Bambi Part 8: Bedtime Story

Hello,

Dear ones,

And welcome to today's reading of Bambi,

Part 8.

Chapter 14 One day,

They were deep in the woods,

Looking for the little clearing where Bambi had last come across the Elder.

Bambi told Feline about him with great enthusiasm.

Maybe we'll find him again.

I really want to find him again.

That would be nice,

Said Feline perkily.

I'd really like to talk with him sometime.

But she was not telling the truth.

She may well have been curious,

But in fact,

She was afraid of the Elder.

The sky was already light grey.

The sun was about to rise.

They ambled along next to each other,

Into the place where the bushes and wild cabbages stood isolated from other vegetation,

So that there was a clear view in all directions.

They heard a rustling not far away.

They immediately stopped and looked in that direction.

The stag strode slowly and powerfully through the bushes and into the clearing.

In the twilight,

It was not possible to see any colors,

And he appeared as an enormous grey shadow.

Feline immediately screamed.

Bambi took hold of himself.

He was,

Of course,

Just as startled as Feline,

And her scream only made it worse.

But her voice had sounded so helpless,

That he felt pity for her and forced himself to reassure her.

What's the matter then?

He whispered anxiously,

But there was a tremble in his voice.

What's the matter?

He won't do us any harm?

Feline simply continued screaming.

Don't get so upset,

My love.

It's not nice,

Bambi urged her.

It's ridiculous to always be afraid of these gentle men.

They are our relatives,

After all.

But Feline did not want to hear anything about their being relatives.

She stood there,

Very stiff,

And stared at the stag as he went unbothered on his way.

And she screamed and screamed and screamed.

Pull yourself together,

Said Bambi.

What is he going to think of us?

There was nothing that could have calmed Feline down.

He can think what he wants,

She shouted,

And she went on screaming.

Nobody should ever be as big as that.

And she continued to scream.

Leave me alone,

Bambi.

I can't help it.

I have to.

The stag was now standing in the little clearing,

And looking languidly in the grass for something tasty to eat.

As he looked alternatively at Feline as she panicked,

And at the calm and relaxed stag,

Something rose up in Bambi.

The words of comfort he had offered to Feline had also helped him to overcome his own alarm at the sight of the stag.

Now,

He scolded himself for falling into a pitiful state every time he saw the stag.

A state where horror,

Excitement,

Admiration,

And inferiority were all mixed together and made him suffer.

That's all nonsense,

He decided with much effort.

Now,

I'm going to go right up to him and introduce myself.

Oh,

Don't do that,

Shouted Feline.

Don't do that,

Bambi.

Something terrible will happen.

I'm going to do it,

Whatever happens,

Bambi retorted.

The stag,

So relaxed as he picked out all the best things to eat,

Paid no attention at all to Feline as she screamed.

It seemed to Bambi that he was far too haughty.

He felt injured and humiliated.

I'm going out there,

He said.

Just calm down,

Feline.

Nothing's going to happen.

You'll see.

You wait here.

He did go out there,

But Feline did not wait.

She did not want to wait,

Not in the slightest,

And nor did she have the courage to do so.

She swung round and ran away,

And could still be heard as she got further and further away,

Screaming.

Bambi would have liked to go after her,

But that was no longer really possible.

He pulled himself together and went forward.

Through the twigs and branches,

He could see the stag standing in the clearing,

His head lowered to the ground.

Bambi felt his heart thumping as he went out.

The stag immediately raised his head high and looked at Bambi.

Then,

As if confused,

He looked straight ahead.

Bambi saw both these movements as very haughty.

The way the stag had looked at him,

And the way he was now occupied with looking straight ahead,

As if there were nobody there.

Bambi did not know what he should do.

He had come out here with the firm intention of speaking to the stag.

Good morning,

He would have said.

My name is Bambi.

May I ask what your name is,

Sir?

Certainly,

He had imagined this as flowing very smoothly,

And now it turned out not to be as simple as he had thought.

What was the use here of having the best intentions?

Bambi did not want to seem to be badly brought up,

But that is how it would seem if he came out here and did not say a word.

Nor did he want to impose himself on the stag,

But that was what he would be doing if he started speaking.

The stag stood there in indignant majesty.

Bambi was alarmed and felt humiliated.

He tried in vain to shake himself into doing something,

And just one thought kept running through his head.

Why should I let him frighten me?

I'm just as good as he is.

Just as good.

It did not help.

Bambi continued to feel frightened and felt deep in the heart of him that he was not as good as the stag.

Not by a long way.

He felt pitiful,

And he needed all his strength to keep any kind of dignity.

The stag looked at him,

And he thought,

He is charming.

Truly delightful.

So good-looking.

So elegant.

So fine in all his movements.

But I'd better not stare at him like that.

That would really not be proper,

And I might even embarrass him.

And he looked away from Bambi and went back to gazing into the distance.

That haughty look,

Bambi decided,

It's unbearable the way he puffs himself up.

