小王子 The Little Prince 第二十七章

And now six years have alreadygone by… I have neveryet told this story. Thecompanions who met me on my return were well contentto see me alive. I was sad, but I told them: “I am tired.”

Now my sorrow is comforted a little. That is to say-notentirely. But I know that he did go back to his planet, because I did not find his body at daybreak. It was not such aheavy body… And at night I love to listen to the stars. It is like five hundredmillion little bells…

But there is one extraordinary thing…When I drew the muzzle for the little prince, I forgot to add the leather strap toit. He will never have been able to fasten it on his sheep. So now Ikeep wondering: what is happening on his planet?Perhaps the sheep has eaten the flower…

At onetime I say to myself: “Surely not! The little prince shuts his flower underher glass globe everynight, and he watches overhis sheep very carefully…” Then I am happy.And there is sweetness in the laughterof all stars.

But at another time I say to myself:“At some moment orother one is absent-minded, and that is enough! On someone evening he forgot 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 thelittle prince, and for me, nothing in the universe can be the same if somewhere, we do not know where,a sheep that wenever saw -yes or no?- eaten a rose…

Look up at the sky.Ask yourselves: Is it yes or no? Hasthesheep eaten the flower? And you will see how everythingchanges…

And no grown-up will understand that this is a matter of so much importance!

This is,to me, the loveliest and saddest landscape inthe world. It is the same as that onthe page before, but I have drawn it again to impress it on your memory. It ishere that the little prince appearedon Earth, and disappeared.

Look at it carefully so thatyou will be sure to recognize it in case you travel some dayto the African desert. And, if you shouldcome upon this spot, pleasedo not hurry on. Wait for atime, exactly under the star. Then, if a little man appears who laughs, who has goldenhair and who refuses toanswer questions, you will know who he is.If this should happen, pleasecomfort me. Send me word that he hascome back.