Doctor Who_ Shakedown Part 7

'Just a spot of simple research on a project I'm toying with,' he'd said. 'Bit of a sideshow, I suspect, but it's worth a try. I've already got Roz and Chris working on the more practical end. This bit's ideal for you, you've got such a talent for research. n.o.body else could do it half so well - except me, of course, and I'm a bit tied up just now. You'll love Sentarion it's so peaceful. I'm sure you'll find it's your spiritual home.'

Well, it was going to be her final home, thought Bernice.

She'd really excelled herself this trip. Off the shuttle, into this weird flying machine dead.

She was letting the Doctor down, thought Bernice, as she tugged desperately at the obstinately unmoving pilot.

Somehow that was the most annoying thing of all.

In the middle of these bitter reflections, the ornithopter slammed into the ground. Bernice realized with some indignation that she was still alive. She was jarred, bruised and shaken, but she definitely wasn't dead.

It must be the low gravity, she told herself, as she scrambled out of the wrecked craft. Or maybe the flapping wings had some kind of parachute effect themselves, slowing down the rate of fall. Whatever the reason, she seemed to have survived the crash.

She grabbed her pack and scrambled out of the wreck, afraid that it might blow up, as they did in the holovids.

The ornithopter, however, simply flapped its wings feebly a few more times and then collapsed in on itself.

Bernice drew a long shuddering breath. She still had her flask in her hand it was dented but not broken and she took a quick restorative swig.

She looked around, a.s.sessing her situation. The gleaming spires of the city seemed further away than ever.

Looks like the long hike after all, Benny, she told herself.

There wasn't much brandy left. What she really needed was water.

Then she saw the second ornithopter, the sleeker one, flapping towards her. Maybe it was the local equivalent of the Red Cross. Or maybe someone was coming to finish the job.

Bernice started rummaging in her pack. After much scrabbling inevitably what she was looking for was right at the bottom she pulled out a blaster. A voice inside her head said, 'Standard issue, power-pack in the b.u.t.t, Setting One delivers a solid punch, Setting Two disables, Setting Three kills.'

'All right, Ace, all right,' she muttered out loud. 'Where are you and your portable armoury when I need you?'

Setting the blaster on Two she straightened up, just as the second ornithopter landed close by.

A tall green figure unfolded itself from the c.o.c.kpit and came stalking towards her. A good three metres tall, it had huge glowing eyes surmounted by long, thin antennae, two pairs of forelegs, and a huge pair of back legs, with reversed knee-joints. It looked very much like a giant gra.s.shopper. A gold cloak was draped about its body.

Bernice raised the blaster. 'That's close enough.'

The creature bowed stiffly. 'Professor Summerfield?' it said in a high, reedy voice. 'For the University? Please to mount!'

Bernice gestured towards the wrecked ornithopter and its dead pilot. 'That's exactly what he said. It didn't work out too well for either of us especially him. Don't make the same mistake.'

'There can be no comparison. I am Hapiir, your appointed mentor. I am official of the University, Grade Five.'

'And who was he?'

'One of the Harrubtii bandit sc.u.m, from the outer desert.

They prey on unwary travellers. You have been very rash, Professor.'

'I've been rash?' said Bernice indignantly. 'I arrive here an accredited guest of the University, that murderous thing there picks me up and threatens to drink my blood and I have to fight for my life and nearly get killed in a crash and I've I've been rash?' been rash?'

Hapiir waited until she ran out of breath and said reprovingly, 'Did you not read the notice warning against boarding unlicensed 'thopters? See, my own bears the University mark.' Hapiir gestured towards the row of gold-painted symbols on the side of his craft. He looked scornfully at the shabby unmarked wreck. 'How could you mount such a vehicle as that? Have you never left your home planet before?

Have you no experience of the perils of travel? Had you been killed it would have caused the University a great deal of trouble.'

'Sorry, I'm sure,' said Bernice icily.

'Your apology is accepted. Now, please mount so that we may avoid further delay.'

