Doctor Who_ Daemons - Barry Letts [13]
'Always in a hurry you townsfolk. All be the same in a hundred years, sir,' said Bert placidly.
'I can assure you, it will be no such thing,' replied the Doctor, becoming more and more irritated.
A round figure detached itself from the group around the bar and swayed over to the Doctor and Jo. It was Squire Winstanley.
'You one of these television chaps, then?' he asked.
'I am no sort of “chap”, sir,' snapped the Doctor.
'Oh. Forgive me,' the Squire answered. 'I thought that... well... the costume, y'know... and the wig...'
Jo, seeing that the Doctor was about to explode, hastily stepped in. 'Now, Doctor...!'
But in her turn she was interrupted by Tom Wilkins. 'What do you want to go up to the Hump for, then?'
'There's no time for all these questions. I simply want to know the way.'
'All the time in the world, sir,' said Bert, leaning on the bar as if ready to listen all night.
'Oh, very well,' retorted the Doctor. 'I intend to stop that maniac Professor before he brings devastation upon you all.'
The statement was met by a general groan of disbelief. Wilkins turned on his heel and walked out of the bar.
The Doctor was by now very angry indeed. 'Is nobody here capable of answering a simple enquiry?' he said, fiercely. 'What on earth's the matter with you all?'
Jo again spoke up. 'Please can someone tell us the way? Please?'
Winstanley beamed at her. 'Of course, my dear. Turn right outside, past the church, over Box Hill, turn into Shady Lane about a half mile on and straight up the rise onto the Goat's Back. Can't miss it.'
'Oh. Thank you. Would you mind repeating that, I don't think...'
'Come on, Jo,' said the Doctor urgently, and swept her out of the bar.
'Extraordinary fellow,' said the Squire turning back to the interminable Alastair Fergus.
'And did he by any chance call himself “the Doctor”?'
'Yes, Mr. Magister, that's what the girl called him. Do you know him then?'
The Vicar smiled. 'I believe I have made his acquaintance, yes. You have done well, Wilkins. But... why aren't you ready?'
'Well,I thought I ought to tell you. Said he was going to stop the dig.'
'Hurry now and prepare. We start the ceremony in only a few minutes.'
As Wilkins hurried across the vestry and disappeared through the door leading to the Cavern, the Vicar opened a cupboard and took out a robe, a robe of such magnificence that it would have made the congregation of Devil's End wince. But this was no High Church vestment, bright scarlet, of heavy silk, thickly embroidered in gold with curious esoteric signs, the robe spoke of decadence, of evil, of the secret arts.
Donning it quickly, Mr. Magister walked through the cavern door and stood at the top of the steps. There, grouped in a circle around the Stone of Sacrifice, were twelve figures in hooded black gowns. As they caught sight of him, they raised their voices. 'Io Evohe' they chanted in unison.
The Vicar surveyed them. Garvin was there; Wilkins and his quaking nephew; Fenton, the caretaker from the village school; Ashby who kept the General Store; and so on and so on. A poor lot, he thought.
He swept down the stairs, his scarlet robe aflying and approached the Stone of Sacrifice on which were now seven black candles, a chalice and a thurible covered with runic signs. Taking some incense from one of the hooded figures, the vicar threw it into the thurible. There was a flash, and a sweet cloying scent filled the air, as smoke drifted across the Cavern.
'As my will, so mote it be.' His rich powerful voice filled the cave.
'Nema,' responded the group.
Mr. Magister raised his arms high and spoke the words of conjuration:
'Hearken to my voice, oh Dark One;
Ancient and awful; supreme in artifice;
Bearer of power; I conjure thee!
Be present here at my command
And truly do my will!
EVA, EVARA, EGABALA!
GAD, GADOAL, GALDINA!'
Young Stan Wilkins, pale and sweaty, stared up at the triumphant face of the great figure in the scarlet robe of silk and trembled...
Professor Horner, having been kept waiting in a cramped and awkward position at the end of the