Doctor Who_ Delta and the Bannermen - Malcolm Kohll [12]
‘There will always be a future,’ said the Doctor. ‘If you think it would help I could transport everyone in the TARDIS.’
Murray was looking doleful, ‘Thanks Doctor, but a captain never leaves his ship.’
The Doctor nodded understandingly. ‘There is another alternative,’ he said, ‘I can accelerate growth in the thermobooster and create a new crystal in about 24 hours.’
Murray’s face lit up. ‘That’s fantastic! You’ve saved my bacon, Doctor. I can’t see any problem with staying here for 24 hours.’
Ray smiled brightly, ‘Great. I’ll see you all at the dance then.’
Murray was snapping his fingers with excitement. ‘A dance – with live music?’ he blurted.
‘Uh-huh,’ said Ray, ‘Billy here plays great rock’n’roll.’
‘Sounds too good to miss,’ said Murray.
‘Okay, see you later, alligator,’ said Ray, starting her scooter and driving away.
Murray turned to the Doctor, ‘I just love all that 50s talk,’ he said.
The Doctor watched her putter away. ‘A most personable young woman, that. Practical too. She seems extremely fond of you, Billy.’
Billy nodded. ‘She’s okay. Like my little sister, you know.’ He started packing up his tools. ‘If you don’t need me for anything else I’ll go and wash up for dinner,’ he said.
Murray nodded. ‘Good idea. All this spannering really works up an appetite.’
‘I don’t know much about spanners but I used to have a sonic screwdriver,’ said the Doctor, as they all turned and started walking towards the camp.
Chapter Eleven
Mel had just about finished unpacking when a loud metallic gonging shook the walls. Delta sprang from the bed and took up a stance beside the window, ready to shoot anything that moved. ‘What’s that?’ she hissed.
Mel, trying to be calm, smiled bravely. ‘It’s only the dinner gong,’ she said.
Delta looked at her suspiciously, then cautiously peered through the window. She seemed to sag as the tension left her and pushed the phaser into her tunic pocket. Mel was relieved to see the weapon disappear, but she couldn’t help thinking that she may have been better off sharing a cabin with a Navarino. Even though their constant chat tended to irritate her, it was a lot more relaxing than cohabiting with a gun-toting Chimeron.
Mel decided that she would have to be straight with Delta. ‘As soon as I’ve finished unpacking I think I’ll go and get something to eat,’ she said, testing the water.
Delta narrowed her eyes. ‘Can you be trusted?’ she asked.
‘Oh yes! Utterly! Discretion is my middle name,’ said Mel, nervously sidling towards the door.
Delta decided that she was all right and sat down once more on the bed. Mel left, trying to look as unconcerned as possible.
Outside the cabins Billy was working on his gleaming black motorbike and sidecar. Two tourists were watching him in fascination. ‘What is it?’ asked one.
Billy looked up. ‘This here’s a Vincent Black Shadow –
finest motorcycle in the world.’
The other tourist, still not sure of its function, asked,
‘But what does it do?’
‘Oh, about 130 on a good day. That’s without the sidecar, of course,’ said Billy.
The first tourist was still mystified. ‘A hundred and thirty WHAT?’
Billy was getting exasperated. ‘Miles per hour, of course!’ he said.
The second tourist’s face lit up. ‘I see! It’s a form of transport.’
Billy had seen some strange tours, but this one was really shaping up to be the weirdest.
Mel rushed past on her way to the dining hall eager to tell the Doctor all about Delta. When she got there the Doctor had already arrived and was sitting alone at a table, picking at his food. Mel sat beside him and promptly took an apple from his plate. A few moments later Delta entered and sat, a solitary figure, cool and aloof at a corner table.
However, her entrance was noted by someone other than Mel and the Doctor. Keillor stared at her from behind his dark glasses, the cogs in his brain slowly turning over.
‘There’s something odd going on here, Doctor,’
whispered Mel urgently.
‘Well,