Part 20 (2/2)

Face twisted in agony, the Master was using the last remnants of his strength to resist the power of the Machine.

The Doctor and Jo gave him a wide berth on their way to the helicopter, but Barnham couldn't bear to see anyone in pain, not even the Master. He stopped to help.

It was a fatal mistake. Barnham's nearness damped down the power of the Machine sufficiently for the Master to break free.

Knocking Barnham aside, the Master leaped into the driving seat of the Black Maria and sped across the tarmac.

It was unfortunate that Barnham stumbled into his way.

The Doctor and Jo turned just in time to see the Black Maria slam into Barnham, smas.h.i.+ng him to the tarmac, and then disappear into the distance.

Jo and the Doctor ran back to Barnham, who lay twisted and still. Quickly the Doctor examined him. 'He's dead, Jo.' Jo's eyes filled with tears.

The Doctor grabbed her hand, and pulled her back towards the helicopter. They clambered inside and with a roar of its rotors the helicopter took off.

In the Mobile HQ, Major Cosgrove was saying calmly, 'Twenty seconds.'

The Brigadier took up the countdown. 'Ten... nine...

eight... seven... six... five... four... three... two... one abort.'

The Doctor and Jo glanced down from the fast-climbing helicopter. They were just in time to see the rocket, the hangar and the Machine disappear in smoke and flames.

The helicopter soared upwards above the clouds.

The atmosphere in the Governor's office was far from jubilant.

'We took Barnham there to help us, Doctor,' insisted Jo.

'We should never have left him.'

'I know,' said the Doctor sharply. 'How do you think I feel about it?'

Jo looked into his grimly-set face and realised that his distress was just as great as her own.

'I'm sorry,' she said softly.

The Doctor nodded. 'Here, have some coffee.'

The Brigadier did his best to cheer them up. 'Well, at least we're rid of the Keller Machine and the Master.'

'The creature in the Machine must have been killed in the explosion,' agreed the Doctor. 'But I'm not so sure about the Master.'

The Brigadier said, 'Well, even if he wasn't killed, he can't get far. You've still got the circuit haven't you Doctor?'

The Doctor felt in his pockets, casually at first then with increasing alarm. 'It's gone! I must have lost it in my scuffle with the Master.'

'It was probably destroyed in the explosion, Doctor,'

said the Brigadier.

'Supposing it wasn't! Supposing the Master found it?'

The telephone rang.

Benton picked it up. 'h.e.l.lo, yes, who is it?' He pa.s.sed the phone to the Doctor. 'It's for you.'

'The Master!' said the Doctor grimly.

And indeed it was. 'I was afraid you might be worried about me, Doctor, so I called to let you know I'm alive and well.'

'I'm extremely sorry to hear that!'

The Master laughed. 'I managed to reach the safety of my TARDIS now in perfect working order again thanks to your generosity, Doctor.'

So, the Master had had found the circuit after all, thought the Doctor. He did his best to put a brave face on it. 'I hope that means we've seen the last of you?' found the circuit after all, thought the Doctor. He did his best to put a brave face on it. 'I hope that means we've seen the last of you?'

The Master's voice vibrated with anger. 'For some little time, Doctor. But rest a.s.sured one day I shall destroy this miserable planet and you with it.' The Master laughed.

'Goodbye, Doctor.' He paused. 'Oh, and Doctor enjoy your exile!'

The Doctor slammed down the phone, cutting off the sound of the Master's mocking laughter.

'What did he say?' asked Jo.

'Oh, the usual threats!'

'Never mind, Doctor,' said Jo consolingly. 'You've beaten him.'

'Have I? His TARDIS is working again. He can go when and where he pleases. And I'm trapped on Earth,'

said the Doctor accusingly. 'With you you, Brigadier!'

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