Doctor Who_ Delta and the Bannermen - Malcolm Kohll [36]
Callon stumbled the last few yards to his leader before he dropped to his knees with exhaustion. Gavrok and the other Bannermen gathered around him while, panting heavily, he told them the full story. When he had finished Gavrok grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to his feet.
‘I have decided not to kill you this time, worm. Not because I am feeling merciful, you understand. That would be the mark of a weak leader. But because we may need every blaster that’s available. Even if it does belong to a miserable coward.’ Pushing Callon away Gavrok ordered,
‘Tidy yourself up.’ Callon made a frantic effort to comply with his leader’s wishes.
The strange convoy led by Ray and the Doctor threaded its way across the moors, heading towards Shangri-La and the final confrontation. More than one stomach was churning with nervous tension at the thought of what lay ahead.
Gavrok and his men, under direction from Callon, had also arrived at what they believed would be the final confrontation. They stood in the woods, surrounding Goronwy’s farm, surveying the cottage. Rock ‘n’ roll drifted to them on the breeze. Gavrok stood on the dead Arrex’s hand without seeming to notice. ‘Stand by to storm the dwelling,’ he ordered.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The convoy hurtled through the gates at Shangri-La and stopped beside the TARDIS. The Doctor was as usual in control, but a certain urgency conveyed itself. He turned to Burton, saying, ‘We will draw the Bannermen away when we leave. You should be perfectly safe since they are primarily interested in Delta. I’ll prepare the TARDIS for immediate take-off.’
The Doctor produced his key and started advancing towards the TARDIS. He suddenly stopped and squatted down, picking up a fragment of something lying charred in the dust. ‘Keep back! It’s been booby-trapped. Mel, please get everyone inside the camp.’
Hawk, who by now was completely fed up with all the strange notions strode forward and pointed at the TARDIS. ‘Booby-trapped? Who does he think he’s kidding. Ain’t nothin’ but a callbox,’ he said confidently.
‘Look up there,’ said the Doctor, pointing at the blue pyramid on top of the TARDIS. ‘Next to the light, a small beam weapon. It emits a cone of sensitivity all around the TARDIS. Anything entering the cone detonates an explosion.’
‘Sure it does,’ said Hawk laughing to himself.
‘Can’t you somehow get around it?’ asked Ray, ignoring Hawk’s remark.
The Doctor shook his head. ‘Unfortunately not. It’s a very sophisticated system.’
Hawk elbowed his way forwards. ‘Yeah, well I reckon this is all so much eyewash. I’m gonna call the chief...’
Before anyone could stop him Hawk stomped towards the TARDIS. The Doctor dived at him, managing to catch his ankle as Hawk’s hand entered the sonic cone – BOOM!
The blast threw Hawk onto his back, his face and hand blackened. He scrabbled to his feet, blowing on his burned hand, his eyes wildly spinning in his head.
‘I tried to warn you,’ said the Doctor sternly, ‘If you’d stepped right into the beam you would have been atomized!’
‘I... er...’ muttered Hawk. ‘This is all too much.’
‘C’mon back to camp, Lex,’ said Weismuller, gently trying to lead him back to safety.
‘But... but I was zapped by a callbox!’ Hawk shook his head a few times then turned to Weismuller with eyes as wide as saucers. ‘They’re all from outer space, Weismuller.’
‘Yeah, I know. It sure looks that way. Come on buddy, let’s get you fixed up,’ said Weismuller, leading the stunned Hawk away to the camp. Every few seconds the limping Hawk would turn his head back to look at the TARDIS.
‘Mr Burton, would you please take everyone back to the safety of the camp while I try and defuse this booby-trap. If it explodes with full force it’ll take us all with it,’ said the Doctor.
Burton nodded and started to shepherd everyone to safety. He was completely at ease now that he was back on familiar territory. He looked on the Doctor as the Commanding Officer and was prepared to carry out his instructions