by Brian Hayles
In the gallery above, all eyes were fixed on the scene in the Pit. Peladon, standing, made no sound. Raising his eyes, he found Jo staring at him from across the open space. And in that split second, her gaze went past the king, first to Hepesh, slinking away into the shadows, and then to a more threatening form, its menace concentrated on the Doctor in the arena below - and Jo screamed.
The Doctor did not hear that scream. He was offering Grun his hand. "Live, Grun!" he said quietly. "I will not kill the King's Champion."
Grun, his face gaping with amazement, let himself be hauled up. And it was at that moment that the Doctor heard Izlyr's harsh warning. When he looked up, the warlords face was turned to Ssorg, and his grime gloved hand was pointing across the length of the Pit.
"Doctor!" came the explosive whisper, then "Ssorg - kill!"
In the same split second that Jo screamed again, Grun flung the Doctor to the ground. The ground on which he had been standing exploded into white heat as the laser beam from Arcturus's gun seared into action. But it was the last shot that Arcturus ever fired. Ssorg's sonic destructor, ordered into action by Izlyr, fired also - and it was the sight of Arcturus's destruction that brought the scream of horror to Jo's throat. Under the impact of the intense sonic pulse, the shape of the neuroplasm first distorted, horribly, then vanished in a burst of particles. Jo, turning away from the dreadful sight, could only gasp what she and the others all about her at last knew: the secret enemy of Peladon and the evil force behind Hepesh was delegate Arcturus.
A Conspiracy of Terror
Hepesh had lingered only, long enough to see the swift destruction of his alien ally. While the confusion over Arcturus's clumsy attack on the Doctor still raged, the High Priest took what he knew would be his only chance of escape. With the Doctor alive, and the link between Hepesh and the alien explained, nothing remained but to fall back on the plan that had lurked in his mind long before Arcturus had suggested the sharing of power ... This defeat, and what he had heard from the King's own mouth in the temple before the ritual combat, convinced Hepesh that the last resort - a palace revolution was inevitable.
The plans had been prepared; armed men that he could count on were at hand. What he would tell those who were loyal to the old ways, to the spirit of Aggedor, would send them swiftly against these arrogant aliens and even against the king himself. It was enough to claim that the young king was possessed, invaded by the alien evil. Once Hepesh became regent once more, that evil would be forever purged. The Federation would be only too glad to rid itself of such a source of trouble. The delegates would return to their planets and peace would reign on Peladon once more - with, or without its present king. Hepesh had ruled with honour before, and he could do so again. But this time, it would be on his terms!
In the throne room, celebration mingled with sadness. The revelation of Hepesh's strange ally had profoundly distressed Peladon. To have Hepesh disagree with him was almost natural, given the difference in their age and outlook. But to find himself betrayed by a man he had trusted all his life ... Not even the quiet wisdom of the Doctor could heal that wound.
"There was no malice towards you, your majesty," the Doctor murmured, "only a fanatical love of the past."
"And a corresponding hatred of the future", whispered Izlyr. "He would stop at nothing to prevent the Federation gaining a foothold here."
"It is almost inconceivable ..." wailed Alpha Centauri, "that a Federation delegate should be involved in subversive activities of such a violent nature! I would have trusted Arcturus with my life."
"That would have been most unwise," hissed Izlyr.
"But the attack on Arcturus," wondered Jo, "it nearly killed him."
"Faked," said the Doctor. "He simply told Hepesh what to do to make it look as though he had been the victim of an assassination plot."
Izlyr nodded. "As I suspected. But there was no proof."
"What about the things I found on the balcony, and in Izlyr's room?" queried Jo.
"Planted by Hepesh, Jo," replied the Doctor, "to stir up suspicion amongst the delegates themselves. If you hadn't discovered them, someone would have."
"But the manifestation of Aggedor-" interrupted Peladon.
"That wasn't easy, your majesty," said the Doctor. "You must've noticed yourself, it didn't happen every time..."
"The Royal Beast didn't appear when that huge statue fell," trilled Alpha Centauri, "nor when Arcturus was attacked."
"It must've taken a fair bit of handling, that's why," retorted the Doctor. "You see, the sacred beast is not extinct. Hepesh found that a few still existed on the far slopes of Mount Megeshra, the holy mountain. He managed to capture one-heaven alone knows how - kept it hidden in a sort of lair beneath the citadel, and trained it to do his bidding in some way."
"He made the Royal Beast ... perform? Like a circus animal? But how?" demanded the king.
"There are various ways," murmured the Doctor, his face serious. "Kindness, conditioning by a system of rewards - and cruelty. The last ones the most likely, I'm afraid. Hepesh had to act quickly and effectively, and it was necessary to have the beast in a permanent state of fury." He paused, "In fact, Aggedor is a highly intelligent animal who would respond willingly to gentle persuasion - given the chance."
Peladon said nothing. His mind brooded on the man who had once had a hand in educating him in kingly responsibilities. Was power so important that Hepesh should degrade himself to the level of a common assassin - and, in the process, treat the Royal Beast as though it were a common cur, yet all the time revering its holy image as all-powerful?
