Part 12 (1/2)

4: Strange Charm

'G.o.d, that wine was good,' said Benny to no one in particular as she bounced off another stippled wall. Savaar moved a fraction faster and caught her as she stumbled unsteadily from the rebound.

'Whoops!' she giggled, I haven't been like this since my thirtieth birthday . .

. What a heavenly day that was!' she punned.

Savaar's green tongue darted out, moistening his lips.

Benny stared at him, trying to focus. I say,' she murmured, are you trying to catch a fly?' As Savaar made no response to this except to do the autonomic reaction again, Benny pointed slowly at his mouth. 'D'that again - I'll see if I can catch it!' She tried to laugh but instead belched extraordinarily loudly. Sskeet turned his head, trying to check no one was behind them.

I'm sorry, I'm so embarra.s.sing! Oh G.o.d,' she began to wail, I'm an embarra.s.sment to the Martian hierarchy, to the Federation, to humanity, to -' It occurred to Savaar that Bernice would probably list every person in the solar system given half a chance. He shook her slightly and she stopped, her head lolling slightly at an angle.

'Hey,' she said quietly. 'Hey, don't I know you? Aren't you my mother-in-law?' With that, she let out a large yelp of amus.e.m.e.nt and staggered into a doorway. Is this your place or mine? Fancy a nightcap?' Benny reached out and tugged at the silky cape hanging down Savaar's back. Or how about a night cape?' Sskeet pushed the door ajar and gently but firmly the two Martians eased Bernice into her room and towards the bed. She waved herself free.

'S'all right, I can put myself to bed.' She waved a finger at them, trying to look stern. I'm sure you shouldn't be in Shsurr's bed-chamber, my good sirs!' Savaar glanced at Sskeet and nodded. Without a word they both bowed to the unsteady figure before them and turned to leave. With a yell of excitement Bernice slumped loudly on to the bed behind them.

'Don't forget to turn out the light, boys!' she called.

Without a word Sskeet and Savaar discreetly, and with as much dignity as possible, left her room.

After a moment's pause Bernice shuffled on her bed slightly. One eye popped open and a huge grin spread across her face. She sat bolt upright and turned the almost imperceptible dial on a nearby flambeau. The flame grew noticeably brighter. She scrabbled under her bed with consummate ease, no sign of tiredness or the drunkenness she had displayed moments earlier. She yanked up her bag and extracted her diary. Over the next minutes she scribbled: 'Dear Diary, What an extraordinary meal. Damakort behaved himself very well -I could almost get to tolerate him if he stays like this and doesn't sulk or pout any more. The Doctor has taken to this honoured guest bit like a duck to water - of course - he loves the attention. Alpha Centauri's weird but very sweet.

King Tarrol's peculiar. He's very young to be a king, He looks in his early twenties but talks and acts like an old man. Atissa swanned in fas.h.i.+onably late and accused the entire Federation group of offending the spirit of this Aggedor thing. Going by the carvings and pictures that obsessively dominate this culture, I'd guess he'd be offended every time he looked in the mirror! Then there's Nic Reece. Hmmm. Wonder what Ace would have made of him. Probably attempted to seduce him by now. Glad she's not here - I might have a go myself.

Fun bit of the evening was just now. The Doctor asked me to test the patience of old Savaar. He's not a bad chap, bit stodgy, but could be interesting. 1 played the outrageous drunk all the way back. 1 insulted, belched, burped and generally acted gross. He took it all in his stride - strikes me it'd take a lot to rile him. Blown out the Doctor's theory that Savaar's volatile and aggressive. I wonder why-'

She stopped suddenly and put down her pen. Silence. No. There it was again! A muted shout - someone was trying to have a subtle argument nearby.

Bernice went to her door and tried to listen through it. The m.u.f.fled sounds of the constant storm outside the window and the thickness of the wooden door made distinct hearing impossible so she slowly tugged the door open.

Through the crack she could see Reece and someone else. Reece was trying to act the pacifist but his unseen partner was raising her voice slowly.

Atissa, Bernice a.s.sumed, but as Reece moved slightly it was Lianna that came into view. Bernice wasn't used to being surprised but she had to admit this was unexpected. They'd hardly pa.s.sed a word over dinner - although Corry's theatrical anecdotes were probably the cause of that; no one could have hoped to get a word in edgeways.

The intensity of their argument meant that they were oblivious to anything else. Bernice came right out of her room and shuffled across the corridor, leaning against the cold stone walls to listen better. She became aware that a bit of the stippled rock was jabbing into her shoulder but by now she was so close she dare not move -they'd see her shadow if nothing else.

