David and the Phoenix (Full Audiobook) - Chapter 03

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter three of David in 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 three, in which it is decided that

(00:21):
David should have an education and an experiment is made.
Next day, it took less than an hour to reach
the ledge, and David was sure that he could shorten
the time even more when he was familiar with the
goat trail. The phoenix was not in sight when he arrived,
and for an instant David was stricken with fright. Had
the bird gone in spite of its promise? But no,

(00:44):
He heard a reassuring noise. It came from the thicket,
and it sounded very much like a snore. David smiled
to himself and shouted, Hello, Phoenix. There was a thrashing
sound in the thicket, and the phoenix appeared, looking very
rumpled and yawning behind its wing. Greetings, my boy, it cried,
a splendid morning. Then the phoenix caught sight of the

(01:05):
paper bag in David's hand and swallowed in a suggestive way.
David thrust the bag of cookies behind his back. Now, Phoenix,
he said, firmly, you have to promise me you won't
go away to South America. You said last night that
it could be arranged. So let's arrange it right now.
Until we do not one. The phoenix drew itself up indignantly.

(01:27):
My very dear fellow, it said, you wound me, you
cut me to the quick. I will not be bribed.
I it stopped and swallowed again. Oh well, it continued
more mildly. One does not fight fate, does one. I
suppose under these circumstances, I must accept it's settled. Then
David cried joyfully. So they sat down on the grass together,

(01:49):
and for a long time nothing was heard but sounds
of munching. My boy, said the phoenix, at last, brushing
the crumbs from its chest. I take a modest pride
in my way with words, but nothing in the language
can do these ah baked poems justice words fail me.
I'm glad you like them, David said politely. And now

(02:09):
my boy, continued the phoenix, as it settled back comfortably.
I have been thinking yesterday you showed an intelligent interest
in my problems and asked intelligent questions. You did not
scoff as others might have done. You have very rare qualities,
David flushed and mumbled denials. Do not be so modest,
my boy. I speak the truth. It came to me

(02:32):
that such a mind as yours, having these qualities, should
be further cultivated and refined, and I should be avoiding
my clear cut duty if I did not take this
task in hand myself. Of course, I suppose some attempt
to educate you has already been made, has it not? Well,
I go to school, if that's what you mean. Not now, though,
because it's summer vacation. And what do they teach you there? Oh,

(02:55):
reading and writing and arithmetic and things like that. Aha,
said the phoenix triyup infantly. Just as I suspected a
classical education, understand me, I have nothing against a classical
education as such. I realize that mathematics, Greek and Latin
are excellent for the discipline of the mind. But in

(03:15):
the broad view, a classical education is not a true education.
Life is real, Life is earnest. One must face it
with a practical education. The problems of life, my dear fellow,
classical education completely ignores them. For example, how do you
tell a true unicorn from a false one? I? I
don't know, I thought, not where do you find the

(03:38):
philosopher's stone? I don't know? Well, then I shall ask
a simple one, what is the first rule of defense
when attacked by a chimera? David squirmed uncomfortably. I'm afraid
I don't know that either, he said in a small voice.
There you are, cried the phoenix. You do not have
a true practical education. You are not ready for life. I,

(04:00):
my boy, am going to take your education in hand, Oh,
said David. Do you mean are you going to give
me lessons? Through? His mind flashed a picture of the
phoenix with spectacles on its beak and a ruler in
its wing, writing out sentences on a blackboard. The thought
gave him a sinking feeling. After all, it was summer,

(04:22):
and summer was supposed to be vacation time. And what
an education it will be? The phoenix went on, ignoring
his question. Absolutely without equal the full benefit of my
vast knowledge, plus a number of trips to oh traveling,
said David, suddenly feeling much better. That's different, Oh, phoenix.
That'll be wonderful. Where will we go? Everywhere, my boy,

(04:44):
said the phoenix, with an airy wave of its wing,
to all corners of the earth. We shall visit my
friends and acquaintances. Oh do you have, of course, my boy,
I am nothing if not a good mixer. My acquaintances
to mention, but a few include fawn's, dragon's unicor, orange trolls, Gryffins, Gryffons, gryffens.
Excuse me, David interrupted, What were those last three? Please?

(05:08):
Gryffins explained. The phoenix are the small, reddish, friendly ones.
Gryffons are the quick tempered, proud ones. Gryffens Ah, Well,
the most that anyone can say for them is that
they are harmless. They are very stupid, I see, said
David doubtfully. What do they look like? Each looks like
the other, my boy, except that some are bigger and

(05:29):
some are smaller. But to continue, sea monsters, leprechauns, rocks, gnomes, elves, basilisks, nymphs,
ah and many others all are of the better sort, since,
as I have many times truly observed, one is known
by the company one keeps, and your education will cost
you nothing of course, it would be agreeable if you

(05:50):
could supply me with cookies from time to time, as
many as you want, Phoenix. Will we go to Africa? Naturally,
my boy, your education will include an Egypt and China
and Arabia. Yes, your education will, oh, Phoenix, Phoenix. David
jumped up and began to caper while the phoenix beamed,
But suddenly he stopped. How are we going to travel, Phoenix?