The stag thought,

I'd like to talk with him.

He seems very likeable.

It's so stupid the way that people never talk to each other.

And he continued to occupy himself with gazing thoughtfully into the distance.

I'm just like the air for him,

Said Bambi.

People like that always act as if they were the only people in the world.

But what should I say to him?

The stag wondered.

I've never had any practice in this.

I'd say something ridiculous and make a fool of myself,

As I'm sure he's very clever.

Bambi pulled himself together and looked hard at the stag.

He's so majestic,

He thought,

Still unsure of himself.

Well,

Perhaps another time,

The stag finally concluded,

And he walked away,

Unsatisfied,

But majestic.

Bambi,

Embittered,

Stayed where he was.

Chapter 15 The forest was steaming under the burning sun.

Ever since it had risen,

It had been drinking all the clouds out of the sky,

Even the tiniest wisps.

And now it rained alone in the expanse of blue,

Made pale by the heat.

Over the meadows and the treetops,

The air shimmered in glassy,

Transparent waves,

Like it does above a flame.

Not a leaf moved,

Not a blade of grass.

The birds remained silent.

They sat hidden in the shade of the leaves,

And did not move from the spot.

All the paths and lanes through the carings were empty,

As no animal was moving anywhere.

The forest lay motionless in the dazzling light,

As if in flame.

The earth breathed.

The trees,

The bushes,

And the animals breathed in the weighty luxury of this heat.

Bambi slept.

He had spent a happy night and into the morning romping with Feline.

It was such bliss that he even forgot to eat.

But that was because he had tired himself out so much that he did not even feel any hunger.

His eyes fell shut.

He had just gone into the middle of the undergrowth,

Where he stopped,

Laid himself down,

And fell straight to sleep.

The junipers inflamed by the sun threw out a bitter,

Sharp smell.

The fine aroma from the young dampness rose into his head and exhilarated him as he slept and gave him new strength.

Suddenly,

He woke up and felt confused.

Was that not Feline calling out?

Bambi looked around.

In his memory,

He could still see her as she stood here close by the hawthorns and picking off the leaves while he lay down.

He had thought she would stay there beside him,

But now she was gone.

She had probably become tired of being alone and was now calling for him to come and find her.

As Bambi listened,

He wondered how long he could have been asleep and how many times Feline might have called.

He could not work it out.

His head was still dull behind the veil of sleep.

When the call came again,

Bambi swung round suddenly to face the direction the sound came from.

There it was again,

And he suddenly felt cheerful.

He felt so wonderfully refreshed,

Felt that he had rested long enough.

He felt strengthened,

And he felt immensely hungry.

He heard the call again,

Loud and clear,

As fine as gentle birdsong.

Yearning and tender.

Come,

Come.

Yes,

That was her voice.

That was Feline.

Bambi rushed from where he was,

With such urgency,

That the thin twigs on the bushes broke and their hot green leaves merely rustled.

But while he was jumping,

He had to stop and throw himself to one side.

There stood the Elder,

Blocking his way.

The only thing seething in Bambi was his love for Feline.

He did not care about the Elder anymore.

He would certainly come across him again sometime.

But now,

He had no time for old gentlemen,

However venerable they might be.

All he could think of now was Feline.

He made a short greeting and wanted to get quickly past him.

Where are you going?

The Elder asked.

Bambi was slightly ashamed,

Wondered how he could talk his way out of it.

But then,

He regained his senses,

And answered honestly.

To her.

Don't go,

Said the Elder.

For a second,

A spark of anger rose up in Bambi.

Just one.

Not go to Feline.

How could the Elder expect that of him?

I'll just run away,

Thought Bambi.

And he quickly looked at the Elder.

But the depth of the gaze,

Directed at him from the Elder's dark eyes,

Held him where he was.

He shook with impatience,

But he did not run away.

She's calling for me,

He said,

By way of explanation.

He said it in a way that was clearly pleading.

Don't get in my way.

No,

Said the Elder.

She is not calling for you.

The sound came again,

Loud and clear like birdsong.

Again,

Now,

Shouted Bambi,

As he became more cross.

Listen to me.

I am listening,

The Elder nodded.

Well,

Goodbye then,

Bambi threw at him curtly.

But the Elder commanded him,

Stay here.

What is it you want then?

Shouted Bambi,

Out of control.

Let me go.

I haven't time for this.

Please.

Feline is calling me.

You must be able to see.

And I am telling you,

Said the Elder,

That is not feline.

Bambi was puzzled.

But I recognize her voice.

I can hear her quite clearly.

Listen to me,

The Elder continued,

And the call came again.

The ground was burning under Bambi's feet.

Later,

I'll come back later,

He implored.

No,

Said the Elder,

Sadly.

You would not come back.

Not ever.

And the call came yet again.

I've got to go.

I've got to.

Bambi was beginning entirely to lose control of himself.

All right then,

The Elder explained,

Still in command.

But the two of us will go there together.

