Part 19 (1/2)

Kaftan nodded and went over to the control board. None of them noticed particularly when Toberman came over to stand behind by Klieg. He would be an extra bastion against the invading Cybermen.

The revitalisation process was now in full spate. The bioprojectors were pulsing and inside the sarcophagus form, the electronic neuro-charges were blasting full power into the Cyberleader.

'Quick,' said the Doctor. 'Those cables. Tie them around the form.'

'Aye. Those doors won't be strong enough to hold him,' agreed Jamie.

The three of them cut cables from the walls, coiled them around the great coffin-form and pulled them tight, tying them in enormous knots, devised-by Jamie. The pulsing light from the bioprojectors was reflected on the faces of the three men as they watched the sarcophagus anxiously, to see what would happen.

Finally the projectors changed from buzzing and humming to a high-pitched siren whine. Red lights flashed to show that it was time to turn off, that the Cyberman's energy cells were now fully recharged and were now approaching overload. Still the Doctor left the switch on.

From inside the sarcophagus-shape came an insistent hammering from the now fully powered Cybercontroller.

Boom-boom-boom.

The Professor looked anxiously at the others. What if he should get out? Fully charged with power?

Boom-boom-boom-the sarcophagus was shaking with the impact of the blows. Cracks began to appear on the surface. There was a louder crash and the sound of rending metal, but still the solid metal casing held together. The great cables leading up to the form now began to smoke, the control panel lit up and shook with the vibration, the bioprojectors turned from red-hot to white-hot-the form itself began to reek smoke from the cracks of the seams.

'Keep back, it's smoking!' shouted Parry.

All, the humans backed away.

'Maybe we shouldn't have touched it!' cried Jamie.

'Turn it off! It's out of control! It'll blowup!' Professor Parry, shaken, ran forward to the throbbing control panel and reached out towards the hot metal. CLICK! At that moment it turned itself off.

He started back.

'It's taken over,' the Professor said terrified. The unbearable scream of the dynamo whined down, the lights dimmed.

'I think not,' said the Doctor. 'There must be an internal timing mechanism.'

Boom-boom-boom.

The blows of the giant Cyberman against the metal sounded even louder, now that the machine had turned off. CRACK! A gauntleted hand appeared through one of the fractures and began enlarging the hole.

'Are you sure those cables are secure?' said the Doctor to Jamie nervously.

'Aye. The King of the Beasties himself couldna get out of that one.'

The crack widened. The ma.s.sive wire cables began to stretch.

The metal was now rent like tissue paper, the cables snapped asunder and fell aside. Knocking back the lid contemptuously, out of the crush of metal rose the greatest of the Cybermen, new power glowing from his gigantic metal limbs. The three humans drew away from the giant in awe as he stepped from the ruins of the recharging machine and bore. down upon them.

'Jamie,' said the Doctor, 'remind me to give you a lesson in tying knots, some time.'

'YOU... WILL... REMAIN... STILL,' said the voice, now so vast and powerful it seemed to blast them back against the wall.

The Cyberleader pressed a b.u.t.ton. A light flashed on the control desk and a high-pitched buzzing sound began.

The buzzing reached the control room, where Klieg still stood holding his gun and no one there noticed that it made Toberman's eyes widen, as if something was happening in his brain.

'Stay here,' Klieg ordered Toberman, 'and watch that door.'

Toberman stood where Klieg indicated and Klieg a.s.sumed he was obeying. 'Now at least we shall have some warning,' he said, and sat down, putting down the heavy Cybergun.

Callum was now sitting up, his wound dressed by Victoria with pieces of his torn under-tunic.

'What do you two hope to gain by all this?' he asked.

'That does not concern you,' said Klieg, an arrogant superman once again.

Toberman did not stay where Klieg had ordered him; he was moving slowly and quietly around behind Klieg and Kaftan. Victoria noticed but said nothing.

'He might as well know,' said Kaftan. She turned to Callum, her face proud. 'We are going to build a much, much better world than there has ever been-responsive to the laws of pure logic.'

'That's... better better?' asked Callum, unimpressed. 'Who for ?'

'What are you doing?' shouted Klieg, suddenly noticing Toberman. 'What are you standing there for?'

For answer, Toberman slowly raised his arm, his white smock fell away and below glinted a metal Cyberman arm. As they stared, horrified, he raised his arm, gleaming like a heavy sword and brought it down with the terrible Cyberman chop on the back of Klieg's neck.

Klieg fell unconscious, Kaftan screamed and Toberman turned towards her, as if hypnotised, raising his arm for another blow.

'Toberman,' she screamed. The giant Turk stopped, confused.

And then, over Kaftan's screaming, came the great ba.s.s of the Controller's voice.

'Silence! He is now under our control.' The Cybercontroller entered the room and looked at Klieg, then up to Toberman. 'You have done well,' he said, picking up the Cybergun. 'NOW... OPEN...

THE... TOMBS...'.

'No,' said Kaftan, shrinking back. 'You have broken your promise.'

'Cybermen do not promise. Such ideas have no value... open!'