• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

'You will gain nothing by killing me,' said the Doctor, but already the power of Morka's radiation was having an effect on him.

The Doctor felt as though he was being strangled, the air squeezed from his body. He fell to his knees. Intense pain raced through his arms and legs. He was just losing consciousness when he heard Okdel's voice.

'Stop!'

The pain continued through the Doctor's limbs. Morka had not heeded Okdel's order.

'Do not kill it,' said Okdel. 'It may be useful to us.'

Morka's third eye suddenly stopped glowing. 'What use can we make of the creature?'

'The other,' said Okdel, indicating Barker, 'has told us so little.

I think this one is more intelligent. It can live for a little longer.'

'I have dealt with the apes sent to attack us,' said Morka. 'They are trapped in the caves.'

'You forget, there are now millions of this species,' said Okdel.

'They will send others to attack us.'

'Then we shall destroy them all,' said Morka. 'Ask your questions of this so-called intelligent ape, then I suggest you exterminate it.' Morka abruptly walked away. Okdel stood looking at the Doctor. Slowly he asked, 'How many of your species now pollute our planet?'

'Over three thousand five hundred million,' said the Doctor, thinking it unwise at this moment to point out that Man was not his own species.

'That is impossible,' said Okdel. 'You give this enormous figure to frighten us.'

'I assure you,' the Doctor said, 'the figure is accurate. Since you were the rulers of Earth the apes, as you call Man, have multiplied time and time again.'

'We outnumber you by millions to one,' said Major Barker. 'So put that in your pipe and smoke it!'

'Do all carry these exploding sticks,' said Okdel, 'such as this ape had with him,' and he indicated Major Barker.

'Only soldiers,' said the Doctor.

'We all carry weapons,' cried Major Barker. 'Millions and millions of us!'

Okdel turned and looked at Barker. 'You lie. It will not help you.' He turned back to the Doctor. 'You say you wish to help us?'

'Yes,' said the Doctor. 'I can stop you from being destroyed.'

'We have studied your weapon. It is very primitive.'

'But you know nothing of the fighting power of the humans,'

the Doctor said. 'You have only seen one rifle!'

'Be quiet!' said Barker. 'If you say another word about weapons, Doctor, I shall personally see that you are prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act!'

'What other weapons do you humans possess?' asked Okdel.

'Explosive shells that can penetrate armour-plating,' said the Doctor, 'bombs that can wipe out whole continents...'

The Doctor's words were choked as Barker put his hands through the bars dividing the two cages and grabbed the Doctor by the throat. 'I'll shut your mouth for you, you swine! You're a traitor!

I'll stop you helping them!'

The Doctor tried to pull Major Barker's hands from his throat, but the Major had a steel-like grip. Okdel turned towards Major Barker, and his third eye started to pulsate. Barker suddenly fell away, a crumpled heap on the floor of his cage. The Doctor looked through the bars'

'Have you killed him?'

'No,' said Okdel. 'He will recover.'

The Doctor felt his bruised throat. 'Can't you let me out of here? I'm in no position to harm you, and I earnestly believe we must talk before it is too late.'

Okdel seemed to consider for a few moments. Then he looked down at the lock on the Doctor's cage door. His third eye pulsated, and the lock sprang open. 'Come with me,' he said. 'I have never talked with an ape before, but I realise that things have changed.

Walk behind me.'

The Doctor followed close behind Okdel towards an inner room. Their route took them past the caged-over pit, and the Doctor stole a quick glance down into the pit. He caught a glimpse of the spiked back of a huge reptile, then hurried on after Okdel. The inner room also had walls of sheet metal riveted together. It was a small control-room with some devices for measuring the external temperature and air-condition. Okdel turned and stood facing the Doctor.

'If you attack me,'