Menagerie Part 9

'I quickly understood, Doctor, that I would get more from you if I asked than if I ordered.'

'Few men in authority have such sense.' The Doctor paused for a moment to examine another impressively constructed junction. 'Tell me about these tunnels,' he said, his voice ringing in the chill air.

'There are hundreds of tunnels under the castle towers and down into a natural cave system,' said Himesor. 'Most of them are part of the library.'

'I don't see any books.'

'No,' said Himesor, finally coming to a halt before a huge set of doors. 'I wouldn't expect you to.' He turned to the Doctor. 'We're here.'

The Doctor looked up at the doors, fully two storeys tall.

Slabs of polished marble sat within perfect frames of iron.

The Doctor ran his fingers over the surface. It was entirely smooth and precise. The doors had been constructed with pinpoint accuracy.

Himesor pulled gently on a large loop of bra.s.s. The door swung outwards without a sound. 'Enter, Doctor.'

'Thank you.' The Doctor followed the tall knight into the room.

Inside the expanse was so huge that even the Doctor's eyes could barely perceive its outermost limits. Electric lamps glowed high up in the roof like stars, casting pools of light in a narrow line through the centre of the room. On either side of the road of lights were gla.s.s cabinets, framed with gold. Some were about as high as a man, others were on their sides like huge treasure chests. Within each was a velvet cus.h.i.+on or a silver frame to hold up some object for inspection. The Doctor scurried along the cabinets like a child in a toyshop, glancing at crowns, books, swords, jewellery. Himesor followed at a more respectful pace.

'What do you know of the holy relics?' asked th Doctor.

'A little,' said Himesor. 'They are devices that tell of the knights' knowledge of and dependence on the Higher. In themselves they are worthless trinkets, but they are symbols that point elsewhere.'

'How old are they?'

'I cannot answer that.'

'Were they brought here from somewhere else?'

'They are here now. That is all I know.'

The Doctor stopped by one case, drumming a finger against his lips. 'Worthless trinkets, you say?' He pointed into the case at a small group of s.h.i.+ny purple spheres. 'They look more like advanced powerpacks to me.'

'Powerpacks?'

The Doctor scratched his head. 'Small objects that hold as much energy as, well, I'd say not far short of what one of your power stations produces in a month.'

'You cannot destroy my faith so easily, Doctor. I ha vealways suspected that the holy relics are mundane objects made glorious by knowledge of the Higher.'

'My intention is not to destroy your beliefs,' said the Doctor quickly. long ago you made a choice, the results of which you still live with. As did I. I'm here to find a way to .

. . Aha! What have we here?' The Doctor scuttled off to a row of identical cases, each containing glowing white costumes on rough wooden manakins.

'The ceremonial armour of Kuabris,' said Himesor.

'Indeed,' said the Doctor. 'It has another use as well. You have said that the poisonous gases are the only thing standing in the way of your exploration of the sewers and the menagerie beyond. Yes?'

Himesor nodded.

'Note the cord that links the helm with the breastplate. It's a hollow tube. And the breastplate is actually a self-contained air supply. The armour would not just protect you against swords, but against germ warfare and dumdum bullets.' The Doctor turned excitedly to Himesor. 'You might think that I'm talking gibberish, but these suits are exactly what we're looking for!'

Outside the great doors two figures stood, straining after the sound of the Doctor's voice.

Commander Zaitabor ground his teeth in anger, and set off back up the tunnels. Araboam followed, disbelief rather than aggression clouding his features. 'Why, lord? Why let an outsider stare upon the holy relics?'

'Himesor says he has his reasons,' growled Zaitabor. 'But you and I both know that only death can follow such a violation. May that charlatan "Doctor" be cursed!' He thumped his fists together in outrage. 'We have much work to do,' he said in a quieter voice. 'We shall at least be able to dream of the Doctor's certain death while we do so.'

Zoe had never felt so humiliated and abused. The aches of her body, the clamouring emptiness of her stomach, the dirt under her nails and in her hair - all these things she would get over in time. But to be sold in a market like a piece of livestock - it was entirely beyond her comprehension.

When the man with the cigar had prodded her and laughed with the crowd she could almost have believed that she was having a nightmare.

