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

was a giant telescope, which revolved slowly, keeping watch on the sky, and there was the constant whirring sound of a machine. Two professors bustled here and there, tightening screws, pushing knobs and making notes.
    Moomintroll gave a respectful cough.' Good afternoon! he said. But the scientists took no notice.
    'Fine weather!' said Moomintroll a little louder. But there was still no answer. Then he went forward and touched one of the professors timidly on the arm.
    'We've come several hundred miles in order to meet you, sir,' he said.
    'What! You again!' exclaimed the professor.
    'Excuse me,' said Moomintroll, 'but I've never been here before.'
    'Then it was a couple extraordinarily like you,' muttered the professor. 'Crowds of people coming here... We haven't time, you know, simply haven't time. This comet is the most interesting thing in the last ninety-three years. Now, what do you want? Make it quick!'
    'I only w-wanted to know... those people who were here before,' stammered Moomintroll. 'I suppose it wasn't a little pale green Snork maiden... all fluffy... perhaps with a flower behind her ear...'
    'Your explanation is most unscientific,' said the professor impatiently. 'I know nothing about it, except that there was a tiresome female here disturbing me about some trinket she had lost. Off with you now! You've already wasted 44 seconds of my time!'
    Moomintroll backed out nervously.
    'Well?' said Sniff. 'Is it coming?'
    'When will it fall?' asked Snufkin.
    'Oh! I quite forgot to ask,' mumbled Moomintroll blushing. 'But that little S-snork maiden has b-been here. She's alive. She didn't fall down the precipice!'
    'Well, I must say!' Snufkin burst out.
    'I can't make you out,' said Sniff. 'I thought you didn't like girls. Now I'll go and ask.' And he trotted up to the other professor. 'Please may I have a look through your telescope?' he asked politely. 'I am very interested in comets, and I've heard so much about your wonderful discoveries here.'
    The professor was very flattered and put his spectacles



up on his forehead. 'Have you now?' he said. 'Then you must come and have a look, my little friend.'
    He arranged the telescope for Sniff and told him to go ahead. Sniff was rather frightened at first. The sky was quite black and the big stars flickered as if they were alive, and far in the distance shone something red, like a wicked eye.
    'Is that the comet?' he whispered.
    'Yes,' said the professor.
    'But it's not moving at all,' said Sniff in a puzzled voice. 'And I don't see any tail either.'
    'Its tail is behind,' explained the professor. 'It is rushing straight towards the earth, that's why it doesn't look as if it's moving. But you can see that it gets bigger every day.'
    'When will it arrive?' asked Sniff, staring in fascinated curiosity at the little red spark through the telescope.
    'According to my reckoning it should hit the earth on the seventh of October at 8.42 p.m. Possibly four seconds later,' said the professor.
    'And what will happen then?' asked Sniff.
    'What will happen?' said the professor in surprise. 'Well, I hadn't thought about that. But I shall record the events in great detail you may be sure.'
    'Can you tell me what the date is today, sir?' Sniff asked.
    'It is the third of October,' answered the professor. 'And the time is exactly 6.28.'
    'Then I think we must go,' said Sniff. 'Thank you very much indeed for your help.'
    He returned to the others with an important look on his face.
    'I have had a very interesting conversation with the professor,' he said, 'and we have come to the conclusion that the comet will fall on the seventh of October at 8.42 p.m. Possibly four seconds later.'
    'Then we must hurry home as fast as we can,' said Moomintroll anxiously. 'If only we can get home to mamma before it comes nothing can happen. She will know what to do.'
    They left the Observatory and set off on the long journey home.
    It was getting dark and the awful red light in the sky was stronger. The