Doctor Who_ Delta and the Bannermen - Malcolm Kohll [27]
‘STOP!’ someone said. Gavrok turned to see who had the effrontery to tell him what to do. Burton was furiously marching from the camp gates.
‘It would be extremely foolish to kill her – keep her as a hostage,’ he said to Gavrok.
Gavrok though for a moment and then nodded. He turned to his number two, saying, ‘Kill any other survivors and tie these two up. They will not be used as hostages, but as bait!’
Mel had never been so pleased to see anyone in all her life. She felt like kissing Burton. ‘Thanks; for one awful moment I thought I’d had it.’
‘Really, don’t mention it. I’ve had dealings with scoundrels like this before. It’s all a matter of psychology,’
said Burton putting a finger to the side of his head.
‘Whatever it was I’m very grateful.’ Mel took several deep breaths and felt the blood circulate freely in her veins once more. What a holiday this was turning out to be.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The two bikes slewed into a lay-by. ‘Do you think Murray and the others got away, Doctor?’ said Delta.
‘I’m afraid not,’ he replied, ‘That patch of scorched earth is all that remains of them.’
No one spoke. They were very upset to think of those hapless Navarinos, now reduced to free-floating ions.
‘Mel’s still there, Doctor,’ said Ray. ‘I saw her.’
The Doctor snapped out of his reverie. ‘My immediate objectives are to free Mel and get Delta somewhere safe,’ he said.
‘I go along with that Doctor,’ said Billy, who was ready to do battle.
Delta suddenly stood up, gently stroking the silver pits under her ears. ‘Do you hear something?’ asked Billy.
‘Those pits are actually high frequency antennae,’
explained the Doctor. ‘What do you detect, Delta?’
She screwed up her face in concentration. ‘It’s not clear but it’s coming from over there,’ she said, pointing to the east.
‘There’s nothing there except old Goronwy’s place...’
said Billy.
‘Does he keep bees?’ asked the Doctor.
Billy looked startled, ‘Yeah, that’s right. How did you know?’
‘His bees are telling us to come,’ said Delta.
‘Oh,’ said Billy not quite convinced.
‘Billy, which is the quickest route to this Goronwy fellow’s place?’ asked the Doctor.
‘Straight over the moors. I know a short cut.’
‘Good! We’ll follow you then,’ urged the Doctor. The Convoy started off across the difficult terrain towards Goronwy’s cottage.
Goronwy had a veil over his face and was unsuccessfully trying to eat a piece of honeycomb through it when the Vincent and the scooter arrived.
‘Hi Goronwy, we were wondering...’ said Billy.
‘Of course. I am Goronwy’ he said, holding out his hand to the others. ‘You know, I feel very popular at the moment. You’re the second lot of visitors I’ve had today,’
he added. The others looked at one another suspiciously.
‘Two Americans. At least I think they were Americans.
Not very friendly though! But then I suppose they were in a bit of a rush,’ he continued.
‘I thought for one dreadful minute...’ Ray was cut short by the Doctor.
‘If the Bannermen had been here first I doubt if this gentleman would have remained in such good spirits.’
Delta’s baby became agitated and started trying to grab the honeycomb from Goronwy. ‘She likes a bit of honey does she?’ he said, his face wrinkling into a smile.
‘Could these people stay with you for a few hours?’
asked the Doctor.
‘Of course. But let’s go inside and have some tea,’ said Goronwy.
‘I’m going to have to leave at once. Could you lend me a white pillow case and a broom handle?’ asked the Doctor.
Goronwy accepted without question many strange things and so was not in the least curious about this odd request.
‘Splendid,’ said the Doctor. ‘And could I borrow your bike, Billy?’
‘OK,’ said Billy, looking doubtful, ‘but please be careful, Doctor.’
‘I’ll treat it like the TARDIS,’ said the Doctor.
Somehow this didn’t have the ring of reassurance which Billy was looking for.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Mel and Burton had been tied back-to-back