Doctor Who_ Cave Monsters - Malcolm Hulke [31]
The Doctor quickly tried to cover for Liz. 'I'm sure my companion didn't mean to suggest that, Dr. Lawrence. But the construction of this centre in the same hill as these particular caves does seem rather unfortunate...' The Doctor stopped as Dr. Meredith came rushing into the office.
Dr. Meredith started to speak. 'Dr. Lawrence...' But Dr.
Lawrence waved him to silence and looked at his wristwatch.
'You are exactly eighteen minutes late,' said Dr. Lawrence. 'I called this meeting for three o'clock.'
'I was looking for Major Barker,' said Dr. Meredith, clearly flushed with some news he wanted to impart. 'I thought he might have gone to Dr. Quinn's cotttage, so I just called there.' He paused to catch his breath. 'Dr. Quinn's dead, and Miss Dawson is behaving just like Spencer, cringing in a corner of the hallway, unable to talk.'
Dr Meredith slumped into the one remaining hard-backed chair.
'There's something else,' he went on. 'The door from Dr. Quinn's store-room to the hall has been burnt down.'
For a moment no one said anything. Liz looked to the Doctor, but the Doctor pretended not to notice her look. It was the Brigadier who broke the silence. 'I shall send a request for more troops,' he said calmly, 'many more troops, so that we can enter those caves and find out exactly what's going on.'
'I'd much rather if you didn't do that,' said the Doctor. 'A full-scale military action could be absolutely disastrous.'
'I believe you are UNIT's scientific adviser,' said Dr.
Lawrence, 'and not a military man. I completely endorse the Brigadier's plan. If, as Major Barker claimed, there are saboteurs in those caves, enemies of this country, they must be routed.'
'Thank you, sir,' said the Brigadier, rising. He turned to the Doctor. 'I'm sorry, Doctor. It's the only way.' Without waiting for a reply, the Brigadier hurried out.
Dr. Lawrence also rose. 'The meeting is closed. And now I must get on with trying to run this research centre.' He hurried out after the Brigadier.
The Doctor turned to Dr. Meredith. 'Do you know how Dr.
Quinn was killed?'
Dr. Meredith shook his head. 'So far as I could see, there wasn't a mark on his body. His heart had just stopped beating. But I'm going back there to make a full report.'
Liz asked, 'What's happened to Miss Dawson?'
'I called the ambulance,' said Dr. Meredith. 'She's been taken to the local cottage hospital.' He paused a moment, as though not entirely believing what he was about to say. 'You remember how Spencer drew pictures on the wall? She was doing the same. She was cringing in a corner, sticking her finger into the black ash of what had been the store-room door, and drawing pictures on the wall. The same pictures of animals and men.' He drew a deep breath, then slowly got to his feet. 'Well, since the meeting's over, I'd better get back to the cottage,' he said and went to the door. 'Tell me, Doctor, have you any idea why these people draw pictures on the wall?'
'I think it's got something to do with race-memory,' said the Doctor. 'There was a time when Man was very weak and always at the mercy of the same terrible enemy, just as mice are always afraid of cats.'
Dr. Meredith looked rather uncertain about that idea. 'Well,' he said, 'it's something I've never met with in the medical textbooks before. Any idea how I should cope?'
'Tender, loving care,' said the Doctor. 'I believe that's the correct nursing term.'
Dr. Meredith smiled. 'Yes, indeed,' he said. 'When in doubt, TLC.' He left the office.
'Well,' said Liz, 'that seems to settle that.'
'That,' said the Doctor, 'seems to settle what?'
'The Brigadier is going to call in lots more troops,' said Liz.
'He'll invade the caves and find out what's really there. Then we can all go home.'
'You can go where you like,' said the Doctor, 'but I'm going to go into those caves before we have a major war on our hands.'