Doctor Who_ Curse of Peladon - Brian Hayles [33]
majesty,’ she replied sarcastically, shaking her head in a firm negative when the young king indicated that she should be seated beside the throne.
‘I’m sorry...’ murmured Peladon, ‘but there are some things I cannot change... even for you.’
‘Did you ever want to? What do mercy and compassion mean to you? You need someone to die to justify your stupid superstition!’
Peladon stiffened. No one normally offered a rebuke like this to the throne and remained free. Were Hepesh here now, he would be quick to act on the old harsh laws. Jo did not know that by allowing her to spill her understandable anger against the king without witness, he was protecting her life.
‘I want no one to die,’ he said. ‘I’ve done all I can. I’ve given the Doctor the only chance that lay in my power.’
Jo turned away, too moved even to sneer. Peladon saw this, and waited—but made no move to comfort her. She was so like Ellua, he thought. Grief brought out the warrior in her soul and she would defend the Doctor to the end.
‘He means a great deal to you, this Doctor.’ the king observed.
She nodded. ‘Yes... he does.’
‘I respect him as a man,’ admitted the king. ‘And I have no reason to call him my enemy.’
At this, Jo turned, her face ever hopeful; but Peladon raised his hand to check what he knew she would say. ‘But please—do not hate me for being forced to do my duty as a king.’
‘But I don’t hate you,’ said Jo, irritated. ‘Why can’t you see?’
‘Let me explain,’ interrupted the royal youth. ‘Both Torbis and my father died before they could break the centuries of tradition that bind us. But my mother taught me all she could of those qualities she brought from her own planet, Earth: justice, compassion—and love. She knew the time would come—’
‘Then make it now!’ exclaimed Jo. ‘Be the king she wanted you to be!’ She paused. ‘The king I want you to be...’
‘I cannot achieve that alone.’ the king said, frankly.
‘But that’s what the Federation’s for—they will help you!’
cried Jo excitedly, not yet realising the line of Peladon’s thought.
‘They are outsiders—politicians’, he insisted. ‘I need someone at my side with those same qualities that she had...’
Suddenly, as the young king took her hand, Jo knew what he was getting at—and gaped, almost comically, in amazement.
The question, when it came, was polite and formal.
‘Princess,’ said Peladon gently, ‘will you give your agreement to an interplanetary alliance—by marriage—to me?’
The Doctor was surprised. No sooner had he arrived in his room, than Hepesh had dismissed the armed escort. But listening to their feet march away into the distance, the Doctor suddenly understood what Hepesh was up to.
‘Yes,’ he mused aloud, ‘you’re a wily old bird, aren’t you, Hepesh? The door will be left conveniently open and I’ll be killed while trying to escape. Is that it?’
‘No one will stand in your way’, replied the High Priest.
‘Which probably means an arrow in the back’, observed the Doctor drily. ‘You do realise, don’t you, that my death will certainly create an interplanetary scandal?’
‘I know the consequences, alien,’ answered Hepesh. ‘And I do not want your death.’ The Doctor frowned as Hepesh pointed to the open door. ‘That is your route to freedom. Trust me, and take it. Leave this planet, and live!’
The offer was tempting, but the Doctor wasn’t satisfied with the High Priest’s apparent honesty. He decided to test just how far Hepesh was prepared to go in order to get rid of an unwanted guest, without violence.
‘I’m afraid I can’t, old chap,’ apologised the Doctor. ‘You see, I still haven’t got my space shuttle back.’
‘A blue box was found on the lower slopes of this mountain,’
replied the High Priest. ‘It is being brought to the Citadel now.’
‘And what about the Princess Jo?’ queried the Doctor, warily. Hepesh paused before answering.
‘She will be allowed to leave with you, of course.’
Such a glib reply bothered the Doctor. Promises were easy if you didn’t intend keeping them. Hepesh was almost too eager.
‘But why go to all this trouble, old