Общий курс английского языка. Часть 4 (В2 – С2). 16 201 английское слово. © Лингвистический Реаниматор - стр. 24
Alice was very scared, she climbed onto her bed and pulled cover over her head. That way she had been sitting until she felt that the house was got off the ground and carried in an unknown direction.
The girl ran up to the window and looked down – they had already passed her native village, flew across the lake, mountains, some city. And then everything began to spin and disappeared before her eyes.
When Alice woke up, she realized that the house did not fly anywhere. She got up and looked out of the window. There was a sunny lawn dotted with different flowers in front of her. The butterflies were flying and the birds were singing there, so the girl left the house and went to look around.
She walked a little, picked flowers, twisted a wreath from them, lay down on the grass, admiring the azure cloudless sky, but suddenly her eyes became round in surprise – about a meter away some tiny creature, similar to a girl with wings, was hovering over her.
– Who are you? – Alice asked.
– I’m Josephine from the Elves Valley. – said the creature with a friendly smile. – Nice to meet you! Who are you, and where did you come from?
Alice introduced herself politely and told her sad story. Josephine listened carefully to her:
– What a sad story – your mom and dad are probably drown in their sorrow, they think that you no longer exist. I feel sorry for them.
But there is also a bright side in this – you are safe and sound, which means you can return home if you find the way there.
In the meantime, I suggest you to get acquainted with our country – Elves Valley. I really hope you’ll like it here.
However, you cannot go to us like that – you are too big, you can spoil our flower fields. It will be necessary to reduce you. Now I’m flying for a magic wand.
Soon, Josephine returned, as she had promised, taking with her the magic wand. She waved it, mumbled some spell in an incomprehensible language, and Alice turned into an elf girl.
– Now, fly after me, but quietly, otherwise you will bump into something! – Josie commanded cheerfully,
And they flew among the huge flowers that gave off a strong and pleasant aroma. Oh, what a wonderful flight it was!
Elves Valley ostretched for hundreds of kilometers and seemed endless. Its inhabitants lived in neat little houses. In the forest, which was nearby, there roamed fireflies and gnomes.
– What a fabulously beautiful land! It’s so cool here. but I really miss mom and dad. – said Alice.
– Well, don’t be upset, please, – Josephine replied, – I have got a plan, but now it’s very late, we need to wait until morning. And tomorrow we’ll fly to Wise Patrick.
– Who is he?
– He is a magician and a sorcerer, all the local people go to him with their troubles. I think he will not refuse you.
They spent the night in Josephine’s house. She settled right by the forest, so at night it was possible to enjoy the sweet singing of the fireflies.
They lived there in large numbers, illuminating the night forest with flickering lights – it was incredibly beautiful and romantic.
In the morning, Josie gave her new friend a traditional national breakfast – pink pollen mousse and forget-me-not nectar. On having a good meal, the girls flew to Wise Patrick.
After listening to Alice’s sad story, he got thoughtful, and then said: