Doctor Who - [061] - The Curse of Peladon

by Brian Hayles

  "My sensor readings are not concerned with emotional response," commented the mechanical voice, "only deduction."

  "Even deductive processes can be annihilated," said Izlyr, with icy reasoning.

  "Alright, Jo?" asked the Doctor, seeing his young companions drawn face grow even paler.

  "Just a bit wobbly at the knees, that's all," replied Jo bravely. She suddenly found herself pushed aside by Hepesh, who stood staring down at the shattered stone image.

  "Aggedor has been merciful." he spoke bleakly, silently registering the fact that, thanks to this new Earthling delegate, not one of the aliens had been harmed. He didn't allow his disappointment to show, however, as he raised his eyes to the Doctor"s. "We must give thanks that you have all been spared ..."

  "First Torbis dies," observed Izlyr coldly. "Now this."

  "Yes," agreed the Doctor, "but why didn't the Aggedor manifestation actually appear? Strange, that."

  "An investigation into the cause is necessary," rasped Arcturus. "A full report must be prepared!"

  "The cause is simple, exclaimed Hepesh. "This is yet another sign of Aggedor's anger! His ghost walks among us!"

  "A pretty substantial ghost, then," remarked the Doctor, looking up at the balcony above them, "to be able to shift a solid granite statue."

  "The spirit of Aggedor can move mountains!" claimed the High Priest.

  His face showed deep irritation at the aliens' lack of piety and respect.

  Jo had moved to a position where she could work out the trajectory of the statue from the balcony. "It seems more like he was trying to remove us!"

  Alpha Centauri had calmed down considerably, but was still distraught, its skin colour fluctuating wildly from mauve to pale green. "But why should he seek to attack us?" the hexapod squealed. "Our mission is peaceful. We come to raise the people of Peladon from barbarism!"

  "Maybe they don't want to be raised," muttered Jo, still staring at the layout of the balcony. The Doctor caught her eye, and nodded, indicating with a slight movement of his head where he thought access to the balcony could be found: close by the throne room doorway. As the others continued to query Hepesh's gloomy predictions of doom, Jo sidled quietly towards the doorway, unobserved.

  "Hepesh," demanded Izlyr impatiently, "you say this manifestation is foretold in your ancient writings. What form is it supposed to take? Tell us that!"

  "It is written, declaimed the High Priest dramatically, "that his coming shall be full of terror and darkness. His cry of warning shall be heard in the night, and death shall ride in the land of Peladon!"

  Apart from Alpha Centauri, who trembled and turned a peculiar shade of green, the others were unimpressed, even sceptical.

  "But there was no cry of warning", pointed out the Doctor, "and none of us saw him. You can't seriously count the statue as a spiritual appearance, can you?"

  Hepesh glared at the Doctor through angry, narrowed eyes, and snarled his reply. "To the unbeliever, all signs are as dust upon the wind!"

  "The point is," said the Doctor, "what does King Peladon believe?"

  "If this religious administrator is the mouthpiece for the King's opinions", hissed Izlyr, "then our purpose here is wasted."

  Arcturus was quick to recognise the logic of this observation. "If that is so, the conference must be cancelled", the mechanical voice pronounced emphatically.

  Hepesh tried not to show his feeling of triumph. His face remained impassive as he spoke with quiet dignity.

  "That is the only answer," he said. "Any other course will surely mean disaster. Leave this planet while there is still time!"

  "No!" Peladon cried out interrupting him. "Do not listen to that old man! Neither he nor Aggedor is king here. I am!"

  "Majesty, there is no need", offered Hepesh. But he was given no chance to continue.

  "Be silent, Hepesh!" The young king gestured the alien delegates to return. "Delegates, I ask you to rejoin me. Listen to what I have to say. Negotiations must go on!"

  At this bold speech, the delegates turned their attention to the Doctor. As Chairman, the decision was his. The Doctor sensed the awful isolation of the young king as he fought so desperately for the future of his planet. Peladon must be given a chance, thought the Doctor, and stepped back towards him.

  "I am prepared to listen to the king," he said to the others, "and perhaps you'd care to join us?"

