Doctor Who_ Divided Loyalties Part 5

The man was tall and somewhat imposing. He wore a circular black hat embossed with many interweaving gold and silver threads. Upon his silken robe were coiled Chinese dragons, their eyes and scales picked out in rubies, emeralds, diamonds and even pearls.

This really is not good enough,' he said to the mouthing figure. Tegan recognised his voice as the one that had started her on this foolish errand in the first place.

Hey, what do you think -'

The mandarin held a hand up towards her and Tegan felt an invisible grip around her throat - she couldn't speak. Couldn't utter a sound. Be silent,' he said rather pointlessly. Tegan didn't have much choice.

The mandarin continued walking towards the mouthing man, who clearly hadn't noticed him. The two figures collided but neither fell over. Instead, Tegan watched as the silent man seemed to fade away, almost as if the mandarin had absorbed him.

Some trick,' she said, her mouth vocalising what she thought as the mandarin's spell relaxed.

The mandarin turned to her. You are no fun, Tegan Jovanka. You lack what I need. Be gone from my realm.'

Now wait a minute,' she said. You can't just chase me around and then -'

The mandarin was suddenly face to face with her, as if by magic.

A Toymaker may do exactly what he desires in this universe, child. Remember that. Now. Go.'

Tegan found herself sitting on the floor outside the TARDIS.

Her companions and the crew members were grouped around her, concerned.

Are you all right?' asked the Doctor.

Tegan nodded, allowing him and Oakwood to ease her up. She took a deep breath and snapped her eyes shut as she tried to regain her balance.

And two faces flashed through her subconscious. Firstly, the silent, mouthing man in purple. Secondly, what seemed to be a very old, frail man standing impossibly atop a pyramid.

Both were saying, Tegan Jovanka. Help me!'

And they were gone.

What happened, Tegan?'

I... I don't know...,' she said, trying to hold on to a memory, a fragment of whatever had just gone through her mind. But whatever it was had gone. I can't remember a thing...'

The Doctor put an arm around her shoulders. I think you've been overdoing it,' he said.

I think you're right,' she mumbled back.

As the whole group left the cargo bay, Tegan took a last look back.

Standing in front of the TARDIS was the mandarin, a smug smile on his face, his hands enveloped in his sleeves.

So she screwed her eyes tight shut, took a deep breath and wished he would go away. When she looked again he was indeed gone, along with the last fragments of Tegan's memory of him.

Tegan took a last look back.

Standing there, serene as ever, was the TARDIS.

Alone.

As it should be, surely?

With a shrug, she followed everyone else back down the corridor.

6.

The Lights Are Going Out

She didn't like this, whatever and wherever this' was, but she wasn't going to let anyone else know that. This isn't Kent?' she asked.

No, madam. This is my master's realm.'

My toy room,' explained the Toymaker, materialising from behind a dark velvet curtain. Who do we have here, LeFevre?'

A true gambler, Lord,' LeFevre replied.

The stakes?' The Toymaker stared at the young woman and smiled. Somewhat high, I should imagine'

Oh aye, and just why d'you imagine that, Mr Mandarin?'

The Toymaker bowed, arms folded within the large sleeves of his robe. Because, madam, you have an air about you. A certain ambience that suggests you live life to its fullest and, mayhaps, a bit beyond.'

The woman shrugged and slipped off her leather jacket, slinging it over her shoulder casually. Aye, perhaps I do, sir.

Care to tell me why I am here?'

I am the Toymaker, madam. Monsieur LeFevre here is one of my most devoted acquisitions. We play games. For the highest stakes.'

The woman looked around the vast room she was in. Many life-sized statues were placed there haphazardly, facing different directions, in strange poses. It was as if someone had just dumped them and no one had got around to arranging the display area properly.

She walked up to one, a Roman legionary. Next to him was a woman in Edwardian dress - she even held a party invitation, intricately carved so that the words were readable, and wore a beautiful necklace. These are true works of art, I must say. Not that I'm an expert, mind, but the detail is amazing. Who's this fellow?'

She was looking at a tall man with a moustache. The cut of his suit seemed a bit... unusual and he was standing proud and erect. He was holding a wallet and she peered closely at it - it contained bank notes but it wasn't the king's face on them: it was a woman. A queen she didn't recognise.

Oh that's Lucky Bingham. Except he wasn't. Not one of the more pleasant members of your species and a quite dreadful sportsman. I picked him up out of the water on a rainy night in 1974. If he'd beaten me at backgammon, I'd have sorted out a spot of bother he'd got himself into. But I won.

