Bambi: Chapters 12 And 13

Tonight we read Chapters 12 and 13 of the timeless classic, Bambi, by Felix Salten. Tonight's reading describes Bambi becoming an adult and finding love and respect in his community. This audio is perfect for children or adults who want to discover magic or find adventure before a great night's sleep.

Transcript

BAMBY by Felix Salton Chapter 12 The meadow had long since lost its catkins.

Everything began to turn green,

Although the young leaves on the bushes and the trees were still small.

Shimmering in the tender light of early morning,

They showed a smiling freshness and seemed like little children when they had just woken up.

Bamby stood in front of a hazel bush,

Striking his new crown against the wood.

That was so enjoyable,

And it was also necessary,

As the glory of his head was still wrapped in velvet and fur.

They had to come off.

That was a matter of course,

And no one with any sense of tidiness would just wait for them to fall off by themselves.

Bamby swept his crown so that the coating of velvet was torn into shreds and long strips of it dangled around his ears.

When he struck up and down at the hazel bush,

He felt that his crown was harder than it had been.

This feeling permeated his whole being and gave him an inebriating sense of pride and strength.

He pushed himself harder against the bush,

And this coating was torn off in long pieces.

The naked,

White wood could be seen,

And in the unfamiliar open air,

It quickly turned a rusty red.

Bamby was not able to care about that.

He saw the pale flesh of the wood flash up under his movements,

And that enchanted him.

Here in this round place,

There were many other hazel bushes and dogwood bushes that showed the marks of his efforts.

Have you nearly finished then?

Said a cheerful voice from nearby.

Bamby threw his head up and looked around.

There sat the squirrel,

With a friendly look on his face.

Bamby and the squirrel were nearly startled by the woodpecker who,

Sitting close in the trunk of an oak tree,

Called down.

Oh,

Please excuse me.

I've always have a laugh when I see the two of you like that.

What is it then that makes you laugh so loudly?

Asked Bamby politely.

Well then,

Thought the woodpecker,

You're doing the whole thing wrong.

For one thing,

You ought to have chosen a tree that's stronger.

You won't get anything from a thin little hazel bush.

What should I be getting then?

Asked Bamby.

Beetles,

The woodpecker laughed,

Beetles and grubs.

Look,

This is how you do it.

He drummed on trunk of the oak.

Tuck,

Tuck,

Tuck,

Tuck.

The squirrel rushed up to him and quarrel-simly asked,

What do you think you're talking about?

The prince isn't looking for beetles and grubs.

Why not?

Asked the woodpecker complacently.

They taste delicious.

He bit into a beetle,

Swallowed it and went on drumming.

You don't understand,

The squirrel scolded again.

A noble gentleman like this has other,

Higher goals to pursue.

You just make yourself look ridiculous.

It doesn't matter to me,

The woodpecker replied.

I don't care a thing about these higher goals of yours.

He called cheerfully and flew away.

The squirrel scampered back down.

Don't you know me?

He asked,

Looking very satisfied with himself.

I think I do know you,

Was Bamby's friendly answer.

You live up there.

And he indicated the oak tree above them.

The squirrel looked at him with a grin.

You're confusing me with my grandmother,

He said.

I knew it.

I knew you were confusing me with my grandmother.

My grandmother lived up there ever since she was a child,

Prince Bamby.

She often told me about you.

Only then she was killed by the pole cat,

A long time ago.

That was in the winter time.

Don't you remember?

Yes I do,

Bamby nodded.

I heard about it.

Well then.

And after that my father moved in here,

The squirrel told him.

He sat up,

Showed astonishment in his eyes,

And held both his paws politely on the white press.

But you might also be confusing me with my father.

Did you know my father?

I'm afraid not,

Bamby answered.

I never did have that pleasure.

That's what I thought,

Exclaimed the squirrel in satisfaction.

My father was so surly and shy,

He didn't have any contact with anyone.

Where is he now,

Bamby asked.

Oh,

Said the squirrel.

A month ago the owl got him.

Yes,

And now it's me who lives up here.

I'm very satisfied with it.

Just think,

It was up here that I was born.

Bamby began to turn and was about to go.

Wait,

Called the squirrel quickly.

I didn't really mean to tell you all that stuff.

I wanted to say something completely different.

Bamby stayed where he was.

What was it then,

He asked patiently.

Yeah,

What was that?

The squirrel thought about it,

Then made another sudden leap,

Sat upright leading against his magnificent bushy tail,

And looked at Bamby.

Right,

Now I've got it,

He continued to burble.

I wanted to tell you that you'll soon be ready with the crown of yours,

And it's going to be very beautiful.

Do you think so?

Asked Bamby pleased.

Beautiful,

Declared the squirrel,

And in his enthusiasm he pressed both his forepaws against his white breast.

So high,

So majestic,

And such long bright points.

You don't often find them like that.

Really,

Bamby asked,

He became so pleased that he went back to the hazel brush and started striking at it for a little while longer.

The velvet was thrown around into the air in long strands.

Meanwhile the squirrel went on speaking.

I really must say that others of your age don't have a crown as magnificent as yours.

You wouldn't think it's possible.

Anyone who knew you last summer,

And I did catch sight of you a few times in the distance,

Probably wouldn't believe you're the same deer.

Such thin little sticks you had in those days.

Bamby suddenly stopped.

Goodbye,

He said hurriedly,

I have to go,

And he ran off.

He did not like being reminded of the previous summer.

It had been a difficult time for him.

First of all,

After his mother had disappeared he had felt totally abandoned.

The winter had been so long.

The spring came hesitantly,

And it was a long time before anything green appeared.

Without Miss Nettla,

Bamby would not have been able to manage,

But she had taken him in and helped him in every way she could.

Nonetheless,

He often found himself alone.

He missed Gobbo all the time.

Poor Gobbo,

Who must now be dead like the others.

Gobbo was continually on his mind at this time,

And it was only too late that he realized how lovable he had been.

He rarely saw Feline.

She always stayed close to her mother,

And turned out to be remarkably shy.

Later,

When,

At last,

It had become warm,

Bamby began to recover his mood.

He wiped his first crown clean of its velvet,

And was very proud of it.

But a bitter disappointment was soon to follow.

The other crown wearers chased him away whenever they saw him.

They pushed him away angrily,

And would not tolerate him going close to anyone.

They mishandled him until,

With every step he took,

He was afraid of being found by them,

Afraid of being seen anywhere,

And he crept along the most hidden paths with a feeling of being oppressed.

At the same time,

While the days became warmer and sunnier,

He became gripped by a strange unease.

His heart became even more oppressed with the yearning that was both painful and welcome.

Whenever he happened to see Feline,

Or one of her friends in the distance,

He was overcome by a storm of excitement that he could not understand.

It even happened quite often that he would recognize just a trace of where she had been,

Or that he would draw in a breath to test the air and smell that she was nearby.

He felt irresistibly drawn to her even more often.

But if he gave into this longing that drew him to her,

It always turned out badly.

Either he would find no one,

And in the end,

Tired out,

After wandering about for so long,

Having to acknowledge that the others were avoiding him,

Or he came across one of the crown heads,

Who would immediately leap out at him,

Hit him,

Push him,

And drive him away shouting insults.

Worst of all,

Ronald and Charis had taken against him.

No,

That was not a happy time.

And now the squirrel had stupidly reminded him of it,

And suddenly he became quite wild and began to run.

The tits and wrens flew out of the bushes in alarm as he went past them,

And asked each other urgently,

Who's that then?

Who was that?

Bambi did not hear them.

A pair of magpies laughed nervously.

Has something happened?

The jay was cross and shouted,

What's going on?

Bambi paid him no attention.

Above him the oriole flew from tree to tree.

Good morning.

I'm hap hap happy.

Bambi made no answer.

All around him the thicket was already light,

And the rays of the sun ran through it in fine beams.

Bambi did not bother about that.

There was a sudden loud rattling sound from near his feet.

A whole rainbow of gorgeous colors flashed up and shone into his eyes so that he was dazzled and he stopped.

It was Janello,

The pheasant,

Who had shot into the air in startlement because Bambi had nearly stepped on him.

He rushed away,

Scolding Bambi as he went.

Unheard of,

He shouted in his cracked,

Crow-like voice.

Bambi was bewildered and watched him go.

