DOCTOR WHO AND THE BRAIN OF MORBIUS Read online

  'You're too modest, Doctor Solon. The strange thing is, I seem to recognise that head.'

  The Doctor made as if to remove the cloth, but Solon stepped hurriedly in front of him. 'Oh, no, I'm sure you're mistaken.'

  The Doctor gazed thoughtfully at Solon. Like Sarah, he felt there was something very odd about their host, something that made him uneasy. He decided to probe a little further. 'Speaking of heads, or rather their absence, we found a headless body lower down the mountain.'

  Solon shuddered. 'How very distressing. From one of the crashed spacecraft, no doubt?'

  'Perhaps. And there's another thing. How many wrecks did we count, Sarah?'

  'About fifteen, I think.'

  The Doctor looked sternly at Solon. 'The wreckage of fifteen spaceships, all in this one area.'

  Solon shrugged. 'I understand there's a localised belt of magnetic radiation.'

  'Magnetic radiation?' The Doctor frowned. The term was so vague as to be scientifically meaningless.

  Solon gave an apologetic shrug. 'I know little of these matters, Doctor, but I believe that is the theory.' With evident relief he turned to Condo, who had just re-entered the hall bearing a loaded tray. 'Over here, Condo.'

  As Condo set the tray on the table, balancing it deftly between his good hand and his hook, Sarah thought him quite the fiercest looking butler she'd ever seen.

  Solon was looking over the contents of the tray 'Now then, what have we here? I hope Condo's managed to find something special for us.' Sarah saw that the tray held an old and dusty wine bottle, and goblets in a metal that looked like pewter. A number of plates and dishes in the same material held a variety of rather odd-looking cold foods.

  Solon picked up the wine bottle and examined it. 'Condo, you fool, how many times must I tell you? This wine should be opened and decanted, to allow it to breathe.'

  'Yes, Master.' Obediently, Condo picked up the bottle.

  Solon looked meaningfully at him. 'Then do as you've been instructed. Hurry.' As Condo disappeared with the bottle, Solon said apologetically. 'An excellent fellow, utterly devoted to me. But I fear his intelligence is not of the highest.'

  Sarah couldn't help feeling sorry for Solon's strange servant. 'How did he lose his arm?'

  'Many years ago I was able to save him from the wreckage of a crashed Dravidian spaceship. I do whatever I can, whenever there's a crash.' Solon sighed. 'I had to remove the arm to save his life.'

  The Doctor looked up. 'I see. He's not a Dravidian himself though, is he?'

  'No indeed. The ship was taking prisoners to one of their colonies.' Waving away the subject of Condo, Solon selected a dish from the tray. 'Now these blue lobsters are considered a delicacy here on Karn...'

  In the kitchen just behind the great hall, Condo pried the cork from the bottle with his hook, and poured the wine into a jug. From beneath his jerkin he produced a tiny bottle, and poured a coloured liquid into the wine. Picking up the jug, he set off for the hall.

  This was not the first time unexpected visitors had arrived at Solon's castleand disappeared, never to be seen or heard of again. Solon could always use fresh subjects for his strange experiments.

  3

  The Horror Behind the Curtain

  Within their Temple, the Sisters of the Flame had formed a Circle of Power. They swayed gently to and fro to the wailing notes of some kind of flute. A low, rhythmic chanting filled the air. In the centre of the circle sat Maren, hunched over a crystal sphere gazing intently into its depths.

  The ceremony was simply a device, a way of concentrating the Elixir-stimulated, extra-sensory powers of the Sisters into one combined effort. As she gazed into the crystal, old Maren could feel the currents of mental force swirling around her. She concentrated them, focussed them on the sphere of crystal, and a swirling mist appeared inside its depths. The mist cleared to reveal a square blue shape. Maren hissed exultantly, 'I see it. I see the machine of our enemy.' She gazed fiercely round the circle. 'Concentrate, Sisters. More power. More power!'

  The concentration of psychic energy in the Sanctum rose to a point where it could be physically felt in the air. A whirling spot of light appeared on one rocky wall. Its glow expanded into a whirlpool, a swirling cone of brightness. A square blue shape materialised silently in at its core. Maren gasped, 'Enough, Sisters, enough. It is done!'

