.

Part three

FIRE AND WATER

There are many stones near the seashore. The stones are large and sharp. If a ship hits them, it will be immediately destroyed. On black autumn nights it is eerie to approach a rocky, dangerous shore on a ship.

To prevent ships from breaking on rocks, people place lighthouses off the coast. A lighthouse is a tall tower with a lamp lit at the top. The lamp burns so brightly that the captain of the ship sees it from afar and therefore cannot get lost on the way. The lighthouse illuminates the sea and shows ships their way. One such lighthouse stands in the city of Pindemonte, on a high mountain, in the very city where Doctor Aibolit lives.

The city of Pindemonte is built right next to the sea. Three rocks stick out from the sea, and woe to the ship that hits these rocks: the ship will break into pieces, and all the travelers will drown.

So when you drive up to Pindemonte, don't forget to look at the lighthouse. His lamp is visible from afar. This lamp is lit every night by the lighthouse keeper, an old black man named Jumbo. Jumbo has lived at the lighthouse for many years. He is cheerful, gray-haired and kind. Doctor Aibolit loves him very much.

One day the doctor took a boat and went to the lighthouse to visit the black man Jumbo.

Hello Jumbo! - said the doctor. -I come to you with a request. Be so kind as to please light the brightest lamp today so that the sea becomes brighter. Today the sailor Robinson will come to me on a ship, and I don’t want his ship to crash on the rocks. “Okay,” said Jumbo, “I’ll try.” Where will Robinson come to you from?

He will come to me from Africa. He will bring a little two-headed Dick.

Dick? Who is this Dick? Isn’t this your son Tyanitolkai?

Yes. Dick is his son. Very small, Tyanitolkai has been missing Dick for a long time, and I asked Robinson to go to Africa and bring him here.

Your Pull and Pull will be happy!

Still would! He hadn't seen Dick for eleven months! I prepared him a whole mountain of honey gingerbread, raisins, oranges, nuts, sweets - and this morning he has been running back and forth along the shore and looking out to sea with four eyes: he can’t wait for a familiar ship to appear on the horizon. Robinson will arrive tonight. If only his ship didn't crash on the rocks!

It won't break, be calm! - said Jumbo. - I will light not one lamp at the lighthouse, and not two, but four! It will be as bright as day. Robinson will see where to lead his ship, and the ship will remain intact.

Thank you, Jumbo! - said Aibolit, got into the boat and went home.

At home, the doctor immediately got to work. On this day he had especially a lot of trouble. Hares, bats, sheep, magpies, camels - they all came and flew to him from afar. Some had a stomach ache, some had teeth. The doctor cured them all, and they left very happy.

In the evening, the doctor lay down on the sofa and dozed off sweetly, and he began to dream of polar bears, walruses and seals.

Suddenly a seagull flew into his window and shouted:

Doctor, doctor!

The doctor opened his eyes.

What's happened? - he asked. - What's happened?

Chikuruchi in the morning!

In animal language this means:

“There... at the lighthouse... there is no fire!”

What are you saying? - exclaimed the doctor.

Yes, there is no light at the lighthouse! The lighthouse has gone out and does not shine! What will happen to those ships that sail to the shores? They will break on the rocks!

Where is the lighthouse keeper? - asked the doytor. - Where is Jumbo? Why doesn't he light a fire?

Yuanze! Yuanze! - answered the seagull. - Don't know! Don't know. All I know is that there is no light at the lighthouse!

Hurry to the lighthouse! - the doctor cried. - Quicker! Quicker! It is necessary at all costs to light the brightest fire at the lighthouse! Otherwise, many ships will crash on the rocks on this stormy and dark night! And what will happen to Robinson's ship? And with Dick?

The doctor ran to his boat, took the oars and began to row to the lighthouse. It was a long way to the lighthouse. The waves tossed the boat around. The boat kept hitting rocks. Any minute she could run into a cliff and break. The sea was dark and scary. But Doctor Aibolit was not afraid of anything. He was only thinking about how to get to the lighthouse as quickly as possible. Suddenly the duck Kika flew past and shouted to him from afar:

Doctor! Doctor! I just saw Robinson's ship at sea. He is rushing with full sail and is about to hit the rocks. If the lighthouse doesn't light a fire, the ship will die and all the people will drown! ;

Oh. what a terrible misfortune! - exclaimed the doctor. - Poor, poor ship! But no, we won't let him die! We will save him! We will light a fire at the lighthouse!

The doctor leaned on the oars, and the boat rushed forward like an arrow. The duck swam after him.

Ugulus! Ygales! Catalaki!

In animal language this means:

"Gull! Gull! Fly to the ship and try to delay it so that it does not sail so quickly. Otherwise, he will immediately break on the rocks!”

Shackled! - the seagull answered and flew into the open sea and began to loudly call for its friends.

They heard her alarming cries and flocked to her from all sides. The flock rushed towards the ship. The ship ran quickly across the waves. It was completely dark. The helmsman who was steering the ship did not see anything in the darkness and did not realize that he was leading his ship straight onto the rocks. He stood calmly at the helm, whistling a cheerful song. Right there, not far away, on the bridge, just like a calf, little Dick was jumping and shouting:

Now I will see my father! Father will treat me to honey gingerbread!

Three rocks are already close. If only the helmsman knew where he was steering his ship, he would turn the helm and the ship would be saved.

But the helmsman does not see three rocks in the darkness and leads his ship to certain death.

The beacon would soon light up!

And suddenly the seagulls - all of them - flew at the helmsman and began to hit him in the face and eyes with their long wings. They pecked at his hands, with their whole flock they drove him away from the helm. He did not know that the seagulls wanted to save his ship: he thought that they flew at him like enemies, and shouted loudly:

Help!

The sailors heard his cry, ran to him and began to drive the birds away from him.

3. Jumbo

Meanwhile, Doctor Aibolit rushed forward in his boat. Here is the lighthouse. He stands on a high mountain, but now he is not visible, since there is darkness all around. The doctor quickly ran up the mountain and groped for the lighthouse door. The door was locked. The doctor knocked, but they didn’t open the door. The doctor shouted:

Jumbo, open it quickly!

No answer. What to do? What to do? After all, the ship is getting closer and closer to the shore - a few more minutes and it will crash on the rocks.

There was no time to hesitate. The doctor leaned his shoulder against the locked door with all his might. The door swung open and the doctor ran up to the lighthouse. Kika could barely keep up with him.

And on the ship the sailors were still fighting with the seagulls. But the seagulls delayed the ship and gave the doctor time to get to the lighthouse. Oh, how glad they were that they managed to delay the ship! If only the doctor had time to get to the lighthouse and light the bright lighthouse lamp! But as soon as the seagulls flew away, the ship set off again. The wave carried him straight onto the rocks. Why doesn't the doctor light the fire?

And at this time Doctor Aibolit is climbing the spiral staircase to the very top of the lighthouse. It's dark, you have to feel your way. But suddenly the doctor stumbles upon something big and almost falls head over heels. What it is? A bag of cucumbers? Is it really a man? Yes, there is a man lying on the steps of the stairs, his arms spread wide. This must be Jumbo, the lighthouse keeper.

Is that you, Jumbo? - asked the doctor.

The man didn't answer. Isn't he already dead? Maybe he was killed by robbers? Or maybe he is sick? Or drunk? The doctor wanted to lean over him and listen to whether his heart was beating, but he remembered the ship and rushed further up the stairs. Hurry up, hurry up! Light the lamp, save the ship! And he ran higher, and higher, and higher! He fell, stumbled and ran. What a long staircase! The doctor even felt dizzy! But finally he got to the lamp. Now he will light it. Now it will flash over the sea, and the ship will be saved.

What should I do? What should I do? I left my matches at home!

Did you leave matches at home? - Kika the duck asked in horror. - How do you light a fire at the lighthouse?

“I left the matches on my table,” the doctor said with a groan and cried bitterly.

This means the ship is lost! - exclaimed the duck. - Poor, poor ship!

No no! We will save him! After all, there are matches here at the lighthouse! Let's go and look for them!

It’s dark here,” said the duck, “you won’t find anything!”

There's a man lying on the stairs! - said the doctor. - Look in his pockets!

The duck ran to the man and searched all his pockets.

No, she screamed. - All his pockets are empty!

What to do? - muttered the poor doctor. - Is a big ship with all the people supposed to perish this minute just because I don’t have one small match!

4. Canary

And suddenly he heard some sounds, as if a bird was chirping somewhere.

It's a canary! - said the doctor. - Do you hear? It's the canary singing. Let's go and find her! The canary knows where the matches are.

And he rushed down the stairs to look for Jumbo's room, where the cage with the canary hung. The room was downstairs, in the basement. The doctor ran there and shouted to the canary:

Kinzodok?

In animal language this means:

“Where are the matches? Tell me, where are the matches?

Tick-tweet! - said the canary in response. - Chik-chirp!

Tick-tweet! Please cover my cage with a handkerchief, because there is such a strong draft here, and I am so delicate, I am afraid of catching a cold. Oh, I'll have a runny nose! And where did the black Jumbo go? He always covered my cage with a handkerchief in the evenings, but for some reason he didn’t cover it today. That's how bad he is, this Jumbo! I might catch a cold. Please take a handkerchief and cover my cage. The handkerchief is over there on the chest of drawers. Silk handkerchief. Blue.

But the doctor did not have time to listen to her chatter.

Matches! Where are the matches? - he shouted loudly.

The matches are here, on the table by the window. But what a terrible draft! I'm so tender, I might catch a cold. Please take a handkerchief and cover my cage. The handkerchief lies on... But the doctor did not listen to her. He grabbed the matches and ran up the stairs again. The duck could barely keep up with him. He came across a seagull on the stairs; she must have just flown through the window.

Quicker! Quicker! - she shouted. - Another minute, and the ship is lost! The waves rush him onto a large rock, and we can no longer hold him.

5. Fugitive Pirate Benalis

The doctor didn't say anything. He ran and ran up the stairs. From a distance he heard some sad sounds. It was Tyanitolkai who cried on the seashore. Apparently he can't wait for his little Dick. Higher, higher, higher, and the doctor is at the top again.

He quickly ran into the top glass room, grabbed a match from the box and, with trembling hands, lit a huge lamp. Then another, third, fourth. A strip of bright light immediately illuminated the stones on which the ship was rushing. A loud cry was heard on the ship:

Stones! Stones! Back! Back! Now we're going to crash on the rocks! Turn back quickly!

The alarm was raised on the ship: whistles blew, bells rang, sailors ran and bustled, and soon the bow of the ship turned in the other direction, away from the rocks and stones, and headed for a safe harbor.

The ship was saved. But the doctor did not even think about leaving the lighthouse. After all, there, on the stairs, lies the Negro Jumbo, who needs help. Is he alive? What happened to him? Why didn't he light his lamp?

The doctor leaned over the black man. He saw a wound on Jumbo's forehead.

Jumbo! Jumbo! - the doctor shouted, but the black man lay as if dead.

The doctor took a bottle of medicine out of his pocket and poured all the medicine into the black man’s mouth. It took effect at that very moment. The black man opened his eyes.

Where I am? What happened with me? - he asked. - Hurry up there. I must light my lamp!

Calm down! - said the doctor. - The light at the lighthouse is already burning. Come on, I'll put you to bed.

Is the light on the lighthouse already? I'm so glad! - Jumbo exclaimed. - Thank you, good doctor! You lit my beacon! You saved the ships from destruction. And now you save me!

What happened to you? - Aibolit asked. - Why didn’t you light the lighthouse? Why do you have a wound on your forehead?

Ah, trouble happened to me! - Jumbo answered with a sigh. - I’m walking up the stairs today, and suddenly he runs up to me - who did you think? - Benalis! Yes! Yes! The same pirate whom you ordered to settle on a desert island.

Benalis? - the doctor cried. - Is he really here?

Yes. He fled from a desert island, boarded a ship, crossed the seas and oceans, and yesterday arrived here in Pindemonte.

Here? In Pindemont?

Yes Yes! He immediately ran to the lighthouse and hit me on the head with a bamboo - so that I fell down on these steps unconscious.

And he? Where is he?

I don't know.

But then the canary chirped.

Benalis ran away, ran away, ran away! - she repeated endlessly. - I asked him to cover my cage with a handkerchief, because I might catch a cold. My health is so poor. And he...

Where did he run off to? - the doctor shouted.

“He fled to the mountains along the Venturian road,” said the canary, “He wants to set fire to your house, kill your animals and you.” But I feel like I'm going to have a runny nose. I'm so tender. I can't stand drafts. Every time...

But the doctor did not listen to her. He rushed after the pirate. It is necessary to catch this evil pirate at all costs and send him back to the uninhabited island, otherwise he will burn the entire city and torture and kill all the animals.

The doctor ran as fast as he could through the streets, squares, and alleys. The wind tore his hat off. He stumbled upon a fence in the dark and fell into a ditch. He scratched his entire face on the thorny branches of the Trees. Blood streamed down his cheek. But he did not notice anything, he ran forward along the rocky Venturian road.

Quicker! Quicker!

It’s already close: around the bend is a familiar well, and across the road, not far from the well, is Aibolit’s small house, in which his animals live. Hurry, hurry there!

And suddenly someone ran up to Aibolit and hit him hard on the shoulder. It was the robber Benalis.

Hello doctor! - he said and laughed a disgusting laugh. - What? Didn't expect to meet me here in this city? Finally I will finish with you!

And with his eyes angrily flashing, he grabbed Doctor Aibolit by the collar and threw him into a deep well. It was cold and very dark in the well. Doctor Aibolit almost choked in the water.

Tad-zited! - he shouted. - Tad-zited!

But no one heard him. What to do? What to do? Now Benalis will burn his house down! All the animals in the house will burn - Crocodile, Chichi, Carudo, Kika, and Bumba.

The doctor gathered his last strength and shouted:

Tad-zi-ted! Tad-zi-ted!

But this time no one heard him. And the pirate laughed and rushed to the house where Aibolit lived. The animals - big and small - were already fast asleep, and could be heard from afar. How carefree a crocodile snores. The pirate had a box of matches in his hand. He quietly crept up to the house, struck a match, and the house caught fire.

Fire! Fire!

Benalis giggled with joy and began to dance merrily around the burning house.

I finally got my revenge on that nasty doctor! He will remember the pirate Benalis!

And the doctor sat in the well, up to his neck in water, crying and calling for help. Will Benalis really burn all his dear friends, and he will spend his whole life in this well? No way! And he shouted again:

Tad-zi-ted! Tad-zi-ted!

"Tad-zi-ted" in animal language means:

Fortunately, an old green frog lived in the well for many years. She crawled out from under the wet stone, jumped onto the doctor’s shoulder and said:

Hello, doctor! How did you end up in this well?

I was thrown here by the pirate and robber Benalis. And I need to get out of here and be free now. Be so kind as to run and call the cranes.

Stay here! - said the frog. “It’s so good here: damp, cool, and wet.”

No no! - said the doctor. “I need to get away from here now.” I'm afraid that there is a fire in my house and that all my animals will burn!

“Perhaps you really shouldn’t stay in the well,” said the frog, jumped out of the well, galloped to the swamp and called the cranes.

7. New grief and new joy

The cranes flew in and brought with them a long rope. They lowered this rope into the well. The doctor grabbed it tightly with both hands, the cranes flew up to the clouds, and the doctor found himself free.

Thank you dear friends! - he shouted to the cranes and immediately ran to his house.

The house was burning like a big bonfire. And the animals were fast asleep, not suspecting that there was a fire in their house. Now the beds under them will catch fire, and they will die in the fire - hedgehogs, squirrels, monkeys, an owl, a crocodile.

The doctor rushed into the fire and shouted to the animals:

Wake up!

But they continued to sleep.

Fire! Fire! - the doctor shouted. - Wake up, run outside!

But the doctor’s voice was very weak, because the doctor caught a cold in the well, and no one heard him. The doctor’s hair caught fire, his jacket caught fire, the fire burned his cheeks, the thick smoke made it difficult for him to breathe, but he made his way further and further through the fire.

Here is Chichi the monkey. How soundly she sleeps and does not feel that there is a hot flame around her!

The doctor bent over her, grabbed her shoulder and began to shake her as hard as he could. Finally she opened her eyes and screamed in horror:

Then all the animals woke up and rushed away from the fire. But the doctor remained in the house. He wanted to sneak into his office and see if there were any hares or white mice there.

The animals shouted to him:

Doctor! Back! What are you doing? Your beard is already on fire. Run from the fire, otherwise you will burn!

Will not go! - answered the doctor. - Will not go! I remembered that there were three little rabbits left in my office, in the closet... they need to be saved now...

And he rushed into the very flames. Here he is in his office.

The rabbits are here in the closet. They are crying. They're scared. But there is nowhere to run because there is fire everywhere. The curtains, chairs, tables, stools were already on fire. Now the closet will catch fire, and the rabbits will burn along with it.

Rabbits, don't be afraid, I'm here! - the doctor shouted.

He opened the closet, took out the frightened rabbits and rushed out of the fire. But his head began to spin, and he fell unconscious straight into the flames.

Doctor! Doctor! Where is the doctor? - the animals shouted on the street. - He died! He burned!!! He choked on the smoke! And we will never see him again! We need to save him! Hurry, hurry!

Ava was ahead of all the animals. She rushed into the office like a whirlwind, grabbed the hand of the lying doctor and dragged him down the flaming stairs.

Be careful, be careful! - Chichi the monkey shouted to her. -You can rip his arm off.

And she didn’t even move from her place. Ava became very angry and said:

Shut up, Chichi,

Don't shout, Chichi

And me, Chichi,

Don't teach, Chichi!

Chichi felt ashamed, she ran up to Ava and began to help her. The two of them carried the doctor into the garden, to the stream, and laid him on the grass under a tree.

The doctor lay motionless. The animals stood above him.

Poor doctor! - said Hrgo-Hryu and began to cry. - Will he really die and we will remain orphans? How will we live without him?

But then the doctor stirred and sighed weakly.

He's alive! He's alive! - the animals were happy.

Are there rabbits here? - asked the doctor.

“We are here,” answered the rabbits. - Don't worry about us. We are alive. We are healthy. We are happy.

The doctor sat up on the grass.

I'll go and call the firefighters. – he said in a barely audible voice. He was still dizzy.

What you! What you! - the animals shouted. - Please lie down and don't move. We can put out your house without firefighters.

And it’s true: out of nowhere, swallows, crows, seagulls, cranes, wagtails flew in from all sides, and each bird held a small bucket of water in its beak and watered and watered the burning house. It seemed like it was raining over the house. While one flock flew to the sea for water, the other with full buckets returned from the sea and put out the fire.

And a bear came running from the forest. He grabbed a forty-bucket barrel of water with his front paws, poured all the water into the flames and again ran to the sea for water.

And the hares got some intestine from a neighboring house and sent it straight into the fire.

But the fire still did not want to go out. Then from the northern seas, from afar, three huge bowhead whales swam up to Pindemonte itself and released such large fountains that they immediately put out the entire fire.

The doctor jumped to his feet and began to tumble for joy. The dog Ava is behind him. And behind Ava is the monkey Chichi.

Hooray! Hooray! Thank you, birds and animals, and you, mighty bowhead whales!

8. Dick

“You shouldn’t be so happy,” said the parrot and took a deep breath. - You can no longer live in this house. The roof burned, the floors burned, the walls burned. And the furniture was burned to the ground: there were no chairs, no tables, no beds.

That's right, that's right! - said Aibolit. - But I'm not grieving.

I am happy that all of you survived and none of us were harmed by the fire. And if the house is unfit for habitation - well! - I will go to the seashore, find a large cave there and live in the cave with you.

Why look for a cave? - said the bear. - Let’s go to my den: it’s dark and warm there.

No, it’s better to come to me, into the well! - interrupted the frog. - It’s damp, and cool, and wet there.

I found where to call: to the well! - An old eagle owl, who had just flown in from the forest, said angrily. - No, please, come to me, into my hollow. It's a little cramped there, but cozy.

Thank you, dear friends! - said the doctor. – But still, I would like to live in a cave!

In a cave! In a cave! - the Crocodile shouted and rushed down the Venturian road.

Behind him are Carudo, Bumba, Ava, Chichi and Oink-Oink.

Let's go look for a cave, cave, cave!

Soon they all found themselves on the seashore, not far from the harbor, and who did they see there? Of course, Pull!

Yes, yes... Tyanitolkai was not alone. Next to him stood a cute little pusher, all overgrown with soft, fluffy fur that he just wanted to stroke. He just arrived here on Robinson's ship.

The ship, by the light of the lighthouse, safely reached the harbor, and little nimble Dick jumped from the ship straight onto the shore and rushed into the arms of his father. Big Tyanitolkay was very happy. After all, she and her son haven’t seen each other for so long! It was funny to watch them kiss. Tyanitolkai kissed his son first on one head, then on the other, now with one lips, now with the other, and the son, without wasting time, as soon as one of his mouths was freed from kisses, began to chew the honey gingerbread that his father had brought him.

At first sight, Dick fell in love with the animals. Not even five minutes had passed before they all ran away with him into the forest and started funny games there, climbing trees, picking flowers, throwing fir cones at each other.

And Doctor Aibolit with Tyanitolkai and the sailor Robinson went to look for a good cave.

The animals frolicked in the forest for a long time. Suddenly Ava pointed out to Kika:

Look at this, Kika,

What strawberries!

And rip it off

Treat me!

Kika immediately picked strawberries and gave them to her new friend.

And Chichi climbed a tall tree and began throwing large nuts from there:

Here you go, Dick! Catch!

Both Dick's heads smiled with joy, and he caught nuts with both mouths.

“How good they all are, these animals! - he thought to himself. “We’ll have to become stronger friends with them.”

He especially liked the parrot, who could sing and whistle such funny songs.

What is your name? - asked Dick.

The parrot sang in response:

I am the famous Karudo,

Yesterday I swallowed a camel!

Dick burst out laughing.

9. Parrot and Benalis

But at that moment a sea gull flew up to the parrot and screamed in an alarmed voice:

Where is the doctor? Where is the doctor? We need a doctor! Find him this very minute!

What's the matter? - asked Karudo.

Bandit Benalis! - answered the seagull. - This terrible villain...

Benalis?

He is sailing on the sea... in a boat... He wants to steal the ship from the sailor Robinson. What to do? He will steal a ship and rush off into the distant sea and will again rob, kill and rob innocent people!

Carudo thought for a moment.

“He won’t succeed,” he said. - We can handle it ourselves... without a doctor.

But what can you do? - the seagull asked with a sigh. - Are you strong enough to hold his boat?

Enough! Enough! - the parrot said cheerfully and quickly flew to the lighthouse.

A huge lamp was still burning at the lighthouse, brightly illuminating the coastal cliffs. Seagulls were flying over the sea.

Seagulls! Seagulls! - the parrot shouted, - Fly here, to the lighthouse, and block the fire with yourself. Do you see that boat floating past the rocks? In this boat is the robber Benadis. Block the light of the beacon from him!

Seagulls immediately surrounded the lighthouse. There were so many of them that they obscured the entire lamp. Darkness fell on the sea. And immediately - bang-bang-bang! - there was a terrible crash. It was Benalisa's boat that crashed on the rocks.

Save! - the pirate yelled. - Save me! Help! I am drowninig!

Serves you right! – responded Karudo. - You are a robber, you are a cruel villain! You burned down our house, and we do not feel sorry for you. You wanted to drown our doctor Aibolit in a well - drown yourself, and no one will help you!

10. Housewarming

And Benalis drowned. He will never rob again. The seagulls immediately flew away, and the lighthouse began to shine again.

Where is the doctor? - Chichi said. - Why doesn’t he come? It's time for him to return.

Here he is! - said Dick. - Look there, at the road.

In fact, a doctor was walking along the road, but how sad and tired he looked.

Dick ran up to the doctor and licked him on the cheek, but the doctor didn’t even smile at him.

I have great grief! - said the doctor. “I haven’t found a cave anywhere.” I searched and searched and couldn’t find it anywhere.

Where will we live?

Don't know! Don't know! Black clouds are coming from the sea. There will be a thunderstorm soon. It will rain. But we are in the open air, and we have nowhere to hide from the storm.

Damn Benalis! - Chichi cried. - If he had not burned our house, we would now be sitting warm, under the roof, and would not be afraid of either storm or rain!

Everyone sighed heavily. Nobody said a word. A few minutes later thunder struck, and entire rivers of water poured from the sky. The doctor tried to take refuge with his animals under a tree, but cold streams of rain streamed through the foliage and branches. The doctor's arms and legs began to tremble. His teeth chattered. He staggered and fell to the cold, wet ground.

What happened to you? - asked Bumba.

I'm sick... I'm cold... I caught a cold in the well... - and now I have a fever. If I don’t stay warm, under the blanket, by the stove... I will die... and you, my dear animals, will be left without a doctor, your best friend.

Woohoo! - Bumba howled.

Woohoo! - Ava howled.

Chichi hugged Oink-Oink, and they both cried, and Pull and Pull with her son cried.

Suddenly Ava perked up, stretched her neck and sniffed the air.

Someone's coming here! - she said.

No, said Kika. - You were wrong. This is the rain rustling in the coastal reeds.

But at that moment some animals ran out of the thicket, bowed to the doctor and sang in unison:

We are beavers

Workers,

We are carpenters

And carpenters.

We built it for you

Behind the river, behind the pond

Nice, new house!

House? - Kika asked in surprise. - Do you know how to build a house?

Still would! - the beavers answered in a proud voice. - Of the animals, we are the best builders in the world. We build houses that no man can build! As soon as we heard that there was a fire in Doctor Aibolit’s house, we immediately ran out of our houses, rushed to the nearest forest and knocked down thirty tall trees. We built a house from them.

Thirty trees! - Chichi laughed. - How did you knock them down if you don’t have axes?

But we have wonderful teeth!

Yes Yes! - said Bumba. - It's right. Beavers have remarkably sharp teeth. Beavers trim trees with their teeth, then remove the bark from them with their teeth, then bite off branches and leaves and build houses from the logs for themselves and their children.

And now we have built a house for our good doctor! - said the beavers, - It’s warm, spacious and cozy there!

Doctor, get up and we will take you there!

But the doctor only groaned in response. He developed a high fever and could no longer speak.

The animals lifted the doctor from the wet ground, sat him down on Tyanitolkaya and, supporting him on both sides, took him to a housewarming party in a new home. The beavers walked ahead and showed the way. The rain was pouring down in buckets. Here is the pond. Here is the beaver river. And look over the river! look! - a tall, new log house.

Please, doctor,” said the beavers. - This house is much better than the one you had before. Look how beautiful it is!

Chichi immediately lit the stove. Doctor Aibolit was put to bed and given a medicine from which he very soon recovered.

The house turned out to be really great. The next day Robinson and Jumbo came to visit the doctor. They brought him grapes and honey.

The doctor was sitting in a chair by the stove, very happy, but still pale and weak. The animals sat down at his feet and looked into his eyes cheerfully: they were glad that he remained alive and his illness had passed. Dick kept licking his hand with one tongue and then another.

The doctor stroked his fluffy fur. Karudo climbed onto the back of the chair and began to tell a story. The story was sad.. Listening to it, the Crocodile cried such big tears that a stream formed near him. But the story ended very cheerfully, so Jumbo, Robinson and Chichi clapped their hands and almost went to dance.

But more about this story sometime later. Now let's rest. Let's close the book and go for a walk.

Part four

THE ADVENTURES OF THE WHITE MOUSE

1.Cat

Once upon a time there lived a white mouse. Her name was Belyanka. All her brothers and sisters were gray, she was the only one white. White, like chalk, like paper, like snow.

Somehow the gray mice decided to go for a walk. Belyanka ran after them. But the gray mice said:

Don't go, sister, stay at home. There is a Black Cat sitting on the roof, he will see you and eat you.

Why can you go for a walk, but I can’t? - asked Belyanka. - If the Black Cat sees me, he will see you too.

No,” said the gray mice, “he won’t see us, we are gray, and you are white, everyone can see you.”

And they ran along the dusty road. And in fact, the Cat did not notice them, because they were gray, and the dust on the road was gray.

And he immediately noticed Belyanka, because she was white. He swooped down on her and dug his sharp claws into her. Poor Belyanka! Now he will eat her! Then she realized that her brothers and sisters had told her the truth, and she cried bitterly.

Please let me go free! – she begged.

