Part 14 (2/2)

'It is excellent.'

'Good.' Peri sat up from the table.

'Yes. Most pleasing.'

At that moment the door opened and Crozier entered.

'Stand up!' the Matrona ordered. Peri left the table and stood silently by as Crozier scanned the sheet of figures and measurements taken by the Matrona.

Crozier kept glancing up at Peri as he read the print out.

'Yes... oh, yes... most promising.' He handed the information back to the Matrona and came towards Peri, smiling.

Peri watched him warily. She felt like a prize specimen as Crozier tilted her head first one way then the other.

'Excellent!' he p.r.o.nounced. 'She is a most promising candidate. I will arrange the antigen tests.'

'That's a blood test,' Peri said with alarm. 'I'm not marrying anyone...'

Crozier smiled indulgently. 'Strength. That is good. We must try to retain that if at all possible.'

Tuza was slowly coming to himself but the Doctor, after examining the powerful mind-changing unit, knew that hours would be needed to recover his senses. At last the Doctor understood why he had suffered blackouts and had acted so perversely since he had suffered the power of Crozier's ability to warp minds. Though the Doctor had only felt the impulse of the Brain Transference Unit for a short time it had taken until now to recover his judgement fully. Deciding to allow Tuza more time to gather his wits the Doctor stepped outside the booth just as Frax was arriving.

'What are you doing here, Doctor?' Frax asked.

'He has Crozier's permission and will you please not shout at each other.'

'My apologies, sir,' Frax said, recognising Marne, the oldest working Mentor. 'I didn't notice you were in attendance.'

'Oh, take no notice of me. Few people do.'

'I'm looking for that captured King...' the Doctor said casually. 'Where might I find him?'

'Yrcanos?'

'That's him.'

'Why?'

'Crozier asked me to look him over as a possible body donor for Mentor Kiv.'

Frax hesitated then looked to Marne for approval.

'Oh, take him, but be careful Yrcanos has a very loud voice... it plays havoc with the audio system.'

'Thank you for the warning, Mentor,' the Doctor said quietly.

'I was hoping we'd heard the last of Yrcanos he's such a strident fellow...' The Mentor turned around to find himself alone. 'Oh, they've gone... how rude not to say goodbye young people.' He sniffed, closed his eyes and fell fast asleep.

Crozier showed the pattern of Peri's brain scan. 'Look at that, Matrona, so many positive waves... I feel tempted to try for the ultimate experiment.'

'Another physical transfer?' The Matrona searched the scientist's face for a clue as to his intentions.

Crozier smiled like a small boy who is about to reveal his pet frog and just knows the girl will scream. Then he postponed his revelation. 'There are other tests to conduct first. Then I will decide. You may prepare the patient, even so, Matrona.'

'Yes, sir...' the Matrona said, moving towards a bench on which was an open tray containing a selection of surgical scissors.

Propped against the back wall of his cell, Yrcanos was asleep, dreaming of a battle where warhorses clashed and fought, while warriors stood by and cheered. A rattling sound brought him awake. Standing outside the bars of the cell stood the Doctor and Frax. Without conscious thought Yrcanos was on his feet and hurling abuse at his enemies.

'Grunnitzer!'

'How do you do?' the Doctor said politely.

'Screedner!'

'Now where would a well-brought-up King learn such a word?' The Doctor turned to Frax. 'Open the door, please, officer, I intend to teach this king a royal lesson.'

'You must be out of your mind. He'll kill you!'

'Oh, I don't think so...' the Doctor leaned towards Frax and deftly relieved him of the phaser that the officer carried in his belt.

'What...?' Frax started.

'No questions.' The Doctor levelled Frax's gun at Yrcanos.

'Grunwitzer!' Yrcanos bellowed defiantly.

'Enough of that,' the Doctor said, briskly. 'I'm here to help you. Officer Frax, please unlock the cell.'

Frax stared for a moment then took out the keys and unlocked the grille. The Doctor pulled the barred gate open. Yrcanos stood dazedly as if he had just received a sideswipe from a cannon ball.

'Your majesty...' The Doctor waved an elegant gesture of invitation to quit his captivity.

Yrcanos made no move.

The Doctor nodded to the furry creature who had come to the shoulder of his master. 'h.e.l.lo... didn't catch your name at our last meeting.'

'Do... do... do...'

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