Doctor Who_ Bunker Soldiers - Martin Day [96]
‘Batu Khan, leader of the Mongol army on behalf of the Great Khan Ogedei, who is himself the power of God on Earth and Emperor of Mankind, has captured Kiev.’
There was a pause. Dodo wondered if he expected the news of his butchery to be greeted by a spontaneous round of applause.
‘The adviser called Yevhen has been executed,’ Batu continued, his voice as cold as the steel of his sword.
‘No!’ cried Lesia, falling to her knees. ‘Father!’
Nahum stooped to comfort the young woman, whose body was racked with sobs. ‘He was not a bad man!’ he snapped at the Mongol leader, angry. ‘He was only trying to protect his people.’
Dodo, too, tried to comfort Lesia. She noticed the creature take a few steps forward, manoeuvring itself towards Dmitri, but still it did not attack.
‘The adviser was a coward,’ explained the second Mongol leader. ‘Others who have survived will be allowed to live.’
‘Two things remain,’ observed Batu, his voice cold over the sound of Lesia’s inconsolable sobbing. He extended a calm finger in the direction of the skeletal creature, which had come to rest at a point equidistant between the two groups. ‘Is this the great dark angel, the awesome weapon, the defender of Kiev?’
There was a pause. For a moment no one seemed to realise that a question was being asked. Then Isaac, who was towards the front of the group, spoke up. ‘There are some that call it so,’
he said. ‘Though, as you can see, it is a sovereign creature. It does not dance to the tune of the people of Kiev.’
‘To whom am I speaking?’
‘My name is Isaac,’ the old man replied, managing a half-bow. ‘I too was an adviser to Prince Michael, and latterly to Governor Dmitri.’
Batu snorted. ‘Did your cowardice make you flee down here like a rat from daylight?’
Isaac shook his head. ‘We were ordered down here,’ he said.
‘I think Yevhen hoped we would die.’
‘Then I was right to put him to the sword,’ said Batu simply.
His precise words sent a shiver down Dodo’s spine. ‘I decree that families and friends of noble adviser Isaac shall live. We are mindful of your bravery – whereas news of the cowardly flight of Prince Michael and his family has reached even our ears. How dare he leave his people behind to suffer! When we capture him, he will pay a price in keeping with his neglect of his people!’
‘But my lord –’
‘Silence!’ snapped Batu Khan. A pause, a brief whispered conversation with the other man, and Batu continued. ‘Your mention of Governor Dmitri reminds us of the second thing that needs our attention. Where is the governor? He must kneel before us.’
‘He is here,’ said Isaac, pointing to Dmitri, who sat on his haunches towards the rear of the group, drawing geometrical shapes in the dust on the floor. ‘Though I am afraid he is quite mad,’ the old man continued. ‘You will get no sense out of him.’
‘Stand aside, and let me see my adversary.’ Batu took a few steps forward, his hand resting on his sword. ‘Let me see the man who executed my trusted envoys, and then hurled the bodies over the walls!’
‘He was gripped by lunacy,’ repeated Isaac. ‘His final orders were not those of –’
‘Stand aside.’
‘No!’ shouted Dodo. ‘He’ll be killed!’
Batu turned towards Dodo, his eyes the colour of glowing ashes.
‘Who are you?’
‘I’m Dorothea.. Dodo... Dodo Chaplet,’ she stammered. She wasn’t quite sure which of the two men to address.
‘You have many names. Are you a woman of rank?’ asked Batu.
‘No, I’m nobody special. I’m just a traveller.’
‘Cousin Mongke tells me he is well inclined to those who describe themselves thus.’ Batu nodded towards the other man, who smiled though his eyes remained cold.
‘A traveller?’ asked Mongke. ‘A friend of the Doctor’s?’
Dodo nodded.
There was a pause, which Dodo took to mean that she should elaborate on her original interjection.
‘Look, if we move away,’ she said, trying hard to quell her nerves, ‘this monster will attack Dmitri. The Doctor thinks it’s programmed to attack just him – we’ve worked out that if we stand here, he’s OK.’ Her words came out in a rush, and she realised much of what she said would mean