But the Black Cat only snorted in response and bared his terrible teeth.

2. Cage

Suddenly someone shouted:

Why are you torturing the poor mouse? Let her go this very minute!

It was the fisherman's son, the boy Penta, who shouted. He saw that the Black Cat was holding Belyanka in his claws, ran up to him and took her away.

White mouse!.- he said. - How glad I am that I will have such a beautiful white mouse!

Belyanka was also glad that she was saved from the Cat. Penta gave her something to eat and put her in a wooden cage. He was a kind boy, she had a good time with him.

But who wants to live in a cage! A cell is the same as a prison. And soon Belyanka got bored of sitting behind bars. At night, when Penta was sleeping, she gnawed through the bars of her wooden prison and quietly ran away into the street.

3. Old rat

What happiness! The whole street is white! It's snowing outside!

And if the street is white, it means that a white mouse can calmly walk in front of the cat’s nose and the cat will not see it. Because a white mouse is not visible on white snow. On the white snow she herself is like snow.

It was fun for Belyanka to walk along the streets of the snow-white city and look at the cats and dogs. No one saw her, but she saw everyone. Suddenly she heard a groan. Who is this moaning so pitifully? She peered into the darkness and saw a gray rat. A gray rat sat on the threshold of a large barn, and tears flowed down her cheeks.

What happened to you? - asked Belyanka. - Why are you crying? Who hurt you? You are sick?

“Ah,” answered the gray rat, “I’m not sick, but I’m very unhappy.” I want to eat. I am starving. For the third day I didn’t have a crumb in my mouth. I’m dying of hunger.

Why are you sitting in this barn? - Belyanka cried. - Come outside and I'll show you a trash can where you can have a great dinner.

No no! - said the rat. - I can't appear on the street. Can't you see that I'm gray? When there was no snow, I could leave the yard every night. But now children, dogs, and cats will immediately notice me on the white snow. Oh, how I would like to be white as snow!

Belyanka felt sorry for the unfortunate gray rat.

Do you want me to stay here and live with you? - she suggested. - Every evening I will bring you food.

The old rat was very happy. She was toothless and skinny. Belyanka ran to the trash heap of a neighboring house and brought from there a crust of bread, a slice of cheese and a candle stub.

The gray rat greedily pounced on all these delicacies.

Well, thank you,” she said. - If it weren't for you, I would have died of hunger.

4. The Old Rat's Invention

They lived like this for the whole winter. But then one day Belyanka went outside and almost cried. The snow melted overnight, spring came, there were puddles everywhere, the street was black. Everyone will immediately notice Belyanka and rush after her.

Well,” the old rat said to Belyanka, “now it’s my turn to get you food.” You fed me in winter, I will feed you in summer.

And she left, and an hour later she brought Belyanka a whole mountain of crackers, pretzels and sweets.

One day, when the old rat went out to buy groceries, Belyanka was sitting on the threshold. Her brothers and sisters passed by the barn. - Where are you going? ~ asked Belyanka.

We're going into the forest to dance! - they shouted.

Take me too! I want to dance too!

No no! - her brothers and sisters shouted. - Get away from us. You will destroy both us and yourself. In the forest, a big owl sits on a tree; she will immediately notice your white fur, and we will die along with you.

And they ran away, and Belyanka was left alone. Soon the rat returned. She brought a lot of tasty things, but Belyanka didn’t even touch the delicacies. She hid in a dark corner and cried.

What are you crying about? - the old rat asked her.

How can I not cry? - Belyanka answered. - My gray brothers

and the gray sisters run free through the forests and fields, dance, frolic, and I have to sit in this nasty barn all summer. The old rat thought about it.

Do you want me to help you, Belyanka? - she said in a gentle voice.

No,” Belyanka answered sadly, “no one can help me.”

But you'll see, I'll help you. Did you know that under our shed in the basement there is a dyer's workshop? And there are a lot of colors in the workshop. Blue, green, orange, pink. The dyer paints toys, lanterns, flags, and paper chains for the Christmas tree with these paints. Let's quickly run there.

The dyer left, but his paints remained.

What are we going to do there? - asked Belyanka.

You will see! - answered the old rat.

Belyanka did not understand anything. She reluctantly followed the old rat to the dyer's workshop. There were buckets with colorful paints.

The Rat said to Belyanka:

This bucket has blue paint, this one has green paint, that one has black paint, and this one has crimson paint. And in this trough, which is closer to the doors, there is excellent gray paint. Get in there, plunge headlong, and you will be as gray as your brothers and sisters.

Belyanka was delighted, ran up to the trough, but suddenly stopped because she felt very scared.

“I’m afraid of drowning,” she said.

What a coward you are! What is there to be afraid of! Close your eyes and dive quickly! - the gray rat told her.

Belyanka closed her eyes and dived into the gray paint.

Well, that's good! - the rat cried. - Congratulations! You are no longer white, but gray. But now you need to warm up. Hurry up and go to bed. That's why you'll be happy when you wake up tomorrow morning.

5. Dangerous paint

Morning has come. Belyanka woke up and immediately ran to look at herself in a fragment of a broken mirror lying in a garbage heap. Oh God! She became not gray, but yellow, yellow, like a daisy, like a yolk, like a chicken! She was very angry with the gray rat.

Oh, you wretch! - she screamed. - Look what you've done! You painted me yellow, and now I'm afraid to show myself on the street.

Indeed! - the rat exclaimed. “I mixed up the colors in the dark.” Now I see that the paint in the trough was not gray, but yellow.

You stupid blind old woman! You ruined me! – the poor unfortunate mouse continued to whine. “I’m leaving you and I don’t want to know you anymore!”

And she ran away. But where should she go? Where to hide? And on the gray road, and on the green grass, and on the white snow - its bright yellow skin is visible everywhere.

As soon as she ran out of the barn, the Black Cat chased after her. She ran away from him into an alley, but the schoolchildren immediately saw her there.

Yellow mouse! - they shouted. - Yellow, yellow, yellow mouse!

And they chased after her and began to throw stones at her. The dogs joined them at the corner.

No one had ever seen yellow mice, and therefore everyone wanted to catch this extraordinary mouse.

Hold it! Hold it! - they shouted behind her.

Tired, exhausted, she barely escaped the chase. But this is her home. Her mother lives here. She will be happy here, in her native hole.

Hello mother! - she said.

Her mother looked at her and shouted angrily:

Who are you? What do you need? Get out, get out of here.

Mother! Mother! Don't drive me away. I'm your daughter. I'm Belyanka.

What kind of Belyanka are you if you are yellow! My Belyanka was whiter than snow, and you were yellow, like a daisy, like a yolk, like a chicken. I have never had a daughter like this! You are not my daughter. Get out of here!

Mommy, believe me, it's me. Listen to me and I will tell you everything.

But then her brothers and sisters came running and began to push her out of the hole. They had no idea that she was their sister, and they scratched, beat, and bit her.

Go back where you came from! We don't know you, you're a stranger! You are not Belyanka at all, you are yellow!

What was to be done? The poor mouse left them in tears, sneaking along the fences, getting burned by nettles at every step. Soon she found herself on the seashore:

Hurry up and wash off this terrible paint!

6. Yellow mouse and doctor

Without hesitating for a moment, she threw herself into the water, and dived, and swam, and scraped her skin with her claws, and rubbed with sand, but in vain: the damned Eraska did not want to leave. The skin remained the same yellow.

Trembling from the cold, the unfortunate woman crawled ashore, sat down and began to cry. What should she do? Where to go?

The sun will rise soon. Everyone will see her and again run after her, and again they will throw stones and sticks at her, and again they will shout behind her back:

Catch her, hold her!

No, I can't stand this anymore. Isn't it better to return to captivity, to the very cage from which I once escaped? What should I do if it is impossible for me to live in freedom, if even my own mother offends and persecutes me?

And, sadly hanging her head, she trudged to the house where the boy Penta lived.

On the way she met a strange mouse. The mouse was sick and stunted and could barely move its legs. She had a beautifully tied bow on her tail.

Polyanka asked her:

Please tell me what kind of bow you have on your tail?

“This is not a bow,” answered the unfamiliar mouse. - This is such a bandage. I am coming from Doctor Aibolit, and he has bandaged the wound. You see, I fell into a mousetrap yesterday, and the mousetrap pinched my tail painfully. I escaped the mousetrap - and immediately went to the doctor. He smeared some wonderful ointment on my tail, and I recovered. Thanks to him. Oh, what a good, kind doctor he is! And you know, he can speak mouse language: he understands mouse language perfectly.

Where does he live? - the yellow mouse asked her.

Here around the corner, on the hill. Don’t you know where Aibolit lives? All the animals know him: sick dogs, sick horses, sick hares come to him every now and then, he knows how to treat them all.

The yellow mouse didn’t listen to the end and started running. She ran to the doctor. I rang the doorbell. Ava immediately opened the door for her.

The doctor had many sick people: a lame goat, two turtles, a seal, a rooster with a bandaged throat, and a crow with a broken wing.

When the mouse told the doctor that she would like to become white again, the doctor laughed and said:

I won't treat you! Stay yellow forever! I like your yellow fur. She is so golden and beautiful.

But this wool will destroy me! - the mouse cried with tears. - As soon as I go outside, I will be torn apart by dogs or torn to pieces by the Black Cat.

Nonsense! - said the doctor. - Live with me, and no one will touch you here. There is no need for you to walk the streets. Here's the house in the cupboard: two hares and an old toothless squirrel live here. You will feel good with me, and we will call you Fija. This means: golden mouse.

Okay, she said, I agree.

And she stayed to live with the doctor, and all the animals fell in love with her: the dog Ava, the duck Kika, the parrot Karudo, and the monkey Chichi. And soon she learned to sing their cheerful song with them!

Shita rita, tita drita!

Shivandada, shivanda!

We are our native Aibolit

We will never leave!

Part one

JOURNEY TO THE COUNTRY OF MONKEYS

Once upon a time there lived a doctor. He was kind. His name was Aibolit. And he had an evil sister, whose name was Varvara.

More than anything in the world, the doctor loved animals. Hares lived in his room. There was a squirrel living in his closet. A prickly hedgehog lived on the sofa. White mice lived in the chest.

But of all his animals, Dr. Aibolit loved most the duck Kiku, the dog Ava, the little pig Oink-Oink, the parrot Carudo and the owl Bumba.

His evil sister Varvara was very angry with the doctor because he had so many animals in his room.

Drive them away this very minute! - she shouted. - They only dirty the rooms. I don't want to live with these nasty creatures!

No, Varvara, they are not bad! - said the doctor. - I am very glad that they live with me.

From all sides, sick shepherds, sick fishermen, woodcutters, and peasants came to the doctor for treatment, and he gave medicine to everyone, and everyone immediately became healthy.

If some village boy hurts his hand or scratches his nose, he immediately runs to Aibolit - and, lo and behold, ten minutes later he, as if nothing had happened, is healthy, cheerful, playing tag with the parrot Karudo, and the owl Bumba treats him with candies and apples.

One day a very sad horse came to the doctor and quietly said to him:

Lama, von, fifi, kuku!

The doctor immediately understood that in animal language this meant: “My eyes hurt. Please give me glasses.” The doctor had long ago learned to speak like an animal. He said to the horse:

Kapuki, kanuki!

In animal terms, this means: “Please sit down.”

The horse sat down. The doctor put glasses on her, and her eyes stopped hurting.

Chaka! - said the horse, waved its tail and ran into the street.

"Chaka" means "thank you" in an animal way.

Soon all the animals who had bad eyes received glasses from Dr. Aibolit. Horses began to wear glasses, cows began to wear glasses, cats and dogs began to wear glasses. Even old crows did not fly out of the nest without glasses.

Every day more and more animals and birds came to the doctor.

Turtles, foxes and goats came, cranes and eagles flew in.

Doctor Aibolit treated everyone, but he didn’t take money from anyone, because what kind of money do turtles and eagles have!

Soon the following notices were posted on trees in the forest:

Hospital opened

For birds and animals.

Go get treatment

Get there quickly!

These advertisements were posted by Vanya and Tanya, neighbor children whom the doctor had once cured of scarlet fever and measles. They loved the doctor very much and willingly helped him.

2. Monkey Chichi

One evening, when all the animals were sleeping, someone knocked on the doctor’s door.

Who's there? - asked the doctor.

The doctor opened the door and a monkey, very thin and dirty, entered the room. The doctor sat her down on the sofa and asked:

What is hurting you?

“Neck,” she said and began to cry.

Only then did the doctor see that she had a large rope around her neck.

“I ran away from the evil organ grinder,” said the monkey and began to cry again. “The organ grinder beat me, tortured me and dragged me along with him everywhere on a rope.

The doctor took the scissors, cut the rope and smeared such an amazing ointment on the monkey’s neck that the neck immediately stopped hurting. Then he bathed the monkey in a trough, gave it something to eat and said:

Live with me, monkey. I don't want you to be offended.

The monkey was very happy. But when she was sitting at the table and gnawing on the large nuts that the doctor treated her to, an evil organ grinder ran into the room.

Give me the monkey! - he shouted. - This monkey is mine!

Will not give it back! - said the doctor. - I won’t give it up for anything! I don't want you to torture her.

The enraged organ grinder wanted to grab Doctor Aibolit by the throat.

But the doctor calmly told him:

Get out this minute! And if you fight, I will call the dog Ava, and she will bite you.

Ava ran into the room and said menacingly:

"Run, or I'll bite you!"

The organ grinder got scared and ran away without looking back. The monkey stayed with the doctor. The animals soon fell in love with her and named her Chichi. In the animal language, "chichi" means "well done."

As soon as Tanya and Vanya saw her, they exclaimed in one voice:

She's so cute! How wonderful!

And they immediately began to play with her as if they were their best friend. They played hide and seek and ball, and then all three took hands and ran to the seashore, and there the monkey taught them a funny monkey dance, which is called “tkella” in the animal language.

Every day animals came to Dr. Aibolit for treatment. Foxes, rabbits, seals, donkeys, camels - everyone came to him from afar. Some had a stomach ache, some had a toothache. The doctor gave each one medicine, and they all immediately recovered.

One day a tailless kid came to Aibolit, and the doctor sewed a tail on it.

And then a bear came from a distant forest, all in tears. She moaned and whimpered pitifully: a large splinter was sticking out of her paw. The doctor pulled out the splinter, washed the wound and lubricated it with his miraculous ointment. The bear's pain went away right away. - Chaka! - the bear shouted and ran home cheerfully - to the den, to her cubs.

Then a sick hare trudged towards the doctor, which was almost killed by dogs.

And then a sick ram came, who had a bad cold and was coughing.

And then two chickens came and brought a turkey, who was poisoned by toadstool mushrooms.

The doctor gave each one medicine, and everyone immediately recovered, and each one said “chucka” to him.

And then, when all the patients had left, Doctor Aibolit heard something rustling behind the doors.

Sign in! - the doctor shouted.

And a sad butterfly came to him:

“I burned my wing on a candle.

Help me, help me, Aibolit:

My wounded wing hurts!"

Doctor Aibolit felt sorry for the moth. He put it in his palm and looked at the burnt wing for a long time. And then he smiled and cheerfully said to the moth:

Don't be sad, moth!

You lie down on your side:

I'll sew you another one,

Silk, blue,

Wing!

And the doctor went into the next room and brought from there a whole heap of all kinds of scraps - velvet, satin, cambric, silk. The scraps were multi-colored: blue, green, black. The doctor rummaged among them for a long time, finally choosing one - bright blue with crimson spots. And he immediately cut out an excellent wing from it with scissors, which he sewed onto the moth.

The moth laughed

And rushed to the meadow

And flies under the birches

With butterflies and dragonflies.

And cheerful Aibolit

From the window he shouts:

"Okay, okay, have fun,

Just watch out for the candles!"

So the doctor fussed with his patients until late in the evening.

In the evening he lay down on the sofa and fell asleep sweetly, and he began to dream of polar bears, deer, and walruses. And suddenly someone knocked on his door again.

4. Crocodile

In the same city where the doctor lived there was a circus, and in the circus there lived a big Crocodile. There it was shown to people for money.

Crocodile had a toothache, and he came to Doctor Aibolit for treatment. The doctor gave him a wonderful medicine, and his teeth stopped hurting.

How good you are! - said the Crocodile, looking around and licking his lips. - How many bunnies, birds, mice do you have! And they are all so fatty and delicious! Let me stay with you forever. I don't want to go back to the circus owner. He feeds me poorly, beats me, offends me.

Stay,” said the doctor. - Please! Just be careful: if you eat even one hare, even one sparrow, I will drive you out.

Okay,” said the Crocodile and sighed. - I promise you, doctor, that I will not eat either hares or birds.

And the Crocodile began to live with the doctor.

He was quiet. He didn’t touch anyone, he lay under his bed and kept thinking about his brothers and sisters who lived far, far away, in hot Africa.

The Doctor fell in love with the Crocodile and often talked to him. But the evil Varvara could not stand the Crocodile and demanded that the doctor drive him away.

I don’t want to see him! - she shouted. - He's so nasty, toothy. And it ruins everything, no matter what it touches. Yesterday I ate my green skirt that was lying on my window.

And he did well,” said the doctor. - The dress should be hidden in the closet, and not thrown out of the window.

“Because of this nasty Crocodile,” Varvara continued, “many people are afraid to come to your house. Only poor people come, and you do not take payment from them, and now we are so poor that we have nothing to buy bread for ourselves.

“I don’t need money,” Aibolit answered. - I’m fine without money. The animals will feed both me and you.

5. Friends help the doctor

Varvara told the truth: the doctor was left without bread. For three days he sat hungry. He had no money.

The animals that lived with the doctor saw that he had nothing to eat and began to feed him. Bumba the owl and Oink-Oink the pig set up a vegetable garden in the yard: the pig was digging the beds with its snout, and Bumba was planting potatoes. The cow began to treat the doctor with her milk every morning and evening. The hen laid eggs for him.

And everyone began to care about the doctor. The dog Ava was sweeping the floors. Tanya and Vanya, together with the monkey Chichi, brought him water from the well. The doctor was very pleased.

I have never had such cleanliness in my house. Thank you, children and animals, for your work!

The children smiled cheerfully at him, and the animals answered in one voice:

Karabuki, marabuki, boo!

In animal language this means: “How can we not serve you? After all, you are our best friend.”

And the dog Ava licked him on the cheek and said:

Abuzo, mabuzo, bang!

In animal language this means: “We will never leave you and will be your faithful comrades.”

6. Swallow

One evening the owl Bumba said:

Who is that scratching behind the door? It looks like a mouse.

Everyone listened, but heard nothing.

There is no one behind the door! - said the doctor. - It seemed so to you.

No, it didn’t seem like it,” the owl objected. - I hear someone scratching. It's a mouse or a bird. You can believe me. We owls hear better than humans.

Bumba was not mistaken.

The monkey opened the door and saw a swallow on the threshold.

Swallow - in winter! What a miracle! After all, swallows cannot stand frost and, as soon as winter sets in, they fly away to hot Africa. Poor thing, how cold she is! She sits in the snow and trembles.

Martin! - the doctor shouted. - Go into the room and warm yourself up by the stove.

At first the swallow was afraid to enter. She saw that a Crocodile was lying in the room and thought that he would eat her. But Chichi the monkey told her that this Crocodile is very kind. Then the swallow flew into the room, sat on the back of the chair, looked around and asked:

Chiruto, kisafa, poppy?

In animal language this means: “Please tell me, does the famous doctor Aibolit live here?”

“Aibolit is me,” said the doctor.

“I have a big request to ask you,” said the swallow. - You must go to Africa now. I flew from Africa on purpose to invite you there. There are monkeys down there in Africa, and now those monkeys are sick.

What hurts them? - asked the doctor.

“They have a stomach ache,” said the swallow. - They lie on the ground and cry. There is only one person who can save them, and that is you. Take your medicines with you and let’s go to Africa as soon as possible! If you don't go to Africa, all the monkeys will die.

“Oh,” said the doctor, “I would gladly go to Africa!” I love monkeys and I'm sorry they are sick. But I don't have a ship. After all, to go to Africa, you need to have a ship.

Poor monkeys! - said the Crocodile. - If the doctor does not go to Africa, they all must die. He alone can cure them.

And the Crocodile cried with such big tears that two streams flowed across the floor.

Suddenly Doctor Aibolit shouted:

Still, I will go to Africa! Still, I will cure sick monkeys! I remembered that my friend the old sailor Robinson, whom I once saved from an evil fever, had an excellent ship.

He took his hat and went to the sailor Robinson.

Hello, sailor Robinson! - he said. - Be kind, give me your ship. I want to go to Africa. There, not far from the Sahara Desert, there is a wonderful Land of Monkeys.

“Okay,” said the sailor Robinson. - I will give you a ship with pleasure. After all, you saved my life, and I am happy to provide you with any service. But look, bring my ship back, because I have no other ship.

“I’ll definitely bring it,” said the doctor. - Don't worry. I just wish I could go to Africa.

Take it, take it! - Robinson repeated. - But be careful not to break it on the pitfalls!

“Don’t be afraid, I won’t break you,” said the doctor, thanked the sailor Robinson and ran home.

Animals, gather together! - he shouted. - Tomorrow we are going to Africa!

The animals were very happy and began jumping around the room and clapping their hands. The monkey Chichi was the most happy:

I'm going, I'm going to Africa,
To lovely lands!
Africa, Africa,
My motherland!

“I won’t take all the animals to Africa,” said Doctor Aibolit. - Hedgehogs, bats and rabbits should stay here in my house. The horse will remain with them.

And I will take with me the Crocodile, the monkey Chichi and the parrot Carudo, because they come from Africa: their parents, brothers and sisters live there. In addition, I will take with me Ava, Kika, Bumba and Oink-Oink the pig.

What about us? - Tanya and Vanya shouted. - Are we really going to stay here without you?

Yes! - said the doctor and shook their hands firmly. - Goodbye, dear friends! You will stay here and take care of my garden and garden. We'll be back very soon.

And I will bring you a wonderful gift from Africa.

Tanya and Vanya hung their heads. But they thought a little and said:

There is nothing to be done: we are still small. Bon Voyage! Goodbye! And when we grow up, we will certainly go traveling with you.

Still would! - said Aibolit. -You just need to grow up a little.

7. To Africa

The animals quickly packed their things and set off. Only hares, rabbits, hedgehogs, and bats remained at home.

Arriving at the seashore, the animals saw a wonderful ship. The sailor Robinson stood right there on the hill. Vanya and Tanya, together with the pig Oink-Oink and the monkey Chichi, helped the doctor bring in suitcases with medicines.

All the animals boarded the ship and were about to set off, when suddenly the doctor shouted in a loud voice:

Wait, wait, please!

What's happened? - Asked the Crocodile.

Wait! Wait! - the doctor shouted. - After all, I don’t know where Africa is! You need to go and ask.

The crocodile laughed:

Do not go! Calm down! The swallow will show you where to sail. She often visited Africa. Swallows fly to Africa every winter.

Certainly! - said the swallow. - I will be happy to show you the way there.

And she flew ahead of the ship, showing Doctor Aibolit the way.

She flew to Africa, and Doctor Aibolit directed the ship after her. Wherever the swallow goes, there goes the ship. At night it became dark, and the swallow was not visible. Then she lit a flashlight, took it in her beak and flew with the flashlight, so that the doctor could see even at night where to lead his ship.

They drove and drove, and suddenly they saw a crane flying towards them.

Tell me, please, is the famous doctor Aibolit on your ship?

Yes, - answered the Crocodile. - The famous doctor Aibolit is on our ship.

Ask the doctor to swim quickly, said the crane, because the monkeys are getting worse and worse. They can't wait for him.

Do not worry! - said the Crocodile. - We are racing with full sails. The monkeys won't have to wait long.

Hearing this, the crane was happy and flew back to tell the monkeys that Doctor Aibolit was already close.

The ship ran quickly across the waves. The crocodile was sitting on the deck and suddenly saw dolphins swimming towards the ship.

Tell me, please, - asked the dolphins, - is the famous doctor Aibolit sailing on this ship?

Yes, - answered the Crocodile. - The famous doctor Aibolit is sailing on this ship.

Please, ask the doctor to swim quickly, because the monkeys are getting worse and worse.

Do not worry! - answered the Crocodile. - We are racing with full sails. The monkeys won't have to wait long.

In the morning the doctor said to the Crocodile:

What's that up ahead? Some big land. I think this is Africa.

Yes, this is Africa! - Crocodile shouted. - Africa! Africa! Soon we will be in Africa! I see ostriches! I see rhinos! I see camels! I see elephants!

Africa, Africa!

Dear lands!

Africa, Africa!

My motherland!

But then a storm arose. Rain! Wind! Lightning! Thunder! The waves became so big that it was scary to look at them. And suddenly - bang-tar-rah-rah! There was a terrible crash and the ship tilted on its side.

What's happened? What's happened? - asked the doctor.

Shipwreck! - the parrot shouted. - Our ship hit a rock and crashed! We're drowning. Save yourself who can!

But I can't swim! - Chichi screamed.

I can't either! - Oink-Oink screamed. And they cried bitterly. Fortunately, the Crocodile put them on his broad back and swam along the waves straight to the shore.

Hooray! Everyone is saved! Everyone reached Africa safely. But their ship was lost. A huge wave hit him and smashed him into small pieces.

How do they get home? After all, they have no other ship. And what will they say to the sailor Robinson?

It was getting dark. The doctor and all his animals really wanted to sleep. They were wet to the bone and tired. But the doctor didn’t even think about rest:

Hurry, hurry forward! We need to hurry! We need to save the monkeys! The poor monkeys are sick and they can't wait for me to cure them!

Then Bumba flew up to the doctor and said in a frightened voice:

Hush hush! Someone's coming! I hear someone's steps!

Everyone stopped and listened.

A shaggy old man with a long gray beard came out of the forest and shouted:

What are you doing here? And who are you? And why did you come here?

“I am Doctor Aibolit,” said the doctor. - I came to Africa to cure sick monkeys...

Ha ha ha! - the shaggy old man laughed. - “Cure sick monkeys”? Do you know where you ended up?

Where? - asked the doctor.

To the robber Barmaley!

To Barmaley! - exclaimed the doctor. - Barmaley is the most evil person in the whole world! But we would rather die than surrender to the robber! Let's quickly run there - to our sick monkeys... They cry, they wait, and we must cure them.

No! - said the shaggy old man and laughed even louder. - You won't leave here anywhere! Barmaley kills everyone who is captured by him.

Let's run! - the doctor shouted. - Let's run! We can save ourselves! We will be saved!

But then Barmaley himself appeared in front of them and, waving a saber, shouted:

Hey you, my faithful servants! Take this stupid doctor with all his stupid animals and put him in jail, behind bars! Tomorrow I will deal with them!

Barmaley's servants ran up, grabbed the doctor, grabbed the Crocodile, grabbed all the animals and took them to prison. The doctor bravely fought them off. The animals bit, scratched, and tore themselves out of their hands, but there were many enemies, the enemies were strong. They threw their prisoners into prison, and the shaggy old man locked them there with a key. And he gave the key to Barmaley. Barmaley took it away and hid it under his pillow.

Poor we are, poor! - Chichi said. - We will never leave this prison. The walls here are strong, the doors are iron. We will no longer see the sun, flowers, or trees. Poor we are, poor!

The pig grunted and the dog howled. And the Crocodile cried with such big tears that a wide puddle became on the floor.

10. The feat of the parrot Karudo

But the doctor said to the animals:

My friends, we must not lose heart! We must break out of this damned prison - because sick monkeys are waiting for us! Stop crying! Let's think about how we can be saved.

No, dear doctor! - said the Crocodile and cried even harder. - We cannot be saved. We are dead! The doors of our prison are made of strong iron. Can we really break down these doors? Tomorrow morning, at first light, Barmaley will come to us and kill us all!

Kika the duck whined. Chichi took a deep breath. But the doctor jumped to his feet and exclaimed with a cheerful smile:

Still, we will be saved from prison!

And he called the parrot Carudo to him and whispered something to him. He whispered so quietly that no one except the parrot heard. The parrot nodded his head, laughed and said:

Fine!

And then he ran up to the bars, squeezed between the iron bars, flew out into the street and flew to Barmaley.

Barmaley was fast asleep on his bed, and under his pillow was hidden a huge key - the same one with which he locked the iron doors of the prison.

