Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson Read Free Book Online Page A

bird was hovering over them, turning his head with the cold eyes and strong curved beak from side to side, when suddenly he poised himself on trembling outstretched wings.
    'I wonder what he's up to now?' said Sniff.
    'I don't like the look of him,' Moomintroll said anxiously.
    'Perhaps...' began Snufkin, but he got no further, except to scream frantically: 'Look out - he's diving!'
    They all threw themselves against the rocks looking wildly for somewhere to hide.
    In a rush of wings the eagle swooped towards them, while they squeezed themselves into a crevice in the rock, and held each other tight in terrified helplessness. He was on top of them!
    It was like a whirlwind. One moment they were surrounded by the great wings that beat wildly against the rock, and the next there was complete quiet.
    Trembling in every limb they peeped out of their hiding place to see the eagle sailing in a great semi-circle below them. After a moment he rose and disappeared amongst the mountain tops.
    'He's ashamed that he missed us,' said Snufkin. 'Eagles are very proud. He won't try again.'
    Sniff was counting on his fingers. 'The crocodiles, the giant lizard, the waterfall, the underground tunnel, the eagle. Five awful experiences. It's beginning to get monotonous!'
    'We've still got the biggest adventure to come,' said Moomintroll. 'The comet.'
    They all looked up at the heavy grey clouds.
    'I wish we could see the sky,' he went on rather nervously. 'Come on. Let's start!'
    By the afternoon they had climbed so high that they had reached the clouds, and the going was slippery and dangerous. Damp veils of mist swirled around them. They were dreadfully cold (Moomintroll thought longingly of his woolly trousers), and surrounded completely by an awful floating emptiness.
    'I always thought clouds were soft and woolly and nice to be in,' said Sniff sneezing. 'Ugh! I'm beginning to be sorry I ever came on this expedition.'
    Suddenly Moomintroll stood still.
    'Wait!' he said. 'There's something shining. A light... or is it a diamond...'

    'A diamond!' screamed Sniff, who loved jewels.
    Moomintroll set off, dragging the others after him by the rope. 'It's a little gold bracelet,' he announced at last.
    'Be careful,' shouted Snufkin. 'It's right on the edge of the precipice!'
    But Moomintroll wasn't listening. He crept slowly towards the edge and stretched down for the bracelet. Snufkin and Sniff held the rope tight and Moomintroll crept a little farther down until at last he reached the gold ring.
    'Do you think it could be the Snork Maiden's?' he asked.
    'Yes. That's hers,' said Snufkin, sighing. 'It looks as if she has fallen over the edge. So young and beautiful too.'
    Moomintroll was too overcome to speak, and they went sadly on their way.
    The mists were beginning to thin out and it was warmer.

    They stopped on a ledge to rest and stared in silence at the swirling grey vapour on all sides of them. Suddenly it divided and rolled away until at last the three tired travellers could see where they were, and what they saw took their breath away! There was a sea of clouds at their feet, which looked so soft and beautiful that they wanted to wade out and dive and dance in it.
    'Now we're above the clouds,' said Snufkin solemnly, and they turned round to look up at the sky that had been hidden for so long.
    'Look!' whispered Sniff in terror. The sky was no longer blue. It was a pale red!
    'Perhaps it's the sunset,' said Snufkin doubtfully.
    But Moomintroll looked very grave and said: 'No. This time it's the comet. It's on its way to the earth.'
    On the very top of the jagged peak above them stood the Observatory. Inside, scientists made thousands of remarkable observations, smoked thousands of cigarettes, and lived alone with the stars.
    They made their way up to it in silence and Moomintroll

    opened the door. There was a staircase inside, and up they went to find themselves on the threshold of a high room with a glass roof. In the middle of the floor