Part 8 (1/2)

7.

Escape 'You must listen,' said the Doctor urgently. 'I can't impress upon you enough how urgent it is that I go outside and look at that convertor aerial.'

Drathro refused to listen. 'A transparent ruse to escape.

Go on with your work.'

The Doctor looked at his two a.s.sistants. 'How do you stand him?' He paused. 'Tell me, why is water so all-important down here?'

'The condensation plants produce only enough for five hundred work-units,' said Humker.

'But it was raining buckets outside when I arrived.'

'Precipitation on the surface has returned to normal,'

confirmed Drathro.

'Then why don't you let them all pop up and help themselves?'

'I was programmed to maintain an underground survival system.'

Typical robot behaviour, thought the Doctor. The system must be maintained though the need for it was long gone. 'Inflexible little fellow aren't you?' he muttered.

'Well, if you want me to carry on here, you'll have to help me. Come on, aren't you programmed to be user-friendly?'

He held out a lead, and the robot grasped it in a clamplike hand.

'At times like this one needs at least three hands,' said the Doctor chattily. 'You know, we bipeds are really a very inefficient design. You, Humbug, whatever your name is, hold that. And you, Handbag, you hold this one.'

When all three were holding leads, the Doctor said, 'that's it, yes. Splendid!'

He threw a power switch and electricity surged through the console - and through Humker, Tandrell and Drathro, who stood fixed, vibrating in the current.

The Doctor turned and ran, out of the control room, across the anteroom and out into the main corridor - where he found his way barred by the Service Robot.

'Look!' shouted the Doctor.

Pointing to the left, he hared off to the right. The Service Robot hovered indecisively.

Drathro s.n.a.t.c.hed himself free from the console, cut the power and strode into the corridor.

'Follow him,' he ordered. 'Use your tracer disc. He must be brought back - unharmed!'

The Service Robot glided away in pursuit of the Doctor.

The prisoners were nearly back to the but when Glitz decided it was time to make a move.

He caught Dibber's eye. 'Ready?'

Dibber nodded.

'Run, Peri,' shouted Glitz.

Peri ran.

Instinctively the guards pursued her - which put Dibber and Glitz behind them. It was a bad mistake.

Peri had run only a few yards when she heard gasps and the thud of blows. She turned and saw the first guard tripped by Glitz and knocked cold with the b.u.t.t of his own spear. In the same moment Dibber had clubbed the second guard to the ground with three savage blows from forearm, fist and knee.

'Well done, Dibber,' panted Glitz. He produced a metal cylinder from under his tunic. 'Here take this. Always keep something up your sleeve, eh Dibber?' He grinned. Now, my lad, I want you to conceal yourself in some muddy crevice while Peri and I lead off the hunt.'

'What hunt?' asked Peri. So far their escape seemed to have pa.s.sed unnoticed.

Glitz pointed. In the distance a tall bearded figure was staring at them in horror.

It turned and began running towards the Queen's hut.

'There'll be a hunt soon,' predicted Glitz confidently.

'Now Dibber, as soon as you can get the chance, I want you to blow that convertor to bits.'

Dibber took the grenade. 'Right. Where do we meet up?'

'The entrance to the tunnel. Come on, Peri.'

They turned and ran from the village, heading for the woods.

Katryca was studying the sacred flame for omens when Broken Tooth dashed into the hut, shattering all the rules of etiquette.

'How dare you?' screamed Katryca.

Broken Tooth fell to his knees. 'Forgive me, Majesty.

The prisoners have escaped!'

Katryca s.n.a.t.c.hed up Dibber's laser rifle which was propped against her throne.

As Broken Tooth got to his feet, she tossed him the weapon.

'Take this. Lead the young men in a hunting party.