Doctor Who_ Battlefield - Marc Platt [49]
A row of men-at-arms blocked the road, their handguns raised against the oncoming vehicle. Beside them, the Knight Commander lifted his sword.
‘Fire!’ he yelled.
Lethbridge-Stewart swerved the Range Rover into a fish-tail. The skid caught three of the men-at-arms and knocked them into the bracken.
The car swerved clear off the road as the Brigadier skilfully changed the gear and trod on the accelerator again.
He was aware of the air exploding with fire and smoke around them. He saw an opening in the trees, looked through the gap and took the car the same way, bouncing and jolting along a rough path, leaving their attackers in disarray.
‘That surprised them,’ he chuckled. In the rear view mirror, he saw the glint of their armour as they ran to and fro in confusion.
‘Good car, Warmsly,’ he shouted above the din.
The back window imploded, showering them in safety glass. The clatter of the blown-off rear bumper receded into the distance. They swerved a corner out of reach and were immediately back on the road.
The Brigadier reached for his personal radio.
‘Greyhound One to Seabird. Are you reading me? Over.’
Bambera’s voice crackled into the car. ‘Roger Greyhound One. What is your message? Over?’
‘Hostiles on the road, Bambera. Knights in armour.
Lots of them... with heavy firearms. If you can’t find another route, take them quickly. Over.’
‘I copy you Greyhound One. Will act accordingly.
Seabird out.’ The line cut out.
‘Who were they?’ said Peter.
‘What about my car!’ said Shou Yuing.
The Brigadier ignored them. ‘Now Doctor, happy?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh, good.’
The Doctor straightened his hat. ‘While Morgaine has people shooting at us, she won’t be using more obscure methods of attack.’
‘Such as?’ said Lethbridge-Stewart.
‘I don’t know and I don’t want to find out.’
Morgaine searched the white depths of her crystal for news. The air in the abandoned priory was still, but she felt disturbance, unbalance ia the natural state. The glass was fogged. She caught only the frantic voice of her Knight Commander issuing garbled and desperate orders to his men.
The car, for that was how Francoise Eloise named the misshapen tin chariot, the car had eluded them. Morgaine had been foolish to expect a group of simple soldiers to waylay Merlin’s plans. They had followed instructions; their honour was not besmirched.
Mordred watched her as she pondered her next move.
Even in response he had his father’s irritating manner. But Arthur had become a coward if he now sent Merlin out to tight his battles.
‘The Knight Commander will stop them,’ said Mordred.
‘Stop Merlin,’ she sneered. ‘No, I shall deal with Merlin in my own manner.’
If Merlin was on the move, then the weapon, symbol of Arthur’s power, was moving also. She would seize it soon enough. There was some devious plan hatching here, but she could not discern its purpose as yet.
Instead there were ways and weaknesses she would exploit. Icy water finds the crevice in the stoutest stone, freezes and splits it asunder.
Before her, etched into the floor, lay the octogrammaton of power. She stepped between the globes of ancient light into the heart of the pattern.
The bridge to her world was sealed, but energy still seeped across the abyss. She charged herself with its power.
Her magic grew in might.
Before her, the glass cleared. She beheld another car travelling along the woodland road.
Shou Yuing’s old crock moved surprisingly fast. Bambera knew nothing about the Chinese girl’s brother, but she was impressed nevertheless. She thought all 2CVs had manual gear boxes.
She had already given up trying to persuade Ancelyn to put on his seat belt. ‘You’re from an alternative dimension, right?’ she said.
‘Yes.’
‘Good, thought so. And you don’t have cars there?’
‘No.’
‘Good, thought so. Hold on to the wheel and keep your foot on that.’
Bambera planted his hands firmly on the steering wheel.
Reaching up, she pulled back the car’s striped fabric roof.
She emerged into the air and clicked back the bolt on her