The first creature the prince met on Earth was a snake. He met him in the sand, at the edge of the desert, under the moon.

What sort of planet is this? said the prince.

This is the Earth, said the snake. This is Africa.

Ah, said the prince. Then there are no people on the Earth?

This is the desert. There are no people in the desert. The Earth is large, said the snake.

The prince sat down on a stone. He looked up at the sky. The stars are beautiful, he said, because of a flower that cannot be seen.

Yes, said the snake, that is so.

The snake watched him a long time. You are a funny animal, he said at last, no thicker than a finger.

But I am more powerful than the finger of a king, said the snake.

The 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, said the snake. He coiled around the prince's ankle, like a golden bracelet. Whomever I touch, I send back to the earth from which he came. But you are innocent and true, and you come from a star.

The prince made no reply. I am sorry for you, said the snake, there on this granite Earth. I can always help you, if you ever miss your own planet. I can —

Oh, I understand you very well, said the prince. But why do you always speak in riddles?

I solve them all, said the snake.

And they were both silent.

A year later, when the prince was ready to go home, he came back to the desert to find the same snake. He asked for the bite. The snake gave it. The prince fell gently, like a little tree. He did not even cry out. There was nothing but a flash of yellow close to his ankle. Then he was still, in the sand. He was going home.

Whomever I touch, I send back to the earth from which he came.