They flew towards high mountains, the tops of which were always white with snow. There it wasn't so warm. Beyond the mountains, stretched deep, dark forests. Under the forest trees, it was dark, for the rays of the sun never penetrated beyond the thick tree tops. Monkeys swung from bough to bough. The woods were full of birds—green, yellow, blue. But the most wonderful of all were the flowers growing directly from the tree trunks. There were flowers like fire, flowers of all colors, flowers that looked like birds and butterflies. The whole forest seemed to blaze with many-colored living fires.
"These are Orchids," explained Lady Bug.
Here it was all a tangle. It was impossible to walk.
They flew further. Beneath them, a huge river spread between green banks. Lady Bug alighted upon a huge white flower that grew in the water. Verotchka had never before seen a flower so large as this.
"This is a holy flower," explained Lady Bug. "It is called 'Lotus.'"
V
LITTLE Verotchka had seen so much that she finally grew tired and wanted to go home. Home is best.
"I love white snow," said Verotchka. "It isn't nice without winter."
Again they flew. The higher they flew, the colder it grew. Soon there appeared beneath them white fields and only the pine woods were green. Verotchka was so happy when she saw the first fir-tree.
"Little Fir-Tree! Little Fir-Tree!" called Verotchka.