Well,

It's turned out all right.

But you really were being very careless,

Said a soft,

Twittering voice from nearby on the ground.

It was Janellen,

The pheasant's wife.

She sat,

Brooding on the ground.

My husband was terribly alarmed,

She continued,

Dissatisfied,

And so was I.

But I can't move from the spot.

I can't move from the spot,

Whatever happens,

You could very easily have trodden on me.

Bambi was slightly ashamed.

Oh,

I'm sorry,

He stuttered.

I wasn't paying attention.

Janellen answered,

Oh,

Please,

Maybe it wasn't quite that bad,

But my husband and I were so nervous at present,

You understand.

Bambi understood nothing at all and went on his way.

He had become calmer now.

All around him the wood was singing.

The light became warmer and more golden.

The leaves on the bushes,

The grass on the ground,

And steam rising from the damp earth took on a sharp aroma.

Bambi's youthful strength swelled up in him and stretched out into all his limbs so that he became quite stiff.

His movements became hesitant as if they were something artificial.

He went over to a small elder bush and lifting his knees high in the air,

He struck against the ground with powerful blows so that clods of earth flew up from it.

His fine,

Sharp,

Cloven hoof cut the grass away that was growing here.

Wild peas and wild leeks,

Violets and snowdrops,

He scraped them all the way till the earth lay before him,

Quite dashed and bare.

With each blow a dull thump could be heard.

Bambi caught the attention of two moles who had been tumbling around at the roots of an old privet bush.

They looked up and watched him.

But that's just ridiculous.

What he's doing,

That's just ridiculous.

That's not how you dig,

Whispered one of them.

The other raised the fine corners of his mouth into a jeering grin.

He's got no idea,

That's obvious.

But that's what you get when people do things they don't understand.

Bambi suddenly stopped,

Lifted his head up high,

Listened,

And looked around at the undergrowth.

There was a flash of red between the twigs.

It was unclear,

But he could make out the points of a crown.

Bambi snorted.

Whoever it was creeping about there,

Rano or Carus or anyone else,

Go at him.

I'll show him I'm not afraid of them any more,

He thought.

It was as if he had suddenly been taken over by his own exhilaration.

I'll show them that I'm the only one they should be afraid of.

He ran into the bushes with such force that they rattled.

The branches cracked and broke.

Now Bambi could see the other deer in front of him.

He was not able to recognize him because everything was swimming in front of his eyes.

He could think of nothing but that he should go at him.

When his crown lowered deep,

He stormed forward,

Gathering all his strength into his neck,

Ready to strike.

He could already smell his opponent's hairy coat,

Could already see nothing in front of him but the red wall of his flank.

Then the other made a very gentle movement.

Bambi had expected him to stay still,

But he was robbed of this advantage when he rushed at him,

His antlers met nothing but thin air.

He nearly fell over,

But he staggered,

Pulled himself together,

And swung back round to renew his attack.

Then he saw who the elder was.

Bambi was so surprised he lost control of himself.

He would have been ashamed to simply run from the spot,

Although that was what he most wanted to do,

And he was ashamed to stay.

He did not move.

What's this,

Then?

The elder asked quietly.

His deep voice,

At the same time so relaxed and so imperious,

Drove itself,

As it always did,

Straight through the center of Bambi's heart.

He remained still.

The elder asked again.

What's all this?

I…I thought…Stammered Bambi.

I thought it was Rano or… He became silent and dared to look shyly at the elder,

And as he looked he became even more bewildered.

The aged one stood there,

Motionless and powerful.

His head had by now turned perfectly white,

And his dark proud eyes shone from their depths.

Why not against me?

The aged one asked.

Bambi looked at him,

Filled with the remarkable enthusiasm and shuddering with the mysterious thrill.

He wanted to call out,

Because I love you.

But instead he answered,

I don't know.

The aged one looked at him.

I haven't seen you for a long time.

You've grown big and strong.

Bambi gave no answer.

He trembled with joy.

The elder continued.

He wanted to test him and make his assessment of him.

Then surprisingly he stepped very close to Bambi,

Causing Bambi much alarm.

Whatever you do,

Do it with nobility,

The aged one said.

He turned away,

And in the next moment he was gone.

