Паутина Шарлотты
Chapter 5
"Shegrabbedthefly,threwafewjetsofsilkaroundit,androlleditoverandover,wrappingitsothatitcouldn’tmove.Wilburwatchedinhorror.Hecouldhardlybelievewhathewasseeing,andalthoughhedetestedflies,hewassorryforthisone.
"There!"saidCharlotte."NowIknockhimout,sohe’llbemorecomfortable."Shebitthefly."Hecan’tfeelathingnow,"sheremarked."He’llmakeaperfectbreakfastforme."
"Youmeanyoueatflies?"gaspedWilbur.
"Certainly.Flies,bugs,grasshoppers,choicebeetles,moths,butterflies,tastycockroaches,gnats,midges,daddylonglegs,centipedes,mosquitoes,crickets-anythingthatiscarelessenoughtogetcaughtinmyweb.Ihavetolive,don’tI?"
"Why,yes,ofcourse,"saidWilbur."Dotheytastegood?"
"Delicious.Ofcourse,Idon’treallyeatthem.Idrinkthem-drinktheirblood.Iloveblood,"saidCharlotte,andherpleasant,thinvoicegreweventhinnerandmorepleasant.
"Don’tsaythat!"groanedWilbur."Pleasedon’tsaythingslikethat!"
"Whynot?It’strue,andIhavetosaywhatistrue.Iamnotentirelyhappyaboutmydietoffliesandbugs,butit’sthewayI’mmade.Aspiderhastopickupalivingsomehoworother,andIhappentobeatrapper.Ijustnaturallybuildawebandtrapfliesandotherinsects.Mymotherwasatrapperbeforeme.
Hermotherwasatrapperbeforeher.Allourfamilyhavebeentrappers.Waybackforthousandsandthousandsofyearswespidershavebeenlayingforfliesandbugs."
"It’samiserableinheritance,"saidWilbur,gloomily.Hewassadbecausehisnewfriendwassobloodthirsty.
