查理和巧克力工厂 作者:[英]罗尔德·达尔-第6部分

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nwrap　it！　That　thing's　precious！'
　　In　a　few　seconds；　there　was　a　crowd　of　about　twenty　people　clustering　around　Charlie；　and　many　more　were　pushing　their　way　in　from　the　street。　Everybody　wanted　to　get　a　look　at　the　Golden　Ticket　and　at　the　lucky　finder。
　　'Where　is　it？'　somebody　shouted。　'Hold　it　up　so　all　of　us　can　see　it！'
　　'There　it　is；　there！'　someone　else　shouted。　'He's　holding　it　in　his　hands！　See　the　gold　shining！'
　　'How　did　he　manage　to　find　it；　I'd　like　to　know？'　a　large　boy　shouted　angrily。　'Twenty　bars　a　day　I've　been　buying　for　weeks　and　weeks！'
　　'Think　of　all　the　free　stuff　he'll　be　getting　too！'　another　boy　said　enviously。　'A　lifetime　supply！'
　　'He'll　need　it；　the　skinny　little　shrimp！'　a　girl　said；　laughing。
　　Charlie　hadn't　moved。　He　hadn't　even　unwrapped　the　Golden　Ticket　from　around　the　chocolate。　He　was　standing　very　still；　holding　it　tightly　with　both　hands　while　the　crowd　pushed　and　shouted　all　around　him。　He　felt　quite　dizzy。　There　was　a　peculiar　floating　sensation　ing　over　him；　as　though　he　were　floating　up　in　the　air　like　a　balloon。　His　feet　didn't　seem　to　be　touching　the　ground　at　all。　He　could　hear　his　heart　thumping　away　loudly　somewhere　in　his　throat。
　　At　that　point；　he　became　aware　of　a　hand　resting　lightly　on　his　shoulder；　and　when　he　looked　up；　he　saw　a　tall　man　standing　over　him。　'Listen；'　the　man　whispered。　'I'll　buy　it　from　you。　I'll　give　you　fifty　pounds。　How　about　it；　eh？　And　I'll　give　you　a　new　bicycle　as　well。　Okay？'
　　'Are　you　crazy？'　shouted　a　woman　who　was　standing　equally　close。　'Why；　I'd　give　him　two　hundred　pounds　for　that　ticket！　You　want　to　sell　that　ticket　for　two　hundred　pounds；　young　man？'
　　'That's　quite　enough　of　that！'　the　fat　shopkeeper　shouted；　pushing　his　way　through　the　crowd　and　taking　Charlie　firmly　by　the　arm。　'Leave　the　kid　alone；　will　you！　Make　way　there！　Let　him　out！'　And　to　Charlie；　as　he　led　him　to　the　door；　he　whispered；　'Don't　you　let　anybody　have　it！　Take　it　straight　home；　quickly；　before　you　lose　it！　Run　all　the　way　and　don't　stop　till　you　get　there；　you　understand？'
　　Charlie　nodded。
　　'You　know　something；'　the　fat　shopkeeper　said；　pausing　a　moment　and　smiling　at　Charlie；　'I　have　a　feeling　you　needed　a　break　like　this。　I'm　awfully　glad　you　got　it。　Good　luck　to　you；　sonny。'
　　'Thank　you；'　Charlie　said；　and　off　he　went；　running　through　the　snow　as　fast　as　his　legs　would　go。　And　as　he　flew　past　Mr　Willy　Wonka's　factory；　he　turned　and　waved　at　it　and　sang　out；　'I'll　be　seeing　you！　I'll　be　seeing　you　soon！'　And　five　minutes　later　he　arrived　at　his　own　home。
　　12
　　What　It　Said　on　the　Golden　Ticket
　　Charlie　burst　through　the　front　door；　shouting；　'Mother！　Mother！　Mother！'
　　Mrs　Bucket　was　in　the　old　grandparents'　room；　serving　them　their　evening　soup。
　　'Mother！'　yelled　Charlie；　rushing　in　on　them　like　a　hurricane。　'Look！　I've　got　it！　Look；　Mother；　look！　The　last　Golden　Ticket！　It's　mine！　I　found　some　money　in　the　street　and　I　bought　two　bars　of　chocolate　and　the　second　one　had　the　Golden　Ticket　and　there　were　crowds　of　people　all　around　me　wanting　to　see　it　and　the　shopkeeper　rescued　me　and　I　ran　all　the　way　home　and　here　I　am！　IT'S　THE　FIFTH　GOLDEN　TICKET；　MOTHER；　AND　I'VE　FOUND　IT！'
　　Mrs　Bucket　simply　stood　and　stared；　while　the　four　old　grandparents；　who　were　sitting　up　in　bed　balancing　bowls　of　soup　on　their　laps；　all　dropped　their　spoons　with　a　clatter　and　froze　against　their　pillows。
