The King's Dragon UNA McCORMACN

For Matthew, of course 'Woe for that man who in harm and hatred hales his soul to fiery embraces; nor favor nor change to fiery embraces; nor favor nor change awaits he ever.' awaits he ever.'

From Beowulf Beowulf translated by Francis B. Gummere translated by Francis B. Gummere They came only at They came only at night. They crept around the dark places, the hidden places, the poor and lonely places. night. They crept around the dark places, the hidden places, the poor and lonely places.

It was said in the city that you could tell when they approached. First your skin began to p.r.i.c.kle and then a sickening cold fear lodged itself in your belly which rose and rose, up and up - until you could not speak and you could not breathe, and the lamp that you were carrying couldn't bear it any longer and went out - phoomph! phoomph! And then the shadows grew thick and dark, and you could no longer see round the bend in the alley or the curve in the road. You could not see the peril that was lurking ahead, but it was there. And it lingered. And then the shadows grew thick and dark, and you could no longer see round the bend in the alley or the curve in the road. You could not see the peril that was lurking ahead, but it was there. And it lingered.

9.That's what was said. But when you asked the tale-bearer if he or she had seen these things themselves, 'Not I!' was the answer. But a cousin, or a cousin's friend, had heard the tale from someone else: 'A reputable source, mind you! My cousin is not one for telling tales!' And you would shake your head politely and reply, 'No, no! Of course!' But privately you would dismiss the story (again) and return to your business. For business was booming these days in Geath. All was well now that the city had its new young king.

Still, you might think, as you locked the doors, front and back, and you sealed up the windows, it was strange how empty the streets became after dusk. It was strange, too, how we all bolted our doors and our windows these days.

And each night, someone scurrying down a narrow alley or across a deserted plaza, on some business that sadly could not wait til the morning, would fancy that they could see shadows moving ahead, moving without any wind behind them, this summer being a hot one.

And some people - the most fanciful, surely, and the least trustworthy - would add a little colour to their tale.

(For the best of us cannot resist a little colour.) There was a strange noise, they said, like the growl of a wild beast - and some would swear that on the wall of the pa.s.sage curving ahead, they 10.had seen the long shadow of a hand, or a claw, stretching out.

And the funny thing was, they would say, that this hand had too many fingers...

11.

Chapter 1.

I don't know why I a.s.sumed an alien planet would be in the future,' Amy said, 'but I did. Flying cars. Rockets.' I a.s.sumed an alien planet would be in the future,' Amy said, 'but I did. Flying cars. Rockets.'

'Food in pills,' Rory said.

'Food in pills, yes. But it's not like that at all. It's more...'

'Olde worlde?' Rory offered.

'Olde worlde,' Amy agreed. 'But not retro.'

They were standing by the side of the road - an olde-worlde road, without flagstones and with mud.

A few metres ahead of them, the Doctor stood with one thumb stuck out, his face screwed up in concentration. He was staring at a horse and cart that, for the past five minutes, had been making 13 13 steady progress down the track towards them. The driver's attention, however, was focused no further forwards than the ears of his horse.

'If I'm being honest,' Rory said, 'I didn't expect horses. Is there any particular reason to expect horses? On an alien planet, I mean? Or have I missed something?'

Amy gave it a couple of moments' thought. 'I don't think you've missed anything.'

The front of the cart was now almost level with the Doctor. He stuck his thumb out further; the universe's most intense hitchhiker. Slowly, ever so slowly, the cart rolled past. The golden bells on the harness jingled merrily.

Amy gave the driver a cheerful salute as he went on his way. 'Why, Doctor!' she cried. 'Is there anything anything you can't do?' you can't do?'

For the merest fraction of a second, the Doctor remained stretched out in his. .h.i.tchhiking pose. He looked like a slightly forlorn scarecrow, or a particularly scruffy stork.

Abruptly, he turned on his heel and rejoined his friends. His trousers and shirt were splattered in mud.

