Part 5 (2/2)

'Yes.'

'And you'll chase up the Home Secretary to see he takes some action?'

' Yes Yes, Doctor! And if that doesn't do any good, I personally will go down to Stangmoor and blow the wretched machine up. Now, are you or are you not, going to help me with this case?'

The Doctor beamed at him. 'My dear Lethbridge-Stewart, your wish is my command. If there's anything I can do to help, you know you have only to ask!'

'Thank you,' said the Brigadier through gritted teeth, and jumped to his feet. s.n.a.t.c.hing up his cap and swagger stick, he headed for the door.

'Where on Earth do you think you're going?'

'To see the new Chinese Delegate Fu Peng.'

'Fu Peng?' said the Doctor thoughtfully. 'He must be Hokkien.'

The Brigadier paused in the doorway. 'No, no, Doctor, he's Chinese! Come along!'

With the Doctor close behind, the Brigadier marched through the outer office. As he pa.s.sed, Mike Yates rose to his feet and held out a sheaf of papers. 'Sir '

'Later,' snapped the Brigadier, and pa.s.sed by without breaking his stride.

The Doctor paused, giving Mike a sympathetic smile. 'I can see it's going to be one of those days!'

Mike grinned, and the Doctor said reprovingly, 'Ches.h.i.+re cat, Ches.h.i.+re cat, Captain Yates!' He followed the Brigadier out of the office.

Mike Yates sat down again, and picked up the phone.

'Get me transport will you?'

The Master sat at his ease in the back of his limousine, puffing luxuriously at his cigar. The little black box with the aerial lay on the seat beside him, and from it came Mike Yates's voice. 'Transport? Captain Yates here. I'd like you to lay on a four-man motor cycle escort and a jeep for 0700 hours. I'll be taking the party down myself.'

'Righto, sir.'

Again, there was a click and then silence.

Suddenly the Master leaned forward, staring intently out of the window.

Two men were coming down the steps of the big house on the side of the square. One was a tall man in Army Officer's uniform. The second, even taller, wore a flowing cape, and had a shock of untidy white hair.

The Master stroked his beard, his lips drawing back in a smile that was very like a snarl.

The Doctor! His ancient enemy, trapped as he was himself on this miserable planet. Trapped, and soon like the planet itself, due to be destroyed by the Master's vengeance.

5.

The Pistol Despite his high rank, the new Chinese Delegate wore the simple collarless tunic made popular at that time by China's revered leader, Mao Tse-Tung.

He sat at his desk, stern-featured and scowling, studying papers, refusing even to look up as the Brigadier and the Doctor were shown in to his suite.

Standing before the desk, the Brigadier extended his hand. 'Mr Fu Peng? I am Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart of UNIT Command. I'm in charge of all security arrangements.'

Fu Peng ignored the outstretched hand.

Restraining his annoyance, the Brigadier went on. 'And this is the Doctor, our Scientific Adviser.'

The Doctor stepped forward, bowed, and produced a string of melodious syllables. To the astonished Brigadier they began something like. 'Wah-pye chiah lu-lai...'

He lost track of the rest.

Immediately Fu Peng looked up, an astonished smile spreading over his heavy features. The Doctor was speaking fluent Chinese, and not only Chinese but the Hokkien dialect of Fu Peng's native province.

(What the Doctor had actually said was, 'This humble and unworthy person welcomes you, and delights in your safe arrival.') Fu Peng rose, bowed in return and spoke in the same language. 'Thank you for your courtesy and for your welcome. It is I who am delighted to meet such a charming person in this barbaric land.' For the sake of courtesy, Fu Peng continued in English. 'It is rare to meet a Westerner who knows our language.'

'Thank you,' said the Doctor modestly. 'I fear that my Hokkien is somewhat rusty.'

'On the contrary, it is excellent.' Fu Peng clicked his fingers, and an aide scurried from the room. 'Please be seated.'

The Doctor sat. 'Well, it's many years since I had a chance to speak Hokkien. The last time, I remember was a conversation with Tse-Tung. It was on the Long March, I remember and...'

Fu Peng gave him an astonished look. 'Tse-Tung! That is the personal name of our Chairman, Mao Tse-Tung.'

The Doctor nodded and said casually. 'He himself gave me leave to use it.'

Deeply impressed, Fu Peng bowed again.

The Brigadier had been standing there ignored all this time. 'Well, gentlemen,' he said hopefully. 'If we could just discuss the immediate problem?'

No one took any notice.

Fu Peng's aide came back into the room, carrying a heavy tray which bore all the requisites for the ceremonial serving of Chinese tea.

Fu Peng turned to the Doctor. 'You will take tea with me?'

The Doctor rose, bowed, and said something that sounded like, 'k.u.m-Siah.'

Fu Peng snapped an order to the aide, who carried the tray over to a table by the window.

Fu Peng waved the Doctor to a seat. 'You have heard of the great tragedy that has befallen my countryman?'

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