　　For　about　ten　seconds　there　was　absolute　silence　in　the　room。　Nobody　dared　to　speak　or　move。　It　was　a　magic　moment。
　　Then；　very　softly；　Grandpa　Joe　said；　'You're　pulling　our　legs；　Charlie；　aren't　you？　You're　having　a　little　joke？'
　　'I　am　not！'　cried　Charlie；　rushing　up　to　the　bed　and　holding　out　the　large　and　beautiful　Golden　Ticket　for　him　to　see。
　　Grandpa　Joe　leaned　forward　and　took　a　close　look；　his　nose　almost　touching　the　ticket。　The　others　watched　him；　waiting　for　the　verdict。
　　Then　very　slowly；　with　a　slow　and　marvellous　grin　spreading　all　over　his　face；　Grandpa　Joe　lifted　his　head　and　looked　straight　at　Charlie。　The　colour　was　rushing　to　his　cheeks；　and　his　eyes　were　wide　open；　shining　with　joy；　and　in　the　centre　of　each　eye；　right　in　the　very　centre；　in　the　black　pupil；　a　little　spark　of　wild　excitement　was　slowly　dancing。　Then　the　old　man　took　a　deep　breath；　and　suddenly；　with　no　warning　whatsoever；　an　explosion　seemed　to　take　place　inside　him。　He　threw　up　his　arms　and　yelled　'Yippeeeeeeee！'　And　at　the　same　time；　his　long　bony　body　rose　up　out　of　the　bed　and　his　bowl　of　soup　went　flying　into　the　face　of　Grandma　Josephine；　and　in　one　fantastic　leap；　this　old　fellow　of　ninety…six　and　a　half；　who　hadn't　been　out　of　bed　these　last　twenty　years；　jumped　on　to　the　floor　and　started　doing　a　dance　of　victory　in　his　pyjamas。
　　'Yippeeeeeeeeee！'　he　shouted。　'Three　cheers　for　Charlie！　Hip；　hip；　hooray！'
　　At　this　point；　the　door　opened；　and　Mr　Bucket　walked　into　the　room。　He　was　cold　and　tired；　and　he　looked　it。　All　day　long；　he　had　been　shovelling　snow　in　the　streets。
　　'Cripes！'　he　cried。　'What's　going　on　in　here？'
　　It　didn't　take　them　long　to　tell　him　what　had　happened。
　　'I　don't　believe　it！'　he　said。　'It's　not　possible。'
　　'Show　him　the　ticket；　Charlie！'　shouted　Grandpa　Joe；　who　was　still　dancing　around　the　floor　like　a　dervish　in　his　striped　pyjamas。　'Show　your　father　the　fifth　and　last　Golden　Ticket　in　the　world！'
　　'Let　me　see　it；　Charlie；'　Mr　Bucket　said；　collapsing　into　a　chair　and　holding　out　his　hand。　Charlie　came　forward　with　the　precious　document。
　　It　was　a　very　beautiful　thing；　this　Golden　Ticket；　having　been　made；　so　it　seemed；　from　a　sheet　of　pure　gold　hammered　out　almost　to　the　thinness　of　paper。　On　one　side　of　it；　printed　by　some　clever　method　in　jet…black　letters；　was　the　invitation　itself　—　from　Mr　Wonka。
　　'Read　it　aloud；'　said　Grandpa　Joe；　climbing　back　into　bed　again　at　last。　'Let's　all　hear　exactly　what　it　says。'
　　Mr　Bucket　held　the　lovely　Golden　Ticket　up　close　to　his　eyes。　His　hands　were　trembling　slightly；　and　he　seemed　to　be　overe　by　the　whole　business。　He　took　several　deep　breaths。　Then　he　cleared　his　throat；　and　said；　'All　right；　I'll　read　it。　Here　we　go：
　　'Greetings　to　you；　the　lucky　finder　of　this　Golden　Ticket；　from　Mr　Willy　Wonka！　I　shake　you　warmly　by　the　hand！　Tremendous　things　are　in　store　for　you！　Many　wonderful　surprises　await　you！　For　now；　I　do　invite　you　to　e　to　my　factory　and　be　my　guest　for　one　whole　day　—　you　and　all　others　who　are　lucky　enough　to　find　my　Golden　Tickets。　I；　Willy　Wonka；　will　conduct　you　around　the　factory　myself；　showing　you　everything　that　there　is　to　see；　and　afterwards；　when　it　is　time　to　leave；　you　will　be　escorted　home　by　a　procession　of　large　trucks。　