the enchanted island of yew-第13章

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e　the　petals　of　a　rose。　　Upon　their　heads　were　set　two　crowns　of　fine　spun　gold；　worked　into　fantastic　shapes　and　set　with　glittering　gems。　Their　robes　were　soft　silks　of　pale　yellow；　with　strings　of　sparkling　emeralds　for　ornament。

Anything　so　lovely　and　fascinating　as　these　little　maids；　who　were　precisely　alike　in　every　particular；　neither　Prince　Marvel　nor　Nerle　had　ever　dreamed　could　exist。　　They　stood　for　a　time　spellbound　and　filled　with　admiration；　while　the　two　pairs　of　rulers　bowed　again　and　again　before　the　dainty　and　lovable　persons　of　their　High　Ki。

But　it　was　hard　for　Nerle　to　keep　quiet　for　long；　and　presently　he　exclaimed；　in　a　voice　loud　enough　to　be　heard　by　all　present：

〃By　the　Great　Kika…koo　of　our　friends　the　Ki；　these　darling　High　Ki　of　Twi　are　sweet　enough　to　be　kissed！〃



16。　　The　Rebellion　of　the　High　Ki


The　bold　speech　of　Nerle's　made　the　two　damsels　laugh　at　the　same　time；　and　their　sweet　laughter　sounded　like　rippling　strains　of　harmonious　music。　　But　the　two　Ki…Ki　frowned　angrily；　and　the　two　Ki　looked　at　the　boy　in　surprise；　as　if　wondering　at　his　temerity。

〃Who　are　these　strangers？〃　asked　the　pretty　High　Ki；　speaking　together　as　all　the　twins　of　Twi　did；　〃and　why　are　they　not　mates；　but　only　half　of　each　other？〃

〃These　questions；　your　Supreme　Highnesses；〃　said　the　blond…haired　pair　of　Ki…Ki；　〃we　are　unable　to　answer。〃

〃Perhaps；　then；　the　strangers　can　answer　themselves；〃　said　the　little　maids；　smiling　first　upon　the　Ki…Ki　and　then　upon　the　prisoners。

Prince　Marvel　bowed。

〃I　am　from　the　great　outside　world；〃　said　he；　〃and　my　name　is　Prince　Marvel。　　Until　now　I　have　never　seen　people　that　live　in　pairs；　and　speak　in　unison；　and　act　in　the　same　way　and　think　the　same　thoughts。　My　world　is　much　bigger　than　your　world；　and　in　it　every　person　is　proud　to　think　and　act　for　himself。　　You　say　I　am　only　a　'half；'　but　that　is　not　so。　　I　am　perfect；　without　a　counterpart；　my　friend　Nerle　is　perfect　without　a　counterpart；　and　it　is　yourselves　who　are　halved。　For　in　the　Land　of　Twi　no　person　is　complete　or　perfect　without　its　other　half；　and　it　seems　to　take　two　of　you　to　make　one　manor　one　maid。〃

The　sweet　faces　of　the　twin　High　Ki　grew　thoughtful　at　this　speech；　and　they　said：

〃Indeed；　it　may　be　you　are　right。　　But　it　is　our　custom　in　Twi　to　do　everything　double　and　to　live　double。〃　Then；　turning　to　the　Ki；　they　asked：　〃Why　have　you　brought　these　strangers　here？〃

〃To　ask　your　Supreme　Highnesses　to　permit　them　to　return　again　to　the　world　from　whence　they　came；〃　answered　the　Ki；　both　of　them　regarding　their　supreme　rulers　earnestly。

But　here　the　Ki…Ki　spoke　up　quickly　in　their　mild　voices；　saying：

〃That　is　not　our　idea；　your　Highnesses。　　We；　the　Ki…Ki　of　Twi；　think　it　best　the　strangers　should　be　put　to　death。　　And　we　pray　your　Supreme　Highnesses　to　favor　our　wish。〃

The　two　little　maids　looked　from　the　Ki　to　the　Ki…Ki；　and　frowned　and　pouted　their　rosy　lips　in　evident　perplexity。

But　Nerle　whispered　to　Prince　Marvel：

〃It's　all　up　with　us！　　I　know　very　well　why　her　royal　doublets　always　favors　the　Ki…Ki。　　It's　because　they　are　young　and　handsome；　while　the　Ki　are　old　and　ugly。　　Both　of　her　will　condemn　us　to　deathyou　see　if　she　don't！〃

This　seemed　somewhat　mixed；　but　Nerle　was　in　earnest；　and　Prince　Marvel；　who　had　not　forgotten　his　fairy　lore；　began　to　weave　a　silent　spell　over　the　head　of　the　nearest　twin　High　Ki。　　But　just　as　it　was　completed；　and　before　he　had　time　to　work　the　spell　on　the　other　twin；　the　Ki…Ki　grew　impatient；　and　exclaimed：

〃We　beg　your　Highnesses　not　to　keep　us　waiting。　　Let　us　have　your　decision　at　once！〃

