chapter XXII revised

the little prince gazed at him for a long time. "you are a funny animal," he said at last. "you are no thicker than a finger..." "but i am more powerful than the finger of a king," said the snake. the little prince smiled. "you are not very powerful. you haven't even any feet. you cannot even travel..."

"i can carry you farther than any ship could take you," said the snake. he twined himself around the little prince's ankle, like a golden bracelet. "whomever i touch, i send back to the earth from whence he came," the snake spoke again.

"but you are innocent and true, and you come from a star..." the little prince made no reply. "you move me to pity-- you are so weak on this earth made of granite," the snake said. "i can help you, some day, if you grow too homesick for your own planet. i can--"

"oh! i understand you very well," answered the little prince. "but why do you always speak in riddles?" "i solve them all," said the snake. and they were both silent. “ if you don't have the mind to see through the riddles, what sense it has to bather the other one? riddles are only a way to hide the truth" said the little prince.

"what about your promise, that i won’t suffer too long, when you send me back home?" asked the little prince. the snake replied: "my poison works so fast and well, you wouldn't feel almost nothing". the little prince was shocked by his words, because when he wanted to die, he wanted to feel why she hurted him and know the reason.

"you will know" mused the snake, if he could read the mind of the little prince. "yes, you are right" sighted the little prince a little bit ashamed because of his inconsideration while he already knew the answer in his heart and both got silent again, chapter 17 revised.