Doctor Who: Virgin Missing Adventures [014] - Managra by Stephen Marley

Author:Stephen Marley
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426204534
Publisher: Doctor Who Books
Published: 1995-11-11T23:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

‘I don’t know – riding west, then riding back east, fair turns me head it does, your lordship.’

‘“Sir” will suffice, Crocker,’ said Miles Dashing, peering out of the cave mouth overlooking Liechtenstein’s citadel.

‘And keep the horse and pony back in the shadows.’

‘Yes, sir, sorry, sir. Are those Vatican agents still on our tail?’

‘I hope so. Do you know what a red herring is, Crocker?’

‘Couldn’t afford fancy fish, not a man of my lowly rank, sir.’

Miles groaned. ‘A red herring’s a false trail, poltroon. By now, the Vatican agents will have reported that we’re heading for Transylvania. Time to eliminate them before they discover otherwise.’ He pulled a dagger from under his frock-coat, and pressed the elaborate hilt to his forehead, eyes shut tight.

‘What are you up to now, sir?’

‘Concentrating. Hold your tongue, Crocker.’

‘Sorry, sir.’

Miles’s eyes sprang open at the same moment his hands flew apart, releasing the long-bladed dagger.

Instead of dropping, the dagger hovered, then rotated slowly until it faced the cave mouth. Then, slowly at first, it glided out of the cave, gathering speed as it veered east.

‘Hey, that’s a good trick!’ exclaimed Crocker.

‘That, my good man, was a smart dagger. A Domino weapon, perfected by Leonardo da Vinci. I projected an image of our trackers into the psycho-conductive hilt. On receiving the imprint, and the reasons for killing, the smart dagger homed in on its targets. It will be back in a short while.’

Crocker’s eyes narrowed. ‘How does it work, exactly?’

Miles gave a toss of his blond hair. ‘How should I know? I’m a romantic adventurer, not a mechanic. I simply visualize the target, and the dagger picks up the image and flies to it. Something to do with engrams and DNA. Don’t trouble me with idle questions, fellow.’

‘Sorry, sir. Er – does it think then, this smart dagger? That wasn’t no idle question, sir. Just trying to be a bit less ignorant.’

‘Well, yes, it does think after a fashion, but chiefly on the ethical level. If it should decide that its mission is morally unjustifiable, it will desist and return. A necessary precaution, lest I make a moral misjudgement in the choice of victim. Taking a life is no light matter, Crocker.’

‘That it ain’t, sir. One of yer categorical imperatives.’

Miles frowned. ‘Where did you hear of the Kantian categorical imperative?’

Crocker’s narrow eyes narrowed further. ‘Oh, this posh gent taught me to say it whenever killing was mentioned, so I wouldn’t sound thick.’

Miles subjected the servant to a protracted stare. ‘I’m beginning to wonder about you, Crocker.’

‘Sorry, sir.’

‘I hate Miles Dashing,’ muttered Gratz, scanning the pass to Liechtenstein. ‘Can’t wait to see him hauled in. Hope the boss picked up the message all right. A lot of supernatural interference in the aether at the moment. Must be the time of year.’

‘They got the message all right,’ assured Gildern, riding at his side. ‘Maroc will have a fleet of Angeli here in no time, you’ll see. That bastard Britannian will get what’s coming to him. I hate Miles Dashing too.

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