Текст книги "Doctor Who- Legacy of the Daleks"

Автор книги: John Peel

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Текущая страница: 9 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

9

Journeys End In…

Despite Donna’s plea, the Doctor shook his head firmly suffered enough,’ he replied gently. ‘I won’t add to it. And I certainly won’t kill you to prevent a fate worse than death.’

‘Doctor,’ Donna said desperately, ‘I’m serious.’

‘And so am I,’ he assured her, touching her lightly on her shoulder. ‘You should not be punished for the actions of another.’ He stared at her almost hypnotically. ‘I promise you, I will not allow Haldoran to harm you again.’

Donna faltered. ‘I know better than to trust the word of any man ever again,’ she said bitterly.

‘Don’t,’ the Doctor agreed cheerfully. ‘Trust the word of a Time Lord.’

‘How?’ Donna gestured around them. ‘We’re trapped in here, in case you hadn’t noticed, and being taken to Haldoran’s castle. We’ll be surrounded by his troops there. There’s no way out.’

‘Don’t be such a defeatist,’ the Doctor answered. ‘We’re only prisoners because I thought it was the best way of getting answers.’

Donna stared at him suspiciously. ‘You’re trying to tell me you allowed them to capture us?’

‘Of course.’ He looked at her innocently. ‘I thought we’d meet up with Susan that way. I should have known she’d have escaped, of course. And since she’s now investigating DA‐17, it seemed to me that it was my duty to check on what Haldoran thinks he’s up to. And allowing us to be taken to him was the obvious method.’

Donna was feeling more and more uncertain now She was wavering between fear and hope – but at least there was hope. ‘I thought this was none of your business,’ she said finally.

‘That was before the Dalek Artefact.’ he answered. ‘That changes everything. I have no option but to act now.’ He smiled. ‘As long as you’ve no objection to accepting help from a non‐Earthman, that is.’

Donna managed a weak smile back. ’Personally, I’m all for it,’ she assured him. ‘Just as long as my father never finds out you’re an alien.’

‘I promise not to tell him.’ The Doctor’s eyes sparkled as he held up a slender, wandlike object. ‘A little proof that I really can get us out when I wish. My sonic screwdriver.’

David scowled. ‘Didn’t the guards take that away from you?’ he objected.

‘Yes,’ the Doctor said with a grin. ‘But I’m most adept at sleight of hand. You should see my Las Vegas act sometime.’ He hardly seemed to move his hand, but the device had vanished again ‘I can do wonderful things with coins, too. But they took all of those.’

Hope was starting to win out in Donna’s mind now. He seemed to be more than a trifle eccentric, but there was something about the Doctor that made you realise that there was more to him than what you saw. A little like his TARDIS, really – when you penetrated the surface, there was far more than you dreamed possible.

The runabout came to a halt, and a moment later the doors were flung open. Four armed guards stood there, rifles aimed at the prisoners. ‘Out,’ one of them said.

Donna’s stomach knotted, as she prepared for what was bound to happen. The fear was back in full force now that she was so close to Haldoran.

The Doctor hopped out of the runabout, and looked around, acting for all the world as if he were a tourist on some trip. ‘Leeds Castle,’ he exclaimed cheerfully ‘One of my favourite places. Though I don’t think much of the fresh decor. It ought to be light Middle Ages, you know, with perhaps just a hint of Regency.’

‘Shut up,’ the guard said. ‘You ll be told when it’s time to talk.’

‘Most kind.’ The Doctor held out his hand to help Donna down from the runabout. Her eyes darted about the all‐too‐familiar walls and buildings of Castle Haldoran.

Hell was about to be revisited. But at least this time she had company.

The Doctor took her hand in his. ‘Brave heart,’ he murmured.

Susan couldn’t help feeling flashes of déjà vu as she was led by the Dalek through the corridors of the complex that was DA‐17. It wasn’t simply a shaft, she realised, but a small city of some kind. It was so similar to the one in which she’d been trapped on the Dalek homeworld of Skaro. Completely metallic, with long corridors, slightly too low to stand comfortably, since they were built to Dalek height. Doors that slid upward when activated. And no decorations or windows of any kind. Claustrophobic and inhospitable.

