Doctor Who_ Dinosaur Invasion - Malcolm Hulke [49]
‘Perhaps it doesn’t know it’s at a disadvantage, Doctor,’ replied the Brigadier, ‘because it’s coming towards us.’
‘Keep it away somehow,’ said the Doctor, concentrating on his work.
‘Certainly,’ said the Brigadier. ‘I’ll go and say “boo” to it.’ He desperately scrabbled in the bag of equipment he had brought down from the jeep. To his delight he found a set of flares for use as distress signals. He picked one up, lit it, and walked a few feet towards the triceratops. The monster opened its beaked mouth in fury, roared, and backed up the platform.
‘I think you’ve all three gone mad,’ said Ruth, as she faced Adam, Mark and Sarah in the main living area of the space ship.
‘You could at least listen to us,’ Adam pleaded. The ex-bank manager stepped forward. ‘That sounds reasonable enough—to listen.’
‘All right,’ Ruth said, ‘what have you to tell me?’ She sounded just like a headmistress addressing naughty children.
‘It’s perhaps best if you watch.’ Sarah crossed to the flight deck and opened the glass door. ‘I’m going to open that hatch.’
‘You’ll only kill yourself,’ said Ruth, ‘and kill us at the same time.’
‘No, I’ll close this glass door first. Then I’ll only kill myself. Now watch!’
Sarah closed the glass door. The whole group, including the reluctant Ruth, moved to the door to watch. Sarah went up to the hatch and yanked the lever. The door opened. Sarah stood at the open doorway and breathed in and out, letting them see her chest rise and fall.
Adam turned to Ruth. ‘Are you convinced now?’ Ruth pulled open the glass door. ‘Where do you say that door leads to, girl?’
‘To the people who have cheated you. I’ll show you the way.’
‘All set,’ shouted the Doctor. He had just finished attaching terminals to the sticks of dynamite set in the floor of the broom cupboard.
‘Just as well,’ said the Brigadier. ‘I’m running out of flares.’
The Doctor ran along the platform towards the steps, uncoiling wire all the way. The Brigadier threw his final flare at the monster and then followed him. Halfway up the steps the Doctor stopped. He attached the wires to a detonator. ‘Here goes, Brigadier!’ He rammed down the plunger. From the platform they heard a huge explosion.
‘Where’s the rope ladder?’
‘Here.’ The Brigadier searched in his bag of equipment again, and produced a very fine nylon rope ladder. ‘I’ll go down there with you.’
The Doctor shook his head. ‘Less chance of being spotted if I’m alone. You go and summon up some reinforcements. See you soon, I hope.’ He hurried away into the cloud of black smoke which still billowed from the centre of the explosion, while the Brigadier went up the stairs to get to his jeep and radio in for troops to be sent if any were still in the London area.
The Brigadier’s voice came over Sergeant Benton’s earphones. ‘Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart to UNIT Headquarters. We need troops urgently at Westminster Underground Station.’
‘Yes, sir,’ Benton replied into the microphone. ‘I can contact one mobile patrol. It’s all that’s left in London.’
‘Good man. Send them here as fast as possible. Over and out.’
General Finch stood by Benton, his service revolver pointed at the sergeant’s neck. ‘You will forget that request for troops, sergeant.’
‘But sir, if the Brigadier’s in danger...’
‘The Brigadier is clearly aiding and assisting an escaped detainee. He will be court martialled, and so will you if you act on his instructions.’
The sergeant hung his head, signifying compliance with his superior officer’s orders. ‘Very good, sir. Just as you say, sir.’
The General smiled and lowered his gun. ‘I’m glad you see it my way, sergeant—’
Benton suddenly leapt to his feet. As his clenched fist swung into the General’s jaw bone, he said, ‘Very sorry to have to do this, sir.’
The General saw the fist too late. It crashed into his jaw bone, stunning him instantly.