And　the　twin　maidens　raised　their　fair　heads　and　replied。　　But　the　reply　was　of　such　a　nature　that　both　the　old　Ki　and　both　the　young　Ki…Ki　staggered　backward　in　amazement。　　For　one　of　the　twin　High　Ki　said：

〃They　shall　die！〃

And　the　other　twin　High　Ki　said　at　the　same　instant：

〃They　shall　NOT　die！〃

Had　twin　thunderbolts　fallen　through　the　twin　roofs　of　the　twin　palaces　and　struck　the　twin　Ki　and　the　twin　Ki…Ki　upon　their　twin　heads　it　would　have　created　no　more　stupendous　a　sensation　than　did　this　remark。　　Never　before　had　any　two　halves　of　a　twin　of　the　Land　of　Twi　thought　differently　or　spoken　differently。　　Indeed；　it　startled　the　two　maidens　themselves　as　much　as　it　did　their　hearers；　for　each　one　turned　her　head　toward　the　other　and；　for　the　first　time　in　her　life；　looked　into　the　other's　face！

This　act　was　fully　as　strange　as　their　speech；　and　a　sudden　horrible　thought　came　into　the　startled　heads　of　the　twin　Ki　and　the　twin　Ki…Ki：　THE　HIGH　KI　OF　TWI　WAS　NO　LONGER　ONE；　BUT　TWO。　　AND　THESE　TWO　WERE　THINKING　AND　ACTING　EACH　INDEPENDENT　OF　THE　OTHER！

It　is　no　wonder　the　shock　rendered　them　speechless　for　a　time；　and　they　stood　swaying　their　four　bodies；　with　their　eight　eyes　bulging　out　like　those　of　fishes　and　their　four　mouths　wide　open；　as　if　the　two　pairs　had　become　one　quartet。

The　faces　of　the　two　maids　flushed　as　they　gazed　upon　each　other。

〃How　DARE　you　contradict　me？〃　asked　one。

〃How　dare　you　contradict　ME？〃　demanded　the　other；　and　not　only　were　these　questions　asked　separately；　but　the　accent　on　the　words　was　different。　And　their　twin　minds　seemed　to　get　farther　apart　every　moment。

〃I'm　the　High　Ki　of　Twi！〃　said　one。

〃You're　not！　　I'M　the　High　Ki！〃　retorted　the　other。

〃The　strangers　shall　die！〃　snapped　one。

〃They　shall　live！〃　cried　the　other。　　〃My　will　is　supreme。〃

〃It's　not！　　MY　will　is　supreme；〃　returned　the　other　twin。

The　bald　heads　of　the　ancient　Ki　were　bobbing　in　amazement；　first　to　one　maid　and　then　toward　the　other。　　The　blond　hairs　of　the　two　Ki…Ki　were　standing　almost　on　end；　and　their　eyes　stared　straight　before　them　as　if　stupefied　with　astonishment。　　Nerle　was　bellowing　with　rude　laughter　and　holding　his　sides　to　keep　from　getting　a　stitch　in　them；　while　Prince　Marvel　stood　quietly　attentive　and　smiling　with　genuine　amusement。　　For　he　alone　understood　what　had　happened　to　separate　the　twin　High　Ki。

The　girls　did　not　seem　to　know　how　to　act　under　their　altered　conditions。　　After　a　time　one　of　them　said：

〃We　will　leave　our　dispute　to　be　settled　by　the　Ki　and　the　Ki…Ki。〃

〃Very　well；〃　agreed　the　other。

〃Then　I　say　your　half　is　right；〃　declared　the　Ki…Ki；　both　their　right　forefingers　pointing　to　the　maiden　who　had　condemned　the　strangers　to　death。

〃And　I　decide　that　your　half　is　right；〃　exclaimed　the　Ki；　both　their　trembling　forefingers　pointing　to　the　maiden　who　had　said　the　strangers　should　live。

〃Well？〃　said　one　girl。

〃Well？〃　said　the　other。

〃The　powers　of　the　Ki　and　the　Ki…Ki　are　equal；〃　said　the　first。　　〃We　are　no　nearer　a　settlement　of　our　dispute　than　we　were　before。〃

〃My　dear　young　ladies；〃　said　Prince　Marvel；　politely；　〃I　beg　you　will　take　time　to　think　the　matter　over；　and　see　if　you　can　not　come　to　an　agreement。　　We　are　in　no　hurry。〃

〃Very　well；〃　decided　the　twins；　speaking　both　together　this　time。　　〃We　command　you　all　to　remain　in　the　palace　until　we　have　settled　our　own　strange　dispute。　　The　servants　will　care　for　you；　and　when　we　are　ready　to　announce　our　decision　we　shall　again　send　for　you。〃

Every　one　bowed　at　this　command　and　retired　from　the　room；　but　Nerle　looked　over　his　shoulder　as　he　went　through　the　doorway；　and　saw　that　the　two　High　Ki　had　turned　in　their　seats　and　were　facing　each　other；　and　that　both　their　faces　wore　angry　and　determined　expressions。