I usually do.'

Of course it could all be tomfoolery, but something about those bank notes sent a s.h.i.+ver down her spine. And the look on the faces of some of the statues ranged from calm to terror, resignation to... bewilderment or surprise. These were not ordinary statues.

I don't like to be rude, but I'd rather be on my way. I do have an aeroplane to deliver, you see.'

A flyer? Is that what you do?' The Toymaker closed his eyes, and she noticed LeFevre did the same. She went rigid. It was as if someone was rifling through her mind, her memories. So many long-forgotten thoughts and feelings rushed into her mind's eye.

What a fascinating life you have led, my dear. So many accomplishments - the world, your world that is, is justifiably proud of you. Now, let's see where Monsieur LeFevre rescued you from. Ah yes... Earth. The Thames estuary - near Kent, is it? Heading towards the English Channel, flying solo... 6th January 1941.'

The Toymaker's eyes popped open and he smiled. The Second World War. One of my favourite periods. Madam, allow me to introduce you to Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Conrad, US Marine Corps.' He stood before a statue of a man in battle fatigues, although again she couldn't quite place the uniform.'

He wasn't much of a challenge, I must say. Part of the force that stormed Avranches in July 1944. Oh, of course, for you that hasn't happened.'

The Americans are not taking part in this war,' the woman said flatly, but something about the Toymaker's confidence sapped hers.

They will, madam, they will.' He clicked his fingers as if he was trying to remember something. Out of thin air, a mechanical man appeared and she stepped back. It was like something out of a Buck Rogers serial. On its chest was a small projection screen. The Toymaker pointed at it. Is this yours?'

On the screen was her plane - the one she had been flying when Monsieur LeFevre appeared beside her. At first she had a.s.sumed he was a stowaway but he told her to fly towards a cloud. The next thing she remembered was standing beside the plane in a vast wooden hangar, LeFevre telling her that his master wanted a word.

Why am I here, Mr Toymaker?'

I am preparing a new game for one of my old foes, madam. I'm seeking out some extra players and Monsieur LeFevre saw you on my memory mirror and thought you looked as if you enjoyed a good challenge.'

I am on official government business, sir. There is a war on in case you have forgotten, and the Auxiliary Air Force need me to get that plane to... to...'

Yes?'

I. .. I can't remember where I was flying to...'

The Toymaker smiled. I think she is coming around to our way of thinking.'

If you torment cardsharps and such like, why am I here?'

She finally put aside her fears. Whatever phantom zone she had found herself in, she would conduct herself with all the strength of a true daughter of Hull. I don't gamble!'

Don't gamble?' The Toymaker laughed loudly. Don't gamble. Dear lady, you are in a rather flimsy flying contraption, crossing a vast expanse of water amidst some of the worst weather of the year, during a war, and you say you don't gamble. You were gambling your life versus the elements.

Merciful heavens, madam, the greatest gamble possible. And you lost!' He roared the last words out, almost shaking with outrage. And you say you don't gamble. Monsieur LeFevre saved your life, madam, offered you a place in history. Play the game and you will reach your destination safe and sound.

Fail and... well, what can I say?' The image of the plane vanished from the metal man's chest, leaving the Toymaker holding a scale version of it in his hand.

A model. A toy.

And yet something told her it was more than that. The scratches she could see on the wing tip were similar to the gash her craft had received moments earlier. And that crack in the c.o.c.kpit...

My G.o.d,' she breathed.

How very kind, but lord will do. Or master.' The Toymaker pointed to a table that hadn't been there seconds beforehand. A simple game of cribbage, madam. How can you lose?'

She looked at the model aircraft, which LeFevre had taken from his master, and her eyes were drawn to the empty c.o.c.kpit. Then she looked at the statues.

Or whatever they really were.

And she fixed the Toymaker with a steely stare for which she was famous back home. I doubt I have a chance to win, Toymaker, but I won't go down without a fight. Prepare for the crib game of your life.'

I love spirited people' He looked over to LeFevre.

Refreshments, g.a.y.l.o.r.d. And my congratulations on finding me the first worthy opponent since... well, yourself!' He began dealing.

You begin, Ms Johnson. After all, it's your game...'

7.

Pretending to See the Future

And you say the communications were cut off just as we...

arrived?'

Almost to the second, Doctor.'

Well,' the Doctor smiled at Commander Oakwood, I can see why you thought we might be involved.'

Thought?'

Ah, so you still do, eh?' The Doctor took a step back. We really are on the side of the angels, you know.'