Bambi Part 9: Bedtime Story

Dear ones,

Our adventures continue tonight with part nine of my reading of Bambi.

This is a reading of the original story of Bambi, written by Felix Salten in 1923. This is the story that was eventually adapted for the movie of the same name.

This is part nine of a thirteen-part series. You can find all the recordings of Bambi on my profile, in the playlist titled 'Bambi'.

Enjoy dear ones.

Transcript

Hello,

Dear ones,

And welcome to today's reading,

Bambi,

Part 9,

Chapter 16.

A couple of days later,

With nothing to worry about,

They made their way together through the thicket of oaks that lay on the other side of the meadow.

They were about to go across the meadow,

And there,

Where the lofty oak tree stood,

They would be back on their usual paths.

The bushes ahead of them became lighter,

And there they stopped and peered out.

And there,

By the oak,

There was something red moving.

Who could that be?

Whispered Bambi.

I expect it's Rono or Carus,

Thought Feline.

But Bambi doubted this.

They don't dare to come near me anymore.

Bambi looked more carefully.

No,

He decided,

That isn't Carus or Rono.

That's a stranger.

Feline agreed,

Astonished and very curious.

You are right,

Bambi,

A stranger.

I can see that too now.

How odd!

And they watched.

He seems very careless,

Called Feline.

Stupid,

Said Bambi.

He is really stupid.

He's behaving like a little child,

As if there weren't any danger at all.

Let's go over there,

Suggested Feline.

She was very curious.

Alright then,

Bambi answered.

Let's go.

I want to get a closer look at this lad.

They made a few steps,

But then Feline hesitated.

But what if he wants to fight you,

Bambi?

He's strong.

Bambi lowered his head to one side and had a disdainful look.

Look at how small his crown is.

Why should I be frightened of that?

He's big and fat,

But strong?

I don't think so.

Just come with me.

And they went.

Across the meadow,

The other deer was busy biting at grass and did not notice them until they had come quite a long way out onto the meadow.

He immediately ran out to meet them.

He made joyful,

Playful jumps and again seemed to be very childlike.

Bambi and Feline were puzzled and waited for him to stop.

Now,

Just a few steps away,

He stood still.

After a while he asked,

Don't you recognize me?

Bambi had lowered his head,

Ready for combat.

Do you know us?

He replied.

The stranger interrupted him.

Oh,

But Bambi,

He called.

Full of surprise,

But trusting.

Bambi became hesitant when he heard his name being used.

The sound of this voice tugged at some kind of memory in his heart.

But Feline made no delay and jumped forward to meet the stranger.

Go,

Bo!

She exclaimed.

And then she was silent.

She stood there without a word,

Without moving.

She had lost her breath completely.

Feline,

Said Go,

Bo,

Gently,

Feline,

Sister,

You recognize me?

He went to her and kissed her on the mouth and suddenly the tears began to flow down his cheeks.

Feline cried too and she was unable to speak.

But Go,

Bo,

Bambi began.

His voice quivered and he was very excited.

He was deeply touched and astonished beyond measure.

Go,

Bo,

Aren't you dead?

Go,

Bo laughed.

You can see,

Can't you?

I think it's easy enough to see I'm not dead.

But that time in the snow,

Bambi persisted.

That time,

That time it was him who saved me.

Go,

Bo,

Lowered his head bashfully.

And where have you been all this time?

Asked Feline now in astonishment.

Go,

Bo answered.

With him.

I've been with him all this time.

He became silent,

Looked at Feline and Bambi and greatly enjoyed the sight of their helpless astonishment.

Then he added.

Yes,

My dear friends,

I have had many new experiences.

More than all of you put together here in this forest of yours.

It sounded a little boastful,

But they did not notice that.

They were too taken up with the enormity of their surprise.

Tell us about them,

Exclaimed Feline,

Unable to control herself.

Well,

Said Go,

Bo complacently.

I could tell you about them all day long and wouldn't have told you everything.

Bambi insisted.

Go on then,

Go,

Bo,

Tell us.

Go,

Bo went over to Feline and became serious.

Is mother still alive?

He asked quietly.

Yes,

Feline cheerfully declared.

She's alive,

Go,

Bo.

I haven't seen her for a long time,

Though.

I want to go and see her straight away,

Said Go,

Bo.

Are you coming with me?

And so off they went.

All along the way,

They were silent.

Bambi and Feline could feel Go,

Bo's impatient yearning to see his mother.

And that's why neither of them said anything.

