Doctor Who_ World Game - Doctor Who_ World Game Part 14
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Doctor Who_ World Game Part 14

'No, no, it was the Jacobins!'

'It was English spies!'

'They failed. The Emperor lives!'

'Long live the Emperor!'

The sergeant led them to a small stationary carriage, surrounded by armed soldiers. The group parted to reveal the side of the coach, which was decorated with the emblem of a golden eagle, surrounded by bees.

The window was open, and looking out was a strangely familiar figure. It was Napoleon. Not the skinny, shabby young soldier they had encountered ten years ago. This was a sleeker, more prosperous Napoleon, fuller-faced and a little more thick-set. He was in uniform of some kind, a dark tunic with a high red collar and massive gold epaulettes, open over a white silk waistcoat. Stars and orders blazed at his breast.

One hand was thrust inside the waistcoat in a familiar pose.

This was the Napoleon of history.

The sergeant dismounted and came to attention. 'Sire!

This is the man who saved you.'

The figure in the coach beckoned them forward and they approached the window.

'I owe you my gratitude and my life.' The voice was smoother and richer now, with only the slightest trace of a Corsican accent.

The Doctor bowed and nudged Serena. She curtseyed.

'It was an honour and a privilege to be of service to Your Majesty,' said the Doctor.

'What made you suspect the cart?'

The Doctor gave the reply he had first given Serena. 'A cart loaded with barrels, blocking the path of the Emperor's carriage while the driver runs off? It seemed too unlikely a coincidence.'

'Not to my bodyguard it seems,' said Napoleon bitterly.

'You acted with great speed, I hear and with great courage.'

'I was merely fortunate,' said the Doctor. 'Fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. Any one of Your Majesty's loyal subjects would have done the same.'

Laying it on a bit thick, thought Serena. But it seemed to go down well.

Napoleon stared intently at the Doctor. 'One moment, sir.

Surely we have met before?'

'We have indeed, sire. Some ten years ago.'

'That's right. You turned up at Fort Carre when they were about to chop my head off. This is the second time you have saved my life!'

'As I recall it was a rather mysterious lady who had that honour.'

'It is true that it was the Countess who actually brought about my release,' said Napoleon. 'She has been a dear friend of mine ever since. She is at court now, she will be happy to meet you again.'

I very much doubt it, thought the Doctor. Out loud he said, 'It will be a great pleasure to see the Countess again.'

'And, as I recall, without your earlier intervention she would have arrived too late! The Countess returned to Paris quite recently. And now you are here too! Can it be coincidence?'

'Perhaps it is destiny, sire,' said the Doctor.

Napoleon looked at him strangely for a moment. He was, as the Doctor knew, a great believer in destiny, particularly his own. 'When my fortunes improved I made attempts to trace you, sir, to give you my thanks. But you had disappeared. Moreover, no one of your name or description was known at the Committee of Public Safety.'

'I trust Your Majesty will forgive a necessary deception. I was visiting Antibes when it came to my notice that a man was about to be unjustly executed. A man whose destiny it was to play a vital role in restoring France to greatness. I determined to intervene, and invented an identity that might help me to do so.'

Napoleon leaned forward urgently. 'How did you know what my destiny was to be? And how did you know I was in danger first in Antibes and now, in this street? Who are Who are you? you? ' '

The Doctor paused, staring hypnotically into Napoleon's burning eyes. When he replied it was in solemn and impressive tones. 'I am a wandering scholar, sire, and I have travelled extensively. Over the years I have acquired much knowledge of men and fate. I am usually known as the Doctor.'

'Are you an adept?' whispered Napoleon. 'One of the Illuminati?'

The Doctor gave a mysterious smile. 'Such matters are not to be lightly spoken of, Your Majesty at least, not in a public street. If Your Majesty will forgive me...'

He bowed and turned away.

'Come back!' screamed Napoleon. He was furious. 'We have not dismissed you!'

The Doctor turned and met his angry eyes without flinching. 'I beg Your Majesty's pardon. I intended no disrespect. It is simply that on certain matters I am bound by sacred vows of secrecy.'

'I understand,' said Napoleon more calmly. 'I had hoped I still hope that you will give me the benefit of your counsel.'

