Part 6 (2/2)

'You can't do it!' protested Peri.

'Oh, I think it'll be pretty simple,' said Glitz. 'Don't forget, Peri, this is a high-risk, high-profit venture. The people down there take the risk, and I take the profit!'

'That still leaves the L3 robot,' pointed out Dibber.

Glitz laughed. 'And what chance would the robot have without a labour force? Tell you what, Dibber this'd probably be quicker than trying to knock out its black light supply.'

The door of the hut was thrust open and Glitz hurriedly thrust the map away.

A tall, bearded man in a hooded smock appeared in the doorway. He had a distinctive snaggle-tooth in the centre of his mouth, and Peri recognized him as one of the Councillors who had been at the queen's side.

He was in fact, her chief adviser, known, not surprisingly, as Broken Tooth.

'Come with me,' he ordered.

He wasn't armed, but there were guards at his back.

Dibber, Glitz and Peri followed him from the hut.

They were marched through the village and into the great hut, where Katryca sat chin in hand on her throne, her guards and councillors about her staring into the sacred flame that danced upon the altar.

Glitz bowed low and smiled. 'Dear lady, I knew that once you had time to consider-'

'Silence, fat one,' snarled Katryca. 'I have studied the sacred fires and there is anger in them. You have travelled from beyond the stars, your intention to steal our great totem. Only a sacrifice in the flames will propitiate the G.o.d.'

'All of us?' asked Dibber, practical as ever.

Katryca shook her head, jabbing a bony finger towards Glitz. 'No. Only you are the chosen one, Sabalom Glitz.'

Glitz was outraged. 'Me? Are you insane? I'm wanted in six different galaxies for crimes you couldn't even imagine.

Do you think an old hag like you can bring me down?'

Katryca was unimpressed. 'The pyre is being built. You will be brought forth when your time is due.'

She waved them away.

The tunnel widened and ended in a ma.s.sive set of double doors.

'You enter here, Doctor,' said Merdeen.

'Ah! No need to knock I take it?'

'Will I be needed?' asked Balazar nervously.

Merdeen listened to the voice inside his helmet for a moment. 'No.'

Balazar looked comically relieved and the Doctor grinned. 'Lucky old you!'

Merdeen said sternly. 'When you are in the Immortal's presence, Doctor, you will cast your eyes to the ground.'

'Will I?'

'It is forbidden to look upon him.'

'On pain of being turned into a pillar of salt, I imagine.

That sort of thing?'

'You will not find it wise to mock the Immortal,' said Merdeen threateningly. 'Doubtless your body will be returned to me for disposal before the day is out.'

The Doctor put a friendly arm about his shoulders.

'Merdeen, why don't you just push off and guard some trains or something, hey?' Patting Merdeen on the back the Doctor thrust him gently away and strode up to the doors.

They were high and arched, patterned in some silvery metal. He thrust hard at them and they swung open without resistance. The Doctor marched through the doors and they swung closed behind him.

Merdeen and Balazar and the guards moved away. As they did so, a ma.s.sive black and silver shape glided from an alcove and took up its station before the doors.

The Service Robot was on guard.

The Doctor found himself in a sort of metallic ante chamber, with another set of double doors on the far side.

One of the omnipresent cameras was mounted above the doors, and the Doctor strode up to it, presenting his left profile to the lens.

'This is my best side.'

Humker and Tandrell watched him on the monitor.

'The arrogance,' breathed Humker.

'Can't wait to see how he's been programmed,' said Tandrell.

The inner doors swung open and the Doctor appeared.

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