Brightly, he said, 'Beautiful day! Let's walk!'

The day was very hot for walking so they set a gentle pace. The afternoon ambled amiably towards evening and the sun slipped away, although it did 14 14 not take the heat with it. As the travellers neared the top of the next hill, a yellow moon put in an appearance.

'Are we there yet?' Amy called forward.

The Doctor, two steps ahead as ever, said, 'Not long now.'

'I hope this place is something special, Doctor,'

Amy said. She glanced at Rory, trudging behind her, his expression murderous. 'For your sake.'

'Top of the hill! Then you'll see why I've brought you here.' The Doctor - all frantic energy and hectic delight - reached the top of the hill and balanced precariously on a gravelly escarpment, throwing his arms out like a showman.

'The city of Geath!' he cried. 'Revered throughout the universe for the beauty of its buildings, the wisdom of its people, the excellence of its sauces - and, most of all, for the unlikely fact that, for twelve and a half thousand years, it has been at peace with its neighbouring cities. Its name is a byword for hospitality, craftsmanship and civilised conversation. Forget rockets and flying cars and food in pills - Geath is something truly remarkable. A bunch of people who not only don't see the point of getting into fights with each other, but have managed not to get into fights for about as a long as it took your species to get all the way from hitting each other on the head with 15 15 clubs to nuclear bombs... Have I mentioned how good their sauces are?' He kissed the tips of his fingers. 'Nothing on your world comes close.'

Rory, struggling to keep his foothold on the stony slope, said, 'My nan makes good gravy.'

Amy's eyes went hazy with happy memory.

'Oh yes...'

'If you can bring yourselves back for a moment to the alien planet alien planet you're standing on,' the Doctor said, you're standing on,' the Doctor said, 'and if you ever make it to the top of this hill, I promise you will see a sight capable of putting thought even of Sunday lunch out of your head.'

He reached out a hand, Amy took it, and reached back to Rory in turn. Together they took the last step up. The clouds in the sky parted and the light from the setting sun made the valley below them glow.

Amy gasped.

Rory said, 'Wow.'

The Doctor smiled. 'Exactly.'

In the valley below, a long river wound lazily in a great curve and, in this bend, lay the city of Geath. It dazzled. Amy blinked, to little effect, and was obliged to shield her eyes with her hand to be able to make out the shape of the city.

It spread up from the river onto hills that lay to the north in a grand display. It was as if the people of the city had no fear of showing their beautiful 16 16 home to the wider world. In fact, they wanted everyone to see. And why not? It glowed in the sunset; the late light caught upon the red tiles of the roofs, the yellow buildings, the gold...

As Amy looked more closely, she was able to pick out detail. The city was laid out in circles: concentric avenues running in rings that drew her eye to a central plaza. There, in the heart of the city, stood a huge round building with a great domed roof.

The dome was golden. Amy reached out her hand as if to touch it. It was a marvel, smooth and round and precious, like the egg of a magical creature. Amy wanted to run her hand across its surface and feel the sun-tinged metal in her hand.

'Like it?' said the Doctor.

'It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen,'

Amy replied.

Rory, in a quiet awed voice, said, 'What is is that place?' that place?'

'The council chamber,' the Doctor said. 'The heart of Geath, where its citizens meet to debate, discuss, deliberate - and eat.' He checked his watch, tapped its face, then checked it again. 'We should get a move on.'

Rory was already halfway down the hill. Amy half-ran and half-slid after him, eager for a proper look at the astonishing golden hall. Could it be as 17 17 glorious up close? Could anything? Turning to look back, she saw the Doctor standing still on the hilltop, hands stuck in his pockets. Behind him, it was starting to get dark.

'Come on!' she called.

The Doctor nodded, as if coming to a decision, and followed her and Rory down the hill. They still had some way to go.

As she walked, it occurred to Amy that the driver of that cart had not shown much of the reputed hospitality. But it was hardly worth mentioning. No doubt they looked like a fairly odd bunch of hitchhikers. She couldn't really blame him for pa.s.sing them by.

