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honored guests, Captain James Kirk and his crew of the Federation starship Enterprise.” There was a smattering of applause, which Kirk nodded to, gratefully.
    â€œAnd now,” said Regent Lonal, warming to his subject, “I have the honor to present the cherished rulers of the planet Nador, they whose wisdom and grace illumines our every day, Their Serene Highnesses, Prince Abon and Prince Delor.” Lonal stepped to one side of the double doors as they swung open and a single figure walked forward. Kirk was a little surprised on seeing the figure’s bulk, which belied the youthful age of the princes—and didn’t Lonal introduce them both … ?
    Then the figure emerged fully into the light. The glasses of those assembled were raised in tribute, save those of Kirk’s entourage, most of whom were as startled as Kirk was.
    A single figure stood in the doorway, a tall young man whose features contrived to be at once noble and attractively rough-hewn. Yet there seemed to be another person standing right behind him …
    â€¦ Then the single figure turned, and Kirk realized the figure he had taken as one individual was actually two. Two men, who pivoted gracefully, letting the room take them in. Two men, as alike as two halves of an apple.
    Two men, identical twins, joined at the spinal column.

Chapter Four
    â€œF ASCINATING,” SAID S POCK , with a slight catch to his voice which told Kirk he had actually been taken by surprise, though he knew the Vulcan would never admit it.
    â€œYou’re becoming predictable, Mr. Spock,” said McCoy, under his breath. But his voice held the same startled quality as had Spock’s; he clung to his perpetual baiting of Spock as a sane man would cling to a single known fact in a universe that had gone otherwise mad.
    â€œScience is a matter of determining predictables, Doctor,” replied Spock, his equanimity restored.
    â€œGentlemen,” Kirk said with a hiss, “shut up.” He remembered the glass he was holding, raised it, then drank; later he would try to recall what he had imbibed, and fail. He recalled Roget’s beginning a statement about “the physical situation” concerning the princes, and wished he had let him finish.
    The Princes Abon and Delor had now turned sideways to the reception, giving the crowd an equal opportunity to see them both. They nodded and smiled, waving at the crowd, and gracing certain citizens with eye contact and a knowing smile. Of the two, it seemed to Kirk that Abon—if Kirk had properly distinguished them—bore the public greeting with better grace. Delor, though smiling politely enough, betrayed a certain impatience, a longing to have the thing done. Kirk recognized this expression because he had worn it many times himself during functions just like this one.
    A palace functionary, dressed in clothes of the same royal blue and burnt orange color as the princes’, though of course of a different style, approached Kirk. He bowed politely and asked, with the spread of a hand, for Kirk to follow him. Kirk moved off and nodded to Spock, McCoy, and Barrows, who followed.
    â€œThis I have got to see,” said McCoy to Spock.
    â€œI, too, confess much curiosity, Doctor,” replied Spock.
    Commissioner Roget, who had preceded them to the princes, half-bowed, with his eyes raised to meet the gaze of the monarchs. Kirk waited at a respectful distance, patiently.
    â€œYour Highnesses,” said Roget, formally, “I have the singular privilege of presenting the representative of the United Federation of Planets, Captain James T. Kirk of the U.S.S. Enterprise.”
    Kirk approached and imitated Roget’s bow. The twins had turned, so only Delor (Kirk thought) now faced him. Should he wait for them to speak, or—
    â€œThe honor is ours, Captain,” said Delor, and it occurred to Kirk that of all the royalty he had met in his duties, Abon and Delor were the