Doctor Who_ Space War - Malcolm Hulke [19]
The Ambassador studied the First Secretary’s snout. ‘I could not countenance such a plan. It would be undiplomatic.’
‘Of course, Your Highness. But should two escaping prisoners seek sanctuary in this embassy it would be less than Draconian to turn them away.’
The Ambassador slowly turned his back on the First Secretary. ‘I must not detain you longer. No doubt you have important duties demanding your attention.’
The First Secretary, understanding exactly the meaning of this last remark, bowed to the Ambassador’s back, turned and left the room. He had an important telephone call to make.
A girl telephonist spoke to the President on her desk videophone. ‘The First Secretary of the Draconian Embassy wishes to speak to you, Madam President.’
‘Put him through.’
The green dragon face of the First Secretary appeared on the screen. ‘I am honoured that you consent to speak to me, Madam President.’
The President answered, ‘It is always my pleasure to be in communication with representatives of your Emperor. How may I be of service to you?’
‘His Highness the Ambassador wishes to speak again to the two Earth people found on the cargo ship—in your presence of course, Madam President.’
The request surprised her. ‘May I ask why?’
‘His Highness feels that such an interrogation would convince you’--He paused slightly, to underline his next words—’you and your closest advisers that they are not agents of Draconia.’
The request seemed reasonable. Anything which might improve relations between the two empires appealed to the President. ‘I shall have them brought here immediately. I suggest that His Highness joins me. We will question them together.’
‘The President is most kind,’ said the Draconian First Secretary. ‘May you live a long life and may energy shine...’
The Doctor and Jo were marched down another long concrete corridor inside the vast Security Headquarters prison.
Jo turned to one of the guards, ‘You’re sure it’s the President who wants to see us again?’
The guard nodded. ‘Instructions to take you to the presidential palace right away.’ This summons seemed to impress the guards and they no longer shouted at the prisoners.
‘Perhaps,’ said the Doctor, ‘she took heed of my good advice. Anyway, we shall soon see.’
The party approached one of the metal sliding doors. It slid upwards, revealing a walkway in a garden.
‘ This is part of the prison?’ asked the Doctor.
A guard answered. ‘It leads directly to the palace. A short cut. Come on.’
They moved forward. Jo was relieved to be in the open air again. She looked up at the trees and the cloudless blue sky. To her astonishment she saw a Draconian perched on a high wall, aiming a rifle at the party. At that instant the Draconian fired. The Security guard next to her fell backwards, sprawling on the concrete walkway. Before anyone could react, another Draconian fired his weapon, and a second Earth guard fell to the ground. The remaining two Security guards, who had now seen the Draconian snipers, tried to grab the Doctor and Jo. But the Doctor already had Jo by the arm and was rushing her towards a small cluster of trees. Realising their danger, the Security guards ran for cover. Alarm bells started clanging from the main prison building. As the fleeing prisoners approached the trees, other Draconians emerged suddenly from hiding, and rushed up to the prisoners to drag them away. The Doctor knocked down the first Draconian with a glancing blow, but three others moved forward to capture him.
‘Jo,’ he cried out, ‘run for it. Get help!’
Jo ran in a frenzy across the lawn. Looking back for a moment she saw a Draconian fire a handgun point blank at the Doctor. He fell, stunned and was picked up by the Draconians and carried into the trees.
‘We must demand the immediate withdrawal of the Draconian Embassy!’ General Williams’s face was flushed with anger. As he stood before the President’s desk he seemed to quiver in rage.
‘Break all diplomatic relations?’ said the President. ‘We don’t know that the Ambassador was behind this abduction.’
‘He is responsible