Part 14 (1/2)

Krang pointed to the Doctor and his companions. 'You four go over there and join the others.'

The Doctor, Ben, Polly, and Barclay moved backwards with the two guards towards the end of the tracking room where the Cybermen were herding the base technicians.

'That's grat.i.tude for yer!' Ben had recovered his wits and voice. 'We save their grotty planet-for what?'

'Shh,' whispered the Doctor. But it was too late. The Cybermen had heard. Krang turned to face them. 'Saved Mondas? We do not believe you. We have seen a rocket missile aimed at Mondas.'

Again the Doctor stepped forward, hands grasping the lapels of his long black cloak. 'That is so. And we have prevented it being fired at you. We have therefore helped you. Now I suggest you help us in return.'

Ben shrugged his shoulders and turned away in disgust. 'You're wasting your time talking to them geezers.'

But the Cyberleader raised his hand for silence. 'What do you ask in return for this?'

The Doctor looked at him, his head tilted back, his authority-now that Cutler was gone-pre-eminent in the room. Even the technicians and guards hung on his every word, seeming to recognise that he was their new spokesman.

'Your planet is finished. It will disintegrate. We know that is why you have come here. So why not stay and live in peace with us?'

The impa.s.sive black mask of the Cyberman stared back at him. 'We will confer,'

conceded Krang. 'Keep your places. Anyone who moves will be killed instantly.'

He motioned to the other two Cybermen and, together, they walked to the control end of the tracking room, and gathered behind Cutler's console.

Dyson turned nervously to the Doctor. 'Can we trust them?'

Ben shook his head gloomily. 'You kidding? Course we can't!'

'Tch!' The Doctor gestured nervously with his long hands. 'It is all we can do. We must play for time.'

The Cybermen now turned back towards the men.

'Well?' asked the Doctor. 'What have you decided?'

'We cannot talk while that missile is still aimed at Mondas. It must be disarmed first.'

The Doctor held up his hand. 'One moment.' He turned and beckoned Dyson and Barclay towards him. As they put their heads together, he whispered, 'Can you disarm the rocket?'

Barclay nodded. 'Why yes, Doctor, but...'

The Doctor nodded. 'Good, this will give us time.'

Ben had also caught the Doctor's remarks, and now nodded excitedly. 'Time for Mondas to burn itself out?' he asked in a hoa.r.s.e whisper.

The Doctor gave him a quick nod, flicked his finger to his lips for silence, and turned back again. 'We have agreed to your terms,' he called across the tracking room.

'We will remove the warhead from the rocket.'

'It must be removed below ground level.'

For answer, the Doctor turned to Barclay. The physicist nodded. 'It can be moved to the radiation room-the deepest room in the base.'

'That will do,' replied the Cyberleader. 'And to make sure you do this, we will take a hostage.' He pointed to Polly. 'That girl will go to our s.p.a.ce craft. You will go with the others to the rocket,' he said to Ben and Barclay.

'Doctor!' exclaimed Polly, frightened.

But the Doctor only shook his head. 'We must do as they say-go, child.'

'Not ruddy likely!' Ben blurted out. He turned to the Cyberleader. 'If you want a hostage, what about me?'

'All the men are needed to help with the warhead.'

'Oh yes?' Ben moved forward, threateningly. 'Now look here. I say you're not going to take her...'

The Cyberleader raised his gun.

The Doctor stepped forward, grasped Ben's arm and eased him back. 'Ben, please let me handle this.'

'But, Doctor,' protested Ben, 'we can't let Poll...'

'It's all right, Ben,' Polly stepped forward. 'Let the Doctor decide.' She swallowed nervously. 'If the Doctor wants me to go... at least it will be a new experience. I've never seen the inside of a Cybercraft.'

The Doctor turned to the Cyberleader, his voice sharp and controlled. 'Do you give us your word that she will be returned safely when the bomb is stowed away?'

'Yes. I give you my word,' replied the Cyberleader in his icy monotone.

To her surprise, Polly had been blindfolded for the trip across to the s.p.a.cecraft.

Before leaving the base, she had put on one of the thick fur parkas worn by the guards.

Now, seated in a small cabin aboard the Cybercraft, her blindfold removed, she felt extremely grateful for the thick Polar clothing.

The chair to which she had been fastened by metal clamps across her waist and around her wrist, reminded her of an electric chair. She shuddered at the thought.

The Cybercraft seemed to be unheated. Then she remembered that the Doctor had said that the Cybermen, being creatures of plastic and metal, not flesh and blood, would have no need of heat-they were impervious to heat and cold alike. But what about their human hostage? The South Pole ground temperature must be thirty or more below zero!

As the cold began to chill her, she tried to move her arms-but the clamps held her firmly in place. She struggled and began to cry out. Suddenly, the door slid open and one of her tall silver guards stepped into the room. Realising it was useless to plead, she decided to bl.u.s.ter.