We remained on the same spot for a long time afterwards.

Chapter 13 It was summertime and burning hot.

The yearning began to rise again in Bambi,

The yearning that he had felt earlier,

But this time it was much stronger than before.

It boiled his blood and made him restless.

He wandered far and wide.

One day he came across Vailene.

He had not expected to find her at all,

For his thoughts were at that very time confused from all the restless yearning that had possessed him,

And he had not realized she was there.

Now she was standing in front of him.

For a while he was speechless and merely stared at her.

Then awestruck,

He said,

Vailene,

You've become so beautiful.

Vailene retorted,

Can you still recognize me then?

Of course I can still recognize you,

Bambi exclaimed.

We grew up together,

Didn't we?

Inside.

It's been so long since we saw each other.

And then she added,

People can become complete strangers to each other.

But she said it in a teasing way,

Simple and elegant.

They remained together,

Right there where they were.

This path here,

Said Bambi after a long pause,

This is the path that used to go along.

With my mother when I was a child.

It leads to the meadow,

Said Vailene.

It was on the meadow that I first saw you,

Said Bambi,

Almost gaily.

Do you remember?

Yes,

Vailene answered.

Me and Gobo.

She sighed gently.

Poor Gobo.

Bambi repeated her.

Poor Gobo.

When they began to talk about those days and frequently asked each other,

Do you remember?

It turned out to their delight that they both remembered everything.

Out there on the meadow,

Bambi recalled,

We played tag.

Remember?

I think we did,

Said Vailene.

And then she jumped away in a flash.

At first Bambi just stood there,

Wondering what had happened.

And then he rushed after her.

Wait,

Wait for me,

He shouted gaily.

No,

I'm not going to wait,

Vailene teased him.

I'm in a tremendous hurry.

And in short leaps she curved her way far across the bushes and grass.

Finally Bambi caught up with her,

Blocked her way,

And then stood quietly together.

They left,

And they were very contented.

Vailene suddenly jumped into the air as if something had stung her and left away again.

Bambi rushed after her.

Vailene made a curve and then another,

Threw herself from side to side,

And got away from Bambi time after time.

Stay where you are,

He gasped.

Just stay where you are.

I've got to ask you something.

And stood still.

She was curious and asked,

What do you need to ask me?

Bambi said nothing.

Oh,

Well,

If you're just cheating,

Said Vailene,

And was about to run off.

No,

Bambi quickly exclaimed,

Stay there.

I want,

I want to ask you,

Do you love me,

Vailene?

She looked at him with even more curiosity than before and felt slightly wary.

I don't know.

Yes you do,

Bambi insisted.

You must know.

And I know it too.

I can feel it perfectly well that I love you.

I've got a furious love for you,

Vailene.

So now tell me,

Do you love me?

Maybe.

It could well be that I'm fond of you,

She answered casually.

And will you stay with me?

Inquired Bambi,

Becoming even more excited.

If you ask me nicely,

Said Vailene gaily.

Bambi lost control of himself and exclaimed,

I am asking you,

Vailene.

My love,

My beautiful Vailene,

Do you hear me?

I'm asking you with all my heart.

Then I certainly will stay with you,

Said Vailene softly.

And then she was gone.

Enchanted,

Bambi shot off again in pursuit of her.

Vailene swept across the meadow,

Turned sharply,

And disappeared into a thicket.

But when Bambi also turned suddenly in order to follow her,

There was a stormy rustling in the bushes,

And out sprang Charis.

Stop,

He called.

Bambi did not understand.

He was too occupied with Vailene.

Let me pass,

He said hurriedly.

I haven't got time for you.

Go away from here,

Charis ordered him crossly.

Go away now.

If not,

I will hunt you down till there's not an ounce of breath left in you.

I forbid you to chase after Vailene.

Slowly,

Bambi began to remember the previous summer,

When he was often so humiliated by being chased away.

He suddenly became angry.

He said not a word,

But immediately lowered his crown and threw himself at Charis.

He hit him with such force that no one could have resisted it,

And Charis was lying in the grass before he knew what had happened to him.

He got up again as fast as lightning,

But he was barely back on his feet when he was struck by another blow that left him reeling.

Bambi,

He shouted,

And was about to shout a second time.

