Doctor Who_ The Myth Makers - Donald Cotton [39]
Here and there we passed a guard, who’d been given the crypt concession to serve him right for something or other. And I noticed that, although saluting in a friendly enough way, they did seem rather surprised to see us. And then I realized that – of course! – Paris was supposed to be out and about on his Achilles blood-feud business – and that’s why he was so ready to help me: anything at all to postpone the fatal encounter! So I needn’t flatter myself that he enjoyed my conversation or company all that much. Which was something of a relief – because it meant I needn’t feel all that indebted to him: and to be going on with, I had quite enough people to try and help out of a mess, without worrying about what was likely to happen to Paris if the Doctor’s plan worked. No – he’d just have to take his chance with the rest of them, and the very best of luck!
We eventually found Steven and Vicki in adjacent cells with communicating grating; through which, as we arrived, they were swapping a certain amount of vitriolic back-chat, about whose fault it was they were so situated. Tactless of them, under the circumstances; but fortunately Paris was preoccupied with trying to find the right key, and didn’t hear half of it.
‘I know quite well how to look after myself,’ Vicki was saying, ‘there was no need at all for you to come galloping to the rescue! Who do you think you are – the American cavalry?’
I must say, I didn’t quite follow that, myself. However, I can only report what I heard.
‘All right,’ said Steven wearily. ‘As long as you’re quite sure you’ve got the message.’
‘What message? What are you on about now?’
‘I just want you to realize that you’ve been given exactly one day to find a way of defeating the Greeks.’
‘I’m quite aware of that, thank you!’
‘Good. And I hope you’re also aware that, twenty-four hours ago, the Doctor was given exactly two days to find a way of defeating the Trojans. Got that, have you?’
‘I’m not a complete fool!’
‘Good, again. Because in that case we can leave all the armies and generals and heroes out of the equation, can’t we?
All we have to remember is that you and the Doctor have got all of today to defeat each other! Happy about it, are you?
Confident?’
‘Oh, Steven! No – I hadn’t looked at it quite like that. Me having to beat the Doctor! Golly Moses!’
‘That’s very quick of you, Cressida,’ said Paris, getting the door open at last. ‘Yes, I’m afraid you have to be the doctor. I say, you really can read the future, can’t you? Well done! Yes, I’ve brought you a patient,’ and he ushered me into the cell. I’m afraid the poor fellow’s had his eye gouged out – so do what you can for him, will you?’
Vicki went pale – because I’m sure I wasn’t a sight calculated to amuse and entertain. ‘But I don’t know anything about -’ she was beginning, when I contrived to wink with my remaining eye
– not as easy as you might think – and the bright girl took the hint. ‘I’ll be glad to help if I can,’ she said, and fainted. Very helpful.
Well, we brought her round without too much trouble; and I was able to take her place on the improvised operating table –
a sort of ornamental rack, I think it was.
‘Good then,’ said Paris, ‘I’ll leave you to it. If you think he needs an anaesthetic, you can dot him one with that old mace there.’ I was rapidly going off him! ‘I’ll pop in later, and see how you are. Chin up, Sunshine!’ And off he toddled.
22
Hull Low, Young Lovers
To her evident relief, I dissuaded Vicki from attempting any miracles of modern surgery: so she did a little rudimentary face-mopping and brow-soothing; and, oh yes, she made me a rather sinister eye-patch out