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第二十六章（第5页）

"

Whatdoesthismean"

Idemanded."

Whyareyoutalkingwithsnakes"

Ihadloosenedthegoldenmufflerthathealwayswore.Ihadmoistenedhistemples，andhadgivenhimsomewatertodrink.AndnowIdidnotdareaskhimanymorequestions.Helookedatmeverygravely，andputhisarmsaroundmyneck.Ifelthisheartbeatingliketheheartofadyingbird，shotwithsomeone’srifle...

"

Iamgladthatyouhavefoundwhatwasthematterwithyourengine，"

hesaid."

Nowyoucangobackhome—"

"

Howdoyouknowaboutthat"

Iwasjustcomingtotellhimthatmyworkhadbeensuccessful，beyondanythingthatIhaddaredtohope.Hemadenoanswertomyquestion，butheadded:"

I，too，amgoingbackhometoday..."

Then，sadly—

"

Itismuchfarther...itismuchmoredifficult..."

Irealisedclearlythatsomethingextraordinarywashappening.Iwasholdinghimcloseinmyarmsasifhewerealittlechild;andyetitseemedtomethathewasrushingheadlongtowardanabyssfromwhichIcoulddonothingtorestrainhim...

Hislookwasveryserious，likesomeonelostfaraway.

"

Ihaveyoursheep.AndIhavethesheep’sbox.AndIhavethemuzzle..."

Andhegavemeasadsmile.

Iwaitedalongtime.Icouldseethathewasrevivinglittlebylittle.

"

Dearlittleman，"

Isaidtohim，"

youareafraid..."

Hewasafraid，therewasnodoubtaboutthat.Buthelaughedlightly.

"

Ishallbemuchmoreafraidthisevening..."

OnceagainIfeltmyselffrozenbythesenseofsomethingirreparable.AndIknewthatIcouldnotbearthethoughtofneverhearingthatlaughteranymore.Forme，itwaslikeaspringoffreshwaterinthedesert.

"

Littleman，"

Isaid，"

Iwanttohearyoulaughagain."

Buthesaidtome:

"

Tonight，itwillbeayear...mystar，then，canbefoundrightabovetheplacewhereIcametotheEarth，ayearago..."

"

Littleman，"

Isaid，"