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And Shom I want security status raised to black. No
transmat communications, arrivals or departures, are to take
place without personal authorization from myself. He
hesitated. This matter is to be kept private for the moment. I
don t want to cause a panic. Tell the people there has been a
technical fault.
We regret to inform you that a technical difficulty will delay
all transmat communications for the next few hours. Please be
patient while we assess the situation. Normal service will be
resumed as soon as possible.
Spiggot sneered up at the speaker. And the first beacon
satellite has just gone into orbit. Wonder what they re trying to
cover up?
He lit another cigarette, popped it into his mouth, and
opened the door of his cabin. It contained Romana, who lay on
the couch. How did you get in here, then?
The Doctor s head popped from the mini-bar. No sign of
any ginger beer, Romana, he said. He caught sight of the
detective. Ah, Mr Spiggot. We were just about to have a
drink, would you like to join us?
This is my room, mate, Spiggot said threateningly. I
think we should have a little talk about privacy.
Really? the Doctor said. I think we ought to have a large
talk about murder.
Spiggot sighed and threw the bulging Xais file onto a table.
Romana picked it up and started to examine the contents.
Hey, called Spiggot, hold it a second, lady. And what s all
this about murder?
The Doctor forced a drink into his hand. We were very
much hoping you could tell us. Have a cherryade.
Spiggot looked down, confused, at the soft drink. Not really
his style. I ve already explained, the computers
The Doctor put a hand over his mouth. No more flim-flam,
please. The performance is over. And you needn t worry about
the bugging device, either. He removed his hand.
Spiggot shook himself. He hadn t reckoned on this. They
were cleverer than they looked. You knew?
Romana looked up. Oh, yes.
The Doctor grinned triumphantly. To use an old Earth
expression, Mr Spiggot, you were throwing us a line. All that
stuff about the security net was designed to get Pyerpoint
looking in the wrong direction, yes? He clicked his fingers
and what looked like a metal box on wheels trundled into
view.
Bugging device located and destroyed as instructed,
Master, it reported.
Spiggot jumped back, alarmed. What the hell is it?
The box took this as an invitation to introduce himself
This unit designated K9 Mark II. Purpose: to assist and
protect the Doctor Master and Mistress Romana.
Spiggot shook his head in bewilderment. Where are you
lot from?
Romana smiled. Aren t we from Central?
That was all part of it, too, Spiggot admitted
uncomfortably. I took a gamble that paid off. I figured you
were stowaways and were looking to get baled out. Decoys
and distractions, see. Good tactic. Always works. With you
two running about, old Pyerpoint would be kept even busier. I
knew he d order a check on the security data core after he
overheard our conversation. That s just what I want, because
believe it or not, I was telling you the truth. It ll take days, and
I can get on with the other business which I didn t tell you
about.
How were you to know we weren t criminals?
Spiggot gave a wry grin. I can sniff a crim from the other
side of a nebula, love. And I ve seen characters like you
before. Spaceniks, Romanies. Harmless. But useful. He was
pleased to have an opportunity to explain himself. Thought
I d read you right. Still, when you want results, you have to
take risks.
Quite right, said the Doctor. We work in similar lines,
you see. You might say that we, he indicated himself,
Romana and K9, are freelancers. We saw through your
deception straight away. He sniffed. And your performance
was just too reckless to be convincing. The delay in your
warrant, your ham-fisted break in, none of it made sense.
Unless you weren t telling the whole truth.
Which had to be something very important if you were
keeping it back from the High Archon. Romana held up the
file. I presume this is it. Makes for rather gruesome reading.
The Doctor raised an eyebrow. Oh, really?
Committal papers, indictment and trial documents in the
case of the State of Uva Beta Uva Five versus Xais of Guaal,
Romana read aloud. According to this, she killed at least two
thousand people in the space of two years. And all before her
nineteenth birthday.
I never liked early achievers, the Doctor said with feeling.
I was barely out of long socks at that age.
Spiggot was glad of the chance to explain the situation.
Haven t you heard of her?
We travel a lot, Romana said.
She was a Ceerad. Some say the last. She
The Doctor held up a hand. Sorry. Ceerad?
Spiggot looked at him, confused. You have been away,
mate. Ceerad. Stands for Cellular Remission And Decay. They
were mutants, see. Escaped the purge of Vanossos and set up
settlements on Six. Her particular talent was to crush people
where they stood. He pursed his lips and made a squelching
sound. Over in a flash but very messy.
Romana and the Doctor exchanged a glance that was deep
with significance. Spiggot, the Doctor said, I think you d
better tell us everything you know about this Xais.
Stokes pressed a bag of ice on to his wound and winced. A
couple of cups of tea, topped up with a dash of his favourite
liqueur, had gone a small way toward the restoration of his
spirits, along with the visions of Zy s likely humiliation and
punishment that were passing through his imagination. Oh
yes, he said with relish, adjusting the bag to tend to his
throbbing brow, they ll spread you out and flog you until
your bones squeak, my lad.
The door of the gallery burst open abruptly and a group of
guards burst in. They brandished blasters. Their leader, a
young chap Stokes recognized as Shom, took a step forward.
Stop right there! he shouted.
I wasn t intending to go anywhere, Stokes said
disdainfully. It took you long enough to get here. But then, I
have come to realize that efficiency is the last thing one may
expect from you gentlemen. His eyebrows shot up as he noted
Pyerpoint pushing through the group of officers into the
gallery. The Great Sandshaker preserve us. This is a most
unaccustomed pleasure.
Pyerpoint stared at him. Stokes, I warn you, do not attempt
to resist arrest. You will be shot if you try.
Arrest? Stokes gasped. You dangerous and deluded old
prune, what erroneous conclusions has your ageing
intelligence brought you to now? He gestured about him. I
think you would be better occupied locating the miscreant
responsible for this vandalism!
Pyerpoint signalled to the men. Take him.
The guards moved forward and took Stokes by the arms.
He stood still, almost unable to speak, his face gathering
colour again. His mouth opened and closed a few times before
he managed to say, Pyerpoint, you senile trout, I fail to see
the slightest glimmer of logic in this action!
The High Archon said gravely, Menlove Ereward Stokes, I
arrest you for the murder of Efrik Zy. Anything you say will
be taken down and may be used in evidence against you. You
do not have the right to remain silent.
Stokes was now totally perplexed. Zy is dead? he said
incredulously. But surely He took the bag of ice from his
head and revealed the wound. Look at this. Listen, I ve been
quite insensible for the last hour at least.
Pyerpoint turned to Shom. Take him to the detention area.
When the miners went in to Six the Ceerads weren t happy. A
lot of them topped themselves. Some of them formed little
armies. They didn t stand a chance, Spiggot explained.
Romana was appalled. You re talking about genocide. An
entire genetic strain wiped out.
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