“Isn’t there a law to cover this case?”
asked Coralie.
“I do not remember any such law,” replied
the queen, “but I will search in the Great Book
and see if I can find anything that refers to strange
people entering our land.”
“If not,” said the woman, “you must
make a law. It is your duty.”
“I know,” answered Tourmaline, “but
I hope such a responsibility will not fall upon my
shoulders. These poor strangers are in a very
uncomfortable position, and I wish I could help them
to get back to their own country.”
“Thank you,” said Trot. “We
wish so, too. Haven’t you any fairies here?”
“Oh, there are fairies, of course, as there
are everywhere,” answered Tourmaline, “but
none that we can call to our assistance or command
to do our bidding.”
“How about witches?” asked Button-Bright.
“I know of one witch,” said Tourmaline
thoughtfully, “but she is not very obliging.
She says it makes her head ache to perform witchcraft,
and so she seldom indulges in it. But if there
is no other way, I may be obliged to call upon Rosalie
for help. I’ll look in the Great Book first.
Meantime, you will go home with Coralie, who will
feed you and give you entertainment. Tomorrow
morning come to me again and then I will decree your
fate.” The little queen then picked up
her stocking and began to darn the holes in it, and
Coralie, without any formal parting, led the strangers
from the miserable palace.
Although Trot and her comrades were still prisoners,
they were far more comfortable than they had been
in the Blue Country. Coralie took them to her
own home, where she lived in great luxury, being one
of the prominent women of the Pinkies. In this
country the women seemed fully as important as the
men, and instead of being coddled and petted, they
performed their share of the work, both in public
and private affairs, and were expected to fight in
the wars exactly as the men did.
Our friends learned considerable about the Pinkies
during that afternoon and evening, for their hostess
proved kind and agreeable and frankly answered all
their questions. Although this half of Sky Island
was no larger than the Blue Country, being no more
than two miles square, it had several hundred inhabitants.
These were divided into two tribes, which were called
the Sunrise Tribe and the Sunset Tribe. The Sunrise
Tribe lived in the eastern half of the Pink Country
and the Sunset Tribe in the west half, and there was
great rivalry between them, and sometimes war.
It was all a question of social importance. The
Sunrise Tribe claimed that every day the sun greeted
them first of all, which proved they were the most
important; but on the other hand, the Sunset Tribe
claimed that the sun always deserted the other tribe
and came to them, which was evidence that they were
the most attractive people. On Sky Island—at
least on the Pink side—the sun arose in
wonderful splendor, but also it set in a blaze of glory,
and so there were arguments on both sides, and for
want of something better to argue about, the Pinkies
took this queer subject as a cause of dispute.
