Doctor Who_ The Paradise of Death - Barry Letts [44]
But they had gone; and what could have been a useful warning to Captain Rudley of a very real threat was heard only by the cowering servant.
Chapter Fifteen
Having sent Captain Waldo Rudley on his way, the President resumed the universally observed ritual of a host and offered his guests refreshment – a deliciously refreshing drink with a taste not unlike the best mango juice – and politely asked them if they had had a good journey, for all the world as if they had arrived on the Intercity Pullman from King’s Cross.
The Brigadier was a little taken aback when the Doctor talked of their unfortunate landing in the middle of a battle. Apart from the possibility of the story being construed as a criticism of one of the planets in the Parakon Federation, his own instinct, sharpened by years of intelligence operations, was to reveal as little information as possible.
‘A war? On Blestinu? Surely not,’ the President said in a worried, thin voice.
‘It looked uncommonly like a war to me,’ replied the Doctor.
‘That beautiful green world. The very first I visited on behalf of the Corporation, oh, a lifetime ago. They have been one of the most successful members of our Federation ever since. You were unlucky. A little local quarrel, no more.’ He was squeezing the palm of his right hand with his left, as if to soothe a pain. His hands were shaking.
‘You must be right, Your Excellency,’ said the Brigadier with a reproving look at the Doctor.
‘Please,’ replied the President. ‘We don’t go to such extremes of ceremony. “President” will do very well. We are a democracy, after all.’
His agitation subsided as he went on to tell them at some length of his early days on Blestinu; of the excitement of exploring such a primitive tribal society and of being the instrument of their progress into the peace and prosperity shared by all the planets in the Federation.
‘During your stay on Parakon,’ he said, ‘you will see members of many different alien races, living together in harmony; although I must admit it has taken a while to achieve.’ The President stifled a yawn and added drowsily,
‘I can’t tell you the pleasure it gives me to welcome the representatives of the United Nations of Earth. Too many of the planets we visit are very far from united.’
‘I think the word expresses a pious hope, rather than a reality, President,’ said the Doctor.
This was greeted by a rueful smile and a nod of understanding. There was a longish pause. The President’s head drooped. ‘Now what?’ thought the Brigadier. They obviously couldn’t leave until it was indicated that the audience was at an end.
A tall woman who had been standing unnoticed in the shadows at the side of the room, moved easily to the President’s side. With a smile of apology to the company, she bent her neat dark head and checked one of the dials on the chair. She put out a hand to adjust a control. The President lifted his head and blinked, as if he had been touched by, sleep. He gave the woman the slightest of frowns. ‘Please stop fussing with my pulse rate, Onya,’ he said petulantly. ‘I assure you that I find my guests more stimulating than tiring.’
‘Of course, President,’ she said gently, and returned to her place by the wall.
‘You will of course...’ the President said then stopped as if he had lost the thread of what he was going to say. ‘You will of course be accorded the status of Ambassadors during your stay,’ he finished triumphantly.
‘Super,’ said Jeremy.
The President lifted an eyebrow. The Brigadier, with his antennae alert to the slightest nuance, gave the boy a little shake of his head.
‘And your staff will be given the accommodation proper to their rank,’ continued the President. stifling a yawn.
Jeremy apparently got the message. ‘Oh,’ he said. ‘Yes, of course.’
‘Just as long as I don’t have to muck out the Stinksloth!’
he added, with an attempted chortle, which died as it became apparent that nobody was joining in.
It was clear to the Brigadier that the audience was coming to an end. The wretched boy should have noticed