So what was it doing here on Earth? Clearly the Daleks must have constructed it during their invasion, but why go to all that trouble? She glanced at the Dalek in front of her, and immediately dismissed any thoughts of escape. But where would she go even if she could somehow overcome it? They had passed several dozen other Daleks by this point, all of them intent on their own arcane functions. The only minor relief for Susan was the presence of the broadcast‐power receiver on the Daleks’ backs. This ensured that they couldn’t travel very far from their source of power, which had to mean they were limited to being inside this underground complex, at least for the time being.

‘You couldn’t all have survived down here all of this time,’ she said suddenly. ‘You were all killed off thirty years ago.’

‘Answers are unnecessary,’ the Dalek informed her. ‘You do not need to know.’

‘Perhaps not,’ Susan conceded. ‘But I want to know. How did you survive?’

‘We did not,’ the Dalek replied. ‘You will speak only when given permission. You have not been given permission.’

‘But –’

The Dalek swivelled around suddenly, its gun‐stick pointed firmly at her. ‘A prisoner is needed for interrogation. It need not be you. You will be silent until told to speak, or you will be exterminated.’

Susan swallowed, and then nodded her understanding. Daleks, as ever, were blunt and to the point. And totally without interest in, or mercy towards, their victims. The Dalek swung back around, and continued to lead her deeper into this maddening, mysterious complex.

Tomlin waved his arms in the air to stop the approaching runabout. It came to a gentle halt about ten feet from where he stood in the ruined road. Moving with calm, Tomlin approached the vehicle, recognising the colours of Barlow on the bonnet. He bent down to smile at the driver, a young man.

‘Thank you for stopping,’ he said politely. ‘Do you know who I am?’

‘Uh, yes, sir,’ the youngster replied. ‘General Tomlin, sir.’

‘Very good,’ Tomlin said approvingly. He brought his pistol up and fired once scattering the man’s brains all over the back seat of the vehicle. ‘I have greater need of this than you do.’ He pushed the corpse out of the door, and clambered behind the wheel.

He set the runabout in motion, and turned it back down the road, heading for Castle Haldoran.

‘There’s a message from General Craddock, my Lord,’ the operator called.

Haldoran looked up from his map and nodded. ‘And what does he want?’ he asked.

‘To speak to you, my Lord. Says it’s urgent.’

‘Is it, indeed?’ Smiling to himself, Haldoran walked over to pick up the proffered headset. ‘What is it, Craddock?’

‘My Lord,’ the soldier’s voice replied, ‘I’ve been observing the effect of the Dalek weapons. They’re tremendously effective.’

‘That I already knew,’ Haldoran snapped. ‘Come to the point.’

‘I want the next batch issued to my men, my Lord,’ Craddock replied bluntly. ‘Barlow has enough of them already.’

Haldoran’s smile widened. As he’d hoped, there was a wedge between the two men. Perfect! ‘I’ll give your request some thought,’ he promised. ‘Now, get back to taking my capital.’ He returned the headset to the operator, and strode back to his war table grinning at Estro. ‘It looks like Portney gets to keep his hands,’ he said cheerfully. ‘At least for now Craddock is demanding the next set of Dalek weapons for his men.’

Estro smiled back. ‘And you plan to give them to him?’

‘Certainly not,’ Haldoran answered. He turned back to the radio operator. ‘Call Barlow and tell him that he can come back here in person and pick up the next hatch of weapons.’ He smiled at Estro. ‘That should make the rift even stronger,’ he said. ‘They’ll both work for me, but they won’t work with one another, of that I’m certain.’

‘A sound decision,’ Estro agreed.

A guard entered the war room and saluted. ‘Sir, a batch of prisoners has arrived. They were taken at DA‐17.’

‘Were they indeed?’ Estro purred. ‘With your permission, my Lord, I should like to interrogate these prisoners personally I need to know how much London’s men know about the Artefact.’

