Doctor Who_ Enlightenment - Barbara Clegg [34]
‘I must report to the Captain. We’re nearly into the final leg.’
The Doctor watched him hurry away, and then knocked on the door. ‘I’m going to the wheel-house,’ he called in a mollifying voice.
There was silence for a second. But Tegan sounded her usual self when she spoke again. ‘I’ll join you in a moment.’ Her silk stockings and the high-heeled silken slippers were scattered about the floor. The flurried heap of lace on the bed was her petticoat. A second later it was joined by her dress. Then her tiara. The band of diamonds lay where she had thrown it, glittering against the satin of her ball gown. At the centre of its filigree work, the cabuchon glowed brightest of all.
The Doctor caught up with Marriner just as they reached the wheel-house. The distant shouts from the rigging had been growing more and more excited. And, as they burst through the door together, the Doctor could see why. Far ahead of them, through the port, shone a ring of lights, like a harbour floating in space. Striker turned to greet them, his face triumphant.
‘The Enlighteners!’ he said. ‘We are nearly there, gentlemen.’
The whole ship seemed to be full of bustle and excitement to Tegan. She could hear a shanty from the men hauling on the ropes, she could hear the bosun’s pipe, and could hear shouting from the lookout. As she burst into the wheel-house, the loudest voice of all was the Captain’s.
‘More sail, Mr Mate!’ Striker was yelling. ‘Cram on everything she’s got!’
‘What’s happening?’ Tegan wanted to know.
‘The race is nearly over,’ the Doctor whispered back to her.
Marriner looked up from shouting instructions down the speaker-tube. ‘We’re pulling away!’ he crowed. A wintry smile appeared on Striker’s face. ‘We’ll show her a clean pair of heels,’ he said with satisfaction. But as the First Mate turned back to relay the orders, he suddenly stopped dead. ‘Captain!’ he grated. ‘Look!’ All eyes followed his, as he stared at the scanner screen and Wrack’s ship pictured there.
‘They’ve hoisted their moonrakers,’ the Doctor said softly. Every mast of the Buccaneer seemed to have blossomed. She had mounted sail even above her topgallants, and she scudded now under full canvas.
There was laughter in Wrack’s voice. ‘A surprise for Captain Striker,’ she gloated. Mansell grinned back at her from the wheel. ‘We’re gaining on them!’ But his captain was suddenly serious and her eyes burnt with strange intensity, as she rapped out, ‘I want us lying level!’ Mansell nodded. Obviously the order was important in some way, for his hands tightened on the wheel and he went back to his task with renewed concentration. Wrack turned to Turlough. He had not been hustled to the plank with the other victims, his passionate plea had succeeded. Wrack had kept him at her side ever since, but she had not spoken to him again until this moment.
‘You wish to serve me. Come. We will go to the great Power who aids us, and together we will listen to his voice.’
And with these words she hurried from the room.
‘Wrack’s still moving up on us!’ Striker’s voice sounded grim. There was the same note in Marriner’s as he shouted
‘break out that skysail!’ into the speaking-tube.
Tegan was puzzled. ‘What are moonrakers?’ she whispered to the Doctor. He seemed as worried as the officers as he muttered back, ‘Pirate sails. For speed. With those, they’re faster than we are.’
Tegan could hardly believe her ears. ‘You mean – they’ll be able to overtake us?’ she gasped.
The Doctor nodded sternly, but Marriner’s next words sent her spirits flying up again. ‘Wrack’s level – but we’re holding her!’ he shouted.
The news did not seem to cheer the Doctor. ‘They can pass us any time they want to,’ he said fatalistically.
‘Then why don’t they?’ Tegan snapped. It wasn’t like the Doctor to be so pessimistic. But his gloom lifted suddenly and he looked at her as though she had said something very interesting. ‘Why don’t they indeed!’ he said slowly.
‘We’re still holding level with her,’ came Marriner’s voice.
And then the Doctor went into action. ‘No!’ he shouted, loudly