Doctor Who_ Silver Nemesis - Kevin Clarke [11]
‘We can’t go in there,’ she said desperately.
The Doctor was firm. ‘Don’t you think it would be very useful to have the police, not to mention the armed services, on our side? Of course it would. And who better to go to for help in mobilizing them than their commander-in-chief? Cut through all the red tape.’
‘Hold on, Doctor,’ said Ace weakly.
But the Doctor was deady serious. ‘There really is no alternative, believe me,’ he said. ‘The worst people the world has to offer will be on their way to Windsor right now.’ He raised his hand to knock authoritatively. Another hand seized his. It was immensely strong. Ace and the Doctor turned to discover two large fit-looking men in suits, one of whom was the owner of the hand. He lowered the Doctor’s arm slowly. Ace realized they clearly meant business.
‘What are you doing here?’ he asked.
‘I can’t possibly discuss that with you,’ replied the Doctor firmly, drawing himself up to his full height. This brought him impressively level with the man’s chest.
‘Who, may I ask, are you?’
‘Palace security,’ replied the second man, who was if anything larger than the first.
‘Oh good.’ The Doctor warmed at once. ‘I have to speak to Her Majesty.’
‘You were right,’ said the first security man to the second one. ‘Mental.’ He turned back to the Doctor. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said in the louder than usual tone that the English reserve for foreigners and the ill. ‘We’ll have a doctor here soon.’
For once, thought Ace, it was really a good thing the Doctor had two hearts. One would not be enough to sustain the immediate rise in blood pressure which erupted inside him.
‘I am the Doctor,’ he shouted at the top of his voice.
‘Don’t get excited,’ warned the first security man. ‘How did you get in here?’
‘I can tell you now that you won’t believe me,’ answered the Doctor haughtily.
The first security man spoke patiently, as if to an angry child: ‘Try us.’
The Doctor glared at him in defiance. ‘I travelled through space and time,’ he said. He looked evenly at both of them.
‘Dear, oh dear,’ said the first security man to the second, who rolled his eyes.
‘See?’ howled the Doctor. ‘What did I tell you? Very well, in that case I demand you escort us to Her Majesty at once.’
To the Doctor’s apparent surprise, however, the first security man completely ignored him and turned to Ace.
‘Are you a patient with him?’ he asked.
Ace was extremely angry at seeing the Doctor treated with such disrespect. She glared at the large man. ‘You’d better listen to him, weasel features. He’s the Doctor,’ she insisted.
The first security man nodded sagely. ‘Oh, is he?’ he said patiently. He glanced significantly at his companion.
The Doctor sighed. ‘No,’ he said, and gestured down the corridor behind the two men. ‘He’s the Doctor.’ There was a second’s pause. The security men did not even flicker towards looking over their shoulders. The first smiled sadly and shook his head. ‘Don’t try that one with us,’ he said.
The Doctor appeared to give in. ‘Oh, all right,’ he agreed. ‘How about this?’ Suddenly a look of peculiar intensity came over his eyes, a look which Ace had never seen before. Suddenly his voice became fascinating, seeming to summon all their concentration into his power.
‘The fate of every living creature on this planet hangs in the balance,’ said the Doctor distinctly.
There was a moment’s silence. The security men shook their heads as if to clear them. Despite themselves, the men were shaken. ‘I don’t believe you,’ said the first hesitantly.
Ace, however, was aware that neither of the two men could not remove his eyes from the Doctor’s. His voice, controlling them, had become low and hypnotic. ‘You will believe me,’ the Doctor continued, staring into their eyes, which were becoming dormant. ‘You will let us go. You will not move.’ The two security men were as if rooted where they stood, staring blankly forward. The Doctor took