The Doctor bowed. 'How may I serve Your Majesty?'

There was no trace of fear, or even deference, in his manner or in his voice.

The Emperor forced a smile. 'There is a reception tonight, Doctor, at the Tuileries. You will attend. Bring your charming companion. We will speak further. Coachman!'

The coachman sprang into his seat and cracked his whip, and the imperial carriage rattled away.

Chapter Thirteen.

Reception

The Doctor turned to Serena and smiled. 'There, that went pretty well, I think.'

'What will we learn by attending a public reception?' asked Serena, a little intimidated at the idea. 'There'll be hundreds of people milling around.'

'We'll probably meet the Countess for a start. If I can provoke her, she may let slip some clue about her plans. I hope to learn something about them from the Emperor, too.

I've an idea he figures in them pretty largely.'

'You won't get much chance to talk to him at a public reception.'

'Oh won't I? I've an idea he's going to summon me for a private chat at some point. I must try to think up some more mystic mumbo jumbo to impress him. And do try not to be so negative, Serena. It's very depressing.'

'I'm sorry, Doctor, I think I'm nervous. Assassinations and emperors, all in one day. I'm just not used to this sort of thing.'

The Doctor was instantly penitent. 'No, of course you're not. Those fools at the Agency should never have sent you.'

'Oh, I know I'm not much use to you, Doctor.'

This was something else that was worrying Serena the fact that the Doctor was was used to this sort of thing. What's more he enjoyed it, taking assassinations and emperors in his imperturbable stride. It wasn't surprising, really. It was for the sake of a life of adventure that he had first left Gallifrey. used to this sort of thing. What's more he enjoyed it, taking assassinations and emperors in his imperturbable stride. It wasn't surprising, really. It was for the sake of a life of adventure that he had first left Gallifrey.

'Of course you're useful,' said the Doctor. 'I couldn't do without you.'

'Sir!'

The Doctor turned to see a handsome young officer at his elbow. 'Yes?'

The officer saluted. 'Captain Charles, sir, aide to His Imperial Majesty.'

'And what can I do for you?'

'If you would be kind enough to furnish me with your direction, sir. And your style, and that of your companion.'

'What?'

'Your address sir. And both your names and titles if you please.'

'Why? What do you want it for?'

'So that the Emperor's invitations may be delivered. You will need them to gain entry to the reception.'

'Oh that,' said the Doctor dismissively. 'I'm not sure if I'm going.'

The officer was shocked. 'An invitation from the Emperor is a royal command, sir. You would be wise to obey.'

The Doctor gave him an obstinate glare and it was Serena who replied.

'We have taken a house in Rue Chantereine. Number six.'

Captain Charles produced a notebook and recorded the address. 'And your names, if you please?'

Serena looked at the Doctor.

'I am Jean Dupont,' said the Doctor, choosing the French equivalent of John Smith. 'Doctor Jean Dupont. This is the Lady Serena.'

Captain Charles noted the names. 'Until this evening, then.' He looked admiringly at Serena, saluted again and turned away.

'You see?' said the Doctor. 'I told you we'd soon break into society.'

'It's a wonder Napoleon still invited us, considering how standoffish you were in the end. That's no way to behave towards an emperor.'

'Just standing up to him. He's not used to that, it will intrigue him. Besides, I did a reasonable amount of grovelling before that.'

'What was all that stuff about you being an adept and one of the Illuminati?'

'An adept is somebody skilled in the magic arts, usually the black ones.'

'And the Illuminati?'

'A mysterious, all-knowing secret society, who are really or so it is said the hidden rulers of the world.'

'As you said yourself, mystic mumbo jumbo. I'm surprised you believe in it, Doctor.'

'I don't but apparently Napoleon does. It's surprising how often great men go in for that sort of thing especially dictators. Hitler was very keen on it.'

'Who?'

'Never mind. The thing is, I dropped a few murky hints about hidden knowledge and Napoleon leaped on them. It'll help no end if he thinks I'm some kind of mysterious wizard.'

As the Doctor and Serena walked away down the little street, clearing now of soldiers and spectators, they saw a shabby-looking man in a dusty black coat watching them from the other side of the road. He had a long, thin face with a beaky nose, red-rimmed eyes, rusty-red hair and dead-white skin.