• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 1109 0

the upraised barrier. „My security staff obviously aren‟t paid enough,‟ he mused as the runner completed its navigation programme and slowly drew to a halt in front of the weapons and therapy annexe. The three of them got out and looked around. There was no one to be seen on the practice ground and there were no spectators in the viewing stand. The whole place was deserted and silent. „Isn‟t this the point where one of us says it‟s quiet, and one of the others says too quiet,‟ the Doctor remarked.

„Do the training sessions normally finish this early?‟ Sita asked.

„Not as far as I‟m aware,‟ the Doctor said and smiled one of his randomly vivid smiles. „I have tended to delegate the day to day running of the...‟ he gestured round, „...circus I suppose you‟d call it.‟

„No, that‟s not what I‟d call it,‟ she said. „I‟d call it crude, I‟d call it exploitative, I‟d call it a corruption of the spirit of the noble contest.‟

„The end of the world as you know it?‟ the Doctor offered.

„Hardly,‟ she snorted.

„The noble contest will rise above such crude exploitation,‟

the Doctor said. „It has always been greater than any particular fight or any particular school of fighting.‟

„Sounds like a quote,‟ she said.

„Your friend and mine, the State Security Minister.‟

Sita scowled darkly. „It‟s going to be a real pleasure breaking that bastard.‟

At that moment she reminded the Doctor a lot of Leela.

„You think you can do that?‟ he asked.

„I think I can die trying,‟ she said.

„Shall we go inside and see if we can find out what‟s been happening to my entertainment empire?‟ the Doctor said.

„Where it‟s gone perhaps? And we can see whether my wandering star has returned, or at least called home and left a message.‟

From the other side of the runner Ronick said, „I don‟t think that would be such a good idea.‟ Elaborately casual he wandered to the driver‟s door. „It‟s time to leave,‟ he murmured. „Keep smiling both of you and then without hurrying get back into the runner. I‟ll drive this time. Try not to look as though you‟re about to make a break for it.‟

„What‟s going on?‟ Sita asked quietly through a fixed smile.

It‟s a trap,‟ Ronick muttered through an equally inappropriate grin. „Don‟t know who it‟s for but even if it‟s not for us we should probably try to avoid falling into it...‟

„Surely we already have,‟ she whispered.

The Doctor turned to face them. He beamed. Thank you for the ride,‟ he said loudly and warmly. „It was most kind of you to help me. I do understand that you must be on your way now but please do call on me any time you‟re passing.‟ He doffed his hat to Sita and made a small, heel-clicking bow to Ronick. Now I‟ve wasted enough of your valuable time so please do go. Now.‟

Sita got back into the runner. Ronick hesitated. „There are armed men in there,‟ he muttered.

„It‟s a fight school,‟ the Doctor murmured.

„That‟s not what I mean and you know it.‟

„I‟ll keep them busy while you do a runner in the runner.‟

„While I do what?‟

„Just go. Keep in touch. If you find out anything of significance let me know.‟ The Doctor turned towards the building. „Off you go now,‟ he said cheerily, walking away and waving without looking back. „You don‟t want to be late.

Thanks again.‟

As he reached the doorway the Doctor heard the runner leaving. Good, he thought. If Ronick was not just being paranoid there was a distinct possibility that it was Sita they were looking for. Of course if it was Sita they were looking for why had they let the runner drive away like that? Would anyone really have been fooled by his performance? Unless they didn‟t know what she looked like. He pushed through the door into the gloomy, unlit foyer. Or they could just be useless at their job. It was odd how you always assumed that people knew how to do what they were doing. Everyone assumed he knew how to be an agent, for example. Lights came on abruptly and four men brandishing handguns stepped out of the shadows and confronted him. „Don‟t move,‟

one of them bellowed, „and put your hands behind your head.‟

The Doctor smiled at him. „I can