Doctor Who And The Keys of Marinus

by Philip Hinchcliffe

  "I hope so,' said the Doctor.

  At this moment Tarron reappeared.

  "Well?' demanded the Doctor.

  "Kala has made a full statement. She has named her accomplice.'

  "Then you can stop the execution!'

  "No,' replied Tarron. "I can't. Kala's sworn testimony states that the man she was working with was Ian Chester-ton.'

  "Impossible!' retorted the Doctor.

  "She's lying!' cried Barbara.

  "I have doubts myself,' said Tarron calmly. "She is a vicious, dangerous woman. But doubts alone are not reason enough to ask for a stay of execution. That will only be granted with the furnishing of positive proof.'

  Susan looked at him incredulously. "But what about the man she talked to on the telephone. I heard him. He told her to kill me.'

  Tarron considered a moment. "Did you recognise his voice?'

  Susan went over the sequence in her mind. There had been something familiar about the voice, but it had been so distant and distorted. "Not really,' she answered at last.

  "What else did he say?' asked the Doctor.

  "Nothing much. Just that he'd collect the micro-circuit and pick up Kala later.'

  The Doctor's face brightened. "He said he'd collect the key?'

  "Yes.'

  The Doctor gave a little laugh of triumph. "Splendid! Absolutely perfect.'

  Tarron looked perplexed. "I don't see what you have to be pleased about.'

  The Doctor grinned. "There's a lot in this whole affair that you haven't seen, my friend. The important thing is this. The villain who masterminded all - the one responsible for the whole affair - is planning to collect the key. And that means we have a chance to capture him and save Chesterton.'

  The city of Millenium lay shrouded in darkness. Here and there groups of Guardians patrolled the otherwise deserted streets. At the far end of Central Avenue

  the Capitol building towered high into the sky, pale and ghostly in the greenish-blue light of the night. Inside the building, the courtroom, scene of the day's eventful drama, now stood bare and lifeless like an empty stage.

  The ante-chamber also wore a cold, desolate air. It was only the daily to and fro of Court business which imbued it with character.

  The silence was broken by the approach of stealthy footsteps. The doors outside the courtroom were slowly pushed open and a hooded figure slipped through. The figure moved cautiously towards the exhibits cupboard by the desk and tried a number of keys before finding the correct one and opening the door. The figure reached inside and withdrew the heavy mace.

  Then, the lights came on and an explosion of movement filled the room. Tarron and Larn leaped from behind the desk. There was a fierce struggle before the hooded stranger was subdued.

  The intruder stood motionless as the Doctor stepped up to him and whisked away the hood.

  "You!'

  There were gasps of astonishment from Tarron and Larn. They were holding none other than the Chief Prosecutor and Representative of the Court, Eyson him-self!

  "Call the prison!' ordered Tarron. Shocked and speechless, Officer Larn crossed to the desk and did as he was bid.

  The Doctor reserved his "pièce de resistance' for the following morning. Ian was released and together with Tarron, Larn, Barbara and Susan, was summoned to the court anteroom. At the Doctor's bidding they all gathered around Larn's desk. The Doctor opened the cupboard and took out the mace. Then, holding it at arm's length he clicked open the end with a flourish. The spiked sphere split like a grapefruit into two neat halves. Inside was the fourth key of Marinus!

  "The circuit!' cried Susan.

  Ian looked at the Doctor in amazement. "How did you know it was there?'

  "It had to be,' replied the Doctor briskly: "I've known all along where it was. But till now the information was of no use to us.'

  "Inside the murder weapon!' repeated Tarron in disbelief. "Everyone and everything that went in or out of that vault was checked. Everything except this!' He shook his head dolefully, like a schoolboy who has failed an exam.

  "Have you any idea why they did it?' enquired Barbara.

  "Yes. They've admitted the whole thing. Kala and Eyson planned to steal the key and sell it. Chesterton here just happened to walk into the middle of things. They made him look so guilty I never doubted for a moment that he was.'

  "Ah!' The Doctor wagged a reproving finger at the Chief Enquirer. "You should read the teachings of Pyrrho. He founded scepticism. A great asset in your job.'

