Chapter Sixteen
Everyone rushed to the window and looked out. Far below, on the open road next to the wall, the dragon parade was in chaos. Khakied soldiers were pouring out of Cerf's cave and the civilians were panicking.
Most of the view, however, was obscured by the largest float in the parade, a dragon balloon the size of a house, scaled and horned and painted in metallic greens and blues and reds. It had drifted close to the window in the fracas, and Sode had managed to land on it. He was climbing up one of the plastic horns on the head, close to the eye.
"Well, come on," shouted the Doctor, "we've got to stop him!" There was a desperate run down three levels and into the great hall with the double doors. Three of Sode's guards were there, but Cerf had his needler out and stunned them almost before they saw him. Gamra and Alendar wrenched half the door open and they saw the dragon balloon hovering above them, with Sode working his way around a wing and towards one of the ropes holding the beast in place.
"Very good," muttered the Doctor. "We have a few minutes yet." Suddenly Tellisn sagged against the wall. "Victoria," said the Doctor, "can you get Tellisn and the scientists back to the TARDIS?"
"But Doctor--"
"We've got to catch Sode before he does any more harm," said Cerf. "You women would only be in the way."
Elfik was concentrating on keeping her pile of information off the floor, but Kapik bristled, and Jamie slapped his forehead, miming despair. "Och, you're in trouble now, Highness," he muttered.
Victoria drew herself up indignantly. "That does it. I'm staying right here with you!"
The Doctor handed her the book. "Now, Victoria, listen," he said. "It's very important that Tellisn gets to the TARDIS, and you have the key. It's the only place they'll be safe."
"Oh, all right," said Victoria grumpily. "Come on, it's this way." She led the scientists down the stairs, and Tellisn limped along behind.
o0o
Cerf led the others outside. Sode had left the rope by the wing and was making his way out toward the rope on the tail.
"Give up, Sode!" shouted Cerf. "You haven't got a chance!"
Sode climbed faster.
"What does he think he's doing?" muttered Cerf. "If he slides down the rope we've got him, and if he stays up there--"
Sode had reached the rope. Silver gleamed in his hand.
"Hey, that's my dagger!" cried Jamie. "Look out, he's cutting the rope!"
The rope broke and curled down to the ground. There was a multiple snapping sound as the other ropes, probably sawed half through already, parted under the strain. The balloon pitched wildly as it rose into the air, and Sode lost his hold, slid down the side of the beast flailing his arms desperately, and caught a trailing end of rope barely soon enough to save his life. A great gust of wind blew the balloon higher.
"Gamra," snapped Cerf. "Where's the boat?"
"Impounded," said Gamra. "But your father's jet is still in the hangar."
"Let's go," said Cerf, and set off at a dead run for a small door in the castle wall.
"Jet?" said Jamie in confusion, remembering the time the TARDIS had materialized on a runway in Gatwick Airport in 1966, and the runway had been in use. Then, realizing he was being left behind, he ran to catch up.
Inside was a giant room with two big doors on the side and the royal hoverjet on a landing pad in the middle. Alendar was already in the pilot's seat and the craft was revving up.
"Everybody in!" shouted Cerf, his voice echoing in the hangar. "Gamra, get the big doors open!"
The hoverjet's deck was large enough for ten people to stand comfortably, with safety fences about a meter tall and copper benches around the sides, and a small control panel near the pilot's cabin. "Jamie," said Cerf, "you stand by the controls. The red button activates the pressure shields. Press it as soon as we're out of the hangar bay."
In front of the hoverboat the hangar doors were slowly sliding open. Gamra scrambled over the side, and Cerf said, "Whenever you're ready, Alendar."
Alendar grabbed the steering stick, looked over his shoulder and grinned a manic pilot's grin. "Hold tight, everyone, here we go!"
o0o
The soldier Victoria had knocked out was gone and the door to the cell was hanging open. Tellisn leaned against the TARDIS, breathing weakly as Victoria fumbled with the key.
"You don't expect us all to get in there, do you?" said Kapik.
"Actually, I do," said Victoria briskly. "It's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside."
The two scientists exchanged glances. Victoria finally got the key to turn and pushed the doors open. "Well, come on," she said. "Let's get Tellisn inside."
"I... can walk," said Tellisn, managing to stand straight. He followed Victoria into the TARDIS. Elfik and Kapik exchanged reluctant glances, and went in after them.
It was indeed bigger inside than out. The two astronomers looked around in amazement as Victoria led Tellisn to an antique chair in a corner of the console room.
Elfik found her voice first. "Incredible. How does it work?"
"The Doctor only says it's dimensionally transcendental," said Victoria. "All I know is that it works." Giggling, she added, "Oh, don't touch any of the controls, all right? You could send us off to who knows where."
She went over to the food machine in the corner and dialed up a hot drink for Tellisn. He took it gratefully. "Victoria," he said, "if there's time, I'll have to sleep."
"That's all right," said Victoria. "Go right ahead. I hope you feel better." Tellisn handed her his empty cup, leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. Victoria went back to the food machine. "Tea, anyone?"
Kapik suddenly looked down at the papers in her hands. "I don't believe it," she said. "I left all the spectrophotographs behind. Victoria, can you open the doors?"
"Those aren't necessary for confirmation," said Elfik worriedly. "We've already got the radar data."
"They're useful for size and elemental makeup, and necessary for plotting a course."
"Will we need to plot a course?"
"We might. Besides," laughed Kapik, "you know how I am about having everything complete. I can run up and get the papers and be back down before you know it."
"Are you sure?" asked Victoria. "It might be dangerous, with all those soldiers out there."
"I'll go with you," said Elfik suddenly. "We'll be all right together."
"Well, all right," said Victoria. "But I still don't think it's a good idea." She went to the console and turned the knob that opened the doors. "Be careful now!"
Outside, Kapik winced and steadied herself against the TARDIS. "Kapik?" said her sister. "Are you all right?"
She shook her head. "It's nothing, just my headache coming back. I'm fine."
"Come to think of it," admitted Elfik, "I'm getting a headache too. Must be the altitude, after all that time down in the cells." They went up the stairs, still talking, while Victoria watched them on the scanner and muttered, "Stuck in here again."
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