Part 10 (1/2)

The Doctor was not to be silenced. 'I am sorry, My Lady, but I am not given to violence as the Valeyard here suggests. Occasionally I may be forced to resort to a modic.u.m of force'

'Please be silent, Doctor,' interrupted the Inquisitor.

'You will be given ample opportunity to put your case at a later time. Valeyard, I would appreciate it if these brutal and repet.i.tious scenes could be kept to a minimum.'

The Valeyard bowed. 'My Lady, it is certainly not my wish to cause you an unnecessary affront - but the accused's offences are such that a certain amount of graphic detail is unavoidable.'

The Inquisitor sighed. 'Very well. Continue!'

While the Doctor's party was being marched back through the woods towards the village, Merdeen was moving swiftly through the tunnels. Suddenly Grell appeared in front of him.

He was carrying a loaded hand-crossbow - and the weapon was aimed at Merdeen.

'You seem lost,' taunted Grell.

'Not I,' said Merdeen. 'Although you, Grell, seem to have mislaid your train.'

'Stealth is better achieved on foot - especially when we hunt dark secrets.'

'I thought we hunted the Doctor,' said Merdeen.

'Him too.'

Suddenly the voice of Drathro sounded in Merdeen's helmet.

'Merdeen!'

'Immortal?'

'I have urgent work for Balazar, but I cannot fmd him.'

'I will search for him at once, Immortal.'

Merdeen moved away. The crossbow in Grell's hand moved to cover him. 'Where are you going?'

'I am commanded by the Immortal to find Balazar. You will continue your search for the Doctor.' Ignoring the crossbow, Merdeen moved away.

In the tunnel near the entrance the Service Robot suddenly whirred into life. Lurching a little, it moved away.

In the control room, Tandrell was jubilant. 'I did it. I reactivated the robot!'

'I think you'll find I did it,' sneered Humker.

'I did!'

'No, I did it!'

'Silence,' roared Drathro. 'You drain my energy reserve with your constant infantile bickering.'

His two a.s.sistants fell into a sulky silence.

Sitting on her carved wooden throne, before the altar of the Sacred Flame, a triumphant Queen Katryca surveyed her recovered captives. Her eye fastened on a cowering Glitz.

'So,' she said silkily, 'My hospitality was not to your liking?'

Glitz made a feeble attempt at a smile. 'Just needed to step out for a breath of air.'

Katryca looked curiously at her one new captive. 'And who is this?'

The Doctor beamed. 'How do you do? I am known as the Doctor. There's been a terrible mistake, I really shouldn't be here.'

Katryca studied him. 'Another Star Traveller?'

'In a manner of speaking,' said the Doctor modestly.

'And are you interested in the great totem of Haldron?'

'I beg your pardon?'

'She means the black-light convertor,' muttered Glitz.

'Ah, yes indeed,' said the Doctor. 'Now, how could you possibly have known that?'

Katryca turned to Broken Tooth. 'Has he been searched for guns?'

'He has none, Your Majesty,' said Broken Tooth.

'That makes you very unusual - for a Star Traveller, Doctor,' said Katryca. 'Especially one who is interested in the great totem.'

'I've come to repair it,' explained the Doctor.

'You are prompt, Doctor,' snapped Katryca. 'Your friends have only just damaged it!'

'Those are not my friends, Your Majesty. And your great totem is not what is seems.'

'Please explain.'

'Its function is to convert ultra!-violet rays into black light...'

'Interesting,' said Katryca. '”Though I do not understand what you are saying.'

The Doctor said, 'Well, Drathro, the Immortal, depends on black light to function.'