Doctor Who_ Prime Time - Mike Tucker [69]
Lukas’s eyes were shining with excitement. ‘Indeed, my allies kept this little development a surprise from me. We may have to think about striking a deal with this Master, once this is over.’
Saarl peered at the screen. ‘Where’s the Doctor, though? I can’t see him.’
‘Oh, vanished into the rocks.’ Lukas waved his hands impatiently. ‘He’s not where the money is. Look at the camera angles they’re getting, my boy. This is a class act.’
‘Would you care to place a little wager, Lukas?’ Saarl was reaching for his wallet.
‘I didn’t know you were a gambling man, my dear,’
murmured Lukas.
‘A thousand credits on the Zzinbriizi.’
‘Done, my boy, done.’
The Doctor had the camera out of its housing and was fumbling with the delicate wiring. Cables snaked away into the rock face. He had to get this right.
Back in the cavern the Zzinbriizi was being forced backwards, its neck stretched back. The Doctor saw the Master’s lips curl, revealing savage pointed teeth.
‘Oh no.’
He knew what was coming, but he couldn’t tear his eyes from the battle in front of him.
There was a horrible gurgling scream of pain and the Zzinbriizi dropped backwards into the abyss, blood fountaining from its torn throat.
The Doctor’s fingers were a blur inside the camera.
‘Here goes nothing.’ He twisted at a wire.
‘Hah! You never were a good gambler, Roderik, my dear.’
Lukas swept the pile of notes from the table and took a mouthful of wine.
‘You know I rather think you might have been right, my boy. The Master is by far the more entertaining of the two, don’t you think? When all this is over I really must see about offering him a contract.’
The screens went blank.
Lukos almost choked on his drink.
Chapter Nineteen
Ace stared in horror at the blank screen. She had watched the Doctor’s telepathic conference with the Master. Watched the ferocious battle with the Zzinbriizi. Now there was nothing.
She punched at the television. ‘Bastard thing!’ The screen was a wash of static. Then the Channel 400 logo spun into place and an announcer started apologising for the loss of transmission.
Ace hurled herself at the door. She had to get out of this room.. She was angry with herself for letting Saarl get to her.
He had caught her off guard, got through her defences. Now she was angry – very angry – and someone was going to pay.
The door was solid. Ace kicked at it in frustration. Right.
The door was a no-go. She paced the room. It was tall, the only window a skylight set high in the gently curving ceiling.
All the furniture was built in, there was nothing that she could use to get to that window. Nothing except for the vase of flowers.
Ace lashed out and sent the vase crashing to the floor. She dropped back on to the bed. Getting angry in here wasn’t going to help anyone.
‘Think! Think!’
There was a harsh crack and glass and plaster showered down on her. She dived for cover.
She looked up gingerly. A piton had materialised in the wall. Tied to it was a thick rope.
Gatti’s face appeared at the shattered skylight.
‘Nothing good on TV, then?’
The surgeon general hissed in alarm at the static-filled screens.
‘What has happened? Why do we have no picture?’
Aides scurried around him in panic. ‘The cameras in that section of the arena have malfunctioned, Surgeon General. We are attempting to rectify the fault.’
The surgeon general snatched up the control box. ‘If Barrock has disobeyed us...’
‘No, Surgeon General. The Doctor’s life signs are still stable. He is still alive.’
‘Get me pictures. The Time Lords are devious and unpredictable. I must know what is happening!’
Gingerly the Doctor clambered back down the rock face, the Innards of the video camera clutched in his hand. The Master stood panting on the rock ledge, his mouth dripping and red.
The Doctor circled him cautiously, peering into the blackness below.
‘Hungry were we?’
The Master pulled a silk handkerchief from his breast pocket and started to wipe the blood from his mouth.
‘I trust that was a sufficient