the enchanted island of yew-第12章

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〃We　say　they　shall！〃　answered　the　youthful　Ki…Ki；　nodding　their　two　heads　at　the　same　time；　with　a　positive　motion。　　〃You　may　be　the　Ki；　but　we　are　the　Ki…Ki；　and　your　superior。〃

〃Not　in　this　case；〃　declared　the　old　men。　　〃Where　life　and　death　are　concerned　we　have　equal　powers　with　you。〃

〃And　if　we　disagree？〃　asked　the　players；　gently。

〃Great　Kika…koo！　　If　we　disagree　the　High　Ki　must　judge　between　us！〃　roared　the　twin　Ki；　excitedly。

〃Quite　so；〃　answered　the　Ki…Ki。　　〃The　strangers　shall　die。〃

〃They　shall　not　die！〃　stormed　the　old　men；　with　fierce　gestures　toward　the　others；　while　both　pairs　of　black　eyes　flashed　angrily。

〃Then　we　disagree；　and　they　must　be　taken　to　the　High　Ki；〃　returned　the　blond　musicians；　beginning　to　play　another　tune。

The　two　Ki　rose　from　their　thrones；　paced　two　steps　to　the　right　and　three　steps　to　the　left；　and　then　sat　down　again。

〃Very　well！〃　they　said　to　the　captains；　who　had　listened　unmoved　to　the　quarrel　of　the　rulers；　〃keep　these　half…men　safe　prisoners　until　to…morrow　morning；　and　then　the　Ki…Ki　and　we　ourselves　will　conduct　them　to　the　mighty　High　Ki。〃

At　this　command　the　twin　captains　bowed　again　to　both　pairs　of　rulers　and　led　Prince　Marvel　and　Nerle　from　the　room。　　Then　they　were　escorted　along　the　streets　to　the　twin　houses　of　the　captains；　and　here　the　officers　paused　and　scratched　their　left　ears　with　uncertain　gestures。

〃There　being　only　half　of　each　of　you；〃　they　said；　〃we　do　not　know　how　to　lock　each　of　you　in　double　rooms。〃

〃Oh；　let　us　both　occupy　the　same　room；〃　said　Prince　Marvel。　　〃We　prefer　it。〃

〃Very　well；〃　answered　the　captains；　〃we　must　transgress　our　usual　customs　in　any　event；　so　you　may　as　well　be　lodged　as　you　wish。〃

So　Nerle　and　the　prince　were　thrust　into　a　large　and　pleasant　room　of　one　of　the　twin　houses；　the　double　doors　were　locked　upon　them　by　twin　soldiers；　and　they　were　left　to　their　own　thoughts。



15。　　The　High　Ki　of　Twi


〃Tell　me；　Prince；　are　we　awake　or　asleep？〃　asked　Nerle；　as　soon　as　they　were　alone。

〃There　is　no　question　of　our　being　awake；〃　replied　the　prince；　with　a　laugh。　　〃But　what　a　curious　country　it　isand　what　a　funny　people！〃

〃We　can't　call　them　odd　or　singular；〃　said　the　esquire；　〃for　everything　is　even　in　numbers　and　double　in　appearance。　　It　makes　me　giddy　to　look　at　them；　and　I　keep　feeling　of　myself　to　make　sure　there　is　still　only　one　of　me。〃

〃You　are　but　half　a　boy！〃　laughed　the　prince〃at　least　so　long　as　you　remain　in　the　Land　of　Twi。〃

〃I'd　like　to　get　out　of　it　in　double…quick　time；〃　answered　Nerle；　〃and　we　should　even　now　be　on　the　other　side　of　the　hedge　were　it　not　for　that　wicked　pair　of　Ki…Ki；　who　are　determined　to　kill　us。〃

〃It　is　strange；〃　said　the　prince；　thoughtfully；　〃that　the　fierce…looking　old　Ki　should　be　our　friends　and　the　gentle　Ki…Ki　our　enemies。　　How　little　one　can　tell　from　appearances　what　sort　of　heart　beats　in　a　person's　body！〃

Before　Nerle　could　answer　the　two　doors　opened　and　two　pairs　of　soldiers　entered。　　They　drew　two　small　tables　before　the　prince　and　two　before　Nerle；　and　then　other　pairs　of　twin　soldiers　came　and　spread　cloths　on　the　tables　and　set　twin　platters　of　meat　and　bread　and　fruit　on　each　of　the　tables。　　When　the　meal　had　been　arranged　the　prisoners　saw　that　there　was　enough　for　four　people　instead　of　two；　and　the　soldiers　realized　this　also；　for　they　turned　puzzled　looks　first　on　the　tables　and　then　on　the　prisoners。　　Then　they　shook　all　their　twin　heads　gravely　and　went　away；　locking　the　twin　doors　behind　them。

〃We　have　one　advantage　in　being　singular；〃　said　Nerle；　cheerfully；　〃and　that　is　we　are　not　likely　to　starve　to　death。　　For　we　can　eat　the　portions　of　our　missing　twins　as　well　as　our　own。〃