These　trucks；　I　can　promise　you；　will　be　loaded　with　enough　delicious　eatables　to　last　you　and　your　entire　household　for　many　years。　If；　at　any　time　thereafter；　you　should　run　out　of　supplies；　you　have　only　to　e　back　to　the　factory　and　show　this　Golden　Ticket；　and　I　shall　be　happy　to　refill　your　cupboard　with　whatever　you　want。　In　this　way；　you　will　be　able　to　keep　yourself　supplied　with　tasty　morsels　for　the　rest　of　your　life。　But　this　is　by　no　means　the　most　exciting　thing　that　will　happen　on　the　day　of　your　visit。　I　am　preparing　other　surprises　that　are　even　more　marvellous　and　more　fantastic　for　you　and　for　all　my　beloved　Golden　Ticket　holders　—　mystic　and　marvellous　surprises　that　will　entrance；　delight；　intrigue；　astonish；　and　perplex　you　beyond　measure。　In　your　wildest　dreams　you　could　not　imagine　that　such　things　could　happen　to　you！　Just　wait　and　see！　And　now；　here　are　your　instructions：　the　day　I　have　chosen　for　the　visit　is　the　first　day　in　the　month　of　February。　On　this　day；　and　on　no　other；　you　must　e　to　the　factory　gates　at　ten　o'clock　sharp　in　the　morning。　Don't　be　late！　And　you　are　allowed　to　bring　with　you　either　one　or　two　members　of　your　own　family　to　look　after　you　and　to　ensure　that　you　don't　get　into　mischief。　One　more　thing　—　be　certain　to　have　this　ticket　with　you；　otherwise　you　will　not　be　admitted。
　　（Signed）　Willy　Wonka。'
　　'The　first　day　of　February！'　cried　Mrs　Bucket。　'But　that's　tomorrow！　Today　is　the　last　day　of　January。　I　know　it　is！'
　　'Cripes！'　said　Mr　Bucket。　'I　think　you're　right！'
　　'You're　just　in　time！'　shouted　Grandpa　Joe。　'There's　not　a　moment　to　lose。　You　must　start　making　preparations　at　once！　Wash　your　face；　b　your　hair；　scrub　your　hands；　brush　your　teeth；　blow　your　nose；　cut　your　nails；　polish　your　shoes；　iron　your　shirt；　and　for　heaven's　sake；　get　all　that　mud　off　your　pants！　You　must　get　ready；　my　boy！　You　must　get　ready　for　the　biggest　day　of　your　life！'
　　'Now　don't　over…excite　yourself；　Grandpa；'　Mrs　Bucket　said。　'And　don't　fluster　poor　Charlie。　We　must　all　try　to　keep　very　calm。　Now　the　first　thing　to　decide　is　this　—　who　is　going　to　go　with　Charlie　to　the　factory？'
　　'I　will！'　shouted　Grandpa　Joe；　leaping　out　of　bed　once　again。　'I'll　take　him！　I'll　look　after　him！　You　leave　it　to　me！'
　　Mrs　Bucket　smiled　at　the　old　man；　then　she　turned　to　her　husband　and　said；　'How　about　you；　dear？　Don't　you　think　you　ought　to　go？'
　　'Well　。　。　。'　Mr　Bucket　said；　pausing　to　think　about　it；　'no　。　。　。　I'm　not　so　sure　that　I　should。'
　　'But　you　must。'
　　'There's　no　must　about　it；　my　dear；'　Mr　Bucket　said　gently。　'Mind　you；　I'd　love　to　go。　It'll　be　tremendously　exciting。　But　on　the　other　hand　。　。　。　I　believe　that　the　person　who　really　deserves　to　go　most　of　all　is　Grandpa　Joe　himself。　He　seems　to　know　more　about　it　than　we　do。　Provided；　of　course；　that　he　feels　well　enough　。　。　。'
　　'Yippeeeeee！'　shouted　Grandpa　Joe；　seizing　Charlie　by　the　hands　and　dancing　round　the　room。
　　'He　certainly　seems　well　enough；'　Mrs　Bucket　said；　laughing。　'Yes　。　。　。　perhaps　you're　right　after　all。　Perhaps　Grandpa　Joe　should　be　the　one　to　go　with　him。　I　certainly　can't　go　myself　and　leave　the　other　three　old　people　all　alone　in　bed　for　a　whole　day。'
　　'Hallelujah！'　yelled　Grandpa　Joe。　'Praise　the　Lord！'
　　At　that　point；　there　came　a　loud　knock　on　the　front　door。　Mr　Bucket　went　to　open　it；　and　the　next　moment；　swarms　of　newspapermen　and　photographers　were　pouring　into　the　house。　They　had　tracked　down　the　finde