It was the crickets of the guard who came in breathless and pale with terror.
— The black scorpion! they announced, their eyes wide.
— The scorpion!" the guests repeated in terror.
It was like announcing the plague. Nervous ladies fell backwards, fainting; others climbed onto their chairs, screaming with terror. The giant silkworm moth, in a fit of nerves, fell unconscious into Crab's arms. The South American side-neck turtle closed itself inside its shell. The snails shrank into their shells. And there weren't any winged bugs left that didn't fly to the ceiling.
The time had come. The hideous Black Scorpion loomed at the palace door with its sting outstretched. It stopped. He snorted in anger and cast a challenging glance around the room.
— Who is this little human girl who dares to enter the realm of animals?" he said, cracking his fangs.
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