Battlefield by Marc Platt

Author:Marc Platt [Platt, Marc]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Science Fiction, Doctor Who (Television Program), Doctor Who (Fictitious Character), Doctor Who (Television Program : 1963-1989)
ISBN: 9780426203506
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1991-08-14T07:00:00+00:00

Looking up, he saw the ghost snake rushing in. Its blast caught him squarely on the chest, sending him hurtling across the floor to collide head on with one of the consoles.

Ace struggled and went under for the first time.

Part 3

Scenario: Bent Spear

‘...and in the midst of the lake Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in white samite, that held a fair sword in that hand.’

Sir Thomas Malory

Le Morte D’Arthur

Chapter 1

A cold wind was whipping up waves on Vortigern’s Lake.

Bambera and Ancelyn emerged from the woods along the shoreline between the dig and the UNIT convoy.

A figure stood on a bare outcrop that jutted into the water. His anorak was drawn tightly around him as he stared unmoving across the lake.

Soldiers came running to meet Bambera. Ancelyn kept his distance while she stood in conference with them, but he watched as more soldiers came from the huddle of ugly machines by the water. They held her in high honour, standing formally around her, while she issued orders and listened to their intelligence. It occurred to Ancelyn that in this place, Brigadier might be a nobler title for a warrior than that of Knight General in the world.

Bambera pointed at the machines and then at the crater that lay along the hank surrounded by an area of freshly flung mud. The soldiers pointed at the solitary figure on the outcrop. They all turned and stared at Ancelyn.

He bowed his head in acknowledgement. His wrists still bore red wheals from the handcuffs in which he had allowed her to imprison him.

Bambera yelled his name and started to walk towards the lone figure. The knight followed his lady.

‘Doctor Warmsly?’ called Bambera as they reached the water’s edge.

He did not move, but they heard him say, ‘You’ve probably never thought about it, but it takes one year to uncover one centimetre on a site this big...’

His voice had a dry quaver that was only just under control. He took a step towards the water.

‘What are you doing?’ said Bambera.

He would not turn and look at them. ‘I came to get away from the wreck that girl made of my work.’

She touched his shoulder. ‘Are you OK?’

‘I just need some peace and quiet.’

Since childhood Warmsly had heard the distant horns of Arthur’s world calling. He loved Tennyson and T.H.White, and he knew Malory by heart. The site by the lake was his discovery and it had been his slow painstaking love to uncover the history of his dig. No help, no grants from the cold, commercial world. The history and the romance of Arthur were separate realities and he loved them both. One for the head and one for the heart. But he knew in which world he truly belonged.

‘Why do you dig holes in the ground?’ said the yellow-haired man who dressed like a pageant knight.

‘To uncover the past,’ said Peter gloomily.

‘Do you not have songs for that?’

‘Songs?’

‘You know,’ said Bambera, ‘an oral history.’

Peter rounded on them accusingly. ‘Oh yes, we have songs, stories, poems.

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