Part 21 (1/2)

He looked over the controls and made sure that each one of the Cybercells was individually sealed away. This time he was taking no chances.

With one backward look at the now frozen cavern, horribly beautiful with its glittering hexagonals and sparkling h.o.a.r-frost, they turned and walked quickly away up the tunnel.

At the shaft they clambered up the rungs that were now recoating with dangerous black ice.

They reached the top, felt Victoria's warm hand helping them over the rim and jumped out on to the smooth metal floor.

'Doctor!' cried Victoria in relief, tears in her eyes.

'Hurry now,' the Doctor said. 'Close the hatch.'

Hopper operated the lever and the harsh groaning of the gears filled the room. The hatch creaked down from its vertical position, down to forty-five degrees, thirty, twenty, and then clanged shut.

'One thing about a machine that makes good sense,' said the Doctor. 'You can just as easily make it turn out nonsense.'

They looked at him. But before they had time to comment on this typically cryptic remark, he went on, 'Now then, I think you had all better leave.'

'Why?' asked Parry. 'What are you going to do, Doctor?'

'Re-electrify the main doors,' said the Doctor. 'Only this time I'm going to include the hatch and the control panel in the circuit.

Anyone touching any of them will get a considerable electric shock, a fatal one.' He looked over at Hopper and the Professor, who both nodded agreement. 'Now, all out!' ordered the Doctor. 'And take him with you.' He nodded at Toberman. 'He's been magnificent, but I shall feel safer with him out of the way.'

Victoria hesitated, as the others turned with relief for the main doors.

'Go on-follow them,' said Jamie. 'I'll help the Doctor.'

She went with them, and immediately the Doctor busied himself with the controls, creating new circuits, helped by Jamie.

Neither of them saw the body of the Cyberman Controller, lying half under a bench, stir and change position.

'There, Jamie,' said the Doctor. 'That's about it.' He placed the front panel back in position and screwed it firm. They smiled at each other. At last, they were beginning to feel they had won.

Behind them, silent as a great silver ghost, the Cyberman Controller rose to his feet.

'All we have to do now is to close the main doors,' said the Doctor, 'and the circuit is complete.'

'Aye,' said Jamie, and he turned to go.

Ahead of him, blocking the way to the doors, stood the giant form of the Controller.

'Doctor!' shouted Jamie. The Doctor turned around and the Controller took a step forward, swaying slightly, his chest unit blackened and bent, but still a formidable adversary.

'You go round this way, Jamie,' said the Doctor fast. 'And I'll go this. At least, one of us will stand a chance.'

They started to circle the Controller, who looked from one to the other with his great black mask of a head, undecided whom to block.

'When I say run,' said the Doctor, 'run!'

They both ran past the Cyberman, one on each side, dodging under the great weaving metal arms into the short entranceway and out of the doors.

The daylight outside was blinding and they reeled back, protecting their eyes.

'Quick, Jamie. We must get these doors shut before he gets out,' panted the Doctor. Jamie nodded and together they pushed the great doors to, until they were three-quarters closed.

'Stop!' said the Doctor. 'No more. We'll be electrocuted. We need something to insulate.' He looked round him quickly. 'Some of that shoring timber over there.'

Jamie ran over and dragged two pieces of timber back to the doors. Both he and the Doctor took a heavy piece of wood and started pus.h.i.+ng at the doors with them, one on each door.

At first the doors swung easily, but then they ground to a halt.