Doctor Who_ World Game - Doctor Who_ World Game Part 12
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Doctor Who_ World Game Part 12

'Something else,' said the Doctor. 'It would be well to persuade Lord Castlereagh that the assassination attempt should be hushed up as far as is possible. We don't want to cause a panic.'

'It scarcely seems fair, sir,' said Lord Nelson. 'You have saved both our lives, and we don't even know your name.'

The Doctor couldn't resist it. 'The name's Smith,' he said.

'Doctor John Smith...'

Chapter Eleven.

Plots and Plans

It took some time to get away from the thanks and the questions but they managed it at last. It was still a fine sunny day and the Doctor and Serena were strolling across St James's Park towards the TARDIS, now in the elegant shape of a small ornamental pavilion.

It struck the Doctor that there was something to be said for the perpetual police box. At least you could always recognise it. How embarrassing it would be to lose the TARDIS because you'd forgotten what it looked like.

'What now, Doctor?' asked Serena. 'Back to Gallifrey to report?'

'Certainly not,' said the Doctor indignantly. 'We haven't got anything useful to report yet.'

'We've confirmed that there is deliberate interference in human history.'

'We knew that when we came,' said the Doctor crossly.

'What we still don't really know is why! What's their final aim?'

'It is all very confusing,' said Serena. 'A mysterious somebody tries to get Napoleon executed then this equally mysterious Countess turns up and shoots the somebody, saving Napoleon in the process. Then her associate tries to blow up Nelson and Wellington.'

'As I said, it's a game, two opposing teams. But why?

Interference for the sake of it? Or is there some long-term plan? When I first met the Countess, she seemed to be trying to reverse the result of the First World War. Or maybe it was the Second, Churchill was far more important in that. Now she wants Napoleon to win the Napoleonic wars...'

'So what are we going to do next?'

The Doctor considered for a moment, looking around the park. It was so calm, so peaceful, after all the recent excitement. Trees, grass, a lake. Formal flowerbeds, blazing with colour. Elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen strolling along the paths. There was even a little flock of sheep, grazing in the distance.

'Oh peaceful England!' he murmured.

But peaceful England wasn't where they would find the answers. And unless they found them, Napoleon's armies might soon be making England a lot less peaceful.

Serena was growing impatient. Her life was dedicated to efficiency, and the Doctor often seemed distressingly vague and scatterbrained.

'Well, Doctor?'

The Doctor came to one of his sudden decisions. 'I think we should go back to France. To Paris.'

'And risk getting our heads chopped off?'

'Oh I doubt it. Not if we stay in this year. It's over ten years since we helped to rescue Napoleon, and the Revolution is well and truly over.'

'Are you sure?'

'Oh yes. Napoleon said so.'

'He did?'

'"The Revolution is over," he said. "I am the Revolution!" am the Revolution!"

By now he's made himself Emperor.'

'That's very fast work,' said Serena. 'All in only ten years?

How did he manage it so quickly?'

'Conquered Italy, came back a hero, entered politics, became one of three ruling consuls, ditched the other two and became First Consul, and then Napoleon the First, Emperor of the French! He's a very remarkable little fellow.'

Serena's mind went back over recent events. 'You know who I found remarkable, Doctor? Lord Nelson. Such an unlikely hero. The other one, Wellesley, was exactly what one would expect. Tall, strong, arrogant, the perfect military hero. But Nelson...So quiet and gentle.'

The Doctor nodded. 'I know what you mean. I don't think any other leader was so loved by his men officers and sailors alike.'

'And he was so small and frail-looking, and those terrible wounds he'd suffered...'

'You can never tell what humans are capable of,' said the Doctor. 'That's what makes them such a fascinating species.

Nelson is all fighting spirit the physical problems he just ignores.'

He decided not to tell her that, even if everything went as it should, Nelson would die at Trafalgar, shot down by a sniper.

But not till after victory. Foreknowledge of history wasn't always an unmixed blessing.

After a moment Serena said, 'Why Paris?'

'It's a crucial year in the war,' said the Doctor. 'Napoleon has an army gathered at Boulogne poised to invade England as soon as he gains control at sea. If I know the Countess, she'll want to make sure he succeeds.'

'But you've put a stop to her plan to make the English lose at Trafalgar.'

'The Countess usually has a back-up plan and a back-up for the back-up. She may even have another try at helping the French win Trafalgar. In any event, she won't be far away...'

Serena stopped before an ornamental pavilion and the Doctor gave her a worried look.

'I just wish I knew what she was planning next...'

Serena opened a door in the pavilion, and they went inside. There was a crooning, humming sound which attracted the attention of an elegantly dressed gentleman on the way to his club for lunch. He looked up in time to see the pavilion fade away. He studied the now empty patch of grass through his quizzing glass and shook his head. Too much champagne at the gaming tables last night...Resolving to be more moderate, he went on his way.

Somewhere in an inter-dimensional void outside Time and Space, the Countess was making new plans. Space, the Countess was making new plans.

'Are we all present?' said the cold old voice of the Adjudicator. A murmur of assent came from the formless Adjudicator. A murmur of assent came from the formless beings, gathered in the infinite void. beings, gathered in the infinite void.

