Doctor Who_ Curse of Peladon - Brian Hayles [60]
‘Er... Jo... ‘ he said, trying to sound casual. ‘You do want to go back to Earth... don’t you?’
Jo looked at him. He hadn’t asked her the direct question, but she knew it was in his mind. Peladon had made it quite clear that once he was finally crowned king, he would make his request official. She could hardly ignore it then. She’d tried to find a way to explain, but how could she tell him the facts? She wasn’t of his time or place. And, if she admitted the truth, she wasn’t really cut out to be a queen, either. It was a super dream... but it could never be more than that.
‘I wouldn’t mind staying to see the coronation,’ said Jo, brightly. ‘Then we could go home...’
The Doctor looked relieved. ‘Good idea, Jo,’ he said, then beamed happily. ‘You know... I haven’t seen a good coronation since... oh, Queen Victoria!’
‘Name dropper!’ retorted Jo, and burst out laughing The Doctor opened the door leading to the corridor, and started to usher Jo out. ‘To tell the truth,’ he said with a dry chuckle, ‘I think Izlyr could do with a bit of help to keep poor old Alpha Centauri calm.’
‘Centauri’s really looking forward to the coronation,’
laughed Jo. ‘Izlyr’s getting quite worn out, coping with all those colour changes!’ She started to go outside, but found herself held back by the Doctor’s hand on her arm. She looked at him in surprise. He was listening intently to voices approaching from further along the castle corridor.
‘Sshh, Jo... listen!’
Two of the voices they could hear were familiar: Izlyr and Alpha Centauri. But the other was that of a stranger—a woman.
And a woman of considerable authority, by the sound of it. ‘You say you are from Earth...’ came the protesting whisper of the Martian warlord, ‘but you are not expected!’
‘And I keep telling you that I am the official Earth delegate!’
boomed the female voice.
The shrill twitter of Alpha Centauri echoed hysterically. ‘But you can’t be! The Doctor is the accredited Earth delegate. He is our Chairman!’
‘Doctor?’ rang out the rich tones of the female intruders
‘What Doctor? Doctor who? Tell me!’
The Doctor and Jo looked at each other and shrugged sadly.
It looked as though they were about to be found out.
‘Pity about that,’ murmured the Doctor. ‘I’d’ve enjoyed seeing the crown on Peladon’s head.’
‘Me too,’ agreed Jo. ‘But I think we’d better go, don’t you?’
The Doctor nodded, and produced a certain key from his pocket. ‘Yes, Jo,’ he said. ‘I think we’d better...’
The doors of the Tardis had no sooner closed than the female Earth delegate entered in full glory, trailing Izlyr and Alpha Centauri in her resplendent wake.
‘They should be here,’ hissed the Martian. ‘They will explain—’
He never finished his sentence.
A bone-jarring, mechanical grinding noise filled the room.
The lady Earth Delegate and Izlyr covered their ears. Alpha Centauri turned a particularly bright shade of mauve with the aural discomfort.
‘What on Earth!’ exclaimed Madam Chairman, finally managing to locate the source of the disagreeable noise. It was that ridiculous blue box... She blinked, and looked again, her mouth agape in almost comical amazement. The blue box had vanished completely.
Document Outline
Front cover
Rear cover
Title page
Copyright
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
Table of 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