Suppose the Great Crystal absorbed only the evil that was in their minds, the restlessness, the hatred, the greed, absorbed it, amplified it, reflected it -' 'And created the Mara!' whispered Nyssa. 'Exactly! And in the reign of evil which followed, they must have forgotten the most important thing of all - that the Mara was something that they themselves had blindly brought into being.'

9.

Death Sentence

Ambril found himself blinking in the sunshine outside the Cave of the Snake. He looked wildly about him. Lon had insisted on blindfolding him again before taking him out of the hidden chamber, and now Ambril was haunted by the thought that his new-found treasures might be lost to him forever.

He turned to Lon. 'The objects you showed me, the antiques . . . Please, where are they?'

'They are quite safe,' said Lon soothingly. 'If you co-operate fully, you will be able to 'discover' them again - after the ceremony.'

'And your friend - that strange girl -'

'She will look after them for you. Now, come, we must get back to your quarters. You have arrangements to make.' He put a hand on Ambril's arm, 'And remember, co-operate, and you can discover the treasures after the ceremony. The credit will be yours -all yours!'

Tegan stood motionless in the lantern-lit chamber, her eyes glowing fiercely red.

She held out her left hand, palm down in front of her, staring at the snake design, concentrating fiercely. To Dugdale's fascinated horror, the snake began to pulse and swell. Somehow it became a real snake.

'Well, Showman,' sneered Tegan. 'Do you still dream of my success?

Perhaps you do. It will be greater than you could imagine! You have no choice you know. You have to look.'

The snake grew larger.

Still Dojjen sat motionless between the two jagged rocks, the crystal at his throat growing brightly, the snake twisting lazily around the staff.

There was a fierce alertness to his concentration now. He sensed that the danger for which he had prepared for so many long years was very close . . .

'If Dojjen had worked out what happened - ' began Nyssa.

'Only some of it,' interrupted the Doctor. 'The rest he must have learned from his contact with the Snakedancers. They'd kept the old knowledge alive, hidden in traditions and legends.'

'So Dojjen became convinced the Mara would return?'

'That's right. But he didn't know exactly when - and anyway, n.o.body would listen to him. Just as no one will listen to us!'

'But Dojjen was Director for a time. Why didn't he simply destroy the Great Crystal when it was in his charge?'

'Good question . . . and I don't know the answer.'

'So now we've worked it all out, what do we do now?'

'We wait,' said the Doctor simply.

Picking up Dojjen's journal, he sat down on the bunk and resumed his reading.

Lady Tanha was talking to Chela in Ambril's room. She found the young man's company very soothing.

Chela was quiet and respectful, and she felt sure that she could rely on his discretion.

'My poor Lon,' she was saying. 'It's difficult for him you see. He is young, impatient. He knows that one day he will be Federator and rule over the Three Worlds. My husband is an old man but he is - lingering on, rather. He could live for many years yet, and so my son must wait.'

She looked thoughtfully at Chela. 'The young do not like to wait, do they, as a rule? You may-speak freely, strictly between ourselves.'

Chela was petrified with fear and embarra.s.sment. It was dangerous enough to listen to this kind of talk, let alone join in.

Lon and Ambril appeared in the doorway and Chela was shocked to see that the usually meticulous Director was grimy, dishevelled, and showing strong evidence of suppressed excitement. He might almost have been drunk.

'Lon!' said Tanha reproachfully. 'Where have you been?'

'Nowhere, Mother, just - exploring, Ambril here has been showing me round the Caves again, haven't you Ambril?'

Ambril didn't seem able to reply.

Nyssa was rapidly approaching explosion point, pacing up and down the cell like a captive animal. 'How can you just sit there, Doctor?'

'Patience, Nyssa, patience. I have an idea we may be out of here soon.'

'Oh yes?'

'Young Chela was far more convinced than he let on. I think he'll help us.'

'And if he doesn't?'

'I think he will.'

'But you can't be sure, can you?'

'No,' said the Doctor gently. 'I can't be sure.'

Nyssa resumed her pacing. 'And meanwhile Tegan is in the power of the Mara. Unless we can help her soon, it will destroy her.'

Lon was dusting Ambril down rather like a father whose child has been playing in the mud. 'All my fault, I'm afraid, I did rather insist. We explored the deepest recesses of the caves you see. I'm afraid he got himself a little dusty in the process.'