The track down the hill and their new enthusiasm soon brought them to the broad paved road that led into Geath. They crossed the river by means of a great stone bridge. It was obviously ancient, but immaculately constructed; the ma.s.sive blocks smooth and interlocking. The sun set, but the evening remained hot, making the promise of the grand hall and a friendly welcome even more appealing. It was very quiet. n.o.body pa.s.sed them, walking or riding, in either direction.

Ten more minutes brought the travellers to an arched gate in the city walls. The walls were very high and the gate very locked. Behind them, 18 18 everything was quiet. A single torch glowed dimly and they huddled under it.

'Have we got here after closing time?' Amy asked.

'Closing time? In Geath? No such thing.'

'A locked gate isn't very hospitable,' Rory said.

'No.' The Doctor looked thoughtfully at it.

'Odd, isn't it?'

'Maybe if we let them know we're here they'll be all smiles,' Amy said.

She reached for the hammer on the door. It was a fascinating design: it looked like a dragon, clambering up the gate, its head turned sideways so that a single ruby red eye could keep watch on the road leading up to the city. The dragon's long gold tail curled down to form the door-knocker. Amy picked up the tail - then dropped it, quickly.

'Doctor, it's warm!'

The Doctor unfurled a long finger and, tentatively, brushed the tip along the dragon's tail. 'So it is.'

Amy reached to take hold of it again but the Doctor was there first. She tutted in annoyance.

Why couldn't she be the one to experiment for once? Out came the sonic screwdriver. Hadn't she seen it first? Amy watched unhappily as the Doctor ran his thumb down the scales on the dragon, almost caressing them.

19.'Definitely odd,' he said. Then he picked up the long tail and banged it hard against the gate.

There was a pause, a thump, and then somebody cursed inventively. The spy-hole in the gate opened.

The Doctor stuck his face up close and grinned through. 'h.e.l.lo! How are you? Can we come in?'

'Who's there? What do you want?'

The Doctor fumbled in his pocket and pulled out his psychic paper. He held it up closer to the hole in the gate.

The keeper muttered a reply.

'Sorry,' the Doctor said. 'Having a bit of trouble hearing you! Big wooden gate in the way!'

'I said I can't read!'

'Ah.' The Doctor stared down at the paper. 'Of course. Oral culture. That's a design flaw, isn't it?'

There was another series of thumps from behind the gate, which then opened a crack.

'But the wife can,' said the gatekeeper. 'So you'd better come in.' He peered behind the Doctor and shook his head at Amy and Rory. 'Not them. Only you.'

Th e D o c to r we nt t h r o u g h the g ate , unapologetically looking back over his shoulder at his friends.

They stood there for almost two whole minutes before Amy muttered, 'Bored now!' She waved at 20 20 Rory. 'Come on, then. Leg up.'

'What?'

'If they won't let me in through the gate, I'm going over the wall.'

'Amy, can't you wait for once?'

'Not a chance!'

'But what if they don't let the Doctor through?

Then you'll be stuck in there-'

Patiently, Amy explained. 'No - I'll be on the inside and can come and open the gate once the keeper has gone back into his house. Hands, please.'

About three and a half seconds later, Rory was crouching with his hands clasped together in front of him. Amy was standing on them and scrabbling up the wall.

'Sometimes,' Rory said to Amy's left shin, 'I feel like I've spent my entire life doing things like this.

And then I start to worry that I'm going to spend the rest of my life doing things like this... Amy!

That's my face you're standing on!'

'Nothing vital, then.'

'Thanks a lot!' He pushed her up, she pushed too - and then she was sitting on top of the wall. A sudden thought struck him. 'Amy - what do we do if the Doctor does does persuade them to open the gate?' persuade them to open the gate?'

'What?'

21.'There'll only be one of us. One of me! Here! By myself!'