Part 16 (1/2)

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 st.i.tch in them, while Prince Marvel stood quietly attentive and smiling with genuine amus.e.m.e.nt. 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.