reacted.
At least not yet.
Peri hoped this indicated the Doctor was beginning to stabilise.
With the coordinates set, the Doctor operated the master control and the time rotor started to oscillate. If his calculations were correct, as they often were nowadays, they would soon arrive at Azmael's palace where they could delight in the company of Mestor and his friends.
From their rude, sarcastic remarks, the Doctor reckoned his companions could barely restrain their eager anticipation ...
Upon arriving on Jaconda, Azmael had been summoned before Lord Mestor. Again he had been subjected to a ranting tirade.
This time, though, Azmael had felt doubly embarrassed, as Mestor had insisted on insulting him in front of his courtiers, many of whom had served the elderly Time Lord when he had been President. Although some remained silent, Azmael hoped as a mark of respect, many others had joined in the jeering and general abuse.
After being dismissed, Azmael dejectedly made his way back to his laboratory. There he found the twins staring through the glass wall that separated his work area from Mestor's hatchery.
Fascinated, the boys watched the technicians as they loaded gastropod eggs onto a conveyor belt system which then took them deep into the heart of the incubation area.
'So many eggs,' said Remus, noticing Azmael. 'Will they all hatch?'
The Time Lord nodded. 'And now you're going to ask me why we're breeding so many gastropod eggs when I have already said that Jocanda is on the verge of starvation?'
'Not at all,' said Romulus. 'My brother and I were wondering how our mathematical skill could possibly aid you in slug husbandry.'
'Come with me.'
Azmael led the twins to a corner of the laboratory where there was a beautifully made astronomical model of the Jacondan solar system. Pressing a button built into the base the model jerked into life.
'As you can see, there are only three planets in our solar system.
The largest and nearest to our sun in Jaconda. The two other planets, Muston and Senial, are not only much smaller but are also uninhabited.' Fascinating, thought the twins. But it was hardly an answer to their question.
'It is the intention of Mestor,' continued the Time Lord, 'to bring Muston and Senial into the same orbit as Jaconda.' He tried to make the statement sound as matter of fact as he could. 'Once the planets have adjusted to their new position, I am informed by our agronomists, we shall be able to farm them.'
The twins stared at Azmael as though he were mad. 'Have you any idea what would happen if anything were to go wrong?"
'1 am assured that nothing will,' said Azmael rather stiffly.
'And what is supposed to be our part in this ridiculous plan?'
'We already have the technology to move the planets. What we require from you is the mathematical delicacy that will stabilise them once they are in their new orbit.'
'And what if we refuse to help?'
'Then 1 shall kill you.'
The statement was casual, unforced and the twins knew he meant it. For the first time in their dual existence they had been threatened with death. Instead of feeling hurt and outraged, they understood the pain that Azmael must be suffering. Moving the outer planets into the same orbit as Jaconda's was for him one way of trying to save his people from starvation. He was desperate to succeed. And they accepted it.
They were also aware that the scheme was a lunatic one.
Carefully, they considered what they should do. Somehow they had to stop him. The thought of dying heroically, however glamorous it may appear to the onlooker, did not appeal to them.
To aimlessly throw away their lives by not cooperating would be pointless. Neither would it stop Mestor or Azmael. They would simply go ahead without them. Alive, they had power to control events. But how?
It was possible that Azmael would respond to reasoned, logical argument and the reality of events. As Mestor started to move the first planet and the impossibility of his task
At least not yet.
Peri hoped this indicated the Doctor was beginning to stabilise.
With the coordinates set, the Doctor operated the master control and the time rotor started to oscillate. If his calculations were correct, as they often were nowadays, they would soon arrive at Azmael's palace where they could delight in the company of Mestor and his friends.
From their rude, sarcastic remarks, the Doctor reckoned his companions could barely restrain their eager anticipation ...
Upon arriving on Jaconda, Azmael had been summoned before Lord Mestor. Again he had been subjected to a ranting tirade.
This time, though, Azmael had felt doubly embarrassed, as Mestor had insisted on insulting him in front of his courtiers, many of whom had served the elderly Time Lord when he had been President. Although some remained silent, Azmael hoped as a mark of respect, many others had joined in the jeering and general abuse.
After being dismissed, Azmael dejectedly made his way back to his laboratory. There he found the twins staring through the glass wall that separated his work area from Mestor's hatchery.
Fascinated, the boys watched the technicians as they loaded gastropod eggs onto a conveyor belt system which then took them deep into the heart of the incubation area.
'So many eggs,' said Remus, noticing Azmael. 'Will they all hatch?'
The Time Lord nodded. 'And now you're going to ask me why we're breeding so many gastropod eggs when I have already said that Jocanda is on the verge of starvation?'
'Not at all,' said Romulus. 'My brother and I were wondering how our mathematical skill could possibly aid you in slug husbandry.'
'Come with me.'
Azmael led the twins to a corner of the laboratory where there was a beautifully made astronomical model of the Jacondan solar system. Pressing a button built into the base the model jerked into life.
'As you can see, there are only three planets in our solar system.
The largest and nearest to our sun in Jaconda. The two other planets, Muston and Senial, are not only much smaller but are also uninhabited.' Fascinating, thought the twins. But it was hardly an answer to their question.
'It is the intention of Mestor,' continued the Time Lord, 'to bring Muston and Senial into the same orbit as Jaconda.' He tried to make the statement sound as matter of fact as he could. 'Once the planets have adjusted to their new position, I am informed by our agronomists, we shall be able to farm them.'
The twins stared at Azmael as though he were mad. 'Have you any idea what would happen if anything were to go wrong?"
'1 am assured that nothing will,' said Azmael rather stiffly.
'And what is supposed to be our part in this ridiculous plan?'
'We already have the technology to move the planets. What we require from you is the mathematical delicacy that will stabilise them once they are in their new orbit.'
'And what if we refuse to help?'
'Then 1 shall kill you.'
The statement was casual, unforced and the twins knew he meant it. For the first time in their dual existence they had been threatened with death. Instead of feeling hurt and outraged, they understood the pain that Azmael must be suffering. Moving the outer planets into the same orbit as Jaconda's was for him one way of trying to save his people from starvation. He was desperate to succeed. And they accepted it.
They were also aware that the scheme was a lunatic one.
Carefully, they considered what they should do. Somehow they had to stop him. The thought of dying heroically, however glamorous it may appear to the onlooker, did not appeal to them.
To aimlessly throw away their lives by not cooperating would be pointless. Neither would it stop Mestor or Azmael. They would simply go ahead without them. Alive, they had power to control events. But how?
It was possible that Azmael would respond to reasoned, logical argument and the reality of events. As Mestor started to move the first planet and the impossibility of his task
Similar Books
