𝙃𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙤𝙣: 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙒𝙖𝙧

      Once the kangaroo Sur gathered all the animals in the forest. She tried to warn everyone that Horton the elephant was very dangerous for everyone. Both for animals and for their children. She told everyone about the horror that Horton was delusional and talking to some kind of flower, on which there was supposedly someone’s stomach and supposedly talking to him. She told me that he was fooling everyone and wanted to fool all the children by making them stupid. All the animals in the forest looked at each other and began to think, is Horton the elephant really that dangerous? Horton's friend Morton immediately intervened in the conversation: — Wait! Do you really believe her? Do you seriously think Horton is dangerous? He was a good friend to all of you and always helped each of you. And he loved your children all the more and did not fool them at all, but taught them to be smart. — That's it, Morton! — Sur assured, intervening in the conversation: — He used to be like that. And now he has become delirious and thinks that flowers supposedly talk. Most of our children have already become stupid because of this elephant. — It’s not up to you to decide! — Morton dared to speak out. — What are you hinting at? — The kangaroo looked gloomily at the jerboa. — Are you on his side? — Yes, I'm on his side. Because I'm his friend and I trust him. And think for yourself! What if he is still telling the truth? Maybe someone really lives on that fluff with a flower, but we just don’t hear him. — Let's say! — Sur answered slyly and folded her hands on her chest in disbelief. — But this does not change the fact that he is a threat to all of us and our children. — You yourself are a threat, stupid old woman! — Morton swore boldly, pointing his finger at the kangaroo. All the animals gasped at what they heard, and Sur only bulged her eyes from such an insult in her direction. — I said maybe... MAYBE... He was right. We ourselves don’t know for sure, is there really someone there? Although maybe there really is someone there? Maybe we ourselves just don’t hear him, but Horton himself hears him perfectly well, because he has very large ears and very good hearing, while our ears are small and therefore we don’t hear anything. — Morton answers and turns to all the animals, addressing them: — Guys, remember how, for example, when Vlad the rabbit needed help, and he was so far away that we didn’t hear his cry, but only Horton himself heard him from here and quickly ran to help. Because he is a hundred percent eared elephant with very good hearing. Maybe we are wrong to not believe him, that on the fluff with which he is talking there is actually someone living? And what’s wrong with the fact that our children also love to fantasize and imagine their worlds on flowers? Let them continue to imagine and play with it! There is really no threat in this! Think better! Are you going to all die at once if our children imagine this? Mortan's words made all the animals think that maybe Horton really was right. Although they also trusted Sur. They didn't know which side to be on. On the one hand, Sur seems to be right, and on the other hand, Horton’s friend is also right. Even the vulture Vlad, who stood next to you on the tree, thought: — “What have I done?” — Come on, guys! — the kangaroo stood her ground. — I'm telling you that Horton is still a threat. And why would you listen to some little squeak? I remember those days when fluff was fluff, flowers were flowers, and animals were animals. But now, because of Horton, all that will change. Because of him, our children are starting to fantasize for now, but in the future, when they grow up, they will also begin to deceive our grandchildren, making them stupid dreamers as well. This has never happened before and should not happen! Who do you trust, me, the only smart and normal kangaroo, or this stupid elephant? These words made everyone think again. Yes, but this only made the situation worse. The animals seemed to split into two camps. One, along with their children, trusted Horton, and the other was on the side of Sur. Only her son Rudy finally dared to jump from his mother’s bag and brought the animals who were for Horton to his side. — Rudy, come back to your mother immediately! — his mother told him, but the son only looked at her sternly, as if at a stranger, and said: — No. There was a real conflict between the animals and everyone argued who was right and who was wrong. After the conflict, they separated.

***

      Horton at this time was still walking along with the fluff on the pink clover and almost reached Nore Mountain. On the way, Willie the bear immediately came running after him and took a breath. Other animals came running after him. At first, Horton was afraid that a whole crowd of them wanted to take the fluff from him, but they only wanted to warn him about the danger, and at the same time find out whether he really heard someone in the fluff. Horton confirmed this by answering positively and said that the whole city lived there, the mayor and his ninety-eight daughters, along with his only son, plus his wife. Morton even came to Horton's defense, adding about Horton's ears. The elephant even confirmed this. Now their doubts were immediately corrected. Although they themselves did not hear anything, there was enough evidence that the elephant had very good hearing. Other animals, led by Sur, intervened in their conversation: — Very impressive! You turned them all against me, now what? — Now I’ll just take this fluff to a safe place where you won’t touch them or harm them. — Horton said. — What will you do to me? — My faithful and I will take this fluff from you and boil it in boiling oil. All the animals, led by Morton, came to Horton's defense. Including Rudy and even Vlad flew in and also took the side of the elephant. — Vlad? What are you doing here? — You and I had an agreement before, Sur. You promised me your son in exchange for me taking this fluff away from Horton and getting rid of it. However, you insisted that I do it for free. And where is your gratitude? Since you treated me this way, then our agreement is broken. I won't let you touch the elephant's fluff and clover. — the vulture said confidently, stretching its wings to the sides. — So this is how you all answered me? — The kangaroo looked sternly and took a deep breath of air from anger. — Okay! Since you want war! There will be war for you! The two sides of the animals attacked each other and a fist fight began. They hit each other, pushed, kicked, trampled and knocked each other to the ground. Vlad the rabbit ran out of the fight crowd and said in a panic: — Run, Horton! Protect the fluff! We will delay them as long as we can. — Thank you, friends. — the elephant thanked them and ran on as fast as he could. While he was running, he managed to address the mayor on the way, looking at the flower. — Mayor, if they suddenly catch up with me and take me prisoner, prepare in advance! Tell all your whos to make noise and shout as loud as they can!