查理和巧克力工厂 作者:[英]罗尔德·达尔-第11部分

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icky　yellow　stuff　and　had　a　taste；　then　he　skipped　across　to　one　of　the　machines　and　turned　half　a　dozen　knobs　this　way　and　that；　then　he　peered　anxiously　through　the　glass　door　of　a　gigantic　oven；　rubbing　his　hands　and　cackling　with　delight　at　what　he　saw　inside。　Then　he　ran　over　to　another　machine；　a　small　shiny　affair　that　kept　going　phut…phut…phut…phut…phut；　and　every　time　it　went　phut；　a　large　green　marble　dropped　out　of　it　into　a　basket　on　the　floor。　At　least　it　looked　like　a　marble。
　　'Everlasting　Gobstoppers！'　cried　Mr　Wonka　proudly。　'They're　pletely　new！　I　am　inventing　them　for　children　who　are　given　very　little　pocket　money。　You　can　put　an　Everlasting　Gobstopper　in　your　mouth　and　you　can　suck　it　and　suck　it　and　suck　it　and　suck　it　and　it　will　never　get　any　smaller！'
　　'It's　like　gum！'　cried　Violet　Beauregarde。
　　'It　is　not　like　gum；'　Mr　Wonka　said。　'Gum　is　for　chewing；　and　if　you　tried　chewing　one　of　these　Gobstoppers　here　you'd　break　your　teeth　off！　And　they　never　get　any　smaller！　They　never　disappear！　NEVER！　At　least　I　don't　think　they　do。　There's　one　of　them　being　tested　this　very　moment　in　the　Testing　Room　next　door。　An　Oompa…Loompa　is　sucking　it。　He's　been　sucking　it　for　very　nearly　a　year　now　without　stopping；　and　it's　still　just　as　good　as　ever！
　　'Now；　over　here；'　Mr　Wonka　went　on；　skipping　excitedly　across　the　room　to　the　opposite　wall；　'over　here　I　am　inventing　a　pletely　new　line　in　toffees！'　He　stopped　beside　a　large　saucepan。　The　saucepan　was　full　of　a　thick　gooey　purplish　treacle；　boiling　and　bubbling。　By　standing　on　his　toes；　little　Charlie　could　just　see　inside　it。
　　'That's　Hair　Toffee！'　cried　Mr　Wonka。　'You　eat　just　one　tiny　bit　of　that；　and　in　exactly　half　an　hour　a　brand…new　luscious　thick　silky　beautiful　crop　of　hair　will　start　growing　out　all　over　the　top　of　your　head！　And　a　moustache！　And　a　beard！'
　　'A　beard！'　cried　Veruca　Salt。　'Who　wants　a　beard；　for　heaven's　sake？'
　　'It　would　suit　you　very　well；'　said　Mr　Wonka；　'but　unfortunately　the　mixture　is　not　quite　right　yet。　I've　got　it　too　strong。　It　works　too　well。　I　tried　it　on　an　Oompa…Loompa　yesterday　in　the　Testing　Room　and　immediately　a　huge　black　beard　started　shooting　out　of　his　chin；　and　the　beard　grew　so　fast　that　soon　it　was　trailing　all　over　the　floor　in　a　thick　hairy　carpet。　It　was　growing　faster　than　we　could　cut　it！　In　the　end　we　had　to　use　a　lawn　mower　to　keep　it　in　check！　But　I'll　get　the　mixture　right　soon！　And　when　I　do；　then　there'll　be　no　excuse　any　more　for　little　boys　and　girls　going　about　with　bald　heads！'
　　'But　Mr　Wonka；'　said　Mike　Teavee；　'little　boys　and　girls　never　do　go　about　with　。　。　。'
　　'Don't　argue；　my　dear　child；　please　don't　argue！'　cried　Mr　Wonka。　'It's　such　a　waste　of　precious　time！　Now；　over　here；　if　you　will　all　step　this　way；　I　will　show　you　something　that　I　am　terrifically　proud　of。　Oh；　do　be　careful！　Don't　knock　anything　over！　Stand　back！'
　　20
　　The　Great　Gum　Machine
　　Mr　Wonka　led　the　party　over　to　a　gigantic　machine　that　stood　in　the　very　centre　of　the　Inventing　Room。　It　was　a　mountain　of　gleaming　metal　that　towered　high　above　the　children　and　their　parents。　Out　of　the　very　top　of　it　there　sprouted　hundreds　and　hundreds　of　thin　glass　tubes；　and　the　glass　tubes　all　curled　downwards　and　came　together　in　a　bunch　and　hung　suspended　over　an　enormous　round　tub　as　big　as　a　bath。
