Doctor Who_ Curse of Peladon - Brian Hayles [17]
‘Er—no... of course not,’ mumbled the Doctor, still without knowing the purpose of the Committee. Fortunately, Arcturus provided the answer.
‘Our purpose is to consider admitting this somewhat backward planet into the Galactic Federation.’
‘Thank you for reminding me,’ replied the Doctor, his mind on Izlyr. What was an Ice Warrior warlord doing on a Committee such as this? Alpha Centauri’s fluting voice broke into his thoughts.
‘Unfortunately, the success of our mission is threatened already—by violence!’
‘That’s hardly a promising start, is it?’ replied the Doctor pleasantly. ‘What has happened, exactly?’
On the balcony, all was ready. Grun had inserted the metal bar beneath the base of the statue. His hands rested on it lightly, ready to lever it from its base. He listened intently to the distant sound of voices coming from the throne room. Soon the audience would be ended and the aliens would enter the trap.
‘The King’s Chancellor has been killed!’ squeaked Alpha Centauri.
‘Destroyed by a legend,’ observed Izlyr with chilly disbelief.
‘It is a blatant attempt to intimidate the members of the Committee!’ grated Arcturus.
The Doctor’s voice cut across the babble of accusation like a schoolmaster correcting unruly infants.
‘Gentlemen! We are members of a formal committee and not a gang of squabbling children!’ The group fell silent. It was Izlyr who spoke next.
‘Your reproof is deserved, Chairman delegate. This discussion should be continued elsewhere.’
‘Then let us proceed to the delegates conference room,’
rasped Arcturus.
‘A splendid idea’, said the Doctor, and at Peladon’s nod of agreement bowed and led the other delegates towards the throne room doors and out.
Grun heard the sound of the great doors being opened by the guard below. He took firm hold of the lever and set his full weight to it. First, it must reach the point of balance. After that, it would fall easily. His eyes watched for the telltale gap at the base of the statue. The sound of the aliens’ movements below urged him to even greater efforts, and he felt the movement begin.
One last thrust—and Aggedor would have his revenge!
4
The Doctor Must Die
Outside the throne room, the Doctor paused and turned back to let Jo join him at the head of the group. He smiled politely at Izlyr who was standing close behind him, and started to speak -
but the sentence never came. A fine drift of stone dust had fallen onto his cloak and, brushing it off, the Doctor looked upwards.
Almost in the same movement, with a speed of reflex that would have done credit to a wild animal, he hurled himself at the group behind him, bringing them down all of a heap. They had not even reached the floor when the great stone image smashed into the ground beside them with a terrifying impact.
Peladon jumped to his feet and moved forward in alarm.
Before he could reach the door, Hepesh had checked him, his face full of foreboding.
‘No, majesty—there is danger! Wait!’
‘But what has happened?’ cried the young king, full of apprehension. ‘If any of the delegates have been harmed...’ The rest of the sentence went unspoken, but the meaning was known to both the king and to Hepesh. The aliens had weapons not yet seen in action on Peladon. Their vengeance would surely be a terrible one.
‘It is your majesty’s safety that matters,’ said Hepesh. But his eyes were not on the king. He was deliberately screening the return of Grun. Like a shadow, the King’s Champion glided to his royal masters side. The king looked back at him, unaware that he had ever been away. But, thought Hepesh grimly, how well had he succeeded?
The Doctor, helping Jo to her feet, turned to find Izlyr standing over him, hand extended.
‘You saved our lives, Doctor.’ His harsh, hissing voice sounded genuinely grateful, but the Doctor could read nothing from his mask-like face.
‘Sorry I didn’t have time to explain,’ joked the Doctor, and moved across to the shattered statue, its terrifying face turned upwards to