Part 6 (1/2)

A Deadly Signature Despite his objections to the Doctor's autocratic manner, Lord Ravensworth had brought Luke Ward. Or, to be more precise, he had despatched a messenger for him.

Luke could truly be called a golden boy. Tall, fair-haired, the eighteen year old exuded honesty and intelligence. It was not difficult to comprehend Ravensworth's pride in his protege.

He had submitted to the barrage of questions with worried concern. But, as yet, none of his replies had given the Doctor a lead. His father's reported violent behaviour was completely inexplicable.

However, the Doctor persisted. 'And you're certain your father was perfectly normal this morning?'

'The lad's told you he was!' Lord Ravensworth was losing patience with the inquisition.

'I know, I know. Bear with me. The answer's probably staring me in the face and I just can't see it.'

Realising that escape from Killingworth depended on the Doctor unravelling the mystery, Peri joined in. 'When did you last talk to your father, Luke?'

'When he came off s.h.i.+ft. He were on't way to bath house.'

'Bath house?'

'To get cleaned up.' Luke failed to understand the Doctor's evident excitement.

'Doctor, you recall when we pa.s.sed the bath house'

'Luke, can you find me an old coat and cap?' This was not really a request.

'Aye, in't lobby, but...' Luke's orders usually came from Ravensworth. His lords.h.i.+p gave a fatalistic shrug. 'Do as he says.'

'Doctor, when we pa.s.sed the bath house, that gadget of yours ' Again Peri was interrupted.

'Reacted. Yes. Yes. I said it had been staring me in the face, didn't I? It was! Literally!' Discarding his own jacket, he accepted the soiled coat Luke had collected from the lobby.

'I guess I should, but I don't get it.'

'Glad it's not just me!' Ravensworth said fretfully.

'Those men who attacked me. They didn't look as if they'd come straight from the pit, did they?' He struggled into the coat. 'They were clean!'

As if this explained everything, he dashed from the office.

Of the baffled trio, Ravensworth was the first to give voice. 'Is he often like this?'

'Too often. Excuse me.' Peri scooted out of the door.

She did not have far to go. The Doctor was rubbing his hands on the ground and transferring the dirt to his temples.

'Would you mind telling me what's going on?'

'I'm about to follow as you would term it a hunch.'

A reply that told her nothing. A sigh of resignation.

'Okay, where do I fit in?'

'You stay here where you'll be safe.'

That did it! 'Safe! 'Safe! From the moment I stepped into the TARDIS I haven't been safe!' From the moment I stepped into the TARDIS I haven't been safe!'

'How do I look?' Nose, forehead, cheeks and ears were smudged with coal dust. His teeth gleamed white as he grinned at Peri.

'Like a man who could do with a bath.'

Pleased with her reply, he donned the cap with a flourish and set off.

Little did the Rani know she was about to receive yet another unwelcome visitor. She was too preoccupied.

Circled by the rosy hue on the scanner, the Master could be seen exploring the eerie disused mine. Shale scrunched beneath his polished shoes. The rotting pit props supporting the uneven roof were meshed with cobwebs that adhered to his gloves.

'A rat hole,' he muttered in disgust.

'Then you should be at home!' thought his unseen observer as she realigned the contrast.

He moved cautiously... alert... listening. He had no desire to come upon the aggressive miners unawares.

The scuff of a foot on rubble from deeper within. The Master paused... felt for the TCE.

'I told you to wait, you cretins!' murmured the Rani.

'Wait until he's nearer. He's armed!'

The steely command revealed that the Master had underestimated the Rani. When she had plundered the miners' brains, she had also made them her va.s.sals.

Through an implant in their necks, she could communicate instructions. Her erstwhile partner was walking into an ambush.

All was quiet. He ventured on.

' Now! Now! ' hissed the Rani. ' hissed the Rani.

In sudden, simultaneous action, Jack Ward leapt from his hiding place, cutting off the rear, and Edwin Green dropped from a ledge. He landed on top of the Master, howling him over. Before he could recover, the agile Green pounced again, locking his opponent in a grip that prevented him from using the TCE. Frantically, the Master wrestled to get free. The writhing bodies scrunched into the rough shale.

But the Rani, too, had miscalculated. Instead of succ.u.mbing swiftly, the Master was giving an able account of himself. Her all-important phial was in danger of being crushed between the combined weights. The brain fluid would be spilt!

Yanking a mini-transmitter from her skirt pouch, she hurriedly tapped out a code. A micro-second later, breaking from the clinch, Green clutched at his neck.

Choked. Tore at the crimson mark.