Doctor Who_ The Adventures of Henrietta Street - Lawrence Miles [121]
Even by the Conclave’s standards, the claims she made that day were thought to be extreme. She indicated the box behind her, and then…
…she insisted that the box was a lodestone of the highest elemental power, and through it the elemental energies were to be bound to the Earth. Even now the Device’s power was of an untold nature. For its weight was such that when activated by correct ritual it would bend and warp the world, in a manner familiar to the Sanskrit-speaking peoples, til every babewyn in its realm would scream in fury.
The reference unsettled her audience, but Scarlette was undeterred. Her assistants (the archive doesn’t specify who) then moved amongst the guests. Each of the masked men and women was given a spear, a weapon of local manufacture but not used even in that region for some generations. Each spear was tied with a length of red ribbon, which many in the crowd felt had probably been blessed, and Scarlette kept one of the weapons aside for herself. The Virginian began to look distinctly unhappy at this point. As those assembled reluctantly accepted the spears as gifts, Scarlette brought events to a climax.
She turned around from the Convocation (i.e. Conclave) so as to face the lodestone at her back… it was noticed then that many others of her coven were assembled all around us between the trees, so that we would have feared a trap had not we been armed by her. When she faced the lodestone she brought up her arms in [a grand] gesture, before she spoke the word. The word was _____.
A magic word, like Sabbath’s? Or just a piece of showmanship? The Conclave was in no doubt that this was a powerful ritual indeed, as the lantern on top of the blue box began to flash and the forest was filled with ’a terrible wailing, like that of beasts’. As the guests exchanged glances and peered anxiously around the forest, they became aware that something was changing. The overall impression was that there was a sense of movement, even though neither the guests nor the TARDIS changed their position. There was the feeling of a summoning being performed, of time or space being reeled in. At this juncture Mr Van Burgh spoke out, complaining that this kind of ‘trick’ would only enrage the babewyns, should there be any observing from their own realm. But it soon became clear that this was the point.
The Scots Rite Mason was apparently the first to see it. He let out a great cry, and all assembled turned to see the shape emerging from between the trees. At first it must have seemed like a shadow, detaching itself from the darkness of the jungle’s edge. It was plainly confused, turning in circles and hissing at anyone who stared at it. It didn’t immediately attack, but when Scarlette took an unflappable step towards the creature it finally made its move out of the shade.
It must have been a slap in the face to most of those assembled, who’d decorously avoided even speaking of the animals openly. To call one wilfully, and in such company… to a ritualist it must have been like publicly discussing one’s venereal diseases. Yet the record relates that Scarlette, without even breaking her stride, simply thrust out her arm and speared the animal through the heart.
It seems odd that it should have been so easy to kill one of the creatures, given the fear they generated amongst the ritualists. But then, the ape had been summoned without warning: it would have been bewildered and at a disadvantage. Whatever the truth, it made an impression. As the beast lay twitching in the mulch of the jungle, Scarlette calmly announced to the guests that for too long they’d neglected to seize the initiative. The apes could be summoned; slain; even controlled. As a way of celebrating the Doctor’s marriage, she went on, this day would see the beginning of a great hunt – no doubt inspired by the small-scale hunts of London – in which every guest would have the opportunity to slay the beasts and ‘blood’ themselves in whatever manner they saw fit. Other weapons