  The chanting died down, the eerie music stopped, the light fadedand the TARDIS stood by the wall of the sanctum. Maren rose stiffly and hobbled across to it. 'I was right, Sisters. It is a Space/Time machine.' Her mind groped for an almost forgotten word. 'It is a—TARDIS! Only the Time Lords have such machines as this.'

  Ohica said slowly, 'Then the one I saw—he was a Time Lord?'

  Maren nodded fiercely. 'Sent here to steal the Elixir.'

  Ohica moved closer, speaking softly so that the others would not hear. 'Then what can we do, Maren? Among all the races of the galaxy, only the Time Lords are our equals in mental power.'

  'That is true, Ohica. Other races we can destroy from within, we can place death in the secret centres of their being, destroy them with false visions. But against this Time Lord, such powers can have no effect. He will simply close his mind to us.'

  'Then all is lost?'

  Maren smiled coldly. 'No. There are other ways.' She raised her voice. 'Form the circle once more, Sisters. We have work to do.'

  The robed figures returned to their places, the flute took up its wailing tune, and once again a low chanting filled the air. In the centre of the Circle, Maren focussed the build-up of psychic power within her, preparing to hurl it against the Time Lord who was their enemy.

  Slowly a face began to appear in the depths of the crystal ball...

  Sarah waved away another plate of odd-looking delicacies. 'No thank you, I really couldn't.'

  Solon returned the dish to the tray, and went on talking. He really was being the perfect host, thought Sarah. What was it that was making her feel so uneasy... Perhaps it was Condo, looming menacingly in the background. He had stationed himself behind the Doctor's chair, and for some strange reason his eyes seemed fixed unwinkingly on the back of the Doctor's neck, while he fingered the hilt of the sword in his belt.

  She became aware that Solon was still chatting on, and wrenched her wandering attention back to his words. 'Yes, one never really overcomes the nostalgia for the planet of one's birth,' Solon was saying. 'Sometimes at night I look up at the night sky and wonder... shall I ever see Earth again.'

  Sarah looked meaningfully at the Doctor. 'Believe me, I know exactly how you feel!'

  Leaning back in his chair, apparently quite relaxed, the Doctor chose to ignore Sarah's little dig. 'Tell me, Doctor Solon, what made you decide to settle here on Karn?'

  'As I'm sure you know, Doctor, Karn is a ruined planet. After the years of destruction, when the war finally ended, almost everyone moved away. Nobody lives here now, nobody bothers me. I can get on with my work in peace. Take this building—once it housed a hydrogen reactor—totally abandoned and derelict. Now I've converted it into my own private castle!'

  Sarah looked round the gloomy hall. So that was it! Solon didn't really own this place. He'd simply moved in here, living like a rat in the ruins. And there was something curiously rat-like about him, come to think of it. A plump, well-fed rat, sleek and bright-eyed. Feeling rather guilty at having such unkind thoughts about her host, Sarah thought she'd better join in the conversation. 'What kind of work do you do?'

  Solon seemed to hesitate, and surprisingly it was the Doctor who answered her question. 'Micro-surgical Techniques in Tissue Transplants. Wasn't that your most famous paper, Doctor Solon?'

  Solon paused, looking keenly at the Doctor. 'So you know something of my history?'

  The Doctor smiled. 'But of course. After all, you were one of the most gifted surgeons of your time.' He turned to Sarah. 'Which was considerably after your time, incidentally.'

  Solon still didn't speak. He seemed taken aback by the Doc
tor's knowledge of his past. Cheerfully, the Doctor continued, 'You know, your sudden disappearance caused quite a stir. It was said you'd become a follower of the Cult of Morbius.'

  Sarah sensed that the Doctor was testing Solon in some way—this last shot quite definitely went home. She saw Solon stiffen, and he seemed about to make some angry retort. Then he controlled himself, produced another of his rather sinister smiles and said, 'Malicious rumours, Doctor. Academic jealousy, you know. It was all very distressing. That's why I had to get away...' (Condo sensed the change in his master's mood, sensed the anger beneath the smooth words. He edged closer to the Doctor's chair, his hand going to the sword in his belt. Solon caught the movement, gave a slight warning shake of his head, and Condo backed away.)

  Solon lifted the wine jug from the tray. 'Enough of this. Let's turn to more pleasant things. You haven't yet tried my wine, Doctor. I think you'll enjoy it—an excellent vintage.'