"But why did he do all this?" demanded Jo. "What could he hope to gain? He was already the second most important person, next to the king."
"He had to have complete control of the planet and its resources," said the Doctor. "And that's where Arcturus came in."
"After all he had said," muttered the king. "Then to have allied himself with an alien that he claimed to despise ... "
"I still don't understand what Arcturus was after," said Jo, looking puzzled.
It was Izlyr that answered her. "Peladon is rich in mineral deposits. The planet of Arcturus is within ten years of running out of its own natural resources. That's why Arcturus had to make sure Peladon didn't become part of the Galactic Federation. He could then make an independent treaty with Hepesh, take all the minerals required, and leave the Pel economy apparently unchanged. It was a neat trick. Virtually nothing would be paid and Peladon would be even more backward. In fact, exploitation of the worst kind!"
"Extremely unethical!" squealed Alpha Centauri. "Fortunately the scheme has been foiled and all is well!"
"I'm not so sure about that," said the Doctor grimly.
"But Arcturus is dead!" exclaimed Jo.
"Yes, but Hepesh is very much alive and kicking," insisted the Doctor. "It was Arcturus who sold Hepesh on the idea that joining the Federation would mean slavery. Now, nothing will ever change that belief. Hepesh will go to any lengths to prevent this planet losing its independence. And I don't just mean civil war!"
"Such violent action would conflict directly with the peaceful intentions of the Federation!" twittered Alpha Centauri, palpitating with shock. "We will be forced to disengage ourselves from further negotiations!"
"That may be more difficult than you think, Alpha old chap", declared the Doctor. "Hepesh could cause an awful lot of trouble at Federation level, if he wanted to."
"There will be no more attempts to harm delegates," Peladon said firmly. "My royal guard will see to that."
"We can defend ourselves," whispered the Martian warlord, "if the situation calls for such extreme measures."
Hepesh knows he can't compete against the power of your weapons, pointed out the Doctor. "He'd be cleverer than that. For instance, he could accuse Izlyr and Ssorg of murdering Arcturus over a political dispute. Even though it isn't true, can you imagine the consequences?"
"Yes," hissed Izlyr, "Mars and the world of Arcturus
are old enemies. There would be war!"
"Exactly," agreed the Doctor. "Within no time at all, the rest of the Federation would be taking sides, and then-"
"The Federation would be wrecked!" cried Alpha Centauri. "It would mean a vast, interplanetary conflict; a terrible war, using the most destructive weapons!"
The Doctor turned a sombre face to Peladon, and directed his words to the young king. "And Peladon will be the first battlefield-blasted, sterile, and forgotten."
Peladon had heard tales of what alien weapons could do. There was no escape from the invisible clouds that brought disease or radiation sickness. It would be not merely the land and the buildings standing upon it which would be destroyed by the first fire-blasts. In time, the people too - those who escaped the initial destruction - would be swept away utterly by the sickness of the bone, or a plague to end all plagues. There would be no more children and no more beasts born. No seeds would ever grow to fruit again. The planet would become first sterile, then a living tomb, then as cold and barren as the three moons that circle Peladon. In the end, Hepesh would have won nothing but death. But to him, even this would be better than enslavement by the aliens. The old man must be blind not to see that, in time to come, the aliens would return to tear the heart out of the dead planet. And not a soul would be alive to prevent it.
Peladon looked at the Doctor with haunted eyes. His voice was low. "Tell me....what should I do?"
"You must remove Hepesh from office by a royal decree and replace him with someone you can trust."
Izlyr nodded in agreement.
Peladon brooded. "The shame will destroy him."
"It isn't easy being a king, your majesty," observed the Doctor sympathetically. "But unless you remove Hepesh, everything you have worked for will be ruined, You must choose ... now!"
Peladon had to think rapidly. Jo watched him, and knew something of what he felt. Hepesh, enemy though he might now be, had once been a dear friend. If Peladon chose to withdraw, he would forfeit any hope of future Federation help. If he decided to go ahead with negotiations, he would have to eliminate the destructive influence of Hepesh. Either way, the loss to his planet would be immense. Which would he take? All eyes were on the frowning face of the young king. Only the Doctor let his gaze be caught by a nearly imperceptible gesture from Grun. The Doctor questioned the hovering form of the King's Champion with a silent glance. The reply came in a subtle series of mimed gestures. And before he had the chance to deduce what Grun was trying to communicate, the king was speaking again. Before the youth on the throne had finished, Grun had slipped away, unnoticed.
"If there should be civil war," asked Peladon, sharp-eyed, "will I receive the full backing of the Federation?"
The Doctor and Izlyr were about to give their consent but it was the desperately anxious voice of Alpha Centauri that answered the king. "The Federation charter does not permit our involvement in internal politics."
Izlyr turned on Alpha Centauri, his voice and gaze stern. "A unanimous decision can summon emergency powers and, if necessary, call on our orbiting spacecraft for technical assistance!"
"It would be a break with all precedent!" protested Alpha Centauri.