Go,

Bo strode hurriedly forward and said nothing.

And they did nothing to stop him.

Except that now and then,

When he blindly ran through a place where the paths crossed,

Always running straight ahead,

Or when in sudden haste,

He rushed into another direction,

They would quietly call to him.

This way,

Bambi would whisper.

Or Feline would say,

No,

Go,

Bo.

It goes around here now.

A couple of times they had to go across broad clearings.

They noticed that Go,

Bo never stopped at the edge of the trees,

Never even glanced around to see that it was safe before he went out into the open.

He would simply run out there with no caution at all.

Bambi and Feline looked at each other in amazement whenever that happened.

But they said nothing and hesitantly followed Go,

Bo.

They had to wander about in this way,

Searching and going up and down for a long time.

Go,

Bo suddenly recognized the paths he had used in his childhood.

He looked at them in wonder.

And it did not occur to him that Bambi and Feline had led him to them.

He looked round at them and declared,

What do you think of that?

Look how good I was at finding my way here.

They said nothing.

They merely once more looked at each other.

Shortly afterwards,

They came to a small chamber in the foliage.

Here,

Called Feline,

As she slipped into it.

Go,

Bo followed her and then stopped.

It was the chamber where they both had been born,

Where they had lived as little children with their mother.

Go,

Bo and Feline looked close into each other's eyes.

They said not a word.

Feline kissed her brother gently on his lips,

And then they hurried on.

They probably spent another hour going up and down.

The sun shone more and more brightly through the twigs.

The forest became more and more quiet.

It was time to lie down and rest.

Go,

Bo,

Though,

Did not feel tired.

He hurried forward,

Breathed heavily because of his impatient excitement,

And looked around without any plan.

He flinched when a weasel rushed out from the long grass and passed under him.

He nearly stepped on the pheasants who were pressed close to the ground.

And when they flew up in front of him with loud flapping of wing and told him off,

He was very alarmed.

Bambi was amazed at how unfamiliar he seemed with everything and how he proceeded as if he was blind.

Go,

Bo stopped and turned to the two of them.

We can't find her,

He exclaimed in bewilderment.

Feline soothed him.

We will do soon,

She said.

Not long now,

Go,

Bo.

She looked at him.

He was once again wearing that disheartened expression that she knew so well.

Should we call for her?

She said with a grin.

Should we start calling again like we used to when we were still children?

Bambi continued walking,

Just a few steps,

And then he caught a glimpse of Auntie Ina.

She had already lain down to rest and lay without moving in the shadow of a hazel bush very near.

At last,

He said to himself.

At that moment,

Go,

Bo and Feline arrived.

All three of them stood beside each other and looked over at Ina.

She had quietly raised her head and looked sleepily at them.

Go,

Bo made a few hesitant steps forward and gently called,

Mother?

As if snatched up by a thunderbolt,

Ina was no longer lying down but up on her feet and standing as if cemented into position.

Go,

Bo quickly jumped to her.

Mother,

He began again.

He wanted to speak but could not utter a word.

His mother looked closely into his eyes.

She began to stand with less stiffness.

She was shaking so much that wave after wave ran over her back and shoulders.

She asked no questions.

She did not ask for an explanation.

Not for any account of what had happened.

Slowly,

She kissed Go,

Bo on his lips,

Kissed his cheeks,

His neck.

Without cease,

She washed him over with kisses,

Just as she had done when she had given birth to him.

Bambi and Feline left.

Chapter 17 They stood together in the middle of a thicket in a small clearing and Go,

Bo told them about where he had been.

Their friend the Hare sat there too,

Raised his ears in amazement as he listened intensely,

And let them sink again in awe at what he heard,

Only to raise them again immediately after.

The magpie squatted on the lowest twing of a young beech tree and listened in astonishment.

The jay sat uneasily nearby on an ash tree,

Sometimes screeching in his amazement.

A pair of pheasants they knew had found their way there with their wives and children,

And they craned their neck in wonderment as they listened,

Drew them back in,

Turned their heads here and there,

And remained speechless.

The squirrel bounded in and moved in a way that showed he was very excited.

He soon slipped down the ground,

Ran up one or other tree,

Then leant back on his erected tail and showed his white breast.

He continually wanted to interrupt Go,

Bo,

Wanted to say something,

But each time all those around him ordered him to be quiet.

He told them about how he had lain helpless in the snow and waited for death.

It was the dogs who found me,

He said.

Those dogs are terrifying.

They're absolutely the most terrifying things in the whole wide world.

Their throats are full of blood.

Their voices are full of anger and without mercy.

He looked around at everyone there and went on.

But,

Well,

Afterwards I played with them as if we were all equal.

He was very proud of himself.

I don't need to be scared of them anymore because now we're all good friends.

Still though,

When they start to get angry there's a thumping in my head and my heart gets quite stiff.

But they don't always mean it in such a nasty way and,

As I just said,

I'm their friend now,

But there's so much power in their voices it's really,

Really horrible.

He became silent.

Go on then,

Feline insisted.

Gobo looked at her.

Well,

Back then they would have torn me limb from limb,

But then he came along.

Gobo paused.

The others could scarcely breathe.

Yes,

Said Gobo.

He came along.

He called the dogs off and they immediately became quite quiet.

He called to them again and they lay motionless on the ground in front of him.

Then he lifted me up.

I screamed,

But he stroked me.

He held me gently,

Pressed onto his chest.

He didn't hurt me.

And then he carried me off.

Feline interrupted him.

What do you mean,

Carried you?

Gobo began to explain in detail and with some self-importance.

It's very easy,

Interjected Bambi.

Think of the squirrel,

Feline,

What he does when he's holding a nut and he carries it away.

Now the squirrel wanted a chance to speak at last.

A cousin of mine,

He began with enthusiasm,

But the others immediately insisted,

Be quiet,

Let Gobo carry on speaking.

The squirrel had to stay silent.

He was cowed and bewildered,

Pressed his fore paws against his white breast and turned to the mad pie to speak just to him.

I was saying a cousin of mine,

But the mad pie simply turned his back on him.

Gobo told them of marvelous things.

It's cold outside and the storm is howling,

But indoors with him there's no wind and it's as warm as in summer.

Outside the rain is lashing down from the sky so that everything is in water,

But indoors with him there's not a drop of rain and you stay dry.

The pheasants twitched their necks up high and turned their heads.

When everywhere outside was in snow,

I was inside and nice and warm.

I was even quite hot and he gave me hay to eat,

Chestnuts,

Potatoes,

Turnips,

Everything I could have wished for.

Hay?

They all asked in one voice,

Astonished,

Incredulous and excited.

Fresh,

Sweet hay,

Gobo repeated calmly and looked triumphantly round at them.

The squirrel tried to squeeze in his voice.

A cousin of mine?

Just be quiet,

The others ordered.

And Feline asked Gobo vigorously.

Where did he get his hay from and all those other things,

Gobo,

In the winter?

He grows it,

Answered Gobo.

Whatever he wants,

He grows it and when he wants it,

It's there for him.

Feline continued asking questions.

Weren't you afraid,

Gobo,

All the time you were with him?

Gobo thought himself very clever and grinned.

My dear Feline,

I wasn't afraid,

Not anymore.

After all,

I knew he didn't want to do anything to hurt me.

Why should I have been afraid?

You all think he's very nasty,

But he's not nasty.

When he likes anyone,

When anyone does something for him,

He's very nice,

Lovely,

And friendly.

There's no one in the whole world who could be as nice as he is.

Suddenly,

As Gobo was speaking in this way,

An elder emerged silently from the bushes.

Gobo did not notice him and continued speaking.

But all the others had seen the elder and held their breath in awe of him.

The elder stood there without moving and watched Gobo with deep and serious eyes.

Gobo said,

And it wasn't just him,

It was his children.

They loved me too,

And his wife,

And everyone.

They stroked me,

Gave me food,

And played with me.

He broke off.

He had seen the elder.

Everyone became silent.

Then the elder,

In his calm and authoritative voice,

Asked,

What's that stripe on your neck?

Everyone looked at him and became aware,

For the first time,

Of the dark stripe made up of compressed and eroded hair that went round Gobo's neck.

Gobo answered the elder,

Uncertainly,

That,

That's from the collar I wore.

It's his collar.

And,

And,

Yes.

And,

Um,

It's a great honour to wear his collar.

It's.

.

.

Gobo became confused and stammered.

All were silent.

The elder kept a sad and piercing look on Gobo for a long time.

You poor thing,

He said gently.

Then he turned round and was gone.

In the silence that followed from this disturbance,

The squirrel started to chatter.

You see,

A cousin of mine was there with him too.

He'd caught him and locked him in,

For a very long time,

Until one day my cousin.

.

.

But no one was listening to the squirrel,

And they all went away.