But now the sun had turned to rain, the crowd had gone, and she was alone with her 'master'. 'Come with me,' he said, as though she had a choice in the matter. Her wrists were bound together with leather that bit tightly, and a rope led to the man's broad hands. 'I've bought some food, for when we get home. I'm afraid we must be leaving now. I can't stand this place.'

'I can't leave,' said Zoe. 'My friends are here. We're travellers, you see. I didn't want to get involved with any of this. If they leave without me -'

'The law is the law,' said the man. 'Especially here.' He paused in thought for a few moments. 'Here's what I'll do,'

he said. 'I'll have my friend make some enquiries. If your companions are willing to come to me and make me an offer, then we shall see.'

'Where are we going?'

Not too far. The next town. Trouble is, my horse is not the fastest creature that the sun has blessed, and with two of us on it . . .'

'Two of us, on one horse?' Zoe's mind filled with a confused rush of domesticated mammals that she had learnt about, and for the moment she couldn't remember which one was a horse. But whichever it was, surely it wouldn't be big enough.

'I'm afraid so,' said the man, leading Zoe through the crowd of the market. 'I also purchased an interesting casket, which is being sent ahead separately. I'm afraid I cannot do the same with you.'

'Oh,' said Zoe. She really didn't know what to say.

'Don't worry,' said the man, finally coming to a halt by a huge, pale, four-legged thing with flowing hair and large teeth. 'We'll be as gentle and as quick as we can.'

And without another word he reached down to bind Zoe's ankles together, and flung her over the back of the creature.

Moments later they were off and beyond the city walls.

'It has been put to me that, by striving to exist beyond the harsh strictures of time, the Kuabris effectively have no harsh strictures of time, the Kuabris effectively have no meaning. meaning.

'Nothing could be further from the truth.

'As we have seen, it is the definition of science that begins to give it substance. Opposition needs to stem from to give it substance. Opposition needs to stem from knowledge, from definitions, from a pinning-down of the knowledge, from definitions, from a pinning-down of the moth that is meaning. As impossible as it sounds, we must moth that is meaning. As impossible as it sounds, we must know what science has been, and what forms it could take in know what science has been, and what forms it could take in the future. We use the words of our enemies to condemn the future. We use the words of our enemies to condemn them. them.

'Therefore, we gain our existence as a contrast to the existence of something else. The Kuabris take on form to existence of something else. The Kuabris take on form to combat science: without science, we have no meaning. combat science: without science, we have no meaning.

When we truly succeed in overthrowing science and the rational beast that lies dormant in all our minds, then - rational beast that lies dormant in all our minds, then - and at that very moment - the Kuabris will cease to exist, will take on some new and distant form. will take on some new and distant form.

'As with science, as with time. It is in the casting down of our knowledge of time that the Kuabris have meaning. Our our knowledge of time that the Kuabris have meaning. Our secret knowledge points always in this direction. And when secret knowledge points always in this direction. And when time stops, the Kuabris will take on a new form, a new time stops, the Kuabris will take on a new form, a new pattern. For the moment, we exist because our battle exists. pattern. For the moment, we exist because our battle exists.

The further the evil man wanders from the Higher, the more he thinks in terms of legends. It could almost be more he thinks in terms of legends. It could almost be argued that legends and stories from the past are in argued that legends and stories from the past are in themselves meaningless, that they have no essential power. themselves meaningless, that they have no essential power.

They are mere phantoms, voices without motivation.

'Some might claim that the legends that exist beyond the Kuabris are similar to our own n.o.ble secrets. However, the Kuabris are similar to our own n.o.ble secrets. However, the nature of the secrets and legends is paramount: this gives nature of the secrets and legends is paramount: this gives them a hint of divinity or the stink of evil. The common them a hint of divinity or the stink of evil. The common legends of the ma.s.ses point to the past and insinuate an legends of the ma.s.ses point to the past and insinuate an effect upon the ongoing now. The Higher secrets of the effect upon the ongoing now. The Higher secrets of the Knights of Kuabris instead have no meaning beyond their Knights of Kuabris instead have no meaning beyond their very existence. There was never a time when they did not very existence. There was never a time when they did not exist. They encourage us to travel onwards now. Mere exist. They encourage us to travel onwards now. Mere legends point to the past and struggle to engineer an legends point to the past and struggle to engineer an influence. influence.