Haldoran inclined his head in permission. ‘Take Downs with you,’ he decided. ‘He has a… wonderful capacity for extracting information.’

‘I have my own methods,’ Estro answered.

‘I’m sure that you do,’ Haldoran replied coldly. ‘But that was not a suggestion.’

Estro hesitated, and then nodded acquiescence. ‘Of course, my Lord. I’m sure his talents will prove most… interesting.’ He spun on his heels and left the room.

Looking after him, Haldoran was disturbed. He had noticed in the past how undeferential Estro tended to be. He very rarely addressed Haldoran by the honorific. Now he’d used it twice in a minute. For some reason, that disturbed him. If the man wasn’t so vital to his plans, Haldoran would have had him executed just to be safe. But the damned plotter no doubt knew that.

What was he to do with the man?

Despite the Doctor’s firm grip on her hand, Donna was terrified. Stepping back inside the castle had meant nothing but pain, humiliation and disillusion to her, and it was the hardest thing she had ever done. She tried to remind herself that she was a knight now, trained to fight and overcome all foes. But all she could think of was the horrors she’d suffered. Her body stiffened in anticipation of those pains being reborn.

She couldn’t face it. She couldn’t.

‘Be strong,’ the Doctor urged her. ‘This won’t be for long. And it won’t be like last time. I promise you.’

Another hand took her free one, and she realised that David Campbell, too, was offering her what small comfort and strength he had left. ‘Courage,’ he whispered. ‘You’re stronger than they are.’

Stronger? Who was he trying to fool? She felt as though her bowels were going to let loose any second, and she’d soil herself. She had neither strength nor courage. All she had left was the pain that she would feel, when –

The guards ushered them into a holding room, and then stood at their posts outside. There was no door, nor anything inside the room. It was simply four blank walls, a floor and a ceiling. There was nothing to sit on, look out of, or use for an escape.

Donna collapsed to the floor, dragging her hands free of both men’s. At least here she could go no lower, and she lacked the energy or will to remain standing. Her spirit was ebbing, and she knew that this place would destroy her, even if its master didn’t.

‘Well,’ drawled an old, hated voice. ‘This is surely a sight I never expected to see again. The Lady Donna, back from exile.’

Somehow she managed to force herself to look up at Downs. He stood casually, lounging against the entrance. His bright, nasty eyes were examining her, as if seeking a target for the first of his barbed attacks. Donna’s mouth was dry, and her heart pounding. She couldn’t focus her thoughts.

‘Hello,’ said the Doctor cheerily, stepping forward and shielding her from that hated gaze. ‘I’m the Doctor, and I’m very pleased to meet you. And you are…?’

‘Possibly your death,’ Downs replied, staring at the intruder.

‘Then possibly I’m not,’ the Doctor answered, refusing to be intimidated. ‘In which case, a name might help. Or should I just call you Fred?’

‘His name,’ Donna managed to grate out, ‘is Downs. He’s one of the worst pieces of scum in this whole stinking fortress.’

‘Really?’ asked the Doctor. ‘I’m a tidy person myself, and I don’t think scum belongs in a nice cell like this.’

Downs frowned slightly.’ Watch your tongue, Doctor,’ he replied. ‘Otherwise I’ll cut it out and hand it back to you so you can really watch it.’

‘Oh, you won’t do that,’ the Doctor said, radiating self‐assurance. ‘You’re supposed to interrogate me, and how could I speak without a tongue?’

‘You could still write,’ Downs snapped.

‘With my tongue in my hands? Don’t be silly.’ The Doctor smiled cheerfully. ‘I think we’ve got off to a bad start here. Couldn’t we just sit down for a nice chat over tea and scones?’

‘Doktoro,’ said a fresh voice, one that Donna had never heard before. ‘Mi ĝojas ke vi estas tiu kiun mi bezonis por kompletigi la ludon.’

