Defeated

‘I have had millions of years to devise a punishment for you,’ hissed the Toymaker, ‘I have millions more to inflict it.’ He raised himself threateningly to his full height.

‘Time you have, yes, Toymaker, time enough to drive any being mad. But you’re no more a threat to anyone...’

With that, he raised the cylinder in one hand and gave a sharp twist to one end. There was an audible click as something locked, and the Toymaker started forward. He stopped, abruptly, slamming into an obstruction. An invisible obstruction. The Doctor held up the cylinder.

‘Your own telepathic relay switch for the holo-field which now surrounds you. Tuned to your own thought frequency. Locked into a loop by the power of your own brain. It will function as long as your brain functions, even when you are asleep. Until you’re dead.’ With what seemed like overwhelming fatigue, the Time Lord turned, and started for the door, Peri and Kevin preceding him.

The Toymaker’s face grew longer, his eyes staring as the enormity of his fate dawned upon him. His mouth opened and moved in what must have been a tearing scream... a timeless scream... a scream for all eternity... The Doctor turned back for one last look, a bleak and immovable sadness in his eyes.

‘I detest caging even the wildest beast, Toymaker,’ he announced, flatly, unsure even if the Mandarin could hear him, ‘but for you there is no other answer... Goodbye...’ He turned and left the room without another backward glance.

In the confines of his cell, the Toymaker began to desperately explore the tiny limits of his invisible, eternal prison.

In the corridor outside, Peri voiced the anxious question,

‘Is he unconscious again?’

‘Unfortunately for him, no,’ replied the Doctor.

‘We’d better get out quick, then,’ muttered Kevin.

‘He can’t hurt you now,’ the Doctor said gloomily. ‘He’s locked in the same sort of holo-field as he kept us in downstairs, powered by his own thoughts, locked in an eternal, endless loop.’ He hefted the cylinder in his hand.

‘His telepathy!’ Peri exclaimed. ‘He can order someone outside to destroy the relay.’ Kevin looked nervously at the cylinder, and just as nervously at his companions.

Fortunately for the Doctor, Peri had provided a point upon which he could vent his feelings. He turned on the poor girl savagely.

‘You know nothing about time, Peri. Nothing. I’ve just told you – he’s trapped in an endless loop. The eternal circle. No beginning, no end. The Law which applies to all Universes. His thoughts will just go round and round, trapping him, holding him, echoing all around him for the rest of time... it’s... loath-some...’ he sagged against the wall, overcome by the dreadful fate he’d condemned the Toymaker to, a fate which the Doctor, the Time Lord, could appreciate only too well. Peri touched his arm gently.

***

The Nightmare Fair, Chapter 9