Doctor Who_ Attack of the Cybermen - Eric Saward [36]
‘It isn’t necessary for you to pilot the ship,’ said the Cryon. ‘A crew is being assembled for that.’
‘Your function, as always, Griffiths, is muscle: you’re to keep me alive,’ said Lytton.
‘A minder?’
Thrust didn’t understand.
‘A bodyguard,’ said Lytton.
The Cryon again waved her hands as though conducting an imaginery orchestra. ‘An honourable profession,’ she exclaimed.
Charlie wasn’t so certain. ‘But why me? Why can’t one of your lot do it?’
Thrust shrugged and looked disappointed. ‘I wish we could,’ she said. ‘But we can only exist at temperatures below zero. If I were to venture onto the surface of the planet, I would boil and die.’
Lytton was becoming impatient. ‘Come on, Griffiths.
You are being paid two million pounds for what will be little more than a day’s work.’
‘But will I live to spend it?’ he retorted.
‘If we capture the vessel – yes.’
‘And if we don’t?’
‘Then we’ll be turned into emotionless Cybermen!’
Not much of a choice, he thought. But that, in many respects, had been the story of his life. At least this time he would have enough money to retire.
Rattling the diamonds in his hand to reassure himself they were real, he finally agreed. Thrust, who was delighted, literally danced for joy. She then took them to where she had hidden a captured Cyber gun, a small backpack containing provisions and an electronic device fitted with a tiny monitor screen.
‘A safe route has been plotted to the site of the time vessel,’ she said holding up the box. ‘But first you must locate the rest of your crew.’
The Cryon pressed a button on the device then handed it to Lytton. On its tiny screen appeared a relief map of the area near Cyber Control. ‘You’ll find them somewhere out there,’ she said, pointing. ‘But now you must hurry. There is very little time!’
Peri lay on a hard stone ledge covered in a foul-smelling blanket. Neither of these inconveniences bothered her very much as she was still unconscious.
Around her prone shape, the Cryons bustled. Although the area was little more than a cave, it was crammed full with electronic monitoring equipment, most of which had been stolen from the Cybermen. The area of the tombs was displayed on a myriad screen, including the landing place of the TARDIS. On another monitor was a gallery through which Lytton and Charlie Griffiths were being led by Thrust. On yet another was the entrance to the refrigeration unit in which the Doctor had been imprisoned.
Slowly Peri began to regain consciousness. Varne and Rost, who were working nearby, heard her groan. Peri’s eyelid fluttered, then opened lazily, but all she could see was a dense, myopic haze. As her other senses began to take in the sounds and smells about her, she struggled to focus her vision. Slowly hard edges began to form around the blurred shapes, and she saw the faces of Rost and Varne looking curiously down at her. At first she didn’t know what to think, her aching brain desperately trying to make sense of what she saw. It wasn’t until Varne’s bulging eyes blinked, and Rost pressed an icy finger against her cheek, that Pen sensed danger. Screaming, she sat bolt upright.
‘Peace, child,’ said Rost gently. ‘We mean you no harm.’
Peri kicked the smelly blanket from around her legs and tried to stand up.
‘We saved you from the Cybermen,’ said Varne, attempting to restrain her. ‘Surely you remember?’
Peri stopped struggling as her memory allowed the incident to filter back into her conscious mind. ‘I’m s-sorry,’ she stuttered nervously. ‘I’m very confused.’
Rost picked up the blanket. ‘You must rest,’ she said, wrapping it around her. ‘We can talk later...’
But Peri was so wide awake she felt that she would never sleep again. ‘Who are you?’ she demanded.
Rost and Varne glanced at each other. ‘We are Cryons, child.’
‘How can that be?’ Peri mentally kicked herself for such an unthinking reply. ‘I mean –’ she stammered ineffectually. ‘Well, er...’
‘You seem