Doctor Who_ Curse of Peladon - Brian Hayles [0]
The Doctor fumbled in his pocket. Would the device work?
As he trained the spinning mirror on the eyes of Aggedor, the terrible claws came closer and closer...
What is the secret behind the killings on the Planet of Peladon? Is Aggedor seeking revenge because the King of Peladon wants his kingdom to become a member of the Galactic Federation? Will the Doctor escape the claws of Aggedor and discover the truth?
ISBN 0 426 10452 8
DOCTOR WHO
AND THE
CURSE OF PELADON
Based on the BBC television serial Doctor Who and the Curse of Peladon by Brian Hayles by arrangement with the British Broadcasting Corporation
BRIAN HAYLES
Illustrated by Alan Willow
published by
The Paperback Division of
W. H. Allen & Co. Ltd
A Target Book
First published in 1974
by the Paperback Division of W. H. Allen & Co. Ltd.
A Howard & Wyndham Company
44 Hill Street, London WIX 8LB
Copyright © 1974 by Brian Hayles
‘Dr Who’ series copyright © 1974 by the British Broadcasting Corporation
Printed in Great Britain by
The Anchor Press Ltd Tiptree, Essex
ISBN 0 426 11498 1
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publishers prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
CONTENTS
1 The Deadly Guardian
2 Into the Chasm
3 An Enemy from the Past
4 The Doctor Must Die
5 The Attack on Arcturus
6 The Temple of Aggedor
7 Escape into Danger
8 Trial by Combat
9 A Conspiracy of Terror
10 The Battle for the Palace
11 The King's Avenger
1
The Deadly Guardian
The electric storm clawed and tore its way across the night sky like a wild animal, flaring suddenly into ripples of lightning more eerie and majestic than the three moons of Peladon. The harsh wind, drowned only by fitful claps of ragged thunder, howled and keened through the crags and passes of Mount Megeshra while, far below, deep-shadowed valleys and canyons echoed and re-echoed to the almost continuous shudder of sound. Yet another blaze of light flowed across the torn sky, silhouetting the mountain peak. A mighty granite-stoned castle became starkly visible before slipping back into the darkness, its pointed turrets challenging the night. It was the Citadel of Peladon.
Inside the castle, thick walls reduced the winds sound to a chilling moan. On the walls, torch flames dipped and guttered fitfully as Torbis, Chancellor to King Peladon of Peladon, strode purposefully through the shadows along the corridor leading to the throne room. His lean face grimaced as he shrugged himself deeper into his heavy cloak. At his age, every winter seemed colder than the last. But this year would be a famous landmark in the chronicles of Peladon—and part at least of the glory would be his, Torbis, Chancellor and mentor to the young king.
A growl of thunder reached him from outside, and he scowled. It was a black night, worst yet of the winter storms and Hepesh, High Priest of Peladon, would make the most of it.
Although younger than Torbis by ten years, Hepesh held stubbornly to the past, scorning the future, foretelling its doom by omens. No wonder the aliens called Peladon barbaric. The past was important, but it had to change, to evolve—and Torbis was determined that it should happen soon.
As Torbis approached the great doorway to the throneroom, the guards standing there brought their ornate pikes up to attention. Torbis casually acknowledged their salute. The guard commander moved to open the throneroom doors, and Torbis glanced idly upwards at the massive statue set on the balcony over the entrance. With a small habitual gesture, Torbis acknowledged the stern image: a cruelly stylised