Part 13 (1/2)

'We can only try,' said the Doctor gently. He gazed deep into the crystal.

It began to glow . . .

Lady Tanha gazed broodingly out of the window. 'Do you have any children, Director Ambril?'

'No, my Lady. I have never married. My work . . .' 'You are very sensible,' said Tanha levelly. 'You have your - objects. An object lasts.

You hold it in your hand and it belongs to you. Children can be very disappointing in that respect, don't you think so?'

'My Lady Tanha,' said Ambril unhappily. 'I really don't know.'

'I do . . .' She turned from the window, as Lon came back into the room.

'Mother? Look!'

Lon was resplendent in the costume of the Sky Hero. It consisted of a white toga with a starburst design on the breast, tied by a golden sash.

On his head was an elaborate golden hat, crowned by a golden sunburst design, into which there was set a gleaming jewel.

He cut a handsome, heroic figure, and Tanha couldn't help being pleased. 'How splendid you are. Let me look at you.'

Lon went over to her. 'Am I forgiven?'

Tanha sighed. 'Of course. Aren't you always? You do look splendid, and it fits exactly. Don't you think so, Ambril?'

Ambril beamed with pride. 'A remarkable fit, my Lady. Truly remarkable.'

'Let me look at you,' said Lady Tanha again. 'I'm going to be so proud of you at the ceremony.'

Ambril produced a faded sheet of parchment. 'And here, my Lord, are the Responses.'

Exhausted with concentration, the Doctor closed his eyes. The glow of the crystal faded.

Nyssa looked around, as if expecting Dojjen to appear in a puff of smoke. 'Nothing!'

'He's not coming,' said Chela sadly.

The Doctor said, 'Be patient. Wait.'

They waited.

'Doctor?' said Chela.

'What?'

'If your theory about the Great Crystal is true, why didn't Dojjen destroy it when he was still Director?'

'Good question, Chela. Nyssa asked me exactly the same thing.'

'Well?'

'I don't know. Perhaps it is as I said before -destroying the Great Crystal would have left the Mara in existence as a latent force. Maybe we need the Great Crystal to expose and destroy the Mara.'

Suddenly the crystal around the Doctor's neck began to glow again.

'Doctor!' whispered Nyssa. She pointed.

Silhouetted between two great rocks stood the figure of a tall white-haired old man, dressed in worn leather garments. He carried a staff, and there was a leather pouch at his belt. The crystal around his neck was glowing brightly, as if in answer to the Doctor's own.

The Doctor smiled in relief. 'Dojjen!'

Bells tinkled and cymbals clashed and horns blew as the Ceremonial Snake weaved its way towards the Cave. The megaphone voice boomed out: 'Abandon yourselves, and follow the path of the Snake! Follow the path! Who can resist the power of the Snake?'

Laughing and chattering excitedly, the crowd followed the Snake, forming a sort of informal procession, rus.h.i.+ng all unknowing towards the horror that awaited them.

The Doctor and Dojjen sat facing each other, cross-legged, a few feet apart. Instinctively, Chela and Nyssa had moved away, watching from a respectful distance. Slowly Dojjen reached into his pouch and produced a small green snake. It writhed in his hands, hissing angrily. Gripping it just behind the neck with his right hand, Dojjen slowly and deliberately moved the snake towards his own bare left forearm. As soon as it was in range, the snake darted its head forwards and bit him.

Dojjen sat quite motionless for a moment, then he held the still-writhing snake out to the Doctor. Slowly the Doctor pushed back his left sleeve. He reached out and took the snake in his right hand.

'No, Doctor,' called Nyssa. 'What are you doing? You mustn't let it bite you.'

The Doctor tightened his grip on the snake. 'I'm afraid there's no choice, not if we're to have any chance of saving Tegan and defeating the Mara.'

'But the venom could be deadly.'

'Yes, I know.'

Eyes fixed on Dojjen's, the Doctor brought the snake closer to his left wrist. He winced as he felt the sudden stab of its fangs.

By now the crowd was lining the steps that led up to the Cave of the Snake, cheering and clapping as the official party marched up the steps.

Many of the crowd carried lanterns, others blew horns and threw streamers.

Magnificent in the Sky Hero costume, Lon marched at the head of the official procession. Behind him came Ambril and Lady Tanha, both suitably robed, and behind them, a small group of high officials. The crowd pressed forwards, cheering and waving, frantic to see, perhaps even to touch, the Sky Hero as he strode up the steps.

The Doctor could feel the deadly snake venom flooding through his veins. He could feel his senses slipping away. The only thing that was real, the only lifeline, was Dojjen's voice. Strangely enough the voice did not come from Dojjen's lips. The voice spoke inside the Doctor's head.

'Look into my eyes,' said Dojjen. 'You have come this far. You must not give in to fear. Look.'

The Doctor seemed to be peering through a thickening mist. Dojjen's face bagan to quiver and dissolve, to spin and fade away.

'No!' said Dojjen's voice. 'Look at me!'

'Can't,' muttered the Doctor. 'It's the poison . . . the effect of the poison.'

The calm old voice said, 'Fear is the only poison.'