Doctor Who_ Dinosaur Invasion - Malcolm Hulke [29]
‘Now I see what you’re getting at,’ Sir Charles said. ‘What a remarkable piece of thinking! But I don’t think any of these places were ever built. I was only a junior back bencher in the House of Commons in those days. As far as I know, all the plans were shelved.’ He poured tea into two cups. ‘Have you talked about this to the Brigadier?’
‘I’m not talking to anyone about it until I can get some evidence. I thought you might be able to help me.’
Sir Charles stirred a cup of tea, lost in thought. ‘Maybe I can. There are ministerial files here going back years, documents that I’ve never had time to study. Let’s have a look.’ He crossed the study to a small door and opened it. ‘This is my filing room. Do come in.’
Sarah entered the little windowless room. It was lined with grey metal filing cabinets. Sir Charles closed the door and pressed a button on the wall, causing a faint whirring sound.
‘What’s that?’ she asked.
‘The air conditioning.’ He opened one of the filing cabinet drawers and peered inside at a row of file tags. ‘I hardly understand the filing system myself. I’ve only been Minister six months, you know.’
Sarah looked at a guide to the files on the wall. One item read Top Secret Construction Projects . ‘Could it be that one?’ she asked.
‘I wonder.’ He consulted the index. ‘That would be File 9941. Let’s see if we can find it.’
He walked along the row of filing cabinets. ‘We need the drawer whose files start with the number 9. Ah, here we are! ‘ He pulled open the drawer, and after a moment’s search found a manilla file numbered 9941.
Together they examined the contents of the file: letters, rough working papers of figures and costs, and a map. Sir Charles found a sealed envelope, quickly opened it, and glanced at the Ministerial letter it contained.
‘Do you know, Miss Smith, you were right! They did build a fully-equipped shelter for the Government to hide in. And—fancy that!—they never let the public know. Quite disgraceful.’
But Sarah was staring at the map. ‘That must be Whitehall,’ she said, pointing. ‘And the exact position of the shelter would be...’ She gasped.
Sir Charles’s well-known politician’s smile faded. His face set in stern lines. ‘That’s right, Miss Smith. It was built, nuclear reactor and all, directly beneath this building. Shall we take a look at it?’
He gestured towards the door. Sarah turned, saw that the ornate carved door by which she had entered had been covered by a metal sliding door. The whirring sound stopped, and she felt the floor give a very slight bump. Sir Charles walked forward and pressed the button on the wall. The metal door slid to one side.
‘This is my own very private lift,’ said Sir Charles. ‘After you, Miss Smith.’
Sarah stepped out into a metallic-walled corridor. A man wearing a white overall came towards them. A livid scar ran down one side of his face.
‘We weren’t expecting you, Sir Charles,’ said the man.
‘Indeed not. This young lady is coming to stay with you for a while. Is everything going according to plan?’
The man nodded. ‘She is to be processed?’
‘Immediately.’ Sir Charles turned to Sarah. ‘This man’s name is Butler. He is a good man and will help you out of your dilemma.’
‘I’m not in a dilemma,’ she protested. ‘I want to be released immediately! ‘
‘That isn’t possible,’ said Sir Charles. ‘Come with me.’
He walked ahead of her down the corridor, obviously very familiar with the place. Butler came up behind Sarah and occasionally hastened her along with a gentle shove. She followed Sir Charles.
Sir Charles opened a metal door that led into a small cell-like room. It contained one item of furniture—a chair. ‘You will have to wait in here, Miss Smith. But no harm will come to you.’
Butler pushed Sarah into the room.
‘You’re both mad!’ she screamed.
‘On the contrary,’ said Sir Charles, his well-known politician’s smile starting to return now. ‘My associates and I are the only ones