s [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

will be more effective.
Hespell and Baker had been listening intently.
 Have you any spares? asked Hespell, indicating the homemade
weapon.
 Plenty, answered Jaelette.  When Kaylen came back and told us the
Doctor s plan, I thought about all the stories Brother Hugan has told us
about our history. And I also thought about how we kill the animals in
the killing pits. We use this traditional wooden spear, which is called
a witona  it means  talon of the Witiku . You see, we coat the spear
in the thickest jinnen bean paste. She showed them the dark points
of the weapons.
She then nodded at the dozen or so Laylorans with her and a couple
of the witona spears were produced for Baker and Hespell. The new
weapons were about half a metre in length, long enough to throw or
jab at the enemy, though not without risk.
 You would have to get very close to use these, commented Rez, as
he took a weapon for himself.
 Then we shall just have to be careful, Jaelette said firmly, and
headed towards the fight.
The Doctor and Kendle were back to back on the summit of the trisili-
cate mountain, surrounded on all sides by Witiku. The creatures were
getting closer with every passing second. Kendle produced a laser
weapon from a holster.
 No! ordered the Doctor firmly.  No energy weapons. We mustn t
forget that these are all innocent Laylorans.
145
Kendle regarded the approaching creatures, which were swinging
their talons in front of them as they came.  They re not going to cut
us any slack, though, are they? He raised his weapon again.
 I said no! the Doctor repeated angrily.
 And I heard you. I ll fire at their feet, try and dislodge them. OK?
Without waiting for an answer, Kendle did exactly as he had said.
Shooting just beneath the feet of the nearest Witiku, he blasted a size-
able hole in the uneven surface of the crystal mountain. The Witiku
overbalanced and toppled backwards, taking two of its fellows down
at the same time. The trio tumbled over and over, roaring furiously.
 Nice shooting, the Doctor commented.
 Thank you, Kendle responded, swinging round to try the same trick
on the other side.
The Doctor s eyes were caught by some activity near the doorway.
 Look, he cried, pointing.
There was a blaze of light as fresh torches came into the chamber,
illuminating the Layloran counter-attack. Hespell and Baker led the
charge, heading straight for the trio of Witiku still getting to their
feet. They hurled their spears into the nearest two and then backed
off to allow Mother Jaelette, who was hard on their heels, to hit the
third. On the other side of the room, Kaylen and the other Laylorans
attacked the Witiku that were still climbing.
 It s the cavalry, grinned the Doctor.
To his delight, the two creatures attacked by Hespell and Baker
were already shaking, convulsing and beginning to transform, exactly
like Brother Hugan had in the spaceship hold.
The rest of the Laylorans flooded into the chamber, firing their
spears at the remaining Witiku. The creatures all fell quickly, shud-
dering, and began to change shape. In just a few moments of action
the situation had been completely turned around. Instead of a crowd
of angry creatures there were numerous dazed and naked Laylorans
lying all over the room. Mother Jaelette had come prepared, however,
and a number of her party were carrying blankets, clothes and moc-
casins. Others had water and dressings to deal with the flesh wounds
made by the spears.
146
The immediate danger over, the Doctor and Kendle clambered
down to the floor of the chamber and joined the rescue party. Among
the recovering Laylorans, who had recently been Witiku, were the
missing Aerack, Serenta and Purin. All three were very pale and
shaken, having spent longest in the transformed state. As soon as
the victims were able to walk the other Laylorans began taking them
back up to the surface.
Mother Jaelette came over to join the Doctor and the humans. They
watched together as the Layloran rescue party and the recovering ex-
Witiku filed out of the chamber.
 Thank you, the Doctor said simply.
 It was your idea, replied Jaelette.  We just improved on the delivery
method.
 Well, I m glad you did. The Doctor glanced around.  Have we
accounted for everyone who was missing?
 Everyone except Brother Hugan, Jaelette told him.
The Doctor looked suddenly alarmed.  Rose and the professor!
Kendle knew immediately what the Doctor was thinking.
 What is the room above this chamber? he demanded of the native
woman.
Jaelette, thought for a moment, working her way through a mental
map of the cellars.
The Hall of Offering, she announced finally.
 What kind of offering? asked the Doctor darkly, not liking the
sound of that at all.
 It was used in the dark times, Jaelette explained, looking embar-
rassed.  Our ancestors were. . . more primitive. They used to believe
that it was necessary to make sacrifices to Laylora.
 Sacrifices? What kind of sacrifices?
Mother Jaelette looked away, unable to meet his gaze.
 People, she said in a quiet voice. They used to sacrifice people.
Professor Shulough was utterly helpless. The madman had made Rose
tie her hands and her feet. The girl had done her best to make the
knots as loose as possible, but the professor was no escapologist. She
147
had been left lying on the cold stone floor at the foot of one of the
giant statues that lined the ceremonial chamber they were now in.
Rose, meanwhile, was lying on the large stone altar in the centre
of the room. The Layloran shaman had used a pad soaked in jinnera
to knock the poor girl out and for the last few minutes the professor
had seen little sign of life from her. Perhaps this was a kindness.
Brother Hugan had produced a vicious-looking curved knife, which
he had offered up to the various statues for approval. The professor
had winced, fearing that he was going to plunge it into Rose s heart
without any further delay, but instead he had placed the sacrificial
knife by her side and started to intone a chant.
She realised, with some relief, that this was a ceremony with a very
strict running order. The act of sacrifice would be the climax. Before
then, the shaman would have to go through a number of ritual acts.
With luck it would give her the time she needed. She began to wrestle
with her bonds anew, encouraged by the slight give she could feel in
the knots.
The shaman was now performing some kind of dance, crying out
like a wild animal as he flailed his arms around. The talons on his
costume scythed through the air above Rose s prone body.
Suddenly the professor was aware of a new arrival. Out of the
corner of her eye she had the impression of a familiar dark-suited
figure striding confidently into the room.
 Hey, old fella, shouted the Doctor, coming to a halt.  I want a word
with you.
The shaman stopped his chant and reached for the knife.
 Hold it right there, ordered the Doctor, in such a commanding
voice that the costumed Brother Hugan found himself obeying.
 Laylora must be appeased, the Layloran insisted, his voice cracking
with emotion.
His eyes were wild, the Doctor noted. Clearly the strain of recent
events had pushed him over the edge.  Laylora doesn t need you to
kill anyone, the Doctor began, in a more considered tone.
The shaman shook his head.  She is angry. Only the blood of an
outsider will appease her.
148
 You reckon?
The Doctor was moving now, pacing back and forth, hands thrust
deep into his pockets. The shaman s head followed the movement,
like a spectator at Wimbledon, one way and then the other, almost
hypnotised.
 Because I don t. Thing is, you see, the Doctor continued, suddenly
stopping his pacing and pointing at the shaman,  you ve almost got it
right. He waved an arm around, taking in the chamber, the temple, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]