The Doctor spun around to stare at the newcomer. ‘Tiam kiam mi aŭdis la nomon “Estro”, mi opiniis ke tiu devas esti vi. Via vanteco estos la fino de vi, estro de malbonestroj.’

David looked as confused as Donna felt. ‘Do you know each other?’

‘Oh yes,’ the Doctor said. ‘We know one another very well.’ He looked extremely grim. ‘He’s fond of calling himself the Master.’

Barlow received the radio operators recall with amusement. ‘Arkwright,’ he said briefly, ‘you’re in charge until I get back. Keep moving on. I want London pressured constantly to fall back. I’ll return as soon as possible.’

‘Understood, sir.’

Arkwright was a capable officer, if of limited imagination. Still, at this stage in the game, nothing much should go wrong. He could leave for a couple of hours to claim more of the guns. Then he would return and press home the final assault, aided by Craddock. It seemed as though their plan was working perfectly. Haldoran evidently believed there was a serious rift between the two men, and was working to exacerbate it.

Haldoran was clearly weak.

Barlow knew that what he was thinking would certainly get him killed if anyone else knew about it. But Haldoran could not be allowed to take the reins of the kingdom he was forging. Barlow knew what the man was like, and he despised it. A man like that should never be allowed the power that he sought, because he would simply abuse it. What Britain needed now was a strong hand, but also a disciplined one. And Haldoran was far too undisciplined…

It was almost time for a change…

Donna stared at the sinister bearded man, who in turn was staring intently at the Doctor.

‘Was that your native tongue you spoke just now?’ Donna asked, amazed to find she was still curious, despite her shakes.

‘No, actually,’ the Doctor replied. ‘It’s an artificial human language called Esperanto, invented in 1887 by a Polish oculist named Zamenhof. He wanted it to become the universal language of peace. Typical of the Master to corrupt it. Estro is the Esperanto word for Master.’ He smiled grimly. ‘I had my suspicions when I first heard the name.’

The Master stepped forward, and Donna saw him clearly for the first time. He was dressed almost entirely in black, some odd sort of jacket that fastened right to his neck. He wore gloves, a slightly greying beard, and a rather unpleasant smile. She disliked him immediately. He just… seemed dangerous, more so than Downs, because he had a strength of purpose about him, and an air that suggested he would do whatever was required to meet his goals. She saw the intelligence burning in his eyes.

‘And yet, Doctor, here you are, caught like a moth by a flame,’ the Master said. ‘You should surely have known better.’

‘What better way of getting to you?’ the Doctor asked, spreading his hands. ’And I’m sure you’ll be quite willing to explain your latest little scheme to me.’ He turned to wink at Donna. ‘It’s a weakness of his,’ he confided. ‘He tries to look and sound so bold, but he’s actually quite insecure. He’s always trying to excite my imagination and approval for his nasty little plans.’

The Master regarded the Doctor mildly. ‘I’m rather tempted to just kill you here and now and have done with it,’ he said, sighing. ‘You really are no fun any more. Perhaps it’s age catching up with you. So you’ve changed bodies again? Getting through them aren’t you?’

‘And you’re still in the same old body,’ the Doctor mused thoughtfully. ‘Quite remarkable. You’re rather well preserved.’

‘Thank you,’ said the Master with a small ironic bow. ‘Life has been rather good to me of late. As a result of which, I will indulge your puerile curiosity before I leave you to your fate.’ He turned to Downs and the guards. ‘Why don’t you run along and prepare whatever tools you need for your questioning?’ be suggested. ‘I assure you, I am more than able to keep these three captives until you return.’

Downs scowled at him. ‘Are you sure of that?’

‘Quite sure,’ the Master said firmly. ‘Off you go, I insist. You’ll want to be well prepared for these… guests.’

‘Suit yourself,’ Downs agreed. He gestured to the guards to accompany him. As he left he called back over his shoulder,’ If you’re wrong, I shan’t mourn you.’

While the Master was occupied, the Doctor leaned forward to whisper quietly to Donna. ‘I seem to have done something naughty. My people usually have a law that we must meet each other in a linear progression along our relative time‐streams. But I’ve slipped back in regards to the Master – I’ve met him in two and a half bodies since this one.’

