The Little Prince (103)

The Little Prince (103)

  I reached the wall just in time to catch my little man in my arms ; his face was white as snow.

  " What does this mean ? " I demanded.
  " Why are you talking with snakes ? "

  I had loosend the golden mufflur that he always wore. I had moistend his temples, and had given him some water to drink.

  And now I did not dare ask him any more question.
  He looked at me very gravely, and put his arms around my neck. I felt his heart beating like the heart of a dying bird, shot with someone's rifle. . .

  " I am glad that you have found what was the matter with your engine, " he said.
  " Now you can go back home ー "

  " How do you know about that ? "
  I was just coming to tell him that my work had been successful, beyond anything that I had dared to hope.

  He made no answer to my question, but he added :
  " I, too, am going back home today. . . "

  Then, sadly ー  
  " It is much farther ー It is much more difficult. . . "

(103)