  Hepesh suddenly found himself left alone outside the throne room, and hurriedly followed the aliens inside. As he and the delegates took up their positions, the Doctor caught a brief glimpse of Jo's cloak as she slipped into the entry leading up to the balcony. No one else had noticed her departure. Everyone was listening to Izlyr as he addressed the king.

  "Your majesty," said the Martian warlord in that strange whisper of a voice, "negotiations are only possible in a peaceful situation."

  A clipped, factual observation followed quickly from Arcturus. "Political conflict violates Federation law."

  "Centuries ago," pleaded Peladon, "on your own planets, war and violence flourished!"

  Alpha Centauri, almost back to normal at last, piped, "We have learned to control our past."

  "Then teach Peladon!" cried the young king. "How can we raise ourselves from the Dark Ages without help? Do not desert us now!"

  Outside the closed throne room doors, the guards were clearing away the rubble of the smashed statue. As Jo came to the top of the tightly twisting stairway that led onto the balcony, she realised that to go any further would be to risk discovery. She paused, and crouched. It was all too obvious what had been done. There was the metal bar and the stone that had acted as fulcrum to the lever. More important, set into the dust of the rarely used balcony was one mighty footprint. Huge, bigger than any footprint she had seen, in Jo's mind it could belong to only one person: Ssorg, the Ice Warrior. She thought of his size, and strength. She couldn't remember if he had been present in the throne room all the time, but if she had managed to slip away unnoticed, why couldn't he? But she remembered that Izlyr had been close behind the Doctor when the statue fell. If Ssorg was responsible, why had he endangered his chief? Was he in fact in league with someone else? Or was she just imagining things - building up a ridiculous case on the basis of one smudged footprint? A movement from below startled her from her train of thought, and she drew back into the shadows. As she did so, a glint of light caught a small metallic object, half hidden by the block of stone used as a fulcrum. From where she stood, Jo couldn't see it clearly. She realised that it would mean moving out into the open before she could pick it up. She peered anxiously down past the edge of the stone platform, trying to see the position of the guards. Unless she moved quickly, she would be missed from the group inside the throne room. And if she was discovered up here, how would she talk her way out of that? For a moment, the guards turned away, quietly talking. With a quick, supple movement, Jo leaned forward on her hands and knees, grasped the piece of shining metal, and retreated back into the safety of the shadows. She didn't wait to inspect what she had found. It was time to return to the Doctor.

  The Committee were still considering Peladon's plea that they should remain, when Jo arrived at the bottom of the concealed staircase. She paused in the shadow there, before moving forward quietly. No one seemed to have noticed her absence, or her return. She positioned herself to catch the Doctor's eye. He nodded, imperceptibly, pleased that she was safely back. Izlyr was speaking.

  "If we remain," he whispered deliberately, "we put ourselves at risk!"

  "But we are free to go," twittered Alpha Centauri. "Is that not so, King Peladon?"

  "Do you seriously believe that I would keep you here by force?" replied the young ruler.

  "Such things have been known to occur on other primitive planets", observed the nervous hexapod. "We cannot rule out such a possibility!"

  "But why should I detain you?" asked the king, his face reflecting his obvious surprise.

  "As pawns in some political game ..." cl
ipped Arcturus. "But to do so would be most unwise!"

  Peladon almost laughed, but his face quickly became serious. "There is no plot against you. Please stay. Help me ... and help my people!"

  The Doctor glanced at the others, then spoke quietly to the king.

  "We will adjourn and consider what you have said, your majesty", remarked the Doctor, sympathetically. "You'll know our decision as soon as possible."

  The King nodded, and with a motion of his hand, ended the audience. The aliens turned and moved after the Doctor towards the throne room doors, with Jo joining the edge of the departing group. But the king's voice stopped her. He stepped down from his throne and moved towards her, hand outstretched.

  "Princess Jo, would you remain, please?" he said.

  Jo looked over her shoulder, hoping for guidance from the Doctor, but he was almost outside now, and deep in conversation with Alpha Centauri. She looked back at the king. There was only friendliness in his face - and it would be nice to talk to someone of her own age ... and human, for once.