　　'Here　we　go！'　cried　Mr　Wonka；　and　he　pressed　three　different　buttons　on　the　side　of　the　machine。　A　second　later；　a　mighty　rumbling　sound　came　from　inside　it；　and　the　whole　machine　began　to　shake　most　frighteningly；　and　steam　began　hissing　out　of　it　all　over；　and　then　suddenly　the　watchers　noticed　that　runny　stuff　was　pouring　down　the　insides　of　all　the　hundreds　of　little　glass　tubes　and　squirting　out　into　the　great　tub　below。　And　in　every　single　tube　the　runny　stuff　was　of　a　different　colour；　so　that　all　the　colours　of　the　rainbow　（and　many　others　as　well）　came　sloshing　and　splashing　into　the　tub。　It　was　a　lovely　sight。　And　when　the　tub　was　nearly　full；　Mr　Wonka　pressed　another　button；　and　immediately　the　runny　stuff　disappeared；　and　a　whizzing　whirring　noise　took　its　place；　and　then　a　giant　whizzer　started　whizzing　round　inside　the　enormous　tub；　mixing　up　all　the　different　coloured　liquids　like　an　ice…cream　soda。　Gradually；　the　mixture　began　to　froth。　It　became　frothier　and　frothier；　and　it　turned　from　blue　to　white　to　green　to　brown　to　yellow；　then　back　to　blue　again。
　　'Watch！'　said　Mr　Wonka。
　　Click　went　the　machine；　and　the　whizzer　stopped　whizzing。　And　now　there　came　a　sort　of　sucking　noise；　and　very　quickly　all　the　blue　frothy　mixture　in　the　huge　basin　was　sucked　back　into　the　stomach　of　the　machine。　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。　Then　a　few　queer　rumblings　were　heard。　Then　silence　again。　Then　suddenly；　the　machine　let　out　a　monstrous　mighty　groan；　and　at　the　same　moment　a　tiny　drawer　（no　bigger　than　the　drawer　in　a　slot　machine）　popped　out　of　the　side　of　the　machine；　and　in　the　drawer　there　lay　something　so　small　and　thin　and　grey　that　everyone　thought　it　must　be　a　mistake。　The　thing　looked　like　a　little　strip　of　grey　cardboard。
　　The　children　and　their　parents　stared　at　the　little　grey　strip　lying　in　the　drawer。
　　'You　mean　that's　all？'　said　Mike　Teavee；　disgusted。
　　'That's　all；'　answered　Mr　Wonka；　gazing　proudly　at　the　result。　'Don't　you　know　what　it　is？'
　　There　was　a　pause。　Then　suddenly；　Violet　Beauregarde；　the　silly　gum…chewing　girl；　let　out　a　yell　of　excitement。　'By　gum；　it's　gum！'　she　shrieked。　'It's　a　stick　of　chewing…gum！'
　　'Right　you　are！'　cried　Mr　Wonka；　slapping　Violet　hard　on　the　back。　'It's　a　stick　of　gum！　It's　a　stick　of　the　most　amazing　and　fabulous　and　sensational　gum　in　the　world！'
　　21
　　Good…bye　Violet
　　'This　gum；'　Mr　Wonka　went　on；　'is　my　latest；　my　greatest；　my　most　fascinating　invention！　It's　a　chewing…gum　meal！　It's　。　。　。　it's　。　。　。　it's　。　。　。　That　tiny　little　strip　of　gum　lying　there　is　a　whole　three…course　dinner　all　by　itself！'
　　'What　sort　of　nonsense　is　this？'　said　one　of　the　fathers。
　　'My　dear　sir！'　cried　Mr　Wonka；　'when　I　start　selling　this　gum　in　the　shops　it　will　change　everything！　It　will　be　the　end　of　all　kitchens　and　all　cooking！　There　will　be　no　more　shopping　to　do！　No　more　buying　of　meat　and　groceries！　There'll　be　no　knives　and　forks　at　mealtimes！　No　plates！　No　washing　up！　No　rubbish！　No　mess！　Just　a　little　strip　of　Wonka's　magic　chewing…gum　—　and　that's　all　you'll　ever　need　at　breakfast；　lunch；　and　supper！　This　piece　of　gum　I've　just　made　happens　to　be　tomato　soup；　roast　beef；　and　blueberry　pie；　but　you　can　have　almost　anything　you　want！'
　　'What　do　you　mean；　it's　tomato　soup；　roast　beef；　and　blueberry　pie？'　said　Violet　Beauregarde。