〃I　should　think　you　would　enjoy　starving；〃　remarked　the　prince。

〃No；　I　believe　I　have　more　exquisite　suffering　in　store　for　me；　since　I　have　met　that　gentle　pair　of　Ki…Ki；〃　said　Nerle。

While　they　were　eating　the　two　captains　came　in　and　sat　down　in　two　chairs。　　These　captains　seemed　friendly　fellows；　and　after　watching　the　strangers　for　a　while　they　remarked：

〃We　are　glad　to　see　you　able　to　eat　so　heartily；　for　to…morrow　you　will　probably　die。〃

〃That　is　by　no　means　certain；〃　replied　Marvel；　cutting　a　piece　from　one　of　the　twin　birds　on　a　platter　before　himto　the　extreme　surprise　of　the　captains；　who　had　always　before　seen　both　birds　carved　alike　at　the　same　time。　　〃Your　gray…bearded　old　Ki　say　we　shall　not　die。〃

〃True；〃　answered　the　captains。　　〃But　the　Ki…Ki　have　declared　you　shall。〃

〃Their　powers　seem　to　be　equal；〃　said　Nerle；　〃and　we　are　to　be　taken　before　the　High　Ki　for　judgment。〃

〃Therein　lies　your　danger；〃　returned　the　captains；　speaking　in　the　same　tones　and　with　the　same　accents　on　their　words。　　〃For　it　is　well　known　the　Ki…Ki　has　more　influence　with　the　High　Ki　than　the　Ki　has。〃

〃Hold　on！〃　cried　Nerle；　〃you　are　making　me　dizzy　again。　　I　can't　keep　track　of　all　these　Kis。〃

〃What　is　the　High　Ki　like？〃　asked　Prince　Marvel；　who　was　much　interested　in　the　conversation　of　the　captains。　　But　this　question　the　officers　seemed　unable　to　answer。　　They　shook　their　heads　slowly　and　said：

〃The　High　Ki　are　not　visible　to　the　people　of　Twi。　　Only　in　cases　of　the　greatest　importance　are　the　High　Ki　ever　bothered　or　even　approached　by　the　Ki　and　the　Ki…Ki；　who　are　supposed　to　rule　the　land　according　to　their　own　judgment。　　But　if　they　chance　to　disagree；　then　the　matter　is　carried　before　the　High　Ki；　who　live　in　a　palace　surrounded　by　high　walls；　in　which　there　are　no　gates。　　Only　these　rulers　have　ever　seen　the　other　side　of　the　walls；　or　know　what　the　High　Ki　are　like。〃

〃That　is　strange；〃　said　the　prince。　　〃But　we；　ourselves；　it　seems；　are　to　see　the　High　Ki　to…morrow；　and　whoever　they　may　chance　to　be；　we　hope　to　remain　alive　after　the　interview。〃

〃That　is　a　vain　hope；〃　answered　the　captains；　〃for　it　is　well　known　that　the　High　Ki　usually　decide　in　favor　of　the　Ki…Ki；　and　against　the　wishes　of　the　old　Ki。〃

〃That　is　certainly　encouraging；〃　said　Nerle。

When　the　captains　had　gone　and　left　them　to　themselves；　the　esquire　confided　to　his　master　his　expectations　in　the　following　speech：

〃This　High　Ki　sounds　something　terrible　and　fierce　in　my　ears；　and　as　they　are　doubtless　a　pair；　they　will　be　twice　terrible　and　fierce。　Perhaps　his　royal　doublets　will　torture　me　most　exquisitely　before　putting　me　to　death；　and　then　I　shall　feel　that　I　have　not　lived　in　vain。〃

They　slept　in　comfortable　beds　that　night；　although　an　empty　twin　bed　stood　beside　each　one　they　occupied。　　And　in　the　morning　they　were　served　another　excellent　meal；　after　which　the　captains　escorted　them　again　to　the　twin　palaces　of　the　Ki　and　the　Ki…Ki。

There　the　two　pairs　of　rulers　met　them　and　headed　the　long　procession　of　soldiers　toward　the　palace　of　the　High　Ki。　　First　came　a　band　of　music；　in　which　many　queer　sorts　of　instruments　were　played　in　pairs　by　twin　musicians；　and　it　was　amusing　to　Nerle　to　see　the　twin　drummers　roll　their　twin　drums　exactly　at　the　same　time　and　the　twin　trumpets　peal　out　twin　notes。　　After　the　band　marched　the　double　Ki…Ki　and　the　double　Ki；　their　four　bodies　side　by　side　in　a　straight　line。　The　Ki…Ki　had　left　their　musical　instruments　in　the　palace；　and　now　wore　yellow　gloves　with　green　stitching　down　the　backs　and　swung　gold…headed　canes　jauntily　as　they　walked。　　The　Ki　stooped　their　aged　shoulders　and　shuffled　along　with　their　hands　in　their　pockets；　and　only　once　did　they　speak；　and　that　was　to　roar　〃Great　Kika…koo！〃　when　the　Ki…Ki　jabbed　their　canes　down　on　the　Ki's　toes。