Quietly the parrot crept up to Barmaley and pulled out the key from under the pillow. If the robber had woken up, he would certainly have killed the fearless bird. But, fortunately, the robber was fast asleep. Brave Karudo grabbed the key and flew as fast as he could back to prison.

Wow, this key is so heavy! Karudo almost dropped it on the way. But still he flew to the prison - and right out the window, to Doctor Aibolit. The doctor was delighted when he saw that the parrot had brought him the key to the prison!

Hooray! We are saved! - he shouted. - Let’s run quickly before Barmaley wakes up!

The doctor grabbed the key, opened the door and ran out into the street. And behind him are all his animals. Freedom! Freedom! Hooray!

Thank you, brave Karudo! - said the doctor. - You saved us from death. If it weren't for you, we would be lost. And the poor sick monkeys would have died along with us.

No! - said Carudo. - It was you who taught me what to do to get out of this prison!

Hurry, hurry to the sick monkeys! - said the doctor and hastily ran into the thicket of the forest. And with him - all his animals.

11. Over the monkey bridge

When Barmaley found out that Doctor Aibolit had escaped from prison, he became terribly angry, his eyes sparkled, and he stamped his feet.

Hey you, my faithful servants! - he shouted. - Run after the doctor! Catch him and bring him here!

The servants ran into the thicket of the forest and began to look for Doctor Aibolit. And at this time, Doctor Aibolit with all his animals was making his way through Africa to the Land of the Monkeys. He walked very quickly. Oink-Oink the pig, who had short legs, could not keep up with him. The doctor picked her up and carried her. The mumps was severe, and the doctor was terribly tired!

How I wish I could rest! - he said. - Oh, if only we could get to the Land of the Monkeys sooner!

Chichi climbed a tall tree and screamed loudly:

I see Monkey Country! Monkey Country is coming! Soon, soon we will be in the Land of the Monkeys!

The doctor laughed with joy and hurried forward.

The sick monkeys saw the doctor from a distance and cheerfully clapped their hands.

Hooray! Doctor Aibolit has come to us! Doctor Aibolit will cure us immediately, and we will be healthy tomorrow!

But then Barmaley’s servants ran out of the thicket of the forest and rushed in pursuit of the doctor.

Hold him! Hold it! Hold it! - they shouted.

The doctor ran as fast as he could. And suddenly there is a river in front of him. It is impossible to run further. The river is wide and cannot be crossed. Now Barmaley's servants will catch him! Oh, if there was a bridge across this river, the doctor would run across the bridge and immediately find himself in the Land of the Monkeys!

Poor we are, poor! - said the pig Oink-Oink. - How do we get to the other side? In a minute, these villains will catch us and put us in prison again.

Then one of the monkeys shouted:

Bridge! Bridge! Make a bridge! Hurry up! Don't waste a minute! Make a bridge! Bridge!

The doctor looked around. Monkeys have neither iron nor stone. What will they make the bridge out of?

But the monkeys built the bridge not from iron, not from stone, but from living monkeys. There was a tree growing on the bank of the river. One monkey grabbed this tree, and the other grabbed this monkey by the tail. So all the monkeys stretched out like a long chain between the two high banks of the river.

Here's the bridge, run! - they shouted to the doctor.

The Doctor grabbed Bumba the owl and ran over the monkeys, over their heads, over their backs. Behind the doctor are all his animals.

Quicker! - the monkeys shouted. - Quicker! Quicker!

It was difficult to walk across the living monkey bridge. The animals were afraid that they were about to slip and fall into the water.

But no, the bridge was strong, the monkeys held each other tightly - and the doctor quickly ran to the other bank with all the animals.

Hurry, hurry forward! - the doctor shouted. - You can’t hesitate for a minute. After all, our enemies are catching up with us. See, they are also running across the monkey bridge... They will be here now!

Hurry up!.. Hurry up!..

But what is it? What's happened? Look: in the very middle of the bridge, one monkey unclenched his fingers, the bridge fell through, crumbled, and Barmaley’s servants fell head over heels from a great height straight into the river.

Hooray! - the monkeys shouted. - Hooray! Doctor Aibolit is saved! Now he has no one to fear! Hooray! The enemies didn't catch him! Now he will cure our sick! They are here, they are close, they are moaning and crying!

12. Stupid animals

Doctor Aibolit hurried to the sick monkeys.

They lay on the ground and moaned. They were very sick.

The doctor began to treat the monkeys. It was necessary to give each monkey medicine: one - drops, the other - pills. Each monkey had to put a cold compress on its head, and mustard plasters on its back and chest. There were many sick monkeys, but only one doctor. One cannot cope with such a job.

Kika, Crocodile, Carudo and Chichi tried their best to help him, but they soon got tired and the doctor needed other assistants. He went into the desert - where the lion lived.

“Be so kind,” he said to the lion, “please help me treat the monkeys.”

Leo was important. He looked menacingly at Aibolit:

Do you know who I am? I am a lion, I am the king of beasts! And you dare ask me to treat some filthy monkeys!

Then the doctor went to the rhinoceroses.

Rhinos, rhinos! - he said. - Help me treat the monkeys! There are many of them, but I am alone. I can't do my job alone.

The rhinoceroses only laughed in response:

We will help you! Be thankful that we didn't gore you with our horns!

The doctor became very angry with the evil rhinoceroses and ran into the neighboring forest - where the striped tigers lived.

Tigers, tigers! Help me treat the monkeys!

Rrr! - answered the striped tigers. - Leave while you're still alive!

The doctor left them very sad.

But soon the evil animals were severely punished.

When the lion returned home, the lioness said to him:

Our little son is sick - he cries and moans all day. What a pity that there is no famous doctor Aibolit in Africa! He heals wonderfully. No wonder everyone loves him. He would have cured our son.

Doctor Aibolit is here,” said the lion. - Behind those palm trees, in Monkey Country! I just talked to him. - What happiness! - exclaimed the lioness. - Run and call him to our son!

No, said the lion, I won’t go to him. He will not treat our son because I hurt him very much.

You offended Doctor Aibolit! What are we going to do now? Do you know that Doctor Aibolit is the best, most wonderful doctor? He alone of all people can speak like an animal. He treats tigers, crocodiles, hares, monkeys and frogs. Yes, yes, he even heals frogs, because he is very kind. And you offended such a person! And he offended you just when your son was sick! What will you do now?

Leo was dumbfounded. He didn't know what to say.

“Go to this doctor,” cried the lioness, “and tell him that you ask for forgiveness!” Help him in any way you can. Do whatever he says, beg him to cure our poor son!

There is nothing to do, the lion went to Doctor Aibolit.

“Hello,” he said. - I came to apologize for my rudeness. I am ready to help you... I agree to give the monkeys medicine and apply all sorts of compresses to them.

And the lion began to help Aibolit. For three days and three nights he looked after the sick monkeys, and then he approached Doctor Aibolit and timidly said:

My son, whom I love very much, is sick... Please, be so kind as to cure the poor lion cub!

Fine! - said the doctor. - Willingly! I will cure your son today.

And he went into the cave and gave his son such medicine that within an hour he was healthy.

Leo was delighted, and he felt ashamed that he had offended the good doctor.

And then the children of rhinoceroses and tigers got sick. Aibolit immediately cured them. Then the rhinoceroses and tigers said:

We are very ashamed that we offended you!

“Nothing, nothing,” said the doctor. - Next time, be smarter. Now come here and help me treat the monkeys.

13. Gift

The animals helped the doctor so well that the sick monkeys soon recovered.

“Thank you doctor,” they said. “He cured us of a terrible disease, and for this we should give him something very good.” Let's give him a beast that people have never seen before. Which is not found either in the circus or in the zoological park.

Let's give him a camel! - one monkey shouted.

No,” said Chichi, “he doesn’t need a camel.” He saw camels. All people saw camels. In zoological parks and on the streets.

Well, so ostrich! - another monkey shouted. - We'll give him an ostrich, an ostrich!

No,” said Chichi, “he also saw ostriches.”

Did he see the Tyanitolkai? - asked the third monkey.

No, he’s never seen a tyanitolkai,” Chichi answered. “There hasn’t been a single person who has seen a tyanitolkai.”

“Okay,” said the monkeys. - Now we know what to give the doctor: we will give him a tyanitolkay.

14. Pull

People have never seen a tyanitolkay, because tyanitolkay are afraid of people: if they notice a person, they run into the bushes!

You can catch other animals when they fall asleep and close their eyes. You will approach them from behind and grab their tail. But you cannot approach a tyanitolkai from behind, because the tyanitolkai has the same head from behind as in the front.

Yes, he has two heads: one in front, the other in back. When he wants to sleep, first one head sleeps, and then the other. Immediately he never sleeps. One head is asleep, the other is looking around so that the hunter does not creep up. That is why not a single hunter has been able to catch a pulley, that is why not a single circus or zoological park has this animal.

The monkeys decided to catch one tyanitolkai for Dr. Aibolit. They ran into the very thicket of the forest and there they found a place where the tyanitolkai had taken refuge.

He saw them and started to run, but they surrounded him, grabbed him by the horns and said:

Dear Pull! Would you like to go with Doctor Aibolit far, far away and live in his house with all the animals? You will feel good there: both satisfying and fun.

Tyanitolkay shook both heads and answered with both mouths:

“Good doctor,” said the monkeys. - He will feed you honey gingerbread, and if you get sick, he will cure you of every disease.

Doesn't matter! - said Pull Pull. - I wish to stay here.

The monkeys persuaded him for three days, and finally Tyanitolkai said:

Show me this vaunted doctor. I want to look at him.

The monkeys led Tyanitolkay to the house where Aibolit lived. Approaching the door, they knocked.

Come in,” said Kika.

Chichi proudly led the two-headed beast into the room.

What it is? - asked the surprised doctor. He had never seen such a miracle.

This is Pull-Push,” Chichi answered. - He wants to meet you. The tyanitolkai is the rarest animal of our African forests. Take him with you to the ship and let him live in your house.

Will he want to come to me?

“I’ll go to you willingly,” Tyanitolkai said unexpectedly. “I immediately saw that you are kind: you have such kind eyes.” The animals love you so much, and I know that you love the animals. But promise me that if I get bored with you, you will let me go home.

Of course, I’ll let you go,” said the doctor. - But you will feel so good with me that you are unlikely to want to leave.

That's right, that's right! This is true! - Chichi screamed. - He is so cheerful, so brave, our doctor! We live so comfortably in his house! And next door, two steps away from him, live Tanya and Vanya - you will see, they will love you deeply and become your closest friends.

If so, I agree, I'm going! - Tyanitolkay said cheerfully and nodded to Aibolit for a long time, first one head, then the other.

15. Monkeys say goodbye to the doctor

Then the monkeys came to Aibolit and invited him to dinner. They gave him a wonderful farewell dinner: apples, honey, bananas, dates, apricots, oranges, pineapples, nuts, raisins!

Long live Doctor Aibolit! - they shouted. - He is the kindest person on earth!

Then the monkeys ran into the forest and rolled out a huge, heavy stone.

This stone, they said, will stand in the place where Doctor Aibolit treated the sick. This will be a monument to the good doctor.

The doctor took off his hat, bowed to the monkeys and said:

Goodbye, dear friends! Thank you for your love. I'll come to you again soon. Until then, I will leave with you the Crocodile, the parrot Carudo and the monkey Chichi. They were born in Africa - let them remain in Africa. Their brothers and sisters live here. Goodbye!

“I myself will be bored without you,” said the doctor. - But you won’t stay here forever! In three or four months I will come here and take you back. And we will all live and work together again.

“If so, we will stay,” the animals answered. - But look, come quickly!

The doctor said a friendly goodbye to everyone and walked along the road with a cheerful gait. The monkeys went to accompany him. Every monkey wanted to shake Dr. Aibolit’s hand at all costs. And since there were many monkeys, they shook his hand until the evening. The doctor’s hand even hurt.

And in the evening a misfortune happened. As soon as the doctor crossed the river, he again found himself in the country of the evil robber Barmaley.

Shh! - Bumba whispered. - Please speak more quietly! Otherwise, we might not be captured again.

16. New troubles and joys

Before she had time to utter these words, Barmaley’s servants ran out of the dark forest and attacked the good doctor. They had been waiting for him for a long time.

Yeah! - they shouted. - We finally caught you! Now you won't leave us!

What to do? Where to hide from merciless enemies?

But the doctor was not at a loss. In an instant, he jumped onto Tyanitolkai, and he galloped like the fastest horse. Barmaley's servants are behind him. But since Tyanitolkai had two heads, he bit everyone who tried to attack him from behind. And another will be hit with his horns and thrown into a thorny bush.

Of course, Pull Pull alone could never defeat all the villains. But his faithful friends and comrades rushed to the doctor’s aid. Out of nowhere, the Crocodile came running and began to grab the robbers by the bare heels. The dog Ava flew at them with a terrible growl, knocked them down and sank its teeth into their throats. And above, along the branches of the trees, the monkey Chichi rushed and threw large nuts at the robbers.

The robbers fell, groaned in pain, and in the end they were forced to retreat.

They fled in shame into the thicket of the forest.

Hooray! - Aibolit shouted.

Hooray! - the animals shouted.

And the pig Oink-Oink said:

Well, now we can rest. Let's lie down here on the grass. We are tired. We want to sleep.

No, my friends! - said the doctor. - We must hurry. If we hesitate, we will not be saved.

And they ran forward as fast as they could. Soon Tyanitolkai carried the doctor to the seashore. There, in the bay, near a high rock, stood a large and beautiful ship. It was Barmaley's ship.

The doctor was delighted.

We are saved! - he shouted.

There was not a single person on the ship. The doctor with all his animals quickly and silently climbed onto the ship, raised the sails and wanted to set off into the open sea. But as soon as he set sail from the shore, Barmaley himself ran out of the forest.

Stop! - he shouted. - Stop! Wait a minute! Where have you taken my ship? Come back this very minute!

No! - the doctor shouted to the robber. - I don’t want to return to you. You are so cruel and evil. You tortured my animals. You threw me in jail. You wanted to kill me. You are my enemy! I hate you! And I take your ship from you so that you will no longer commit robbery at sea! So that you do not rob defenseless sea vessels passing by your shores.

Barmaley became terribly angry: he ran along the shore, cursed, shook his fists and threw huge stones after him.

But Doctor Aibolit only laughed at him. He sailed on Barmaley's ship straight to his country and a few days later he landed on his native shores.

17. Pull and Varvara

Ava, Bumba, Kika and Oink-Oink were very happy to return home. On the shore they saw Tanya and Vanya, who were jumping and dancing for joy. The sailor Robinson stood next to them.

Hello, sailor Robinson! - Doctor Aibolit shouted from the ship.

Hello, hello, doctor! - answered the sailor Robinson. - Was it good for you to travel? Did you manage to cure sick monkeys? And please tell me, where did you put my ship?

“Ah,” answered the doctor, “your ship is lost!” He crashed on the rocks off the very coast of Africa. But I brought you a new ship! This one will be better than yours.

Well, thank you! - said Robinson. - I see, an excellent ship. Mine was also good, but this one is just a sight for sore eyes: so big and beautiful!

The doctor said goodbye to Robinson, sat astride Tyanitolkai and rode through the city streets straight to his home. On every street, geese, cats, turkeys, dogs, piglets, cows, horses ran out to him, and they all shouted loudly:

Malakucha! Malakucha!

In animal terms this means: “Long live Doctor Aibolit!”

Birds flew in from all over the city; they flew over the doctor's head and sang funny songs to him.

The doctor was very glad to have returned home.

Hedgehogs, hares and squirrels still lived in the doctor's office. At first they were afraid of Tyanitolkai, but then they got used to him and fell in love with him.

And Tanya and Vanya, when they saw Tyanitolkaya, laughed, squealed, and clapped their hands with joy. Vanya hugged one of his necks, and Tanya hugged the other. For an hour they stroked and caressed him. And then they held hands and danced “tkella” in joy - that cheerful animal dance that Chichi taught them.

You see,” said Doctor Aibolit, “I fulfilled my promise: I brought you a wonderful gift from Africa, the likes of which children have never been given before.” I'm very glad that you liked it.

At first, Tyanitolkai was shy of people, hiding in the attic or cellar. And then he got used to it and went out into the garden, and he even liked that people came running to look at him and called him “The Miracle of Nature.”

Less than a month had passed before he was already boldly walking through all the streets of the city together with Tanya and Vanya, who were inseparable from him. Guys kept running up to him and asking him to give them a ride. He did not refuse anyone: he immediately dropped to his knees, boys and girls climbed onto his back, and he carried them all over the city, all the way to the sea, cheerfully shaking his two heads.

And Tanya and Vanya wove beautiful multi-colored ribbons into his long mane and hung a silver bell on each neck. The bells were ringing, and when Tyanitolkai walked through the city, you could hear from afar: ding-ding, ding-ding! And, hearing this ringing, all the residents ran out into the street to take another look at the wonderful beast.

Evil Varvara also wanted to ride Tyanitolkai. She climbed onto his back and started hitting him with an umbrella:

Run quickly, two-headed donkey!

Tyanitolkay got angry, ran up a high mountain and threw Varvara into the sea.

Help! Save! - Varvara shouted.

But no one wanted to save her. Varvara began to drown.

Ava, Ava, dear Ava! Help me get to the shore! - she shouted.

But Ava answered: “Rry!..”

In animal language this means: “I don’t want to save you, because you are evil and disgusting!”

The old sailor Robinson sailed past on his ship. He threw Varvara a rope and pulled her out of the water. Just at this time, Doctor Aibolit was walking along the shore with his animals. He shouted to the sailor Robinson:

And the sailor Robinson took her far, far away, to a desert island, where she could not offend anyone.

And Doctor Aibolit lived happily in his small house and from morning to night he treated birds and animals that flew and came to him from all over the world. Three years passed like this. And everyone was happy.

Part two

PENTA AND THE SEA PIRATES

Chapter 1. CAVE

Doctor Aibolit loved to walk.

Every evening after work, he took an umbrella and went with his animals somewhere into the forest or field.

Tianitolkai walked next to him, Kika the duck was running in front, Ava the dog and Oink-Oink the pig were behind him, and the old owl Bumba was sitting on the doctor’s shoulder.

They went very far, and when Doctor Aibolit was tired, he sat astride Tyanitolkai, and he merrily raced him through the mountains and meadows.

One day, while walking, they saw a cave on the seashore. They wanted to enter, but the cave was locked. There was a large lock on the door.

What do you think, said Ava, what is hidden in this cave?

There must be honey gingerbreads there,” said Tyanitolkai, who loved sweet honey gingerbreads more than anything in the world.

No, said Kika. - There are candies and nuts.

No, said Oink-Oink. - There are apples, acorns, beets, carrots...

“We need to find the key,” said the doctor. - Go find the key.

The animals ran in all directions and began to look for the key to the cave. They searched under every stone, under every bush, but did not find the key anywhere.

Then they again crowded around the locked door and began to look through the crack. But it was dark in the cave and they saw nothing. Suddenly the owl Bumba said:

Hush hush! It seems to me that there is something alive in the cave. It's either a man or a beast.

Everyone began to listen, but heard nothing.

Doctor Aibolit said to the owl:

I think you're wrong. I hear nothing.

Still would! - said the owl. - You can’t hear. You all have worse ears than mine.

No, said the animals. - We don't hear anything.

“And I hear,” said the owl.

What do you hear? - asked Doctor Aibolit.

I hear; a man put his hand in his pocket.

Such miracles! - said the doctor. “I didn’t know you had such wonderful hearing.” Listen again and tell me what you hear?

I hear a tear rolling down this man’s cheek.

A tear! - the doctor shouted. - A tear! Is there really someone crying behind the door? We need to help this person. He must be in great grief. I don't like it when they cry. Give me the axe. I'll break down this door.

Chapter 2. PENTA

Tyanitolkay ran home and brought a sharp ax to the doctor. The doctor swung and hit the locked door with all his might. Once! Once! The door shattered into splinters, and the doctor entered the cave.

The cave is dark, cold, damp. And what an unpleasant, nasty smell it has!

The doctor lit a match. Oh, how uncomfortable and dirty it is here! No table, no bench, no chair! There is a pile of rotten straw on the floor, and a little boy sits on the straw and cries.

Seeing the doctor and all his animals, the boy got scared and cried even more. But when he noticed how kind the doctor’s face was, he stopped crying and said:

So you're not a pirate?

No, no, I'm not a pirate! - said the doctor and laughed. - I am Doctor Aibolit, not a pirate. Do I look like a pirate?

No! - said the boy. - Even though you have an axe, I’m not afraid of you. Hello! My name is Penta. Do you know where my father is?

“I don’t know,” the doctor answered. - Where could your father have gone? Who is he? Tell!

My father is a fisherman,” Penta said. - Yesterday we went out to sea to fish. Me and him, together in a fishing boat. Suddenly, sea robbers attacked our boat and took us prisoner. They wanted their father to become a pirate, so that he would rob and sink ships with them. But my father did not want to become a pirate. “I’m an honest fisherman,” he said, “and I don’t want to commit robbery!” Then the pirates got terribly angry, grabbed him and took him to an unknown location, and they locked me in this cave. I haven't seen my father since then. Where is he? What did they do to him? They must have thrown him into the sea and he drowned!

The boy began to cry again.

Do not Cry! - said the doctor. - What's the use of tears? It’s better to think about how we can save your father from the robbers. Tell me, what is he like? - He has red hair and a red beard, very long.

Doctor Aibolit called Kiku the duck to him and quietly said in her ear:

Chari-bari, chava-cham!

Chuka-chuk! - Kika answered.

Hearing this conversation, the boy said:

How funny you say! I don't understand a word.

I talk to my animals like animals. “I know animal language,” said Doctor Aibolit.

What did you tell your duck?

I told her to call the dolphins.

Chapter 3. DOLPHINS

The duck ran to the shore and shouted in a loud voice:

Dolphins, dolphins, swim here! Doctor Aibolit is calling you.

The dolphins immediately swam to the shore.

Hello, doctor! - they shouted. - What do you want from us?

“There’s a problem,” said the doctor. - Yesterday morning, pirates attacked one fisherman, beat him and, it seems, threw him into the water. I'm afraid he drowned. Please search the entire sea. Will you find him in the depths of the sea?

What is he like? - asked the dolphins.

“Red,” the doctor answered. - He has red hair and a large, long red beard. Please find it!

“Okay,” said the dolphins. - We are glad to serve our beloved doctor. We will search the whole sea, we will ask all the crayfish and fish. If the red fisherman drowned, we will find him and tell you tomorrow.

The dolphins swam out to sea and began to look for the fisherman. They searched the whole sea up and down, they sank to the very bottom, they looked under every stone, they asked all the crayfish and fish, but nowhere did they find the drowned man.

In the morning they swam ashore and told Doctor Aibolit:

We haven't found your fisherman anywhere. We looked for him all night, but he was not in the depths of the sea.

The boy was very happy when he heard what the dolphins said.

So my father is alive! Alive! Alive! - he shouted and jumped and clapped his hands.

Of course he's alive! - said the doctor. - We will certainly find him!

He put the boy astride Tyanitolkai and rode him for a long time along the sandy seashore.

Chapter 4. EAGLES

But Penta remained sad all the time. Even riding Tyanitolkai did not amuse him. Finally he asked the doctor:

How will you find my father?

“I will call the eagles,” said the doctor. - Eagles have such keen eyes, they see far, far away. When they fly under the clouds, they see every insect that crawls on the ground. I will ask them to search the whole earth, all the forests, all the fields and mountains, all the cities, all the villages - let them look for your father everywhere.

Oh, how smart you are! - Penta said. - You came up with this wonderfully. Call the eagles quickly!

The doctor knows eagles, and the eagles flew to him.

Hello, doctor! What do you want?

Fly to all ends, said the doctor, and find a red-haired fisherman with a long red beard.

“Okay,” said the eagles. - We will do everything possible for our beloved doctor. We will fly high, high and examine the whole earth, all the forests and fields, all the mountains, cities and villages and try to find your fisherman.

And they flew high, high above the forests, above the fields, above the mountains. And each eagle peered vigilantly to see if there was a red-haired fisherman with a large red beard.

The next day the eagles flew to the doctor and said:

We searched the whole land, but did not find the fisherman anywhere. And if we haven’t seen him, it means he’s not on earth!

Chapter 5. ABBA THE DOG LOOKS FOR A FISHERMAN

What do we do? - asked Kika. - The fisherman must be found at all costs: Penta is crying, not eating, not drinking. It's sad for him to live without his father.

But how will you find him! - said Pull Pull. - The eagles didn’t find him either. That means no one will find it.

Not true! - Ava said. - Eagles, of course, are smart birds, and their eyes are very keen, but only a dog can search for a person. If you need to find a person, ask the dog, and it will certainly find him.

Why do you offend the eagles? - said Ava Oink-Oink. - Do you think it was easy for them to fly around the whole earth in one day, inspect all the mountains, forests and fields? You were lying on the sand, idle, and they were working and searching.

How dare you call me a slacker? - Ava got angry. - Do you know that if I want, I can find the fisherman in three days?

Well, whatever you want! - said Oink-Oink. - Why don’t you want to? Want it!.. You won’t find anything, you’ll just brag!

And Oink-Oink laughed.

So, do you think I'm a braggart? - Ava shouted angrily. - Well, okay, we'll see!

And she ran to the doctor.

Doctor! - she said. - Ask Penta to give you something that his father held in his hands. The doctor went to the boy and said:

Do you have any thing that your father held in his hands?

Here,” said the boy and took a large red handkerchief from his pocket.

The dog ran up to the scarf and began to sniff it greedily.

“It smells like tobacco and herring,” she said. - His father smoked a pipe and ate good Dutch herring. I don’t need anything else... Doctor, tell the boy that in less than three days I will find his father. I will run up that high mountain.

“But it’s dark now,” said the doctor. - You can’t search in the dark!

“Nothing,” said the dog. “I know its smell, and I don’t need anything else.” I can smell even in the dark.

The dog ran up a high mountain.

Today the wind is from the north, she said. - Let's smell what it smells like.

Snow... A wet fur coat... another wet fur coat... wolves... seals, wolf cubs... smoke from a fire... birch...

Can you really smell so many smells in one breeze? - asked the doctor.

“Of course,” Ava said. - Every dog ​​has an amazing nose. Any puppy can smell smells that you will never smell.

And the dog began to sniff the air again. For a long time she did not say a word and finally said:

Polar bears... deer... little mushrooms in the forest... ice... snow, snow and... and... and...

Gingerbread? - asked Tyanitolkay.

No, not gingerbread,” Ava answered.

Nuts? - asked Kika.

No, not nuts,” Ava answered.

Apples? - asked Oink-Oink.

No, not apples,” Ava answered. - Not nuts, not gingerbread, not apples, but fir cones. This means there are no fisherman in the north. Let's wait for the wind to blow from the south.

“I don’t believe you,” said Oink-Oink. - You're making it all up. You don’t hear any smells, you’re just talking nonsense.

Leave me alone,” Ava shouted, “or I’ll bite your tail off!”

Hush hush! - said Doctor Aibolit. - Stop swearing!.. I see now, my dear Ava, that you really have an amazing nose.

Let's wait until the wind changes. And now it's time to go home. Hurry! Penta is shaking and crying. He is cold. We need to feed him. Well, Pull, expose your back. Penta, mount! Ava and Kika, follow me!

Chapter 6. ABBA CONTINUES TO SEARCH FOR THE FISHERMAN

The next day, early in the morning, Ava again ran up the high mountain and began to smell the wind. The wind was from the south. Ava sniffed for a long time and finally said:

It smells like parrots, palm trees, monkeys, roses, grapes and lizards. But it doesn't smell like a fisherman.

Give it another whiff! - said Bumba.

It smells like giraffes, turtles, ostriches, hot sands, pyramids... But it doesn't smell like a fisherman.

You'll never find a fisherman! - Oink-Oink said with a laugh. - There was nothing to brag about.

Ava didn't answer. But the next day, early in the morning, she again ran up the high mountain and sniffed the air until the evening. Late in the evening she rushed to the doctor, who was sleeping with Penta.

Get up, get up! - she screamed. - Get up! I found a fisherman! Wake up! Enough sleep. Do you hear - I found a fisherman, I found, I found a fisherman! I can smell him. Yes Yes! The wind smells of tobacco and herring!

The doctor woke up and ran after the dog.

“The west wind is blowing from across the sea,” the dog shouted, “and I smell the fisherman!” He is across the sea, on the other side. Hurry, hurry there!

