Паутина Шарлотты
Chapter 9
"Butdoyouknowhowlongittookmentobuildit?Eightwholeyears.Mygoodness,Iwouldhavestarvedtodeathwaitingthatlong.Icanmakeawebinasingleevening."
"WhatdopeoplecatchintheQueensboroughBridge-bugs?"
askedWilbur.
"No,"saidCharlotte."Theydon’tcatchanything.Theyjustkeeptrottingbackandforthacrossthebridgethinkingthereissomethingbetterontheotherside.Ifthey’dhanghead-downatthetopofthethingandwaitquietly,maybesomethinggoodwouldcomealong.Butno-withmenit’srush,rush,rush,everyminute.I’mgladI’masedentaryspider."
"Whatdoessedentarymean?"askedWilbur.
"MeansIsitstillagoodpartofthetimeanddon’tgowanderingallovercreation.IknowagoodthingwhenIseeit,andmywebisagoodthing.Istayputandwaitforwhatcomes.Givesmeachancetothink."
"Well,I’msortofsedentarymyself,Iguess,"saidthepig.
"IhavetohangaroundherewhetherIwanttoornot.YouknowwhereI’dreallyliketobethisevening?"
"Where?"
"Inaforestlookingforbeechnutsandtrufflesanddelectableroots,pushingleavesasidewithmywonderfulstrongnose,searchingandsniffingalongtheground,smelling,smelling,smelling…"
"Yousmelljustthewayyouare,"remarkedalambwhohadjustwalkedin."Icansmellyoufromhere.You’rethesmelliestcreatureintheplace."
Wilburhunghishead.Hiseyesgrewwetwithtears.
Charlottenoticedhisembarrassmentandshespokesharplytothelamb.
"LetWilburalone!"shesaid."Hehasaperfectrighttosmell,consideringhissurroundings.
