The Sands Of Time Part 36

The Chronicler nodded slowly. So, when circ.u.mstances were varied, even by the tiniest of changes, the Doctor was still able to adapt and react. A by the tiniest of changes, the Doctor was still able to adapt and react. A point was made, and the Chronicler returned the holosphere's environment point was made, and the Chronicler returned the holosphere's environment to its original settings. Then he smiled, laid down his pen, and closed the to its original settings. Then he smiled, laid down his pen, and closed the book. book.

The Sands of Time - Alternative Ending Addendum The Chronicler peered into the glowing embers of reality. Deep within the holosphere, a single quantum choice played itself out for him. He was at holosphere, a single quantum choice played itself out for him. He was at one with the world he watched, oblivious to the great hallway in which he one with the world he watched, oblivious to the great hallway in which he worked, not seeing the shadows and patterns cast by the sunlight s.h.i.+ning worked, not seeing the shadows and patterns cast by the sunlight s.h.i.+ning through the stained gla.s.s. through the stained gla.s.s.

The holosphere cast its own lights for him to follow, tiny bit patterns blitted into a replay of reality. He stared into the depths of time, aware of nothing into a replay of reality. He stared into the depths of time, aware of nothing in his world apart from the sc.r.a.ping of his quill across the parchment as he in his world apart from the sc.r.a.ping of his quill across the parchment as he noted the salient points and drew deductions. noted the salient points and drew deductions.

As the events reached their closure, he leaned back. The Doctor's solution was elegant. He had learned from his previous encounter with an Osiran. was elegant. He had learned from his previous encounter with an Osiran.

But while there was a certain symmetry and poetic justice in the events, there was also a niggling feeling that the Doctor had somehow cheated. there was also a niggling feeling that the Doctor had somehow cheated.

The Chronicler dipped his quill in the dark ink, and scratched a note in his book. Then he adjusted a pattern within the sphere and replayed the book. Then he adjusted a pattern within the sphere and replayed the sequence. sequence.

Somewhere within the universal scheme, a tiny quantum choice was played out. A slight variation introduced into the mathematical and physical played out. A slight variation introduced into the mathematical and physical structure of Time, and another universe split from the first. Or rather the structure of Time, and another universe split from the first. Or rather the last. Or rather the latest. The patterns spun and resolved themselves into a last. Or rather the latest. The patterns spun and resolved themselves into a new mosaic. new mosaic.

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'I think we're a little late,' the Doctor said. His voice was quiet, but everyone turned to him. Even Vanessa swung her head slightly. 'I'm afraid your calculations were slightly off. As you can see, Nyssa has actually been awake for quite some time. Or at least, in a sort of waking sleep. Just enough to continue the ageing process while she dozed.'

'No,' breathed Vanessa, her voice an exhalation of disbelief.

'You know it's true,' the Doctor told her. 'You just scanned her mind, looking for the reasoning, calculating, intelligent part of your own self.'

'It is not there.' Vanessa's voice was low, despondent.

'So, even at the instinctive level on which you're operating you can tell that the rest of the mind of Nephthys no longer exists. It was freed when Nyssa awoke, and you weren't here. Now it's lost forever.'

'How long ago did she wake?' Atkins asked.

'She woke up in 1926.'

'Seventy years,' Atkins murmured.

The Doctor nodded. 'I like good round numbers,' he said.

'Doctor.' Tegan's voice was accusing, shaking with emotion. Her face was set and she was glaring at him.

'I'm sorry, Tegan. If there had been any other way.'

'How could you?' She was in tears now. 'How could you do this to Nyssa, after - after everything?'

The Doctor smiled sadly. 'Ra.s.sul knows. He asked if I could sacrifice a friend to save the universe, if I could make that choice.'

Tegan turned away. 'He didn't believe you could,' she said through her sobs. 'But I should have known better.'

Ra.s.sul too was shaking with anger. 'Doctor, I shall kill you for this.'

The Doctor returned his stare. 'I don't care,' he said levelly. 'The universe is safe now. All you have is a woman who hardly knows who she is and can't make a decision beyond the next instinctive moment. She can respond to circ.u.mstances, make impa.s.sioned speeches from the heart of the evil G.o.ddess she once was, but longer term than that she can never make up her mind.' He grinned suddenly. 'I hope you'll excuse the choice of phrase.'

