Part 24 (1/2)

Romana turned to the Doctor. 'Well? What is the way out?'

He hitched up his scarf. 'I'll think of something.'

The survey room at the centre of the base was cramped and dark. Contoured charts of the planet's surface s.h.i.+fted into new patterns on the row of screens set into one wall, a display of weather movements from distant areas provided through a network of relays. The consoles and computer banks always found in such places were beneath the screens. Broad-shouldered shadows were thrown onto the walls as the brothers prepared a group of Ogrons for the next stage of the operation.

Eddie unpacked the third helmet and pa.s.sed it to Gjork.

The leading Ogron clamped it down on his head. It connected automatically, with a loud hiss, to the clips on the neck of Gjork's atmosuit. Gjork and two others were now suited up and ready to begin the mining operation. During the long wait for Xais's signal, Eddie had trained these three specimens with the mining gear. The Ogrons' willingness to learn and practical skill, qualities that were a legacy of their confused evolution, were a considerable a.s.set in a slave race.

'All set,' Eddie reported.

Charlie sat before the main computer display. The base's drinks machine had provided a cup of tepid coffee, from which he took measured sips. 'Right. Get down to the air-lock.

Take the probe.'

Eddie was confused. 'We don't need the probe. Xais is going to tell us where to set up the rigs.'

Charlie patted the seat next to his in invitation. Eddie joined him before the console, and was greeted with a powerful pinch on the arm.

'It's a good job Mum and Dad aren't here, you know,'

Charlie said as he loosened his grip. 'What would they think of you, boy? ”Xais is going to tell us where to set up the rigs.”

You don't think, that's your trouble. No sense.' He leant closer to his luckless brother and whispered, 'With the probe we can have a good look at this planet for ourselves. Find out what she's really after.'

'Well, we're going to kill her anyway, aren't we?' Eddie protested.

Charlie nodded and reached for a nearby box. 'Yes.' He pushed open the lid of the box and produced one of the bombs.

'Let's get this set up.'

The bomb fitted snugly between the console and a free standing unit beneath. Charlie pushed a tiny b.u.t.ton on one side of the device and a red light flashed on.

Eddie jumped up. 'It's not going to go off, is it?'

'Not yet.' Charlie closed the lid of the box. 'But now it's armed. So, whenever I'm ready I can detonate.' He leant back in his chair. 'Right. Get down to the air-lock. Proceed as drilled.'

Eddie leapt up and selected a particular crate from the pile.

He beckoned to the three atmosuited Ogrons. They followed him as he left the survey room and headed for the air-lock.

Spiggot put out a hand to steady himself as the Rock of Judgement swayed slightly. A further series of b.u.mps followed before the corridor steadied. 'Hey, was that what I hope it was?' he asked K9.

K9's antennae twitched and he replied, 'I am unable to answer your question until you tell me what you hope for.'

'Well, I hope it was the Ogron s.h.i.+p splitting off.'

'It was what you hoped it was,' K9 said. 'The Ogrons have left the Rock of Judgement. My sensors indicate that two transmat transmissions have been made recently. Inference is that Doctor Master and Mistress Romana, along with Xais and the Nisbett brothers, have used transmat to reach Planet Eleven.'

'Let's get after them, then,' Spiggot said. 'The transmat's only down one level from here.'

'Unnecessary,' K9 said primly. 'Travel by TARDIS more efficient.'

'Oh, not that stupid box?'

K9 trundled off towards the nearest lift without comment.

Stokes was slumped in his corner. He looked over resentfully at the Doctor and Romana. She was sighing, he was staring ahead and cogitating in that irritating way of his. She sighed again.

'Romana, will you stop that, please?'

'Stop what?'

'Sighing.'

'All right. But I feel so helpless, sitting here.' She slid off the crate and her eyes widened. 'Doctor!'

He stayed still. 'Yes?'

'What have we been sitting on all this time?'

'Our bottoms?'

She pulled him away from the crate and pointed to stencilled lettering stamped where they had been sitting.

Stokes peered across. The letters read DANGER!!!

BLASTING MATERIALS.

As one the Doctor and Romana prised the lid off the crate.

Stokes shuffled over to them. 'What have you got there?'

The Doctor whirled round. He helpd up a small red device decorated with a couple of yellow stripes and said, 'Our deliverance, Mr Stokes. A Z7 hermite pack. This little beauty packs a punch that'll blast our way out of here.'

'In a s.p.a.ce as small as this it might also blow us to pieces,'

Romana pointed out.

'Well, have you got any better ideas?' the Doctor said bullishly.

'It is my idea,' Romana said.

'Well, then you should feel very proud. Now then.' He examined the controls attached to the blast pack. 'This must be the timer. I'll give it a few minutes.' He twisted a dial and fixed the pack to the hatch. 'I suggest we all get behind the crate.'