Doctor Who_ The Time Monster Part 15

Krasis nodded eagerly.

'We must speak privately,' said Dalios. 'Crito, the Council is at an end. Come, Lady.'

Crito rapped on the floor with his staff. 'The Council is at an end. The King departs.

Sound trumpets!'

The fanfare rang through the temple and the King and his entourage moved towards the inner door.

Galleia rose to follow and stood for a moment, eyes fixed on the Master. As he moved past her, he paused, his dark eyes burning into her own. He inclined his head, very slightly, not in the salute of a courtier to a queen, but as a greeting between equals.

The Master went on his way, and Galleia stood staring after him. 'The bearing of a G.o.d,' she said, almost to herself, and moved away.

But Hippias heard, and stood staring angrily after her. In his gaze there was all the bitterness of an established favourite who has been suddenly replaced.

The Doctor finished his calculations and looked up. 'There we are, Jo. On our way to Atlantis.'

'But I thought you couldn't just take the TARDIS where you wanted to. I mean you haven't managed to fix it yet, have you? Or have you?'

'Not entirely,' admitted the Doctor. I'm relying on the time sensor to lead us to the Master's TARDIS,'

'But not inside it?'

'I hope not, not this time. We'll soon find out!'

He operated the landing controls.

Krasis and Hippias, both awaiting the result of the Master's audience with the King, found themselves confronted by a second miracle, as a tall blue box appeared beside the Master's TARDIS. The Doctor and Jo stepped out. Jo looked round in astonishment at the ma.s.sive temple, with its great statue, the robed priests and Councillors and the Greek-looking guards.

The Doctor beamed amiably at Krasis. 'Well, well, well, small world, isn't it?'

Krasis stared unbelievingly at him. 'You are still alive!'

'So it would seem.'

Krasis soon recovered from his astonishment. 'But not for long! Guards, slay them!'

13.

The Guardian

Hippias stepped forward, raising his hand. 'No! I forbid it!' He turned to Krasis. 'Are you mad? Who are these strangers? Why should they be slain on sight?'

'They are the enemies of the Master-and therefore the enemies of our people and our land.'

The Doctor said, 'We have come to warn you -'

'Silence!' screamed Krasis. 'You will regret this interference, Lord Hippias!'

Hippias ignored him. 'Guards, take them to the King.'

In the King's simply furnished private chambers, Galleia stood quietly by the door, a silent witness to the interview between the Master and her husband. Her eyes never left the Master, who stood dominating the seated figure of the King.

But despite appearances, Dalios was proving difficult to impress. 'If the High Priest saw fit to break a sacred trust, is that good reason for the King to follow him?'

Once more, the Master's voice was deep and compelling. 'Krasis saw the crystal in my hand, saw Kronos himself, saw him dominated by me. Krasis knows that I am the Master of Kronos.'

'Krasis is but a slave at heart,' said dismissively.

The Master leaned forward, staring hard at the unimpressive little figure seated before him. 'Maybe, But Krasis has learned that it is well to obey me.'

Dalios looked at him, with a mild, amused curiosity. 'You seek to make me fear you?'

The Master sat on the couch, close to Dalios, staring deep into his eyes. 'Not at all,'

he said, his voice deep and soothing. 'But if you wilt only see, with Krasis, that I am the Master, then naturally you will obey me.' His voice deepened, became urgent.

'You will obey me. You will obey me!' You will obey me!'

To the Master's astonished fury, Dalios shook head and laughed. 'A very elementary technique of fascination. I am too old a fish - too old in years and in the sacred mysteries - to be caught in such a net. You are no messenger from the G.o.ds.'

'But you saw me descend from the skies! protested the Master.

Dalios chuckled. 'Tell me then, what of great Poseidon? What did he have for breakfast? Fish, I suppose! And what of Zeus and Hera? Tell me the latest gossip from Olympus. Do tell me!'

It was a new experience for the Master to be mocked and not one he cared for, but he controlled his anger. 'I underestimated you, Dalios.'

'I am no child to play with such painted dolls. Kronos is no G.o.d, no t.i.tan. I know that, and so do you. '

The Master bowed his head. 'The King is old in wisdom.'

Once again Dalios laughed at him. 'Now you try to flatter me. You pull a string and wish to see me dance.' Dalios's voice hardened. 'You shall not have the Great Crystal!'

The Master rose with as much dignity as he could muster. 'I shall go now, Dalios. I have nothing more to say to you.'

Even now Dalios had the last word. 'You have said nothing to me yet. When you find the true word to speak. I shall listen!'

Humiliated and dismissed, the Master left the chamber.

There was worse to come. Outside, he met the Doctor and Jo Grant, being escorted by Hippias to an audience with the King. Astounded the Master stared at them, literally speechless with fury.