Ava barked so loudly that all the animals rushed to run up the high mountain. Penta is ahead of everyone.

“Run quickly to the sailor Robinson,” Ava shouted to the doctor, “and ask him to give you a ship!” Hurry up, otherwise it will be too late!

The doctor immediately started running to the place where the sailor Robinson’s ship stood.

Hello, sailor Robinson! - the doctor shouted. - Be so kind as to borrow your ship! I need to go to sea again on one very important matter.

Please, said the sailor Robinson. - But be careful not to get caught by pirates! Pirates are terrible villains, robbers! They will take you prisoner, and my ship will be burned or sunk...

But the doctor did not listen to the sailor Robinson. He jumped onto the ship, seated Penta and all the animals and rushed into the open sea.

Ava ran onto the deck and shouted to the doctor:

Zaksara! Zaksara! Xu!

In dog language this means:

“Look at my bow! At my bow! Wherever I turn my bow, lead your ship there.”

The doctor unfurled the sails and the ship ran even faster.

Hurry, hurry! - the dog screamed.

The animals stood on the deck and looked ahead to see if they would see the fisherman.

But Penta did not believe that his father could be found. He sat with his head down and cried.

Evening came. It became dark. Kika the duck said to the dog:

No, Ava, you won't find a fisherman! I feel sorry for poor Penta, but there is nothing to do - we must return home.

And then she turned to the doctor:

Doctor, doctor! Turn your ship around! We won't find a fisherman here either.

Suddenly the owl Bumba, who was sitting on the mast and looking forward, shouted:

I see a big rock in front of me - over there, far, far away!

Hurry there! - the dog screamed. - The fisherman is there on the rock. I can smell him... He's there!

Soon everyone saw that a rock was sticking out of the sea. The Doctor steered the ship straight towards this rock.

But the fisherman was nowhere to be seen.

I knew that Ava wouldn’t find the fisherman! - Oink-Oink said with a laugh. “I don’t understand how the doctor could believe such a braggart.”

The doctor ran up the rock and began to call the fisherman. But no one responded.

Gin-gin! - Bumba and Kika shouted.

"Gin-gin" means "ay" in animal language.

But only the wind rustled over the water and the waves crashed against the rocks.

Chapter 7. FOUND

There was no fisherman on the rock. Ava jumped from the ship onto the rock and began running along it back and forth, sniffing every crack. And suddenly she barked loudly.

Kinedele! Nop! - she screamed. - Kinedele! Nop!

In animal language this means:

"Here, here! Doctor, follow me, follow me!"

The doctor ran after the dog.

There was a small island next to the rock. Ava rushed there. The doctor did not lag behind her a single step. Ava ran back and forth and suddenly slipped into some kind of hole. It was dark in the pit. The doctor lowered himself into the pit and lit his lantern. And what? In a hole, on the bare ground, lay some red-haired man, terribly thin and pale.

It was Penta's father.

The doctor tugged at his sleeve and said:

Please get up. We've been looking for you for so long! We really, really need you!

The man thought it was a pirate, clenched his fists and said:

Get away from me, robber! I will defend myself to the last drop of blood!

But then he saw how kind the doctor’s face was and said:

I see that you are not a pirate. Give me something to eat. I am starving.

The doctor gave him bread and cheese. The man ate every last crumb and stood up.

How did you get here? - asked the doctor.

I was thrown here by evil pirates, bloodthirsty, cruel people! They didn't give me any food or drink. They took my son from me and took me to an unknown location. Do you know where my son is?

What is your son's name? - asked the doctor.

His name is Penta,” answered the fisherman.

Follow me,” the doctor said and helped the fisherman get out of the hole.

Ava the dog ran ahead.

Penta saw from the ship that his father was coming towards him, and rushed towards the fisherman and shouted:

Found! Found! Hooray!

Everyone laughed, rejoiced, clapped their hands and sang:

Honor and glory to you,
Daring Ava!

Only Oink-Oink stood aside and sighed sadly.

Forgive me, Ava,” she said, “for laughing at you and calling you a braggart.”

Okay,” Ava answered, “I forgive you.” But if you hurt me again, I'll bite your tail off.

The doctor took the red-haired fisherman and his son home to the village where they lived.

When the ship landed on the shore, the doctor saw a woman standing on the shore. It was Penta's mother, a fisherman. For twenty days and nights she stood on the shore and kept looking into the distance, out to sea: was her son returning home? Is her husband coming home?

Seeing Penta, she rushed to him and began to kiss him.

She kissed Penta, she kissed the red-haired fisherman, she kissed the doctor; she was so grateful to Ava that she wanted to kiss her too.

But Ava ran into the bushes and grumbled angrily:

What nonsense! I can't stand kissing! If she so wants, let him kiss Oink-Oink.

But Ava was only pretending to be angry. In fact, she was happy too.

In the evening the doctor said:

Well, goodbye! Time to go home.

No, no,” the fisherman shouted, “you must stay with us!” We will catch fish, bake pies and give Tyanitolkai sweet gingerbread.

“I would gladly stay another day,” said Tyanitolkay, smiling with both mouths.

And I! - Kika screamed.

And I! - Bumba picked up.

That's good! - said the doctor. - In that case, I will stay with them to stay with you.

And he went with all his animals to visit the fisherman and fisherman.

Chapter 8. ABBA RECEIVES A GIFT

The doctor rode into the village riding Tyanitolkai. When he drove along the main street, everyone bowed to him and shouted:

Long live the good doctor!

Village schoolchildren met him on the square and gave him a bouquet of wonderful flowers.

And then the dwarf came out, bowed to him and said:

I would like to see your Ava.

The dwarf's name was Bambuco. He was the oldest shepherd in that village. Everyone loved and respected him.

Ava ran up to him and waved her tail.

Bambuco took out a very beautiful dog collar from his pocket.

Ava the dog! - he said solemnly. - The residents of our village give you this beautiful collar because you found a fisherman who was kidnapped by pirates.

Ava wagged her tail and said:

You may remember that in animal language this means: “Thank you!” Everyone began to look at the collar. In large letters on the collar was written:

ABVE IS THE SMARTEST AND BRAVE DOG.

Aibolit stayed with Penta’s father and mother for three days. It was a very fun time. Tyanitolkai chewed sweet honey gingerbread from morning to night. Penta played the violin, and Oink-Oink and Bumba danced. But the time has come to leave.

Goodbye! - the doctor said to the fisherman and fisherwoman, sat astride Tyanitolkai and rode to his ship.

The whole village saw him off.

It would be better if you stayed with us! - the dwarf Bambuco told him. - Now pirates roam the sea. They will attack you and take you captive along with all your animals.

I'm not afraid of pirates! - the doctor answered him. - I have a very fast ship. I will spread my sails and the pirates will not catch up with my ship!

With these words, the doctor set sail from the shore.

Everyone waved their handkerchiefs at him and shouted “hurray.”

Chapter 9. PIRATES

The ship ran quickly across the waves. On the third day, the travelers saw some deserted island in the distance. There were no trees, no animals, no people visible on the island - only sand and huge stones. But there, behind the stones, lurked terrible pirates. When a ship sailed past their island, they attacked that ship, robbed and killed people, and let the ship sink. The pirates were very angry with the doctor because he kidnapped the red fisherman and Penta from them, and they had been lying in wait for him for a long time.

The pirates had a large ship, which they hid behind a wide rock.

The Doctor did not see either the pirates or their ship. He walked along the deck with his animals. The weather was beautiful, the sun was shining brightly. The doctor felt very happy. Suddenly the pig Oink-Oink said:

Look, what kind of ship is that there?

The doctor looked and saw that from behind the island on black sails a black ship was approaching them - black, like ink, like soot.

I don't like these sails! - said the pig. - Why are they not white, but black? Only on ships do pirates have black sails.

Oink-Oink guessed right: villainous pirates were racing under black sails. They wanted to catch up with Doctor Aibolit and take cruel revenge on him for kidnapping the fisherman and Penta from them.

Quicker! Quicker! - the doctor shouted. - Unfurl all sails!

But the pirates were getting closer.

They're catching up with us! - Kika shouted. - They're close. I see their scary faces! What evil eyes they have!.. What should we do? Where to run? Now they will attack us and throw us into the sea!

Look,” said Ava, “who is that standing there at the stern?” Don't you recognize it? This is him, this is the villain Barmaley! He has a saber in one hand and a pistol in the other. He wants to destroy us, shoot us, destroy us!

But the doctor smiled and said:

Don't be afraid, my dears, he won't succeed! I came up with a good plan. Do you see a swallow flying over the waves? She will help us escape from the robbers.

In animal language this means:

"Swallow, swallow! Pirates are chasing us. They want to kill us and throw us into the sea!"

The swallow came down to his ship.

Listen, swallow, you have to help us! - said the doctor. - Karafu, marafu, duk!

In animal language this means:

"Fly quickly and call the cranes!"

The swallow flew away and a minute later returned with the cranes.

Hello, Doctor Aibolit! - the cranes shouted. - Don’t worry, we’ll help you out now!

The doctor tied a rope to the bow of the ship, the cranes took hold of the rope and pulled the ship forward.

There were a lot of cranes, they rushed forward very quickly and pulled the ship behind them. The ship flew like an arrow. The doctor even grabbed his hat to prevent it from flying into the water.

The animals looked back - the pirate ship with black sails was left far behind.

Thank you, cranes! - said the doctor. - You saved us from pirates.

If it weren't for you, we would all be lying at the bottom of the sea.

Chapter 10. WHY THE RATS RAN AWAY

It was not easy for the cranes to drag a heavy ship behind them. After a few hours they were so tired that they almost fell into the sea. Then they pulled the ship to the shore, said goodbye to the doctor and flew away to their native swamp.

The doctor waved his handkerchief after them for a long time.

But then the owl Bumba came up to him and said:

Look there. You see, there are rats on the deck! They jump from the ship straight into the sea and swim to the shore one after another!

That's good! - said the doctor. - Rats are evil, cruel, and I don’t like them.

No, this is very bad! - Bumba said with a sigh. - After all, rats live below, in the hold, and as soon as a leak appears at the bottom of the ship, they see this leak before anyone else, jump into the water and swim straight to the shore. This means our ship will sink. Just listen to what the rats are saying.

Just at this time two rats crawled out of the hold. And the old rat said to the young one:

Last night I went to my hole and saw that water was pouring into the crack. Well, I think we need to run. Tomorrow this ship will sink. Run away before it's too late.

And both rats rushed into the water.

Yes, yes,” cried the doctor, “I remembered!” Rats always run away before the ship sinks. We must escape from the ship now, otherwise we will go down with it! Animals, follow me! Quicker! Quicker!

He collected his things and quickly ran ashore. The animals hurried after him.

They walked for a long time along the sandy shore and were very tired.

Let’s sit down and rest,” said the doctor. - And let's think about what to do.

Are we really going to stay here for the rest of our lives? - said Tyanitolkay and began to cry.

Large tears were rolling down from all four of his eyes.

And all the animals began to cry with him, because everyone really wanted to return home.

But suddenly a swallow flew in.

Doctor, doctor! - she screamed. - A great misfortune has happened: your ship has been captured by pirates!

The doctor jumped to his feet.

What are they doing on my ship? - he asked.

“They want to rob him,” answered the swallow. - Run quickly and drive them out of there!

No,” said the doctor with a cheerful smile, “there is no need to drive them away.” Let them sail on my ship. They won't swim far, you'll see! We’d better go and, before they notice, we’ll take their ship in exchange. Let's go and capture the pirate ship!

And the doctor rushed along the shore. Behind him - Pull and all the animals.

Here comes the pirate ship.

There's no one on it! All the pirates are on Aibolit's ship!

Hush, hush, don't make noise! - said the doctor. - Let's sneak onto the pirate ship slowly so that no one sees us!

Chapter 11. Trouble after Trouble

The animals quietly boarded the ship, quietly raised the black sails and quietly sailed along the waves. The pirates didn't notice anything. And suddenly a big disaster happened.

The fact is that the pig Oink-Oink caught a cold.

At that very moment, when the doctor tried to silently swim past the pirates, Oink-Oink sneezed loudly. And once, and twice, and three times.

The pirates heard someone sneezing. They ran out onto the deck and saw that the doctor had captured their ship.

Stop! Stop! - they shouted and set off after him.

The Doctor let go of his sails. The pirates are about to catch up with their ship. But he rushes forward and forward, and little by little the pirates begin to fall behind.

Hooray! We are saved! - the doctor shouted.

But then the most terrible pirate, Barmaley, raised his pistol and fired. The bullet hit Tyanitolkay in the chest. Tyanitolkai staggered and fell into the water.

Doctor, doctor, help! I am drowninig!

Poor Pull-Push! - the doctor shouted. - Stay in the water a little longer! Now I will help you.

The Doctor stopped his ship and threw a rope to Pull-Push.

Pull and Pull grabbed the rope with his teeth. The doctor dragged the wounded animal onto the deck, bandaged its wound and set off again. But it was too late: the pirates rushed with full sail.

We'll finally catch you! - they shouted. - And you and all your animals! There, on your mast, sits a nice duck! We'll fry her soon.

Haha, this will be a delicious meal. We'll roast the pig too. We haven't eaten ham for a long time! Tonight we'll have pork cutlets. Ho-ho-ho! And you, doctor, we’ll throw you into the sea - among the toothy sharks.

Oink-Oink heard these words and began to cry.

Poor me, poor me! - she said. - I don't want to be fried and eaten by pirates!

Ava also cried - she felt sorry for the doctor:

I don't want him to be swallowed by sharks!

Only the owl Bumba was not afraid of the pirates. She calmly said to Ava and Oink-Oink:

How stupid you are! What are you afraid of? Don't you know that the ship on which the pirates are chasing us will soon sink? Remember what the rat said? She said that today the ship will certainly sink. There is a wide gap in it and it is full of water. And the pirates will drown along with the ship.

What have you to fear? The pirates will drown, but we will remain safe and sound.

But Oink-Oink continued to cry.

By the time the pirates drown, they will have time to fry both Kiku and me! - she said.

Meanwhile, the pirates were sailing closer and closer. Ahead, at the bow of the ship, stood the chief pirate, Barmaley. He waved his saber and shouted loudly:

Hey you monkey doctor! You don't have long to heal the monkeys - soon we'll throw you into the sea! There you will be swallowed by sharks.

The doctor shouted back:

Beware, Barmaley, lest the sharks swallow you! There is a leak in your ship, and you will soon go to the bottom!

You are lying! - Barmaley shouted. - If my ship sank, rats would run away from it!

The rats have long since escaped, and soon you will be at the bottom along with all your pirates!

Only then did the pirates notice that their ship was slowly sinking into the water. They began to run around the deck, began to cry, and shouted:

Save!

But no one wanted to save them.

The ship sank deeper and deeper to the bottom. Soon the pirates found themselves in the water.

They floundered in the waves and kept shouting:

Help, help, we're drowning!

Barmaley swam to the ship on which the doctor was and began to climb the rope onto the deck. But the dog Ava bared his teeth and said menacingly:

“Rrr!..” Barmaley got scared, screamed and flew headfirst back into the sea.

Help! - he shouted. - Save me! Get me out of the water!

Chapter 13. OLD FRIENDS

Suddenly sharks appeared on the surface of the sea - huge, scary fish with sharp teeth and a wide open mouth.

They chased the pirates and soon swallowed them all.

That's where they belong! - said the doctor. - After all, they robbed, tortured, killed innocent people. So they paid for their crimes.

The doctor swam for a long time on the stormy sea. And suddenly he heard someone shouting:

Boen! Boen! Baravan! Baven!

In animal language this means:

"Doctor, doctor, stop your ship!"

The Doctor lowered his sails. The ship stopped and everyone saw Karudo the parrot. He flew quickly over the sea.

Carudo! It's you? - the doctor cried. - How glad I am to see you! Fly, fly here!

Carudo flew up to the ship, sat on the high mast and shouted:

Look who's following me! Over there, right on the horizon, in the west!

The doctor looked at the sea and saw that a Crocodile was swimming far, far away in the sea. And on the back of the Crocodile sits the monkey Chichi. She waves a palm leaf and laughs.

The Doctor immediately sent his ship towards Crocodile and Chichi and lowered a rope from the ship for them.

They climbed the rope onto the deck, rushed to the doctor and began to kiss him on the lips, cheeks, beard, and eyes.

How did you end up in the middle of the sea? - the doctor asked them.

He was happy to see his old friends again.

Ah, doctor! - said the Crocodile. - We were so bored without you in our Africa! It's boring without Kiki, without Ava, without Bumba, without cute Oink-Oink! We so wanted to return to your house, where squirrels live in the closet, a hedgehog lives on the sofa, and a hare and bunnies live in the chest of drawers. We decided to leave Africa, cross all the seas and settle with you for life.

Please! - said the doctor. - I am very happy.

Hooray! - Bumba screamed.

Hooray! - all the animals shouted.

And then they held hands and began to dance around the mast:

Shita rita, tita drita!
Shivandada, shivanda!
We are our native Aibolit
We will never leave!

Only the monkey Chichi sat aside and sighed sadly.

What happened to you? - asked Tyanitolkay.

Ah, I remembered the evil Varvara! Again she will offend us and torment us!

“Don’t be afraid,” cried Tyanitolkay. - Varvara is no longer in our house! I threw her into the sea, and she now lives on a desert island.

On a desert island?

Everyone was happy - Chichi, Crocodile, and Carudo: Varvara lives on a desert island!

Long live Tyanitolkay! - they shouted and started dancing again:

Shivandars, shivandars,
Hazelnuts and hazelnuts!
It's good that Varvara is not there!
It's more fun without Varvara!

Tyanitolkai nodded his two heads at them, and both his mouths smiled.

The ship raced with full sails, and by evening the duck Kika, having climbed the high mast, saw her native shores.

We've arrived! - she screamed. - Another hour and we will be home!.. In the distance is our city - Pindemonte. But what is it? Look, look! Fire! The whole city is on fire! Is our house on fire? Oh, what horror! What a misfortune!

There was a high glow over the city of Pindemonte.

Hurry to the shore! - the doctor commanded. - We must put out this fire! Let's take buckets and fill it with water!

But then Karudo flew up the mast. He looked through the telescope and suddenly laughed so loudly that everyone looked at him in surprise.

You don’t need to put out this flame,” he said and laughed again, “because it’s not a fire at all.”

What is it? - asked Doctor Aibolit.

Illuminations! - answered Karudo.

What does it mean? - asked Oink-Oink. - I have never heard such a strange word.

Now you’ll find out,” said the parrot. - Be patient for another ten minutes.

Ten minutes later, when the ship approached the shore, everyone immediately understood what illumination was. On all the houses and towers, on the coastal cliffs, on the tops of the trees - lanterns were shining everywhere: red, green, yellow, and on the shore there were bonfires, the bright flames of which rose almost to the sky.

Women, men and children in festive, beautiful clothes danced around these fires and sang funny songs.

As soon as they saw that the ship on which Doctor Aibolit had returned from his journey had moored to the shore, they clapped their hands, laughed and everyone, as one person, rushed to greet him.

Long live Doctor Aibolit! - they shouted. - Glory to Doctor Aibolit!

The doctor was surprised. He did not expect such a meeting. He thought that only Tanya and Vanya and, perhaps, the old sailor Robinson would meet him, but he was met by a whole city with torches, with music, with cheerful songs! What's the matter? Why is he being honored? Why is his return celebrated so much?

He wanted to board Tyanitolkaya and go to his home, but the crowd picked him up and carried him in their arms - straight to the wide Primorskaya Square, the best square in the city.

People looked from all the windows and threw flowers to the doctor.

The doctor smiled, bowed - and suddenly saw Tanya and Vanya making their way towards him through the crowd.

When they approached him, he hugged them, kissed them and asked:

How did you know that I defeated Barmaley?

“We learned about this from Penta,” Tanya and Vanya answered. - Penta came to our city and told us that you freed him from terrible captivity and saved his father from robbers.

Only then did the doctor see that Penta was standing on a hillock, far, far away, waving his father’s red handkerchief at him.

Hello Penta! - the doctor shouted to him.

But at that moment the old sailor Robinson approached the doctor, smiling, shook his hand firmly and said in such a loud voice that everyone in the square heard him:

Dear, beloved Aibolit! We are so grateful to you for clearing the entire sea of ​​vicious pirates who stole our ships. After all, until now we did not dare to set off on a long voyage, because pirates threatened us. And now the sea is free and our ships are safe. We are proud that such a brave hero will fall in our city. We have built a wonderful ship for you, and let us bring it to you as a gift.

Glory to you, our beloved, our fearless doctor Aibolit! - the crowd shouted in one voice. - Thank you, thank you!

The doctor bowed to the crowd and said:

Thank you for the kind meeting! I'm happy that you love me. But I would never, never have been able to cope with the sea pirates if my faithful friends, my animals, had not helped me. Here they are here with me, and I want to welcome them with all my heart and express my gratitude to them for their selfless friendship!

Hooray! - the crowd shouted. - Glory to the fearless animals of Aibolit!

After this solemn meeting, the doctor sat on Tyanitolkaya and, accompanied by animals, headed to the door of his house. The bunnies, squirrels, hedgehogs and bats were happy to see him!

But before he could greet them, a noise was heard in the sky. The doctor ran out onto the porch and saw that it was cranes flying. They flew up to his house and, without saying a word, brought him a large basket of magnificent fruits: the basket contained dates, apples, pears, bananas, peaches, grapes, oranges!

This is for you, doctor, from the Land of the Monkeys!

The doctor thanked them and they immediately flew back.

And an hour later a great feast began in the doctor’s garden. On long benches, at a long table, in the light of multi-colored lanterns, all Aibolit’s friends sat down: Tanya, Vanya, Penta, the old sailor Robinson, the swallow, Oink-Oink, Chichi, Kika, Carudo, and Bumba. , and Tyanitolkay, and Ava, and squirrels, and hares, and hedgehogs, and bats.

The doctor treated them to honey, candies and gingerbread, as well as those sweet fruits that were sent to him from the Land of the Monkeys.

The feast was a great success. Everyone joked, laughed and sang, and then got up from the table and went to dance right there in the garden, in the light of multi-colored lanterns.

Suddenly Petna noticed that the doctor had stopped smiling, frowned and, with a worried look, was running as fast as he could into his house. - What's happened? - asked Penta.

The doctor didn't answer. He took Penta by the hand and quickly ran up the stairs with him. At all the doors in the hallway there were sick people sitting and lying: a bear bitten by a rabid wolf, a seagull wounded by evil boys, and a small furry fawn who moaned all the time because he had scarlet fever. He was brought to the doctor by the same horse to which, if you remember, the doctor gave wonderful big glasses last year.

Look at these animals,” said the doctor, “and you will understand why I left our wonderful holiday so soon.” I can’t have fun if my favorite animals are moaning and crying in pain behind my wall!

The doctor quickly walked into the office and immediately began preparing the medicine.

Let me help you! - Penta said.

Please! - the doctor responded. - Put a thermometer on the bear and bring the fawn to my office here. He is very sick, he is dying. He must be saved before anyone else!

Penta turned out to be a good help. Less than an hour had passed before the doctor cured all the patients. As soon as they became healthy, they laughed with happiness, said “chucka” to the doctor and rushed to kiss him. The doctor led them into the garden, introduced them to other animals, and then shouted: “Make way!” - and together with the monkey Chichi danced a cheerful animal “tkella”, and so dashingly and deftly that even the bear, even the horse could not stand it and began to dance with him.

Thus ended the adventures of the good doctor. He settled not far from the sea and began to treat not only animals, but also crayfish, fish, and dolphins that swam to the shore with their children.

The doctor lived a calm and cheerful life. Everyone in the town of Pindemonte loved him. And suddenly one amazing incident happened to them, which you will read about on subsequent pages, and not now, but in a few days, because you need to rest - both you, and Doctor Aibolit, and me.

Part three

FIRE AND WATER

There are many stones near the seashore. The stones are large and sharp. If a ship hits them, it will be immediately destroyed. On black autumn nights it is eerie to approach a rocky, dangerous shore on a ship.

To prevent ships from breaking on rocks, people place lighthouses off the coast. A lighthouse is a tall tower with a lamp lit at the top. The lamp burns so brightly that the captain of the ship sees it from afar and therefore cannot get lost on the way. The lighthouse illuminates the sea and shows ships their way. One such lighthouse stands in the city of Pindemonte, on a high mountain, in the very city where Doctor Aibolit lives.

The city of Pindemonte is built right next to the sea. Three rocks stick out from the sea, and woe to the ship that hits these rocks: the ship will break into pieces, and all the travelers will drown.

So when you drive up to Pindemonte, don't forget to look at the lighthouse. His lamp is visible from afar. This lamp is lit every night by the lighthouse keeper, an old black man named Jumbo. Jumbo has lived at the lighthouse for many years. He is cheerful, gray-haired and kind. Doctor Aibolit loves him very much.

One day the doctor took a boat and went to the lighthouse to visit the black man Jumbo.

Hello Jumbo! - said the doctor. -I come to you with a request. Be so kind as to please light the brightest lamp today so that the sea becomes brighter. Today the sailor Robinson will come to me on a ship, and I don’t want his ship to crash on the rocks. “Okay,” said Jumbo, “I’ll try.” Where will Robinson come to you from?

He will come to me from Africa. He will bring a little two-headed Dick.

Dick? Who is this Dick? Isn’t this your son Tyanitolkai?

Yes. Dick is his son. Very small, Tyanitolkai has been missing Dick for a long time, and I asked Robinson to go to Africa and bring him here.

Your Pull and Pull will be happy!

Still would! He hadn't seen Dick for eleven months! I prepared him a whole mountain of honey gingerbread, raisins, oranges, nuts, sweets - and this morning he has been running back and forth along the shore and looking out to sea with four eyes: he can’t wait for a familiar ship to appear on the horizon. Robinson will arrive tonight. If only his ship didn't crash on the rocks!

It won't break, be calm! - said Jumbo. - I will light not one lamp at the lighthouse, and not two, but four! It will be as bright as day. Robinson will see where to lead his ship, and the ship will remain intact.

Thank you, Jumbo! - said Aibolit, got into the boat and went home.

At home, the doctor immediately got to work. On this day he had especially a lot of trouble. Hares, bats, sheep, magpies, camels - they all came and flew to him from afar. Some had a stomach ache, some had teeth. The doctor cured them all, and they left very happy.

In the evening, the doctor lay down on the sofa and dozed off sweetly, and he began to dream of polar bears, walruses and seals.

Suddenly a seagull flew into his window and shouted:

Doctor, doctor!

The doctor opened his eyes.

What's happened? - he asked. - What's happened?

Chikuruchi in the morning!

In animal language this means:

"There... at the lighthouse... there is no fire!"

What are you saying? - exclaimed the doctor.

Yes, there is no light at the lighthouse! The lighthouse has gone out and does not shine! What will happen to those ships that sail to the shores? They will break on the rocks!

Where is the lighthouse keeper? - asked the doytor. - Where is Jumbo? Why doesn't he light a fire?

Yuanze! Yuanze! - answered the seagull. - Don't know! Don't know. All I know is that there is no light at the lighthouse!

Hurry to the lighthouse! - the doctor cried. - Quicker! Quicker! It is necessary at all costs to light the brightest fire at the lighthouse! Otherwise, many ships will crash on the rocks on this stormy and dark night! And what will happen to Robinson's ship? And with Dick?

The doctor ran to his boat, took the oars and began to row to the lighthouse. It was a long way to the lighthouse. The waves tossed the boat around. The boat kept hitting rocks. Any minute she could run into a cliff and break. The sea was dark and scary. But Doctor Aibolit was not afraid of anything. He was only thinking about how to get to the lighthouse as quickly as possible. Suddenly the duck Kika flew past and shouted to him from afar:

Doctor! Doctor! I just saw Robinson's ship at sea. He is rushing with full sail and is about to hit the rocks. If the lighthouse doesn't light a fire, the ship will die and all the people will drown! ;

Oh. what a terrible misfortune! - exclaimed the doctor. - Poor, poor ship! But no, we won't let him die! We will save him! We will light a fire at the lighthouse!

The doctor leaned on the oars, and the boat rushed forward like an arrow. The duck swam after him.

Ugulus! Ygales! Catalaki!

In animal language this means:

"Seagull! Seagull! Fly to the ship and try to hold it back so that it does not sail so quickly. Otherwise, it will immediately break on the rocks!"

