Peter Pan and Wendy. Адаптированная книга Pre-Intermediate (A2)

«Jealous? Of me?» Wendy asked, surprised.

«They think you’ll take me away from them,» Peter said with a grin.

«That’s silly,» Wendy said, shaking her head.

But the mermaids did seem jealous. They splashed water toward Wendy and whispered to each other.

«Don’t worry about them,» Peter said. «They’re just playing.»

As the sun began to set, the lagoon grew quiet. The mermaids disappeared under the water, and the children prepared to leave.

«Do the pirates ever come here?» John asked.

«Sometimes,» Peter said. «But they don’t bother me. I always win when we fight.»

Just as he said this, a small boat appeared in the distance. In the boat were two pirates, rowing quietly toward the lagoon.

«Hide!» Peter whispered.

The children crouched behind the rocks, watching as the pirates reached the shore. They were carrying something between them.

«What are they doing?» Wendy whispered.

Peter’s face grew serious. «They’ve caught someone,» he said.

The children looked closer. The pirates were carrying a tied-up figure. It was Tiger Lily, the daughter of the chief of the native people.

«Tiger Lily!» Peter said. «They’re going to leave her on the rock!»

«Why?» Wendy asked.

«To make her suffer and die,» Peter said. «The tide will come in, and the water will cover the rock.»

«We have to help her!» John said.

Peter nodded. «Stay here. I’ll take care of it.»

Peter waited for the pirates to leave. As they rowed away, Peter called out in a loud voice, imitating Captain Hook.

«Let her go!» Peter shouted.

The pirates froze, looking around in fear. «Did you hear that?» one of them said.

«It’s Captain Hook!» the other pirate said.

«Let her go!» Peter shouted again, his voice even louder.

The pirates were too scared to argue. They came back quickly and untied Tiger Lily and jumped back into their boat.

Peter flew down to the rock and helped Tiger Lily stand. She looked at him gratefully but didn’t say a word.

«Go back to your people,» Peter said.

Tiger Lily nodded and climbed into the water, swimming gracefully toward the other part of the shore.

But then, real Hook shouted. He was swimming toward the boat. The pirates helped him in, and Wendy saw his angry face. She wanted to leave, but Peter stayed, smiling proudly.

The pirates were confused when Hook asked why Tiger Lily was free. «You told us to let her go!» one of the pirates said.

«I gave no such order!» Hook shouted, furious.