|
|
|
"Why are there no villagers in these houses?" "Because the weather is fine today." The bee answered. "They went on an excursion, didn't they?" "No, they went to fields to work. There are wheat fields. They must grow wheat, grind it into flour, and deliver it to the castle." "To make pancakes?" "They must also take care of the cows in the pasture. They must deliver milk and butter to the castle." "To make pancakes?" No comrade is here because they are all out working for her. The princess was elated by the thought. "The bee should work hard and deliver honey to me." She said to herself. She complained about having to go collect honey herself. The bee sighed, amazed at what she said. The creature she first encountered on the road in the village was a swallow. Flying over head, the swallow made a sign for the princess to stop. "Wait a moment." The princess was offended because she was given an order from a high place. She tried to pass by as if she hadn't heard the swallow, but the swallow got in her way by extending its wings. Reluctantly, she stopped the bicycle. Her petticoats were torn, probably because they had gotten caught in some part of the bicycle. That made her even angrier. "What do you want me for? We are busy." "Is the bee yours?" "No, it's not mine." "So, I can eat it, can't I?" "Are you going to eat the bee?" "I am hungry. I must make a nest again. Naughty children in the village knocked my nest off the eaves. "That's a pity." The princess said indifferently. As a matter of fact, she was unmoved by the swallow's story. She thought her own condition was more pitiful because of her torn petticoats. "So, let me have a meal." Hearing what the swallow said, the bee silently hid behind the princess. The princess shrugged her shoulders and said. "I am sorry but I can't give you this bee. It is an important guide for me. Instead, you may make a nest anywhere in the castle. There are no naughty children." The swallow was delighted. "Oh, thank you very much. The castle is safe. If flowers were blooming and insects were gathering as in the past, I would have no trouble in searching for food. With that, the swallow flew away toward the castle. "Because the swallow got in my way, my petticoats were torn." Saying so, she took off the torn petticoats. The petticoats made the dress flare gorgeously. But the princess soon found that the bicycle was much easier to pedal without petticoats. Soon she forgot that she was angry with the swallow. After a while, a frog blocked her way. Since the frog stood on all fours in the middle of the narrow road, she had to stop the bicycle in a hurry. This got her shoes dirty with mud along the road. "Lady. Let me eat the bee that is buzzing above your head." The frog said. She said indifferently while looking at her shoes. As a matter of fact, she was indifferent to the frog too. "Are you hungry, too?" "Yes, I must take nourishment before laying eggs. It is very hard work." The frog opened her mouth as if she were showing how hungry she was. The bee hid behind the princess' shoulder again. The princess shrugged her shoulders and said, "I can't let you eat this bee. It is an important guide. Instead, I will tell you of a beautiful pond. It is in the backyard of the castle. You may lay eggs there. Walk along the stone pavement. You will soon find it. "It is very kind of you to tell me about the pond, although it is painful to walk on the stone pavement because my body gets dry." Saying so, the frog passed by her and went away. "My favorite shoes got dirty." Saying so, the princess lifted the hem of the skirt and tied it so that her dress was not soiled with mud. But she soon found that the bicycle was easier to pedal this way. So she soon forgot that she was angry with the frog. |
The trees in the forest are always leafy and green. The road in the forest is dim as though in the evening and nobody travels over it. "I am joyful because I can ride here without being disturbed by anyone. The princess raised her head and said in a clear, loud voice. "Are you scared?" The bee said near her ear. The princess shook her head and said. "I mustn't be scared!" "Of course, you won't be, you are not alone." The princess stopped the bicycle and watched the bee. It was surely much better to go through this forest with the bee than alone. "But you said that you liked to be alone, didn't you?" When the princess murmured, the bee flew down to the handlebars. "You like to be alone, don't you?" They both said so and became silent. When the grinding sound of the bicycle and the buzzing sound of the bee's wings stopped, a great silence reigned over the forest. The wind also seemed to not want to enter the forest. The tops of the trees remain still. Each leaf is looks in another direction. Even though there are so many trees that are thick with countless leaves, the princess is alone and the bee is alone, too. Because extreme quietness makes her very sensitive to noise, she seemed to be aware of noise even in the quiet forest. It may be because "fear" is swelling inside her ears. "I wish I could hold hands with you." The princess said to the bee on the handlebars. "I have thought the same thing." The bee murmured. The princess felt embarrassed and suddenly shouted in a loud voice. "But it may be foolish to think such a thing. Let's go. Hurry up." Getting serious, the princess pedaled the bicycle. The bee slipped down from the silver handlebars and suddenly flew up. When they reached the middle of the forest, a black wall suddenly appeared in front of the princess. The princess quickly applied the brakes. The bee also turned around and held on to the princess' hair. "Wooo" The wall said. No, it was a big bear that looked like a wall. "Wait a moment. I'm not letting you eat this bee. I can't do without the bee." "The bear burst into laughter, shaking its big body. I won't eat the bee. It's too small to eat. I want to eat you." "What are you saying? Do you know who I am?" "The princess got off the bicycle and threw out her chest." "It doesn't matter who you are. You are fat and look delicious." "What a rude fellow!" Fat? Nobody in the castle has ever said so directly to the princess. The princess was red with anger but the bear didn't listen to her. It raised both paws, opened its mouth, and approached her. It looked as if a wall were about to fall on her. The princess was seized with fright and stood rigid like a pole. She thought she should run away, but her body wouldn't obey her mind no matter how hard she tried. At that time a small light flew out of her hair. The bee in golden clothes jumped out at the bear's face. "Get lost. If you don't get lost, I will make you suffer!" The bee shouted. The bear only laughed. "What can you do, a small bee? Shut up and get out of my way!" One of the bear's paws was swung upward. When she stared at the bear, thinking that the bee would be thrown far away, a shout was heard. "Ouch! What happened? Ouch! It hurts!" The bear was almost in tears. The bear ran deep into the forest while favoring its raised paw." "You're a rude bear. You should learn your lesson!" The princess yelled at the bear as it ran away. At that time, something fell on her shoulder. She picked it up and was surprised." "You are the bee." "Yes." The bee seemed not to be able to move its wings. On the palm of the princess, it just lay there lethargically. "You were attacked by the bear, weren't you?" "No. I didn't let a finger of the bear touch me. I did it quickly, didn't I? I stung the paw of the bear." "Great!" "Yes, it is great but I have only one stinger. So if I sting something, I must die." "Oh no! Bee. Open your eyes. Don't die." "Yes. I am an important guide." The princess glowered. "No. I can find the beehive without a guide. Yes, I will find the hive immediately. I will find your mother. She may be able to make you get well, just as my mother gives medicine to me when I get colds. |
 |
 Next |