He gave Ambril a final pat on the back, sending up clouds of dust. 'Now then, the Director has an announcement to make.'

Ambril coughed and choked. 'Have I?'

'Yes, you have,' said Lon in steely tones.

Ambril cleared his throat, and began reciting, parrot-like. 'In honour of the special esteem in which we hold -'

'Get to the bit about the ceremony,' said Lon wearily.

'Ah yes, the ceremony.' Ambril drew himself up with a pathetic attempt at formal dignity. 'In the ceremony this afternoon, Lord Lon, son of the present Federator, will play the part of his ill.u.s.trious ancestor, who, five hundred years ago, defeated the Mara and founded the Federation.' He paused, caught Lon's eye and stumbled on. 'In honour of this special occasion, the Great Crystal, the Great Mind's Eye, will for the first time be inserted in its rightful place -'

'No,' shouted Chela instinctively.

He fell silent, struck dumb by embarra.s.sment.

'Oh, will that be difficult?' asked Lon, concerned. 'I know these last-minute changes of plan can sometimes cause problems.'

'Director,' said Chela desperately. 'It is expressly forbidden by your oath of office -'

'Superst.i.tion! Just foolish superst.i.tion.'

'It's all my fault, I'm afraid,' said Lon. 'It was all my idea.'

Chela stepped back, bowing his head. 'My Lord.'

Lon turned looked at his mother. 'Do you have any objection?'

Lady Tanha shook her head.

'Those are my instructions,' said Ambril with nervous determination. 'I will have them obeyed - to the letter!'

'Then fetch the Great Crystal, will you?' said Lon affably.

Ambril blenched. 'You mean - now, my Lord?'

'Yes. Why not now? We may as well have a look at it.'

Ambril stumbled out of the room.

Chela looked at the big metal key, on Ambril's desk. He began edging towards it.

'Well,' said Lon cheerfully. 'A drink while we're waiting, I think.' He smiled at Chela. 'Will you join us?'

By now Chela was leaning against Ambril's desk, his hands reaching out behind him. They touched the cold metal of the key. He straightened up. 'No thank you my Lord, I'm afraid I have duties.'

Chela backed towards the door.

'Of course, of course, very commendable,' said Lon. 'You mustn't neglect your duties.'

'Lon,' said Tanha protestingly, 'Please, will you tell me what is going on?'

Lon seemed to be in high spirits. 'With the greatest of pleasure, Mother.'

By now Chela was at the door. He bowed. 'Excuse me, my Lord, my Lady - I'll send a servant to bring you wine.'

Chela slipped out of the room.

Lon rounded on Lady Tanha. 'What was on the table?'

Lady Tanha stared at him.

'He picked something up off the table. 'What was it?'

Chela hurried into the cell area, key in hand.

'Well done,' said the Doctor delightedly. 'Mind you, it's about time.'

'Be quiet,' said Chela impatiently. 'We must hurry, there is little time.'

He unlocked the cell door.

'What made you change your mind?' asked the Doctor.

'Come on' said Chela, and led the way from the room.

The bodyguards had been alerted, and now Lon was pacing up and down Ambril's study, waiting for news.

'It's no use making excuses for him, Mother,' Lon said impatiently. 'He's a traitor.'

'Are you sure? He seems such a pleasant young man.' 'He took the key, didn't he? That proves he's involved.'

Chela led them swiftly along the back corridors. 'We must get out of the building at once.'

'And back to the TARDIS,' said Nyssa. 'We'll be safe there.'

' We will, perhaps. What about Tegan?'

In Ambril's office, Lon was berating a guard. 'Why haven't they been found yet? I want every entrance sealed. They must not escape.'

The guard hurried away 'Lon, I really do feel you're making too much of this,' protested Tanha.

'My dear Mother - do you really expect me to allow those who plot my death to go free?'

'Your death?'

'Isn't it obvious? This whole thing is a plot against my life - and those responsible must die!'

It would solve a lot of problems, thought Lon. An attack on the Federator or one of his family was the most dreadful crime imaginable.

The death penalty would be automatic, and instant.

The three fugitives turned a corner and found themselves facing one of the bodyguards - a giant of a man in a terrifying mask-like helmet.

'Back the way we came!' ordered the Doctor.