Doctor Who_ Empire of Death - BBC Worldwide [91]
Clark had been on lookout duty for the royal entourage since the general had led three dozen soldiers down into the water.
The lance corporal paid little attention when he saw the three soldiers approaching, until he realised they were dressed in the uniform of royal household guards. The trio were marching ahead of the Queen, who was sitting side-saddle on a fine dappled mare. Behind her, two women in black picked their way through the undergrowth, faces curled in disdain. They were flanked by three more soldiers.
Clark hurried forwards to greet the royal entourage and lead it to the encampment. Her Majesty was unhappy that Doulton was not present to greet her, having summoned her to the site. Victoria announced her plans to leave in a few hours for Lanark, as it seemed there was no suitable accommodation closer. 'We did not travel for the better part of two days to be so treated,' she concluded.
Ìt would have been safer if Your Majesty had not travel ed here at all,' the Doctor replied. He walked into Her Majesty's presence and bowed deeply, followed by Vollmer.
Clark reacted with anger at seeing the prisoner without shackles. 'What is the meaning of this, Sergeant? The general ordered this murderer be kept in chains until he can be tried and executed!'
`What is this?' the Queen demanded. 'Who has been murdered and why do you speak of trials and executions?'
`Your Majesty, if I may explain -' Clark began, but was cut off by Vollmer.
`Silence, Lance Corporal! I outrank you and I shall tell Her Majesty precisely what has been happening here - not you' The sergeant's voice brooked no opposition and Clark reluctantly stepped aside, his face blushing a crimson close to the colour of his hair.
`What is your name, Sergeant?' Victoria asked.
`Vollmer, Your Majesty. Charles Otto Vollmer.'
À good German name. Very well, you may speak'
The sergeant quickly outlined the events of the past few days, noting the general's increasingly irrational behaviour and the accusations of murder levelled against the Doctor. When Vollmer had finished, the Queen asked where James Lees' body was being kept. 'We should like to look upon his face one last time. He brought us hope,' she said quietly.
`The general has made no special provision for it, ma'am,' Vollmer said as he led her to the body, stored at the northern edge of the encampment. 'Coffins were purchased for the two officers who died but Master Lees' body is merely resting in a canvas bag' At the Queen's urging the bag was opened to expose the young man's face. She shook her head a little at seeing him.
À great sadness,' Victoria said. 'But we feel certain of seeing him on the Other Side. Perhaps with our beloved consort.' She signalled for the bag to be pulled back up into place.
The Queen returned to her ladies-in-waiting and sent them off to prepare her lodgings for the night at Lanark, taking three of the household guards with them. 'Well, Doctor, what do you have to say for yourself?'
`Your Majesty, I know you have no reason to trust me,' he began. 'I have been accused of pretending to have an allegiance to Scotland Yard, of being an agent provocateur for a foreign power, of being an assassin and a murderer - but I am none of these things. I am simply a scientist intent on discovering the truth about the strange phenomenon you yourself experienced in the Mausoleum at Frogmore. I travelled north into Scotland at your request with my companion Nyssa to further this investigation. I believe the world beyond this gateway is not what it seems. I have no proof beyond my own suspicions but I believe them to be true.'
`Where is Lady Nyssa?' Victoria asked.
`My apologies, ma'am, I neglected to mention her earlier,'
Vollmer replied. 'The general took her through the gateway. He and his men returned, but she did not. We have no knowledge of her fate'
Àll of this is most distressing and irregular,' the Queen said. `We arrive to find a once-trusted advisor bearing the marks of hours spent