‘I don’t have the faintest idea what you’re talking about,’ Donna confessed, wearily.

‘Well, it’s important he doesn’t find out,’ the Doctor informed her. ‘I think I must have bent the law out of all shape by backtracking Susan’s psychic call instead of simply answering it. I suspect that means I’ll be in trouble again…’

Donna was about to reply when the Doctor held his hand up. The Master turned back to them and the Doctor gave him a cheerful smile.

‘What a charming fellow Mr Downs seems to be,’ the Doctor said, when they were alone. ‘You certainly manage to gravitate towards the diseased centre, don’t you, Estro?’

‘Please, Doctor,’ the Master answered calmly. He studied Donna and David the way a taxidermist studies his subjects. She shivered at the touch of his eyes. ‘I see you’ve collected humans again. It’s a terrible weakness of yours.’

‘Actually, it’s a strength,’ the Doctor assured him. ‘But don’t let me stop you from gloating. Just what are you planning on using DA‐17 for?’

The Master stroked his beard and smiled. ‘You naturally found out about that. Well, you may recall that a short while ago I did the Daleks a slight favour.’

‘He tried to start a war between Earth and Draconia in the future to weaken both empires,’ the Doctor explained helpfully.

‘Quite. Well, I was in their… employ, I used my time to raid their computer files. They alerted me to a few interesting facts that I’m making use of.’ The Master reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a stubby device that he held casually in his hand. ‘Just in case any of you feel terribly heroic,’ he said.

‘That’s a Tissue Compression Eliminator,’ the Doctor said softly, for Donna’s and David’s benefit, ‘it will kill you and compact you into six small inches. And he’ll use it on the slightest provocation, or just for pleasure, so don’t even think of rushing him.’

‘Quite so,’ the Master said, almost kindly, before returning to his gloat. ‘The first useful item was a Dalek hatchery on Sayomin Three. It occurred to me that I could reprogramme it so that the Daleks would obey me instead of that ridiculous Dalek Prime. Unfortunately, I miscalculated, and the entire brood had to be wiped out. Fortunately, I found a use for their gun‐sticks. I brought a supply with me.’

The Doctor stared at him in horror. ‘You’ve supplied Dalek weapons to Haldoran and his men?’

‘Yes, Doctor,’ the Master agreed. ‘They’re finding them most useful in expanding their territory. I’ve just handed over the latest consignment. I estimate that Haldoran’s forces will overrun London sometime in the next two days.’

The Doctor frowned. ‘But why are you doing this?’ he asked. You surely have no interest in ruling this insignificant little island?’

‘Of course not,’ the Master agreed. ‘It’s of absolutely no interest to me who rules at the end of the day. This whole business is simply a diversion to pass the time. I was forced to wait for the implementation of my main scheme, so I dabbled in local politics in the meantime.’

Donna stared at him in horror as she realised what he was saying. ‘You mean you started this war between Haldoran and London just to stave off boredom?’ she demanded.

‘Quite,’ he agreed without shame. ‘I needed something to do while I waited.’

‘You murdering, festering little scumbag!’ Donna yelled. She realised that, to him, her life and the lives of everyone else here on Earth were of absolutely no significance, except as amusements. She jumped to her feet, intent on throwing herself at him, whatever he might be armed with. Two inflexible hands grabbed her arms, and the Doctor held her tightly.

‘There’s no point in getting yourself killed,’ he advised her. ‘Wait for your opportunity.’

The Master laughed. ‘Ever the optimist, Doctor!’ he crowed. ‘That chance will never arise. But do, please, continue to delude yourself into believing that it will. It makes the game so much more interesting.’

The Doctor glared coldly at him. ‘You were about to tell us the real reason you’re here,’ he prompted. ‘DA‐17?’

