Free Doctor Who: Ultimate Treasure by Christopher Bulis Page B

placid stance reminded Peri somewhat of an oriental priest.
    'I guess that's the welcoming committee,' she said aloud. Even as they looked at him, the man withdrew one arm from his robe and beckoned gracefully to them.
     
    'There seems to be no point in staying inside,' said the Doctor, reaching for the plunger lever that controlled the doors.
    'I'll do the talking, Doctor. Understand?' Jaharnus said.
    Falstaff managed to be the last to leave the TARDIS by bowing Peri and Jaharnus through in front of him in a show of apparent gallantry. 'After you, ladies,' he said. Peri grinned ruefully.
    Outside the air was mild and flower-scented and the grass springy underfoot. A light breeze rustled the leaves of the trees, accompanying the twitter and shrill of what Peri presumed was birdsong. All in all it was very tranquil, and she felt a sense of overwhelming calm descending upon her. Surely there could be nothing to fear in a place like this. She saw the Doctor looking round him intently, his deep eyes glittering, his lips pursed. Then a look of understanding crossed his face and he smiled slightly.
    'This place has the flavour of Merrie England about it,' Falstaff remarked. 'It lacks only the Boar's Head Inn nestling through yonder trees to be a veritable paradise.'
    'And do you like it as well, Peri?' the Doctor inquired.
    'It's beautiful - though it reminds me more of parts of the States.'
    'Yes, of course it would. That's due to a very subtle mental field being cast over us. Somebody wants us to feel untroubled and peaceful. We've already had one demonstration of their power, so don't necessarily believe everything you see.'
    Jaharnus alone seemed unmoved by their surroundings. After a quick glance about her, she strode determinedly up to the robed figure, her tail tip flicking from side to side, and held up her official identity badge.
    'I'm Inspector Myra Jaharnus of the Astroville Police Department. I want to talk to somebody in authority.'
    The robed man was already extending his arm, indicating a path winding away through the trees. 'Please follow me. Shalvis is expecting you.'
    'Who's Shalvis?'
    'She is the Speaker of Gelsandor. She will explain everything in due course.'
    'Gelsandor? Is that the name of your people, or this world?'
    But the man had already set off down the path at a steady even pace, and they all had to run a few steps to get level with him.
    Close to, Peri saw the man was not quite as human as he first appeared. His skin was unwrinkled but parchment thin, with a distinct bluish tint to it. Growing out of his forehead and curving up and back over his hair were five wire-thin silver tendrils that bobbed slightly as he walked.
    Through the trees on either side of the path they saw occasional low domelike buildings. Several other paths crossed theirs, and they caught glimpses of other robed figures, both male and female, making their way along them in the same purposeful but unhurried manner as their own guide. The atmosphere of meditative calm grew stronger.
    'What is this place?' Peri wondered. 'Some sort of religious retreat?'
    'Something far more complex than that, I think,' the Doctor replied.
    Then ahead of them a more substantial structure rose out of a clearing, topping all the trees around it. It was a pyramid faced with what appeared to be white marble, perhaps a hundred metres high at its apex, its surface pierced by many slotted windows. In the centre of each base side was an entrance at the top of a flight of shallow steps, overhung with a single cantilevered slab of stone. They climbed the nearest of these and entered a long, cool, stone-floored passageway, lit by softly glowing panels set in the walls. At the end of the passage was a set of heavy but undecorated double doors, which swung open of their own accord as they approached and closed silently behind them, leaving their guide on the other side.
    They were in a large, plain, square room surfaced in polished blue-veined marble, lit by