Reece was saying, 'Look, she's your daughter. I've tried my best.'

'You'll never beat her, Reece.' That was Lianna. 'She's too stubborn, too adamant in her own beliefs.'

'Yeah, well I can see where she gets that from!'

'Flattery will get you nowhere, Nicholas Reece.'

Bernice started. Lianna leant forward and kissed Reece on the lips. Not aggressively or even pa.s.sionately, but tenderly. They held the soft kiss for a few seconds and she stepped back. 'Don't make me regret any of this.

Please.'

Reece shook his head and took her hand in his, caressing the back of hers with his thumb. I won't let you down. It'll all be sorted out soon and you'll have no more problems.'

Lianna retracted her hand. I hope so. You are my last chance for happiness.' She turned and went.

Bernice flattened herself against the wall, pressing further into the jutting rock. As it dug in further she wanted to cry out but instead bit the inside of her mouth. Nic Reece walked straight past her, totally oblivious to her presence. Bernice watched him head back towards the Federation Representatives' quarters. After she was sure he'd gone, Bernice pulled away from the wall, finally allowing herself a gasp as the rock ceased pressurizing her shoulder. She scampered back to her room and closed the door - now this would certainly interest the Doctor.

As the door to her room shut, two figures stepped out of the shadows. They had had a perfectly clear view of both the argument and Bernice's spying.

Neither of them had been spotted - they were both too well versed in the art of subtle shadow-hiding.

As I suspected,' hissed Savaar. 'Shsurr Summerfield was pretending. I wonder why.'

'Should we ask her now or in the morning?'

Oh, I think the morning will do, Sskeet. After that little scene by Reece and the Lady Lianna, I think the morning could hold a few surprises. I think it is time we had a small talk with Lianna ourselves.'

The Doctor closed the connecting door between his room and Kort's. The Cantryan boy was fast asleep. At last. The Doctor yawned. Still, he should be grateful - very few people stayed awake throughout the entire story of the terrible Zodin and her giant gra.s.shoppers. Or was it Ch'tizz? He could never remember who had the gra.s.shoppers and who had the mutant kangaroos. Still, it hardly mattered - it had taken nearly an hour to tell the story. Kort's intelligent, incisive and therefore downright annoying questions about Zodin's practical motives and the physics of the gra.s.shoppers jumping eighteen-storey buildings had highlighted not only his inquisitive nature but also the Doctor's disposition to exaggeration.

He heard the gasp almost as if it had been right in his ear instead of outside in the corridor. Unknowingly echoing Bernice's movements fifteen minutes earlier, he pushed his ear to his door but again the storm and well built door severely cut back his hearing. He, too, opened the door a crack and raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Lianna was talking to Savaar. Angrily.

'You had no right to come here. Not yet. Do you want to ruin everything?'

Savaar held up a clamped fist. I had no choice. The situation is desperate.

You can tell that by the company I keep!' The Doctor smiled. It was nice to be such a thorn in Savaar's side.

Lianna continued. 'The Doctor could help. He has in the past.'

'He is dangerous,' replied Savaar. 'Besides, how can you be sure it is the same man? Morphers are rare and his story is a little far-fetched. While I investigate the Doctor you will do as you are told or the consequences could be severe for your rather backward little planet. I will not warn you again.'

Lianna was obviously going to say more when a familiar swis.h.i.+ng noise indicated the arrival of Alpha Centauri, his head a curious shade of crimson. The Doctor realized that in all the years he had known the mild amba.s.sador, be had until now never seen him angry.

'What is going on here?' he chirped surprisingly quietly.

With a last look at Savaar, Lianna said, 'Nothing for the Federation to worry themselves about, it would seem,' and marched away.

'Please, Amba.s.sador,' Savaar said before the hexapod could speak, 'go to bed. Now!' he added as Centauri bobbed, ready to protest. The crimson hue faded to a more subdued but still affronted purple and Centauri bobbed away.

The Doctor shrugged slightly and shut his door as quietly as he could.

In the corridor, the tiny click was clearly audible to Savaar's advanced helmet receivers. He turned and looked for the source of the sound.

The Doctor's quarters - of course.

Half an hour later old Fabon was wandering around what Nic Reece had termed therelic room' - the first stage in his plan to open Peladon for tourism. Against Atissa's better judgement but not better arguments, most of the Pel trophies and sacred weapons and artefacts were stored here. It was Fabon's current duty to check the room every night. Although it was locked securely and only he and Atissa had keys, she was quite clear in her instructions.