  Ian gripped the Doctor's hand warmly. "All I can say, Doctor, is... thank heaven you've read Pyrrho.'

  "Read him?' snapped the Doctor. "What are you talking about? I met him.'

  Everybody laughed and Susan took the Doctor's arm. "Now we can join Sabetha and Altos.'

  "Yes, where are they?' enquired Ian.

  "I sent them on ahead,' said the Doctor. "I thought our little success might cheer Arbitan up.'

  "It will be wonderful for him to see his daughter again,' said Barbara.

  Larn, who had been called away, returned to say that the Senior Judge had granted them permission to take the key.

  The Doctor turned to Tarron. "All we need now, my friend is the wrist-strap you impounded from Chester-ton.' Tarron went to a drawer in the desk and handed it over.

  "I see you all wear them,' he observed. "Are they the mark of some guild to which you belong?'

  The Doctor smiled. "No, they are our means of transport. They give us movement through space. A trifle primitive, but efficient.'

  Tarron looked across at Larn. "I don't believe it.' The Doctor turned to Ian. "Show him, Chesterton.' Ian glanced at the two girls. "All right?'

  They nodded. Ian gave the signal and the three vanished simultaneously.

  "I don't understand,' stammered Larn. "Where have they gone?' He peered behind the desk in amazement.

  "I suppose I'd better join them,' said the Doctor. "You won't find them there, you know. Goodbye, my friends!'

  Larn looked up to see the Doctor's eyes twinkling at him mischievously. The next instant he was gone. Larn slowly shook his head. "He's disappeared too!'

  Tarron looked equally incredulous. "He said what was going to happen and we saw it.' He drew closer to Larn and lowered his voice. "But nobody else has seen it. I think we'd better keep the story to ourselves, Larn.'

  Larn nodded. Trying to prove such a tale under the rigorous laws of Millenium might prove a foolish endeavour. "How are you going to complete the report, Chief Enquirer,' he asked.

  Tarron brushed an imaginary speck of dust from his uniform. "I'll say they...' he searched carefully for the right word, "... left. They left to return the micro-key to its inventor, Arbitan.'

  He smiled at Larn with the satisfied air of a man who has solved a hitherto insoluble problem.

  12: Arbitan's Revenge

  Altos sat strapped in a chair in the Archive Room of Marinus. The ropes cut into his bare arms and legs.

  Hovering over him like a large vulture was a hooded stranger. The stranger wore Arbitan's long robe and took great pains to keep his face and body hidden beneath the heavy folds. Even so Altos had caught glimpses of dark leathery limbs and a snoutish protuberance from under the hood. The unknown figure was flanked by two more "creatures' whom Altos recognised from previous descriptions. They were Voords, ancient and dreaded enemies of Marinus.

  He had materialised in the marble City ahead of Sabetha. Two of the creatures had attacked him in a dark alley and dragged him, struggling, to their master, who now stood before him, hostile and menacing. He addressed Altos in a harsh, rasping voice. "Arbitan is dead. I, Yartek, am now in control.'

  Altos winced at this brutal announcement of Arbitan's fate. His thoughts went out to the old man's beautiful daughter. "What have you done to Sabetha?' he asked quietly. His face was bruised and he spoke with difficulty.

  The hooded figure ignored the question. "Where is the fourth key?'

  "I don't know.' Altos sta
red defiantly to the front. Yartek signalled to the two Voords. They slipped from the room. He returned to Altos.

  "Why are you so stubborn? What purpose does it serve? I am going to find out in the end?

  Altos remained impassive. "What have you done with Sabetha?' he repeated.

  Yartek made no answer. A moment later Sabetha was led in by the two Voords. She looked pale but unharmed. Altos noticed the chain with the keys was missing from her neck.

  The two gazed at each other in silence, unsure how to react. Altos was struck by Sabetha's regal composure. There was a sense of authority about her which reminded him of her father.

  He was about to speak when she turned to Yartek and said coldly, "Why have you tied him up? He's of no use to you. He is just a servant. He knows nothing.'

  The Voord eyed her cunningly. "He means nothing to you?'

  "I have no thoughts about him at all. I told you, he's just one of my servants. Let him go.'

