Even a hawk has to fly high in order to cross the Deadly Desert, from
which poisonous fumes are constantly rising. Kiki Aru felt sick and
faint by the time he reached good land again, for he could not quite
escape the effects of the poisons. But the fresh air soon restored him
and he alighted in a broad table-land which is called Hiland. Just
beyond it is a valley known as Loland, and these two countries are ruled
by the Gingerbread Man, John Dough, with Chick the Cherub as his Prime
Minister. The Hawk merely stopped here long enough to rest, and then he
flew north and passed over a fine country called Merryland, which is
ruled by a lovely Wax Doll. Then, following the curve of the Desert, he
turned north and settled on a tree-top in the Kingdom of Noland.
Kiki was tired by this time, and the sun was now setting, so he decided
to remain here till morning. From his tree-top he could see a house near
by, which looked very comfortable. A man was milking a cow in the yard
and a pleasant-faced woman came to the door and called him to supper.
That made Kiki wonder what sort of food hawks ate. He felt hungry, but
didn’t know what to eat or where to get it. Also he thought a bed would
be more comfortable than a tree-top for sleeping, so he hopped to the
ground and said: “I want to become Kiki Aru again—Pyrzqxgl!”
Instantly he had resumed his natural shape, and going to the house, he
knocked upon the door and asked for some supper.
“Who are you?” asked the man of the house.
“A stranger from the Land of Oz,” replied Kiki Aru.
“Then you are welcome,” said the man.
Kiki was given a good supper and a good bed, and he behaved very well,
although he refused to answer all the questions the good people of
Noland asked him. Having escaped from his home and found a way to see
the world, the young man was no longer unhappy, and so he was no longer
cross and disagreeable. The people thought him a very respectable person
and gave him breakfast next morning, after which he started on his way
feeling quite contented.
Having walked for an hour or two through the pretty country that is
ruled by King Bud, Kiki Aru decided he could travel faster and see more
as a bird, so he transformed himself into a white dove and visited the
great city of Nole and saw the King’s palace and gardens and many other
places of interest. Then he flew westward into the Kingdom of Ix, and
after a day in Queen Zixi’s country went on westward into the Land of
Ev. Every place he visited he thought was much more pleasant than the
saucer-country of the Hyups, and he decided that when he reached the
finest country of all he would settle there and enjoy his future life to
the utmost.
In the Land of Ev he resumed his own shape again, for the cities and
villages were close together and he could easily go on foot from one to
another of them.
Toward evening he came to a good Inn and asked the inn-keeper if he
could have food and lodging.
“You can if you have the money to pay,” said the man, “otherwise you
must go elsewhere.”
This surprised Kiki, for in the Land of Oz they do not use money at all,
everyone being allowed to take what he wishes without price. He had no
money, therefore, and so he turned away to seek hospitality elsewhere.
Looking through an open window into one of the rooms of the Inn, as he
passed along, he saw an old man counting on a table a big heap of gold
pieces, which Kiki thought to be money. One of these would buy him
supper and a bed, he reflected, so he transformed himself into a magpie
and, flying through the open window, caught up one of the gold pieces in
his beak and flew out again before the old man could interfere. Indeed,
the old man who was robbed was quite helpless, for he dared not leave
his pile of gold to chase the magpie, and before he could place the gold
in a sack and the sack in his pocket the robber bird was out of sight
and to seek it would be folly.
Kiki Aru flew to a group of trees and, dropping the gold piece to the
ground, resumed his proper shape, and then picked up the money and put
it in his pocket.
“You’ll be sorry for this!” exclaimed a small voice just over his head.
[Illustration]
Kiki looked up and saw that a sparrow, perched upon a branch, was
watching him.
“Sorry for what?” he demanded.
“Oh, I saw the whole thing,” asserted the sparrow. “I saw you look in
the window at the gold, and then make yourself into a magpie and rob the
poor man, and then I saw you fly here and make the bird into your former
shape. That’s magic, and magic is wicked and unlawful; and you stole
money, and that’s a still greater crime. You’ll be sorry, some day.”
[Illustration]
“I don’t care,” replied Kiki Aru, scowling.
“Aren’t you afraid to be wicked?” asked the sparrow.
“No, I didn’t know I was being wicked,” said Kiki, “but if I was, I’m
glad of it. I hate good people. I’ve always wanted to be wicked, but I
didn’t know how.”
“Haw, haw, haw!” laughed someone behind him, in a big voice; “that’s the
proper spirit, my lad! I’m glad I’ve met you; shake hands.”
The sparrow gave a frightened squeak and flew away.
[Illustration]
Two Bad Ones