Part 15 (2/2)

Major Cosgrove was thinking hard. 'A fortress, you said, sir? I suppose there couldn't possibly be some kind of secret entrance an underground tunnel, something like that?'

The Brigadier gave him a look.

Unperturbed, Cosgrove said, 'I've got a plan of the prison here, sir.'

Trust Cosgrove to have everything ready, thought the Brigadier. He studied the plan and blinked. 'It appears that you're right, Major Cosgrove.' He pointed to the map.

'There's a sort of underground pa.s.sage, here. It doesn't lead into the prison itself of course, but it'll get us to the far side of the inner courtyard.'

Cosgrove beamed. 'I say, it's almost like something in a film, isn't it, sir?'

The Brigadier gave him another quelling look, and resumed his study of the map.

Suddenly a voice crackled from the RT 'Greyhound Seven to Trap One.'

Cosgrove flicked a switch. 'Go ahead, Trap One here.'

'I'm on observation at the prison gates, sir. A black limousine has just entered the prison. Bearded pa.s.senger in the back.'

'It must be the Master,' said the Brigadier. 'They wouldn't let anyone else inside anyway. That settles it, Cosgrove, we're going to take that prison.'

'By using the underground pa.s.sage, sir?'

'Yes,' said the Brigadier. To prove that Cosgrove didn't have a monopoly on good ideas, he added, 'And by using a Trojan horse!'

The Doctor and Jo were playing draughts in the condemned cell. The door was flung open and the Master appeared dramatically in the doorway. 'Ah, Doctor!'

The Doctor held a finger to his lips. 'Sss.h.!.+' He studied the board for a moment, then made his move, taking two of Jo's pieces. 'There!'

The Master wasn't used to being ignored. 'I was about to say, Doctor '

'Ss.h.!.+' said Jo. She moved one of her pieces in a complicated zig-zag across the board, taking nearly all the Doctor's pieces, and conclusively winning the game.

'There!'

The Doctor rose and yawned. 'The trouble with this game is it's really too simple,' he said sulkily. 'I'm really only used to three-dimensional chess.'

He stretched out on the bed and lay back, his hands behind his head.

The Master sighed. 'All right, Doctor, I have allowed you your little gesture of defiance. Now perhaps we,can talk seriously?'

'I suppose you're going to ask me to control that mind parasite for you?'

'I am.'

'Well, I can't. No one can.'

'You underestimate yourself, Doctor. I'm sure you are perfectly capable of controlling it for a time at least.'

'Even if I could control it, why should I help you?'

'To save lives?' suggested the Master. 'A number of people have died already.'

'Most of them hard-case criminals who were helping you., 'Very well then. To save one particular life.'

'My own?'

The Master shook his head. He stepped aside and Mailer came into the cell, the inevitable automatic in his hand. Fuller closed the door behind him.

The Master nodded, not towards the Doctor, but to Jo Grant.

'Don't take any notice of him, Doctor,' said Jo. 'He's bluffing.'

'Am I? I a.s.sure you, that unless the Doctor agrees to help me, Miss Grant, Mailer will shoot you. Here and now.'

Mailer c.o.c.ked the automatic.

There was a long pause at least, it seemed long to Jo Grant.

Then the Doctor rose, and began pacing thoughtfully about the cell. 'It's only a theory, but I think there may be a way to inhibit that Machine's power of movement.'

'You'll never have a better chance to put your theory to the test, Doctor.'

'Where is the thing now? Still wandering about?'

Mailer said, 'One of the lads said it's back in the Process Chamber.'

'Temporarily glutted no doubt,' said the Master. 'Well, Doctor?'

'I'll need a lot of equipment.'

'Stangmoor is a progressive prison, Doctor,' said the Master expansively. 'The contents of the Prison Workshop are at your disposal.'

'All right. I'll give it a try.'

The Doctor moved towards the door.

'All right, Fuller, let us out,' called the Master.

The door opened and Mailer, the Doctor and the Master left the cell.

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