17。　　The　Separation　of　the　High　Ki


For　nearly　a　week　Prince　Marvel　and　Nerle　remained　confined　to　the　palace　and　gardens　of　the　High　Ki。　　Together　with　the　twin　Ki；　who　seemed　to　be　friendly　to　them；　they　occupied　one　of　the　twin　palaces；　while　the　Ki…Ki　secluded　themselves　in　the　other。

The　pretty　High　Ki　maidens　they　did　not　see　at　all；　nor　did　they　know　what　part　of　the　palaces　they　occupied；　not　being　permitted　to　wander　away　from　the　rooms　allotted　to　them；　except　to　walk　in　the　garden。　There　was　no　way　for　them　to　escape；　had　they　felt　inclined　to；　for　the　silver　steps　had　disappeared。

From　the　garden　walks　they　sometimes　caught　sight　of　the　solemn　heads　of　the　handsome　Ki…Ki　looking　at　them　through　the　twin　windows　of　the　other　palace；　and　although　the　expression　of　their　faces　was　always　mild　and　gentle；　Nerle　and　Marvel　well　knew　the　Ki…Ki　were　only　waiting　in　the　hope　of　having　them　killed。

〃Are　you　nervous　about　the　decision　of　the　pretty　High　Ki？〃　asked　Nerle　one　day。

〃No；　indeed；〃　said　the　prince；　laughing；　〃for　I　do　not　expect　them　to　kill　me；　in　any　event。〃

〃If　I　felt　as　sure　of　my　safety；〃　returned　the　boy；　〃it　would　destroy　all　my　pleasure。　　These　are　really　happy　days　for　me。　　Every　moment　I　expect　to　see　the　executioner　arrive　with　his　ax。〃

〃The　executioner　is　double；〃　said　the　two　old　Ki；　breaking　into　the　conversation。　　〃You　should　say　you　expect　to　see　the　executioners　arrive　with　their　axes。〃

〃Then　how　will　they　cut　off　my　head　with　two　axes？　　For　I　suppose　they　will　both　chop　at　the　same　time；　and　I　have　but　one　neck。〃

〃Wait　and　see；〃　answered　the　two　Ki；　sighing　deeply　and　rubbing　their　red　noses　thoughtfully。

〃Oh；　I'll　wait；〃　answered　the　boy；　〃but　as　for　seeing　them　cut　off　my　head；　I　refuse；　for　I　intend　to　shut　my　eyes。〃

So　they　sat　in　their　rooms　or　walked　in　the　gardens；　yawning　and　waiting；　until　one　day；　just　as　the　two　clocks　on　the　wall　were　striking　twenty…four　o'clock；　the　door　opened　and　to　their　surprise　one　of　the　High　Ki　twins　walked　in　upon　them。

She　was　as　sweet　and　fair　to　look　upon　as　when　she　occupied　one　of　the　beautiful　thrones；　but　at　first　no　one　could　tell　which　of　the　High　Ki　she　wastheir　friend　or　their　enemy。　　Even　the　Ki　were　puzzled　and　anxious；　until　the　girl　said：

〃My　other　half　and　I　have　completely　separated；　for　we　have　agreed　to　disagree　for　all　time。　　And　she　has　gone　to　ask　the　Ki…Ki　to　assist　her；　for　war　is　declared　between　us。　　And　hereafter　her　color　is　to　be　the　green　and　mine　the　yellow；　and　we　intend　to　fight　until　one　of　us　conquers　and　overthrows　the　other。〃

This　announcement　was　interesting　to　Marvel　and　Nerle；　but　greatly　shocked　the　aged　Ki；　who　asked：

〃What　is　to　become　of　our　kingdom？　　Half　of　a　High　Ki　can　not　rule　it。　It　is　against　the　law。〃

〃I　will　make　my　own　laws　when　I　have　won　the　fight；〃　returned　the　girl；　with　a　lovely　smile；　〃so　do　not　let　that　bother　you。　　And　now　tell　me；　will　you　help　me　to　fight　my　battles？〃

〃Willingly！〃　exclaimed　Nerle　and　Prince　Marvel；　almost　as　if　they　had　been　twins　of　Twi。　　And　the　Ki　rubbed　their　bald　heads　a　moment；　and　then　sneezed　together　and　wiped　their　eyes　on　faded　yellow　handkerchiefs；　and　finally　declared　they　would　〃stick　to　her　Supreme　Highness　through　thick　and　thin！〃

〃Then　go　over　the　wall　to　the　cities；　at　once；　and　get　together　all　the　soldiers　to　fight　for　me　and　my　cause；〃　commanded　the　girl。

The　twin　Ki　at　once　left　the　room；　and　the　High　Ki　sat　down　and　began　to　ask　questions　of　Prince　Marvel　and　Nerle　about　the　big　outside　world　from　whence　they　came。　　Nerle　was　rather　shy　and　bashful　before　the　dainty　little　maiden；　whose　yellow　robe　contrasted　delightfully　with　her　pink　cheeks　and　blue　eyes　and　brown　flowing　locks；　but　Prince　Marvel　did　not　mind　girls　at　all；　so　he　talked