Shackled! - the seagull answered and flew into the open sea and began to loudly call for its friends.

They heard her alarming cries and flocked to her from all sides. The flock rushed towards the ship. The ship ran quickly across the waves. It was completely dark. The helmsman who was steering the ship did not see anything in the darkness and did not realize that he was leading his ship straight onto the rocks. He stood calmly at the helm, whistling a cheerful song. Right there, not far away, on the bridge, just like a calf, little Dick was jumping and shouting:

Now I will see my father! Father will treat me to honey gingerbread!

Three rocks are already close. If only the helmsman knew where he was steering his ship, he would turn the helm and the ship would be saved.

But the helmsman does not see three rocks in the darkness and leads his ship to certain death.

The beacon would soon light up!

And suddenly the seagulls - all of them - flew at the helmsman and began to hit him in the face and eyes with their long wings. They pecked at his hands, with their whole flock they drove him away from the helm. He did not know that the seagulls wanted to save his ship: he thought that they flew at him like enemies, and shouted loudly:

Help!

The sailors heard his cry, ran to him and began to drive the birds away from him.

3. Jumbo

Meanwhile, Doctor Aibolit rushed forward in his boat. Here is the lighthouse. He stands on a high mountain, but now he is not visible, since there is darkness all around. The doctor quickly ran up the mountain and groped for the lighthouse door. The door was locked. The doctor knocked, but they didn’t open the door. The doctor shouted:

Jumbo, open it quickly!

No answer. What to do? What to do? After all, the ship is getting closer and closer to the shore - a few more minutes and it will crash on the rocks.

There was no time to hesitate. The doctor leaned his shoulder against the locked door with all his might. The door swung open and the doctor ran up to the lighthouse. Kika could barely keep up with him.

And on the ship the sailors were still fighting with the seagulls. But the seagulls delayed the ship and gave the doctor time to get to the lighthouse. Oh, how glad they were that they managed to delay the ship! If only the doctor had time to get to the lighthouse and light the bright lighthouse lamp! But as soon as the seagulls flew away, the ship set off again. The wave carried him straight onto the rocks. Why doesn't the doctor light the fire?

And at this time Doctor Aibolit is climbing the spiral staircase to the very top of the lighthouse. It's dark, you have to feel your way. But suddenly the doctor stumbles upon something big and almost falls head over heels. What it is? A bag of cucumbers? Is it really a man? Yes, there is a man lying on the steps of the stairs, his arms spread wide. This must be Jumbo, the lighthouse keeper.

Is that you, Jumbo? - asked the doctor.

The man didn't answer. Isn't he already dead? Maybe he was killed by robbers? Or maybe he is sick? Or drunk? The doctor wanted to lean over him and listen to whether his heart was beating, but he remembered the ship and rushed further up the stairs. Hurry up, hurry up! Light the lamp, save the ship! And he ran higher, and higher, and higher! He fell, stumbled and ran. What a long staircase! The doctor even felt dizzy! But finally he got to the lamp. Now he will light it. Now it will flash over the sea, and the ship will be saved.

What should I do? What should I do? I left my matches at home!

Did you leave matches at home? - Kika the duck asked in horror. - How do you light a fire at the lighthouse?

“I left the matches on my table,” the doctor said with a groan and cried bitterly.

This means the ship is lost! - exclaimed the duck. - Poor, poor ship!

No no! We will save him! After all, there are matches here at the lighthouse! Let's go and look for them!

It’s dark here,” said the duck, “you won’t find anything!”

There's a man lying on the stairs! - said the doctor. - Look in his pockets!

The duck ran to the man and searched all his pockets.

No, she screamed. - All his pockets are empty!

What to do? - muttered the poor doctor. - Is a big ship with all the people supposed to perish this minute just because I don’t have one small match!

4. Canary

And suddenly he heard some sounds, as if a bird was chirping somewhere.

It's a canary! - said the doctor. - Do you hear? It's the canary singing. Let's go and find her! The canary knows where the matches are.

And he rushed down the stairs to look for Jumbo's room, where the cage with the canary hung. The room was downstairs, in the basement. The doctor ran there and shouted to the canary:

Kinzodok?

In animal language this means:

"Where are the matches? Tell me, where are the matches?"

Tick-tweet! - said the canary in response. - Chik-chirp!

Tick-tweet! Please cover my cage with a handkerchief, because there is such a strong draft here, and I am so delicate, I am afraid of catching a cold. Oh, I'll have a runny nose! And where did the black Jumbo go? He always covered my cage with a handkerchief in the evenings, but for some reason he didn’t cover it today. That's how bad he is, this Jumbo! I might catch a cold. Please take a handkerchief and cover my cage. The handkerchief is over there on the chest of drawers. Silk handkerchief. Blue.

But the doctor did not have time to listen to her chatter.

Matches! Where are the matches? - he shouted loudly.

The matches are here, on the table by the window. But what a terrible draft! I'm so tender, I might catch a cold. Please take a handkerchief and cover my cage. The handkerchief lies on... But the doctor did not listen to her. He grabbed the matches and ran up the stairs again. The duck could barely keep up with him. He came across a seagull on the stairs; she must have just flown through the window.

Quicker! Quicker! - she shouted. - Another minute, and the ship is lost! The waves rush him onto a large rock, and we can no longer hold him.

5. Fugitive Pirate Benalis

The doctor didn't say anything. He ran and ran up the stairs. From a distance he heard some sad sounds. It was Tyanitolkai who cried on the seashore. Apparently he can't wait for his little Dick. Higher, higher, higher, and the doctor is at the top again.

He quickly ran into the top glass room, grabbed a match from the box and, with trembling hands, lit a huge lamp. Then another, third, fourth. A strip of bright light immediately illuminated the stones on which the ship was rushing. A loud cry was heard on the ship:

Stones! Stones! Back! Back! Now we're going to crash on the rocks! Turn back quickly!

The alarm was raised on the ship: whistles blew, bells rang, sailors ran and bustled, and soon the bow of the ship turned in the other direction, away from the rocks and stones, and headed for a safe harbor.

The ship was saved. But the doctor did not even think about leaving the lighthouse. After all, there, on the stairs, lies the Negro Jumbo, who needs help. Is he alive? What happened to him? Why didn't he light his lamp?

The doctor leaned over the black man. He saw a wound on Jumbo's forehead.

Jumbo! Jumbo! - the doctor shouted, but the black man lay as if dead.

The doctor took a bottle of medicine out of his pocket and poured all the medicine into the black man’s mouth. It took effect at that very moment. The black man opened his eyes.

Where I am? What happened with me? - he asked. - Hurry up there. I must light my lamp!

Calm down! - said the doctor. - The light at the lighthouse is already burning. Come on, I'll put you to bed.

Is the light on the lighthouse already? I'm so glad! - Jumbo exclaimed. - Thank you, good doctor! You lit my beacon! You saved the ships from destruction. And now you save me!

What happened to you? - Aibolit asked. - Why didn’t you light the lighthouse? Why do you have a wound on your forehead?

Ah, trouble happened to me! - Jumbo answered with a sigh. - I’m walking up the stairs today, and suddenly he runs up to me - who did you think? - Benalis! Yes! Yes! The same pirate whom you ordered to settle on a desert island.

Benalis? - the doctor cried. - Is he really here?

Yes. He fled from a desert island, boarded a ship, crossed the seas and oceans, and yesterday arrived here in Pindemonte.

Here? In Pindemont?

Yes Yes! He immediately ran to the lighthouse and hit me on the head with a bamboo - so that I fell down on these steps unconscious.

And he? Where is he?

I don't know.

But then the canary chirped.

Benalis ran away, ran away, ran away! - she repeated endlessly. - I asked him to cover my cage with a handkerchief, because I might catch a cold. My health is so poor. And he...

Where did he run off to? - the doctor shouted.

“He fled to the mountains along the Venturian road,” said the canary, “He wants to set fire to your house, kill your animals and you.” But I feel like I'm going to have a runny nose. I'm so tender. I can't stand drafts. Every time...

But the doctor did not listen to her. He rushed after the pirate. It is necessary to catch this evil pirate at all costs and send him back to the uninhabited island, otherwise he will burn the entire city and torture and kill all the animals.

The doctor ran as fast as he could through the streets, squares, and alleys. The wind tore his hat off. He stumbled upon a fence in the dark and fell into a ditch. He scratched his entire face on the thorny branches of the Trees. Blood streamed down his cheek. But he did not notice anything, he ran forward along the rocky Venturian road.

Quicker! Quicker!

It’s already close: around the bend is a familiar well, and across the road, not far from the well, is Aibolit’s small house, in which his animals live. Hurry, hurry there!

And suddenly someone ran up to Aibolit and hit him hard on the shoulder. It was the robber Benalis.

Hello doctor! - he said and laughed a disgusting laugh. - What? Didn't expect to meet me here in this city? Finally I will finish with you!

And with his eyes angrily flashing, he grabbed Doctor Aibolit by the collar and threw him into a deep well. It was cold and very dark in the well. Doctor Aibolit almost choked in the water.

Tad-zited! - he shouted. - Tad-zited!

But no one heard him. What to do? What to do? Now Benalis will burn his house down! All the animals in the house will burn - Crocodile, Chichi, Carudo, Kika, and Bumba.

The doctor gathered his last strength and shouted:

Tad-zi-ted! Tad-zi-ted!

But this time no one heard him. And the pirate laughed and rushed to the house where Aibolit lived. The animals - big and small - were already fast asleep, and could be heard from afar. How carefree a crocodile snores. The pirate had a box of matches in his hand. He quietly crept up to the house, struck a match, and the house caught fire.

Fire! Fire!

Benalis giggled with joy and began to dance merrily around the burning house.

I finally got my revenge on that nasty doctor! He will remember the pirate Benalis!

And the doctor sat in the well, up to his neck in water, crying and calling for help. Will Benalis really burn all his dear friends, and he will spend his whole life in this well? No way! And he shouted again:

Tad-zi-ted! Tad-zi-ted!

"Tad-zi-ted" in animal language means:

Fortunately, an old green frog lived in the well for many years. She crawled out from under the wet stone, jumped onto the doctor’s shoulder and said:

Hello, doctor! How did you end up in this well?

I was thrown here by the pirate and robber Benalis. And I need to get out of here and be free now. Be so kind as to run and call the cranes.

Stay here! - said the frog. - It’s so good here: damp, cool, and wet.

No no! - said the doctor. - I need to run away from here now. I'm afraid that there is a fire in my house and that all my animals will burn!

“Perhaps you really shouldn’t stay in the well,” said the frog, jumped out of the well, galloped to the swamp and called the cranes.

7. New grief and new joy

The cranes flew in and brought with them a long rope. They lowered this rope into the well. The doctor grabbed it tightly with both hands, the cranes flew up to the clouds, and the doctor found himself free.

Thank you dear friends! - he shouted to the cranes and immediately ran to his house.

The house was burning like a big bonfire. And the animals were fast asleep, not suspecting that there was a fire in their house. Now the beds under them will catch fire, and they will die in the fire - hedgehogs, squirrels, monkeys, an owl, a crocodile.

The doctor rushed into the fire and shouted to the animals:

Wake up!

But they continued to sleep.

Fire! Fire! - the doctor shouted. - Wake up, run outside!

But the doctor’s voice was very weak, because the doctor caught a cold in the well, and no one heard him. The doctor’s hair caught fire, his jacket caught fire, the fire burned his cheeks, the thick smoke made it difficult for him to breathe, but he made his way further and further through the fire.

Here is Chichi the monkey. How soundly she sleeps and does not feel that there is a hot flame around her!

The doctor bent over her, grabbed her shoulder and began to shake her as hard as he could. Finally she opened her eyes and screamed in horror:

Then all the animals woke up and rushed away from the fire. But the doctor remained in the house. He wanted to sneak into his office and see if there were any hares or white mice there.

The animals shouted to him:

Doctor! Back! What are you doing? Your beard is already on fire. Run from the fire, otherwise you will burn!

Will not go! - answered the doctor. - Will not go! I remembered that there were three little rabbits left in my office, in the closet... they need to be saved now...

And he rushed into the very flames. Here he is in his office.

The rabbits are here in the closet. They are crying. They're scared. But there is nowhere to run because there is fire everywhere. The curtains, chairs, tables, stools were already on fire. Now the closet will catch fire, and the rabbits will burn along with it.

Rabbits, don't be afraid, I'm here! - the doctor shouted.

He opened the closet, took out the frightened rabbits and rushed out of the fire. But his head began to spin, and he fell unconscious straight into the flames.

Doctor! Doctor! Where is the doctor? - the animals shouted on the street. - He died! He burned!!! He choked on the smoke! And we will never see him again! We need to save him! Hurry, hurry!

Ava was ahead of all the animals. She rushed into the office like a whirlwind, grabbed the hand of the lying doctor and dragged him down the flaming stairs.

Be careful, be careful! - Chichi the monkey shouted to her. -You can rip his arm off.

And she didn’t even move from her place. Ava became very angry and said:

Shut up, Chichi,

Don't shout, Chichi

And me, Chichi,

Don't teach, Chichi!

Chichi felt ashamed, she ran up to Ava and began to help her. The two of them carried the doctor into the garden, to the stream, and laid him on the grass under a tree.

The doctor lay motionless. The animals stood above him.

Poor doctor! - said Hrgo-Hryu and began to cry. - Will he really die and we will remain orphans? How will we live without him?

But then the doctor stirred and sighed weakly.

He's alive! He's alive! - the animals were happy.

Are there rabbits here? - asked the doctor.

“We are here,” answered the rabbits. - Don't worry about us. We are alive. We are healthy. We are happy.

The doctor sat up on the grass.

I'll go and call the firefighters. - he said in a barely audible voice. He was still dizzy.

What you! What you! - the animals shouted. - Please lie down and don't move. We can put out your house without firefighters.

And it’s true: out of nowhere, swallows, crows, seagulls, cranes, wagtails flew in from all sides, and each bird held a small bucket of water in its beak and watered and watered the burning house. It seemed like it was raining over the house. While one flock flew to the sea for water, the other with full buckets returned from the sea and put out the fire.

And a bear came running from the forest. He grabbed a forty-bucket barrel of water with his front paws, poured all the water into the flames and again ran to the sea for water.

And the hares got some intestine from a neighboring house and sent it straight into the fire.

Lzhzh! Lzhzh!

But the fire still did not want to go out. Then from the northern seas, from afar, three huge bowhead whales swam up to Pindemonte itself and released such large fountains that they immediately put out the entire fire.

The doctor jumped to his feet and began to tumble for joy. The dog Ava is behind him. And behind Ava is the monkey Chichi.

Hooray! Hooray! Thank you, birds and animals, and you, mighty bowhead whales!

“You shouldn’t be so happy,” said the parrot and took a deep breath. - You can no longer live in this house. The roof burned, the floors burned, the walls burned. And the furniture was burned to the ground: there were no chairs, no tables, no beds.

That's right, that's right! - said Aibolit. - But I'm not grieving.

I am happy that all of you survived and none of us were harmed by the fire. And if the house is unfit for habitation - well! - I will go to the seashore, find a large cave there and live in the cave with you.

Why look for a cave? - said the bear. - Let’s go to my den: it’s dark and warm there.

No, it’s better to come to me, into the well! - interrupted the frog. - It’s damp, and cool, and wet there.

I found where to call: to the well! - An old eagle owl, who had just flown in from the forest, said angrily. - No, please, come to me, into my hollow. It's a little cramped there, but cozy.

Thank you, dear friends! - said the doctor. - But still, I would like to live in a cave!

In a cave! In a cave! - the Crocodile shouted and rushed down the Venturian road.

Behind him are Carudo, Bumba, Ava, Chichi and Oink-Oink.

Let's go look for a cave, cave, cave!

Soon they all found themselves on the seashore, not far from the harbor, and who did they see there? Of course, Pull!

Yes, yes... Tyanitolkai was not alone. Next to him stood a cute little pusher, all overgrown with soft, fluffy fur that he just wanted to stroke. He just arrived here on Robinson's ship.

The ship, by the light of the lighthouse, safely reached the harbor, and little nimble Dick jumped from the ship straight onto the shore and rushed into the arms of his father. Big Tyanitolkay was very happy. After all, she and her son haven’t seen each other for so long! It was funny to watch them kiss. Tyanitolkai kissed his son first on one head, then on the other, now with one lips, now with the other, and the son, without wasting time, as soon as one of his mouths was freed from kisses, began to chew the honey gingerbread that his father had brought him.

At first sight, Dick fell in love with the animals. Not even five minutes had passed before they all ran away with him into the forest and started funny games there, climbing trees, picking flowers, throwing fir cones at each other.

And Doctor Aibolit with Tyanitolkai and the sailor Robinson went to look for a good cave.

The animals frolicked in the forest for a long time. Suddenly Ava pointed out to Kika:

Look at this, Kika,

What strawberries!

And rip it off

Treat me!

Kika immediately picked strawberries and gave them to her new friend.

And Chichi climbed a tall tree and began throwing large nuts from there:

Here you go, Dick! Catch!

Both Dick's heads smiled with joy, and he caught nuts with both mouths.

“How good they all are, these animals!” he thought to himself. “I’ll have to become better friends with them.”

He especially liked the parrot, who could sing and whistle such funny songs.

What is your name? - asked Dick.

The parrot sang in response:

I am the famous Karudo,

Yesterday I swallowed a camel!

Dick burst out laughing.

9. Parrot and Benalis

But at that moment a sea gull flew up to the parrot and screamed in an alarmed voice:

Where is the doctor? Where is the doctor? We need a doctor! Find him this very minute!

What's the matter? - asked Karudo.

Bandit Benalis! - answered the seagull. - This terrible villain...

Benalis?

He is sailing on the sea... in a boat... He wants to steal the ship from the sailor Robinson. What to do? He will steal a ship and rush off into the distant sea and will again rob, kill and rob innocent people!

Carudo thought for a moment.

“He won’t succeed,” he said. - We can handle it ourselves... without a doctor.

But what can you do? - the seagull asked with a sigh. - Are you strong enough to hold his boat?

Enough! Enough! - the parrot said cheerfully and quickly flew to the lighthouse.

A huge lamp was still burning at the lighthouse, brightly illuminating the coastal cliffs. Seagulls were flying over the sea.

Seagulls! Seagulls! - the parrot shouted, - Fly here, to the lighthouse, and block the fire with yourself. Do you see that boat floating past the rocks? In this boat is the robber Benadis. Block the light of the beacon from him!

Seagulls immediately surrounded the lighthouse. There were so many of them that they obscured the entire lamp. Darkness fell on the sea. And immediately - bang-bang-bang! - there was a terrible crash. It was Benalisa's boat that crashed on the rocks.

Save! - the pirate yelled. - Save me! Help! I am drowninig!

Serves you right! - responded Karudo. - You are a robber, you are a cruel villain! You burned down our house, and we do not feel sorry for you. You wanted to drown our doctor Aibolit in a well - drown yourself, and no one will help you!

10. Housewarming

And Benalis drowned. He will never rob again. The seagulls immediately flew away, and the lighthouse began to shine again.

Where is the doctor? - Chichi said. - Why doesn’t he come? It's time for him to return.

Here he is! - said Dick. - Look there, at the road.

In fact, a doctor was walking along the road, but how sad and tired he looked.

Dick ran up to the doctor and licked him on the cheek, but the doctor didn’t even smile at him.

I have great grief! - said the doctor. - I haven't found a cave anywhere. I searched and searched and couldn’t find it anywhere.

Where will we live?

- Don't know! Don't know! Black clouds are coming from the sea. There will be a thunderstorm soon. It will rain. But we are in the open air, and we have nowhere to hide from the storm.

- Damn Benalis! - Chichi cried. - If he had not burned our house, we would now be sitting warm, under the roof, and would not be afraid of either storm or rain!

Everyone sighed heavily. Nobody said a word. A few minutes later thunder struck, and entire rivers of water poured from the sky. The doctor tried to take refuge with his animals under a tree, but cold streams of rain streamed through the foliage and branches. The doctor's arms and legs began to tremble. His teeth chattered. He staggered and fell to the cold, wet ground.

- What happened to you? - asked Bumba.

- I'm sick... I'm cold... I caught a cold in the well... - and now I have a fever. If I don’t stay warm, under the blanket, by the stove... I will die... and you, my dear animals, will be left without a doctor, your best friend.

- Oooh! - Bumba howled.

- Oooh! - Ava howled.

Chichi hugged Oink-Oink, and they both cried, and Pull and Pull with her son cried.

Suddenly Ava perked up, stretched her neck and sniffed the air.

- Someone is coming here! - she said.

“No,” said Kika. - You were wrong. This is the rain rustling in the coastal reeds.

But at that moment some animals ran out of the thicket, bowed to the doctor and sang in unison:

- We are beavers

Workers,

We are carpenters

And carpenters.

We built it for you

Behind the river, behind the pond

Nice, new house!

- House? - Kika asked in surprise. - Do you know how to build a house?

- Still would! - the beavers answered in a proud voice. - Of the animals, we are the best builders in the world. We build houses that no man can build! As soon as we heard that there was a fire in Doctor Aibolit’s house, we immediately ran out of our houses, rushed to the nearest forest and knocked down thirty tall trees. We built a house from them.

-Thirty trees! - Chichi laughed. - How did you knock them down if you don’t have axes?

- But we have wonderful teeth!

-Yes Yes! - said Bumba. - It's right. Beavers have remarkably sharp teeth. Beavers trim trees with their teeth, then remove the bark from them with their teeth, then bite off branches and leaves and build houses from the logs for themselves and their children.

- And now we have built a house for our good doctor! - said the beavers, - It’s warm, spacious and cozy there!

Doctor, get up and we will take you there!

But the doctor only groaned in response. He developed a high fever and could no longer speak.

The animals lifted the doctor from the wet ground, sat him down on Tyanitolkaya and, supporting him on both sides, took him to a housewarming party in a new home. The beavers walked ahead and showed the way. The rain was pouring down in buckets. Here is the pond. Here is the beaver river. And look over the river! look! - a tall, new log house.

“Please, doctor,” said the beavers. - This house is much better than the one you had before. Look how beautiful it is!

-Thank you, thank you! - Aibolit muttered in a weak voice. He was very grateful to the beavers for such a magnificent gift.

Chichi immediately lit the stove. Doctor Aibolit was put to bed and given a medicine from which he very soon recovered.

The house turned out to be really great. The next day Robinson and Jumbo came to visit the doctor. They brought him grapes and honey.

The doctor was sitting in a chair by the stove, very happy, but still pale and weak. The animals sat down at his feet and looked into his eyes cheerfully: they were glad that he remained alive and his illness had passed. Dick kept licking his hand with one tongue and then another.

The doctor stroked his fluffy fur. Karudo climbed onto the back of the chair and began to tell a story. The story was sad.. Listening to it, the Crocodile cried such big tears that a stream formed near him. But the story ended very cheerfully, so Jumbo, Robinson and Chichi clapped their hands and almost went to dance.

But more about this story sometime later. Now let's rest. Let's close the book and go for a walk.

Part four

THE ADVENTURES OF THE WHITE MOUSE

1.Cat

Once upon a time there lived a white mouse. Her name was Belyanka. All her brothers and sisters were gray, she was the only one white. White, like chalk, like paper, like snow.

Somehow the gray mice decided to go for a walk. Belyanka ran after them. But the gray mice said:

- Don’t go, sister, stay at home. There is a Black Cat sitting on the roof, he will see you and eat you.

- Why can you go for a walk, but I can’t? - asked Belyanka. - If the Black Cat sees me, he will see you too.

“No,” said the gray mice, “he won’t see us, we are gray, and you are white, everyone can see you.”

And they ran along the dusty road. And in fact, the Cat did not notice them, because they were gray, and the dust on the road was gray.

And he immediately noticed Belyanka, because she was white. He swooped down on her and dug his sharp claws into her. Poor Belyanka! Now he will eat her! Then she realized that her brothers and sisters had told her the truth, and she cried bitterly.

- Please let me go free! - she begged.

But the Black Cat only snorted in response and bared his terrible teeth.

2. Cage

Suddenly someone shouted:

- Why are you torturing the poor mouse? Let her go this very minute!

It was the fisherman's son, the boy Penta, who shouted. He saw that the Black Cat was holding Belyanka in his claws, ran up to him and took her away.

“White mouse!” he said. - How glad I am that I will have such a beautiful white mouse!

Belyanka was also glad that she was saved from the Cat. Penta gave her something to eat and put her in a wooden cage. He was a kind boy, she had a good time with him.

But who wants to live in a cage! A cell is the same as a prison. And soon Belyanka got bored of sitting behind bars. At night, when Penta was sleeping, she gnawed through the bars of her wooden prison and quietly ran away into the street.

3. Old rat

What happiness! The whole street is white! It's snowing outside!

And if the street is white, it means that a white mouse can calmly walk in front of the cat’s nose and the cat will not see it. Because a white mouse is not visible on white snow. On the white snow she herself is like snow.

It was fun for Belyanka to walk along the streets of the snow-white city and look at the cats and dogs. No one saw her, but she saw everyone. Suddenly she heard a groan. Who is this moaning so pitifully? She peered into the darkness and saw a gray rat. A gray rat sat on the threshold of a large barn, and tears flowed down her cheeks.

-What happened to you? - asked Belyanka. - Why are you crying? Who hurt you? You are sick?

“Ah,” answered the gray rat, “I’m not sick, but I’m very unhappy.” I want to eat. I am starving. For the third day I didn’t have a crumb in my mouth. I’m dying of hunger.

-Why are you sitting in this barn? - Belyanka cried. - Come outside and I'll show you a trash can where you can have a great dinner.

-No no! - said the rat. - I can't appear on the street. Can't you see that I'm gray? When there was no snow, I could leave the yard every night. But now children, dogs, and cats will immediately notice me on the white snow. Oh, how I would like to be white as snow!

Belyanka felt sorry for the unfortunate gray rat.

- Do you want me to stay here and live with you? - she suggested. - Every evening I will bring you food.

The old rat was very happy. She was toothless and skinny. Belyanka ran to the trash heap of a neighboring house and brought from there a crust of bread, a slice of cheese and a candle stub.

The gray rat greedily pounced on all these delicacies.

“Well, thank you,” she said. - If it weren't for you, I would have died of hunger.

4. The Old Rat's Invention

They lived like this for the whole winter. But then one day Belyanka went outside and almost cried. The snow melted overnight, spring came, there were puddles everywhere, the street was black. Everyone will immediately notice Belyanka and rush after her.

“Well,” the old rat said to Belyanka, “now it’s my turn to get you food.” You fed me in winter, I will feed you in summer.

And she left, and an hour later she brought Belyanka a whole mountain of crackers, pretzels and sweets.

One day, when the old rat went out to buy groceries, Belyanka was sitting on the threshold. Her brothers and sisters passed by the barn. - Where are you going? ~ asked Belyanka.

- We're going into the forest to dance! - they shouted.

- Take me too! I want to dance too!

- No no! - her brothers and sisters shouted. - Get away from us. You will destroy both us and yourself. In the forest, a big owl sits on a tree; she will immediately notice your white fur, and we will die along with you.

And they ran away, and Belyanka was left alone. Soon the rat returned. She brought a lot of tasty things, but Belyanka didn’t even touch the delicacies. She hid in a dark corner and cried.

-What are you crying about? - the old rat asked her.

- How can I not cry? - Belyanka answered. - My gray brothers

and the gray sisters run free through the forests and fields, dance, frolic, and I have to sit in this nasty barn all summer. The old rat thought about it.

- Do you want me to help you, Belyanka? - she said in a gentle voice.

“No,” Belyanka answered sadly, “no one can help me.”

- But you'll see, I'll help you. Did you know that under our shed in the basement there is a dyer's workshop? And there are a lot of colors in the workshop. Blue, green, orange, pink. The dyer paints toys, lanterns, flags, and paper chains for the Christmas tree with these paints. Let's quickly run there.

The dyer left, but his paints remained.

- What are we going to do there? - asked Belyanka.

- You will see! - answered the old rat.

Belyanka did not understand anything. She reluctantly followed the old rat to the dyer's workshop. There were buckets with colorful paints.

The Rat said to Belyanka:

_ This bucket has blue paint, this one has green paint, that one has black paint, and this one has crimson paint. And in this trough, which is closer to the doors, there is excellent gray paint. Get in there, plunge headlong, and you will be as gray as your brothers and sisters.

