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.
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.
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 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.
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.
