Doctor Who_ Curse of Peladon - Brian Hayles [27]
‘A diplomatic courtesy, surely,’ suggested Alpha Centauri.
‘After all, Peladon’s mother was an Earthling.’
‘And if Peladon was to marry this Earth princess?’ Izlyr’s words produced a thoughtful silence. ‘The interblood alliance would be strengthened to Earth’s advantage within the Federation. It would be their thinking that would guide Peladon’s rulers.’
‘That must not be allowed to happen!’ rasped Arcturus.
Just as Alpha Centauri was about to intercede, all eyes looked to the door. Ssorg had entered.
‘Lord Izlyr,’ he whispered urgently, ‘I must speak with you.’
Izlyr excused himself and moved to Ssorg. Arcturus confided in Alpha Centauri, who was rapidly becoming anxious once again.
‘What is happening?’ the hexapod asked.
‘There has obviously been a new development,’ replied Arcturus, adding maliciously, ‘I doubt if it will be beneficial to our mission.’
‘Oh,’ sighed Alpha Centauri despondently, ‘what a barbarous planet this is!’
Izlyr returned to his colleagues, with Ssorg at his side. At his silent command, Ssorg presented his find to the other delegates.
There followed an ominous silence.
‘The missing servolink has been found by subdelegate Ssorg,’ whispered Izlyr, indicating the precious object.
‘Where was it?’ demanded Arcturus sharply.
‘In the hands of the Earthling princess. Alpha Centauri, perhaps you will assist our friend Arcturus by replacing it.’
‘Of course,’ trilled Alpha Centauri, and quickly set about the task.
‘But why should the Earth princess wish to harm me?’
grated Arcturus. Izlyr paused at the doorway.
‘That is what I intend to find out,’ hissed the warlord.
‘Come, Ssorg.’ And, together, the two Martians moved purposefully towards the room where Jo had been left prisoner.
At last Jo’s hand felt the welcome shape of the window edge.
Relieved, she lowered herself down and through the narrow opening. For a moment she sat, quite still, on the interior window ledge, and looked about her. It wasn’t a room, but a section of corridor. Gloomy and poorly lit by flickering torches, it made her shiver! But she had escaped from the Ice Warriors!
Jo lowered herself gingerly, then dropped the remaining distance and landed lightly on her toes. She looked about her, and knew she was lost. She frowned, not frightened, but thinking hard. First, she had to get to the Doctor, and tell him what had happened. Secondly, she had to make sure she avoided Izlyr and Ssorg. But which way was she to go? Keeping to the shadows, she moved along the corridor, and tried to get her bearings. It was useless. The only distinguishing feature about the various castle passages was the difference in the tapestries that hung here and there. All Jo could say for certain was that she hadn’t seen any of these particular wall hangings before. But the corridor had to lead somewhere, she thought to herself desperately. She remembered how huge the citadel had seemed from outside, and groaned inwardly. She could probably walk for days and still be lost! Coming to a junction of three corridors, she paused. The darker, less well-lit ones offered more safety in their shadows. But the brighter one might lead her to safety! Jo set off down this corridor with a new spring in her step.
The Doctor watched Grun’s broad back warily. He had followed the burly warrior for what seemed ages, doubling and twisting through the labyrinth of castle corridors until in the normal course of events, the Doctor would have been well and truly lost.
Which was precisely what was intended, the Doctor decided. He chuckled to himself. Someone, somewhere must think he was a fool. He had carefully memorised the route by a simple method—the tapestries they had passed on their way. Each one had featured a different combination of designs, and the Doctor’s remarkable memory had carefully stored these images in precisely the correct order. Grun might think he was being rather clever, and the Doctor wasn’t going to disillusion him...
yet. First, the Doctor wanted to see just where Grun was leading him. He was