“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 man--or 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 death--you 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 was--their 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 with her freely, and she in return allowed him to examine the pretty gold crown she wore upon her brow.
By and by the Ki came back with both faces sad and gloomy.
“Your Highness,” they announced, “we have bad news for you. The other High Ki, who is wearing a green gown, has been more prompt in action than yourself. She and the Ki-Ki have secured the silver steps and will allow no others to use them; and already they have sent for the soldiers of the royal armies to come and aid them. So we are unable to leave the garden, and presently the army will be here to destroy us.”
Then the girl showed her good courage; for she laughed and said:
“Then we must remain here and fight to the last; and if I am unable to save you, who are my friends, it will be because I can not save myself.”
This speech pleased Prince Marvel greatly. He kissed the little maid’s hand respectfully and said:
“Fear nothing, your Highness. My friend and I are not so helpless as you think. We consider it our privilege to protect and save you, instead of your saving us; and we are really able to do this in spite of the other High Ki and her entire army.”
So they remained quietly in the palace the rest of that day, and no one molested them in the least. In the evening the girl played and sang for them, and the ancient pair of Ki danced a double-shuffle for their amusement that nearly convulsed them with laughter. For one danced exactly like the other, and the old men’s legs were still very nimble, although their wrinkled faces remained anxiously grave throughout their antics. Nerle also sang a song about the King of Thieves whom Prince Marvel had conquered, and another about the Red Rogue of Dawna, so that altogether the evening passed pleasantly enough, and they managed to forget all their uneasy doubts of the morrow.
When at last they separated for the night, Prince Marvel alone did not seek his bed; there was still some business he wished to transact. So he shut himself up in his room and summoned before him, by means of his fairy knowledge, the Prince of the Knooks, the King of the Ryls and the Governor of the Goblins. These were all three his especial friends, and he soon told them the story of the quarrel and separation of the twin High Ki, and claimed their assistance. Then he told them how they might aid him, and afterward dismissed them. Having thus accomplished his task, the fairy prince went to bed and slept peacefully the remainder of the night.
The next morning the blond Ki-Ki and all the army of Twi, which had been won to their cause, came climbing up the silver steps and over the wall to the palace of the green High Ki; but what was their amazement to find the twin palaces separated by a wall so high that no ladders nor steps they possessed could reach to the top! It had been built in a single night, and only Prince Marvel and his fairy friends knew how the work had been done so quickly.
The yellow High Ki, coming downstairs to breakfast with her friends, found herself securely shut in from her enemies, and the bald-headed old Ki were so pleased to escape that they danced another jig from pure joy.
Over the wall could be heard the shouts and threats of the army of Twi, who were seeking a way to get at the fugitives; but for the present our friends knew themselves to be perfectly safe, and they could afford to laugh at the fury of the entire population of Twi.
18. The Rescue of the High Ki
After several days of siege Prince Marvel began to feel less confident of the safety of his little party. The frantic Ki-Ki had built double battering-rams and were trying to batter down the high wall; and they had built several pairs of long ladders with which to climb over the wall; and their soldiers were digging two tunnels in the ground in order to crawl under the wall.
Not at once could they succeed, for the wall was strong and it would take long to batter it down; and Nerle stood on top of the wall and kicked over the ladders as fast as the soldiers of Twi set them up; and the gray-bearded Ki stood in the garden holding two big flat boards with which to whack the heads of any who might come through the tunnels.
But Prince Marvel realized that the perseverance of his foes might win in the end, unless he took measures to defeat them effectually. So he summoned swift messengers from among the Sound Elves, who are accustomed to travel quickly, and they carried messages from him to Wul-Takim, the King of the Reformed Thieves, and to King Terribus of Spor, who had both promised him their assistance in case he needed it. The prince did not tell his friends of this action, but after the messengers had been dispatched he felt easier in his mind.
The little High Ki remained as sweet and brave and lovable as ever, striving constantly to cheer and encourage her little band of defenders. But none of them was very much worried, and Nerle confided to the maiden in yellow the fact that he expected to suffer quite agreeably when the Ki-Ki at last got him in their clutches.
Finally a day came when two big holes were battered through the wall, and then the twin soldiers of Twi poured through the holes and began to pound on the doors of the palace itself, in which Prince Marvel and Nerle, the Ki and the yellow High Ki had locked themselves as securely as possible.
The prince now decided it was high time for his friends to come to their rescue; but they did not appear, and before long the doors of the palace gave way and the soldiers rushed upon them in a vast throng.
Nerle wanted to fight, and to slay as many of the Twi people as possible; but the prince would not let him.
“These poor soldiers are but doing what they consider their duty,” he sa
id, “and it would be cruel to cut them down with our swords. Have patience, I pray you. Our triumph will come in good time.”
The Ki-Ki, who came into the palace accompanied by the green High Ki, ordered the twin soldiers to bind all the prisoners with cords. So one pair of soldiers bound the Ki and another pair Nerle and the prince, using exactly the same motions in the operation. But when it came to binding the yellow High Ki the scene was very funny. For twin soldiers tried to do the binding, and there was only one to bind; so that one soldier went through the same motions as his twin on empty air, and when his other half had firmly bound the girl, his own rope fell harmless to the ground. But it seemed impossible for one of the twins to do anything different from the other, so that was the only way the act could be accomplished.
Then the green-robed High Ki walked up to the one in yellow and laughed in her face, saying:
“You now see which of us is the most powerful, and therefore the most worthy to rule. Had you remained faithful to our handsome Ki-Ki, as I did, you would not now be defeated and disgraced.”
“There is no disgrace in losing one battle,” returned the other girl, proudly. “You are mistaken if you think you have conquered me, and you are wrong to insult one who is, for the time being, your captive.”
The maiden in green looked for an instant confused and ashamed; then she tossed her pretty head and walked away.
They led all the prisoners out into the garden and then through the broken wall, and up and down the silver steps, into the great square of the cities of Twi. And here all the population crowded around them, for this was the first time any of them had seen their High Ki, or even known that they were girls; and the news of their quarrel and separation had aroused a great deal of excitement.
“Let the executioners come forward!” cried the Ki-Ki, gleefully, and in answer to the command the twin executioners stepped up to the prisoners.
They were big men, these executioners, each having a squint in one eye and a scar on the left cheek. They polished their axes a moment on their coat-sleeves, and then said to Prince Marvel and Nerle, who were to be the first victims:
Complete Works of L. Frank Baum Page 270