David and the Phoenix (Full Audiobook) - Chapter 02

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter two of David and the Phoenix. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Recording by Greg Weeks. David and the Phoenix by Edward
ormand Dryde, Chapter two, in which David meets the phoenix

(00:24):
and there is a change in plans, there stood an
enormous bird. David had been to the zoo, and at
home he had a book of birds with colored pictures.
He knew the more common large birds of the world,
the ostrich, the condor, the albatross, eagles, cranes, storks. But
this bird. Its shape was like that of an eagle,

(00:46):
but stouter. Its neck had the length and elegant curve
of a swan's neck. Its head was again like an eagle's,
with a hooked bird of prey beak, but the expression
in its brown eyes was mild. The long wings were
blunt at the tips, the tail was short and broad.

(01:06):
The legs feathered half way down, ended in taloned feet.
An iridescent sheen sparkled on its plumage, reflecting sunlight from
the scarlet crest. The golden neck and back, the breast
of silver, the sapphire wings and tail. Its size alone
would have been enough to take David's breath away. He

(01:28):
could have stood beneath the arch of that neck with
room to spare. But the most astonishing thing was that
the bird had an open book on the ground and
was apparently trying to learn part of it by heart.
Vivo vives viv The bird read very slowly and distinctly,
staring hard at the book. Vivimos vivis vivin that is

(01:52):
simple enough. You blockhead now. Then, without looking, it cleared
its throat, looked away from the book, and repeated in
a rapid mutter, vivo vives vive v a viv Oh, dear,
what is the matter with me here? The temptation to
peek overcame it for an instant, and its head wavered.
But it said no, no, in a firm tone, looked

(02:16):
carefully the other way, and began once more, vivo vives
vive quite correct, so far ah v ah oh dear
these verbs? Where was I? Oh? Yes vivo. David's head
reeled as he watched this amazing performance. There was no
need to pinch himself to see if he were dreaming.

(02:37):
He was perfectly wide awake. Everything else around him was
behaving in a normal way. The mountain was solid beneath him,
the sunlight streamed down as before. Yet there was the bird,
unmistakably before him, undeniably studying its book and speaking to itself.
David's mind caught hold of a phrase and repeated it

(02:58):
over and over again. What on earth? What on earth?
But of course there was no answer to that question,
and he might have lain hidden there all day, staring
out at the bird and marveling, had it not been
for a bee which came droning into the thicket straight
for him. He had a horror of bees ever since

(03:19):
he had once bumped into a hive by mistake. When
he heard that dread sound approaching, his whole body broke
into a sweat. All thought of the bird was immediately
driven from his head. He could tell from the noise
that it was one of those big, black and yellow,
fuzzy bees, the ones with the nasty dispositions. Perhaps the

(03:41):
thought paralyzed him, Perhaps he was lying on its nest
on it came buzzing and blundering through the leaves. Suddenly
it was upon him, so close that he could feel
the tiny breeze stirred up by its wings. All self
control vanished. He beat at it wildly with his hands,
burst out of the thicket like an explosion, and smashed

(04:02):
full tilt into the bird. Before he could stop himself
with a piercing squawk. The bird shot into the air,
flipped over, and came fluttering down facing him, talons outstretched,
hooked beak open, eyes a glare. Completely terrified, David turned
and bolted for the thicket. He managed to thrash half

(04:24):
way through when a vine trapped his feet. He pitched forward,
shielding his face with his arms, and was caught up
short by a dead branch, snagging his shirt. He was stuck.
This was the end. He closed his eyes and waited,
too numb with fear to think or cry out. Nothing happened. Slowly,
he turned his head around the bird, although it still

(04:47):
glared menacingly, seemed undecided whether to attack or flee. What
may I ask? Are you doing here? It said at last,
in a severe voice. Ay, I I was taking away walk,
David said faintly. I'm awfully sorry if I bothered you
or anything. You should not have come up here. At all.
The bird snapped, well, I'm really sorry, but there was

(05:11):
a bee in the bush here. I didn't mean to.
The fright had been too much. Tears started in David's eyes,
and his lip began to tremble. The bird seemed reassured
for its manner visibly softened. It lowered and folded its wings,
and the glare faded from its eyes. I'd go away,

(05:32):
David mumbled, apologetically. Only I'm stuck. He rubbed his eyes
on his sleeve. The bird looked at his dismal face
and began to fidget awkwardly. There there, it said, I
had no intention of I'm afraid that I stuck. Did
you say? Very easily? Mended, my dear fellow, merely a