Jo remonstrated. "Alpha Centauri, the circumstances are unique! And your own safety is involved, don't forget."
The hexapod was adamant. "I can't persuade myself that interference of this kind is legally justified." The shrill voice trailed away to a plaintive squawk as the hexapod swung its great and lustrous eye from Izlyr back to Ssorg. They were advancing upon Alpha Centauri in a most threatening fashion! "There are principles involved ... " the squeaking voice tried to sound majestic and determined. Instead, Jo thought, it sounded more like a squeezy doll.
"Principles, eh?" smiled the Doctor, with a nod to Izlyr and Ssorg. "A private conference should settle those ..."
As Ssorg and Izlyr closed in on Alpha Centauri, and firmly but politely escorted the hexapod out of the throne room, the Doctor turned to Peladon, and bowed. "Will you excuse us, your majesty," he said drily, "while we reach a unanimous decision ... in private ..."
Peladon stood, his head proud and erect, a slight smile on his lips. "Give me that reassurance, Doctor-and I shall act without hesitation!
Where once before he had been a civic dignitary, richly clothed for the King's court, Hepesh now wore light armour beneath his cloak of temple rank. The captains he had summoned to him knew what that meant; when a priest of the temple took up arms, it was at the command of Aggedor, to preserve the kingdom! Hepesh had many months earlier, selected wisely. With long experience of diplomacy, his instinctive distrust of the aliens had warned him to be prepared for any emergency - even civil war. He was not such a fool as to waste time explaining to those loyal followers the petty details of their situation. It was enough to say that their nation was at risk, their freedom about to be violated, and their king charmed by the trickery of the aliens. Aggedor could see the truth, and had pointed the way to victory. The aliens must go.
With the death of Arcturus, there was no hiding Hepesh's intentions from the Assessment Committee - and this in itself, might bring a bloodless victory, should the aliens decide to withdraw from the planet. That would surely happen if the wriggling squid Alpha Centauri got its own way. Then, Peladon would be left to its own barbaric ways and there would be no more alien interference. But until their spaceships slipped out of orbit and back into their star paths home, there would be danger. The temple of Aggedor within the citadel was no refuge. Instead, Hepesh would muster his forces in the catacombs beneath the castle and the ancient shrine there. It was small, but holy, and in it was stored all the extra weapons that his personal military elite would need. Superb soldiers, sworn only to the service of Aggedor, they would be more than a match for the King's Royal Guard. But first they must be gathered, and the final details given to them. By moonrise, if the aliens had not left, the avengers of Aggedor would strike.
One-by one, the captains came to him. They reported their weapon strength and position within the catacombs. Even as they came, certain tasks were being carried out. There was, however, but one rule that Hepesh hammered home relentlessly.
"Contact with the aliens must be avoided at all cost," he ordered, "for they have weapons that could destroy us in a moment. When the time comes, it is I who will face them, alone and unarmed."
This strategy sounded madness to his men - until he explained the reasoning behind it. For the plan Hepesh had formed was utterly simple. There would be no skirmishes with the aliens and no attempts to take the whole citadel by force. There was only one target: to take the throne room and hold the king hostage.
Grun, too, was thinking on simple and direct lines. He was a warrior, and he had a score to settle. Faithful to both his king and to Aggedor, he had been betrayed into a false loyalty. The strange alien who fought without armour, yet who in victory had spared Grun's life, had shown the truth. Hepesh the patriot was a low hypocrite who had worked with an alien enemy to bring about the downfall of the king. The alien, Arcturus, was dead. Now it was the turn of Hepesh. With that source of evil dead or captured, there could be no revolt. It was a matter of finding him, and Grun knew where he would go. Deep in the catacombs, there was a shrine. Grun, when he had prepared to become King's Champion, had kept his vigil there. It was said to be the most holy place upon the whole of Mount Megeshra. It was a place that few men knew of, and where even fewer would dare to go. Since that vigil long ago, Grun had never returned there. But now, his purpose was greater than his fear: Hepesh would be there, and Hepesh must be taken.
Grun's long stride took him swiftly along the shadowed corridor to the alcove that he knew so well. Pulling aside the tapestry, a twist of the torch holder opened the way into the tunnel beyond. But for once, Grun was not careful to hide his route. He tied the tapestry back, a sure signal for those who had eyes to see that someone had gone before. He entered, and the stone door closed after him. Once inside the tunnel, the roughness of the s
labbed floor and the relatively cramped space of his surroundings forced him to move more carefully. In spite of his burly frame, however, he moved almost silently. Soon he was at the limit of the torchlight, and moving into the phosphor-dim darkness beyond. He needed no map, and he was careful to skirt those tunnels that led to the temple of Aggedor, and to those deeper paths that were the Royal Beasts special domain. Only the very brave, the mad, or ritual victims took that way. And Grun would let nothing deter him from his target : Hepesh.
Alpha Centauri could hardly object to having an escort when, after all, they were fellow delegates. Nevertheless, the hexapod could not dispel a distinct feeling of unease at the forcible speed with which he was being taken to the delegates" conference room.
