Part 11 (1/2)

The Doctor said calmly, 'If I do do co-operate, what will you offer in return?' co-operate, what will you offer in return?'

'The lives and freedom of all your friends.'

Anne nerved herself to speak, 'What about my father?'

It was eerie to hear that alien voice from her father's lips.

'He too will go free. I have used him only to communicate my commands.'

'Then he hasn't hasn't been helping you-before?' been helping you-before?'

'There are other human hands at my command.'

'Oh yes? Whose?' The Doctor was interested.

The Intelligence seemed to lose patience. 'Do not question me, Doctor. I know that even now you seek ways to destroy me. I must guide your thoughts.' Travers, or rather his body, took a sudden step forward, grabbed Victoria by the wrist and dragged her back to the door. Jamie and the Doctor leaped to her defence, but it was too late.

The two Yeti stepped forward to form a s.h.i.+eld. The Doctor's shoulders slumped. 'No, Jamie. It's no good.'

The icy voice spoke for the last time. 'Co-operate, Doctor, and she will be released unharmed. I give you one hour to decide.'

Dragging Victoria, Travers strode away, the Yeti following him. The door closed behind them.

Jamie made for the door. Lethbridge-Stewart stepped in front of him, barring his way.

Jamie doubled his fists. 'Let me past, Colonel, I'm going after her.'

'Don't be a fool, boy, you can't fight them bare-handed.

We've got to work out a plan.'

'Work out what you like-I'm going.' Jamie dodged round the Colonel and flung open the door. He found himself facing a Yeti, and hurriedly slammed the door shut.

'I don't think they want us to follow, Jamie,' the Doctor explained gently. 'Not just yet, anyway. Don't worry, Victoria's quite safe. The Intelligence won't harm her if I co-operate.'

Evans, who had been looking on popeyed with astonishment, said, 'Far as I can gather, if this Intelligence thing gets the Doctor here, it'll leave us alone. That right, sir?'

Lethbridge-Stewart nodded. 'That's what it looks like.'

Evans said reasonably, 'Then why don't we just let it have the Doctor, and we can all go home?'

He seemed quite hurt at the storm of reproaches that broke over his head. Anne and Jamie were both talking at once. The Colonel was spluttering, 'Of all the disgraceful, cowardly suggestions...'

Only the Doctor seemed undisturbed. He patted Evans on the back and said solemnly, 'I promise you, if I don't come up with a better answer, I'll hand my-self over.'

'You will not!' said Jamie hotly.

'You'll have to look after Victoria,' said the Doc-tor.

'And when it's all over, you'll both have to look after me. If I'm going to have the mind of a baby, someone will have to care for me till I grow up!' He smiled at Jamie's woebegone face. 'Don't worry, I'll try not to let it happen!'

Evans had gone to the door. He was listening intently.

'Ss.h.!.+' he said suddenly. He opened the door a crack, then opened it fully. 'The Yeti had gone. 'Thought I heard it move away,' he said happily.

The Colonel said, 'We'll search the place to make sure.

Come on, Jamie. And And you, Private Evans.' The three of them went out, leaving the Doctor alone with Anne. 'Come along, my dear,' he said cheerfully. 'We've got work to do. We've got to get that control unit of yours working properly.' you, Private Evans.' The three of them went out, leaving the Doctor alone with Anne. 'Come along, my dear,' he said cheerfully. 'We've got work to do. We've got to get that control unit of yours working properly.'

'We've only got an hour!' protested Anne.

'Exactly. So there's no time to waste!' Purposefully the Doctor moved towards the bench, reaching in his pocket for the electronic spare parts he had taken from the shop.

The Colonel supervised the search of the Fortress, reflecting ruefully that his effective fighting force was now reduced to one young Highlander and a very timid private.

Pity about Evans, he thought, the Welsh usually made such splendid soldiers.

As they came along the corridor Lethbridge-Stewart said, 'Well, no trace of the beast-that last one must have been a rearguard.'

Jamie was looking thoughtfully at the main door. 'If we tried to follow them through the tunnels we'd mebbe r into it again. But suppose we went up top, got ahead of it, then came down again-we could take Area by surprise. And if we could at least find Victoria, it'd give us a better chance to rescue her, when the Doctor does come up with the answer.'

Evans was looking at him in horror. 'I reckon we're a lot safer down here.'

'Aye, we're we're safer, ' Jamie burst out angrily. But what about Victoria and Travers? Och, if you'll no come with me, I'll go by myself.' safer, ' Jamie burst out angrily. But what about Victoria and Travers? Och, if you'll no come with me, I'll go by myself.'

Lethbridge-Stewart sighed. 'Well, at least we'll be doing something. Private Evans, you stay here and guard the civilians.'

'Right, sir,' said Evans, very relieved. He did his best to look fierce and military.

'And don't take any chances,' added the Colonel. 'Come on, Jamie.'

Evans watched them more off. 'Me, take chances?' he muttered. 'You must be joking!'

Jamie and the Colonel came to the head of the stairs and listened. All was silent. 'Right,' said Lethbridge-Stewart.

'Ready, Jamie?'