Built from thick, roughly interwoven branches, a large nest-like structure was fastened at the base of the millwheel — wide and comfortable. Its interior, lined with neatly planed and varnished boards, gleamed in the sunlight like a mirror.
The Meadow of Freddy the Scarecrow
In the middle of the meadow, leaning to one side like the Tower of Pisa, stood a lonely scarecrow.
Altar
After a long walk, they had reached something like an altar, built from massive, roughly hewn stones, embedded in the ground in a circular formation.
Eagle’s Nest
Firmly embedded in the massive cliffs, on one of the many ledges along the canyon wall, was a huge nest — or more precisely, a system of several nests, surrounded by a network of hanging ladders and bridges.
Anthill
Suddenly, the stalks in front of them parted, and through the opening, three strange figures literally tumbled out. Their armored bodies looked heavy and menacing, and the large curved cudgels they carried didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
The Ghost Mansion
There was no doubt — they were standing in front of the Ghost Mansion! Everything around them spoke of ruin and desolation, just as one would expect from a house full of ghosts.
The Watermill
The little mill was wonderfully beautiful. At the base, it began with a stone masonry foundation, as tall as a person. The neatly whitewashed walls with their tiny, charming windows looked so delicious that Anne couldn’t help but think of Hansel and Gretel.
Heino’s Secret Dwelling
The Magpies’ Meadow
After a few more steps, a small meadow appeared before their eyes, with a single withered tree at its center. Perched in its branches were two magpies, each taller than Anne. Both were decked out from head to toe in earrings, rings, and necklaces — though at the moment, they looked rather disheveled.
Fisherman’s Jetty
The third path led them to the bank of a wide stream. A narrow walkway of flat stones led to a small fisherman’s jetty, hidden among cattails and reeds. With the help of a large branch propped up in a forked stick, a woven fishing basket had been lowered into the water.
The Spider’s Meadow
The path led to a second, smaller meadow, blocked by the massive trunk of an ancient tree. The tree was so thick that it completely blocked the way. However, someone had hollowed out a large tunnel through its center — wide enough for a person to walk through upright without any trouble.
The Orchid Meadow
A wide clearing between the trees led to a vast meadow — the largest they had seen so far in the forest. Most of it was covered with ordinary grass and flowers, but a relatively narrow strip near the front was dotted with fiery red orchids — not ordinary ones, but enormous flowers, taller than a person.
Madam Owl’s Dwelling
The thick trunk was encircled by numerous wooden ladders, making it accessible even to those who couldn’t fly. At various heights along the trunk were several hollows, all but one locked with heavy padlocks.
The Magpie’s Dwelling
It was, in fact, a proper little house, built into the low branches of a thick tree. Woven from tough twigs and covered with bundles of straw, it looked quite cosy. A sturdy wooden ladder led up to a small veranda in front of the house, furnished with a table and a few chairs.
