That night I did not see him set out on his way. He got away from mewithout making a sound. When I succeeded in catching up with him he was walkingalong 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 Iwere 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 sadabout 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. Allthe stars will be wells with a rusty pulley. All the stars will pour out freshwater for me to drink..."
I said nothing.
"That will be so amusing! You will have five hundred million littlebells, 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 soweak! She is so na飗e! She has fourthorns, 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 notmove.
There was nothing but a flash of yellow close to his ankle. He remainedmotionless for an instant. He did not cry out. He fell as gently as a treefalls. There was not even any sound, because of the sand.
