Doctor Who_ Dinosaur Invasion - Malcolm Hulke [39]
‘Once I’m under lock and key,’ the Doctor chipped in, ‘you can bring back those millions of Londoners.’
‘That’s a point, sir,’ said the Brigadier. ‘If the crisis is over, shouldn’t we end the evacuation?’
The General looked uncertain. ‘All in good time, Brigadier. There are many complicated arrangements to be made first. Until you receive further instructions, keep this maniac under close arrest. He is not to make contact with anyone. Captain Yates is to remain in charge of the prisoner. The Brigadier is to come with me. There is much to be done.’
The General turned on his heel and marched out of the classroom, the Brigadier following obediently. The Doctor was delighted to find himself alone with Captain Yates. The two UNIT soldiers remained well in the background.
‘Listen, Mike,’ the Doctor whispered urgently, ‘there isn’t much time. I need all the men you can muster and some high explosives to break into their control centre before the final phase of their plan...’
To the Doctor’s astonishment, Captain Yates wasn’t paying any attention. Instead, he opened the door and called, ‘Sergeant Benton, in here please!’
The Doctor touched Yates’s arm. ‘Are you on their side as well, Mike?’ For years the Doctor and Captain Yates had been good friends.
Yates would not turn to face the Doctor. ‘I’m sorry,’ he muttered quietly. ‘What we are doing is for the good of Humanity. I know that what we are doing is right.’
Sergeant Benton hurried into the classroom. ‘Sir?’
‘The Doctor is under arrest,’ said Captain Yates. ‘Keep him under constant guard. Find somewhere to lock him up. I’ll leave you to it.’ Without looking at the Doctor, Captain Yates quickly left the classroom.
Benton couldn’t believe what he had just been told. ‘You are under arrest, Doctor?’
‘That’s right. Where are you going to keep me prisoner?’
Benton paused to think, and then he addressed the two UNIT soldiers. ‘You two, go and fix up the text-book storeroom as a temporary cell.’ The two soldiers looked apprehensive at leaving the Doctor, now regarded as a dangerous criminal, alone with the un-armed sergeant. He shouted at them, ‘Jump to it!’ The soldiers hurried out of the classroom. Benton turned back to the Doctor, lowering his voice, ‘Now tell me the truth, Doctor, what’s going on?’ He had known the Doctor some years and trusted him implicitly.
‘I’m still not entirely sure, but General Finch is mixed up in it, and Captain Yates, too.’
Benton’s eyes widened. ‘Captain Yates?! ‘
‘They’ve won him over somehow,’ said the Doctor. ‘He’s a good man, and believes what they are doing is good in some way.’
‘Strewth! There’s only one thing for it—you’ll have to knock me out! ‘ Benton stood to attention and closed his eyes. ‘Use your Venusian karate to overpower me, so that I’ll be lying here unconscious when the soldiers get back.’
‘Thank you. I promise not to hurt you.’ He gently applied the Venusian karate hold with two fingers to Benton’s neck. Benton lost consciousness almost immediately. The Doctor carefully lowered him to the floor.
‘Thanks again,’ said the Doctor, looking down at the prostrate form of Benton. He hurried out through the door.
‘ ... Man is the only animal to prey on his own species. As society breaks down, armed gangsters take over. In America, with fifty murders a day, law-abiding citizens live behind electrified fences to keep criminals out. In the City of London another type of criminal exists. Property developers have destroyed— ’
The film and its commentary stopped automatically as Sarah opened the door of the Reminder Room. Mark, more concerned for Sarah’s safety than angry, swung round to greet her.
‘Sarah, you could put yourself in great danger by escaping like that. The elders would be furious! Where have you been?’
She stepped into the room and closed the door. ‘You’ve got to listen to me, Mark. I’ve been looking round this space ship. There’s something you must see with your own eyes. This isn’t a real space ship at all.’