Belyanka was delighted, ran up to the trough, but suddenly stopped because she felt very scared.

“I'm afraid of drowning,” she said.

- What a coward you are! What is there to be afraid of! Close your eyes and dive quickly! - the gray rat told her.

Belyanka closed her eyes and dived into the gray paint.

- Well, that's good! - the rat cried. - Congratulations! You are no longer white, but gray. But now you need to warm up. Hurry up and go to bed. That's why you'll be happy when you wake up tomorrow morning.

5. Dangerous paint

Morning has come. Belyanka woke up and immediately ran to look at herself in a fragment of a broken mirror lying in a garbage heap. Oh God! She became not gray, but yellow, yellow, like a daisy, like a yolk, like a chicken! She was very angry with the gray rat.

- Oh, you worthless one! - she screamed. - Look what you've done! You painted me yellow, and now I'm afraid to show myself on the street.

- Indeed! - the rat cried. - I mixed up the colors in the dark. Now I see that the paint in the trough was not gray, but yellow.

- You stupid blind old woman! You ruined me! - the unfortunate mouse continued to whine. - I'm leaving you and I don't want to know you anymore!

And she ran away. But where should she go? Where to hide? And on the gray road, and on the green grass, and on the white snow - its bright yellow skin is visible everywhere.

As soon as she ran out of the barn, the Black Cat chased after her. She ran away from him into an alley, but the schoolchildren immediately saw her there.

- Yellow mouse! - they shouted. - Yellow, yellow, yellow mouse!

And they chased after her and began to throw stones at her. The dogs joined them at the corner.

No one had ever seen yellow mice, and therefore everyone wanted to catch this extraordinary mouse.

- Hold it! Hold it! - they shouted behind her.

Tired, exhausted, she barely escaped the chase. But this is her home. Her mother lives here. She will be happy here, in her native hole.

- Hello mother! - she said.

Her mother looked at her and shouted angrily:

- Who are you? What do you need? Get out, get out of here.

- Mother! Mother! Don't drive me away. I'm your daughter. I'm Belyanka.

- What kind of Belyanka are you if you are yellow! My Belyanka was whiter than snow, and you were yellow, like a daisy, like a yolk, like a chicken. I have never had a daughter like this! You are not my daughter. Get out of here!

-Mommy, believe me, it’s me. Listen to me and I will tell you everything.

But then her brothers and sisters came running and began to push her out of the hole. They had no idea that she was their sister, and they scratched, beat, and bit her.

- Go back where you came from! We don't know you, you're a stranger! You are not Belyanka at all, you are yellow!

What was to be done? The poor mouse left them in tears, sneaking along the fences, getting burned by nettles at every step. Soon she found herself on the seashore:

- Quickly wash off this terrible paint!

6. Yellow mouse and doctor

Without hesitating for a moment, she threw herself into the water, and dived, and swam, and scraped her skin with her claws, and rubbed with sand, but in vain: the damned Eraska did not want to leave. The skin remained the same yellow.

Trembling from the cold, the unfortunate woman crawled ashore, sat down and began to cry. What should she do? Where to go?

The sun will rise soon. Everyone will see her and again run after her, and again they will throw stones and sticks at her, and again they will shout behind her back:

- Catch her, hold her!

No, I can't stand this anymore. Isn't it better to return to captivity, to the very cage from which I once escaped? What should I do if it is impossible for me to live in freedom, if even my own mother offends and persecutes me?

And, sadly hanging her head, she trudged to the house where the boy Penta lived.

On the way she met a strange mouse. The mouse was sick and stunted and could barely move its legs. She had a beautifully tied bow on her tail.

Polyanka asked her:

- Please tell me what kind of bow you have on your tail?

“This is not a bow,” answered the unfamiliar mouse. - This is such a bandage. I am coming from Doctor Aibolit, and he has bandaged the wound. You see, I fell into a mousetrap yesterday, and the mousetrap pinched my tail painfully. I escaped the mousetrap - and immediately went to the doctor. He smeared some wonderful ointment on my tail, and I recovered. Thanks to him. Oh, what a good, kind doctor he is! And you know, he can speak mouse language: he understands mouse language perfectly.

- Where does he live? - the yellow mouse asked her.

- Here around the corner, on the hill. Don’t you know where Aibolit lives? All the animals know him: sick dogs, sick horses, sick hares come to him every now and then, he knows how to treat them all.

The yellow mouse didn’t listen to the end and started running. She ran to the doctor. I rang the doorbell. Ava immediately opened the door for her.

The doctor had many sick people: a lame goat, two turtles, a seal, a rooster with a bandaged throat, and a crow with a broken wing.

When the mouse told the doctor that she would like to become white again, the doctor laughed and said:

- I won’t treat you! Stay yellow forever! I like your yellow fur. She is so golden and beautiful.

- But this wool will destroy me! - the mouse cried with tears. - As soon as I go outside, I will be torn apart by dogs or torn to pieces by the Black Cat.

- Nonsense! - said the doctor. - Live with me, and no one will touch you here. There is no need for you to walk the streets. Here's the house in the cupboard: two hares and an old toothless squirrel live here. You will feel good with me, and we will call you Fija. This means: golden mouse.

“Okay,” she said, “I agree.”

And she stayed to live with the doctor, and all the animals fell in love with her: the dog Ava, the duck Kika, the parrot Karudo, and the monkey Chichi. And soon she learned to sing their cheerful song with them!

- Shita rita, tita drita!

Shivandada, shivanda!

We are our native Aibolit

We will never leave! That's

PART ONE

JOURNEY TO THE COUNTRY OF MONKEYS

Once upon a time there lived a doctor. He was kind. His name was Aibolit. And he had an evil sister, whose name was Varvara.

More than anything in the world, the doctor loved animals. Hares lived in his room. There was a squirrel living in his closet. A prickly hedgehog lived on the sofa. White mice lived in the chest.

But of all his animals, Dr. Aibolit loved most the duck Kiku, the dog Ava, the little pig Oink-Oink, the parrot Carudo and the owl Bumba.

His evil sister Varvara was very angry with the doctor because he had so many animals in his room.

- Drive them away this minute! - she shouted. “They only dirty the rooms.” I don't want to live with these nasty creatures!

- No, Varvara, they are not bad! - said the doctor. – I am very glad that they live with me.

From all sides, sick shepherds, sick fishermen, woodcutters, and peasants came to the doctor for treatment, and he gave medicine to everyone, and everyone immediately became healthy.

If some village boy hurts his hand or scratches his nose, he immediately runs to Aibolit - and, lo and behold, ten minutes later he is as if nothing had happened, healthy, cheerful, playing tag with the parrot Carudo, and the owl Bumba treats his lollipops and apples.

One day a very sad horse came to the doctor and quietly said to him:

- Lama, bonoy, fifi, kuku!

The doctor immediately understood what this meant in animal language:

“My eyes hurt. Give me glasses, please."

The doctor had long ago learned to speak like an animal. He said to the horse:

- Kapuki, kanuki! In animal terms, this means: “Please sit down.”

The horse sat down. The doctor put glasses on her, and her eyes stopped hurting.

- Chaka! - said the horse, waved its tail and ran outside.

“Chaka” means “thank you” in an animal way.

Soon all the animals who had bad eyes received glasses from Dr. Aibolit. Horses began to wear glasses, cows began to wear glasses, cats and dogs began to wear glasses. Even old crows did not fly out of the nest without glasses.

Every day more and more animals and birds came to the doctor.

Turtles, foxes and goats came, cranes and eagles flew in.

Doctor Aibolit treated everyone, but he didn’t take money from anyone, because what kind of money do turtles and eagles have!

Soon the following notices were posted on trees in the forest:

These advertisements were posted by Vanya and Tanya, neighbor children whom the doctor had once cured of scarlet fever and measles. They loved the doctor very much and willingly helped him.

2. MONKEY CHICHI

One evening, when all the animals were sleeping, someone knocked on the doctor’s door. - Who's there? - asked the doctor.

The doctor opened the door and a monkey, very thin and dirty, entered the room. The doctor sat her down on the sofa and asked:

- What is hurting you?

“Neck,” she said and began to cry. Only then did the doctor see that there was a large rope around her neck.

“I ran away from the evil organ grinder,” said the monkey and began to cry again. “The organ grinder beat me, tormented me and dragged me along with him everywhere on a rope.

The doctor took the scissors, cut the rope and smeared such an amazing ointment on the monkey’s neck that the neck immediately stopped hurting. Then he bathed the monkey in a trough, gave it something to eat and said:

- Live with me, monkey. I don't want you to be offended.

The monkey was very happy. But when she was sitting at the table and gnawing on the large nuts that the doctor treated her to, an evil organ grinder ran into the room.

- Give me the monkey! - he shouted. - This monkey is mine!

- Will not give it back! - said the doctor. - I won’t give it up for anything! I don't want you to torture her.

The enraged organ grinder wanted to grab Doctor Aibolit by the throat. But the doctor calmly told him:

- Get out this minute! And if you fight, I will call the dog Ava, and she will bite you.

Ava ran into the room and said menacingly:

In animal language this means:

“Run, or I’ll bite you!”

The organ grinder got scared and ran away without looking back. The monkey stayed with the doctor. The animals soon fell in love with her and named her Chichi. In animal language, “chichi” means “well done.”

As soon as Tanya and Vanya saw her, they exclaimed in one voice:

- How cute she is! How wonderful!

And they immediately began to play with her as if they were their best friend. They played hide and seek and ball, and then all three took hands and ran to the seashore, and there the monkey taught them a funny monkey dance, which is called “tkella” in the animal language.

Good Doctor Aibolit!
He is sitting under a tree.
Come to him for treatment
And the cow and the she-wolf,
And the bug and the worm,
And a bear!

He will heal everyone, he will heal everyone
Good Doctor Aibolit!

And the fox came to Aibolit:
“Oh, I was bitten by a wasp!”

And the watchdog came to Aibolit:
“A chicken pecked me on the nose!”

And the hare came running
And she screamed: “Ay, ah!”
My bunny got hit by a tram!
My bunny, my boy
Got hit by a tram!
He ran along the path
And his legs were cut,
And now he's sick and lame,
My little bunny!”

And Aibolit said:
"No problem! Give it here!
I'll sew him new legs,
He will run along the track again.”
And they brought a bunny to him,
So sick, lame,
And the doctor sewed his legs,
And the bunny jumps again.
And with him the mother hare
I also went dancing.
And she laughs and shouts:
“Well, thank you, Aibolit!”

Suddenly a jackal came from somewhere
He rode on a mare:
"Here's a telegram for you.
From Hippopotamus!

"Come, doctor,
To Africa soon
And save me, doctor,
Our babies!

"What's happened? Really
Are your children sick?

"Yes Yes Yes! They have a sore throat
Scarlet fever, cholera,
Diphtheria, appendicitis,
Malaria and bronchitis!

Come quickly
Good Doctor Aibolit!”

"Okay, okay, I'll run,
I will help your children.
But where do you live?
On the mountain or in the swamp?

"We live in Zanzibar,
In the Kalahari and Sahara,
On Mount Fernando Po,
Where does Hippo walk?
Along the wide Limpopo."

And Aibolit stood up, Aibolit ran,
He runs through fields, through forests, through meadows.
And Aibolit repeats only one word:
"Limpopo, Limpopo, Limpopo!"

And in his face the wind, and snow, and hail:
“Hey, Aibolit, come back!”
And Aibolit fell and lies in the snow:
“I can’t go any further.”

And now to him from behind the tree
Shaggy wolves run out:
“Sit down, Aibolit, on horseback,
We’ll get you there quickly!”

And Aibolit galloped forward
And only one word repeats:
"Limpopo, Limpopo, Limpopo!"

But in front of them is the sea
It rages and makes noise in the open space.
And there is a high wave in the sea,
Now she will swallow Aibolit.

"Oh, if I drown,
If I go down,

With my forest animals?
But then a whale swims out:
“Sit on me, Aibolit,
And, like a big ship,
I’ll take you ahead!”

And sat on the whale Aibolit
And only one word repeats:
"Limpopo, Limpopo, Limpopo!"

And the mountains stand in front of him on the way,
And he begins to crawl through the mountains,
And the mountains are getting higher, and the mountains are getting steeper,
And the mountains go under the very clouds!

"Oh, if I don't get there,
If I get lost on the way,
What will happen to them, to the sick,
With my forest animals?
And now from a high cliff
Eagles descended to Aibolit:
“Sit down, Aibolit, on horseback,
We’ll get you there quickly!”

And Aibolit sat on the eagle
And only one word repeats:
"Limpopo, Limpopo, Limpopo!"

And in Africa,
And in Africa,
On the black Limpopo,
Sits and cries
In Africa
Sad Hippopo.

He's in Africa, he's in Africa
Sits under a palm tree
And by sea from Africa
He looks without rest:
Isn't he going on a boat?
Dr. Aibolit?

And they prowl along the road
Elephants and rhinoceroses
And they say angrily:
“Why is there no Aibolit?”

And there are hippos nearby
Grabbing their tummies:
They, the hippos,
Stomachs hurt.

And then the ostrich chicks
They squeal like piglets
Oh, it's a pity, a pity, a pity
Poor ostriches!

They have measles and diphtheria,
They have smallpox and bronchitis,
And their head hurts
And my throat hurts.

They lie and rave:
“Well, why isn’t he going?
Well, why isn't he going?
Dr. Aibolit?"

And she took a nap next to her
toothy shark,
toothy shark
Lying in the sun.

Oh, her little ones,
Poor baby sharks
It's been twelve days already
My teeth hurt!

And a dislocated shoulder
The poor grasshopper's;
He doesn't jump, he doesn't jump,
And he cries bitterly
And the doctor calls:
“Oh, where is the good doctor?
When will he come?

But look, some kind of bird
It rushes closer and closer through the air,
Look, Aibolit is sitting on a bird
And he waves his hat and shouts loudly:
"Long live sweet Africa!"

And all the kids are happy and happy:
“I’ve arrived, I’ve arrived! Cheers cheers!"

And the bird circles above them,
And the bird lands on the ground,
And Aibolit runs to the hippos,
And pats them on the tummies,
And everyone in order
Gives me chocolate
And sets and sets thermometers for them!

And to the striped ones
He runs to the tiger cubs
And to the poor hunchbacks
Sick camels
And every Gogol,
Mogul everyone,
Gogol-mogol,
Gogol-mogol,
Serves him with Gogol-Mogol.

Ten nights Aibolit
Doesn't eat, doesn't drink and doesn't sleep,
Ten nights in a row
He heals unfortunate animals
And he sets and sets thermometers for them.

So he cured them,
Limpopo!
So he cured the sick,
Limpopo!
And they went to laugh
Limpopo!
And dance and play around,
Limpopo!

And the shark Karakula
Winked with her right eye
And he laughs, and he laughs,
As if someone was tickling her.

And the little hippos
Grabbed their tummies
And they laugh and burst into tears -
So that the oak trees shake.

Here comes Hippo, here comes Popo,
Hippo-popo, Hippo-popo!
Here comes the Hippopotamus.
It comes from Zanzibar,
He goes to Kilimanjaro -
And he shouts and he sings:
“Glory, glory to Aibolit!
Glory to the good doctors!

DR. AIBOLIT

Part one
JOURNEY TO THE COUNTRY OF MONKEYS

Chapter 1. THE DOCTOR AND HIS ANIMALS

Once upon a time there lived a doctor. He was kind. His name was Aibolit. And he had an evil sister, whose name was Varvara.

More than anything in the world, the doctor loved animals.

Hares lived in his room. There was a squirrel living in his closet. There was a crow living in the cupboard. A prickly hedgehog lived on the sofa. White mice lived in the chest. But of all his animals, Dr. Aibolit loved most the duck Kiku, the dog Ava, the little pig Oink-Oink, the parrot Carudo and the owl Bumba.

His evil sister Varvara was very angry with the doctor because he had so many animals in his room.

Drive them away this very minute,” she shouted. - They only dirty the rooms. I don't want to live with these nasty creatures!

No, Varvara, they are not bad! - said the doctor. - I am very glad that they live with me.

From all sides, sick shepherds, sick fishermen, woodcutters, and peasants came to the doctor for treatment, and he gave everyone medicine and everyone immediately became healthy. If some village boy hurts his hand or scratches his nose, he immediately runs to Aibolit - and, look, ten minutes later he is as if nothing had happened, healthy, cheerful, playing tag with the parrot Karudo, and the owl Bumba treats his lollipops and apples.

One day a very sad horse came to the doctor. She quietly told him:

Lama, von, fifi, kuku!

The doctor immediately understood what this meant in animal language:

“My eyes hurt. Give me glasses, please."

The doctor had long ago learned to speak like an animal. He said to the horse:

Kapuki, kapuki!

In animal terms this means:

"Sit down please".

The horse sat down. The doctor put glasses on her, and her eyes stopped hurting.

Chaka! - said the horse, waved its tail and ran into the street.

“Chaka” means “thank you” in an animal way.

Soon all the animals who had bad eyes received glasses from Dr. Aibolit. Horses began to wear glasses, cows began to wear glasses, cats and dogs began to wear glasses. Even old crows did not fly out of the nest without glasses.

Every day more and more animals and birds came to the doctor.

Turtles, foxes and goats came, cranes and eagles flew in.

Doctor Aibolit treated everyone, but he didn’t take money from anyone, because what kind of money do turtles and eagles have!

Soon the following notices were posted on trees in the forest:

HOSPITAL OPENED
FOR BIRDS AND ANIMALS.
GO FOR TREATMENT
GET THERE ASAP!

These advertisements were posted by Vanya and Tanya, neighbor children whom the doctor had once cured of scarlet fever and measles. They loved the doctor very much and willingly helped him.

Chapter 2. MONKEY CHICHI

One evening, when all the animals were sleeping, someone knocked on the doctor’s door.

Who's there? - asked the doctor.

The doctor opened the door and a monkey, very thin and dirty, entered the room. The doctor sat her down on the sofa and asked:

What is hurting you?

“Neck,” she said and began to cry.

Only then did the doctor see that there was a rope around her neck.

“I ran away from the evil organ grinder,” said the monkey and began to cry again. “The organ grinder beat me, tortured me and dragged me along with him everywhere on a rope.

The doctor took the scissors, cut the rope and smeared such an amazing ointment on the monkey’s neck that the neck immediately stopped hurting. Then he bathed the monkey in a trough, gave it something to eat and said:

Live with me, monkey. I don't want you to be offended.

The monkey was very happy. But when she was sitting at the table and gnawing on the large nuts that the doctor treated her to, an evil organ grinder ran into the room.

Give me the monkey! - he shouted. - This monkey is mine!

Will not give it back! - said the doctor. - I won’t give it up for anything! I don't want you to torture her.

The enraged organ grinder wanted to grab Doctor Aibolit by the throat.

But the doctor calmly told him:

Get out this minute! And if you fight, I will call the dog Ava, and she will bite you.

Ava ran into the room and said menacingly:

In animal language this means:

“Run, or I’ll bite you!”

The organ grinder got scared and ran away without looking back. The monkey stayed with the doctor. The animals soon fell in love with her and named her Chichi. In animal language, “chichi” means “well done.”

As soon as Tanya and Vanya saw her, they exclaimed in one voice:

Oh, how cute she is! How wonderful!

And they immediately began to play with her as if they were their best friend. They played burners and hide and seek, and then all three took hands and ran to the seashore, and there the monkey taught them a funny monkey dance, which is called “tkella” in the animal language.

Chapter 3. DOCTOR AIBOLIT AT WORK

Every day animals came to Dr. Aibolit for treatment: foxes, rabbits, seals, donkeys, camels. Some had a stomach ache, some had a toothache. The doctor gave each one medicine, and they all immediately recovered.

One day a tailless kid came to Aibolit, and the doctor sewed a tail on it.

And then a bear came from a distant forest, all in tears. She moaned and whimpered pitifully: a large splinter was sticking out of her paw. The doctor pulled out the splinter, washed the wound and lubricated it with his miraculous ointment.

The bear's pain went away right away.

Chaka! - the bear shouted and ran home cheerfully - to the den, to her cubs.

Then a sick hare trudged towards the doctor, which was almost killed by dogs.

And then a sick ram came, who had a bad cold and was coughing. And then two chickens came and brought a turkey, who was poisoned by toadstool mushrooms.

The doctor gave each one medicine, and everyone immediately recovered, and each one said “chucka” to him. And then, when all the patients left, Doctor Aibolit heard something rustling behind the doors.

Sign in! - the doctor shouted.

And a sad butterfly came to him:

I burned my wing on a candle.

Help me, help me, Aibolit:

My wounded wing hurts!

Doctor Aibolit felt sorry for the moth. He put it in his palm and looked at the burnt wing for a long time. And then he smiled and cheerfully said to the moth:

Don't be sad, moth!
You lie down on your side:
I'll sew you another one,
Silk, blue,
New,
good
Wing!

And the doctor went into the next room and brought from there a whole heap of all kinds of scraps - velvet, satin, cambric, silk. The scraps were multi-colored: blue, green, black. The doctor rummaged among them for a long time, finally choosing one - bright blue with crimson specks. And he immediately cut out an excellent wing from it with scissors, which he sewed onto the moth.

The moth laughed
And he rushed to the meadow,
And flies under the birches
With butterflies and dragonflies.

And cheerful Aibolit
From the window he shouts:
"Okay, okay, have fun,
Just watch out for the candles!”

So the doctor fussed with his patients until late in the evening.

In the evening he lay down on the sofa and fell asleep sweetly, and he began to dream of polar bears, deer, and sailors.

Suddenly someone knocked on his door again.

Chapter 4. CROCODILE

In the city where the doctor lived there was a circus, and in the circus there lived a big Crocodile. There it was shown to people for money.

Crocodile had a toothache, and he came to Doctor Aibolit for treatment. The doctor gave him a wonderful medicine, and his teeth stopped hurting.

How good you are! - said the Crocodile, looking around and licking his lips. - How many bunnies, birds, mice do you have! And they are all so fatty and delicious. Let me stay with you forever. I don't want to go back to the circus owner. He feeds me poorly, beats me, offends me.

Stay,” said the doctor. - Please! Only, mind you: if you eat even one hare, even one sparrow, I will drive you out.

Okay,” said the Crocodile and sighed. - I promise you, doctor, that I will not eat hares, squirrels, or birds.

And the Crocodile began to live with the doctor.

He was quiet. He didn’t touch anyone, he lay under his bed and kept thinking about his brothers and sisters who lived far, far away, in hot Africa.

The Doctor fell in love with the Crocodile and often talked to him. But the evil Varvara could not stand the Crocodile and threateningly demanded that the doctor drive him away.

“I don’t want to see him,” she screamed. - He's so nasty, toothy. And it ruins everything, no matter what it touches. Yesterday I ate my green skirt that was lying on my window.

And he did well,” said the doctor. - The dress should be hidden in the closet, and not thrown out of the window.

Because of this nasty Crocodile,” Varvara continued, “people are afraid to come to your house. Only poor people come, and you do not take payment from them, and now we are so poor that we have nothing to buy bread for ourselves.

“I don’t need money,” Aibolit answered. - I’m fine without money. The animals will feed both me and you.

Chapter 5. FRIENDS HELP THE DOCTOR

Varvara told the truth: the doctor was left without bread. For three days he sat hungry. He had no money.

The animals that lived with the doctor saw that he had nothing to eat and began to feed him. Bumba the owl and Oink-Oink the pig set up a vegetable garden in the yard: the pig was digging the beds with its snout, and Bumba was planting potatoes. The cow began to treat the doctor with her milk every morning and evening. The hen laid eggs for him.

And everyone began to care about the doctor. The dog Ava was sweeping the floors. Tanya and Vanya, together with the monkey Chichi, brought him water from the well.

The doctor was very pleased.

I have never had such cleanliness in my house. Thank you, children and animals, for your work!

The children smiled cheerfully at him, and the animals answered in one voice:

Karabuki, marabuki, boo!

In animal language this means:

“How can we not serve you? After all, you are our best friend."

And the dog Ava licked him on the cheek and said:

Abuzo, mabuzo, bang!

In animal language this means:

“We will never leave you and will be your faithful comrades.”

Chapter 6. SWALLOW

One evening the owl Bumba said:

Hush hush! Who is that scratching behind the door? It looks like a mouse.

Everyone listened, but heard nothing.

There is no one outside the door,” said the doctor. - It seemed so to you.

No, it didn’t seem like it,” the owl objected. - I hear someone scratching. It's a mouse or a bird. You can believe me. We owls hear better than humans.

Bumba was not mistaken.

The monkey opened the door and saw a swallow on the threshold.

Swallow - in winter! What a miracle! After all, swallows cannot stand frost and, as soon as autumn comes, they fly away to hot Africa. Poor thing, how cold she is! She sits in the snow and trembles.

Martin! - the doctor shouted. - Go into the room and warm yourself up by the stove.

At first the swallow was afraid to enter. She saw that a Crocodile was lying in the room and thought that he would eat her. But Chichi the monkey told her that this Crocodile is very kind. Then the swallow flew into the room, looked around and asked:

Chiruto, kisafa, poppy?

In animal language this means:

“Please tell me, doesn’t the famous doctor Aibolit live here?”

“Aibolit is me,” said the doctor.

“I have a big request to ask you,” said the swallow. - You must go to Africa now. I flew from Africa on purpose to invite you there. There are monkeys down there in Africa, and now those monkeys are sick.

What hurts them? - asked the doctor.

“They have a stomach ache,” said the swallow. - They lie on the ground and cry. There is only one person who can save them, and that is you. Take your medicines with you and let’s go to Africa as soon as possible! If you don't go to Africa, all the monkeys will die.

“Oh,” said the doctor, “I would gladly go to Africa!” I love monkeys and I'm sorry they are sick. But I don't have a ship. After all, to go to Africa, you need to have a ship.

Poor monkeys! - said the Crocodile. - If the doctor does not go to Africa, they all must die. He alone can cure them.

And the Crocodile cried with such big tears that two streams flowed across the floor.

Suddenly Doctor Aibolit shouted:

Still, I will go to Africa! Still, I will cure sick monkeys! I remembered that my friend, the old sailor Robinson, whom I once saved from an evil fever, had an excellent ship.

He took his hat and went to the sailor Robinson.

Hello, sailor Robinson! - he said. - Be kind, give me your ship. I want to go to Africa. There, not far from the Sahara Desert, there is a wonderful Land of Monkeys.

“Okay,” said the sailor Robinson. - I will give you a ship with pleasure. After all, you saved my life, and I am happy to provide you with any service. But make sure you bring my ship back, because I have no other ship.

“I’ll definitely bring it,” said the doctor. - Don't worry. I just wish I could go to Africa.

Take it, take it! - Robinson repeated. - But be careful not to break it on the pitfalls!

“Don’t be afraid, I won’t break you,” said the doctor, thanked the sailor Robinson and ran home.

Animals, gather together! - he shouted. - Tomorrow we are going to Africa!

The animals were very happy and began jumping and clapping their hands. The monkey Chichi was the most happy:

I'm going, I'm going to Africa,
To lovely lands!
Africa, Africa,
My motherland!

“I won’t take all the animals to Africa,” said Doctor Aibolit. - hedgehogs, bats and rabbits should stay here in my house. The horse will remain with them. And I’ll take with me Crocodile, Chichi the monkey and Carudo the parrot, because they come from Africa: their parents, brothers and sisters live there. In addition, I will take with me Ava, Kika, Bumba and Oink-Oink the pig.

What about us? - Tanya and Vanya shouted. - Are we really going to stay here without you?

Yes! - said the doctor and shook their hands firmly. - Goodbye, dear friends! You will stay here and take care of my garden and garden. We will be back very soon! And I will bring you a wonderful gift from Africa.

Tanya and Vanya hung their heads. But they thought a little and said:

There is nothing to be done: we are still small. Bon Voyage! And when we grow up, we will certainly go traveling with you.

Still would! - said Aibolit. -You just need to grow up a little.

Chapter 7. TO AFRICA!

The animals quickly packed their things and set off. Only hares, rabbits, hedgehogs, and bats remained at home.

Arriving at the seashore, the animals saw a wonderful ship. The sailor Robinson stood right there on the hill. Vanya and Tanya, together with the pig Oink-Oink and the monkey Chichi, helped the doctor bring in suitcases with medicines.