Following　the　Ki…Ki　and　the　Ki　came　the　prince　and　Nerle；　escorted　by　the　twin　captains；　and　then　there　were　files　of　twin　soldiers　bringing　up　the　rear。

Crowds　of　twin　people；　with　many　twin　children　amongst　them；　turned　out　to　watch　the　unusual　display；　and　many　pairs　of　twin　dogs　barked　together　in　unison　and　snapped　at　the　heels　of　the　marching　twin　soldiers。

By　and　by　they　reached　the　great　wall　surrounding　the　High　Ki's　palace；　and；　sure　enough；　there　was　never　a　gate　in　the　wall　by　which　any　might　enter。　　But　when　the　Ki　and　the　Ki…Ki　had　blown　a　shrill　signal　upon　two　pairs　of　whistles；　they　all　beheld　two　flights　of　silver　steps　begin　to　descend　from　the　top　of　the　wall；　and　these　came　nearer　and　nearer　the　ground　until　at　last　they　rested　at　the　feet　of　the　Ki。　　Then　the　old　men　began　ascending　the　steps　carefully　and　slowly；　and　the　captains　motioned　to　the　prisoners　to　follow。　　So　Prince　Marvel　followed　one　of　the　Ki　up　the　steps　and　Nerle　the　other　Ki；　while　the　two　Ki…Ki　came　behind　them　so　they　could　not　escape。

So　to　the　top　of　the　wall　they　climbed；　where　a　pair　of　twin　servants　in　yellow　and　greenwhich　seemed　to　be　the　royal　colorswelcomed　them　and　drew　up　the　pair　of　silver　steps；　afterward　letting　them　down　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall；　side　by　side。

They　descended　in　the　same　order　as　they　had　mounted　to　the　top　of　the　wall；　and　now　Prince　Marvel　and　Nerle　found　themselves　in　a　most　beautiful　garden；　filled　with　twin　beds　of　twin　flowers；　with　many　pairs　of　rare　shrubs。　　Also；　there　were　several　double　statuettes　on　pedestals；　and　double　fountains　sending　exactly　the　same　sprays　of　water　the　same　distance　into　the　air。

Double　walks　ran　in　every　direction　through　the　garden；　and　in　the　center　of　the　inclosure　stood　a　magnificent　twin　palace；　built　of　blocks　of　white　marble　exquisitely　carved。

The　Ki　and　the　Ki…Ki　at　once　led　their　prisoners　toward　the　palace　and　entered　at　its　large　arched　double　doors；　where　several　pairs　of　servants　met　them。　　These　servants；　they　found；　were　all　dumb；　so　that　should　they　escape　from　the　palace　walls　they　could　tell　no　tales　of　the　High　Ki。

The　prisoners　now　proceeded　through　several　pairs　of　halls；　winding　this　way　and　that；　and　at　last　came　to　a　pair　of　golden　double　doors　leading　into　the　throne…room　of　the　mighty　High　Ki。　　Here　they　all　paused；　and　the　Ki…Ki　both　turned　to　the　prince　and　Nerle　and　said：

〃You　are　the　only　persons；　excepting　ourselves　and　the　palace　servants；　who　have　ever　been　permitted　to　see　the　High　Ki　of　Twi。　　As　you　are　about　to　die；　that　does　not　matter；　but　should　you　by　any　chance　be　permitted　to　live；　you　must　never　breathe　a　word　of　what　you　are　about　to　see；　under　penalty　of　a　sure　and　horrible　death。〃

The　prisoners　made　no　reply　to　this　speech；　and；　after　the　two　Ki…Ki　had　given　them　another　mild　look　from　their　gentle　blue　eyes；　these　officials　clapped　their　twin　hands　together　and　the　doors　of　gold　flew　open。

A　perfect　silence　greeted　them；　during　which　the　double　Ki　and　the　double　Ki…Ki　bent　their　four　bodies　low　and　advanced　into　the　throne…room；　followed　by　Prince　Marvel　and　Nerle。

In　the　center　of　the　room　stood　two　thrones　of　dainty　filigree　work　in　solid　gold；　and　over　them　were　canopies　of　yellow　velvet；　the　folds　of　which　were　caught　up　and　draped　with　bands　of　green　ribbon。　　And　on　the　thrones　were　seated　two　of　the　sweetest　and　fairest　little　maidens　that　mortal　man　had　ever　beheld。　　Their　lovely　hair　was　fine　as　a　spider's　web；　their　eyes　were　kind　and　smiling；　their　cheeks　soft　and　dimpled；　their　mouths　shapely　as　a　cupid's　bow　and　tinted　like　the　petals　of　a　rose。　　Upon　their　heads　were　set　two　crowns　of　fine　spu