by Brian Hayles
The proud head fell back. Gently, Peladon laid the limp figure on the ground, and examined the old face, haughty even in death. Then, closing the lifeless eyes, Peladon removed his royal cloak and covered the High Priests body with it lovingly.
The King stood up. The commander of the temple guard, his sword and black helmet set aside, bowed his knee before the ruler who held life and death in his hand. Behind the commander, the two commandos who had once held his life at their sword points knelt also. They could expect nothing but Grun's sword upon their worthless necks, and the King's Champion strode forward to carry out the task. But the king's hand checked him in his stride. "Sheath your sword, Grun. There will be no punishments." Peladon stepped to the throne and addressed all those present in a voice which, though regal, was full of deep emotion. A youth had become a man.
"Let the memory of this unhappy day be wiped from all our chronicles," declared the king. "Let Hepesh the High Priest be buried with the honour that his rank deserves." He looked up at the tight group of silent aliens before him. "For my sake, will the delegates attend?"
It was the Doctor who spoke. "We honour your wisdom and mercy, Peladon. These are the qualities that are welcome within the Federation. Now, wear the crown of Peladon." His voice rang out, raising the hearts of everyone about him. "Long live Peladon of Peladon - long live The King!"
The Federation treaty with Peladon awaited only the signature of the king. It would be given as part of the coronation ceremony - a supremely fitting overture to a glorious reign. Although taking place barely days after the earlier, tragic events, the occasion had left Jo breathless with excitement. Now, the Doctor was escorting her to the delegates" room-for a surprise, so he said.
"But what is it?" begged Jo, as the Doctor opened the door for her.
"See for yourself, Jo," smiled the Doctor, delighted at the pleasure in Jo's eyes when she saw the familiar blue police box standing in the corner.
"The TARDIS!" exclaimed Jo, and ran over to it, as though to a long-lost friend. "We've got it back-at last!"
"Yes," murmured the Doctor smugly. "Some of Peladon's lads heaved her back up the mountain for us."
"Is she alright?" asked Jo, anxiously.
"Couldn't be better. Remember - I told you she was indestructible."
"So we can really go home," sighed Jo. "Home to Earth."
The Doctor looked at her thoughtfully, then pretended to take a closer look at the lock on the Tardis door.
"Er ... Jo . . " he said, trying to sound casual. "You do want to go back to Earth ... don't you?"
Jo looked at him. He hadn't asked her the direct question, but she knew it was in his mind. Peladon had made it quite clear that once he was finally crowned king, he would make his request official. She could hardly ignore it then. She'd tried to find a way to explain, but how could she tell him the facts? She wasn't of his time or place. And, if she admitted the truth, she wasn't really cut out to be a queen, either. It was a super dream ... but it could never be more than that.
"I wouldn't mind staying to see the coronation," said Jo, brightly. "Then we could go home. . "
The Doctor looked relieved. "Good idea, Jo," he said, then beamed happily. "You know ... I haven't seen a good coronation since ... oh, Queen Victoria!"
"Name dropper!" retorted Jo, and burst out laughing The Doctor opened the door leading to the corridor, and started to usher Jo out. "To tell the truth," he said with a dry chuckle, "I think Izlyr could do with a bit of help to keep poor old Alpha Centauri calm."
"Centauri's really looking forward to the coronation1" laughed Jo. "Izlyr's getting quite worn out, coping with all those colour changes!" She started to go outside, but found herself held back by the Doctor's hand on her arm. She looked at him in surprise. He was listening intently to voices approaching from further along the castle corridor.
"Sshh, Jo... listen!"
Two of the voices they could hear were familiar: Izlyr and Alpha Centauri. But the other was that of a stranger - a woman. And a woman of considerable authority, by the sound of it.
"You say you are from Earth ..." came the protesting whisper of the Martian warlord, "but you are not expected!"
"And I keep telling you that I am the official Earth delegate!" boomed the female voice.
The shrill twitter of Alpha Centauri echoed hysterically. "But you can't be! The Doctor is the accredited Earth delegate. He is our Chairman!"
"Doctor?" rang out the rich tones of the female intruders "What Doctor? Doctor who? Tell me!"
The Doctor and Jo looked at each other and shrugged sadly. It looked as though they were about to be found out.
"Pity about that," murmured the Doctor. "I'd've enjoyed seeing the crown on Peladon's head."
"Me too," agreed Jo. "But I think we'd better go, don't you?" The Doctor nodded, and produced a certain key from his pocket. "Yes, Jo," he said. "I think we'd better ..."
The doors of the Tardis had no sooner closed than the female Earth delegate entered in full glory, trailing Izlyr and Alpha Centauri in her resplendent wake.
"They should be here," hissed the Martian. "They will explain - "
He never finished his sentence.
A bone-jarring, mechanical grinding noise filled the room. The lady Earth Delegate and Izlyr covered their ears. Alpha Centauri turned a particularly bright shade of mauve with the aural discomfort. "What on Earth!" exclaimed Madam Chairman, finally managing to locate the source of the disagreeable noise. It was that ridiculous blue box... She blinked, and looked again, her mouth agape in almost comical amazement. The blue box had vanished completely.
