That night I did not see him set out on his way. He got away from me without making a sound. When I succeeded in catching up with him he was walking along with a quick and resolute step. He said to me merely:
\"Ah! You are there . . .\"
And he took me by the hand. But he was still worrying.
\"It was wrong of you to come. You will suffer. I shall look as if I were dead; and that will not be true . . .\"
I said nothing.
\"You understand . . . it is too far. I cannot carry this body with me. It is too heavy.\"
I said nothing.
\"But it will be like an old abandoned shell. There is nothing sad about old shells . . .\"
I said nothing.
He was a little discouraged. But he made one more effort:
\"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 naпve! 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.