Part 19 (1/2)

'I see,' said the voice. 'Is the Doctor available by any chance?'

'I'll see, sir. Who's calling?'

'Oh, just tell him it's an old friend.'

Benton pa.s.sed the phone to the Doctor. 'For you, Doctor. Says it's an old friend.'

The Doctor took the phone. 'h.e.l.lo?'

'Ah, Doctor,' said a familiar voice. 'I gather that the tables have been turned at Stangmoor?'

'You have gathered correctly,' said the Doctor acidly.

'Let me tell you exactly what's been going on..

Jo and Barnham had long ago run out of conversation.

They were sitting tensely, trying not to look at the creature in the Machine when Doctor Summers burst into the room.

'Jo, what the devil do you think you're doing? And you, Barnham! I've been looking for you, everywhere. I told you to stay in the Medical Wing. Come on!'

'Doctor Summers, he can't go,' pleaded Jo. 'We've got to stay by the Machine.'

'But you'll get yourselves killed.'

'We can't leave,' said Jo obstinately.

'Look, Jo, you know Barnham isn't really well yet and you know that thing is dangerous.' He turned to Barnham.

'Come on, now.'

Barnham looked worriedly from one to the other.

'Please, I can't... my head's hurting...'

As Barnham's concentration was weakened, the Machine began a low angry throbbing, and the strange sponge-like substance began to pulsate.

Doctor Summers stared at it in horror. 'That thing it's alive!'

'That's right,' said Jo fiercely. 'And unless Barnham stays here undisturbed undisturbed it will break loose and kill us all!' it will break loose and kill us all!'

The Doctor was concluding his account of recent events at Stangmoor. 'So you've lost, you see,' he concluded. 'The prison is in our hands, and UNIT has you surrounded.

Now, in the light of present circ.u.mstances, do you still intend to fire that missile at London?'

'I most certainly do, Doctor. And later, when this miserable planet is in ruins, I shall take over.'

'Aren't you forgetting something?'

'Am I, Doctor? What?'

'The dematerialisation circuit I took from your TARDIS. You can never leave Earth without it.'

On a previous encounter, the Doctor had removed the vital dematerialisation circuit from the Master's TARDIS which was why the Master, like the Doctor, was currently stranded on Earth.

There was a long silence.

'Are you offering me a deal, Doctor?'

'I am. Hand over that rocket and I'll give you back your dematerialisation circuit.'

'How very generous of you.'

'You can leave Earth and leave us in peace. Go and make trouble somewhere else.'

There was another pause.

'Well,' said the Doctor impatiently. 'What do you say?'

'Very well. You will bring the circuit to me at the hangar, Doctor. You, and you alone. Any sign of treachery, any interference from your UNIT friends and I shall launch the missile immediately.'

The Doctor heard a click as the phone was put down at the other end.

The Doctor turned to Benton. 'Can you contact the Brigadier for me?'

'Yes, Doctor. He'll be at the Mobile HQ by now.'

'Then get me on to him at once. He's got to cancel that attack.'

Doctor Summers was reluctantly preparing to leave the Process Chamber. 'If you're sure I can't do anything?'

'No, really,' Jo liked Doctor Summers, but she was wis.h.i.+ng desperately that he would just go, before he distracted Barnham further.

'Very well. I've got a lot of wounded men to look after.

I'll be in the Medical Wing if you need me. Look after him, Jo and look after yourself.' He patted Barnham on the shoulder. 'Mind you do exactly as Miss Grant says.'

Doctor Summers hurried away.

Jo looked worriedly at Barnham. 'How are you feeling now?'

'I'm tired, but I'm all right.'

'Try and concentrate on keeping calm. It won't be much longer...'

The Doctor said, 'Don't you understand, Brigadier? You mustn't go anywhere near the Master. If he catches sight of a uniform, he'll fire that missile immediately.'