Doctor Who_ Just War - Lance Parkin [93]
The Doctor was standing back, the blueprints clenched in his hand. ‘Really? Do you still think it’s a UFO?’
No, it’s terrestrial, but Hartung was obviously forewarned about radar. Someone’s gone back in time and told him.’ The Doctor didn’t answer; instead he buried his nose in the plans.
Steinmann had a gleam in his eye.
‘ Der Tausendjährige Reich!’ he declared, clenching his fist.
‘ Gesundheit,’ offered the Doctor.
‘The tiniest piece of information,’ Steinmann whispered.
He grasped the Doctor’s upper arms, almost lifting him into the air. ‘When is the time barrier broken?’ he demanded.
Chris moved forward to protect the Doctor, but Steinmann had already let go of the little man. The Doctor was readjusting his collar, getting his breath back.
‘How long is a piece of string?’ the Doctor answered finally.
Steinmann removed his revolver from its holster, flicked off the safety catch, and levelled it at the Doctor’s forehead.
Chris glanced across at the pilots. They were not large men and they weren’t armed, but he and the Doctor were outnumbered. Chris stepped back, not wanting to provoke anyone.
‘There’s nothing you can do, Doktor. Nazi scientists from the future have invented a time machine. They sent Emil Hartung a message. Vital technical information about radar: how it worked, when the British would have it, how to counter it. Not too much, but enough.’
‘Is that what Hartung told you?’ said the Doctor, genuinely curious.
‘Hartung never confided the exact source of his information. It doesn’t matter, now. You are watching history in the making, the moment of victory that Hartung promised.
For over four years we have been planning this moment, and now it is complete. Sieg Heil!’
The pilots had completed their tasks. They joined in the salute.
‘You know your mission?’ Steinmann asked, not taking his eye, or aim, off the Doctor.
‘Yes, Oberst Steinmann.’
‘Go to it.’ The pilots saluted again.
‘It’s not over yet. The Doctor will think of something,’
Chris declared. The first pilot was mounting the steps.
Steinmann shook his head.
‘The Doktor? Christopher, the Doktor is dead.’ He squeezed the trigger.
Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.
The Doctor smiled thinly. ‘I took the precaution of removing the bullets about an hour and a half ago, while we were having coffee.’
Steinmann glanced down at the gun. It was the lapse in concentration that Chris had been waiting for. He batted the revolver from Steinmann’s hand, then rounded on the two pilots. He easily swatted one over the side of the platform, grabbing the other one before he could escape. A blow to the back of the neck rendered him unconscious. Steinmann stepped back.
‘What was that about inevitable Nazi victory?’ asked the Doctor innocently.
‘You are surrounded. There’s no way that you’ll get out of here.’
Chris glanced back at the hangar door. Steinmann was right: they had been lucky the last time they escaped from this base. They might not be as lucky this time.
‘There’s no way out,’ Chris concluded.
‘Never overlook the obvious,’ the Doctor smiled.
Steinmann’s face fell. ‘You can’t be suggesting...’
The Doctor was still smiling. ‘Chris, could you fly this plane?’
‘Of course.’ Belatedly, Chris realized what the Doctor had just asked. ‘You don’t mean...’
‘Begin pre-flight checks. We’re leaving.’ The Doctor patted Munin’s side.
12 Planning for the Future
The Doctor slammed his palm against the large red button next to the door. Alarm bells started to ring all around him and the hangar door began edging open. He jogged back to Munin. Chris had pushed the inspection platform away from the plane, then tied Steinmann’s wrists to the scaffolding with a length of hosepipe. The Nazi officer glared at the Doctor.
‘You’ll never get away.’ Even now, Steinmann was defiant.
‘Where’s Hartung?’ the Doctor demanded, his voice low.
‘Guernsey,’ Steinmann stated. The Doctor was puzzled; he hadn’t expected the answer to be quite so