". . . two legs at noon and three in the evening." it finished, grumpily.
"Oh! I know this one! It's a man!"
The mouth hesitated, momentarily lost for words. Then the lips snapped together, pressed thin and white.
"It doesn't count if you know it."
"He's right," agreed Moana. "It really isn't fair"
"Can't you ever keep your mouth shut?"
"But he's right!"
"Whatever. So tell us another."
"What about . . . Mistress Sarah tall and white--"
"Sorry."
"What?"
"We know that one. Go ahead, try another."
"I think he should only get three tries."
"Now, Kiri--"
"Don't you 'now Kiri' me! We could be here forever, with him trying to think of a riddle we don't know and us all hungry and bored."
"I'm sorry, but she has a point."
"Well, at least let me have two more tries."
"Two more tries! That's practically an--"
"No, no that's fine," Moana glared at Kiri. "Go ahead."
"Um. Okay, so how about this . . . uh, 'when we race to the sun, I always lose, but when I run away, I'm faster. Who am I?'"
"Shadow."
"Kiri! I'm sorry; you've got one more try."
The door keeper bit its lip, grimaced and grimaced again.
"I don't know . . ."
"Oh, well I guess you forfeit--"
"No! Wait! 'What is my name?!'"
Kiri exploded.
"What is your name? That's not a real riddle even!"
"Is that your final answer?"