(06:14):
I have wings, my boy, yes, but I don't do
not be so dense, my dear fellow. I shall carry
you on my back, of course, oh, said David, weekly
on your on your back? Are you sure that isn't
there some other? I mean? Can you do it? The
phoenix drew itself up to its full height. I am hurt, yes,
deeply hurt by your lack of faith. My magnificent build

(06:38):
should make it evident that I am an exceedingly powerful flier.
In the heyday of my youth, I could fly around
the world in five hours. But come along, I shall
give you proof positive. David reluctantly followed the phoenix to
a spot on the edge of the shelf where there
was a gap in the bushes. He glanced over the brink.
The sheer face of the sky scarp fell away beneath them,

(07:01):
plunging down to the tiny trees and rocks below. He
stepped back quickly with a shudder. Let's let's do it tomorrow,
he quavered. Nonsense, said the phoenix firmly. No time like
the present. Now, then upon my back? How am I
going to sit on my back? Quite so? Now? Your
arms around my neck, your legs behind my wings? Please,

(07:25):
there we are ready. No, said David, faintly, splendid. The
proof is to be demonstrated, that to be brief, we
are off. The great wings were outstretched. David gulped, clutched
the phoenix's neck tightly, and shut his eyes. He felt
a hopping sensation, then a long, sickening downward swoop that
seemed to leave his stomach far behind. A tremendous rush

(07:48):
of air snatched at his shirt. He opened his eyes
and choked with fright. The ground below was rushing up
to meet them, swaying and revolving. Something was terribly wrong.
The phoenix was breathing in hoarse gasps, Its wings were
pounding the air frantically. Now they had turned back the
scarp loomed before them, solid and blank. Above them, high

(08:10):
above them was the ledge. It looked as though they
would not get back to it. Up, up, up, they
crawled through the air. The wings slapped wildly, faster and faster.
They were gaining, slipping back, gaining again. The phoenix sobbed
as it stretched its neck in the last effort, fifty
feet twenty feet ten. With a tremendous surge of its wings,

(08:33):
the phoenix managed to get one claw over the edge
and to seize the branch of a bush in its beak.
David's legs slipped from the bird's back. He dangled over
the abyss from the outstretched neck and prayed. The bush
saved them. They scrabbled up over the edge, tottered there
for an instant, and dropped on the grass. For a

(08:54):
long time. They lay, gasping and trembling. At last, the
phoenix weakly raised its head. Puff well, my boy, puff, puff, whew,
very narrow squeak, I puff. David could not answer. Their
Earth reeled under him and would not stop, no matter
how tightly he clutched the grass. Puff, I repeat, I

(09:16):
am puff. An exceedingly powerful flier. There are a few birds. None,
I dare say, who puff could have done even this much.
The truth of the matter is that you are a
lot puff heavier than you look. I hope you are
not being overfed at home. I I don't know, said David,
wondering whether or not he was going to be sick. Well,

(09:39):
my course is clear, said the phoenix firmly. I must
practice setting up exercises, road work and what not, rigorous diet,
lots of sleep, regular hours. Courage, my dear fellow. We
shall do it yet. And so for the following week
the phoenix practice. Every morning, David climbed up to the ledge,
bringing sand which is for himself, cookies for the phoenix,

(10:02):
and a wet towel. Then, while he kept count the
phoenix did setting up exercises. After this, the bird would jog,
trot up and down the ledge and practice jumping. Then
there would be a fifteen minute rest and refreshment period,
and when that was over, the phoenix would launch itself
into the air. This was the part David liked best.

(10:23):
It was a magnificent sight. The phoenix dashed back and
forth at top speed, wheeled in circles, shot straight up
like a rocket, plunged, hovered, looped, rolled, soared, fluttered now
and then it would swoop back to the ledge beside
David and wipe the sweat from its brow. I trust
you see signs of progress, my boy. David would wrap

(10:45):
the wet towel around the phoenix's neck. You're doing better
and better, phoenix. I especially liked that part where you
twist over on your back and loop and plunge all
at the same time. I do perform that rather well,
don't I. It is not easy, but just the thing
for acquiring ouch, muscle tone. Are there any more cookies? Ah?

(11:07):
There are delicious. As I was saying, let this be
a lesson to you, my boy. If at first you
don't succeed, try try again. The phoenix would take wing again,
and David would settle back against a rock and watch.
Sometimes he thought of the education he was to get.
Sometimes he thought how nice it would be if he
could fly, And sometimes he did not think at all,

(11:28):
but just sat with his eyes half shut, feeling the
sunlight on his face and listening to the rustle of
the wind in the thicket. At the end of the week,
the phoenix, after a brilliant display of acrobatics, landed on
the ledge, clasped its wings behind its back, and looked
solemnly at David. Well, my boy, it said, I believe
your education can begin forthwith Are you ready? End of

(11:51):
Chapter three