Doctor Who_ Father Time - Lance Parkin [109]
The others in the room kept their heads down, tried to look busy. Miranda was watching the scene, looking puzzled.
‘Report,’ Ferran barked.
‘Two members of the mapping team have vanished. Slaves. Their names are Graltor and Tarvin and they were –’
‘I don’t need their life stories. They have removed their tracking discs? How is this possible?’
The Deputy cleared her throat. ‘Tarvin is a con man, sir, a thief. He could well have the necessary skill.’
Ferran turned to the subcommander. ‘You knew this man’s history?’
‘Sir, I didn’t think he’d be able to –’
Ferran had pulled something from his belt – something too thin to be a cosh, something that looked more like a wand.
‘Sir, I beg you, please –’
Ferran pointed the wand at the subcommander’s head. There was a low hum.
The man backed away, clutching his head, screaming.
‘What are you doing?’ Miranda yelled.
‘Simple pain induction,’ Ferran said. ‘It keeps my subjects in line. They all have receivers.’
‘Stop it!’ Miranda insisted.
Cate stood very still.
Ferran glared at Miranda. The slaves and the technicians were clearly shocked to see the Prefect’s authority challenged. Cate wasn’t sure how Ferran would react – and, to judge by the Prefect’s face, Ferran was unsure himself.
Ferran lowered the wand. ‘Subcommander, find them in the next hour.’ Then he turned to Miranda. ‘Come with me,’ he said.
* * *
Ferran said nothing on the journey back to Miranda’s room. He hadn’t needed to say anything to make it clear that their tour was over. Miranda faced him all the way back, her arms crossed over her chest. She’d challenged him to justify what he had done. His silence had just seemed to make her more and more angry.
Cate remained silent, knowing it was best not to intervene.
They arrived back at Miranda’s room. The Deputy followed them into Miranda’s chamber, and made sure the door was closed before Ferran spoke.
‘The strong prey on the weak. It is the natural order,’ Ferran explained, impatience in his voice.
‘It most certainly is not,’ Miranda said. Cate was surprised to hear such anger and defiance. Despite herself, Cate found herself siding with Miranda. But the Last One was stating what ought to be the case, not how the universe truly worked.
Ferran glared down at her. ‘You are not a leader, you never have been.’
‘True leaders don’t rely on punishment. They lead by example, they reward success.’
‘In this primitive, compliant age perhaps. Not in mine.’
Ferran turned to Cate.
‘Kneel,’ he ordered.
She did, without hesitation.
‘You would have me lead by example?’ Ferran spat. ‘Have me kneel down before she did, to show her how it is done? Or have me throw her some food to thank her for doing it?’
‘I wouldn’t have her kneel at all.’
Cate looked up at the young woman, but Miranda was staring over her at Ferran himself. Cate lowered her head again.
‘I feed her,’ Ferran said. ‘I give her clothes, I give her food and shelter. I protect her from those who would destroy our kind. She benefits from the achievements of the scientists and engineers I employ, she enjoys the arts of which I am a patron.’
Cate’s head stayed bowed.
‘She is a human being.’
Ferran laughed. ‘No, she is not.’
Miranda glared at him. ‘You know what I mean. She’s a person. She has rights. Stand up, Cate.’
The Deputy remained on her knees.
Ferran smiled. ‘She has only that which I grant her.’
‘It’s not fair,’ Miranda said, surprised how upset she was that Cate wouldn’t stand. ‘There’s no justice here.’
Ferran shook his head. ‘There is law. The law of the strong. We have our obligations, too – we look after our subjects, if they remain loyal. People demand strong leadership. This is the natural order of things. My family fought for and won their lands and titles.’
‘But you didn’t,’ Miranda said. ‘There’s a story from Earth. A working man is caught poaching in the wood by the owner of a great stately home. “What gives you the right to steal the game from my land?” the lord asks. “What makes it your land?” the worker asks. “My ancestors fought