'She will be whole,' Ra.s.sul insisted. 'We shall find a way.'

Vanessa stood watching them, listening to the exchange but taking no part.

Her face was impa.s.sive.

The Doctor shook his head. 'Nephthys' reasoning intelligence is gone forever, evaporated into the ether when Nyssa woke up and you weren't there. There is no way you can recapture it.' He smiled thinly. 'None.'

Ra.s.sul's lip twitched, his face contorted in rage. 'There is,' he hissed.

'There has to be.' Behind him, Vanessa stood silent and still. A motionless mummy stood ma.s.sively by her side. The other two mummies still held the bandaged form of Nyssa, her ancient wizened face turned slightly so she could see the Doctor. He looked across at her for a moment, then returned his attention to Ra.s.sul.

'Well, apart from the odd conjuring trick,' the Doctor said quietly, 'like bringing the near-dead back to life, I don't see there's much mileage left in the power of Nephthys.'

Ra.s.sul frowned. He looked as if he might be about to say something in return, but then he turned away, stared at Vanessa.

'Doctor,' Tegan said again, 'what about Nyssa?' Her eyes were dark.

The Doctor's brow creased slightly. 'Not now, Tegan. Not now.'

'Not now?'

But before her anger could increase further, or the Doctor could reply, Atkins cleared his throat. 'Er, what will they do now, Doctor?'

'I'm not sure. There are a couple of possibilities.'

Ra.s.sul turned back to face them, and his voice rang across the tomb.

'Indeed there are, Doctor.'

'Ah. I take it from your tone of voice that you are not tending towards the let-us-all-go option.'

Ra.s.sul laughed. 'When you yourself suggested we could raise the dead?'

He snorted his derision. 'Come now Doctor.'

The Doctor's eyes opened wide. 'Oh no. Not that. Even you can't be that desperate, Ra.s.sul.'

Ra.s.sul nodded to the mummies holding Nyssa. As one, they let go of her and lurched across the tomb towards the door leading to the inner chamber.

'I suggest you join us, Doctor. You and your friends may witness one final miracle before your lives are snuffed out forever.' He gestured for them to follow the mummies.

Atkins went to Nyssa's aid, lifting her out of the sarcophagus. Tegan glared at the Doctor, then went to help Atkins as he pulled the bandages from her friend. Underneath, Nyssa was wearing a simple linen gown, crumpled and creased but surprisingly clean and well-preserved. Nyssa said nothing the whole time, but her eyes held the Doctor's.

Ra.s.sul shuffled impatiently as the Doctor led Atkins, Tegan and Nyssa after the mummies. Then Ra.s.sul, Vanessa and the third service robot followed.

'What does he intend, Doctor?' Atkins asked quietly. He had helped Tegan to support Nyssa, but she seemed well able now to manage on her own.

'There is a ceremony,' the Doctor replied, 'an ancient Osiran rite for raising the dead. I'm rather afraid he's going to try to awaken the pile of bones that was his daughter.'

Atkins stopped dead for a split second. Tegan and Nyssa both paused at the Doctor's words.

'Of course,' the Doctor continued, 'the mummified remains could never live again, could never walk or breath. The ceremony is for the recently deceased, not the long-departed.'

'You are quite right, Doctor,' Ra.s.sul said as they reached the doorway. 'But we do not need to reanimate the bones of Nephthys.' He reached out and placed his hand on the Doctor's shoulder, gripping it tightly. 'Her mind will be quite sufficient.'

'Why didn't you do that before, if it's so simple?' Tegan demanded.

'He's bluffing,' Atkins suggested. 'Isn't he, Doctor?'

'They didn't try it before, as there's no guarantee it will work,' the Doctor said. 'He's gambling that some vestige of the conscious side of Nephthys'

mind is still buried in there somewhere - that Horus suppressed it totally rather than split it away entirely. Because of that, and for another very good reason, it was better to be patient and work through the foolproof plan that has just failed.' The Doctor stopped on the threshold of the inner chamber.

He turned to face Ra.s.sul. 'It may just work. There may be just enough of the reasoning side of Nephthys character buried deep within the memories of the girl, even after the mind was ripped apart, to harness the forces held in the relics and release some semblance of her. But the real reason you never considered this before, is your own fear.'

Ra.s.sul stared at the Doctor for a second. Then he looked away. 'But now, Doctor, you leave us no choice.'