All the animals boarded the ship and were about to set off, when suddenly the doctor shouted in a loud voice:

Wait, wait, please!

What's happened? - asked the Crocodile.

Wait! Wait! - the doctor shouted. - After all, I don’t know where Africa is! You need to go and ask.

The crocodile laughed:

Do not go! Calm down! The swallow will show you where to sail. She often visited Africa. Swallows fly to Africa every autumn.

Certainly! - said the swallow. - I will be happy to show you the way there.

And she flew ahead of the ship, showing Doctor Aibolit the way.

She flew to Africa, and Doctor Aibolit directed the ship after her. Wherever the swallow goes, there goes the ship.

At night it became dark, and the swallow was not visible.

Then she lit a flashlight, took it in her beak and flew with the flashlight, so that the doctor could see even at night where to lead his ship.

They drove and drove, and suddenly they saw a crane flying towards them.

Tell me, please, is the famous doctor Aibolit on your ship?

Yes, - answered the Crocodile. - The famous doctor Aibolit is on our ship.

Ask the doctor to swim quickly, said the crane, because the monkeys are getting worse and worse. They can't wait for him.

Do not worry! - said the Crocodile. - We are racing with full sails. The monkeys won't have to wait long.

Hearing this, the crane was happy and flew back to tell the monkeys that Doctor Aibolit was already close.

The ship ran quickly across the waves. The crocodile was sitting on the deck and suddenly saw dolphins swimming towards the ship.

Tell me, please, - asked the dolphins, - is the famous doctor Aibolit sailing on this ship?

Yes, - answered the Crocodile. - The famous doctor Aibolit is sailing on this ship.

Please, ask the doctor to swim quickly, because the monkeys are getting worse and worse.

Do not worry! - answered the Crocodile. - We are racing with full sails. The monkeys won't have to wait long.

In the morning the doctor said to the Crocodile:

What's that up ahead? Some big land. I think this is Africa.

Yes, this is Africa! - Crocodile shouted. - Africa! Africa! Soon we will be in Africa! I see ostriches! I see rhinos! I see camels! I see elephants!

Africa, Africa!
Dear lands!
Africa, Africa!
My motherland!

Chapter 8. STORM

But then a storm arose. Rain! Wind! Lightning! Thunder! The waves became so big that it was scary to look at them.

And suddenly - fuck-tar-ra-rah! There was a terrible crash and the ship tilted on its side.

What's happened? What's happened? - asked the doctor.

Shipwreck! - the parrot shouted. - Our ship hit a rock and crashed! We're drowning. Save yourself who can!

But I can't swim! - Chichi screamed.

I can't either! - Oink-Oink screamed.

And they cried bitterly. Fortunately. The crocodile put them on his broad back and swam along the waves straight to the shore.

Hooray! Everyone is saved! Everyone reached Africa safely. But their ship was lost. A huge wave hit him and smashed him into small pieces.

How do they get home? After all, they have no other ship. And what will they say to the sailor Robinson?

It was getting dark. The doctor and all his animals really wanted to sleep. They were wet to the bone and tired.

But the doctor did not think about rest:

Hurry, hurry forward! We need to hurry! We need to save the monkeys! The poor monkeys are sick and they can't wait for me to cure them!

Chapter 9. DOCTOR IN TROUBLE

Then Bumba flew up to the doctor and said in a frightened voice:

Hush hush! Someone's coming! I hear someone's steps!

Everyone stopped and listened.

A shaggy old man with a long gray beard came out of the forest and shouted:

What are you doing here? And who are you? And why did you come here?

“I am Doctor Aibolit,” said the doctor. - I came to Africa to cure sick monkeys.

Ha ha ha! - the shaggy old man laughed. - “Cure

sick monkeys! Do you know where you ended up?

“I don’t know,” said the doctor. - Where?

To the robber Barmaley!

To Barmaley! - exclaimed the doctor. - Barmaley is the most evil person in the whole world! But we would rather die than surrender to the robber! Let's quickly run there - to our sick monkeys... They cry, they wait, and we must cure them.

No! - said the shaggy old man and laughed even louder. - You won't leave here anywhere! Barmaley kills everyone who is captured by him.

Let's run! - the doctor shouted. - Let's run! We can save ourselves! We will be saved!

But then Barmaley himself appeared in front of them and, waving a saber, shouted:

Hey you, my faithful servants! Take this stupid doctor with all his stupid animals and put him in jail, behind bars! Tomorrow I will deal with them!

Barmaley's evil servants ran up, grabbed the doctor, grabbed the Crocodile, grabbed all the animals and took them to prison. The doctor bravely fought them off. The animals bit, scratched, and tore themselves out of their hands, but there were many enemies, the enemies were strong. They threw their prisoners into prison, and the shaggy old man locked them there with a key.

And he gave the key to Barmaley. Barmaley took it away and hid it under his pillow.

Poor we are, poor! - Chichi said. - We will never leave this prison. The walls here are strong, the doors are iron. We will no longer see the sun, flowers, or trees. Poor we are, poor!

The back grunted and the dog howled. And the Crocodile cried with such big tears that a wide puddle became on the floor.

Chapter 10. THE FEAT OF THE PARROT CARUDO

But the doctor said to the animals:

My friends, we must not lose heart! We must break out of this damned prison - because sick monkeys are waiting for us! Stop crying! Let's think about how we can be saved.

“No, dear doctor,” said the Crocodile and cried even harder. - We cannot be saved. We are dead! The doors of our prison are made of strong iron. Can we really break down these doors? Tomorrow morning, at first light, Barmaley will come to us and kill us all!

Kika the duck whined. Chichi took a deep breath. But the doctor jumped to his feet and exclaimed with a cheerful smile:

Still, we will be saved from prison!

And he called the parrot Carudo to him and whispered something to him. He whispered so quietly that no one except the parrot heard. The parrot nodded his head, laughed and said:

And then he ran up to the bars, squeezed between the iron bars, flew out into the street and flew to Barmaley.

Barmaley was fast asleep on his bed, and under his pillow was hidden a huge key - the same one with which he locked the iron doors of the prison.

Quietly the parrot crept up to Barmaley and pulled out the key from under the pillow. If the robber had woken up, he would certainly have killed the fearless bird.

But, fortunately, the robber was fast asleep.

Brave Karudo grabbed the key and flew as fast as he could back to prison.

Wow, this key is so heavy! Karudo almost dropped it on the way. But still he flew to the prison - and right out the window, to Doctor Aibolit. The doctor was delighted when he saw that the parrot had brought him the key to the prison!

Hooray! We are saved - he shouted. - Let’s run quickly before Barmaley wakes up!

The doctor grabbed the key, opened the door and ran out into the street. And behind him are all his animals. Freedom! Freedom! Hooray!

Thank you, brave Karudo! - said the doctor. - You saved us from death. If it weren't for you, we would be lost. And the poor sick monkeys would have died along with us.

No! - said Carudo. - It was you who taught me what to do to get out of this prison!

Hurry, hurry to the sick monkeys! - said the doctor and hastily ran into the thicket of the forest. And with him - all his animals.

Chapter 11. OVER THE MONKEY BRIDGE

When Barmaley found out that Doctor Aibolit had escaped from prison, he became terribly angry, his eyes sparkled, and he stamped his feet.

Hey you, my faithful servants! - he shouted. Run after the doctor! Catch him and bring him here!

The servants ran into the thicket of the forest and began to look for the announcer Aibolit. And at this time, Doctor Aibolit with all his animals was making his way through Africa to the Land of the Monkeys. He walked very quickly. Oink-Oink the pig, who had short legs, could not keep up with him. The doctor picked her up and carried her. The mumps was severe, and the doctor was terribly tired.

How I wish I could rest! - he said. - Oh, if only we could get to the Land of the Monkeys sooner!

Chichi climbed a tall tree and screamed loudly:

I see Monkey Country! Monkey Country is coming! Soon, soon we will be in the Land of the Monkeys!

The doctor laughed with joy and hurried forward.

The sick monkeys saw the doctor from a distance and cheerfully clapped their hands:

Hooray! Doctor Aibolit has come to us! Doctor Aibolit will cure us immediately, and we will be healthy tomorrow!

But then Barmaley’s servants ran out of the thicket of the forest and rushed in pursuit of the doctor.

Hold him! Hold it! Hold it! - they shouted.

The doctor ran as fast as he could. And suddenly there is a river in front of him. It is impossible to run further. The river is wide and cannot be crossed. Now Barmaley's servants will catch him! Oh, if there was a bridge across this river, the doctor would run across the bridge and immediately find himself in the Land of the Monkeys!

Poor we are, poor! - said the pig Oink-Oink. - How do we get to the other side? In a minute, these villains will catch us and put us in prison again.

Then one of the monkeys shouted:

Bridge! Bridge! Make a bridge! Hurry up! Don't waste a minute! Make a bridge! Bridge!

The doctor looked around. Monkeys have neither iron nor stone. What will they make the bridge out of?

But the monkeys built the bridge not from iron, not from stone, but from living monkeys. There was a tree growing on the bank of the river. One monkey grabbed this tree, and the other grabbed this monkey by the tail. So all the monkeys stretched out like a long chain between the two high banks of the river.

Here's the bridge, run! - they shouted to the doctor.

The doctor grabbed the owl Bumba and ran over the monkeys, over their heads, over their backs. Behind the doctor are all his animals.

Quicker! - the monkeys shouted. - Quicker! Quicker!

It was difficult to walk across the living monkey bridge. The animals were afraid that they were about to slip and fall into the water.

But no, the bridge was strong, the monkeys held each other tightly - and the doctor quickly ran to the other bank with all the animals.

Hurry, hurry forward! - the doctor shouted. - You can’t hesitate for a minute. After all, our enemies are catching up with us. See, they are also running across the monkey bridge... They will be here now! Quicker! Quicker!..

But what is it? What's happened? Look: in the very middle of the bridge, one monkey unclenched his fingers, the bridge fell through, crumbled, and Barmaley’s servants fell head over heels from a great height straight into the river.

Hooray! - the monkeys shouted. - Hooray! Doctor Aibolit is saved! Now he has no one to fear! Hooray! The enemies didn't catch him! Now he will cure our sick! They are here, they are close, they are moaning and crying!

Chapter 12. STUPID BEASTS

Doctor Aibolit hurried to the sick monkeys.

They lay on the ground and moaned. They were very sick.

The doctor began to treat the monkeys. It was necessary to give each monkey medicine: one - drops, the other - powders. Each monkey had to put a cold compress on its head, and mustard plasters on its back and chest. There were many sick monkeys, but only one doctor.

One cannot cope with such a job.

Kika, Crocodile, Carudo and Chichi tried their best to help him, but they soon got tired and the doctor needed other assistants.

He went into the desert - where the lion lived.

“Be so kind,” he said to the lion, “please help me treat the monkeys.”

Leo was important. He looked menacingly at Aibolit:

Do you know who I am? I am a lion, I am the king of beasts! And you dare ask me to treat some filthy monkeys!

Then the doctor went to the rhinoceroses.

Rhinos, rhinos! - he said. - Help me treat the monkeys! There are many of them, but I am alone. I can't do the job alone.

The rhinoceroses only laughed in response:

We will help you! Be thankful that we didn't gore you with our horns!

The doctor became very angry with the evil rhinoceroses and ran into the neighboring forest - where the striped tigers lived.

Tigers, tigers! Help me treat the monkeys!

Rrr! - answered the striped tigers. - Leave while you're still alive!

The doctor left them very sad.

But soon the evil animals were severely punished.

When the lion returned home, the lioness said to him:

Our little son is sick - he cries and moans all day. What a pity that there is no famous doctor Aibolit in Africa! He heals wonderfully. No wonder everyone loves him. He would have cured our son.

Doctor Aibolit is here,” said the lion. - Behind those palm trees, in Monkey Country! I just talked to him.

What happiness! - exclaimed the lioness. - Run and call him to our son!

No, said the lion, I won’t go to him. He won't treat our son because I hurt him.

You offended Doctor Aibolit! What are we going to do now? Do you know that Doctor Aibolit is the best, most wonderful doctor? He alone of all people can speak like an animal. He treats tigers, crocodiles, hares, monkeys and frogs. Yes, yes, he even heals frogs, because he is very kind. And you offended such a person! And he offended you just when your son was sick! What will you do now?

Leo was dumbfounded. He didn't know what to say.

“Go to this doctor,” cried the lioness, “and tell him that you ask for forgiveness!” Help him in any way you can. Do whatever he says and beg him to cure our poor son!

There is nothing to do, the lion went to Doctor Aibolit.

“Hello,” he said. - I came to apologize for my rudeness. I am ready to help you... I agree to give the monkeys medicine and apply all sorts of compresses to them.

And the lion began to help Aibolit. For three days and three nights he looked after the sick monkeys, and then he approached Doctor Aibolit and timidly said:

My son, whom I love very much, is sick... Please, be so kind as to cure the poor lion cub!

Fine! - said the doctor. - Willingly! I will cure your son today.

And he went into the cave and gave his son such medicine that within an hour he was healthy.

Leo was delighted, and he felt ashamed that he had offended the good doctor.

And then the children of rhinoceroses and tigers got sick. Aibolit immediately cured them. Then the rhinoceroses and tigers said:

We are very ashamed that we offended you!

“Nothing, nothing,” said the doctor. - Next time, be smarter. Now come here - help me treat the monkeys.

Chapter 13. GIFT

The animals helped the doctor so well that the sick monkeys soon recovered.

“Thank you doctor,” they said. “He cured us of a terrible disease, and for this we should give him something very good.” Let's give him a beast that people have never seen before. Which is not found either in the circus or in the zoological park.

Let's give him a camel! - one monkey shouted.

No,” said Chichi, “he doesn’t need a camel.” He saw camels. All people saw camels. Both in zoological parks and on the streets.

Well, so ostrich! - another monkey shouted. - We'll give him an ostrich!

No,” said Chichi, “he also saw ostriches.”

Did he see the Tyanitolkai? - asked the third monkey.

No, he’s never seen a tyanitolkai,” Chichi answered. - There has not yet been a single person who has seen the Tyanitolkaev.

“Okay,” said the monkeys. - Now we know what to give the doctor: we will give him a tyanitolkay!

Chapter 14. PULL

People have never seen tyanitolkai, because tyanitolkai are afraid of people: if they notice a person, they run into the bushes!

You can catch other animals when they fall asleep and close their eyes. You will approach them from behind and grab their tail. But you cannot approach a tyanitolkai from behind, because the tyanitolkai has the same head from behind as in the front.

Yes, he has two heads: one in front, the other in back. When he wants to sleep, first one head sleeps, and then the other. Immediately he never sleeps. One head is asleep, the other is looking around so that the hunter does not creep up. That is why not a single hunter has been able to catch a pulley, that is why not a single circus or zoological park has this animal.

The monkeys decided to catch one tyanitolkai for Dr. Aibolit.

They ran into the very thicket and there they found a place where the tyanitolkai had taken refuge.

He saw them and started to run, but they surrounded him, grabbed him by the horns and said:

Dear Pull! Would you like to go with Doctor Aibolit far, far away and live in his house with all the animals? You will feel good there: both satisfying and fun.

Tyanitolkay shook both heads and answered with both mouths:

“Good doctor,” said the monkeys. - He will feed you honey gingerbread, and if you get sick, he will cure you of every disease.

Doesn't matter! - said Pull Pull. - I wish to stay here.

The monkeys persuaded him for three days, and finally Tyanitolkai said:

Show me this vaunted doctor. I want to look at him.

The monkeys took Tyanitolkay to the house where Aibolit lived and knocked on the door.

Come in,” said Kika.

Chichi proudly led the two-headed beast into the room.

What it is? - asked the surprised doctor.

He had never seen such a miracle.

This is Pull-Push,” Chichi answered. - He wants to meet you. The tyanitolkai is the rarest animal of our African forests. Take him with you to the ship and let him live in your house.

Will he want to come to me?

“I’ll go to you willingly,” Tyanitolkai said unexpectedly. “I immediately saw that you are kind: you have such kind eyes.” The animals love you so much, and I know that you love the animals. But promise me that if I get bored with you, you will let me go home.

Of course, I’ll let you go,” said the doctor. - But you will feel so good with me that you are unlikely to want to leave.

That's right, that's right! This is true! - Chichi screamed. - He is so cheerful, so brave, our doctor! We live so comfortably in his house! And next door, two steps away from him, live Tanya and Vanya - you will see, they will love you deeply and become your closest friends.

If so, I agree, I'm going! - Tyanitolkay said cheerfully and nodded to Aibolit for a long time, first one head, then the other.

Chapter 15. MONKEYS SAY FAREWELL TO THE DOCTOR

Then the monkeys came to Aibolit and invited him to dinner. They gave him a wonderful farewell dinner: apples, honey, bananas, dates, apricots, oranges, pineapples, nuts, raisins!

Long live Doctor Aibolit! - they shouted. - He is the kindest person on earth!

Then the monkeys ran into the forest and rolled out a huge, heavy stone.

This stone, they said, will stand in the place where Doctor Aibolit treated the sick. This will be a monument to the good doctor.

The doctor took off his hat, bowed to the monkeys and said:

Goodbye, dear friends! Thank you for your love. I'll come to you again soon. Until then, I will leave with you the Crocodile, the parrot Carudo and the monkey Chichi. They were born in Africa - let them remain in Africa. Their brothers and sisters live here. Goodbye!

“I myself will be bored without you,” said the doctor. - But you won’t stay here forever! In three or four months I will come here and take you back. And we will all live and work together again.

“If so, we will stay,” the animals answered. - But make sure you come quickly!

The doctor said a friendly goodbye to everyone and walked along the road with a cheerful gait. The monkeys went to accompany him. Every monkey wanted to shake Dr. Aibolit’s hand at all costs. And since there were many monkeys, they shook his hand until the evening. The doctor’s hand even hurt.

And in the evening a misfortune happened.

As soon as the doctor crossed the river, he again found himself in the country of the evil robber Barmaley.

Tes! - Bumba whispered. - Please speak more quietly! Otherwise, we might not be captured again.

Chapter 16. NEW TROUBLES AND JOYS

Before she had time to utter these words, Barmaley’s servants ran out of the dark forest and attacked the good doctor. They had been waiting for him for a long time.

Yeah! - they shouted. - We finally caught you! Now you won't leave us!

What to do? Where to hide from merciless enemies?

But the doctor was not at a loss. In an instant, he jumped onto Tyanitolkai, and he galloped like the fastest horse. Barmaley's servants are behind him. But since Tyanitolkai had two heads, he bit everyone who tried to attack him from behind. And another will be hit with his horns and thrown into a thorny bush.

Of course, Pull Pull alone could never defeat all the villains. But his faithful friends and comrades rushed to the doctor’s aid. Out of nowhere, the Crocodile came running and began to grab the robbers by the bare heels. The dog Ava flew at them with a terrible growl, knocked them down and sank its teeth into their throats. And above, along the branches of the trees, the monkey Chichi rushed and threw large nuts at the robbers.

The robbers fell, groaned in pain, and in the end they were forced to retreat.

They fled in shame into the thicket of the forest.

Hooray! - Aibolit shouted.

Hooray! - the animals shouted.

And the pig Oink-Oink said:

Well, now we can rest. Let's lie down here on the grass. We are tired. We want to sleep.

No, my friends! - said the doctor. - We must hurry. If we hesitate, we will not be saved.

And they ran forward as fast as they could. Soon Tyanitolkai carried the doctor to the seashore. There, in the bay, near a high rock, stood a large and beautiful ship. It was Barmaley's ship.

We are saved! - the doctor was delighted.

There was not a single person on the ship. The doctor and all his animals quickly climbed onto the ship, raised the sails and wanted to set off into the open sea. But as soon as he set sail from the shore, Barmaley suddenly ran out of the forest.

Stop! - he shouted. - Stop! Wait a minute! Where have you taken my ship? Come back this very minute!

No! - the doctor shouted to the robber. - I don’t want to return to you. You are so cruel and evil. You tortured my animals. You threw me in jail. You wanted to kill me. You are my enemy! I hate you! And I take your ship from you so that you will no longer commit robbery at sea! So that you do not rob defenseless sea vessels passing by your shores.

Barmaley became terribly angry: he ran along the shore, cursed, shook his fists and threw huge stones after him. But Doctor Aibolit only laughed at him. He sailed on Barmaley's ship straight to his country and a few days later he landed on his native shores.

Chapter 17. PULL AND VARVARA

Ava, Bumba, Kika and Oink-Oink were very happy to return home. On the shore they saw Tanya and Vanya, who were jumping and dancing for joy. The sailor Robinson stood next to them.

Hello, sailor Robinson! - Doctor Aibolit shouted from the ship.

Hello, hello, doctor! - answered the sailor Robinson. - Was it good for you to travel? Did you manage to cure sick monkeys? And tell me, where did you put my ship?

“Ah,” answered the doctor, “your ship is lost!” He crashed on the rocks off the very coast of Africa. But I brought you a new ship, this one will be better than yours.

Well, thank you! - said Robinson. - I see this is an excellent ship. Mine was also good, but this one is just a sight for sore eyes: so big and beautiful!

The doctor said goodbye to Robinson, sat astride Tyanitolkai and rode through the city streets straight to his home. On every street, geese, cats, turkeys, dogs, piglets, cows, horses ran out to him, and they all shouted loudly:

Malakucha! Malakucha!

In animal terms this means:

“Long live Doctor Aibolit!”

Birds flocked from all over the city: they flew over the doctor’s head and sang funny songs to him.

The doctor was glad to have returned home.

Hedgehogs, hares and squirrels still lived in the doctor's office. At first they were afraid of Tyanitolkai, but then they got used to him and fell in love with him.

And Tanya and Vanya, when they saw Tyanitolkaya, laughed, squealed, and clapped their hands with joy. Vanya hugged one of his necks, and Tanya hugged the other. For an hour they stroked and caressed him. And then they held hands and danced “tkella” in joy - that cheerful animal dance that Chichi taught them.

You see,” said Doctor Aibolit, “I fulfilled my promise: I brought you a wonderful gift from Africa, the likes of which children have never been given before.” I'm very glad that you liked it.

At first, Tyanitolkai was shy of people, hiding in the attic or cellar. And then he got used to it and went out into the garden, and he even liked that people came running to look at him and affectionately called him the Miracle of Nature.

Less than a month had passed before he was already boldly walking through all the streets of the city together with Tanya and Vanya, who were inseparable from him. Children kept running up to him and asking him to give them a ride. He did not refuse anyone: he immediately dropped to his knees, boys and girls climbed onto his back, and he took them all over the city, all the way to the sea, cheerfully nodding his two heads.

And Tanya and Vanya wove beautiful multi-colored ribbons into his long mane and hung a silver bell on each neck. The bells were ringing, and when Tyanitolkai walked through the city, from afar you could hear: ding-ding, ding-ding, ding-ding! And, hearing this ringing, all the residents ran out into the street to take another look at the wonderful beast.

Evil Varvara also wanted to ride Tyanitolkai. She climbed onto his back and started hitting him with an umbrella:

Run quickly, two-headed donkey!

Tyanitolkay got angry, ran up a high mountain and threw Varvara into the sea.

Help! Save! - Varvara shouted.

But no one wanted to save her. Varvara began to drown.

Ava, Ava, dear Ava! Help me get to the shore! - she shouted.

But Ava answered: “Rry!..”

In animal language this means:

“I don’t want to save you, because you are evil and nasty!”

The old sailor Robinson sailed past on his ship. He threw Varvara a rope and pulled her out of the water. Just at this time, Doctor Aibolit was walking along the shore with his animals. He shouted to the sailor Robinson:

And the sailor Robinson took her far, far away, to a desert island, where she could not offend anyone.

And Doctor Aibolit lived happily in his small house and from morning to night he treated birds and animals that flew and came to him from all over the world.

Three years passed like this. And everyone was happy.

Part two

PENTA AND THE SEA PIRATES

Chapter 1. CAVE

Doctor Aibolit loved to walk.

Every evening after work, he took an umbrella and went with his animals somewhere into the forest or field.

Tianitolkai walked next to him, Kika the duck was running in front, Ava the dog and Oink-Oink the pig were behind him, and the old owl Bumba was sitting on the doctor’s shoulder.

They went very far, and when Doctor Aibolit was tired, he sat astride Tyanitolkai, and he merrily raced him through the mountains and meadows.

One day, while walking, they saw a cave on the seashore. They wanted to enter, but the cave was locked. There was a large lock on the door.

What do you think, said Ava, what is hidden in this cave?

There must be honey gingerbreads there,” said Tyanitolkai, who loved sweet honey gingerbreads more than anything in the world.

No, said Kika. - There are candies and nuts.

No, said Oink-Oink. - There are apples, acorns, beets, carrots...

“We need to find the key,” said the doctor. - Go find the key.

The animals ran in all directions and began to look for the key to the cave. They searched under every stone, under every bush, but did not find the key anywhere.

Then they again crowded around the locked door and began to look through the crack. But it was dark in the cave and they saw nothing. Suddenly the owl Bumba said:

Hush hush! It seems to me that there is something alive in the cave. It's either a man or a beast.

Everyone began to listen, but heard nothing.

Doctor Aibolit said to the owl:

I think you're wrong. I hear nothing.

Still would! - said the owl. - You can’t hear. You all have worse ears than mine.

Yes, said the animals. - We don't hear anything.

“And I hear,” said the owl.

What do you hear? - asked Doctor Aibolit.

I hear; a man put his hand in his pocket.

Such miracles! - said the doctor. “I didn’t know you had such wonderful hearing.” Listen again and tell me what you hear?

I hear a tear rolling down this man’s cheek.

A tear! - the doctor shouted. - A tear! Is there really someone crying behind the door? We need to help this person. He must be in great grief. I don't like it when they cry. Give me the axe. I'll break down this door.

Chapter 2. PENTA

Tyanitolkay ran home and brought the doctor a sharp ax. The doctor swung and hit the locked door with all his might. Once! Once! The door shattered into splinters, and the doctor entered the cave.

The cave is dark, cold, damp. And what an unpleasant, nasty smell it has!

The doctor lit a match. Oh, how uncomfortable and dirty it is here! No table, no bench, no chair! There is a pile of rotten straw on the floor, and a little boy sits on the straw and cries.

Seeing the doctor and all his animals, the boy got scared and cried even more. But when he noticed how kind the doctor’s face was, he stopped crying and said:

So you're not a pirate?

No, no, I'm not a pirate! - said the doctor and laughed. - I am Doctor Aibolit, not a pirate. Do I look like a pirate?

No! - said the boy. - Even though you have an axe, I’m not afraid of you. Hello! My name is Penta. Do you know where my father is?

“I don’t know,” the doctor answered. - Where could your father have gone? Who is he? Tell!

My father is a fisherman,” Penta said. - Yesterday we went out to sea to fish. Me and him, together in a fishing boat. Suddenly, sea robbers attacked our boat and took us prisoner. They wanted their father to become a pirate, so that he would rob and sink ships with them. But my father did not want to become a pirate. “I am an honest fisherman,” he said, “and I don’t want to commit robbery!” Then the pirates got terribly angry, grabbed him and took him to an unknown location, and they locked me in this cave. I haven't seen my father since then. Where is he? What did they do to him? They must have thrown him into the sea and he drowned!

The boy began to cry again.

Do not Cry! - said the doctor. - What's the use of tears? It’s better to think about how we can save your father from the robbers. Tell me, what is he like?

He has red hair and a red beard, very long.

Doctor Aibolit called Kiku the duck to him and quietly said in her ear:

Chari-bari, chava-cham!

Chuka-chuk! - Kika answered.

Hearing this conversation, the boy said:

How funny you say! I don't understand a word.

I talk to my animals like animals. “I know animal language,” said Doctor Aibolit.

What did you tell your duck?

I told her to call the dolphins.

Chapter 3. DOLPHINS

The duck ran to the shore and shouted in a loud voice:

Dolphins, dolphins, swim here! Doctor Aibolit is calling you.

The dolphins immediately swam to the shore.

Hello, doctor! - they shouted. - What do you want from us?

“There’s a problem,” said the doctor. - Yesterday morning, pirates attacked one fisherman, beat him and, it seems, threw him into the water. I'm afraid he drowned. Please search the entire sea. Will you find him in the depths of the sea?

What is he like? - asked the dolphins.

“Red,” the doctor answered. - He has red hair and a large, long red beard. Please find it!

