〃You know； it will be very nice。 I； too； shall look at the stars。 All the stars will be wells with a rusty pulley。 All the stars will pour out fresh water for me to drink。。。〃
I said nothing。
〃That will be so amusing！ You will have five hundred million little bells； and I shall have five hundred million springs of fresh water。。。〃
And he too said nothing more； becuase he was crying。。。
〃Here it is。 Let me go on by myself。〃
And he sat down； because he was afraid。 Then he said； again：
〃You know my flower。。。 I am responsible for her。 And she is so weak！ She is so naive！ She has four thorns； of no use at all； to protect herself against all the world。。。〃
I too sat down； because I was not able to stand up any longer。
〃There now that is all。。。〃
He still hesitated a little； then he got up。 He took one step。 I could not move。
There was nothing but a flash of yellow close to his ankle。 He remained motionless for an instant。 He did not cry out。 He fell as gently as a tree falls。 There was not even any sound； because of the sand。
＇ Chapter 27 ＇
the narrator‘s afterthoughts
It was then that the fox appeared。
And now six years have already gone by。。。
I have never yet told this story。 The panions who met me on my return were well content to see me alive。 I was sad； but I told them： 〃I am tired。〃
Now my sorrow is forted a little。 That is to say not entirely。 But I know that he did go back to his pla； because I did not find his body at daybreak。 It was not such a heavy body。。。 and at night I love to listen to the stars。 It is like five hundred million little bells。。。
But there is one extraordinary thing。。。 when I drew the muzzle for the little prince； I fot to add the leather strap to it。 He will never have been able to fasten it on his sheep。 So now I keep wondering： what is happening on his pla？ Perhaps the sheep has eaten the flower。。。
At one time I say to myself： 〃Surely not！ The little prince shuts his flower under her glass globe every night； and he watches over his sheep very carefully。。。〃 Then I am happy。 And there is sweetness in the laughter of all the stars。
But at another time I say to myself： 〃At some moment or other one is absentminded； and that is enough！ On some one evening he fot the glass globe； or the sheep got out； without making any noise； in the night。。。〃 And then the little bells are changed to tears。。。
Here； then； is a great mystery。 For you who also love the little prince； and for me； nothing in the universe can be the same if somewhere； we do not know where； a sheep that we never saw has yes or no？ eaten a rose。。。
Look up at the sky。 Ask yourselves： is it yes or no？ Has the sheep eaten the flower？ And you will see how everything changes。。。
And no grownup will ever understand that this is a matter of so much importance！
This is； to me； the loveliest and saddest landscape in the world。 It is the same as that on the preceding page； but I have drawn it again to impress it on your memory。 It is here that the little prince appeared on Earth； and disappeared。
Look at it carefully so that you will be sure to recognise it in case you travel some day to the African desert。 And； if you should e upon this spot； please do not hurry on。 Wait for a time； exactly under the star。 Then； if a little man appears who laughs； who has golden hair and who refuses to answer questions； you will know who he is。 If this should happen； please fort me。 Send me word that he has e back。
＇ END ＇
。。 m。。