Quickly then,

Bambi declared,

And run ahead.

Go slowly,

The Elder now commanded,

In a voice that left Bambi with no choice but to obey.

You stay behind me,

Step by step.

The Elder began to move forward.

Bambi followed behind him,

Impatient and sighing.

Listen,

Said the Elder,

Without stopping.

However many times you hear that call,

Do not move from my side.

If it is feline,

Then we'll find her soon enough.

But it is not.

Don't let that call tear you away from me.

It all depends on whether you trust me or not.

Bambi did not dare to contradict him,

And remained silent.

The Elder walked slowly forward,

And Bambi followed.

Oh,

How skilled the Elder was in knowing how to walk.

No sound came from under his hooves.

Not a leaf moved.

Not a twig cracked.

In this way,

The Elder crept through the dense undergrowth,

Slid his way through the tangle of ancient bushes.

Bambi could only be amazed.

He had to admire the Elder,

Despite his feverish impatience.

He had never realized it was possible to go forward in this way.

The call came again,

And again.

The Elder stopped,

Listened,

And nodded his head.

Bambi stood near him,

Shaken with yearning,

Tortured by what he had to do.

And he understood nothing.

The Elder stopped several times without the call having been heard.

He would throw his head up high.

Listen,

And nod.

Bambi heard nothing.

The Elder turned away from the direction the call was coming from.

He was going to approach it in a curve.

This made Bambi very angry.

The call came over,

And again.

At last,

They were getting nearer,

And nearer still,

And then very near.

The Elder whispered,

Whatever you see now,

Don't move Bambi.

Do you hear?

Pay attention to everything I do,

And you do exactly the same.

Be careful,

And don't panic.

A few steps further on,

There came suddenly that sharp,

Stimulating smell that Bambi knew so well.

Strong in his nose.

It was so strong that he nearly cried out.

He stood there as if nailed to the ground.

His heart suddenly began to beat so hard he could feel it in his throat.

The Elder stood relaxed next to him.

He showed the direction with his eyes.

There.

But there stood he.

He stood quite close nearby,

Pressed against the trunk of an oak tree,

Covered in hazel bushes,

And the gentle call could be heard coming from him.

All that could be seen was his back.

His face was very unclear,

And could only be seen at all when he turned around to one side.

Bambi was so completely confused,

So shocked that he slowly came to understand.

He was standing there.

It was him who had been imitating Feline's voice.

It was him who had been whistling.

A pale horror ran through all of Bambi's limbs.

The thought of flight came up from his heart and poured at him,

Tugged at him.

Keep still,

The Elder promptly commanded in a whisper,

As if he wanted to preempt an outbreak of panic.

And Bambi,

With some effort,

Kept control of himself.

The Elder looked at him,

And it seemed to Bambi at first,

Despite where he was,

That the Elder was gently mocking him.

But then,

Straight afterwards,

He seemed once more to be fully serious and benevolent.

Bambi blinked as he looked over to where he stood,

And felt that he would no longer be able to stand being near something as horrifying as this.

The Elder seemed to understand what Bambi was thinking,

And whispered,

Let's go,

As he turned round and left.

They crept carefully away,

The Elder moving in strange zigzags,

Though Bambi could not understand why.

Even now,

He found it hard to contain his impatience as he followed these slow steps.

It had been his yearning for feline that had driven him along the path to this place,

But now the urge to flee was chasing through his veins.

The Elder,

Though,

Continued in his slow walk,

Then stopped,

Listened,

Went on,

Still on a zigzag route,

Stopping again,

Moving on again,

Slowly,

Very slowly.

They must by now have been well away from that place of terror.

He keeps on stopping,

So I suppose it'll be alright to start speaking again,

And then I'll just say thank you.

He could see the Elder just in front of him,

As he disappeared into a dense tangle of dogwood bushes.

Not a leaf moved,

Not a twig cracked as the Elder crept into it.

Bambi followed him and tried very hard to pass through just as silently,

Just as artfully,

To avoid making any sound.

But he did not have that luck.

The leaves rustled gently,

Branches bent under the pressure of his flank,

Flicked back again with a loud rattling.

Dry twigs broke with a quick loud crack against his breast.

He saved my life,

Bambi continued to ponder.

What should I say to him?

But the Elder could no longer be seen.

Bambi stepped very slowly out of the bushes,

Saw a wild tangle of golden rods in front of him,

Raised his head,

And looked around.

There was not a blade of grass moving for as far as he could see.

He was alone.

There was nothing now to tell him what to do,

And the urge to flee quickly took hold of him.

As he rushed through them,

The golden rods were divided with a broad hiss,

As if being cut down.

It was a long time wandering lost in the forest before Bambi found Feline.

He was breathless,

And he was tired.

But he was happy and deeply moved.

Please,

My love,

He said.

Please don't call to me when we are apart.

Never call to me again.

We can look for each other until we find one another.

But please,

Feline,

Don't call to me as your voice is something that I cannot resist.