Explore Chapter 22 of 'The Little Prince' with the original English text, English translation, detailed IELTS vocabulary and explanations, and audio of the English original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
"Good morning," said the little prince. "Good morning," said the railroad switchman. "What do you do here?" the little prince asked. "I sort travelers into groups of a thousand," said the switchman. "I send the trains that carry them off: sometimes to the right, sometimes to the left." And a brightly lit fast train shook the switchman's cabin as it rushed by with a loud roar like thunder. "They are in a big hurry," said the little prince. "What are they looking for?" "Not even the train driver knows that," said the switchman. And a second brightly lit fast train rushed by in the opposite direction. "Are they coming back already?" asked the little prince. "These are not the same people," said the switchman. "It is a swap." "Were they not happy where they were?" asked the little prince. "No one is ever happy where he is," said the switchman. And they heard the loud roar of a third brightly lit fast train. "Are they chasing the first travelers?" asked the little prince. "They are chasing nothing at all," said the switchman. "They are sleeping in there, or if they are not sleeping, they are yawning. Only the children are pressing their noses against the windows." "Only the children know what they are looking for," said the little prince. "They waste their time on a rag doll, and it becomes very important to them; and if anyone takes it away, they cry ..." "They are lucky," the switchman said.