Part 5 (2/2)

'Perhaps there's a connection,' said Chela. 'Perhaps they're even made of the same substance. I just don't know. I wanted to run tests on this one, but Ambril wouldn't let me.'

The Doctor weighed the pendant in his hand. 'Why-are you telling me all this?'

T must go.'

'Wait,' said the Doctor. 'Tell me, Chela, do you believe in the Legend of the Return?'

'No, of course not.'

Chela turned and hurried away.

The Doctor called after him. 'One more question - who are the Snakedancers?'

But Chela had disappeared into the crowd.

The Doctor stood gazing after him, the crystal pendant in his hand.

He held it up to the light, looking into the blue depths of the stone.

Tegan stood looking into the mirror, unaware that she was being watched.

Dugdale had returned to his Hall of Mirrors some little time ago, and found, to his astonishment, a girl standing before one of his mirrors talking to herself in two completely different voices. Born showman that he was, Dugdale's first reaction, once he was over his astonishment, was to think that here was a talent that could be put to good commercial use.

He stepped forward, applauding ironically. 'Highly convincing, young lady. A trick of course, voice projection, the art of the ventriloquist, perhaps. Two voices in different registers. Very original, all in all!'

Tegan stood staring at her reflection, ignoring him completely.

Dugdale walked around her, studying her thoughtfully. 'Now, various possibilities present themselves immediately. Should you be interested in something along the lines of . .. A partners.h.i.+p, perhaps? Me outside enticing the pa.s.sers-by, talking 'em in, relieving them at the door of some small token of their sincere interest. You inside in the half-dark talking away to yourself in two voices - and scaring them half to death.

Highly satisfactory all round. What do you think?'

Still no reply.

Dugdale was getting impatient. 'All right, my girl, enough's enough. I said I was impressed ... as impressed as I need to be. I'm not a curious man -though I was once.' He gave a self-mocking laugh. 'I was once a long time ago, a Humble Student of Life's Mysteries, a Treader of the Secret Pathways, a Delver into the Darker Corners, and so forth. At the end of the day, when the lights come up - as they always do come up in one form or another - there's always someone standing with their hand out waiting to be paid. I decided long ago that person might as well be me. Or, in present circ.u.mstances - us!'

Suddenly Tegan swung round to face him. She spoke in the harsh, compelling Mara voice. 'Who exactly are you?' She studied him. 'You are not important. There is only one who is important. Only he matters in what is to be done here.''

Dugdale shrunk back, transfixed by her hypnotic glare.

Swinging the pendant thoughtfully, the Doctor walked on. Once again he heard running footsteps behind him, and turned. This time he saw Nyssa.

'Doctor,' she gasped. 'I saw Tegan. I spoke to her.'

'Where is she?'

'I don't know. She ran away from me. I lost her in the crowd. Doctor, look!'

Nyssa held out the anti-dreaming device. 'She wasn't wearing this when I found her - and she was acting very; oddly.'

She told the Doctor of Tegan's strange manner, and of finding the device in the fortune-teller's booth.

The Doctor listened keenly. 'When you saw Tegan was she marked?'

'What?'

'On her arm - the mark of a snake.' 'I didn't see . . .'

'It's the Mara,' said the Doctor fiercely. 'It must be.' Tucking the device in his pocket he strode away, Nyssa hurrying after him.

Lon had resumed his usual supine position, stretched out on the couch, gazing vaguely into s.p.a.ce.

His mother appeared, sumptuously robed in blue and gold, and wearing a jewelled head-dress. 'Isn't it time you were changed, Lon? Lon? We're having dinner with Ambril, remember?'

'I'm not coming.'

'Good,' said Tanha briskly.

Lon didn't like having his sulks ignored. 'I beg your pardon?'

'Good,' repeated Tanha. 'It's probably just as well, you'd only spoil things anyway. Your behaviour in the caves this morning was unforgivable. Poor Ambril was quite disconcerted. You were taking advantage of your position.'

Lon yawned, and turned away. 'Oh please, if you're going to be dreary.'

'I am not going to be anything. We are invited to dinner, and I am going.

Are you just going to lie there being bored?'

Lon stretched and smiled lazily at her. 'Yes, do you know I rather suspect I am. After all, what else is there to do?'

Tanha walked majestically to the doorway. She paused on the threshold. 'Oh, Lon, do come to dinner.'

Lon turned ostentatiously away.

Tanha sighed, and swept out of the room.

The Doctor marched Nyssa swiftly through the market and down the long narrow road that led to the Cave of the Snake.

Running up the steps he paused by the entrance, waiting for Nyssa to catch up. 'Come on!'

'What are we doing here?'

'I need facts, Nyssa, more facts. There's something I noticed here earlier. I need to take a closer look.'

They plunged through the snake-mouth and into the darkness of the tunnel.

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