'This assembly has been convened at the request of the Countess,' said the old voice. 'She has, I understand, a Countess,' said the old voice. 'She has, I understand, a proposition to put before us.' proposition to put before us.'

'Why should we listen to the propositions of a murderess?'

said an angry male voice. 'Twice now she has killed in the course of a Game. Not some worthless human but one of us! course of a Game. Not some worthless human but one of us!

Two who could and should have been Immortals, Players of the Game, are lost to us forever.' the Game, are lost to us forever.'

The Countess spoke. 'It is because I regret those deaths so deeply, because I have thought long and hard on the so deeply, because I have thought long and hard on the cause of them, that I come before you.' cause of them, that I come before you.'

'You and you alone are the causes of those deaths,' said the angry voice. 'You know that if we are killed when in the angry voice. 'You know that if we are killed when in human form we must truly die, like any mere mortal. That is human form we must truly die, like any mere mortal. That is the Rule though why...' the Rule though why...'

'The Rule is necessary,' said the old voice. 'If there is no death there is no danger and the Game becomes death there is no danger and the Game becomes meaningless. Let the Countess speak.' meaningless. Let the Countess speak.'

The Countess's mellow contralto voice throbbed with emotion. 'I know that I was wrong to kill, and I apologise most emotion. 'I know that I was wrong to kill, and I apologise most humbly. But why did I kill them? Once was an accident, the humbly. But why did I kill them? Once was an accident, the other I confess was in the heat of the Game. Can you not other I confess was in the heat of the Game. Can you not see? The Game puts us in contention with each other, and in see? The Game puts us in contention with each other, and in that struggle we must sometimes die!' that struggle we must sometimes die!'

'The Game is all that saves us from the tedium of immortality,' said the old voice. 'Without it our endless lives immortality,' said the old voice. 'Without it our endless lives would lack all meaning and purpose. Do you propose its would lack all meaning and purpose. Do you propose its abandonment?' abandonment?'

'I propose a new and better Game,' said the Countess. 'A Grand Design in which the excitement will be greater and the Grand Design in which the excitement will be greater and the risks far fewer.' risks far fewer.'

'And what is this design?'

'I will tell you. But let me warn you to achieve it we must abandon contention for a while and work together...' abandon contention for a while and work together...'

'A plot,' said the male voice mockingly. 'You are losing the Game, and you seek to avoid the shame of defeat.' Game, and you seek to avoid the shame of defeat.'

'I am not losing the Game,' said the Countess, an edge of anger in her voice. 'Napoleon lives, and rules as Emperor.' anger in her voice. 'Napoleon lives, and rules as Emperor.'

'Nelson and Wellington live too,' said the mocking voice.

'Your plan failed.'

'Only because of unforeseeable interference. It was none of your doing.' of your doing.'

'Nevertheless they live! Soon Nelson will smash your Napoleon's fleet at Trafalgar. Wellington will destroy his Napoleon's fleet at Trafalgar. Wellington will destroy his armies at Waterloo.' armies at Waterloo.'

'Nelson will never reach Trafalgar, and the English fleet will be defeated. Wellington will die before Waterloo.' will be defeated. Wellington will die before Waterloo.'

'You speak of abandoning contention. Yet you still want to win the Game.' win the Game.'

'Only because Napoleon is the key to my Grand Design.'

'The key to your cheated victory! I will hear no more.'

'You will hear the Countess's proposal,' said the cold old voice. 'When she has spoken we will all decide and you will voice. 'When she has spoken we will all decide and you will abide by the group's decision. Countess?' abide by the group's decision. Countess?'

The Countess began to speak, outlining a plan so grandiose, so outrageous, that even her listeners were grandiose, so outrageous, that even her listeners were astonished. Slowly at first, then with gathering enthusiasm, astonished. Slowly at first, then with gathering enthusiasm, they were converted to her plan. they were converted to her plan.

Finally, after much wrangling, it was agreed. All other Players would retire from the Game, leaving the Countess Players would retire from the Game, leaving the Countess and Valmont to lay the foundations of their Grand Design. and Valmont to lay the foundations of their Grand Design.

The Doctor and Serena sat at a table outside the Cafe de la Regence in the Rue Saint Honore and watched the world go by. It was a cheerful and animated scene on a fine spring evening.

People strolled along enjoying the sunshine, wagons and carriages rolled noisily by. An immaculately uniformed imperial courier galloped past with a clatter of hooves, scattering vehicles and pedestrians.

'He's in a hurry,' said Serena idly. 'I wonder where he's off to?'

'Probably heading for the Palais des Tuileries,' said the Doctor.

'What's there?'

'The official residence of the Emperor...'

Although it was only early evening they were drinking champagne.

When Serena protested at the extravagance the Doctor said, 'Why not? I've never been on an expense account before. The Agency can afford it.'

They had been in Paris for several days now, and were fast becoming established residents. Soon after their arrival the Doctor had visited a bank in the Rue de la Paix and produced a batch of bank drafts that provided a line of credit.