Doctor Who: Target - Novelisations [119] - The Reign of Terror by Ian Marter

Author:Ian Marter
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426202646
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1987-09-12T22:00:00+00:00

7

The Tyrant of France

Maximilien Marie Robespierre, First Deputy of the Convention, had just returned from a violent and terrifying meeting at the Jacobin Club where he had made a two hour speech demanding a purge of the Committee of Public Safety. His speech was a repeat of the one he had made the previous afternoon in the Convention itself – the governing assembly of the Revolution. Utterly exhausted, he slumped at his desk shuffling papers and staring wildly around as if he suspected assassins in every shadow.

He was a small, thin man of thirty-two. His hair was carefully brushed back and powdered, but his complexion was pasty and pock-marked. His skin had a sickly greenish tinge and his shortsighted eyes were also green. A nervous tic frequently convulsed the side of his face, drawing the corner of his thin-lipped mouth up towards his ear. He dressed with fastidious care, wearing a blue nankeen tailcoat, striped blue waistcoat, a red and white striped cravat, and white silk breeches and stockings. On his tiny feet he wore high-heeled buckled shoes in a vain attempt to increase his meagre stature. To many he looked more like a survivor from the court of the executed King Louis XVI than the most feared and radical revolutionary: the Tyrant of France.

He looked up sharply as Lemaître ushered the Doctor into his ornate high-ceilinged chamber.

Lemaître presented to him the execution lists from the Conciergerie and the other prisons. ‘Here is the complete and detailed schedule of recent executions, Citizen,’ he said respectfully.

Robespierre gave the papers a cursory glance and then screwed up his eyes at the Doctor. ‘Who is this?’ he inquired in his weak voice, his face twitching.

Lemaître motioned the Doctor forward. ‘A visiting Provincial Deputy from Pontoise,’ he explained. ‘As the region is to be discussed, I thought the Citizen should make his report to you personally.’

Robespierre blinked coldly at the Doctor. ‘There are more vital matters to consider,’ he whined. ‘However I am always prepared to receive news of the provinces.’ He gestured to the Doctor to take a seat in the chipped gilt chair opposite him.

Lemaître remained standing behind the chair.

‘I welcome the opportunity,’ the Doctor said with a slight bow. ‘But before I report on Pontoise, perhaps the First Deputy would care to hear my impressions of the capital itself?’

Robespierre raised his thin eyebrows in surprise. ‘When did you arrive in Paris?’

‘Early yesterday.’

Robespierre waggled his waxen fingers. ‘Hardly sufficient time for you to assess the present mood of the capital!’ he objected.

The Doctor shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t say that. I have the distinct impression that the mood in Paris has turned violently against…’

Robespierre rapped the desk with his knuckles. ‘I am interested only in your report on your province, Citizen!’ he snapped. ‘Now, recent intelligence suggests that the purging of our enemies there has been progressing extremely slowly.’

The Doctor looked very surprised. ‘Indeed, Citizen?’ he retorted. ‘Well, perhaps that is because we have fewer enemies of the Revolution in Pontoise.’ He grinned complacently. ‘Perhaps Paris can learn something from us simple country folk.

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