Festival of Death by Jonathan Morris

Author:Jonathan Morris [Morris, Jonathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Fiction, General, Science Fiction, Space Opera
ISBN: 9780563538035
Google: nLoOAAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0563538031
Publisher: BBC Pubns
Published: 2000-09-03T07:00:00+00:00

* * *

Romana watched Paddox with detached amusement. 'You have a slight problem.'

Paddox faced her, his laser pistol in one hand, chains in the other. 'What?'

'You need two hands to chain somebody up. You can't chain one of us up and point your gun at the other person at the same time:

'Poor planning, innit,' said Evadne. Harken laughed.

Paddox swung the pistol towards her.'Do not mock me. I do not mock easily.'

'I have an idea,' suggested Romana. 'Why don't you give me the gun, and I can point it at myself whilst you're chaining Evadne up?'

'No, I have a better solution,' said Paddox. 'I point the gun at you, and then you chain Evadne up.'

'Of course,’ Romana suddenly looked over Paddox's shoulder, and gasped. 'Doctor, you're alive after all! Thank goodness!'

'What –‘ Paddox whirled around, his gun arm outstretched.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Romana launched herself into his back, knocking him to the ground and sending the pistol and chains clattering across the floor.

She raced across to the access ladder. 'Evadne, well don't just stand there, come on!'

Evadne was frozen to the spot, her mouth hanging open.

And then Paddox recovered his pistol and aimed it at Romana. A beam extended from the barrel and caused a flash of sparks over her left shoulder.

Romana grabbed the highest rung and heaved herself up the ladder, her mind racing. Another part of the wall exploded just below her legs.

Reaching the top, she was relieved to find the hatch still open. She dived through and slammed it shut behind her.

Without pausing for breath she turned and piled into the person blocking her path.

'Romana!' It was the Doctor, a surprised expression on his lips. Beside him was the lizard from the medical bay - Hoopy.

Romana was baffled.

Paddox retrieved the chains from the floor and advanced on Evadne.

Harken shifted his body-weight from his right arm to his left, and groaned. Not only had the Doctor and Romana's plan failed, but he was condemned to die in the most unflattering position possible.

'Hands up, barked Paddox. Evadne quickly raised her arms, allowing Paddox to manacle her wrists to the overhead ducting. He rattled the chain to make certain it was secure, and then returned to his instruments.

Harken craned round to face Evadne. 'Hello, by the way.

You probably already know me. Harken Batt'

'Never heard of you'

Typical, thought Harken. 'Leading insect-on-the-wall documentary-maker? The Guilty Conscience?'

'No, doesn't ring any bells,' said Evadne. 'What are you doing here?'

'That, my dear, is a long story full of misfortune and great personal tragedy'

'Go on then, I could do with a laugh.'

The entrance to the hyperspace tunnel filled the monitor. A swirling blue whirlpool in space, funnelling to a narrow aperture. Inside, the tunnel would continue for ten miles, and then emerge into the Murgatroyd star system.

Byson brought the Cerberus into the whirlpool in a gentle arc. In front of them a string of spacecraft of a variety of designs and sizes were disappearing into the tunnel; through the window they could see the queue of ships following in their wake.

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