  The Doctor sipped the wine appreciatively. 'From Dexos, isn't it?'

  'Precisely, Doctor, the greatest wine-planet in our galaxy. Of course, the vintners have a natural advantage in treading the grapes. After all, they've each got six legs!'

  Solon chuckled delightedly at his own little joke. But his eyes were cold as he watched the Doctor take another sip of wine.

  (Maren glared malevolently at the face in the crystal ball. The Time Lord was leaning back, relaxed and smiling. 'So,' she hissed. 'Our enemy thinks himself safe in Solon's castlel' The chanting of the Sisters rose to a higher pitch.)

  Despite SoIon's recommendations, Sarah didn't really care for the wine. It was heady, and tasted highly spiced. But the Doctor seemed to like it well enough. He drained his glass, and made no objection when Solon hastened to refill it for him. Seeing that she was unobserved, Sarah discreetly tipped the rest of her wine into the debris of the lobster bowl.

  Solon made no attempt to offer her any more wine. He seemed interested only in the Doctor. 'Drink up, Doctor. I always knew that someday I'd have a guest with a head for such a fine vintage.' Solon smiled again.

  Suddenly the main doors crashed open, and a cold wind swirled through the room. Lamps flickered, the fire belched smoke, some of the heavy metal dishes were swept to the floor, and various small loose objects whirled through the air. Wind howled round the hall for a moment longer, then suddenly departed, slamming the door closed again as it shrieked away.

  Sarah sat bolt upright, clutching the arms of her chair. 'What was that?'

  She could see that Solon was as terrified as herself. Nevertheless, he managed a rather sickly smile. 'Oh, just a kind of freak squall. The abnormal weather conditions here on Karn, you know.'

  Only the Doctor seemed undisturbed by what had happened. He was still leaning back in his chair. In fact he was positively slumped, thought Sarah. He stared a little glassily at Solon. 'A telekinetic visit, perhaps? From the Sisterhood of the Flame?'

  Once again, Solon was clearly shaken by the Doctor's knowledge. 'You know of the Sisterhood?'

  The Doctor nodded, tapping the side of his nose with his finger with a gesture of rather woozy cunning. He took the finger from his nose and used it to point at the little side table where the clay bust was visible once more. The sudden wind had whipped away the concealing cloth. Solemnly the Doctor said, 'I know who that reminds me of now. Renegade Time Lord--Morbius!'

  Sarah was staring at the Doctor in alarm. 'Doctor, are you all right?' He was acting as if he was drunkor drugged.

  'Coursh, I'm all right,' replied the Doctor indignantly. He struggled to sit up straighter, but couldn't seem to manage it. 'Thatsh Morbiush all right... One of the mosht deshpicable, criminally minded wretchesh...' The Doctor slumped forwards, collapsing face-down across the table.

  Sarah's mind was racing. The Doctor couldn't really be drunk, not on two goblets of wine. Which meant that the wine must have been drugged. Her best chance of safety lay in pretending that she too had succumbed. She let herself slump forwards, burying her face in her arms. She heard Solon's exultant voice. 'There are some of us who hold very different opinions about Morbius, Doctor.' Peeping sideways, Sarah saw Solon lift the Doctor's head by the hair, then lower it carefully to the table again. 'It worked, Condo. He is ours!'

  She saw Condo step forward, a gleaming blade in his hand. 'I take head now?'

  Solon thrust him to one side. 'Clown! Put that thing away! This will be no crude butchery. A head such as this... a head that will one day command the universe... must be removed with care and skill. Every step will be planned, every suture, every incision must be perfect. This will be my triumph, Condo. A thousand years from now, people will remember Solon's last and greatest feat of surgery.'

  'Not last, Master. Me last! You put back arm. You promise.'

  Solon brushed him aside. 'Bah! Your arm is nothing. Any third-rate hack can replace an arm. But a head, the centre of the entire nervous system, a million tiny fibres... a head demands more than mere skill, Condo. It demands genius!'

  Sarah had been listening to this gruesome conversation with steadily increasing horror. Suddenly Condo grunted, 'What about girl?'

  'Girl? What girl?' Sarah realised that Solon was so absorbed with the Doctor that he'd forgotten her existence.

  Condo pointed. Solon said impatiently, 'Oh, her. Kill her, of course.'

