Part 5 (1/2)

Merdeen turned to two of the guards. 'Pick him up.'

The guards hauled the Doctor to his feet.

Merdeen turned to Grell. 'Resume patrol.'

'Why not transport the stranger on the train?'

'Resume patrol.'

Grell glared angrily at him for a moment, but Merdeen's authority came direct from the Immortal.

Summoning the remainder of his guards he took his seat on the little train, which slid silently away.

Merdeen beckoned Balazar. 'You - come with me.'

Balazar recoiled. 'Me, sir?'

'You have spoken with the stranger. If he dies, the Immortal may wish to question you.'

Balazar shuddered, but followed Merdeen obediently away.

Peri was dragged through the village, hauled into the great but and thrown down before an ornately carved throne.

From it a barbarically dressed middle-aged woman was staring impa.s.sively down at her.

'Hi,' said Peri weakly.

'Welcome, girl,' said Queen Katryca. 'Rise!'

Peri got to her feet, looking around her. She was in a gloomy chamber, decorated with hideous-looking masks.

Before the throne was a huge round altar, on top of which burned some kind of sacred flame.

Masked spear-carrying warriors and ornately robed Councillors formed a guard of honour about the barbaric throne.

Katryca studied her captive for a moment.

'You are not from the place of the underground. Where do you come from?'

'It's difficult to explain.'

'My name is Katryca. I am the leader of the Free people.

Do you have a name, girl?'

'Perpegillian Brown - but my friends call me Peri.'

Katryca studied her approvingly. 'Peri... Not many girls come to join the Free, Peri. I shall provide some excellent husbands for you.'

'Husbands,' asked Peri feebly. 'In the plural?'

'Such women as we have must be shared,' said Katryca impa.s.sively. 'Think about it. Put her with the other prisoners. Keep her guarded.'

A guard took Peri by the arm, but she pulled away. 'All right, all right, I can walk!'

The guards led her away.

The dazed Doctor was being half-dragged, half-walked, along the endless corridors by the guards.

Behind them Balazar and Merdeen strode side by side.

Balazar was recovering a little from his fear, and his ever-present curiosity was surfacing once more.

'Tell me, Merdeen, you serve the Immortal. Is he as men say?'

Merdeen gave him an ironical smile. 'What do men say?'

'That he is taller than two men, with arms of steel.'

'The Immortal is never seen. He stays in his Castle.'

'Then how does he give you his commands?'

'He talks to me through the air, and he watches me with... boxes, such as this.'

Merdeen pointed one of the omnipresent slave cameras mounted on the wall.

'I think that is called a camera, Merdeen,' said Salazar importantly. 'The men of ancient times used such things to make pictures of the sacred Canadian Goose.'

Merdeen looked curiously at him. 'How do you know this?'

'It is my task to study the ancient texts,' said Balazar proudly.

The Doctor had more or less recovered consciousness by now. He had a bad headache and he was in a filthy temper.

'As you continually boast,' he snarled, looking over his shoulder. 'That's the trouble with pallid little swots like you, Balazar. You can't even organize an efficient stoning!'

'It was only half over,' said Balazar defensively. 'If Merdeen and his Train Guards had not saved you...'

The Doctor stopped, bringing the little procession to a halt. He struggled to free himself, and Merdeen signalled to the guards to release him.

The Doctor said, 'I am grateful to you, Merdeen.'

'It was on the orders of the Immortal.'