'What's he afraid of?'

'The same thing I am, Tegan. It's just so obvious a course of action that Horus would have thought of it.'

Atkins frowned. 'You think he wouldn't play fair?'

'He was an Osiran. They never play fair.' The Doctor broke into a smile.

'Like me, they play to win.' Then he stepped forward, over the threshold and into the inner chamber.

The mummies had positioned themselves either side of the coffin. The Doctor, Tegan, Nyssa and Atkins stopped just inside the door. The third mummy blocked the doorway behind them, and they waited quietly beside the twin Shabti figures who continued their endless vigil either side of the doorway.

Ra.s.sul and Vanessa approached the casket. The servicers beside it stepped back a pace as they approached and bowed their heads. Vanessa stood at the head of the coffin; Ra.s.sul stood at the foot. They looked down at the crumpled, decayed figure inside.

As Atkins watched, Ra.s.sul reached into his jacket pocket and took out an hourgla.s.s. He held it up, and Atkins could see the final few grains of sand in the upper bowl. Then Ra.s.sul placed the hourgla.s.s on the rim of the sarcophagus, and bowed to his G.o.ddess. The m.u.f.fled sound of the organ filtered through the floor, swelling as if it were emanating from the stonework itself.

Ra.s.sul was chanting now, his voice adding to the discordant frenzy. As he spoke, he raised his arms above his head, and the mummies beside the coffin mirrored his actions. Vanessa stood silent as the ceremony proceeded. But Atkins could see that the edges of her mouth were curling slightly upwards into the beginnings of a triumphant smile. Atkins could sense the tension in the Doctor beside him. He was shaking his head slowly, clenching his fists by his sides. At last, as if unable to help himself any more, the Doctor shouted across the room: 'Stop this, Ra.s.sul. Stop it now before it's too late. Don't tempt Horus out of his lair or Osiris from the netherworld.' 'Be silent,' hissed Vanessa in reply. Her eyes were large and angry. As she raised her arm, and pointed accusingly at the Doctor, the two service robots also turned towards him. Atkins sensed the mummy behind them take a step forward. 'My time is now.' He could hear the power gathering behind Vanessa's words, could feel the tension in the stale air.

Then Ra.s.sul let out a piercing cry. His arms stretched up to their full extent, and his whole body went rigid for a second. Then he stepped back, arms open wide as if to welcome a friend. His voice was clear across the room as the chords of the organ died away. 'Nephthys, I conjure thee from the realm of the dead. Arise and do thy work.'

The reply was almost melodious. A female voice, musical and strong. It sounded to Atkins like a pair of supreme tenors chanting their twin response.

'Here am I. I answer. I awake.'

But what Atkins found most surprising was that the voices came from behind him.

And the two Shabti figures stepped forward from the back of the chamber, making their ponderous wooden way towards the sarcophagus.

Ra.s.sul shook his head in disbelief. 'This is not how it is written. What is your purpose here?'

'Doctor?' Tegan and Atkins both asked together.

The Doctor put his finger to his lips, then answered quietly. 'I think I told you, Shabti figures are provided to do the work of the deceased in the next life.'

'That's right,' Atkins said. ' Ushabti Ushabti means answerer. They answer for the dead person.' He broke off. 'I see.' means answerer. They answer for the dead person.' He broke off. 'I see.'

'You mean all they've done is wake up the figures again? Terrific.'

'Oh no, Tegan,' the Doctor said. 'I'm afraid they may have done much more than that.'

The Shabti paused in front of the coffin. Twin statues, they stared across the casket at the woman they were carved to represent. She stared back in silence. When the figures spoke, it was in unison: 'We are the guardians.

We protect the tomb of Nephthys from all who would enter. And we prevent the body of Nephthys from rising again. We answer for her.'

Ra.s.sul addressed them. 'You mean that the body cannot be restored?'

There was a note of desperation, a dying cadence in his voice. 'But we were sent by Horus himself,' he was close to hysteria now. 'We will - we must - have Nephthys whole again, complete. It is the will of Horus.'

'We are her Shabti, as ordained and instructed by Horus. If you would wake Nephthys, then you must answer the question. If you truly act for Horus, you will know the answer.'

Ra.s.sul stepped up to the Shabti nearest him. 'Then ask your question,' he spat.