(05:53):
question of here, let me look. It crashed through the
thicket to where David was caught and thrust its head
down through the branches. Its muffled voice came floating up.
Take heart, there seems to be aha, just so one moment, please,
bit of vine, there we are. There was a snapping
sound from below, and David's foot was released. He unstuck

(06:15):
the snag from his shirt, pushed his way out of
the thicket, and sat down weakly on the grass, Hugh.
At least the bird was not going to harm him.
It seemed to be quite a kindly creature. Really, He
had just frightened it and made it angry by bursting
out of the bushes. So suddenly he heard a flailing
in the thicket, followed by the bird's anxious voice, Hello,

(06:39):
are you still there? Yes? What? There were more sounds
of struggle. This is rather awkward. I the fact is
I am afraid that I am stuck myself. Could you, yes,
of course, said David. He smiled to himself a little shakily,
and re entered the thicket. When he had disentangled the bird,
the two of them sat down on the grass looked

(07:00):
at each other. They hesitated, not quite sure how to begin,
I trust, said the bird at last, that you are
not of a scientific turn of mind. I don't know,
said David. I am interested in things, if that's what
you mean. Now it is not. There is a great
deal of difference between the interest shown by normal people

(07:21):
and the obsessive interest of scientists. You are not, I hope,
acquainted with any scientists. No Ah, said the bird, with
a relieved sigh. Everything is quite all right, then I
do hope that you will forgive my behavior. I am
not usually so rude. The fact is that you gave
me quite a horrible start. Oh I am sorry, I frightened.

(07:43):
You frightened, my dear fellow, said the bird testily. I
am never frightened. I do not know the meaning of
the word. What I mean is, David said quickly that
you frightened me. This seemed to pacify the bird, and David,
to heighten the good impression, added, golly, you looked fierce.
The bird smiled complacently. I can rise to a terrifying

(08:07):
ferocity when aroused, a noble strain of fighting. Blood courses
through my veins. Not that I go out of my
way to seek quarrels, you understand. On the contrary, peaceful
could well describe my general attitude meditative. I am usually
to be found thinking I have a powerful intellect. No

(08:28):
doubt you have noticed the stamp of genius on my brow.
David supposed that the bird meant its scarlet crest, and
he nodded. That's one of the first things I noticed
about you, indeed, cried the bird delightedly. You are certainly
more alert than most, but as I was saying, I
am usually to be found thinking. The first condition of

(08:48):
thinking is solitude, and that I fear is a desderatum
most difficult of realization. I beg your pardon, people explained
the bird. Do not leave you alone, oh, said David.
He flushed, thinking that the words had been aimed at him,
and began to get up, but the bird signaled him
to remain where he was. I do not mean you,

(09:10):
my dear fellow. I assure you that I am delighted
to make your acquaintance. It is all the others. Do
you know that I have spent the greater part of
my life being pursued. I was chased out of Egypt
like a common game bird, out of the mountains of
Greece too, the hills of Lebanon, the desert of Africa,
the Arabian wilds. No matter where I fled, people would come,

(09:33):
prying and peering and sneaking after me. I have tried Tibet, China,
and the steps of Siberia with the same result. At last,
I heard of a region where there was peace, where
the inhabitants let each other alone. Here, I thought I
should pardon me for interrupting. Where why here to be brief,

(09:53):
said the bird, waving its wing toward the valley. Here,
I thought I should be able to breathe at my age,
which one likes a little quiet. Would you believe that
I am close to five hundred years old? Golly, said David.
You don't look at the bird gave a pleased laugh.
My splendid physical condition does conceal my years at any rate.

(10:13):
I settled here in the hope of being left alone.
But do you think I was safe? David, seeing that
he was supposed to answer no, shook his head. Quite right,
said the bird. I was not. I had been here
no more than three months when a scientist was hot
on my trail, a most disagreeable fellow, always sneaking about

(10:34):
with binoculars a camera, and I fear a gun. That
is why you startled me. For an instant, I thought
you were he Oh, David cried, I'm awfully sorry. I
didn't bother you on purpose. It's just that I never
saw a mountain before, so I climbed up here to
see what one looked like. You climbed up here, Yes, climbed,

(10:56):
said the bird, looking very thoughtful, climbed I might have
it proves, you see that the same thing could be
done again by someone older and stronger. A very grave point. Oh,
I see, said David. You mean the precisely the scientist
he is, I fear very persistent. I first noticed him
over there. The bird waved its wing toward the opposite

(11:19):
side of the valley, so I removed to this location.
But he will undoubtedly continue his pursuit. The bad penny
always turns up. It will not be long before the
sharp scientific nose is again quivering in my direction. Oh dear,
that's terrible. Your sympathy touches me, said the bird huskily.

