10

‘You’ve been busy,’ said the Doctor.

The Master stood in the doorway. In his hand he held a burning torch that cast a flickering fiery light across his face.

‘You know,’ said the Doctor. ‘I always thought you looked a little like the Devil with that beard. Now I know it.’

‘Doctor, Doctor,’ said the Master mockingly. ‘Such a bad loser. Come on now, admit it! You’ve been plodding around in the dark. Talking of which, the sky tonight will be illuminated most wonderfully by the comet. You’ll enjoy that.’

‘Yes,’ said the Doctor. ‘Yes, I see now. You could have just gone to Judea in 33 AD to find the spear. Taken it right out of Longinus’ hands, no doubt. But that date is not accurate. Calendars have changed and, besides, all we really have to go on are dates made up hundreds of years later by the men who wrote the apocryphal Gospels.’

‘Precisely, Doctor. Whereas here, tonight, the comet marks the equinox, so neatly recorded on that rune stone in the British Museum. These Vikings are such wonderful people. Do you know they wash once a week?’

‘Could have fooled me,’ muttered Jo.

‘And now, Doctor, you’re here. You join me just as I planned. So nice of you to turn up to order. Because I need you, Doctor. Or, rather, I need your ship.’

‘Something wrong with yours, old boy?’

‘Not at all. It’s quite well. I’ve been making lots of trips in it. Finding warriors for Njord. He’s most impressed. So is Odin, and that’s why I need your TARDIS. I’m giving it to him.’

‘And Njord’s men have already relieved me of the key, along with my screwdriver. I can guess what you want in return.’

‘Quite right, Doctor. Odin and I have made a bargain. He wants a ship just like mine. And he will get one in return for the Nexus. The Spear of Destiny.’

‘But he can’t operate the TARDIS.’

‘No, but then he doesn’t know that, does he?’

‘And meanwhile you’ve set the Aesir and the Vanir at each other’s throats, pushing them towards war, while you’ve been cooking up your own little plans.’

‘Now will you admit how stupid you’ve been, Doctor?’

The Doctor said nothing, but clenched his jaw and stared at the wall of the hut.

‘It gets worse, I’m afraid,’ said the Master. ‘You see, I’ve told Odin all about you. Both of you. He was very interested to hear about the Doctor, some sort of magician, or wizard. And his young and attractive assistant. So you’re to be made guests of honour. Tonight. At the blessing. In fact you could say you’ll be the main attraction.’

He turned to go, then hesitated. ‘I do have a few problems with the Vikings, though,’ he said. ‘I quite clearly told them to put you in different huts. And now here you are together. I’ll send someone to separate you. Miss Grant, Doctor, goodnight.’ And with that he ducked out of the low door and was gone.

‘We have to escape,’ whispered the Doctor.

‘Now?’

‘No, after we’ve been separated. That will buy us some time. If you get free, find the TARDIS. It’s here somewhere. Close by, I’m sure.’

‘But how will I escape? How will you escape for that matter?’

‘I’m more of a thief than you imagine me to be. While I was talking to Njord I pinched a couple of knives. Can you reach my right-hand pocket?’

Jo squirmed and managed to find a knife in the Doctor’s jacket.

‘As long as they don’t search us,’ said the Doctor, ‘we’ll be fine. As soon as you’re tied up again, get yourself free. Find the TARDIS.’

‘And what are you going to do?’

‘I’m going to talk to Odin.’

‘Oh,’ said Jo. ‘Fine. But what’s the big hurry? The Master said we’ll see him tonight, anyway, at the blessing. That doesn’t sound so bad.’

‘Jo, you should know your own language better. A blessing isn’t what you think it is. It comes from an ancient Norse dialect, in which to bless means to sacrifice. We’re to be the sacrifice at tonight’s ceremony.’