Мэри Поппинс
Full Moon
JustbytheElephantStandaverylarge,veryfatoldgentlemanwaswalkingupanddownonallfours,andonhisback,ontwosmallparallelseats,wereeightmonkeysgoingforaride.
"Why,it’sallupsidedown!"exclaimedJane.
Theoldgentlemangaveheranangrylookashewentpast.
"Upsidedown!"hesnorted."Me!Upsidedown?Certainlynot.Grossinsult!"Theeightmonkeyslaughedrudely.
"Oh,please—Ididn’tmeanyou—butthewholething,"explainedJane,hurryingafterhimtoapologise."Onordinarydaystheanimalscarryhumanbeingsandnowthere’sahumanbeingcarryingtheanimals.That’swhatImeant."
Buttheoldgentleman,shufflingandpanting,insistedthathehadbeeninsulted,andhurriedawaywiththemonkeysscreamingonhisback.
Janesawitwasnogoodfollowinghim,soshetookMichael’shandandmovedonwards.Theywerestartledwhenavoice,almostattheirfeet,hailedthem.
"Comeon,youtwo!Inyoucome.Let’sseeyoudiveforabitoforange-peelyoudon’twant."Itwasabitter,angryvoice,andlookingdowntheysawthatitcamefromasmallblackSealwhowasleeringatthemfromamoonlitpoolofwater.
"Comeon,now—andseehowyoulikeit!"hesaid.
"But—butwecan’tswim!"saidMichael.
"Can’thelpthat!"saidtheSeal."Youshouldhavethoughtofthatbefore.NobodyeverbotherstofindoutwhetherIcanswimornot.Eh,what?What’sthat?"
HespokethelastquestiontoanotherSealwhohademergedfromthewaterandwaswhisperinginhisear.
"Who?"saidthefirstSeal."Speakup!"
ThesecondSealwhisperedagain.
