Around the World

Milvo the deer and Tiglio the rabbit, two good friends, lived in a lush green wood. They used to be together to share fresh meadows to graze, and to give each other a hand in everyday life. One morning, Milvo got up early for his daily walk, and after passing a group of trees, he made a completely unpredictable discovery. A large airship was in the middle of a clearing, and it seemed to be working and ready to go. Milvo watched him amazed for a few minutes, since it was certainly not something that could be seen every day. Then, meditating on what he had just seen, he walked towards Tiglio, the usual friend, to tell him what was in the woods. “Linden, you won’t believe what I have to tell you! A big, huge airship, which is nothing but an incredible car to fly, it’s here in the woods, just a few steps away! “” Really? “, Replied the rabbit,” And who brought it? “” Man, who else? It is this sign that man is interested in our beloved wood, and where man passes, he brings with him a great confusion. And that means, dear Tiglio, that you and I are in danger. Therefore, I propose you an idea: let’s run away with this great airship, in search of another wood to live in peace! We’ll leave tomorrow morning. “” But Milvo, fly? We? No mention of it! And then, would you know how to maneuver that thing? And if you punctured the ball with your horns? It doesn’t seem like a good idea. “” Come on, man. It is for our good that I propose it to you. It will be a bit risky, it’s true, but never how much to stay here. And then, think that a great adventure would be to sail the skies! “” I’m sorry, dear Milvo, but I really don’t feel like it. Yours is a crazy idea, and only a fool would follow you. Goodbye! ”Linden disappeared into the bushes, leaving only Milvo, who was very sorry for the response of his rabbit friend.

But the next day, Milvo the deer left the same, alone, with the great airship, to discover new places to live. He wasn’t entirely sure what he was doing, but he knew he was doing the right thing. With a little patience, he succeeded in starting that great flight machine, and rose proudly in the skies. After two days of flight, he befriended Pino, a graceful little bird that perched on the great airship and never went down. “So I can fly much further than I ever did,” said Pino. And indeed they flew very far, to England, where they stayed for days. Here they met Jason, a noble dog who accompanied them all the time. And when they decided to leave, Jason tried to join the crew, being warmly welcomed. “Thank you, gentlemen. The dear old England is, alas, a little bored to me after all this time. It’s time to see the other, “said the newcomer. And so they went into the African savannah, where they found new friends in Raffa the giraffe and Dante the elephant. They also wanted to join the gang: Raffa loved to see things from above, and flying on the great dirigible he would have seen everything from much higher up than from his long neck; Dante, on the other hand, was simply a glutton, and wanted to eat new leaves and plants scattered around the world. And they even reached the north pole, a rather cold place where they didn’t want to spend too long, but where they made the pleasant acquaintance of Tarsus, a nice polar bear who wanted to find some warmer water to bathe in.

There was still so much, so much world to visit, but Milvo decided to return to his old wood, to take Tiglio, so he returned to being worried. So the great airship landed in the woods, with all its crew. It didn’t take long before Milvo could find Tiglio. More than a year had passed, and the great forest had almost disappeared. “Friend,” said Tiglio, “the situation here is bad. The men have reached dozens, and the forest gets smaller by the day. ” “That’s why I’m picking you up, Linden. I have been to many places, and as you can see I have found many new friends, who have followed me on this journey that you thought was madness. We have had many adventures, and just as many await us. ” “But Milvo, I’m still afraid, and I’m not convinced. And how did you manage not to have them? “” Linden, my friend, I too was afraid of it. I had it when I was about to leave, and every time I landed in a new place; I had it when the strong southern air currents dragged me away, just like when at high altitude it was a little colder than usual. But it was always worth it, dear Tiglio, because it was better than staying here, where there is nothing left to do. And while you spent time hiding, I had great adventures! Come with me, then, if this time I have convinced you, I renew my invitation to you. “And this time Tiglio became convinced, and with Milvo and all the crew of the great dirigible soared in the skies, to finally explore the world.