Чарли и шоколадная фабрика
The First Two Finders
Andnowthewholecountry,indeed,thewholeworld,seemedsuddenlytobecaughtupinamadchocolate-buyingspree, everybodysearchingfranticallyforthosepreciousremainingtickets. FullygrownwomenwereseengoingintosweetshopsandbuyingtenWonkabarsatatime,thentearingoffthewrappersonthespotandpeeringeagerlyunderneathforaglintofgoldenpaper. Childrenweretakinghammersandsmashingtheirpiggybanksandrunningouttotheshopswithhandfulsofmoney. Inonecity,afamousgangsterrobbedabankofathousandpoundsandspentthewholelotonWonkabarsthatsameafternoon. Andwhenthepoliceenteredhishousetoarresthim,theyfoundhimsittingontheflooramidstmountainsofchocolate,rippingoffthewrapperswiththebladeofalongdagger. Infar-offRussia,awomancalledCharlotteRusseclaimedtohavefoundthesecondticket,butitturnedouttobeacleverfake. ThefamousEnglishscientist,ProfessorFoulbody,inventedamachinewhichwouldtellyouatonce,withoutopeningthewrapperofabarofchocolate,whetherornottherewasaGoldenTickethiddenunderneathit. Themachinehadamechanicalarmthatshotoutwithtremendousforceandgrabbedholdofanythingthathadtheslightestbitofgoldinsideit,andforamoment,itlookedliketheanswertoeverything. Butunfortunately,whiletheProfessorwasshowingoffthemachinetothepublicatthesweetcounterofalargedepartmentstore,themechanicalarmshotoutandmadeagrabforthegoldfillinginthebacktoothofaduchesswhowasstandingnearby. Therewasanuglyscene,andthemachinewassmashedbythecrowd.
Suddenly,onthedaybeforeCharlieBucket’sbirthday,thenewspapersannouncedthatthesecondGoldenTickethadbeenfound. TheluckypersonwasasmallgirlcalledVerucaSaltwholivedwithherrichparentsinagreatcityfaraway.
