Doctor Who_ Attack of the Cybermen - Eric Saward [20]
Charlie wondered why such creatures continued living, but his consideration was interrupted by the cessation of the ‘agitated’ Cyberman’s conversation.
‘You...’ said one of them, in a flat, mechanical voice,
‘will answer my questions.’ He strode across to Lytton and prodded him in the chest with the huge metal index and third finger of his left hand. ‘How did you know we were here?’
Lytton gave a small bow of respect. ‘You have a ship on the dark side of the moon, Leader. I tracked your transmission.’
The Cyber leader turned to his Lieutenant. ‘Inform Moon Base at once,’ he said flatly, and without any obvious sense of concern or urgency. ‘Our signals have been detected. We must increase distortion –’
‘You’re quite safe, Leader,’ interrupted Lytton. ‘Earth authorities are unable to receive your transmissions.’
‘You did,’ said the Leader.
‘But I am not from Earth...’
Charlie glanced at Lytton. He didn’t like the sound of his mendacious bluff – at least he hoped it was a bluff...
‘I am from Vita Fifteen,’ Lytton continued almost casually, ‘in the star system six-nine-zero. My planet is known as Riften Five.’
‘I have heard of that place.’ The Leader menacingly placed his metal face very close to Lytton’s. ‘It is inhabited by a race of warriors called Charnels, who fight only for money.’
Lytton, as surreptitiously as the situation would allow, attempted to pull away from the Cyberman. ‘I am here to aid you in your cause,’ he said, with less confidence than before. ‘If I’d wished to betray you, I would have informed Earth Authorities, not risked my life coming here.’
There was a moment’s deathly silence as the Cyber Leader considered what had been said. ‘There is logic in your statement,’ he uttered.
Lytton gave another little bow. ‘Thank you, Leader.’
‘I shall inform the Cyber Controller of your capture. He will decide your fate.’
Lytton glanced eagerly around the room. ‘Is he here?’
‘If you have been monitoring our transmission, you will know where he is.’
‘Then he must still be on Telos?’
The Cyber Leader nodded. ‘You and your companion,’
he said, indicating Charlie, ‘will be taken to him.’
Charlie Griffiths wasn’t certain what to make of the conversation he had just witnessed. He had never heard of Telos, and although it sounded like a Greek island, he found it difficult to believe that there was anywhere inhabited by tall, bulky men with expressionless voices and a fetish for wearing suits made from aluminium foil.
‘Tell me this is all a terrible dream, Mr Lytton.’
‘Try leaving this room without their permission.’
Charlie looked at the huge robotic, silver shapes and decided he would remain where he was for the time being.
‘Where is Telos?’
‘Tremulus Three.’
The information didn’t help. ‘Where’s that near, Mr Lytton?’
‘Tasker’s Crown...’
Somewhere in the confused jumble of Charlie’s mind, the name meant something. Perhaps, he thought, it was a pub where he had once been a regular? ‘And what about the other stuff you told them. How did you know what to say?’ No answer. ‘Come on, Mr Lytton – you’re not being fair. I mean you even told them you weren’t from Earth.’
‘Perhaps it’s true,’ he said at last.
‘That’s not possible! Anyway, you said you came from north London.’
Lytton let out a slow, deliberate sigh. After two years trapped on Earth he still couldn’t believe how stupid some of its inhabitants could be. ‘You know, Griffiths, when I talk to someone like you, I wonder why your ancestors bothered to climb out of the primordial slime.’
Given how confused and scared he felt, Charlie was rather inclined to agree.
On hands and knees, the Doctor scrutinised a small indentation in a brick at the base of a tunnel