Doctor Who_ Match of the Day - Chris Boucher [107]
„It is an improved version,‟ the man with the expressionless face told her. „It is lighter, stronger, sharper. You will find it much better to fight with.‟
Leela threw it down onto the deck. „I have no use for it.‟
One of the squat, fat warriors retrieved the knife and offered it to her hilt first. Leela folded her arms and waited to see if her guards would grab her again and force her to stand between them as before.
„You are a knife fighter,‟ the voice from the darkness said.
“That is the best knife you could ever have.‟
„I am a warrior,‟ Leela said. „I am not a knife fighter.‟
„You fight with a knife.‟
„I fight with my knife. That is not my knife.‟
„If you would prefer another weapon you have only to say what,‟ the voice said. „I want a good contest, nothing more.‟
Leela thought she had more or less located whereabouts the voice was coming from. The position was directly in front of her but higher up, as though the person speaking was on a raised platform. She peered into the darkness, hoping to see some movement that would confirm her guess. „What will you be using?‟ she asked, taking the proffered knife and hefting it in her hands.
„Don‟t be insolent.‟
„I am not being insolent‟ Leela said flatly. „I am offering you a duel.‟ She tried to remember the exact form of words that were supposed to be used for a challenge. What was it that security man she had not killed had said to the Doctor? Yes, that was it. „I am declaring a spot challenge. I name and claim the ground. Right here, right now.‟
„Ridiculous creature,‟ the voice said icily. „You do not presume to challenge me.‟
Leela was sure she saw some alteration, some flicker in the blackness beyond the cone of blinding light. „Yes I do,‟ she said and flipped the knife over in her hand and threw it at the movement. The knife vanished from her sight and there was a grunt of pain. Around Leela warriors reacted, drawing their sabres and starting towards her from out of the darkness.
„Stop!‟ The woman‟s voice was shrill and commanding. „Do not touch her!‟ The warriors froze in mid-lunge and lowered their sabres.
The harsh cone of light that had isolated Leela lifted and spread, and for the first time she could see her surroundings.
She was bewildered. She was standing in the same Court of Attack where she and the Doctor had faced the High Referee.
It was the same semicircular chamber under a lofty, opaque-glass half dome. The only differences were that in the tall-backed centre seat of the elevated curved tier of nine seats, instead of the High Referee, there was a thin, plainly dressed young woman. She was flanked on either side, not by the Panel of Fight Replay but by fat half-naked warriors. One of the seats was empty and a warrior lay dead in front of her.
Leela could see that her throw had been accurate and only the rapid reflexes and willing sacrifice of her bodyguard had saved the woman from the knife.
„Impressive,‟ the woman said. „Perhaps I underestimated you.‟
„How long was I asleep?‟ Leela asked.
The man with the expressionless face, who had not moved at all during the brief flurry of action, said, „A short time only.‟
Leela gestured around. „Then this is a copy of the other place.‟
„It is a duplicate.‟
„Why?‟
„That is not a question for you to ask,‟ the man said.
Leela scowled at him. „There are no questions that are not for me to ask. If a question can be thought of then it can be asked.‟ She strode forward and glared up at the woman.
„What is this for?‟
„It amuses me,‟ the woman said. Two squat warriors were struggling to remove the bulky body, manoeuvring it with difficulty along the narrow tier. She paid them no attention at all.
„Who are you?‟ Leela demanded.
The woman ignored the question. She stared into the middle distance. „I am waiting,‟ she remarked