　　'If　you　were　to　start　chewing　it；'　said　Mr　Wonka；　'then　that　is　exactly　what　you　would　get　on　the　menu。　It's　absolutely　amazing！　You　can　actually　feel　the　food　going　down　your　throat　and　into　your　tummy！　And　you　can　taste　it　perfectly！　And　it　fills　you　up！　It　satisfies　you！　It's　terrific！'
　　'It's　utterly　impossible；'　said　Veruca　Salt。
　　'Just　so　long　as　it's　gum；'　shouted　Violet　Beauregarde；　'just　so　long　as　it's　a　piece　of　gum　and　I　can　chew　it；　then　that's　for　me！'　And　quickly　she　took　her　own　world…record　piece　of　chewing…gum　out　of　her　mouth　and　stuck　it　behind　her　left　ear。　'e　on；　Mr　Wonka；'　she　said；　'hand　over　this　magic　gum　of　yours　and　we'll　see　if　the　thing　works。'
　　'Now；　Violet；'　said　Mrs　Beauregarde；　her　mother；　'don't　let's　do　anything　silly；　Violet。'
　　'I　want　the　gum！'　Violet　said　obstinately。　'What's　so　silly？'
　　'I　would　rather　you　didn't　take　it；'　Mr　Wonka　told　her　gently。　'You　see；　I　haven't　got　it　quite　right　yet。　There　are　still　one　or　two　things　。　。　。'
　　'Oh；　to　blazes　with　that！'　said　Violet；　and　suddenly；　before　Mr　Wonka　could　stop　her；　she　shot　out　a　fat　hand　and　grabbed　the　stick　of　gum　out　of　the　little　drawer　and　popped　it　into　her　mouth。　At　once；　her　huge；　well…trained　jaws　started　chewing　away　on　it　like　a　pair　of　tongs。
　　'Don't！'　said　Mr　Wonka。
　　'Fabulous！'　shouted　Violet。　'It's　tomato　soup！　It's　hot　and　creamy　and　delicious！　I　can　feel　it　running　down　my　throat！'
　　'Stop！'　said　Mr　Wonka。　'The　gum　isn't　ready　yet！　It's　not　right！'
　　'Of　course　it's　right！'　said　Violet。　'It's　working　beautifully！　Oh　my；　what　lovely　soup　this　is！'
　　'Spit　it　out！'　said　Mr　Wonka。
　　'It's　changing！'　shouted　Violet；　chewing　and　grinning　both　at　the　same　time。　'The　second　course　is　ing　up！　It's　roast　beef！　It's　tender　and　juicy！　Oh　boy；　what　a　flavour！　The　baked　potato　is　marvellous；　too！　It's　got　a　crispy　skin　and　it's　all　filled　with　butter　inside！'
　　'But　how　in…teresting；　Violet；'　said　Mrs　Beauregarde。　'You　are　a　clever　girl。'
　　'Keep　chewing；　baby！'　said　Mr　Beauregarde。　'Keep　right　on　chewing！　This　is　a　great　day　for　the　Beauregardes！　Our　little　girl　is　the　first　person　in　the　world　to　have　a　chewing…gum　meal！'
　　Everybody　was　watching　Violet　Beauregarde　as　she　stood　there　chewing　this　extraordinary　gum。　Little　Charlie　Bucket　was　staring　at　her　absolutely　spellbound；　watching　her　huge　rubbery　lips　as　they　pressed　and　unpressed　with　the　chewing；　and　Grandpa　Joe　stood　beside　him；　gaping　at　the　girl。　Mr　Wonka　was　wringing　his　hands　and　saying；　'No；　no；　no；　no；　no！　It　isn't　ready　for　eating！　It　isn't　right！　You　mustn't　do　it！'
　　'Blueberry　pie　and　cream！'　shouted　Violet。　'Here　it　es！　Oh　my；　it's　perfect！　It's　beautiful！　It's　。　。　。　it's　exactly　as　though　I'm　swallowing　it！　It's　as　though　I'm　chewing　and　swallowing　great　big　spoonfuls　of　the　most　marvellous　blueberry　pie　in　the　world！'
　　'Good　heavens；　girl！'　shrieked　Mrs　Beauregarde　suddenly；　staring　at　Violet；　'what's　happening　to　your　nose！'
　　'Oh；　be　quiet；　mother；　and　let　me　finish！'　said　Violet。
　　'It's　turning　blue！'　screamed　Mrs　Beauregarde。　'Your　nose　is　turning　blue　as　a　blueberry！'
　　'Your　mother　is　right！'　shouted　Mr　Beauregarde。　'Your　whole　nose　has　gone　purple！'
　　'What　do　you　mean？'　said　Violet；　still　chewing　away。
　　'Your　cheeks！'　screamed　Mrs　Beauregarde。　'They're　turning　blue　as　well！　So　is　your　chin！　Your　whole　face　is　turning　blue！'
　　'Spit　that　gum　out　at　once！'　ordered　Mr　Beauregarde。
　　'Mercy！　Save　us！'　yelled　Mrs　Beauregarde。　'The　gi