The Mark of the Rani by Pip Baker & Jane Baker

Author:Pip Baker & Jane Baker [Baker, Pip & Baker, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426202325
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1986-08-14T22:00:00+00:00

10

A Change Of Loyalty

Sleeves rolled up, a man was concertinaing creaking bellows to rekindle the forge fire. As he paused and dragged a rag from his thick leather belt to wipe the sweat from his brow, he heard Peri’s screams.

In reflex, he turned, took in the situation and sprang for the pit.

The trolley’s momentum would have made arresting it a physical impossibility. Astutely realising this, the man ran for the shaft.

It was even money who would reach the gaping hole first. The stake? The Doctor’s life.

Lungs pumping, the man kicked the bulky cover into position. Relentlessly the trolley came on. He fumbled with the stay. It clicked home as the wheels jarred into he cover, braking…

When the reverberations subsided, the Doctor’s vision came into focus. Despite the agape mouth king in air, there was about his rescuer a piercing telligence emanating from rugged, plebeian features.

The Doctor’s thanks were profuse. But for this anger’s quick thinking, he would now be spinning to death in the bowels of the earth.

‘Are’t tha’ hurt? Harmed at all?’ The solicitude was genuine.

‘No. A trifle cramped.’

‘Aye… Aye. Tha’ would be.’

‘It’s these straps.’

Instead of releasing the damps, the stranger was feeling their texture. ‘Aye, I suppose… Intriguing.’

‘The straps? Yes, well that’s a long story.’

‘This metal. I’ve nay seen the like of it afore. Dost know which foundry forged it?’

In the midst of a calamity, what sort of individual would be so diverted as to enquire about the composition of a metal? Recognising only too well the impulse, the Doctor beamed.

‘George Stephenson, I presume.’

‘Aye, I’m Stephenson.’

‘An enormous pleasure to meet you, sir.’ The Doctor lifted a shackled wrist as far as he could and Stephenson gripped the fingers in a warm handshake. ‘Would you be kind enough to undo these straps?’

Stephenson complied. ‘Forgive me. T’were metal that took my attention.’ This was understandable. The titanium the Rani had used was not known in the nineteenth century. If it had been, many inventors would have benefited. Especially George Stephenson who was experimenting with steam engines and would eventually design the famous Rocket.

‘Run, Doctor! Run!’ Peri’s warning preceded her panting arrival.

The Doctor looked back as he slid from the trolley. Jack Ward and the aggressors were returning to the attack.

Intent on slaughter, they would spare none of them.

‘Quickly, we’ve got to get away!’

‘Follow me.’ Stephenson hared off.

Drawn by the racket of the fracas, Ravensworth was at the breached pit entrance surveying the shambles of the battle.

Ripped from its hinges, the gate was beyond repair.

Already villagers were drifting in. Ravensworth knew he could not count on their loyalty. Understandably. The attackers, however demented, were their kinfolk. His pressing task was to secure the mine area.

‘On the gate!’ he commanded a guard. ‘No-one enters or leaves! That’s an order!’

A second guard was rubbing his bruises.

‘Here! Take this!’ Ravensworth gave him his blunderbuss. ‘Round up all the able-bodied men you can. Search the pit. I want every one of those scoundrels hunted down!’

A crowd of bystanders surrounded a sentry whose wounds were being dressed by Luke.

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