Doctor Who: Target - Novelisations [144] - The Greatest Show in the Galaxy by Stephen Wyatt

Author:Stephen Wyatt
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426203414
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1988-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

8

The End of Bellboy’s Dream

The family sat impassively in the empty Big Top. Bright circus music came over the loudspeakers but nothing was happening in the ring. The mother passed round fresh bags of crisps, but there was a growing air of dissatisfaction.

‘I don’t think much of this, father,’ the mother remarked in her polite, even tones.

Her husband’s eyes surveyed the emptiness. ‘Nothing’s happening, is it?’

‘Not that I can see.’

‘Mummy, mummy…’ The little girl’s whining voice spoke now.

‘What is it?’

‘I’m bored, mummy.

‘There’s no point in going on, dear,’ the father chided with a touch of sternness. ‘We’re all bored.’ He paused and there was more than a touch of menace as he remarked, ‘Something’s going to have to happen soon.’

Morgana was in a state of panic and confusion. The eye appeared in her crystal ball all too often now, and she could feel its power reaching out towards her. It was a long time since they had felt its power with such force and immediacy. She knew that unless they acted soon the whole fragile structure of the Psychic Circus would crumble to dust. Nervous at the lack of activity in the Big Top she rushed backstage.

The Ringmaster stood coolly by the open cage door.

Morgana’s words came out in a rush. ‘What’s been happening? Has the Doctor escaped too? The Doctor and the girl, I liked them – but he’s trouble for us. I can see it out there.’

‘Hey, hey, stay cool, Morgana,’ the Ringmaster advised her calmly. ‘Don’t take your crystal ball act too seriously. They’ll be back.’

The Chief Clown also entered the backstage area to hear this, having taken care of Ace. ‘Are you sure the other two will be recaptured?’ he demanded.

‘Yep,’ the Ringmaster nodded with a grin ‘The Captain’s a dead man if anything goes wrong.’

‘You let him out to get the others back?’

The Ringmaster nodded. ‘Trust me.’ But the other two were not so easily reassured.

‘You do realize there’s no act in the ring, don’t you?’ demanded Morgana.

‘And you know what happens if we don’t get an act out there very soon?’ the Chief Clown added, still more forcefully.

‘Easy, easy.’ the Ringmaster grinned. ‘If the worst comes to the worst, there’s always him.’ With that he gestured towards the corner of the cage where the enraptured Whizzkid sat watching the proceedings. The nod in his direction was enough to bring him over, all wide-eyed excitement.

‘Hallo,’ he said breathlessly, offering his band. ‘You’re the Chief Clown, aren’t you? I knew you immediately. You see, I’ve got pictures of all of you going right back to the very early days. In fact, I’ve got a poster from your very first show on the planet Othrys.’

The Chief Clown for once was lost for words. He could only stare at this deluded imbecile who was now reaching for an autograph book in his back pocket and thrusting it under the Chief Clown’s nose.

‘Could you sign your name in this, please,’ he asked politely. ‘You too, please, Morgana.’

Morgana was the

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