The Moomins and the Great Flood Read Online Free Page B
Author: Tove Jansson
stork, bowing to Moominmamma. 'If the family will climb on board we shall effect our departure at once. And then he lifted first her and then the small creature, who squeaked with excitement. 'Hold on tight,' said the marabou stork. 'We're going to fly out over the water now.'
'I think this is the most wonderful thing we've been through so far,' said Moominmamma. 'Why, flying is not nearly as frightening as I thought. Now keep a good look out for Moominpappa in all directions!'
The marabou stork flew in wide circles and came in low over each treetop. They saw a lot of people sitting amidst the branches, but none of them was who they were looking for. 'I shall have to rescue those creeps over there later on,' said the marabou stork, whom the rescue expedition had made positively cheerful. He flew to and fro above the water for a long time, the sun began to set, and everything seemed quite hopeless.
Suddenly Moominmamma cried: There he is!' and began to wave her arms so wildly that she nearly fell off.
'Papa!' shouted Moomintroll, and the small creature cried out too, just to keep him company.
There, on one of the highest branches of an enormous tree sat a wet, sad Moominpappa, staring out over the water. Beside him he had tied a distress flag. He was so amazed and delighted when the marabou stork landed in the tree, and the whole of his family climbed down on to the branches, that he could not say a word.
'Now we shall never be separated again,' sobbed Moominmamma, and took him in her arms. 'How are you? Have you got a cold? Where have you been all this time? Was the house you built a very fine one?
Did you think of us often?'
'It was a very fine house, alas,' said Moominpappa. 'My dear little boy, how you have grown!'
'Well, well,' said the marabou stork, who was beginning to feel touched. 'I think I had better put you down on dry land and try to rescue a few more until the sun goes down. It's very pleasant, rescuing people.'
And then he took them back to the shore while they all talked at the same time about all the dreadful things they had been through. All along the shore people had lit fires at which they were warming themselves and cooking food, for most had lost their homes. The marabou stork put down Moomintroll, his father and mother and the small creature at one of the bonfires, and with a hasty farewell he flew out over the water again.
'Good evening,' said the two angler fish who had lit the fire. 'Please sit down, the soup will be ready in a moment.'
'Thank you very much,' said Moominpappa. 'You have no idea what a fine house I had before the flood.
Built it all by myself. But if I get a new one, you will be welcome there any time.'
'How big was it?' asked the small creature.
'Three rooms,' said Moominpappa. 'One sky-blue, one sunshine-yellow and one spotted. And a guest room in the attic for you, small creature.'
'Did you really mean us to live there too?' asked Moominmamma, very pleased.
'Of course,' he said. 'I looked for you always, everywhere. I could never forget our dear old stove.'
Then they sat and told one another about their experiences and ate soup until the moon had risen and the fires began to go out along the shore. Then they borrowed a blanket from the angler fish and curled up close next to one another and fell asleep.
Next morning the water had subsided a good way, and they all went out into the sunshine in a very good mood. The small creature danced in front of them and tied a bow in his tail because he was so happy. All day they walked, and wherever they went it was beautiful, for after the rain the most wonderful flowers had come out everywhere and the trees had both flowers and fruits. They only needed to shake a tree slightly, and the fruits fell down among them.
At last they came to a small valley that was more beautiful than any they had seen earlier in the day.
And there, in the midst of the meadow, stood a house that almost looked like a stove, very elegant and
'I think this is the most wonderful thing we've been through so far,' said Moominmamma. 'Why, flying is not nearly as frightening as I thought. Now keep a good look out for Moominpappa in all directions!'
The marabou stork flew in wide circles and came in low over each treetop. They saw a lot of people sitting amidst the branches, but none of them was who they were looking for. 'I shall have to rescue those creeps over there later on,' said the marabou stork, whom the rescue expedition had made positively cheerful. He flew to and fro above the water for a long time, the sun began to set, and everything seemed quite hopeless.
Suddenly Moominmamma cried: There he is!' and began to wave her arms so wildly that she nearly fell off.
'Papa!' shouted Moomintroll, and the small creature cried out too, just to keep him company.
There, on one of the highest branches of an enormous tree sat a wet, sad Moominpappa, staring out over the water. Beside him he had tied a distress flag. He was so amazed and delighted when the marabou stork landed in the tree, and the whole of his family climbed down on to the branches, that he could not say a word.
'Now we shall never be separated again,' sobbed Moominmamma, and took him in her arms. 'How are you? Have you got a cold? Where have you been all this time? Was the house you built a very fine one?
Did you think of us often?'
'It was a very fine house, alas,' said Moominpappa. 'My dear little boy, how you have grown!'
'Well, well,' said the marabou stork, who was beginning to feel touched. 'I think I had better put you down on dry land and try to rescue a few more until the sun goes down. It's very pleasant, rescuing people.'
And then he took them back to the shore while they all talked at the same time about all the dreadful things they had been through. All along the shore people had lit fires at which they were warming themselves and cooking food, for most had lost their homes. The marabou stork put down Moomintroll, his father and mother and the small creature at one of the bonfires, and with a hasty farewell he flew out over the water again.
'Good evening,' said the two angler fish who had lit the fire. 'Please sit down, the soup will be ready in a moment.'
'Thank you very much,' said Moominpappa. 'You have no idea what a fine house I had before the flood.
Built it all by myself. But if I get a new one, you will be welcome there any time.'
'How big was it?' asked the small creature.
'Three rooms,' said Moominpappa. 'One sky-blue, one sunshine-yellow and one spotted. And a guest room in the attic for you, small creature.'
'Did you really mean us to live there too?' asked Moominmamma, very pleased.
'Of course,' he said. 'I looked for you always, everywhere. I could never forget our dear old stove.'
Then they sat and told one another about their experiences and ate soup until the moon had risen and the fires began to go out along the shore. Then they borrowed a blanket from the angler fish and curled up close next to one another and fell asleep.
Next morning the water had subsided a good way, and they all went out into the sunshine in a very good mood. The small creature danced in front of them and tied a bow in his tail because he was so happy. All day they walked, and wherever they went it was beautiful, for after the rain the most wonderful flowers had come out everywhere and the trees had both flowers and fruits. They only needed to shake a tree slightly, and the fruits fell down among them.
At last they came to a small valley that was more beautiful than any they had seen earlier in the day.
And there, in the midst of the meadow, stood a house that almost looked like a stove, very elegant and
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