'Our legends, our great artefacts, are made great by our resolute strivings to attain the changeless now. Just as resolute strivings to attain the changeless now. Just as science tugs and tempts, so tales "from the past" are birthed science tugs and tempts, so tales "from the past" are birthed in evil. Science and depraved legend are strange in evil. Science and depraved legend are strange bedfellows, but when they are allowed to combine their bedfellows, but when they are allowed to combine their grotesque effect is enormous. grotesque effect is enormous.

'We must split them asunder, taking our meaning only from the now, from our great secrets and all that we have, from the now, from our great secrets and all that we have, and destroy science and legend. and destroy science and legend.

'Recognition of legend pulling to the past is not difficult k those who have sought the Higher in praise and prayer. those who have sought the Higher in praise and prayer.

True recognition of science is more complex, and its pulls to "past' and 'future" will be examined in more detail during the course of this book.' the course of this book.'

Extract from Towards a Definition of Science Towards a Definition of Science, written by Grand Knight Uscolda. Subsequently banned and destroyed by order of Grand Knight Zipreus.

Six.

The brightly coloured tents and ox-pulled caravans were scattered over an area of flat ground at the edge of the town.

The main tent had been erected first and was already surrounded by sideshows and exhibits. Lurid poster boards were being touched up with gleaming paint. Growls emanated from within portable huts as animals were fed and watered. A group of women scuttled from tent to tent, cleaning the mud from the unfurled canvas.

The workers were now constructing a light fence around the site, with a tall kiosk taking shape like a castle gatehouse. The hum of the wind on the ropes was lost to the intermittent chugging as the portable generator was coaxed into life. A miasma of smoke drifted across the field.

Even Zoe could feel the apprehension in the air. Mere hours from the first show there was still much to do, but the men and women seemed happy to have completed their latest journey.

As, indeed, was Zoe. Her back ached, and her face felt numb from the wind. Although the rope had long been removed from her wrists they still throbbed from their recent ill-treatment.

Despite the discomfort of the journey Zoe had felt a gathering lightness of spirit as they left the dark, rain-drenched city behind. The countryside had become lighter and more open, well-managed copses breaking into view over tumbling fields of gra.s.s and corn. It was as if the soil around the city was so thick and dark that it gave up few of its nutrients to the plant roots that burrowed down into it. A few miles beyond the stifling walls and the land seemed richer and more accommodating. Zoe remembered watching farmers and labourers waving from the fields, although perhaps it had been too much to expect any of them to rescue her.

The town was a carefree clutter of thatched roofs warming under the intermittent golden sun. She noticed a power station similar to the one in the city, but here its unrefined nature was more bucolic than overbearing. White clouds hung quietly in the air over its chimneys and then dissipated.

Although the larger houses on the far side of the town were dark and smugly impressive, in the main the place was a collage of painted stone and wood. The gaudy circus did not seem out of place against so colourful a backdrop.

'Diseaeda's Travelling Freak Show,' announced the man at her side. 'I'm sorry the journey was rough, but I think you'll agree that it's quite a sight.'

'I've never seen anything like this before,' said Zoe. A small troupe of jacket-wearing monkeys danced by, cartwheeling and chattering, their trainer in hot pursuit 'There are animals here, and yet the purpose is clearly to provide entertainment and not to facilitate zoological research.'

'Entertainment is exactly it,' said Diseaeda. 'You've got a good head on your shoulders. I'm sure you'll come up with some valuable ideas in future.'

Zoe pondered this for a moment. 'I get the impression that you didn't purchase me because of any business ac.u.men I might have.'

Diseaeda laughed. 'Indeed no. It's much simpler than that.

Unlike most of my friends, I bought you because you're pretty and you've got two arms and two legs. I'm expecting you to work hard. But I'll make sure that it's all worth it. I promise.'

Zoe could tell that Diseaeda meant well, but she felt very lonely indeed without the Doctor and Jamie. 'How long will you be staying here?' she asked, trying not to let her fear show in her voice.

'A week, maybe two,' said the man. 'It depends on the crowds. The folk round here are quite generous and, more to the point, they're not easily frightened.'

'So this town is very different from the city we've come from?'

'As different as night and day. The knights wouldn't tolerate a show like mine.'

'So perhaps the knights aren't so bad after all,' said Zoe, more harshly than she'd intended.