Bim!

But a third blow slid down from his shoulder and caused so much pain it took his breath away.

Charis jumped to one side to avoid receiving yet another blow from Bambi.

He suddenly felt remarkably weak and realized to his disgust that this was now a matter of life and death.

A cold fear took hold of him.

He turned to flee from Bambi,

Who was rushing close behind,

And realized from Bambi's silence that in every sense,

His anger and his ruthlessness,

He was determined to kill him.

Charis fell into a panic.

He turned away from the path,

Used the last of his strength to break through into the bushes.

There was nothing he could wish for,

Nothing he could think of,

Other than to yearn for mercy or for rescue.

Bambi suddenly stopped and left him alone.

Charis was so terrified that he did not notice this and ran on through the bushes as well as he could.

But Bambi had stopped because he had heard the fine call of Phelene.

He listened.

There she called again.

He immediately turned round and hurried back.

Once again he was in the back of the meadow and he saw her just as she was fleeing into the thicket,

Pursued by Rano.

Rano,

Called Bambi.

He was not aware that he had even called out.

Rano was not able to run very fast because his limp held him back and he stopped.

Well,

Look who it is,

He said,

In a genteel tone.

It's little Bambi.

Can I help you in any way?

I want,

Said Bambi,

Calmly but in a voice that was distorted by the anger he was suppressing and the power he held back.

I want you to leave Phelene alone and I want you to go away immediately.

Oh,

Is that all?

Said Rano with contempt.

What a cheeky young lad you've turned into.

I never would have expected that of you.

Rano,

Said Bambi even more gently.

It's for your sake that I want it because if you don't go away now you will wish you could run away on those legs of yours but you won't be able to run away anymore.

What?

Rano called out crossly.

Because I've got a limp,

Is it?

Is that why you talk to me like that?

You can hardly notice it anyway.

Or perhaps after seeing what a pitiful,

Coward,

Carous was,

You think I'm frightened of you?

Let me tell you this.

No,

Rano,

Bambi interrupted him,

Let me tell you something.

Go away.

His voice quivered as he spoke.

I've always liked you,

Rano.

I've always thought you're very clever and I've felt respect for you because you're much older than me but now I'm telling you for the last time.

Go away.

I haven't got any more patience left.

Pity you've got so little patience,

Said Rano with contempt.

A great pity for you,

Lad.

But now just calm down.

I'll soon be finished with you.

You won't have to wait long.

Or maybe you've forgotten how many times I've pushed you along.

Bambi had no words to put against this reminder and was no longer able to control himself.

He rushed at Rano like a madman and Rano received him with his head lowered.

They crashed together.

Rano stood his ground and wondered why Bambi did not back away.

He was also astonished at this sudden attack.

He had not expected Bambi to attack at all.

He felt uncomfortable at Bambi's enormous strength and realized he would need to pull himself together.

They stood there,

Pressed brow to brow,

And Rano decided he would use a little trick.

He backed away suddenly so that Bambi lost his balance and tumbled over.

But Bambi raised himself on his hind legs and threw himself at Rano with twice as much fury before Rano had even found the time to stand firm.

There was a sharp crack as one of the branches of Rano's crown broke.

He thought his entire forehead had been smashed.

He saw stars in front of his eyes and heard a swishing in his ears.

In the next moment,

A powerful blow tore his shoulder open.

He had no breath.

He lay on the floor and Bambi stood angrily over him.

Leave me alone,

Rano groaned.

Bambi continued to strike him anywhere he could.

There was a gleam in his eye.

He seemed to have no thought of showing any mercy.

Please,

Just stop,

Rano begged him pitifully.

You do know I walk with a limp.

I was only making a joke.

Spare me.

Don't you understand a joke?

Bambi without a word stopped his attack and with great effort Rano stood up.

Without a word,

He limped away.

Bambi was about to go in the thicket to find Faelin,

But then she came out of it.

She had been standing close to the edge of the trees and seen everything.

That was wonderful,

She said with a laugh.

And then she became very serious and gently added,

I love you.

The two of them went on their way together and they were very,

Very happy.

And that is the end of our story this evening.

Until next time.

Sweet dreams.

Reviews

I love all the Bambi series