'Just a minute,' said Bernice. 'Do you have any identification?'

Hapiir produced an ornate gold badge from beneath his cloak.

'My seal of office.'

It could have been a merit badge from the Sentarion Scout Troop as far as Bernice was concerned, but she was too tired to argue. Reaction had set in and she felt suddenly exhausted.

If the bugs that lived on this planet were so determined to knock her off, let them. Just so long as they let her have some food and a drink first.

Wearily she climbed into the pa.s.senger seat of the second ornithopter. She waved the blaster.

'All right then, home, James. Take the direct route, not the pretty way.'

In a dignified silence, Hapiir climbed into the pilot seat.

The wings flapped gently, and the ornithopter glided smoothly upwards. Bernice held on to her blaster and her brandy-flask until it was clear that the ornithopter was heading for the city.

Then she put both away and leaned forward to speak to Hapiir.

'How come you turned up to the rescue?'

'I was a.s.signed to meet you and take you to the city.

Unfortunately, I was slightly delayed. I arrived in time to see you leaving in another 'thopter. I was concerned and I followed.'

Bernice considered. 'You say these bandits prey on pa.s.sing travellers?'

'Regrettably, that is so.'

'They can't make much of a living.'

'I do not follow the logic of your argument.'

'One landing a day? And today, only one traveller? Not what I'd call rich pickings.'

Hapiir gave a high-pitched whistle of exasperation.

'This is a quiet time. When full term begins, there will be many landings and many travellers.'

'And another thing,' said Bernice. 'That bandit knew my name. He wasn't just some casual airway robber, he was waiting for me.'

This time there was a little silence before Hapiir replied.

Then he said reluctantly, 'It is feared that there are those on the University staff who sell information. If the bandits learn of the arrival of a distinguished visitor they set an ambush.

You are an archaeologist, are you not? No doubt the bandit hoped you were carrying valuable alien artifacts. He planned to take you to the inner desert and rob you.'

'That sounds like a h.e.l.l of a well organized operation,' said Bernice. 'I thought this place was a haven of peace and scholars.h.i.+p. It's beginning to sound more like good old Chicago. Do any of your visitors make it back home alive?'

'Thousands of scholars visit Sentarion every year,' said Hapiir. 'Most of them enjoy a happy and rewarding stay.

Please do not judge us by this one unfortunate incident. Now, if you will forgive me, I must concentrate on piloting the 'thopter. You would not wish to experience two crash landings in one day.'

Hapiir's jaws closed with an audible click and Bernice sat back in her seat, allowing him the last word. It was all plausible enough, she thought. But was it true?

They were high over the city by now, and Bernice studied it in fascination. Incredibly, it all seemed to be one huge building, stretching as far as she could see. Or rather a series of buildings linked by pa.s.sages and walkways at every level.

The buildings resembled fantastic castles, decorated with towers and turrets and battlements and spires. They were constructed from some gleaming white crystalline substance, shot through with occasional flares of colour. In between the castles were squares with fountains and patches of vivid green that looked like parks and gardens.

Far below her tiny figures scurried across the walkways, moving from one building to another. Ornithopters of all colours, shapes and sizes fluttered between the towers like giant moths.

Bernice leaned forward. 'It's beautiful,' she said.

'It is the City,' said Hapiir proudly. 'Once it was a handful of buildings in an oasis, the home of a few poor scholars.

Gradually it grew. Room after room was added, dwelling after dwelling, libraries, dormitories, laboratories...Now it is as you see.'

The ornithopter swooped down between the buildings and glided to land on a ramp that projected from one of the towers.

Spindly green figures hurried out and secured it with ropes, dragging it into a huge airy chamber. Bernice climbed down and looked around. There were rows and rows of ornithopters with folded wings. Even as she watched, one moved towards the ramp.

Reflecting that a car park was a car park anywhere in the cosmos, Bernice turned and saw that Hapiir was bowing formally.

