Doctor Who_ Silver Nemesis - Kevin Clarke [28]
Ace stared at him blankly. ‘Professor,’ she asked, ‘are you losing your marbles?’
The Doctor leaned forward. ‘We’ve got to get the bow into the statue’s hands to activate the validium,’ he told her firmly.
‘But there is just one little problem isn’t there?’ Ace reminded him. There were moments when she really had to take care of the Doctor. ‘We won’t just be able to walk straight out again, will we?’
The Doctor, however, seemed unsurprised at this. ‘No,’
he agreed briskly, ‘we certainly won’t. We’ll have to keep the Cybermen talking for some time.’
‘And this is the only way,’ asked Ace doubtfully.
The Doctor smiled reassuringly. ‘I’ve always believed in the direct approach,’ he said. Then he became serious. He put his hand on her shoulder. ‘You can still make it back to the TARDIS,’ he said quietly.
Ace flared. ‘Are we going or what?’ she said, already on her feet.
Side by side, they walked out of the trees and into the open. The bow in the Doctor’s hands was pulsating with silver light. Ahead of them, the dark tower of the crypt stood dark in the grey rain, silent and suffused with an eerie sense of danger.
Inside the crypt, at least as far as De Flores was concerned, all was far from well. ‘Surely we can negotiate this...’ words temporarily failed him, ‘... misunderstanding,’ he desperately concluded, facing the expressionless Cybermen. The empty bow case yawned at him, seemingly in cavernous mockery.
The Cyber leader was imperturbable. ‘Our understanding is perfect,’ he replied. ‘You thought you had all three components of the statue and naturally wished to destroy us.’
‘You’re completely mistaken...’ Karl attempted, putting his best learned lessons to frantic use.
The Cyber Leader lifted his weapon fractionally.
‘Silence,’ he said unnecessarily.
Suddenly the statue moved. The tomb shook and the quality of light emanating from it changed just enough to divert their attention to itself momentarily. Even the Cybermen turned. As they did so, De Flores slipped a hand into his pocket.
The Cyber Lieutenant turned to his Leader. ‘Validium activity indicates the proximity of the bow, Leader,’ he said.
‘Excellent,’ the Cyber Leader replied calmly. ‘Kill them.’
As the Cybermen turned to obey the order, De Flores’s hand came out of his pocket, casting a golden cloud over them. The thought flashed into Karl’s brain that De Flores’ eventuality had indeed arisen. There was no time, however, to reflect on his mentor’s foresight. The Cybermen looked like human beings caught in a swarm of hostile wasps. The gold dust affected them all instantly and they doubled up, turning and trying to escape it. The air of the small stone room was filled with the rattling of their alarm. De Flores and Karl took immediate advantage of the confusion. Pushing past the struggling Cybermen, they charged outside. The Cyber Leader was the first to rally himself. ‘Pursue them,’ he croaked. The Cybermen followed De Flores and Karl into the outside air.
The fleeing pair were nearing the cover, if not assured safety of the edge of the forest when Karl leaped onto De Flores, bringing him to the ground. They rolled, struggling on the grass as the Cybermen caught up and surrounded them.
‘You fool,’ panted De Flores at his protege. ‘They’re going to kill us.’
Karl got to his feet and looked down at the elderly man with contempt. ‘Herr De Flores,’ he said, ‘your day is over.’
De Flores stared wildly at him, and looked hopelessly round at the Cybermen. ‘You betray me?’ he asked in astonishment. His voice became almost plaintive. ‘Have I taught you nothing?’
‘Everything,’ replied Karl, apparently with complete satisfaction, ‘which is why we now part company.’ He smiled, and gestured to the Cybermen. ‘I’m