Part 11 (2/2)

The Machine, the Master realised, was as big a menace to his allies as to his enemies. It had had to be controlled. It took all the strength of his ferociously determined will for the Master to force himself to return along the corridor to the Process Chamber. He lifted the bar on the door and went inside. to be controlled. It took all the strength of his ferociously determined will for the Master to force himself to return along the corridor to the Process Chamber. He lifted the bar on the door and went inside.

Once inside, the Machine was still pulsing with evil power. The Master hurried to the console and tried frantically to close it down. After a moment the electronic pulsing ceased...

He hurried over to the Doctor who lay slackly in his chair, head lolling back. The Master studied him for a moment with what looked curiously like concern. He s.n.a.t.c.hed up a stethoscope and listened to the Doctor's hearts. First the left one nothing. Then the right and here there was a feeble but steady beat.

The Master thumped the Doctor very hard on his chest, directly over the left hand heart. He thumped him a second time, and used the stethoscope to listen once more.

Now the left hand heart was beating too, slowly at first, then with increasing vigour.

Harry Mailer came cautiously into the room. Is he dead?'

'Not quite. You'd better wait outside.'

Mailer left.

The Master stood looking thoughtfully down at the Doctor.

The door to the condemned cell was flung open and Vosper beckoned to Doctor Summers. 'All right, you, out!

You're being transferred to another cell.'

'Why me? What about Miss Grant?'

'She stays here, lucky girl. Luxury cell, all to herself.'

Vosper nodded to the convict behind him. 'All right, Charlie, get him!'

Charlie, a burly, brutal type, grabbed Summers by the arm and dragged him out.

'I won't go without Miss Grant,' shouted Summers.

'Why don't you let us go back to the medical wing we could do some good there...'

His protests ignored, he was dragged off down the corridor.

Jo looked at Vosper. 'What's so special about me?'

'We're saving you for the Machine,' said Vosper, and slammed the door.

The Doctor stirred, moaned and opened his eyes to find the Master looking down at him.

'Doctor, Doctor welcome back! Would it surprise you to know that one of your hearts had actually stopped? You were within seconds of death.'

The Doctor's voice was so faint as to be almost inaudible. 'You wanted to find out if I could hold out against that thing. Well, the answer is, I can't. No one can.'

'If I can control it from the console, Doctor, so can you.'

'No,' whispered the Doctor. 'No...'

'Come now, Doctor, we are both Time Lords.'

'I know the secret of that Machine. Inside it there is an alien creature. A mind parasite. It feeds on the evil in the mind. Soon it will feed on the evil in yours.'

'Nonsense,' said the Master uneasily. 'We can control it we must!' He raised his voice, 'Mailer!'

Mailer reappeared in the doorway. 'Yeah?'

The Master nodded towards the Doctor. 'Release him and put him in the condemned cell with Miss Grant.' He leaned over the Doctor. 'Now, listen to me, Doctor. Unless you do as I ask, Miss Grant will be next in line for processing. All right, Mailer, take him out!'

Mailer unlocked the Doctor's handcuffs, and heaved him to his feet.

The Doctor was so feeble that Mailer had almost to carry him along the corridor to the condemned cell. 'Come on, Doctor,' he jeered. 'Your feet are dragging.'

Suddenly the Doctor rallied. Flinging Mailer aside he made a desperate attempt to escape.

Vosper, who had been waiting by the door of the condemned cell, darted forwards and clubbed the Doctor with his pistol.

As the Doctor fell, Mailer raised his rifle like a club for a second, savage blow. A voice snapped 'No!'

The Master was standing at the end of the corridor. 'I happen to need the Doctor in one piece. Put him in the cell!'

Vosper unlocked the cell door. Mailer heaved the Doctor to his feet and shoved him inside. He staggered a few paces forward, and then fell.

As Jo ran to help him, a familiar voice spoke from the doorway. 'Good evening, Miss Grant. A great pleasure to see you again.'

Jo turned round in astonishment. 'Master! What are you doing here?'

'The Doctor will explain when he recovers. Try to make him see reason, my dear for your own sake. Good night, Miss Grant.'

The Master stepped back, and the door closed behind him.

In the corridor, Mailer said, 'Why don't you turn him over to me and the boys? I'll have him eating out of your hand.'

'You don't know the Doctor. All you could do is kill him. I don't want him hurt just guarded. I want an armed man on this door at all times.'

Vosper nodded. 'All right. I'll do it meself.'

'Mailer, I want the Special Wing completely cleared except for those two in there.'

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