"Don't you see? I am crying!" said Pinocchio, raising his head towards the voice and rubbing his eyes with his jacket.
"Tell me," continued the Pigeon, "amongst your companions, do you happen to know a puppet who is called Pinocchio?"
"Pinocchio? Did you say Pinocchio?" repeated the puppet, jumping quickly to his feet. "I am Pinocchio!"
At this answer the Pigeon descended rapidly to the ground. He was larger than a turkey.
"Do you also know Geppetto?" he asked.
"Do I know him! He is my poor papa! Has he perhaps spoken to you of me? Will you take me to him? Is he still alive? Answer me, for pity's sake: is he still alive?"
"I left him three days ago on the seashore."
"What was he doing?"
"He was building a little boat for himself, to cross the ocean. For more than three months that poor man has been going all round the world looking for you. Not having succeeded in finding you, he has now taken it into his head to go to the distant countries of the New World in search of you."
"How far is it from here to the shore?" asked Pinocchio breathlessly.