Doctor Who: The Brain of Morbius by Terrance Dicks

Author:Terrance Dicks
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction:Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426116745
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1983-05-15T10:00:00+00:00

8 The Doctor Makes a Bargain

Condo bounded swiftly across the rocks, intent on reaching the safety of the castle. In his panic-stricken hurry he failed to notice the huddled shape of Sarah beneath a nearby boulder. He had always regarded the Sisterhood with superstitious awe and terror, and it had taken all his courage just to hand over Solon’s letter.

At last the drawbridge came in sight, and Condo hurtled across it, flung open the door, and collapsed panting inside the empty hall. He looked round in puzzlement. The girl had gone. Perhaps Solon had already killed her. Condo felt an unaccustomed pang of regret. Something about Sarah’s helplessness had touched a long buried streak of tenderness in him. Somehow he didn’t like to think of Sarah’s head in one of Solon’s preserving jars.

Slowly he made his way up to the laboratory. But that too was empty—except for the thing behind the curtains of the bed. Condo had never seen it, and had no wish to. Solon had forbidden him even to look at his creation. Condo came down the stairs into the hall again, and stood puzzled for a moment. He heard muffled sounds of shouting and pounding from somewhere below. He crossed to the stairs and called, ‘Master? Master?’

Faintly Solon’s voice came back. ‘Down here, Condo. Hurry!’

Condo ran down the stairs and tried the door of the crypt. It wouldn’t move. ‘Door not open, Master,’ he called.

‘That’s because it’s locked, you great oaf,’ said Solon’s angry voice.

Condo turned the key and opened the door. Solon shot out of the crypt, slamming the door on the protesting voice behind him. Faithful disciple as he was, Solon felt he couldn’t endure another second of Morbius’s nagging reproaches.

Condo stared at him. ‘Why Master locked inside?’

‘The girl, you fool. She locked me in.’ He shoved Condo towards the stairs. ‘Go and find her, Condo. She can’t have got far. Bring her back here. I’ve a score to settle with that young ladyl’

The atmosphere in the gloomy-shadowed Temple was tense. Free of the net, but still surrounded by the three-pointed spears of his guards, the Doctor stood before Maren, who glared malevolently down from her throne. ‘Why have you returned?’

‘I think I need some of that Elixir of yours.’

‘Indeed, Doctor? So at last you confess—you did come to steal the Elixir.’

‘I don’t want it for myself— or for the Time Lords,’ said the Doctor impatiently. ‘As a matter of fact, it’s your fault I need the stuff at all. Sarah was blinded by a ray from your ring. I’m told I need the Elixir to restore her sight.’

‘Solon told you this?’

The Doctor nodded. ‘That’s right.’

‘Strange, Doctor. Solon knows full well that the effect of the ray lasts but a short time. It stuns the optic nerves, not destroys them. The girl will soon recover.’

‘Unnecessary journey, eh? Well, I had my suspicions, I must admit. Never mind, I wanted to have a chat with you anyway.’

‘You are rash, Doctor. Have you forgotten that we have condemned you to die?’

The Doctor snorted impatiently.

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