Part 3 (2/2)

The bodyguard looked to Lady Tanha for confirmation. She nodded, and he began heaving the struggling Doctor away. Lon, however, welcomed any interruption to Ambril's lecture. 'Wait!' he ordered. 'At least let the man have his say.'

'But why, my Lord,' spluttered Ambril. 'After all, the man is quite clearly deranged.'

'Is he?'

'Of course he is!'

'Lon, please,' said Tanha wearily. 'I really think the Director should deal with this.'

Still in the grip of the giant bodyguard, the Doctor shouted, 'Director?

Director of what?'

Ambril drew himself up. 'I am Director of Research effort into the Sumaran era.'

'Are you indeed? Then you may be able to help.'

'I think not,' said Ambril haughtily. 'Throw the fellow out.'

'Just a moment, Ambril,' snapped Lon. 'First let him speak.' He smiled mockingly at his mother. 'After all, it has been suggested that I take more interest in our legends!'

The bodyguard released the Doctor who straightened his collar indignantly. 'I should think so too! No then, I have something very important to tell you -about the Mara.'

Nyssa reached the far end of the street just in time to see Tegan disappearing into the market quarter. She tried to follow her, but Tegan was out of sight, lost in the teeming crowd. Giving up the hopeless search, Nyssa turned and headed back towards the Cave of the Snake.

Tegan meanwhile was still lost in her strange, silent world. Jostled by the crowds she stumbled along, staring wildly at the silently mouthing faces all around Suddenly it all became too much for her. The colourful crowded scene began spinning around like a kaleidoscope, and Tegan fainted, collapsing in a heap before a fortune-teller's booth - right at the feet of Madame Zara, the fortune-teller.

The Doctor's story of renewed danger from the Mara was meeting a sceptical response. Tanha looked baffled and Ambril was openly scornful.

Lon was the most sceptical of all. 'And where, according to you, is the Mara now?'

The Doctor said carefully, 'At present it exists as a latent force in the mind of my companion.'

'Does it really?'

'The Mara is using her dream to increase its power, Eventually it will take over her mind altogether-if it can. But I've put together a device to inhibit this, at least temporarily.'

'How very resourceful! And where is this young lady?' The mockery in Lon's tone was obvious now.

'She's outside. Why don't you come and meet her?'

Lon shrugged. 'Why not? Take us to her.'

'Certainly. If you'll follow me?'

The Doctor led them back along the access tunnel and outside the cave - where he saw Nyssa hurrying up the steps to meet him.

'Nyssa! Where's Tegan.'

'Is this your companion?' asked Lon.

The Doctor ignored him. 'What's happened, Nyssa?'

Nyssa was gasping for breath. 'She's gone. Doctor.'

Lon turned to Ambril and Tanha and said mockingly, 'Oh dear! She's gone, apparently. How sad!'

Nyssa told the Doctor what had happened. 'It all happened so quickly.

She just took fright and ran.”'

'You have disappointed me, Doctor,' said Lon. 'I really should have you punished.'

The Doctor said urgently, 'Come on, Nyssa, we must find her.'

The bodyguard took a step forward, his hand on his sword.

'Oh let them go,' said Lon wearily. 'After all, what's the point?'

The Doctor and Nyssa had no more luck in finding Tegan than Nyssa had on her own. The press of the crowd made it difficult to move at any speed, and it was impossible to pick out one person amongst so many.

'Oh, this is hopeless,' said the Doctor at last. 'She was frightened you say?'

'Terrified.'

'Well, let's go back to the TARDIS. She might try to find her way back there.'

But there was no sign of Tegan in the TARDIS either.

Nyssa looked despairingly at the Doctor. 'Where can she be?'

'Who knows? As long as she's wearing the anti-dreaming device she should still be safe.'

'And if she takes it off?'

'I don't know,' said the Doctor helplessly. 'I just don't know.' He began pacing about the control room. 'There's so much we don't know. Why has the Mara returned? Why now, after so long? What does it want?'

Tegan awoke to find herself slumped in a chair inside a cramped and gloomy booth. Faded red and green hangings draped the walls, and a sinister hooded figure was hovering over her. Tegan gasped and shrank back and the sinister figure pushed back its hood to reveal a plump, rather motherly face looking at her in concern.

Madame Zara patted Tegan's shoulder. 'There! Feeling better dear?'

Tegan stared blankly at her.

Madame Zara reached forward and slipped the earpieces from Tegan's ears. 'There, that's better. Can you hear me now?'

'No,' protested Tegan feebly. 'I mustn't take it off.'

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