  "Of course, your majesty", she murmured, and moved to the stool he indicated. As she sat, Peladon turned to the only other persons in the room - Grun, and Hepesh. Grun's weathered features were expressionless, but Hepesh was obviously displeased at the young King's informal manner with this Earthling maiden. Peladon gave him no chance to object.

  "Grun, Hepesh, you may leave."

  The look in Peladon's eye made Hepesh realise it would be better to leave without comment. With Grun, he bowed and departed. As the young man who ruled Peladon moved back to his throne, Jo's mind raced. What on earth do you talk about, to a king? For a moment neither of them spoke. It was Peladon who at last broke the silence, His eyes studied Jo intently.

  "Do you believe me?" he asked bluntly.

  "I'm only an observer," Jo answered, flustered by his directness. "Its up to the Committee to decide whether to help you or not."

  Peladon smiled. "I'm speaking from a personal point of view. I don't often get the chance."

  "I'd've thought that being a king was fun!" replied Jo brightly. "Think of all the things you can do!"

  A sad smile moved Peladon's mouth, and he shook his head before replying, "It's not just a vocation or a lifetime's task that I'm trained to do. It's very lonely." He paused, then reminded her that she too was supposedly of royal descent. "You must know that."

  Jo knew what he meant, but couldn't deny the lie. "Oh, yes ... I do know," she said sympathetically. "But what about Hepesh? He seems very close to you, almost like a father."

  "Hepesh is like your friend, the Doctor," replied Peladon with a dry smile, "an old man."

  Jo laughed. "I don't suppose either of them would much like to hear you say that."

  "My whole life has been guided by wise old men", reflected the young king. "I hardly ever meet anyone of my own age", his face grew sombre, "now that my mother is dead. She was an Earthwoman, too. So you see, there is a bond between us ... "

  It wasn't difficult for Jo to feel sympathy for the young king. In the past, she too had known what it was to be alone and friendless, and she could understand the hope in his face as he moved towards her and took her hand.

  "Do you believe me?" he asked.

  Jo faced him without flinching, and nodded. "Yes, she said, "I think I do. But I don't see how I can help."

  Her offer was sincere and honest; but when Peladon replied, Jo felt a wave of disappointment sweep over her.

  "You can speak on my behalf to the Commission. Make them see my case!"

  "I see," said Jo, pulling away in alarm. "It's a political ally you want; someone to pull a few strings, on the sly!"

  Peladon's face showed his dismay at Jo's rejection. He thought he had won her over, but now ... "I'm telling the truth," he said. "I want you as a friend!"

  "Sorry, insisted Jo, coolly, "I'm strictly neutral. You can count me out."

  Without another word, she turned and left. Peladon could only watch her go, his face frowning with disappointment.

  The Temple of Aggedor, like the holy statues of the Royal Beast, was immense and oppressive in its majesty. The huge stone representation of the Royal Beast gave it an atmosphere of the supernatural. Streams of smoking incense rose from the plain altar. A ritual musical instrument wailed in the gloom. The flickering lights of the wall torches, filtered and weirdly distorted by the incense smoke, made the great statue eerie with dark shadows, and rising above the soft vibration of the distant music came the penetrating voice of the High Priest, intoning an ancient incantation. His plea - spoken in the ritual tongue-rose up to the impassive, terrifying mask of the Royal Beast; and when at last he fell silent, he turned about and faced the only other person in the temple: the muscular form of Grun, prostrate and grovelling before Hepesh's feet.

  "You are forgiven, Grun," intoned the priest. "The failure was not yours. You acted with true belief, but Aggedor was merciful to his enemies!" With a light touch of his bejewelled hand, Hepesh tilted Grun's awestruck face upwards and gazed deeply into his troubled eyes. His face grew cruel as he spoke.

  "But the hour of mercy has passed, Grun! The aliens have had their chance, and they have refused!" Grun looked into the eyes of his High Priest, and saw the anger there, mingling with the power that only Aggedor ordained. He knew he was about to be commanded to a new and urgent task, and, wonderingly, waited. His will became lost in the darkness of Hepesh's eyes, and the voice that came to him through Hepesh's mouth was like that of Aggedor himself.

  "Grun, an evil influence has come between our king and his true destiny. It must be destroyed and, to this end, Aggedor gives his blessing."

