Doctor Who_ Last of the Gaderene - Mark Gatiss [53]
He cleared his throat and wiped a sheen of sweat from his forehead. It was now or never.
Whistler stayed on his haunches and shuffled along the wall towards the massive hangar doors. He grabbed the edge and peered through, blinking rapidly at the brightness of the day.
Overhead, a jet was ploughing through the blue, leaving a puffy white vapour trail. Whistler focused on it for a moment and tried to gather his thoughts.
Around the corner, the troopers were at work. There was silence save for the occasional clank of metal or effortful grunt as the containers were lifted on to brawny shoulders. The Captain issued no orders, no rebukes, nor any encouragement.
It was if the troopers knew exactly what was required of them and had no time for anything else.
Whistler took a deep breath and stepped out on to the tarmac, pushing the door closed behind his back. At once he dropped to his hands and knees and made his way swiftly past the hangar doors towards the other side of the building. He could see the perimeter fence only yards away.
And now activity is building inside the steel palace. The Apothecaries have shifted the young creatures back, lines and lines of them, into the dark blue recesses of the building.
Others have taken their place in the centre of the room.
Twelve tall figures on a nine sided dais.
They are multi-limbed and chitinous. A thin film covers their round, dark eyes. They are unaware of the bustling activity around them.
Inside, they are shielded from the chaos, from the wind and rain which beats ceaselessly at the great window.
Lightning flashes constantly. But the warm cyan-blue of the room does not change. Those within have been carefully selected. And their time is approaching.
For the moment, though, the twelve elders and three hundred thousand others of their kind sleep on...
Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart heaved a sigh of disappointment. ‘Not much to go on, Doctor.’
The Doctor and Jo sat next to him in the back seat of the UNIT car. They were finally heading for the aerodrome.
The Doctor nodded.
‘I admit it’s less substantial than we could have hoped for but really it only serves to deepen the mystery. These two missing people turning up still leaves the Wing Commander and the boy.’
The Brigadier frowned. ‘I thought you said –’
‘He’s not missing, sir,’ cut in Jo. ‘But he’s obviously had a very bad experience.’
‘That’s right,’ said the Doctor, crossing his hands over his knee. ‘Up at the aerodrome. He was muttering something about... monsters.’
The Brigadier cleared his throat. ‘Well, that’s as may be.
The fact is, we’ve got to try and get something on these Legion International people in the short time we have. The Ministry of Defence is refusing to play ball.’
The Doctor looked interested. ‘Is that a fact?’
Jo turned to him. ‘Doctor?’
The Doctor rubbed his chin. ‘What could Legion International be doing that’s so important to the Ministry of Defence? They’re just a private airline, after all.’
‘And the MOD sold the aerodrome to them,’ said Jo.
‘Precisely. Unless of course...’
The Brigadier’s eyebrows rose questioningly.
‘Unless of course they’re rather more than just a private airline.’
Benton threw a glance over his shoulder. ‘We’re here, sir.’
The UNIT car drew up to the main gates of the aerodrome.
Jobey Packer’s sign had disappeared and in its place was a shiny new placard bearing the legend:
LEGION INTERNATIONAL
GETTING US WHERE WE WANT TO GO
Chapter Twenty
Out of the Shadows
The Reverend Darnell sighed with relief as he saw Max Bishop approaching across the green.
‘Oh Mr Bishop! Thank heavens,’ he cried, clasping his hands before him. ‘When we didn’t hear we thought... well, you know we couldn’t get along without you.’
Max grinned at him.
‘Now, I’ve had your itinerary copied,’ continued Darnell, handing Max a sheaf of photocopied papers. ‘The hoopla stall is going next to knobbly knees, as you instructed. And we’ve left a big space for