Doctor Who_ The Dying Days - Lance Parkin [63]
It was skin, though, not armour. Crocodile skin, with ridges and bumps al over it. The torso and stomach were covered in a curved carapace like a tortoise's or turtle's.
It moved towards them, lumbering on legs as thick as a human torso and bulky, flipper-like feet. Wiry green-black hair sprouted from the gaps in the armour-plating - tufts of thick fur at the ankles, the elbows and the shoulders.
Its head was bigger than a motorcycle helmet, was roughly the same shape, and looked like it had been carved from a block of stone. Its eyes were red, the colour of burning coals, but they were concealed far behind two plates of thick, protective glass, like semi-visors. Staines peered up at the face, unsure whether what he was looking at was the creature's head or some kind of space-helmet. There was a gap in the faceplate below the eyes, and through it, softer, gnarled skin was just visible. This parted, revealing two rows of fangs packed together between thin lips. A red tongue, forked like a snake, flickered over the front teeth.
Staines screamed.
60
C
hapter Eight
Death and Diplomacy
'Ssilence that creature,' the monster hissed, raising a claw like a giant crab's. The voice filled the room.
'Be quiet, Home Secretary,' Greyhaven ordered. Staines clamped his mouth shut, although whimpering noises continued to escape.
Greyhaven tried to ignore his colleague and turned to the monster. 'Lord Xznaal, I presume?'
'Lord Geryahavunn,' it whispered. The Martian looked down at Staines. Although this monster was incapable of facial expression, or even of moving its head, somehow it managed to communicate its disdain. 'Thiss iss the leader of the United Kingdom clan?' it barked.
Greyhaven looked down apologetical y at Staines, who was cowering behind him. 'Upon your arrival, the clan leaders fled their lands. They left behind this fellow. He is a good man, but he is surprised and frightened by your appearance.'
'You are not?' it grunted.
Greyhaven looked the monster up and down. 'I admit that you are not how I pictured you. Your voice has also changed - the effects of the Earth atmosphere you have provided for us in here?'
'That iss correct.' It paused to draw breath. 'How did you "picture uss"?'
Greyhaven laughed. 'As a powerfully-built member of my own race,' he admitted.
'Likewisse,' the monster chortled, lifting its head back to bark a laugh. 'We have only ever sseen your people in their sspace-armour.'
'Y-you know this creature?' Staines asked.
'Show some respect, Home Secretary. This is Lord Xznaal, leader of the Argyre Clan. He controls territory the size of Arizona.'
'Larger, now,' Xznaal reminded them.
'Indeed.' Greyhaven conceded. 'Which reminds me.' He bent down and unzipped his bag.
'Are you concealing a weapon?'
'Yes,' Greyhaven said simply.
The Martian lurched at him with surprising speed, batting him out of the way. It probed the inside of the bag with a claw, lifting out what it found. Xznaal held it between powerful pincers, examining it. 'A mace?' it asked.
'The mace!' Staines exclaimed.
Xznaal swiped the air with it experimentally. 'It iss consstructed from a ssoft metal. It would disstort when ussed in combat.'
'That is not the point ... my Lord,' Staines explained. 'That is the symbol of parliamentary power in this country.'
'A ssacred object?'
'Near enough, yes,' Greyhaven said smugly.
Staines walked over to his colleague. 'Where the hell did you get it?'
'The House of Commons, Staines, naturally. You should have asked me how I got it. 'Greyhaven turned to Xznaal.
'Possession of this gives you at least some claim to political power. We will have to examine the full constitutional position.'
Staines grabbed Greyhaven's shoulder. 'What is happening here?'
Greyhaven shook him off. 'A coup d'etat,' he explained. 'With the support and assistance of a foreign power.'
Xznaal bent over Staines. 'Thiss human iss unaware of the plan?'
Greyhaven