The theater was full of excitement. Fire Eater was a very ugly man, but he was not as bad as he looked. He saw the poor doll crying, “I do not want to die!” He felt sorry for Pinocchio. Then, Fire Eater began to sneeze (to make a sudden, loud sound from the nose).
Harlequin was very sad before. But when he heard the sneeze, he smiled. He whispered to Pinocchio, “Good news, brother! Fire Eater has sneezed. This means he feels sorry for you. You are safe!”
When other people are sad, they cry. But Fire Eater was different. He had a strange habit. He sneezed every time he felt kind or sad. This showed that he had a good heart. After he sneezed, Fire Eater looked at Pinocchio.
“Stop crying!” Fire Eater shouted. “Your noise makes my stomach feel funny. E-tchee! E-tchee!” He sneezed two more times.
“God bless you!” Pinocchio said.
“Thank you,” Fire Eater said. “Are your father and mother alive?”
“My father is alive. I never knew my mother,” Pinocchio said.
“Your father would be very sad if I burned you,” Fire Eater said. “Poor old man! I feel sorry for him. E-tchee! E-tchee! E-tchee!” He sneezed three more times.
“God bless you!” Pinocchio said.
“Thank you! But I am sorry for myself, too,” Fire Eater said. “My dinner is not ready. I have no more wood for the fire. The lamb is not cooked. Never mind! I will burn another doll. Officers, come here!”
Two wooden officers appeared. They were thin and tall. They had swords in their hands. Fire Eater shouted at them.
“Take Harlequin! Tie him up and throw him on the fire! I want to eat my lamb!” Fire Eater said.
Harlequin was very scared. His legs became weak and he fell to the floor. Pinocchio felt terrible for his friend. He fell at Fire Eater’s feet and cried.
“Please, have mercy, Excellency (a title for an important person)!” Pinocchio said.
When the Director heard the word Excellency (a title for an important person), he felt very proud. He sat up straight and touched his long beard. He became kind and smiled at Pinocchio.
“Well, what do you want?” the Director asked.
“Please do not hurt Harlequin. He is a good friend,” Pinocchio said.
“No,” Fire Eater said. “I will not burn you, so Harlequin must burn. I am hungry. I must cook my dinner.”
Pinocchio stood up. He was very brave. He threw away his bread hat.
“Then it is my duty,” Pinocchio said loudly. “Officers, tie me up! Throw me into the fire! It is not fair for Harlequin to die for me.”
These brave words made all the dolls cry. Even the wooden officers cried like babies. At first, Fire Eater was cold and hard. But then he began to sneeze again. After five sneezes, he opened his arms.
“You are a brave boy!” Fire Eater said. “Come here and kiss me!”
Pinocchio ran to him. He climbed up the Director’s long black beard. He kissed Fire Eater on the nose.
“Am I safe too?” Harlequin asked in a small voice.
“You are safe!” Fire Eater said. “Tonight I will eat my lamb half-cooked. But be careful next time!”
The dolls were very happy. They turned on all the lights. They danced and sang until the sun came up.