“Okay,” said the dolphins. - We are glad to serve our beloved doctor. We will search the whole sea, we will ask all the crayfish and fish. If the red fisherman drowned, we will find him and tell you tomorrow.

The dolphins swam out to sea and began to look for the fisherman. They searched the whole sea up and down, they sank to the very bottom, they looked under every stone, they asked all the crayfish and fish, but nowhere did they find the drowned man.

In the morning they swam ashore and told Doctor Aibolit:

We haven't found your fisherman anywhere. We looked for him all night, but he was not in the depths of the sea.

The boy was very happy when he heard what the dolphins said.

So my father is alive! Alive! Alive! - he shouted and jumped and clapped his hands.

Of course he's alive! - said the doctor. - We will certainly find him!

He put the boy astride Tyanitolkai and rode him for a long time along the sandy seashore.

Chapter 4. EAGLES

But Penta remained sad all the time. Even riding Tyanitolkai did not amuse him. Finally he asked the doctor:

How will you find my father?

“I will call the eagles,” said the doctor. - Eagles have such keen eyes, they see far, far away. When they fly under the clouds, they see every insect that crawls on the ground. I will ask them to search the whole earth, all the forests, all the fields and mountains, all the cities, all the villages - let them look for your father everywhere.

Oh, how smart you are! - Penta said. - You came up with this wonderfully. Call the eagles quickly!

The doctor knows eagles, and the eagles flew to him.

Hello, doctor! What do you want?

Fly to all ends, said the doctor, and find a red-haired fisherman with a long red beard.

“Okay,” said the eagles. - We will do everything possible for our beloved doctor. We will fly high, high and examine the whole earth, all the forests and fields, all the mountains, cities and villages and try to find your fisherman.

And they flew high, high above the forests, above the fields, above the mountains. And each eagle peered vigilantly to see if there was a red-haired fisherman with a large red beard.

The next day the eagles flew to the doctor and said:

We searched the whole land, but did not find the fisherman anywhere. And if we haven’t seen him, it means he’s not on earth!

Chapter 5. ABBA THE DOG LOOKS FOR A FISHERMAN

What do we do? - asked Kika. - The fisherman must be found at all costs: Penta is crying, not eating, not drinking. He is sad without his father.

But how will you find him! - said Pull Pull. - The eagles didn’t find him either. That means no one will find it.

Not true! - Ava said. - Eagles, of course, are smart birds, and their eyes are very keen, but only a dog can search for a person. If you need to find a person, ask the dog, and it will certainly find him.

Why do you offend the eagles? - said Ava OinkOink. - Do you think it was easy for them to fly around the whole earth in one day, inspect all the mountains, forests and fields? You were lying on the sand, idle, and they were working and searching.

How dare you call me a slacker? - Ava got angry. - Do you know that if I want, I can find the fisherman in three days?

Well, whatever you want! - said Oink-Oink. - Why don’t you want to? Want it!.. You won’t find anything, you’ll just brag!

And Oink-Oink laughed.

So, do you think I'm a braggart? - Ava shouted angrily. - Well, okay, we'll see!

And she ran to the doctor.

Doctor! - she said. - Ask Penta to give you something that his father held in his hands.

The doctor went to the boy and said:

Do you have any thing that your father held in his hands?

Here,” said the boy and took a large red handkerchief from his pocket.

The dog ran up to the scarf and began to sniff it greedily.

“It smells like tobacco and herring,” she said. - His father smoked a pipe and ate good Dutch herring. I don’t need anything else... Doctor, tell the boy that in less than three days I will find his father. I'll run up that high mountain.

“But it’s dark now,” said the doctor. - You can’t search in the dark!

“Nothing,” said the dog. “I know its smell, and I don’t need anything else.” I can smell even in the dark.

The dog ran up a high mountain.

Today the wind is from the north, she said. - Let's smell what it smells like. Snow... A wet fur coat... another wet fur coat... wolves... seals, wolf cubs... smoke from a fire... birch...

Can you really smell so many smells in one breeze? - asked the doctor.

“Of course,” Ava said. - Every dog ​​has an amazing nose. Any puppy can smell smells that you will never smell.

And the dog began to sniff the air again. For a long time she did not say a word and finally said:

Polar bears... deer... little mushrooms in the forest... ice... snow, snow and... and... and...

Gingerbread? - asked Tyanitolkay.

No, not gingerbread,” Ava answered.

Nuts? - asked Kika.

No, not nuts,” Ava answered.

Apples? - asked Oink-Oink.

No, not apples,” Ava answered. - Not nuts, not gingerbread, not apples, but fir cones. This means there are no fisherman in the north. Let's wait for the wind to blow from the south.

“I don’t believe you,” said Oink-Oink. - You're making it all up. You don’t hear any smells, you’re just talking nonsense.

Leave me alone,” Ava shouted, “or I’ll bite your tail off!”

Hush hush! - said Doctor Aibolit. - Stop swearing!.. I see now, my dear Ava, that you really have an amazing nose. Let's wait until the wind changes. And now it's time to go home. Hurry! Penta is shaking and crying. He is cold. We need to feed him. Well, Pull, expose your back. Penta, mount! Ava and Kika, follow me!

Chapter 6. ABBA CONTINUES TO SEARCH FOR THE FISHERMAN

The next day, early in the morning, Ava again ran up the high mountain and began to smell the wind. The wind was from the south. Ava sniffed for a long time and finally said:

It smells like parrots, palm trees, monkeys, roses, grapes and lizards. But it doesn't smell like a fisherman.

Give it another sniff! - said Bumba.

It smells like giraffes, turtles, ostriches, hot sands, pyramids... But it doesn't smell like a fisherman.

You'll never find a fisherman! - Oink-Oink said with a laugh. - There was nothing to brag about.

Ava didn't answer. But the next day, early in the morning, she again ran up the high mountain and sniffed the air until the evening. Late in the evening she rushed to the doctor, who was sleeping with Penta.

Get up, get up! - she screamed. - Get up! I found a fisherman! Wake up! Enough sleep. Do you hear - I found a fisherman, I found, I found a fisherman! I can smell him. Yes Yes! The wind smells of tobacco and herring!

The doctor woke up and ran after the dog.

“The west wind is blowing from across the sea,” the dog shouted, “and I smell the fisherman!” He is across the sea, on the other side. Hurry, hurry there!

Ava barked so loudly that all the animals rushed to run up the high mountain. Penta is ahead of everyone.

“Run quickly to the sailor Robinson,” Ava shouted to the doctor, “and ask him to give you a ship!” Hurry up, otherwise it will be too late!

The doctor immediately started running to the place where the sailor Robinson’s ship stood.

Hello, sailor Robinson! - the doctor shouted. - Be so kind as to borrow your ship! I need to go to sea again on one very important matter,

Please, said the sailor Robinson. - But be careful not to get caught by pirates! Pirates are terrible villains, robbers! They will take you prisoner, and my ship will be burned or sunk...

But the doctor did not listen to the sailor Robinson. He jumped onto the ship, seated Penta and all the animals and rushed into the open sea.

Ava ran onto the deck and shouted to the doctor:

Zaksara! Zaksara! Xu!

In dog language this means:

“Look at my nose! On my nose! Wherever I turn my bow, lead your ship there.”

The doctor unfurled the sails and the ship ran even faster.

Hurry, hurry! - the dog screamed.

The animals stood on the deck and looked ahead to see if they would see the fisherman.

But Penta did not believe that his father could be found. He sat with his head down and cried.

Evening came. It became dark. Kika the duck said to the dog:

No, Ava, you won't find a fisherman! I feel sorry for poor Penta, but there is nothing to do - we must return home.

And then she turned to the doctor:

Doctor, doctor! Turn your ship around! We won't find a fisherman here either.

Suddenly the owl Bumba, who was sitting on the mast and looking forward, shouted:

I see a big rock in front of me - over there, far, far away!

Hurry there! - the dog screamed. - The fisherman is there on the rock. I can smell him... He's there!

Soon everyone saw that a rock was sticking out of the sea. The Doctor steered the ship straight towards this rock.

But the fisherman was nowhere to be seen.

I knew that Ava wouldn’t find the fisherman! - Oink-Oink said with a laugh. “I don’t understand how the doctor could believe such a braggart.”

The doctor ran up the rock and began to call the fisherman. But no one responded.

Gin-gin! - Bumba and Kika shouted.

“Gin-gin” means “ay” in animal language.

But only the wind rustled over the water and the waves crashed against the rocks.

Chapter 7. FOUND!

There was no fisherman on the rock. Ava jumped from the ship onto the rock and began running along it back and forth, sniffing every crack. And suddenly she barked loudly.

Kinedele! Nop! - she screamed. - Kinedele! Nop!

In animal language this means:

“Here, here! Doctor, follow me, follow me!

The doctor ran after the dog.

There was a small island next to the rock. Ava rushed there. The doctor did not lag behind her a single step. Ava ran back and forth and suddenly slipped into some kind of hole. It was dark in the pit. The doctor lowered himself into the pit and lit his lantern. And what? In a hole, on the bare ground, lay some red-haired man, terribly thin and pale.

It was Penta's father.

The doctor tugged at his sleeve and said:

Please get up. We've been looking for you for so long! We really, really need you!

The man thought it was a pirate, clenched his fists and said:

Get away from me, robber! I will defend myself to the last drop of blood!

But then he saw how kind the doctor’s face was and said:

I see that you are not a pirate. Give me something to eat. I am starving.

The doctor gave him bread and cheese. The man ate every last crumb and stood up.

How did you get here? - asked the doctor.

I was thrown here by evil pirates, bloodthirsty, cruel people! They didn't give me any food or drink. They took my dear son from me and took me to an unknown location. Do you know where my son is?

What is your son's name? - asked the doctor.

His name is Penta,” answered the fisherman.

“Follow me,” the doctor said and helped the fisherman get out of the hole.

Ava the dog ran ahead.

Penta saw from the ship that his father was coming towards him, and rushed towards the fisherman and shouted:

Found! Found! Hooray!

Everyone laughed, rejoiced, clapped their hands and sang:

Honor and glory to you,

Daring Ava!

Only Oink-Oink stood aside and sighed sadly.

Forgive me, Ava,” she said, “for laughing at you and calling you a braggart.”

Okay,” Ava answered, “I forgive you.” But if you hurt me again, I will bite your tail off.

The doctor took the red-haired fisherman and his son home to the village where they lived.

When the ship landed on the shore, the doctor saw a woman standing on the shore. It was Penta's mother, a fisherman. For twenty days and nights she stood on the shore and kept looking into the distance, out to sea: was her son returning home? Is her husband coming home?

Seeing Penta, she rushed to him and began to kiss him.

She kissed Penta, she kissed the red-haired fisherman, she kissed the doctor; she was so grateful to Ava that she wanted to kiss her too.

But Ava ran into the bushes and grumbled angrily:

What nonsense! I can't stand kissing! If she so wants, let him kiss Oink-Oink.

But Ava was only pretending to be angry. In fact, she was happy too.

In the evening the doctor said:

Well, goodbye! Time to go home.

No, no,” the fisherman shouted, “you must stay with us!” We will catch fish, bake pies and give Tyanitolkai sweet gingerbread.

“I would gladly stay another day,” said Tyanitolkay, smiling with both mouths.

And I! - Kika screamed.

And I! - Bumba picked up.

That's good! - said the doctor. - In that case, I will stay with them to stay with you.

And he went with all his animals to visit the fisherman and fisherman.

Chapter 8. ABBA RECEIVES A GIFT

The doctor rode into the village riding Tyanitolkai. When he drove along the main street, everyone bowed to him and shouted:

Long live the good doctor!

Village schoolchildren met him on the square and gave him a bouquet of wonderful flowers.

And then the dwarf came out, bowed to him and said:

I would like to see your Ava.

The dwarf's name was Bambuco. He was the oldest shepherd in that village. Everyone loved and respected him.

Ava ran up to him and waved her tail.

Bambuco took out a very beautiful dog collar from his pocket.

Ava the dog! - he said solemnly. - The residents of our village give you this beautiful collar because you found a fisherman who was kidnapped by pirates.

Ava wagged her tail and said:

You may remember that in animal language this means: “Thank you!”

Everyone began to look at the collar. In large letters on the collar was written:

ABVE IS THE SMARTEST. TO A KIND AND BRAVE DOG.

Aibolit stayed with Penta’s father and mother for three days. It was a very fun time. Tyanitolkai chewed sweet honey gingerbread from morning to night. Penta played the violin while OinkOink and Bumba danced. But the time has come to leave.

Goodbye! - the doctor said to the fisherman and fisherwoman, sat astride Tyanitolkai and rode to his ship.

The whole village saw him off.

It would be better if you stayed with us! - the dwarf Bambuco told him. - Now pirates roam the sea. They will attack you and take you captive along with all your animals.

I'm not afraid of pirates! - the doctor answered him. - I have a very fast ship. I will spread my sails and the pirates will not catch up with my ship!

With these words, the doctor set sail from the shore.

Everyone waved their handkerchiefs at him and shouted “hurray.”

Chapter 9. PIRATES

The ship ran quickly across the waves. On the third day, the travelers saw some deserted island in the distance. There were no trees, no animals, no people visible on the island - only sand and huge stones. But there, behind the stones, terrible pirates were hiding. When a ship sailed past their island, they attacked that ship, robbed and killed people, and let the ship sink. The pirates were very angry with the doctor because he kidnapped the red fisherman and Penta from them, and they had been lying in wait for him for a long time.

The pirates had a large ship, which they hid behind a wide rock.

The Doctor did not see either the pirates or their ship. He walked along the deck with his animals. The weather was beautiful, the sun was shining brightly. The doctor felt very happy. Suddenly the pig Oink-Oink said:

Look, what kind of ship is that there?

The doctor looked and saw that from behind the island on black sails some kind of black ship was approaching them - black, like ink, like soot.

I don't like these sails! - said the pig. - Why are they not white, but black? Only on ships do pirates have black sails.

Oink-Oink guessed right: villainous pirates were racing under black sails. They wanted to catch up with Doctor Aibolit and take cruel revenge on him for kidnapping the fisherman and Penta from them.

Quicker! Quicker! - the doctor shouted. - Unfurl all sails!

But the pirates were getting closer and closer.

They're catching up with us! - Kika shouted. - They're close. I see their scary faces! What evil eyes they have!.. What should we do? Where to run? Now they will attack us and throw us into the sea!

Look,” said Ava, “who is that standing there at the stern?” Don't you recognize it? This is him, this is the villain Barmaley! He has a saber in one hand and a pistol in the other. He wants to destroy us, shoot us, destroy us!

But the doctor smiled and said:

Don't be afraid, my dears, he won't succeed! I came up with a good plan. Do you see a swallow flying over the waves? She will help us escape from the robbers. - And he shouted in a loud voice: - Na-za-se! Na-za-se! Karachuy! Karabun!

In animal language this means:

“Swallow, swallow! Pirates are chasing us. They want to kill us and throw us into the sea!”

The swallow came down to his ship.

Listen, swallow, you have to help us! - said the doctor. - Karafu, marafu, duk!

In animal language this means:

“Fly quickly and call the cranes!”

The swallow flew away and a minute later returned with the cranes.

Hello, Doctor Aibolit! - the cranes shouted. - Don’t worry, we’ll help you out now!

The doctor tied a rope to the bow of the ship, the cranes took hold of the rope and pulled the ship forward.

There were a lot of cranes, they rushed forward very quickly and pulled the ship behind them. The ship flew like an arrow. The doctor even grabbed his hat to prevent it from flying into the water.

The animals looked back - the pirate ship with black sails was left far behind.

Thank you, cranes! - said the doctor. - You saved us from pirates.

If it weren't for you, we would all be lying at the bottom of the sea.

Chapter 10. WHY DID THE RATS ESCAPE?

It was not easy for the cranes to drag a heavy ship behind them. After a few hours they were so tired that they almost fell into the sea. Then they pulled the ship to the shore, said goodbye to the doctor and flew away to their native swamp.

But then the owl Bumba came up to him and said:

Look there. You see, there are rats on the deck! They jump from the ship straight into the sea and swim to the shore one after another!

That's good! - said the doctor. - Rats are evil, cruel, and I don’t like them.

No, this is very bad! - Bumba said with a sigh. - After all, rats live below, in the hold, and as soon as a leak appears at the bottom of the ship, they see this leak before anyone else, jump into the water and swim straight to the shore. This means our ship will sink. Just listen to what the rats are saying.

Just at this time two rats crawled out of the hold. And the old rat said to the young one:

Last night I went to my hole and saw that water was pouring into the crack. Well, I think we need to run. Tomorrow this ship will sink. Run away before it's too late.

And both rats rushed into the water.

Yes, yes,” cried the doctor, “I remembered!” Rats always run away before the ship sinks. We must escape from the ship now, otherwise we will go down with it! Animals, follow me! Quicker! Quicker!

He collected his things and quickly ran ashore. The animals hurried after him. They walked for a long time along the sandy shore and were very tired.

Let’s sit down and rest,” said the doctor. - And let's think about what to do.

Are we really going to stay here for the rest of our lives? - said Tyanitolkay and began to cry.

Large tears rolled down from all four of his eyes.

And all the animals began to cry with him, because everyone really wanted to return home.

But suddenly a swallow flew in.

Doctor, doctor! - she screamed. - A great misfortune has happened: your ship has been captured by pirates!

The doctor jumped to his feet.

What are they doing on my ship? - he asked.

“They want to rob him,” answered the swallow. - Run quickly and drive them out of there!

No,” said the doctor with a cheerful smile, “there is no need to drive them away.” Let them sail on my ship. They won't swim far, you'll see! We’d better go and, before they notice, we’ll take their ship in exchange. Let's go and capture the pirate ship!

And the doctor rushed along the shore. Behind him - Pull and all the animals.

Here comes the pirate ship.

There's no one on it! All the pirates are on Aibolit's ship!

Hush, hush, don't make noise! - said the doctor. - Let’s sneak onto the pirate ship slowly so that no one sees us!

Chapter 11. Trouble after Trouble

The animals quietly boarded the ship, quietly raised the black sails and quietly sailed along the waves. The pirates didn't notice anything.

And suddenly a big disaster happened.

The fact is that the pig Oink-Oink caught a cold.

At that very moment, when the doctor tried to silently swim past the pirates, Oink-Oink sneezed loudly. And once, and twice, and three times.

The pirates heard someone sneezing. They ran out onto the deck and saw that the doctor had captured their ship.

Stop! Stop! - they shouted and set off after him.

The Doctor let go of his sails. The pirates are about to catch up with their ship. But he rushes forward and forward, and little by little the pirates begin to fall behind.

Hooray! We are saved! - the doctor shouted.

But then the most terrible pirate, Barmaley, raised his pistol and fired. The bullet hit Tyanitolkay in the chest. Tyanitolkai staggered and fell into the water.

Doctor, doctor, help! I am drowninig!

Poor Pull-Push! - the doctor shouted. - Stay in the water a little longer! Now I will help you.

The Doctor stopped his ship and threw a rope to Pull-Push.

Pull and Pull grabbed the rope with his teeth. The doctor dragged the wounded animal onto the deck, bandaged its wound and set off again. But it was too late: the pirates rushed with full sail.

We'll finally catch you! - they shouted. - And you and all your animals! There, on your mast, sits a nice duck! We'll fry her soon. Haha, this will be a delicious meal. We'll roast the pig too. We haven't eaten ham for a long time! Tonight we'll have pork cutlets. Ho-ho-ho! And you, doctor, we’ll throw you into the sea - among the toothy sharks,

Oink-Oink heard these words and began to cry.

Poor me, poor me! - she said. - I don't want to be fried and eaten by pirates!

Ava also cried - she felt sorry for the doctor:

I don't want him to be swallowed by sharks!

Chapter 12. THE DOCTOR IS SAVED!

Only the owl Bumba was not afraid of the pirates. She calmly said to Ava and Oink-Oink:

How stupid you are! What are you afraid of? Don't you know that the ship on which the pirates are chasing us will soon sink? Remember what the rat said? She said that today the ship will certainly sink. There is a wide gap in it and it is full of water. And the pirates will drown along with the ship. What have you to fear? The pirates will drown, but we will remain safe and sound.

But Oink-Oink continued to cry.

By the time the pirates drown, they will have time to fry both Kiku and me! - she said.

Meanwhile, the pirates were sailing closer and closer. Ahead, at the bow of the ship, stood the chief pirate, Barmaley. He waved his saber and shouted loudly:

Hey you monkey doctor! You don't have long to heal the monkeys - soon we'll throw you into the sea! There you will be swallowed by sharks.

The doctor shouted back:

Beware, Barmaley, lest the sharks swallow you! There is a leak in your ship, and you will soon go to the bottom!

You are lying! - Barmaley shouted. - If my ship sank, rats would run away from it!

The rats have long since escaped, and soon you will be at the bottom along with all your pirates!

Only then did the pirates notice that their ship was slowly sinking into the water. They began to run around the deck, began to cry, and shouted:

Save!

But no one wanted to save them.

The ship sank deeper and deeper to the bottom. Soon the pirates found themselves in the water. They floundered in the waves and kept shouting:

Help, help, we're drowning!

Barmaley swam to the ship on which the doctor was and began to climb the rope onto the deck. But the dog Ava bared his teeth and said menacingly: “Rrr!..” Barmaley got scared, screamed and flew headfirst back into the sea.

Help! - he shouted. - Save me! Get me out of the water!

Chapter 13. OLD FRIENDS

Suddenly sharks appeared on the surface of the sea - huge, scary fish with sharp teeth and a wide open mouth.

They chased the pirates and soon swallowed them all.

That's where they belong! - said the doctor. - After all, they robbed, tortured, killed innocent people. So they paid for their crimes.

The doctor swam for a long time on the stormy sea. And suddenly he heard someone shouting:

Boen! Boen! Baravan! Baven!

In animal language this means:

"Doctor, doctor, stop your ship!"

The Doctor lowered his sails. The ship stopped and everyone saw Karudo the parrot. He flew quickly over the sea.

Carudo! It's you? - the doctor cried. - How glad I am to see you! Fly, fly here!

Carudo flew up to the ship, sat on the high mast and shouted:

Look who's following me! Over there, right on the horizon, in the west!

The doctor looked at the sea and saw that a Crocodile was swimming far, far away in the sea. And on the back of the Crocodile sits the monkey Chichi. She waves a palm leaf and laughs.

The Doctor immediately sent his ship towards Crocodile and Chichi and lowered a rope from the ship for them.

They climbed the rope onto the deck, rushed to the doctor and began to kiss him on the lips, cheeks, beard, and eyes.

How did you end up in the middle of the sea? - the doctor asked them.

He was happy to see his old friends again.

Ah, doctor! - said the Crocodile. - We were so bored without you in our Africa! It's boring without Kiki, without Ava, without Bumba, without cute Oink-Oink! We so wanted to return to your house, where squirrels live in the closet, a prickly hedgehog on the sofa, and a hare with her babies in the chest of drawers. We decided to leave Africa, cross all the seas and settle with you for life.

Please! - said the doctor. - I am very happy.

Hooray! - Bumba screamed.

Hooray! - all the animals shouted.

And then they held hands and began to dance around the mast:

Shita rita, tita drita!

Shivandada, shivanda!

We are our native Aibolit

We will never leave!

Only the monkey Chichi sat aside and sighed sadly.

What happened to you? - asked Tyanitolkay.

Ah, I remembered the evil Varvara! Again she will offend us and torment us!

“Don’t be afraid,” cried Tyanitolkay. - Varvara is no longer in our house! I threw her into the sea, and she now lives on a desert island.

On a desert island?

Everyone was happy - Chichi, Crocodile, and Carudo: Varvara lives on a desert island!

Long live Tyanitolkay! - they shouted and started dancing again:

Shivandars, shivandars,

Hazelnuts and hazelnuts!

It's good that Varvara is not there!

It's more fun without Varvara! Tyanitolkai nodded his two heads at them, and both his mouths smiled.

The ship raced with full sails, and by evening the duck Kika, having climbed the high mast, saw her native shores.

We've arrived! - she screamed. - Another hour and we will be home!.. In the distance is our city - Pindemonte. But what is it? Look, look! Fire! The whole city is on fire! Is our house on fire? Oh, what horror! What a misfortune!

There was a high glow over the city of Pindemonte.

Hurry to the shore! - the doctor commanded. - We must put out this fire! Let's take buckets and fill it with water!

But then Karudo flew up the mast. He looked through the telescope and suddenly laughed so loudly that everyone looked at him in surprise.

You don’t need to put out this flame,” he said and laughed again, “because it’s not a fire at all.”

What is it? - asked Doctor Aibolit.

Illuminations! - answered Karudo.

What does it mean? - asked Oink-Oink. - I have never heard such a strange word.

Now you’ll find out,” said the parrot. - Be patient for ten more minutes.

Ten minutes later, when the ship approached the shore, everyone immediately understood what illumination was. On all the houses and towers, on the coastal cliffs, on the tops of the trees - lanterns were shining everywhere: red, green, yellow, and on the shore there were bonfires, the bright flames of which rose almost to the sky.

Women, men and children in festive, beautiful clothes danced around these fires and sang funny songs.

As soon as they saw that the ship on which Doctor Aibolit had returned from his journey had moored to the shore, they clapped their hands, laughed and everyone, as one person, rushed to greet him.

Long live Doctor Aibolit! - they shouted. - Glory to Doctor Aibolit!

The doctor was surprised. He did not expect such a meeting. He thought that only Tanya and Vanya and, perhaps, the old sailor Robinson would meet him, but he was met by a whole city with torches, with music, with cheerful songs! What's the matter? Why is he being honored? Why is his return celebrated so much?

He wanted to get on Tyanitolkaya and go to his home, but the crowd picked him up and carried him in their arms - straight to the wide Primorskaya Square.

People looked from all the windows and threw flowers to the doctor.

The doctor smiled, bowed - and suddenly saw Tanya and Vanya making their way towards him through the crowd.

When they approached him, he hugged them, kissed them and asked:

How did you know that I defeated Barmaley?

“We learned about this from Penta,” Tanya and Vanya answered. - Penta came to our city and told us that you freed him from terrible captivity and saved his father from robbers.

Only then did the doctor see that Penta was standing on a hillock, far, far away, waving his father’s red handkerchief at him.

Hello Penta! - the doctor shouted to him.

But at that moment the old sailor Robinson approached the doctor, smiling, shook his hand firmly and said in such a loud voice that everyone in the square heard him:

Dear, beloved Aibolit! We are so grateful to you for clearing the entire sea of ​​vicious pirates who stole our ships. After all, until now we have not dared to go on a long voyage, because pirates threatened us. And now the sea is free and our ships are safe. We are proud that such a brave hero will fall in our city. We have built a wonderful ship for you, and let us bring it to you as a gift.

Glory to you, our beloved, our fearless doctor Aibolit! - the crowd shouted in one voice. - Thank you, thank you!

The doctor bowed to the crowd and said:

Thank you for the kind meeting! I'm happy that you love me. But I would never, never have been able to cope with the sea pirates if my faithful friends, my animals, had not helped me. Here they are here with me, and I want to welcome them with all my heart and express my gratitude to them for their selfless friendship!

Hooray! - the crowd shouted. - Glory to the fearless animals of Aibolit!

After this solemn meeting, the doctor sat on Tyanitolkaya and, accompanied by animals, headed to the door of his house.

The bunnies, squirrels, hedgehogs and bats were happy to see him!

But before he could greet them, a noise was heard in the sky. The doctor ran out onto the porch and saw that it was cranes flying. They flew up to his house and, without saying a word, brought him a large basket of magnificent fruits: the basket contained dates, apples, pears, bananas, peaches, grapes, oranges!

This is for you, doctor, from the Land of the Monkeys!

The doctor thanked them and they immediately flew back.

And an hour later a great feast began in the doctor’s garden. On long benches, at a long table, in the light of multi-colored lanterns, all Aibolit’s friends sat down: Tanya, Vanya, Penta, the old sailor Robinson, the swallow, Oink-Oink, Chichi, Kika, Carudo, and Bumba. , and Tyanitolkay, and Ava, and squirrels, and hares, and hedgehogs, and bats.

The doctor treated them to honey, candies and gingerbread, as well as those sweet fruits that were sent to him from the Land of the Monkeys.

The feast was a great success. Everyone joked, laughed and sang, and then got up from the table and went to dance right there in the garden, in the light of multi-colored lanterns.