  Overawed by the purpose that was to be his destiny, Grun bowed his head beneath the poised hands of the High Priest, who now intoned the evil blessing.

  "You, Grun, are the King's Champion. I dedicate you to the destruction of the king's enemies: to purify the soul of Peladon by this act of vengeance and give the ghost of Aggedor release." The ringed hands made a strange sign over Grun's bowed head, and then the voice continued, more harshly. "The task is set. Now know that the foremost of the king's enemies is the Chairman delegate from Earth, the one they call the Doctor."

  Grun looked up questioningly at the face of the High Priest.

  "Destroy him, Grun!" commanded Hepesh.

  The Attack on Arcturus

  The Doctor was examining the small metal object which Jo had found on the balcony over the throne room door. She had decided not to tell him about King Peladon's request. At last he gave a small grunt of recognition, and Jo leaned forward eagerly.

  "Well, what is it?"

  "It's an electronic key, Jo", murmured the Doctor, passing her the eyeglass and the object. The Doctor smiled. "It opens doors by identifying the bearer electronically," he explained. "Probably used for their spaceship, I shouldn't wonder."

  "Used for whose spaceship?" demanded Jo.

  "Why, the Ice Warriors, of course." The Doctor took the key back from her, and tucked his eyeglass into an already bulging pocket. "It's made from trisilicate. Remarkable stuff, found only on Mars."

  "Then that footprint I found -" said Jo eagerly, "you think it was made by Ssorg?"

  "Highly likely, I'd say, Jo", mused the Doctor.

  "That's what I thought, when I saw the mark in the dust," agreed Jo. "But I'm almost certain he was with us in the throne room all the time."

  "You slipped away without anyone noticing, remember."

  Jo had to admit that this was true. But that still didn't explain the reason for what Ssorg had done.

  "But he nearly killed Izlyr as well!" she pointed out. "And even if that was just some sort of cover up, what would they be after here?"

  The Doctor nodded thoughtfully. Jo could be right about the cover-up. As for what the Ice Warriors might be after ...

  "When I knew them before, Jo, they wanted to colonise Earth. And you may have noticed that this planet, backward though it is, is very much like yours."


  Jo wasn't at all sure that the Doctor was right. "But they're here for the same reason as the other delegates - peace!" she said.

  "Are they, Jo? I know them, remember. I've seen what they're capable of doing. Not only are they technically highly advanced, but they're also a ruthless and warlike race. I'm afraid I don't trust them."

  "And you're always telling me to look for the good qualities in alien life forms!"

  "The Ice Warriors are the exception to that rule, Jo. For me, at any rate. I'm telling you, I've met them twice so far, and they only have one aim - conquest!"

  "I still think you could be jumping to conclusions", Jo retorted.

  "Alright then, look at it another way. Who else could be responsible? Arcturus is only a box of tricks. He certainly couldn't've got up to that balcony!" Jo nodded in agreement. She didn't especially like Arcturus, but he was hardly an athlete. "And as for Alpha Centauri," continued the Doctor, "I can't imagine a creature like that harming a fly, can you? But whether it's the Ice Warriors or not ... I wish I knew just what it is they're up to."

  The familiar expression that Jo was getting to know so well crept over the Doctor's face. He'd caught a whiff of adventure. More than that, he wouldn't be satisfied until he'd got to the bottom of it - unless Jo put her foot down.

  "Look, Doctor," she insisted firmly, "do we have to find out? Why don't we just organise getting the TARDIS dug out, and get out of here? You know what happens when you get involved. Look what happened in the throne room!"

  "I didn't really have any choice, Jo," the Doctor protested defensively.

  "Oh, come on! You love all that Chairman Delegate stuff. Admit it!" Jo had scored a bull"s-eye. Without bothering to deny what she had said, the Doctor merely looked at her with a wicked twinkle in his eye.

  "And how do you like being a princess, Princess?" Jo blushed, but her chin tilted defiantly.

  "As you said yourself, there wasn't much choice, was there?" Suddenly, she whirled round. She could hear a strange, high-pitched sound, pulsing sharply. The eerie tone was definitely electronic, and Jo's eyes widened in alarm. "What's that?" she cried, clutching the Doctor's arm.