Doctor Who_ The Stone Rose - Jacqueline Rayner [31]
And the bear stopped. It gave a whine and began to back off, staring at the Doctor with hatred.
‘Sorry,’ the Doctor murmured.
But the crowd didn’t like this. Two animals defeated and not a drop of blood spilt. If they couldn’t have the Doctor’s blood they’d settle for that of the beasts, but they weren’t getting either.
Those in charge obviously sensed the mood of the crowd, knew that something had to happen soon. A door opened and two bestiarii came into the arena. One wielded a flaming torch, while the other held a trident as tall as he was, which he lowered down to point in front of him. They approached a lurking tiger with the confidence of those who were armed and thus had the upper hand. One man flushed out the striped beast with the flames and the other used the trident’s points to poke and prod it in the Doctor’s direction.
The Doctor didn’t stay in one place, of course. The bestiarii were soon darting this way and that, trying to keep the animal on track. Although the Doctor was fairly confident he could keep this up all day, he suspected he wouldn’t be allowed to do so. Better to get it over with. He stopped still and leaned casually against the marble wall.
‘Come on, then!’ he called to the approaching men, who grinned at the idea that they’d worn down their quarry at last.
‘Having a good day?’ the Doctor called up to the nearest seats, getting a cheer in response – except from the nearby Rufus, who scowled down at him. ‘Hey, give us a smile!’ the Doctor shouted to him. ‘You should be happy – you’ve provided the crowd with the best show in ages, if I do say so myself.’
But Rufus kept scowling. And meanwhile the tiger was getting nearer, growling half at its tormentors and half at the Doctor.
The Doctor suddenly sprang into action, taking everyone by surprise, including the tiger. He dived over the beast’s head, hands forward as if it were a vaulting horse. With a flip, he was standing at the creature’s tail, arms in the air to mark a perfect landing. The torch‐bearer was nearest and the Doctor grabbed the flaming brand from the shocked man, using it to knock the trident out of the other’s grip. ‘Don’t try this at home, folks!’ he yelled to the crowd, as the bestiarii stood stock still in stunned silence, unable to believe the way the tables had been turned. They remained like that for only a second, however. The Doctor was on the move again and they turned to follow.
But the tiger turned too. These men were the nearest – and they were the ones who had been taunting it, causing it pain…
The crowd was, temporarily, satisfied.
But the Doctor knew they’d soon be baying for his blood again. He could dodge and he could fight, but they would just keep sending more and more things at him, animals and men. He had to get out of there.
But no‐one had ever escaped from the arena.
* * *
NINE
Suddenly doors on the opposite side of the arena began to open. Someone had obviously decided on a change of tactics. Men were dragged through the doors, dozens of them forced at sword point. Voices called out to the Doctor and he recognised John, Paul, George and Ringo. Acquaintances of only a few hours, they seemed as close to him as brothers right now.
Stakes were standing around the arena and it was to these that the men were dragged, before having their arms lashed to the upright posts. The Doctor watched in horror as one bestiarius ran on with a heaped basket of raw meat, bits of which he flung at the feet of the bound men. There was no mistaking the message. The Doctor was putting up too much of a fight – the crowd needed guaranteed slaughter.
No sooner had the bestiarii retreated than the Doctor sped towards the men. Little Ringo was the closest and the Doctor freed him with a few slashes of the trident point. He handed the man the burning torch to protect himself, then ran off to the next stake. To his surprise – and delight – he saw Ringo heading over to another man. He used the torch to set light to the ropes – the flames obviously