Doctor Who_ Daemons - Barry Letts [62]
The Master tried again 'You realise that you're a doomed man, Doctor,' he said conversationally.
The Doctor forced himself to tear his gaze away from Azal.
'Oh, I'm a dead man. I was dead as soon as I came through that door,' he replied, and it was plain that he meant it. 'So you'd better take care,' he went on, 'you see, I have nothing to lose, have I?'
This thought obviously did not please the Master at all. A man with nothing to lose had nothing to fear. If you could not make a man afraid, how could you control him?
'Enough,' the Master snapped. Then he turned to Azal. 'Destroy him, oh great Dæmon,' he said.
But Azal did not move. There was a moment of silence as he stared at the Doctor.
'Who is this?' he boomed.
'My enemy and yours, Azal. Destroy him!'
Azal still did not comply. 'This is the one of whom we spoke. He too is not of this planet.'
'He is a meddler and a fool.'
'He is not a fool—yet he has done a foolish thing in coming here. Tell me, oh Doctor, why did you come?'
The Doctor stared into the callous uncaring eyes. How could he hope to get through to such a being?
'Why did I come? Why, I came to talk to you.'
'Talk then.'
'First, let her go,' said the Doctor, pointing to Jo.
Azal raised his hand.
'No!' cried the Master, 'I forbid it!'
There was a crackle of fire and Jo's guards fell back with cries of pain. Jo scrambled from the Stone of Sacrifice and ran to the Doctor's side.
'Are you all right?' he asked her.
'I think so,' she replied, though her hands were shaking like the hands of an old woman. 'Yes, yes, of course I'm all right.'
The Doctor looked back to Azal. 'Thank you,' he said.
'You wish to talk.'
'Yes. I came to warn you.'
'Warn me?'
'I came to tell you to leave this planet, while you still can,' said the Doctor firmly.
It almost seemed that Anal was amused; as amused as a man warned to leave his own home by a kitchen mouse. A deep rumbling noise came from the Dremon's chest which could have been a gigantic chuckle. 'You are bold,' he said at last. 'What could happen to me ? There is no creature in this Galaxy—nay, in the Universe—that is feared by the Dæmons. Am I to fear you?'
'It may be wise,' answered the Doctor. 'You see, I have a machine outside that can annihilate you.'
Azal threw his head back as if he was sniffing the air, like a hound seeking a scent. After a moment, he again regarded the Doctor. 'You lie,' he said, with no apparent concern.
'You've already felt its power, I know.' The Doctor's air of confidence was becoming a little forced.
'I have. But the machine is destroyed.'
Jo glanced at the Doctor in sudden trepidation. If this were true, they were lost.
'One of them, yes,' replied the Doctor, after a fractional pause. 'The other is outside the church at this moment. I have only to give the signal.'
Again the furious movement of the Dæmon's head. 'You lie,' he said again. 'There was but one machine. It no longer exists.'
'Oh, Doctor,' breathed Jo.
The Dæmon's eyes seemed to look into the depth of the Doctor's mind. 'You have a regard for the truth,' he boomed. 'Why do you lie?'
The Doctor shrugged. 'To try to make you listen to me.'
'Why should I? I have listened and you have lied to me. Why should I listen further? I see no consequence of value.'
The Master seized his opportunity. 'Then kill him! Kill him now!'
Azal gave him an indifferent glance.
'Very well,' he said and lifting his great hand he pointed straight at the Doctor.
13 The Sacrifice
The little caravan of army vehicles came swinging round the corner of the road leading to the village green of Devil's End, completely disregarding the speed limit. The Brigadier's Land Rover skidded to a stop opposite the knot of people near the churchyard. The Brigadier jumped out and strode across the green