  "Sabetha?' Altos looked bewildered.

  "Be quiet! I did not give you permission to speak. I tell you, he knows nothing,' she repeated to Yartek.

  Yartek pondered for a second. "In that case, if you think so little of him, as I gather you do from your way of treating him, it does not matter what happens to him.'

  "Of course not. Send him away.' She made a dismissive gesture towards Altos.

  "Yes, I can do that,' replied Yartek silkily. He moved behind Sabetha and drew close to her ear. "Or I can have him killed.' Altos saw Sabetha stiffen. "After all,' continued Yartek insinuatingly, "he's only a servant.'

  Sabetha's lip quivered and she closed her eyes. Altos saw she had been playing a game and that this sly, sub-human had outwitted her.

  The hooded creature turned to one of the guards. "Kill him!'

  The Voord drew his knife.

  "No!' shrieked Sabetha.

  Altos braced himself, imagining the cold steel plunging into his neck. Instead, there was an agonising pause as Yartek stayed the blow with a wave of his arm.

  "Useless lies.' He spat the words angrily at Sabetha's face. "Where is the fourth key?'

  "I'll never tell you. Never!' Her eyes blazed with hatred.

  "But this man is no servant,' sneered Yartek. "He has travelled with you.' He peered mockingly into Altos's face. "He is in love with you. I think he will tell me.'

  Altos fought to contain his rage. How dare this creature, this sub-species, this frog-like abomination presume to know anything of human affections? And yet, despite his anger, Altos realised the Voord had perceived what he himself had kept hidden. He was in love with Sabetha and had been for some time. The shared dangers had brought them closer. And yet he had feared admitting it, even to himself, in case she should not return his love.

  "The man who loves me cannot betray me,' said Sabetha in a level voice.

  "The man who loves you,' reiterated the Voord with Machievellian cunning, "cannot condemn you to death.' He turned to Altos. "I can promise you one thing. Unless you tell me where the fourth key is, I shall order my creatures to kill her.'

  For Altos, Time stood still. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, his throat went dry. How could he condemn the country he loved to pernicious tyranny? How could he condemn the woman he loved to instant death? He heard himself reply, "The man who was with us, the Doctor. He has the key.'

  Sabetha hid her face in her hands. Yartek gave what passed for a smile.

  Ian, Barbara and Susan had materialised safely in a group in one of the many corridors in the marble City. The travel bracelets should have brought them back within reach of the Archive Room but without Altos and Sabetha to guide them they were making slow progress.

  Suddenly Ian held up a hand for silence. Someone, or something was approaching. A strange shuffling, tapping noise grew nearer.

  The next instant the Doctor rounded a corner and bumped straight into them. He leaped backwards, dropping his stick with shock.

  "Sorry,' said Ian with a grin.

  "You frightened the life out of me,' snapped the Doctor. He retrieved his stick and brushed himself down.

  "Is the TARDIS alright, Grandfather?' enquired Susan sweetly.

  "The force field has gone. I peered in briefly and everything was in order.'

  "Arbitan must have kept his promise,' said Barbara.

  The Doctor grunted, then waved his stick at them in annoyance. "Come on, come on. You're all wandering about here like a lot of farmyard chickens.'

  "We were waiting for you,' said Ian.

  "And now I'm here!' retorted the Doctor. "Really, Chesterton, you are irritating at times.'

  "Don't be tetchy, Grandfather,' said Susan. She led him off down the corridor. The others followed.

  After a while Barbara said, "You know it's a bit odd that Sabetha wasn't here to meet us.'

  "Or Altos,' added Ian.

  They continued without further conversation but neither could shrug off the nagging thought that something had gone wrong.

  Yartek stood before the large, spheroid structure in the Archive Room. The Conscience of Marinus it had once been called. He admired its elegant lines. Thousands of years of technological skill had been distilled into this sleek, sophisticated machine, the enticing repository of all power and knowledge on Marinus. The Conscience had been Yartek's lifetime adversary, the immutable obstacle between himself and his overriding ambition, control of Marinus. His secret Immuniser had once nulified but not destroyed the machine's regulation of the planet. In the intervening years the Keepers had reversed the effect of the Immuniser so that, with the keys in place, the machine would once again exert its full power over all living creatures on the planet. Yartek's dream, to harness this energy and might for his own evil ends, was now within reach.