‘Oh, yes, do forgive me. The other item I discovered from the Dalek database was the existence of that very installation.’ His face was animated now. ‘It was a Dalek research facility here on Earth. They were testing a new device when you managed to… shut them down and seal them off. The device was sealed into DA‐17. All that was needed to free it was to repower the locks to the installation, and to walk inside and collect the device. Naturally, the Daleks left certain… safeguards. Computers, keyed into specific Dalek codes.’

‘Which, of course, you stole,’ the Doctor filled in.

‘Naturally.’ The Master was preening now. Donna saw that the Doctor’s earlier evaluation was quite correct. For some reason, defeating the Doctor wasn’t enough for the Master: he perversely wanted praise from his foe at the same time – confirmation of what he saw as his genius. ‘At this very moment, there is a computer at the base of the shaft that is decoding the entry protocols so that I can walk in and take the device.’

‘And you needed Haldoran’s power station to light up DA‐17,’ the Doctor guessed. ‘Which is why you came here in the first place.’

‘Precisely,’ the Master agreed. ‘And I shall have what I need very shortly. Then I shall leave this miserable, backward little planet and –’

‘Go on to conquer the universe,’ the Doctor completed. ‘Yes, yes, I know. I’ve heard it all from you before. So, what is this mysterious device that will hand the universe to you on a platter?’

The Master clicked his tongue and shook his head. ‘Really, Doctor, there’s no need to be so rude. Or for you to know exactly what I know. But the Daleks’ final transmission back to Skaro before you and your allies destroyed them signalled they were ready to begin testing. It never happened, of course, and so the completed device is sitting at the base of DA‐17, waiting for someone to claim it…’ He smiled. ‘And, of course, to use it.’

The Doctor nodded slowly. ‘And you’ve decided finders keepers.’

‘Exactly, Doctor,’ the Master said cheerfully. ‘I knew you’d understand. I will offer worlds the chance to ally themselves with me – or else face utter annihilation.’

Donna stared at him, appalled. ‘You’re insane,’ she gasped. ‘To threaten entire worlds…’

‘Don’t be so provincial!’ the Master snapped, clearly annoyed. ‘I’m talking of power on a scale you can’t even dream about.’

‘You’re talking, as usual, about death on a cosmic scale,’ the Doctor snapped. ‘And, I’ve no doubt, you’ve made your usual arrogant blunders in the process. This won’t work out the way you’re planning.’

‘Of course it will, Doctor,’ the Master retorted. ‘You’re as shortsighted and foolish as the pitiful humans whose company you enjoy so much.’ There was a sound in the corridor. ‘Ah, this must be Mr Downs returning, hoping to begin his pleasure. Well, Doctor, I shall leave the three of you in his more than capable hands. I’m sure he’ll enjoy killing you humans. But you, Doctor… you are mine.’

But it wasn’t Downs returning. Donna felt an incredible relief. She’d been tensing herself for unimaginable horrors at his hands, and it was something of a letdown to see only a worried guard hurry in.

‘Estro!’ the man exclaimed, breathing hard. ‘It’s Lockwood and his men – they missed their report. I tried accessing DA‐17, but there’s no reply.’

‘What did I tell you?’ the Doctor asked, crossing his arms. ‘Your best‐laid schedules always gang a-gley.’

‘Be silent!’ the Master snarled, his urbanity gone now ‘This is merely a slight glitch in my plans. I shall go there and take charge myself.’

‘You do that,’ the Doctor agreed cheerfully. ‘But I imagine you’ll be in for a shock.’

There was further noise in the corridor, and this time it was Downs returning. ‘I’m ready for them now,’ the soldier stated, ‘You’d better be done with them.’

‘I am,’ the Master agreed. ‘Take them, and kill them – the more slowly, the better.’

‘Believe me,’ Downs assured him, ‘I have no intention of allowing them to die quickly.’ He moved over to Donna. She couldn’t stop herself from trembling. He stroked her cheek. ‘This one I am especially looking forward to. This is going to be exquisite pleasure… for me, at least.’

Donna closed her eyes, felt her heart freeze with fear. She knew that he meant every word he said.