1,768
edits
A Funny Turn (short story): Difference between revisions
From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
no edit summary
m (Bot: Cosmetic changes) |
Charles RB (talk | contribs) No edit summary Tag: 2017 source edit |
||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
''to be | As a recently promoted captain in 1957, Lethbridge-Stewart and other soldiers mark the 148th anniversary of the [[Battle of Talavera]]: which means various regimental skits, with Alistair representing the [[Scots Guards]] with "The Amazing Alistair and Angus, the Talking Bearskin", before doing various games. The junior officers play a game of "mess [[rugby]]" and after successfully scoring a 'try' in the officer's mess, he has to quaff an unknown drink from the Cup (actually old regimental plate) in order for the Scots Guards to 'beat' the Grenadiers and Coldstream Guards. Lethbridge-Stewart duly wins. | ||
When Alistair's ceremonial bearskin starts to move, the drunken soldiers assume he's doing a trick while he angrily thinks someone's pranking him. To everyone's shock, the bearskin ''bites'' Lieutenant Carson. The bearskin develops glowing red eyes and attacks Alistair; the officers are soon forced to take shelter from it behind the bar. Falling back on training, the confused Alistair clings to his training and fakes confidence in front of his sergeant, Munroe. | |||
The drunken officers run through several plans and [[Hulland-Rumney]] (most senior and most sober) on using the mess hall's Russian sabres. Alistair is left out due to his bearskin-caused leg wound. Unfortunately, the bearskin hat continues to live despite being skewered. Munroe strikes it with a skewer and that causes [[control sphere|a small silver sphere]] to abandon the bearskin - and start to roll away. Carson stamps on it until it breaks. | |||
Everyone is left confused about whether this might be [[Soviet Union|Russian]] and decide to guard the remains until it can be reported to a senior officer. Alistair is left depressed that his ceremonial bearskin is now irrepairable but Munroe lets him know these things happen, and the Quartermaster will quietly replace a bearskin in exchange for a bottle of good stuff. Fairfax tries to lighten the mood by joking it was lucky or Alistair he'd taken the bearskin to the party and not to his room as usual; realising that he would have been quietly killed if that had happened, Alistair throws up. | |||
The Great Intelligence is cast out of 1957, enraged it has wasted energy on an elaborate plan that has failed. Next, it will strike at Lethbridge-Stewart before he has a chance to become a soldier. | |||
== Characters == | == Characters == | ||
| Line 45: | Line 52: | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
* In the [[Battle of Talavera]], the [[Arthur Wellesley|Duke of Wellington]]'s forces won a significant victory in the [[Peninsular War]]. | * In the [[Battle of Talavera]], the [[Arthur Wellesley|Duke of Wellington]]'s forces won a significant victory in the [[Peninsular War]]. | ||
* One event in the battle is that Captain Sharpe of the South Essex captured a French Eagle - not a historical event but the plot of {{w|Sharpe's Eagle}}. | |||
* The Bearskin is controlled by a minature [[control sphere]]. | * The Bearskin is controlled by a minature [[control sphere]]. | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
* The book cover shows Lethbridge-Stewart in contemporary dress uniform. | |||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
