Part 1 (1/2)

DOCTOR WHO.

THE HIGHLANDERS.

by Gerry Davis.

1.

Where are We?

The TARDIS was slowly materialising in the middle of a clump of brambles and ferns. Finally, the burning motors died down, the door opened, and out jumped Ben, followed by Polly. Then the Doctor emerged, wearing his shabby old frock coat and rather baggy check trousers. Ben looked around eagerly. They were in the middle of a small overgrown hollow. The ground was gra.s.sy and very damp.

Ben used his arm to push aside some brambles to give the others room to get clear of the TARDIS.

'Here, Polly,' said Ben. 'Look at this. What's it look like to you?'

Polly, who was following Ben, stopped, s.h.i.+vered, and tried to prize away an intrusive strand of brambles which had caught her arm. She was clad in her mini-skirt and T-s.h.i.+rt, and it was undeniably chilly, especially after the warmth of the TARDIS's interior. 'It's certainly cold and damp,' Polly said. 'I don't think I like this place very much.'

Behind them, the Doctor looked around drawing his own conclusions, but as usual said nothing. He liked to have his young companions make their own minds up about the various strange locations the TARDIS arrived in.

''Ere, what's it remind you of?' said Ben, excitedly.

'Cold... damp. Where'd you think we are, Princess?'

Polly moved backwards and caught her thigh on another p.r.i.c.kly clump of brambles. She yelled crossly: 'How do I know? And don't call me ”Princess”.'

'Don't you see, Princess?' said Ben. 'It's England.

Where else could it be? What other country is as wet as this? What do you think, Doctor?'

The Doctor was listening intently. He motioned them to keep quiet and listen.

Ben and Polly became aware of a distant murmur over which could be heard the sounds of musket-fire, cries and shouts, and the boom of cannons firing.

'Cor,' said Ben. 'That proves it! It's a soccer match.

We've come on Cup Final night! It sounds like the Spurs'

Supporters' Club.'

'Shush, Ben,' said Polly, as the noise of battle increased.

There was a loud cannon boom which seemed to come from just over the next hill. They heard a piercing whistle, then, cras.h.i.+ng through the trees at the end of the hollow and rolling almost to their feet, a black iron cannon-ball appeared. It landed only a foot away from the Doctor. He immediately turned and started back for the TARDIS.

'That's it!' he said, 'come back inside.'

Polly turned, disappointed. 'But if this is England?'

The Doctor turned. 'Either way I don't like it,' he said.

'There's a battle in progress not so very far away from here.'

Ben, meanwhile, was on his knees examining the cannon-ball. 'Hey,' he said, 'nothing to be alarmed about.

It's an old time cannon-ball. It's probably one of them, y'know, historical societies playing soldier.' He touched it gingerly and pulled his hand away, sucking his finger.

'Ain't half hot!'

The Doctor turned and looked at the cannon-ball. 'A ten-pounder. A little careless for an historical society to play around with it, don't you think?'

Polly, meanwhile, was taking in the gra.s.s, the brambles, and the wild flowers. 'Listen,' she said. 'I'm sure we're back in England somewhere. Look,' she pointed. 'Dogroses.

They only seem to grow in the British Isles. Can't we stay for a little while, Doctor, and find out what's happening here?'

'Well, I'm going to take a shufty over this hill,' said Ben.

'I'd advise you not to,' rejoined the Doctor.

Polly turned to him. 'Doctor,' she said, 'anyone would think you're afraid.'

'Yes, they would, wouldn't they? And that's exactly what I am. If you had any sense you'd be afraid, too. These things,' the Doctor kicked the cannon-ball, 'may be old-fas.h.i.+oned but they can do a lot of damage.'

Polly looked after Ben, who was now scrambling up the small rise at the end of the hollow. 'Come on, we can't let Ben go up alone, can we?'

'You two get me into more trouble...' began the Doctor, but Polly had already set off running up the hill after Ben, her long legs flas.h.i.+ng through the undergrowth. The Doctor shrugged, took one more look at the cannon-ball and followed them.

If they had been able to see over the hill they might have been more inclined to follow the Doctor's advice. In the next valley a small group of Highlanders were fleeing from the Redcoats.

A few hours previously, the largely Highland Scottish troops of Prince Charles Edward, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, had drawn up their battle lines against the English and German Army led by the Duke of c.u.mberland, who were fighting for King George. What was at stake was the entire future of the British monarchy.

The English had been alienated by the autocratic Scottish Stuart Kings, and some forty years before had thrown them out of the United Kingdom, replacing them with the Hanoverian German Georges. Now Prince Charles Edward, also known as the Young Pretender and the latest in the line of Stuart claimants to the throne of England, had come to Scotland and raised his standard. He gathered together a large army among the Scottish Highland clans and marched south to take England.

The Highland army marched as far south as Derby, and indeed might well have taken over the country had they not lost their nerve at the last moment and retreated to what they considered was the safety of the Scottish glens.

But the delay was to cost them dear. King George and his supporters soon rounded up an army of English and German regiments, and even a number of Scottish troops loyal to King George who did not like the prospect of another erratic Stuart king on the throne.

The result was the battle known as Culloden Moor. It was an unequal contest right from the start. Despite the lion-like courage of the Scots, the iron discipline of the Redcoats and their deadly firepower wiped out row after row of the charging, kilted Highland clansmen.