Suddenly the youngest herder gasped, “It’s fading!”
There was no question about it. It really was fading. Incredulous, the two stared at it. The star was high over the hills now, but it was becoming dimmer by the minute. It was fading away.
All at once it was gone. It had vanished completely.
For a long while the two watchers sat wordless, staring at where the star had been. The youngest herder clutched his dog for comfort and thought of the planet that was surely out there. What had happened to it? He gave a silent but earnest prayer for its people, and for all the creatures on that distant whirling ball. Then, because he had the strange feeling that something of great importance had been settled, he gave an extra prayer for all those who might be concerned.
Finally, a cold nose touched his cheek and a warm tongue licked happily at his face. He sighed and asked, “What could have happened out yonder?”
“Who knows? There are clouds in space. Perhaps a great cloud is hiding it.”
“Do—do you suppose it will ever come back?”
The oldest herder did not reply at once. Then he nodded and said, “Yes, I believe so. I believe it will shine again.”
About the Author
Alexander Key (1904–1979) started out as an illustrator before he began writing science fiction novels for young readers. He has published many titles, including Sprockets: A Little Robot, Mystery of the Sassafras Chair, and The Forgotten Door, winner of the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. Key’s novel Escape to Witch Mountain was adapted for film in 1975, 1995, and 2009.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1969 by Alexander Key
Cover design by Jesse Hayes
ISBN: 978-1-4976-5260-6
This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
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