Menagerie - Martin Day [78]
'Then how did he get that great beastie back up here?'
asked Jamie.
'With help, I expect,' said the Doctor. 'But that's all in the past. If my friends the Dugraqs are right, we should be worrying about these Mecrim creatures.'
The swords of the knights and the City Guard will surely be enough to save our city from any attack — even from the Menagerie of Ukkazaal,' said Oiquaquil.
A confident female voice echoed from the rear of the cavern. 'I'm not so certain.'
The Doctor turned to see Zoe walking towards him. He clapped his hands together joyfully. 'I can't tell you how pleased I am to see you,' he said, giving the young woman an embarrassed hug.
'It's lovely to be back,' said Zoe. 'Hello, Jamie.'
Defrabax tutted impatiently. 'We were talking about these Mecrim creatures.'
'If I'm right,' said Zoe, 'you'll need more than swords to defeat these monsters. My friends and I encountered the most vicious beast I've ever seen.' Two figures, joined at the waist, followed Zoe out of the shadows. 'The monster killed hundreds of people in minutes. We were very lucky to survive.'
The Doctor politely shook the hands of the twins as they came forward. 'Delighted to meet you.'
'Jamie,' hissed Zoe. 'Stop staring.'
'What? Oh, aye, right.' Jamie scratched his head. 'Er, hello.'
'Hello, Jamie,' said one of the twins, smiling. 'We've heard all about you.'
'Aye,' said Jamie. 'Aye, I suppose you have.'
'I'm Reisaz,' continued the twin. 'My unusually quiet sister is Raitak.'
Defrabax sighed. 'Can the introductions not wait? What do you know of these monsters?'
'The creature we saw was a tremendously powerful four-armed humanoid,' said Zoe. 'It was very aggressive, and seemed to feel little pain.'
'That could be a Mecrim,' squeaked the Dugraq.
'However, we are aware of them only by reputation. Leave well alone is the rule where Mecrim are concerned.'
'How did you encounter one of these things?' asked the Doctor.
'I ended up at a circus, where I met Raitak and Reisaz,'
said Zoe. 'The owner had just purchased a creature in a self-contained cryogenic casket.'
'The creatures we're worried about,' said the Doctor, 'exist deep within an advanced city underneath this one. How do you think the casket got from there to a circus?'
Diseaeda was a well known collector,' said Raitak.
'However the casket came up to the surface it was almost certain to find its way into the freak show eventually.'
'How would you rate the cryogenic technology?' the Doctor asked Zoe.
'Quite highly. The casket was very old, but still in working order. However, I could see that its power was running low.'
The Doctor's next question was interrupted by a series of shrill chimes from the communication device Defrabax had given him. He withdrew the unit and stabbed at a few buttons uncertainly until a picture of the android formed.
The Doctor recognized the underground power station's main control room.
'Er, report, please,' said the Doctor.
'Your instructions have been carried out,' said the android.
'However, Zaitabor has eluded me. I cannot ascertain if he is still in the city or if he has returned to the surface.'
'Any sign of the Mecrim?' asked the Doctor.
'No. However, the Taculbain have now returned to their nest.'
'Very well,' said the Doctor. 'Proceed with your orders.'
He pressed a button on the device and then turned to face Oiquaquil. 'I suggest that you and your men prepare to fight any creatures that might emerge from the menagerie. And keep an eye open for Zaitabor and any known associates.'
'Doctor,' said Jamie suddenly. 'Kaquaan and I knocked out Araboam, Zaitabor's second-in-command. We locked him in a cupboard.'
The Doctor nodded and glanced at the wizard's ward and the young woman. 'Do you think you could check if he's still there? I suppose he will have escaped by now, but it'll be nice to know.'
'Of course,' said Cosmae, still rubbing his sore head. He turned to the girl, staring at the clockwork torso. 'If you'll show me the way .. .
'Yes, my love,' she said with a sudden smile like the parting clouds. She