Part 19 (2/2)

The Brigadier's voice was too confident for the Doctor's liking. 'Don't you worry, Doctor. Leave everything to us.'

'Will you do as I ask?'

'We'll cancel the attack, and I'll send a despatch rider to HQ for your circuit just in case.'

'What do you mean, just in case? Persuading him to make that exchange is our only chance!'

'Oh, I don't think so, Doctor. There are other ways to deal with him.'

'Now don't do anything stupid, Brigadier. The Master means what he says.'

The Brigadier remained infuriatingly cheerful. 'Don't you worry, Doctor. Over and out.'

'Lethbridge-Stewart, wait!' shouted the Doctor. But the RT was dead.

The Brigadier was feeling rather pleased with himself. The Doctor had been trying to deal with the Master for goodness knows how many years and now he he was about to do it for him. He turned to Major Cosgrove. 'I want you to get on to the Missile Control people. Confirm that they're to maintain radio link with us, and explode the missile when I give the word.' was about to do it for him. He turned to Major Cosgrove. 'I want you to get on to the Missile Control people. Confirm that they're to maintain radio link with us, and explode the missile when I give the word.'

'Right away, sir.'

'Captain Yates, you'll be in charge of the evacuation. I want the area around that hangar completely cleared within a ten-mile radius.'

'Right, sir.'

Cosgrove picked up the RT. 'Trap One to Missile Control...'

The Doctor was pacing about the Process Chamber.

Barnham sat with his hands on his knees, and the Machine was still.

'I don't see why you're so upset, Doctor,' said Jo. 'If you give him back the circuit, and he hands over the missile..

The Doctor sighed. 'You don't understand, do you Jo?

Once he gets that circuit back he's free to roam through Time and s.p.a.ce. We'd never catch him.'

Jo could hear the yearning in the Doctor's voice.

Suddenly she realised what it would mean to him to give the Master his freedom, while he himself remained an exile.

Sadly Jo said, 'You'll just have to give in, Doctor. The Master's got the missile, and all we've got is this wretched Machine.'

'There's no need to point out the obvious, Jo ' The Doctor broke off, staring hard at her. 'What did you say?'

'I said all we've got is the Machine.'

'That's it! That's the answer! We've got the Machine and we've also got our friend Barnham.'

Barnham looked puzzled. 'I don't understand.'

The Doctor rubbed his hands. 'With a little help from you, old chap, we're going to destroy this Machine and the Master both at the same time.'

The Master was busy dismantling the abort circuit on the missile control console. He smiled. 'Just in case anyone tries to be clever...'

To everyone's relief the dome had been put back on the Keller Machine, concealing the mind parasite inside.

Benton hurried into the Process Chamber. 'Everything's laid on, Doctor.'

'Thank you, Sergeant. Are you ready, Barnham? Do you understand what to do?'

'I think so...'

Reluctantly, Barnham approached the Machine. It began throbbing angrily.

'Don't worry, it can't hurt you,' said Jo encouragingly.

s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g up his courage, Barnham seized the Machine and lifted it up. The throbbing stopped immediately.

'Well done, old chap,' said the Doctor. 'Just remember, whatever you do, don't drop it. Now then, off we go. Easy does it, that's the idea.'

Slowly Barnham carried the box towards the door. The others followed.

When the Doctor arrived at the Mobile HQ followed by his entourage, he found the Brigadier distinctly crestfallen.

'We tried to explode the missile on the ground with the abort circuit Doctor, but nothing happened.'

'Well, what did you expect?' said the Doctor scorn-fully.

'The Master may be a scoundrel, but he is a scientist. He'll have disconnected the abort mechanism.'

'Which means there's only one thing for it, Doctor.

You'll have to go through with your deal and give him back his wretched circuit.'

'Is it here?'

The Brigadier looked at Major Cosgrove who said calmly, 'Just arrived, sir.' He handed the Doctor a small sealed packet.

The Doctor ripped it open and took out a little box.

Inside it was the Master's dematerialisation circuit, a complicated little affair that looked vaguely like the model of an atom. The Doctor looked sadly at it.

'I know how you feel, Doctor,' said the Brigadier sympathetically. 'I hate to see the Master escape as much as you do.'

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