Doctor Who_ Delta and the Bannermen - Malcolm Kohll [38]
Within seconds he had been forced to duck under the protective waters of the reservoir once again. While in the air above the lake, the bees were grouping for a fresh assault.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
At Shangri-La the dining hall had been converted into a sanatorium. The whole affair was somewhat makeshift, consisting of Vinney’s Red Cross box and a number of sheets which Weismuller was tearing into strips. Hawk sat motionless, still deeply shocked by his recent experience.
Even though his brain was dulled from the blast he was making a concerted effort to analyse the day’s events. His head and hand had been bandaged very amateurishly – the strips of sheet wound around his head were already falling down over his ears. Hawk looked a pathetic site. Delta was helping Weismuller prepare the room as a sick bay in the event of a major Bannermen attack.
Although Delta busied herself with her sick bay chores she knew that there was a strong possibility that it would never be used. Tears welled in her eyes when she thought of her beautiful daughter’s life being in mortal danger. She had never hated anyone in her life before, always considering it to be a destructive emotion, however, at this moment in time, Gavrok was the prime recipient of her feeling of loathing.
Just then Burton bustled in, wearing plus fours and his favourite duck-stalking hat. A shotgun was crooked under his arm, and although he looked slightly comical there was nothing amusing about his expression.
‘Has anyone seen Billy?’ he asked impatiently.
‘He’s just checking the fire equipment. I’ll fetch him,’
said Delta and hurried into a small store room. Rows of red-painted fire buckets stood filled with white beach sand.
Billy stood by a length of fire hose and was putting something into his mouth when he heard Delta’s quick footsteps approaching. Whatever it was, he hid it behind his back and turned to face her with a guilty smile. Delta immediately sensed something was wrong. ‘What are you hiding, Billy?’ she demanded.
Billy tried to think of an excuse but realized that it was hopeless. He produced the empty tube of high-protein larva food from behind his back. The colour drained from Delta’s face. ‘Billy! You haven’t been eating it, have you?’
‘I had to, Delta. I’m not a Chimeron, but if I’m to come with you then I have to become one...’ he explained miserably.
‘But it’s never been tried before! It might kill you,’ said Delta, feeling a wave of helplessness sweep over her.
‘It’ll be all right, I think. Look at my hair – and my eyes
– they’re already turning,’ said Billy, looking at his reflection in the stainless steel side of a fire extinguisher.
He tried to sound optimistic, but still felt a certain dread at how the untried chemical might affect a human being.
Delta stepped closer to Billy, checking his eyes. It was true, small green flecks had started to appear around his dark pupils.
Delta felt her heart beating faster as she and Billy stepped closer to each other, seeking comfort in each other’s eyes. Their lips were about to touch when a cough from the door brough them instantly back to reality.
Burton stood there looking faintly embarrassed. ‘Sorry to interrupt, Billy, but I need a hand in the office,’ he said, somewhat more gruffly than was strictly necessary.
‘Sure thing, Mr Burton,’ said Billy, smiling bravely at Delta before following Burton towards his office. Delta looked again at the empty protein tube in her hand and her face grew grave – anything could happen to Billy but this wasn’t the time to think about it. A Bannermen attack could come at any moment.
She was, however, strangely moved by Billy’s actions.
‘He must