19

After that, the little prince climbed a high mountain. The only mountains he knew were the three volcanoes, which came up to his knees[31]. And he used the extinct volcano as a stool. “From a mountain as high as this one,” he said to himself, “I shall see the whole planet, and all the people.”

But he saw nothing, save peaks of rock, like needles.

“Good morning,” he said courteously.

“Good morning—Good morning—Good morning,” answered the echo.

“Who are you?” said the little prince.

“Who are you—Who are you—Who are you?” answered the echo.

“Be my friends. I am all alone,” he said.

“I am all alone—all alone—all alone,” answered the echo.

“What a queer planet!” he thought. “It is dry, and pointed[32], and harsh and forbidding. And the people have no imagination. They repeat whatever one says to them. On my planet I had a flower; she always spoke first.”