Doctor Who_ Battlefield Part 29

'And I trust him, Doctor. Don't worry, he was very discreet.'

They rounded the rockery and saw the Brigadier seated on a garden swing chair beside the little apple tree. He was deep in conversation with Ancelyn.

'He's very charming, isn't he?' said Doris. 'But a bit intense. And I wish he'd take his sword off.'

The Knight stood up and bowed as they approached.

'Here I am, dear,' said Doris.

'Talking strategy again, Brigadier?' asked the Doctor.

Lethbridge-Stewart, relaxed and genial in a red cravat, looked a little perplexed. 'Yes, you could say that,' he said.

There was a shout from the house end of the garden.

'Ready,' yelled Ace. She waved and disappeared around the side.

Doris waved back. 'Coming.'

'Are you going somewhere?' said the Brigadier.

'Mm. Out,' said Doris.

'Out?'

'Out with the girls.' She laughed and headed towards the house.

The Brigadier shrugged and set off after her with Ancelyn and the Doctor in pursuit.

Bessie stood on the drive in front of the house, her yellow paintwork gleaming. On her back seat sat Shou Yuing and Winifred Bambera. Ace was at the steering wheel. They all wore old fas.h.i.+oned driving goggles.

'Ace,' accused the Doctor, 'I thought you said this was a piece of antiquated junk.' He looked nervously at what his protegee might do to his car.

'I found these in the glove compartment, Professor. Are they yours'?'

She handed him an ancient and crumpled paper bag. It was full of rock-hard jelly babies.

'Mind how you go,' he said and quickly pocketed the bag.

'We'll try not to break too many speed records,' called Shou Yuing. She had skipped lectures to come for a long weekend from Exeter.

'Or traffic laws,' added Winifred. On her hand, she wore a crystal ring inlaid with twining silver leaves, emblem of the House of Garde-Joyeuse.

The Doctor noticed her meet Ancelyn's eyes for a second and then look away with a barely disguised smile.

Doris had put on her goggles and climbed into the pa.s.senger seat.

'Do you want to drive?' asked Ace.

'Oh no, dear. I'll drive on the way back.'

'Erm, how far are you planning to go, Doris?' asked the Brigadier.

'You get busy with the garden, darling,' she said. 'The gra.s.s needs sorting out.'

'But what about supper?'

She was unperturbed. 'That's a good idea. Have something really nice ready for us.'

Ace started the engine. It exploded into life and then settled into a simmering purr.

'Wicked,' said Doris.

Ace put her foot down and Bessie scorched away along the drive.

Ancelyn gazed after them. 'Ah, Lord Merlin,' he said in awe. 'Are they not magnificent?'

Merlin again, thought the Doctor. He wondered how long he might stave off his inevitable destiny. There were so many possibilities. With luck he might spend several lifetimes avoiding it.

'Are you any good with a lawn mower, Ancelyn?' asked the Brigadier.

'My lord?'

'Round the side of the house. Go and see what you think.'

The Doctor resigned himself to his immediate fate. 'I'll make supper.' he said.

He watched the young knight disappear on his latest quest. The problem of Morgaine and Mordred remained, but that was not his burden. Their punishment was for Earth to negotiate with Ancelyn's home world - a different universe that he intended to avoid for as long as possible.

That place, deprived of its monarchy, would soon be a crucible of political ferment. The formal processes designed to choose a new crowned head would doubtless be relentlessly complicated and bound by codes of honour.

They might run for years and lead to fresh battles.

Nothing so easy as a sword in a stone.

'I'm glad of a free moment, Doctor,' confided the Brigadier. 'You see I've just had a job offer it would be hard to turn down.