(11:39):
It is most unusual to find someone who understands but
have no fear for me. I am taking steps. I
am preparing. Imagine his disappointment when he arrives here and
finds me flown from the nest. I am to be
brief leaving. Do you see this book, yes, said David,
I heard your reading it, but I couldn't understan stand it.

(12:00):
Is it magic? No, my boy, it is Spanish. I
have chosen a little spot, chilly but isolated in the
Andes Mountains, South America, you know, and of course one
must be prepared. I am learning Spanish so that I
shall be able to make my way about in South America.
I must admit my extreme reluctance to depart. I have

(12:22):
become very fond of this ledge. It is exactly suited
to my needs. Ideal climate, magnificent view. They fell into
a lengthy silence. The bird gazed sadly out over the valley,
and David rested his chin in his hands and thought
the mystery was clearing up. The bird's presence on the
mountain and the fact that it had been reading a

(12:43):
book were explained, and so natural was its speech that
David found him itself accepting it as nothing unusual. The
thing that worried him now was that the bird would
soon leave here. They had only just met, and already
the promise of a most interesting friendship was dissolving. The
bird had taken time to talk to him and explain

(13:06):
things to him as though he were an equal, and
although he did not understand many of the long words
it used, he felt pleased at being spoken to as
though he did understand. And the bird knew all about
far away countries, had visited them and lived in them,
and had adventures in them for almost five hundred years. Oh,
there were so many things David wanted to know and

(13:28):
ask about. But the bird was leaving. If only he
could persuade it to stay, even for a short while,
he could try anyhow, and after all, the bird had
said itself that it did not want to go. Bird,
he stopped and flushed. It was hard to put into words,
your servant, my boy, Well, I I don't believe I

(13:49):
know your name, David stammered, unable to get the real
question out. Ah, forgive me, cried the bird, jumping up.
Permit me the honor of presenting myself. I dare say
my name is familiar to you, celebrated as it is
in song and story. I am the one and only,
the unique Phoenix. And the phoenix bowed deeply, very glad

(14:13):
to meet you, said David, I'm David, delighted, my dear fellow.
An honor and a pleasure. They shook hand and wing solemnly.
Now as you were saying, well, Phoenix, I was just thinking,
David stammered, It's too bad. I mean, couldn't you It
would be nice if we well, do you really have
to go to South America? It would be nice if

(14:34):
you'd stay awhile until the scientist shows up. Anyway, and
I like talking with you, his face burned. It seemed
like a lot to ask. The phoenix hurrumped several times
in its throat and shuffled its feet. Really, I cannot
tell you how how much you well? Really, such a
delightful request. Ah harrump. Perhaps it can be arranged, oh, phoenix.

(14:57):
David threw his arms around the bird's neck, then, unable
to restrain himself any longer, turned a somersault on the grass.
But for the present it seems to be getting late,
said the phoenix. We shall talk it over some other
time and decide. Gully it is late. I hadn't noticed. Well,
i'll have to go or they'll worry about me at home.

(15:19):
But I can come up and see you tomorrow, can't I?
Of course, my boy, in the bustle of morning, in
the hush of noon, in the ah, to be brief
at any time, and I'll bring you some cookies if
you like, ah, said the phoenix, closing its eyes. Sugar cookies,
by any chance, it asked. Faintly. David noticed the feathers

(15:41):
of its throat jumping up and down with rapid swallowing motions.
I'll ask aunt Amy to make some tonight. Ah splendid,
my boy, splendid? Shall we say not more than ah?
That is not less than a fifteen? All right, Phoenix,
My aunt Amy keeps a big jar full of cookies,
and I can have as many as I like. The

(16:02):
phoenix took David's arm, and together they strolled to the
other end of the ledge. Now don't mention this to
any one, but there is an old goat trail down
this side. It is somewhat grown over, but eyes as
sharp as yours should have no trouble with it. It
will make your travels up and down easier. Another thing,
I trust you will not make known our rendezvous or what.

(16:24):
You will not tell any one that I am here.
Oh no, I won't say a word. Well, I'll see
you tomorrow. Yes, as the French so cleverly say, ah.
Well to breathe brief good bye, my boy, until tomorrow.
Then David waved his hand, found the goat trail and
started down. He was too happy even to whistle, so

(16:45):
he contented himself with running whenever he found a level place,
And when he reached home he stood on his hands
in the back yard for two whole seconds, end of
Chapter two. Recording by Greg Weeks,