Part 26 (1/2)

'Ah, well, I'm sorry about that,' the Doctor said. 'We were on an archaeological expedition here some time ago, that's how we came to know about it. I'd be interested to hear your story.'

'You want to know about the excavations.' It was not a question. 'You were not on the expedition, I would remember you. Englishmen, I would remember.'

'Ah,' Atkins said. 'So were there other English people involved?'

Kamose shook his head. 'You are too eager for information. You should wait, draw out of me what I do not know you think is important.' He wagged a finger. 'How do you propose to pay for my information?'

The Doctor stuck his hands in his trouser pockets and leaned down towards the short Egyptian. 'How about the offer of transport to Cairo?' he asked. 'Spare those old feet of yours.'

Kamose's eyes sparkled in the torchlight. 'You have a camel?'

The Doctor laughed. 'Now who's betraying his eagerness? I can get you to Cairo far quicker than a camel.'

Kamose narrowed his eyes. 'A car could not get here, there are no roads.

Not even a landrover crosses the desert in these parts.'

'Well, of course, if you're happy walking.' The Doctor gestured to Atkins and they headed towards the main door out of the chamber.

Kamose caught up with them before they reached the corridor. 'I have decided to offer you my help,' he said.

James Norris had converted the second bedroom of his small cottage into a study. It had not taken much work, mainly a case of putting up shelves and ensuring there were enough electrical sockets and a phone line.

He was working on a set of plans for a barn conversion when there was a knock at the door. Norris lifted his head from the drawing board, and stared out of the pool of angle-poised light which was the sole illumination. He frowned, checked his watch, and went to the window.

The outside light was on, and in its glow he could see a figure standing outside the front door. He could not see her face, but he could see it was a young woman. The stairs creaked as he hurried down them. The staircase emerged into the corner of the main downstairs room. He crossed to the front door, drew back the bolt and opened it.

He started as the woman turned towards him. 'Vanessa?'

She pushed past him into the room, barely acknowledging his presence.

Her eyes scanned the surroundings, head moving to and fro as if she were searching for something.

'What the h.e.l.l's happened to you?' Norris asked. Vanessa Prior was in her night-gown. The hem was grubby and torn, and her feet were bare and muddy. Her toes curled on the carpet as she looked round.

Norris stepped towards her, reached out intending to embrace her. But before he got close enough, she stepped away, her arm flying out. He ducked, but the gesture was not a blow. She was pointing to the mantelshelf above the fireplace. And as she walked slowly, stiffly, like a sleepwalker towards it, Norris stared at the blue ring on her wedding finger, and the thick gold scarab bracelet hanging heavy on her wrist.

She stopped in front of the fireplace, silent and still for a moment. Norris crossed towards her, hesitant, worried.

'Look, if something's happened... Can I help?' Another thought occurred to him. 'Is anyone with you?' he asked. 'How did you get here? I mean -' He pointed to her night-gown.

But she ignored him, her eyes focused on the cobra poised to strike at the end of the shelf. She reached out for it.

And he caught her hand. 'Look, tell me what's wrong.' Her hand inched forwards, closer to the statue. 'Vanessa!' And she turned and glared at him.

Just for a second. Then she lashed out with her other arm, caught him across the cheek, sent him reeling across the room in surprise.

Norris lay on the floor, rubbing his jaw in painful disbelief. 'What do you think you're doing?' he shouted.

Vanessa picked up the heavy statue, winding her hand inside the snake's coils to get a better grip. She turned from the mantelpiece, and advanced on Norris. He watched her incredulously as she lifted the cobra above her head, poised to crash it down on his skull. He could feel a pulse ticking in the corner of his eye, flinched as the arm started to descend, tried to push himself back and out of the way, shook his head and tried to speak.

The snake slashed down at him, gathering speed. Between its coils, Norris could see Vanessa's eyes gleaming bright and wide like a cat launching finally at an injured mouse. He squeezed his eyes shut, knowing he could not avoid the blow.

He heard the statue connect, the wrenching tearing smas.h.i.+ng sound of it cras.h.i.+ng into something solid. And he opened his eyes again.

The statue had smashed into a small coffee table. Norris recognised it and vaguely wondered what had happened to the half empty coffee mug that had been resting on it a few moments earlier. He did not recognize the young woman who held the table, who was now struggling to prevent Vanessa from shoving her aside.

Norris hauled himself to his feet, and went to help the stranger. Together they managed to push Vanessa back towards the fireplace. Norris grabbed Vanessa by the shoulders, unsure whether to keep her at arms' length or hug her to him.

'What is it? What's wrong?' he asked as he struggled to hold her still.

The young woman who had saved his life was still trying to pull the cobra statue from Vanessa's grasp, but without success. She did seem to be managing to stop her from using it as a weapon, though. 'It's no good,' the woman said. 'She's not listening, or she can't hear you.'

Norris ignored her. 'Vanessa, look - it's me, James.' The fire in Vanessa's eyes did not diminish. She still struggled to escape, to smash the snake across his face. 'Vanessa,' he was close to tears, holding her still by the shoulders, shaking her with no effect. 'I love you.'

He let go of her, and she fell towards him. Norris clasped Vanessa to him, and pressed his mouth to hers. For a moment she was unresponsive, like a statue. Then she twisted, pulled away, her face suddenly creasing in bewilderment, tears welling in her eyes.

'James?' Her voice was scarcely a murmur. She looked round, as if surprised, as if waking up disoriented. Then her eyelids fluttered, and she crumpled to the floor. Norris and the woman stood over her, breathing deeply and watching to see what would happen. But Vanessa seemed to be unconscious.

The woman bent down and tried to prise the cobra from Vanessa's grip.

After a while pulling at the long slender fingers, she gave up. 'It's no good, she won't let it go.' 'We should lie her down,' Norris said quietly.

'The sofa?'

Norris nodded. As they lifted Vanessa's limp body on to the couch, he asked: 'Do you come from New Zealand?'

'Australia.' The woman straightened Vanessa's legs, then stepped back and dusted her hands against each other. 'But not today.' She turned to Norris. She was quite small, with straight dark hair cut short. 'I'm Tegan.'

Then he knelt down beside his fiance and took her hand. The large ring made it awkward to hold, but did not move when he gave a gentle tug to try to remove it. 'Will she be all right?'

'Yes,' Tegan said after the briefest pause. 'Yes, of course she will.'