Dr. Who Target 154 The Power of the Daleks # John Peel

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

he said softly.
Yes?
You haven t built any new Daleks, have you?
Built any? Lesterson looked shocked, then almost
amused. I wouldn t even know where to begin.
You re quite sure? The Doctor s eyes bored into the
scientist s, looking for the slightest hint of prevarication.
Of course I m sure! I don t have the faintest idea how to
go about it!
The Doctor nodded, satisfied that Lesterson was being
truthful. And there were only three of them in the
capsule?
Lesterson looked confused. You saw for yourself that
there were.
Then how would you explain the fact that we have just
seen four of them?
Impossible!
Quite, the Doctor agreed. Then there is really only
one alternative, isn t there? The Daleks must be
reproducing themselves
Janley laughed scornfully at the suggestion. Lesterson,
however, picked up the metal foil with the list of parts that
the Daleks had requested. These things are just machines,
Janley said. How could they reproduce?
Machines? The Doctor shook his head firmly. What
makes you think they re just machines? The Daleks are
brilliant engineers and scientists. Nothing is beyond them,
given the right materials.
Lesterson was white. What? he asked.
I said that nothing is beyond them, given the right
materials. The Doctor peererd down at Lesterson, perched
on the stool like a pallid garden gnome, trembling. The
sheet of flexible metal in his hands dropped to the floor.
Are you all right? He crossed to the thin scientist, who sat
and shivered. Janley moved to intercept him, her eyes
blazing.
Leave him alone! she snarled. He s just been
overworking, that s all.
The Doctor s eyes narrowed. He needs medical
attention. A man doesn t suddenly crack like that for no
reason. Ben he started to run towards his companion.
Will you go away? Janley screeched. Guard! Guard!
Then she whirled around to face the Doctor. It s all your
fault, she told him. Badgering him with your questions -
you ve been hounding him ever since you arrived on
Vulcan!
Don t be absurd! the Doctor protested.
The guard tumbled into the room. Janley spun around
and yelled at him: Bragen s orders were that no one was to
be admitted!
The hapless man looked confused. Yes, but I thought
the Examiner -
You re not paid to think! Janley howled. This man
attacked Lesterson. Get him out of here. Both of them!
Out, do you hear me?
Now look here, the Doctor began, but he broke off as
the guard stomped over to them. The man had a good six
inches over even Ben, and looked as if he outweighed both
of them added together. This was clearly one of those times
for the better part of valour. Throwing up his hands in
disgust, the Doctor allowed the hulking man to march him
and Ben out of the laboratory. He could bide his time, for
the moment, at any rate.
As soon as the intruders were gone, Janley gave
Lesterson a quick examination. He was still on the stool,
shaking uncontrollably. Obviously his nerves had cracked
under the strain. After a second s thought, she crossed to
the comm unit and triggered it. An unfamiliar voice
answered her from the Communications Room. This is
Janley. Tell Valmar to come over to the lab right away.
She clicked the machine off without waiting for a reply.
Taking Lesterson by the shoulders, she shook him
slightly. Come on, she said softly. Lie down for a bit.
You ve been doing far too much. You need rest.
Unprotesting, he allowed her to walk him into the small
side room that held a day bed. It was useful when
experiments had to be monitored constantly to have the
small fold-out bed. Now Janley pushed him on to it. Put
your feet up. Go on. Lesterson nodded, and lay down.
Returning to the main lab, Janley took a clean beaker
and filled it with distilled water. Then she took a small vial
from her bag, similar to the one she d used on Polly. This
one she cracked into the water. There was a swirl as the
escaping gas dissolved instantly. She poured the liquid into
a cup and took this through to Lesterson. This will help,
she promised. Without a word, he took it from her and
downed the drugged water. Then he lay down again and
closed his eyes.
The main door opened. Janley hurried out into the lab
as Valmar entered it. The guard accompanied him,
obviously taking her orders seriously this time.
It s all right, Janley said. Lesterson sent for him. The
guard nodded curtly and returned outside to his post.
Janley washed out the cup she was holding. I ve had to
give Lesterson a mild sleeping draught. She set about
cleaning all traces from the beaker.
What s the matter with him? Valmar asked.
Overwork, I suppose. Janley finished her work. Her
tracks were now covered. He suddenly broke down.
Anyway, it ll give you a chance to put in the new power
cable the Daleks asked for.
You don t miss a trick, do you? Valmar sounded
almost admiring. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Linki