'Welcome to Sentarion, Domina,' he said. 'I hope you will forget the unfortunate incident of your arrival and enjoy a fruitful and rewarding stay with us.'

'What did you call me?' asked Bernice curiously.

'Domina. It is the customary term of address for distinguished female scholars.' Hapiir looked anxiously at Bernice, taking in her dusty jeans, worn field-boots and many-pocketed safari-jacket. 'You are a female? My experience with alien species is rather limited.'

'Don't worry, you got it right,' said Bernice.

'Our current Chancellor is a historian and the universities of Old Earth are his special field. We have adopted many of their customs and practices. He is looking forward to meeting you.'

'Not like this,' said Bernice firmly. 'First I need to clean up and change.'

'If you will follow me, I will take you to your quarters.'

Clad in the gorgeous scarlet robes of a Master of Arts of the University of Antares, Bernice followed Hapiir along a wide crystal colonnade that ran along the outside of the tower.

(Her quarters had turned out to be a bare cell-like room with a bunk bed, a table, a chair and some simple sanitary arrangements. It was evident that Sentarion was a place for plain living and high thinking.) Other life-forms strolled along the lofty colonnade, some human or humanoid, others not. Many were insectoid, like Hapiir, though with an astonis.h.i.+ng number of variations in basic size and shape. Quite a number wore the same odd-looking head-dress, a round cap surmounted with a square board, with an ornamental ta.s.sel in the centre.

As they pa.s.sed Bernice, these head-dresses were solemnly raised. Equally solemnly, Bernice inclined her head inside her scarlet hood.

'Considering that they'd originally been made for the Doctor, the robes fitted her surprisingly well. The Doctor, as he modestly said, was a Doctor of practically everything. With so many degrees, he could easily spare one for her.

Some day, vowed Bernice, she'd go to university, complete her studies and become a real professor not a fake one. Some day...

They turned off the colonnade, went down a short corridor hung with rich tapestries, and halted outside a set of double doors. The doors swung open, and Hapiir waved Bernice inside. The doors closed behind her.

She found herself in a big comfortable study, its walls lined with books not discs or tapes or holovid reels but actual books! A richly coloured carpet covered the floor, there were ma.s.sive leather armchairs, polished mahogany tables, old pictures on the walls in ma.s.sive gold frames.

Behind the huge leather-topped desk on the other side of the room, a towering figure rose and came forward to greet her.

Bernice found she could take the Lord Chancellor's appearance in her stride. An outsize beetle had tried to a.s.sa.s.sinate her and she'd been given a big gra.s.shopper for her guide.

Why shouldn't the Lord Chancellor be a giant soldier ant?

The Chancellor's s.h.i.+ny black segmented body was wrapped in a long black academic gown and one of the strange hats was perched on his narrow insectoid head. Glowing black eyes, ablaze with intelligence, studied her intently, and a foreclaw reached up and raised the incongruous academic hat.

'Greetings, Domina.'

The voice was deep and mellow.

Bernice bowed low. 'Greetings, my Lord Chancellor.'

The deep voice went on, 'You come to us, recommended not only by your own most excellent qualifications' a claw gestured towards her academic robes and Bernice felt a twinge of shame 'but also by your a.s.sociation with our old friend the Doctor.'

Does the Doctor have well-placed and influential friends everywhere everywhere in the cosmos? thought Bernice. Yes, he probably does. in the cosmos? thought Bernice. Yes, he probably does.

'For the Doctor's sake, I pledge the University's aid,' said the Chancellor. 'How may we a.s.sist you?'

'I am conducting research into the Rutan-Sontaran conflict.' There was a moment of silence.

'I could wish you had chosen some other subject,' said the Chancellor regretfully. 'But a pledge is a pledge, and I owe the Doctor much.' He paused. 'Both for his sake and yours, I must warn you to proceed with discretion. Both races are secretive and suspicious paranoid even. Your researches may be resented, perhaps opposed. Sentarion is not always as safe as it may seem.'