'Can't think of a thing to say?' asked the Doctor. 'How very embarra.s.sing!'

'How about, "Curses, foiled again"?' suggested Jo helpfully.

The Master turned and stalked away furiously.

'Come,' said Hippias, and led them into the royal chamber.

As they entered, Queen Galleia slipped away by the door that led to her own quarters. She had listened angrily to the debate between the Master and the King. It seemed wrong to her that the fascinating stranger had been sent away, unhappy and rejected.

It was a situation that could be remedied.

Jo and the Doctor were shown in, King Dalios rose courteously to greet them.

'Strangers are uncommon in our land - though not this day, it seems. Who are you?'

The Doctor bowed. 'This, your Majesty, is Jo Jo Grant.'

'Welcome, Jojogrant' said the King solemnly.

'Surely, as in ancient times, a G.o.ddess has descended from Olympus!'

Jo was taken aback. 'But I'm not a G.o.ddess, honestly I'm not.'

Dalios chuckled. 'Of course you're not, my child. Forgive the clumsy gallantry of an old man. I fear I'm sadly out of practice. Hippias!'

'My Lord?'

'Take the Lady Jojogrant to the Queen while I talk with. . .'

'Oh, this is the Doctor,' said Jo hurriedly.

'With this learned man,' said Dalios.

'This way, Lady,' said Hippias.

Jo hesitated, looking worriedly at the Doctor. He smiled rea.s.suringly. 'You'll be all right, Jo.

Jo followed Hippias from the room.

Left alone, the Doctor and Dalios stood silent for a moment, summing each other up.

Dalios was a priest as well as a King, as he had demonstrated to the Master, an adept in ancient knowledge. He had the ability to see the nature of a man. Just as he had sensed evil in the Master, he saw the goodness of the Doctor and the honesty of his intentions.

'Forgive the roughness of your welcome,' said Dalios. 'Hippias has all the delicacy of a red-necked fisherman.'

'Nevertheless, he did save our lives.'

'Indeed,' said Dalios thoughtfully. 'He kept that to himself! Now Doctor, why have you come to Atlantis?'

In her private chamber, a room rich with tapestries and jewelled ornaments, Queen Galleia sat nibbling grapes while Lakis, her favourite slave girl, dressed her hair.

Lakis was an un.o.btrusively pretty brown-haired girl, quite eclipsed by the more flamboyant beauty of her mistress.

'Tell me,' asked Galleia, 'what did you think of the Master, Lakis?'

'He had the bearing of a G.o.d, Lady.'

'My very thought. In fact my very words. Are you mocking me, Lakis? Would you dare? No, I hardly think you would. Are you frightened, then? I shall not be angered by your reply if it is an honest one.'

'I like the Lord Hippias better,' whispered Lakis shyly Galleia tossed her head. 'A sweetmeat! A confection for a child's taste. This Master would not cloy the tongue, as Hippias does!'

Lakis bowed her head. 'He is very handsome.'

Galleia stared into the distance. 'Handsome? Aye, he looked well enough, I suppose.

But it was a face of power, power, Lakis. A man with such a face would dare to risk a world to win his desire.' She laughed. 'Hippias is but a petulant boy.' Lakis. A man with such a face would dare to risk a world to win his desire.' She laughed. 'Hippias is but a petulant boy.'

'And a foolish one, no doubt, to trust a queen,' said Hippias from the doorway.

Galleia rose angrily. 'Foolish, certainly, to think himself man enough to love one.' She turned to Lakis who was fleeing from the room. 'No, Lakis, come back. The Lord Hippias is not staying.'

Hippias bowed. 'The Lord Hippias would not be here at all but that he has been sent on an errand by the King.'

'Then give me your message, boy - and go!'

Hippias turned and called, 'Lady!'

Jo Grant came into the room.

Hippias said curtly, 'Lady Galleia, may I present to you the Lady Jojogrant. The King would you treat her as an honoured guest.'

'How do you do?' said Jo. She held out her hand then hurriedly withdrew it under Galleia's icy stare. With vague memories of old historical movies, Jo did a sort of improvised curtsey and said, Greetings!' This seemed to go down rather better.

Galleia inclined her head. 'Greetings Lady.' She looked at Jo's striped mini-dress and fluffy coat. 'You come from a far land?'

'Couldn't be much farther.'

'She fell from the skies,' said Hippias. 'Like the Master.'

'A day of wonders,' said Galleia.

'You can say that again.'

Galleia looked at her in surprise. 'Why should I wish to? Lakis, take the Lady - Jojogrant -'

'It's just Jo actually,' interrupted Jo.

'Your pardon. Take the Lady Jo to my maids and see that she is given attire more fitting for a lady of the court.'

'Yes, Lady,' said Lakis obediently.