Doctor Who_ Curse of Peladon - Brian Hayles [13]
‘Does this mean that the Earth delegate has arrived at last?’
grated Arcturus, moving towards Hepesh.
‘Not yet,’ replied the High Priest, addressing himself to the quivering organism within the tinted globe.
‘But we cannot proceed without our Chairman!’ protested Alpha Centauri, tentacles rippling in vague alarm.
‘This is an informal meeting requested by his majesty for personal reasons,’ blandly replied Hepesh, turning abruptly to lead the way out. He checked at Arcturus’ sharp voice.
‘The delegate from Mars—’
‘He has been informed.’ said Hepesh brusquely. ‘He and his assistant are on their way to the throne room now. You will follow me there. The King is waiting.’
The entrance to the secret tunnel was concealed behind art ornate tapestry, and it took Jo and the Doctor a full minute to extricate themselves from its heavy folds. Looking about, they found themselves in a deep alcove set off from the broad main corridor. With a quick glance, the Doctor took in the manner of building, its style and rather heavy aspect. It confirmed his earlier guess, and he smiled at Jo rather smugly.
‘Definitely an emergent civilisation, Jo. Probably with strong ties to an earlier, more barbaric hierarchy.’
‘That makes all the difference, of course,’ remarked Jo, sarcastically. ‘All we need is King Arthur and his knights!’
‘Wrong period, I’m afraid Jo,’ smiled the Doctor, ‘and this certainly isn’t Camelot. Rather fine castle, though, don’t you think?’
Jo shrugged, and followed the Doctor as he paced forward into the deserted corridor. ‘Let’s try this way,’ he said, brightly—
but Jo wasn’t listening to him.
‘Doctor!’
He turned. Her face was full of alarm. Then he, too, heard the noise... a heavy, shuffling stride, overlayed with a rhythmic hissing sound. Jo pulled the Doctor into the shadows of the alcove. Neither of them spoke, but huddled there listening intently as the eerie noise drew nearer... nearer... and at last came into sight. Jo’s eyes, wide with fright, could barely smother a gasp of horror; even the Doctor grew tense at what they now saw.
It was a biped, but totally unlike any other walking creature Jo had seen before. Its massive feet shuffled along as though dragged down by heavy weights. Its huge hands were like crude, stub-fingered clamps. It was entirely covered with an armoured skin that was ridged and plated like an alligator or prehistoric reptile. Its helmet-like head showed a lipless, scaly-skinned lower jaw that seemed to struggle desperately to draw in air from the atmosphere about it. Set in the terrifying head were, two blankly menacing eyes, screened as if by perspex. Moving as relentlessly as a battle tank, it strode past them down the corridor and out of sight.
‘Doctor...’ murmured Jo weakly, ‘what was it?
The Doctor’s face was grim, as he replied, ‘That, Jo, was an Ice Warrior... product of the planet Mars!’
‘You’ve met them before?’ asked Jo wonderingly.
‘Yes. And they aren’t very pleasant company,’ replied the Doctor, drawing back the tapestry that hid the concealed door.
‘This is no place for us. Back to the tunnel—come on!’
But the wall was closed. The Doctor was so intent upon finding the catch that would release the secret door and allow them to escape, that he barely noticed the sound of the approaching guards—until it was too late. He turned to find himself, like Jo, pinned against the wall by a ring of ornate but vicious pikes. This time, there was no escape. Jo caught the Doctor’s look of resignation and agreed with him.
‘Alright,’ she sighed. ‘Lets give ourselves up. At least this lot look human...’
In the throne room, the delegate Arcturus and Alpha Centauri had taken their place before Peladon, who with Hepesh and Grun flanking him, patiently awaited the last delegate to join the group: Izlyr the Martian, and his lieutenant Ssorg. When the Martians had taken their place, the guards closed the great