Menagerie - Martin Day [35]
Not for the first time the Doctor hoped that the centuries-old protective outfits would still function. Even more worrying was the fate of Jamie and Zoe, neither of whom he had heard word of since their arrest the previous night. He hated it when they were separated, but would have to trust in their own intuition and ability for a while longer.
He allowed something of the excitement of exploration to wash over him as they approached the drain covering set in the centre of the street. Despite the ignominious entrance, the Doctor trusted that the subterranean world would reveal sufficient secrets for Himesor to release him to find his friends. If in the process the Doctor established the nature and demise of the previous civilization — the same civilization that produced the protective suits and many of the items in the Kuabris Most Holy Place — then so much the better.
Not, as the Doctor reminded himself, that he had much choice in the matter. The Doctor would help Himesor in every way possible, or face execution as a scientist. At least you know where you stand with Himesor, he thought.
The Doctor fanned his face when the knights came to a halt before the grating. He was relieved to note that the crowds that had followed their progress from the castle had quickly dispersed. None, it seemed, wanted to stand around while the knights violated the Menagerie of Ukkazaal.
'What next, Doctor?' asked the Grand Knight.
The Doctor nudged the grill with his foot, sniffmg the air sourly. 'We go down, Grand Knight.'
'We'll never get into the Castle of Kuabris,' moaned Cosmae.
'Och, quit your blathering,' said Jamie. 'We're nearly there now.'
And how do you propose to get past the knights?' Cosmae pointed upwards at the dark towers. 'You might be able to trick the guards, but the Knights of Kuabris will not prove so stupid.'
'We'll think of something,' said Jamie. But he paused in the shadows of the castle, his face upturned to catch signs of life in the numerous windows. In that moment something cold and electric gripped his spine. It was not that he was frightened. But already he could feel the evil within striving to impress as well as repulse him.
Jamie collected his thoughts. 'It's perfectly simple,' he said. 'The Doctor and your girl are in there. So, somehow, that's where we need to be, too.'
'You have a very clear mind, Jamie.'
'Few'd give me that credit.' He reached down to check his concealed dirk for the hundredth time. 'But with this wee beauty folk have always seen my point.'
'There's a patrol coming,' said Cosmae. The two young men pressed themselves into the shadows and watched as a handful of knights walked the distance between the last few stunted houses and the massive gatehouse. There was no door or portcullis to impede their march. The shadows swallowed them up as they proceeded across the castle courtyard, although the sound of their armour rattling could be heard on the still air for a while longer. 'The one thing we have in our favour,' said Cosmae as he stood up, 'is the fear that the knights have generated over the years. As a result, the castle is barely defended. My master said that there were only a handful of guards stationed at the gatehouse, but many knights within the castle.'
'So the gatehouse should prove easy,' commented Jamie.
'Pretend you've apprehended me. That you're under-cover for —'
'Under-cover?'
Jamie sighed. There were times when his ever-increasing vocabulary was little but a hindrance. 'Pretend that you're a knight or a guard but that you've been tracking me in disguise. If you act like you know what you're doing, they'll believe you.'
'Are you sure?'
'Aye, the Doctor does this all the time.' Jamie handed Cosmae his dirk. It shone like a lamp even in the morning's gloom. 'Hold this to my throat. Not too close, mind.'
Cosmae nodded. They were just within sight of the guards who milled around the open doorway. 'Here we go,'
said Cosmae softly, before bundling Jamie forwards.
Reisaz and Raitak pulled back a heavy grey curtain and ushered