Chapter twenty-seven

Now six years have passed. I have never told this story. The friends who met me when I returned were glad to see me alive. I was sad, but I said to them: 'I am tired.'

Now my sadness is eased a bit. That means—not completely. But I know he went back to his planet, because I did not find his body at dawn. It was not a heavy body... and at night I like to listen to the stars. It is like five hundred million tiny bells...

But there is one strange thing... when I drew the muzzle for the little prince, I forgot to put the leather strap on it. He could never fasten it on his sheep. So now I keep thinking: what is happening on his planet? Maybe the sheep ate the flower...

Sometimes I tell myself: 'Of course not! The little prince puts his flower under her glass globe every night, and he looks after his sheep very carefully...' Then I am happy. And the stars' laughter is sweet.

But other times I tell myself: 'Sometimes people are forgetful, and that's enough! One evening he forgot the glass globe, or the sheep got out, quietly, at night...' And then the tiny bells turn into tears...

So, here is a big mystery. For you who love the little prince too, and for me, everything in the universe is different if somewhere, we don't know where, a sheep we never saw has—yes or no?—eaten a rose...

Look up at the sky. Ask yourself: is it yes or no? Did the sheep eat the flower? And you will see how everything changes...

And no adult will ever understand how important this is!

To me, this is the most beautiful and saddest place in the world. It is the same as on the page before, but I drew it again to help you remember. It is here that the little prince came to Earth and left.

Look at it carefully so you can recognize it if you ever go to the African desert. And if you find this place, please don't rush away. Wait for a while, right under the star. Then, if a little man comes who laughs, has golden hair, and won't answer questions, you'll know who he is. If this happens, please make me feel better. Send me a message that he has returned.