Doctor Who: The Masque of the Mandragora by Philip Hinchcliffe Page B

command!’
    Giuliano paused, taking stock. ‘Is that what you think, Doctor?’
    â€˜You are the Prince! The soldiers will rally to you. Lead them to this temple, win your inheritance, sire.’
    The Doctor smiled. ‘Marco, Marco.’ He took him by the shoulders and led him gently to a bench. Then, turning to Giuliano he said, ‘If you go near that temple you go to your death.’
    Giuliano looked uncertain. ‘Then what do you suggest? What would you have me do?’
    The Doctor glanced at the open doorway to make sure no one was listening.
    â€˜The brethren are still absorbing power. Get every man you can, soldiers, joiners, stonemasons, and block all entrances to the palace. Turn it into a fortress,’ he looked earnestly into the Prince’s face. ‘Because when the brethren come here, you’re going to need one.’
    Supporting his companion Giuliano led him out of the cell towards the upper palace.
    Sarah turned to the Doctor. ‘Are the barricades enough to stop the brethren?’ she asked gently.
    â€˜Anything to delay them, Sarah. I need time to think. Anyway his power isn’t complete yet.’ The Doctor unclipped his cloak and threw it aside. ‘Come on.’ He headed out of the cell.
    â€˜What do you mean?’ called Sarah as she followed him out of the dungeons and up a stone staircase. The Doctor prised open a thick studded door at the top and poked his head through. He beckoned her on and the two of them stepped gingerly into the moonlit colonnade running alongside the state rooms.
    â€˜This way,’ whispered the Doctor, and then continued to explain. ‘So far the only Helix Energy available in the brethren is what we brought with us.’
    â€˜Well that’s bad enough,’ Sarah frowned. ‘You mean there’s more to come?’ The Doctor nodded. ‘Tomorrow night. When Mandragora swallows the moon.’
    Sarah stopped, hands on hips. ‘Listen. I came here with you remember? You don’t have to use that fifteenth-century double talk with me. I speaka da pretty good English.’
    â€˜I was just repeating what he said,’ replied the Doctor and disappeared smartly behind a stone column. Sarah had to run to catch up. ‘Who?’
    The Doctor hurried on, checking carefully at each corridor intersection before hopping across.
    â€˜Hieronymous. When Mandragora swallows the moon they’re going to strike.’
    Sarah sighed in frustration.
    â€˜But what does it mean?’
    The Doctor did not answer. They had come to a halt outside an imposing door with the royal crest of arms carved in wood and gilt above. Sarah recognised it as the entrance to Giuliano’s chambers. The Doctor pushed the door open and ventured in. The room was empty. Quickly he moved to the window and began dismantling Giuliano’s telescope which still stood at an angle on the table where Marco had left it. He squinted through the eyepiece at Sarah.
    â€˜Just about adequate I suppose.’ He adjusted the focus. ‘Another fifty years and we could have used Galileo’s. Come on.’ He was at the door and off again before she’d had time to draw breath.
    â€˜Where are you going now?’ protested Sarah, but he had already gone and she knew she would have to follow to find out. The Doctor in one of his impulsive moods was always the same. She pulled a wry face and set off after him.
    Elsewhere in the palace there was great activity. The main gates leading onto the city square had been barricaded and all side entrances to the royal mansion were being scaled off. Giuliano himself was busy commanding the work from the corridor outside the state rooms.
    As he ordered a group of stonemasons and carpenters to the west gate Marco ran up. He had changed into fresh clothes, but still looked weakened from his