  Sarah saw Condo draw his sword and start moving towards her. She was tensing herself to leap up and run when Solon said, 'Not now, you fool, later. I am impatient to begin. Now, Condo, carry the Doctor to the laboratory.'

  Sarah remained quite still as Condo lifted the Doctor from his chair and carried him. out of the room. She heard Solon shriek, 'Mind his head, you oaf. It mustn't be damaged. Carry him carefully...'

  Voices and footsteps died away. Sarah waited a moment longer, then got up and slipped out of the hall after them.

  Under a constant barrage of threats and exhortations to be more careful, Condo carried the Doctor along the corridor, up the stairs, along the upper gallery and into Solon's laboratory. While Solon rushed about lighting candles, Condo laid the Doctor on a bench. Solon hustled forwards, stethoscope in hand, and began examining the Doctor. 'Yes... just as I thought. There's a secondary cardio-vascular system. He's a Time Lord right enough. This is excellent, Condo, more than I ever dared hope for. Now we can be sure there will be no problems with tissue rejection.' He rubbed his hands together exultantly, flexing the long fingers in anticipation.

  Condo backed away from the Doctor in awe. 'Time Lords dangerous, Master. Much power.'

  'Rubbish. The Time Lords are spineless parasites. Morbius offered them greatness and they rejected and betrayed him!' Solon's voice rose to a shriek. 'They'll pay for that mistake, Condo. Pacifist degenerates that they are, they'll be the first to suffer the revenge of Morbius!'

  (Maren leaned forward and gazed into the crystal. 'Now is the moment, Sister. The Time Lord sleeps, he cannot protect himself against us. Concentrate, sisters. Concentrate! The chanting rose even higher, and the surge of power began to build...)

  As Solon concluded his examination, Condo wheeled forward a tray of gleaming surgical instruments. Although far from the ideal operating theatre assistant, he had attended at enough of Solon's strange experiments to give a certain amout of basic help. 'Now we take head, Master?'

  Solon waved him away. 'Do you think I'm going to work by candlelight? I need proper lighting, power for my laser-scalpels. Come—we must repair the generator.'

  As Solon and Condo made for the door, Sarah slipped back along the corridor into the concealing darkness. She'd trailed Solon and Condo to the laboratory, and watched Solon's examination. She'd formed a vague plan of distracting them into chasing her, giving the Doctor time to recover. Now she watched the two figures disappear down the corridor. They'd actually left the Doctor alone and unguarded. If only she could revive him and get him away...

  (While the Doctor lay unconscious on the bench, and Sarah was looking the other way, something very strange happe
ned. A sudden glow of light bathed his body, and he simply disappeared.)

  Sarah ran into the laboratory, stopping in utter astonishment at the sight of the empty bench. The Doctor had been there a minute ago, she'd seen him. And there simply hadn't been time for them to move him far...

  Sarah looked round the gloomy laboratory, illuminated only by the few flickering candles Solon had left behind. A dark shape in the corner caught her eye, and picking up a candle she moved towards it.

  The shape resolved itself into a four-poster bed, with curtains all round. Sarah sighed with relief. Obviously they'd dumped the Doctor on this bed until they were ready to begin their ghastly operation. There was a flutter of movement behind the curtains. Clearly the Doctor was starting to come to. Sarah pulled back the curtain. In the gloom she could dimly see a body. 'Doctor, is that you?' she called. The figure stirred but made no reply. 'Come on, Doctor,' Sarah whispered. 'Wake up, we've got to get out of here!'

  She was about to give the figure a shake when the electricity came on. The laboratory was flooded with glaring light, and Sarah found herself leaning over not the Doctor, but a monstrosity so horrible that she clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle a scream.

  On the bed lay a hideous hybrid of alien life forms, a monster that was somehow made up of bits of other creatures. Fur, scales and even feathers were jumbled together in a ghastly parody of life. The left arm, for instance, was human, but on the right was an enormous claw. Worst of all the thing was clearly alive—but it had no head!

  In unbelieving horror, Sarah saw that the Monster was trying to sit up. It flexed an arm, and the giant claw stretched out towards her...

  4

  Captive of the Flame

  Sarah backed slowly away from the headless Monster, fighting an instinct to scream and run in blind panic. To her enormous relief the creature slumped back on the bed, the giant claw waving blindly as if by some kind of reflex. Hastily Sarah closed the curtains around the bed.