  But the concealment of the keys had been Arbitan's masterstroke, his trump card after death. For withoutall the keys the machine was useless. This had been Arbitan's gift of foresight to his beloved planet. He could not have predicted the cruel twists of circumstance which had now brought all but one of the keys into the grasp of his implacable foe.

  Yartek lovingly turned the gleaming micro-circuits in his hands, then began inserting them into the machine. A Voord entered and said, "I have put them in the cell as ordered.'

  Yartek nodded. "Keep out of sight. But be within call.'

  The Voord shuffled out obediently.

  Yartek slotted in the last key and stood back from the machine. "One more,' he said to himself quietly, "Just one more!'

  The Doctor led the way along the corridor. The steady tap of his walking-stick echoed on the marbled floor. Suddenly he motioned for silence. The Doctor's acute hearing had been alerted by a faint sound ahead. Ian moved up alongside him. They had reached a junction. As they waited a Voord stepped around the corner, almost bumping into them. Ian grabbed him and smashed him against the wall. The Voord's bullet-shaped head hit the marble with a sickening thud and he slumped to the floor, unconscious.

  They gazed down at the repulsive creature.

  "This may explain what has become of Sabetha and Altos,' said the Doctor gravely. "We'll have to split up and search for them.'

  "I'll try and find Arbitan,' said Ian. "Give me the key, Doctor.'

  The Doctor handed it over. "Don't part with it until you're sure it's in the right hands.'

  "I won't. Susan, you come with me.' The two of them sped off down the corridor before the Doctor had time to protest.

  He turned to Barbara. "Very well. You shall accompany me, my dear.'

  Barbara knelt down and removed the Voord's knife. "I'll take this,' she said. "Just in case.'

  Altos and Sabetha were taken to a cold dark cell below ground and roped together. Neither spoke for several minutes. Altos could feel the warmth of Sabetha's body seeping through to his. He pictured her face, sad and beautiful in the darkness and the image summoned up his protective instincts. He tugged furiously at the ropes binding his wrists but the thick cord only bit deeper into his flesh.


  Sabetha's voice reproved him gently. "What's the use? Even if we untie ourselves we'll never break the door down.'

  Altos choked back his frustration. "At least I could defend you.'

  Sabetha turned her head slightly so that her cheek just touched his. "You're with me, Altos,' she whispered. "That's all that matters.'

  "I shall never leave you,' he replied, and his voice trembled.

  After several detours Ian and Susan eventually found their way to the Archive Room. They had seen no more Voords and hoped to find Arbitan still guarding the Conscience.

  The room was just as they had left it. The machine stood like a colossal modern sculpture in the centre. In a chair in the shadows, was a crouching figure. A heavy cowl masked his face.

  "Arbitan,' said Susan softly.

  The hunched figure made a slight movement of acknowledgement.

  Ian said, "So, you're alright. We were afraid...'

  "Have you brought the key?'

  There was something odd about Arbitan's voice. It was sharper, more anxious.

  "Where's Sabetha?' enquired Ian.

  "Where is the old man?' countered the hooded figure. "He is the one who has the key.'

  Susan felt herself growing angry. "What's the matter with you?' she burst out. "We've done all these things for you and all you can think about...'

  The hooded figure interrupted her. "Forgive me. The keys have filled my mind for so long that I have become insensitive to anything else. Sabetha is safe and well.'

  Ian moved in closer. "Do you know the Voord are still...'

  "Stop!' commanded the hooded figure. "Do not come near me. Power from my machine escaped. I am suffering from a dreadful disease.'

  Susan peered more closely at the hunched figure. "Can we do anything?'

  "Sabetha alone knows the cure.'

  "Where's Altos?' asked Ian.

  "The young man who attached himself to her while she was away?' The hooded figure shifted in the chair. "Is he a good man? Is he sincere in his feelings?'

  Ian looked puzzled. "What are your impressions?' He phrased the question slowly.

  "There are many races on Marinus. He looks and sounds well enough but...'