Doctor Who_ Space War - Malcolm Hulke [25]
‘You might say that I’ve been trying to stop a war.’ ‘Me too. I tried to sabotage a rocket launching base.’
As they talked the Doctor tried to take in his surroundings. Doors and corridors seemed to lead off from this large room in all directions. It was, he thought, some central area. Metal tables and chairs suggested prisoners could meet at this point. ‘How long is your sentence?’
‘Are you joking? When Security sends you to the Moon it’s for ever. This is home for the rest of our lives.’
A stocky prisoner with short-cropped hair entered from one of the corridors. He wore the same drab grey prison uniform, though on his left arm was a bright red armband. He strutted up to the line of new prisoners.
‘All of you shut up and listen to me.’ He shouted rather than spoke. A small bulge in Doughty’s tunic pocket caught his eye. ‘What have you got there?’
Doughty produced a small block wrapped in tin foil. ‘Chocolate. My allowance from the remand prison.’
The man with the armband laughed. ‘No chocolate allowed here, son. Give it over.’ Without waiting, he snatched the little block from Doughty’s hand.
The Doctor said, ‘Do you realise that’s stealing?’
‘That’s what I’m in for,’ said the armband man. ‘All of you, stand to attention! The Governor’s going to speak to you.’
The prisoners made some attempt to stand to attention as required. The Prison Governor entered, a tall man in black tunic and trousers. With him were four Security guards, all armed. He walked down the line of prisoners, eyeing them, then stopped to speak.
‘I am the Governor of this penal colony. There is one rule here—to obey. If you behave you will be reasonably treated. If you misbehave you will be very badly treated. You are no longer people, you are things—my playthings. You have absolutely no rights, and there is no means of escape. Remember that you are here for the rest of your lives. Why isn’t that man in uniform?’
The question seemed so much part of the speech that at first the armband man didn’t react. When he did he sprang to attention.
‘Don’t know, sir. That’s how they sent him.’
‘See he’s kitted out immediately,’ said the Governor and left the room.
The armband man stepped forward. ‘Now listen, all of you. My name’s Cross. and that’s my nature. I run a quiet, tidy section here. Any trouble from you and it’s a black mark against me. So there’s never any trouble. Got it?’
Doughty again spoke up. ‘You talk as though you run this prison. Don’t you realise you’re really one of us? We’re all victims of the system!’
‘You,’ said Cross, ‘are making yourself highly eligible for the punishment block.’
But Doughty wasn’t listening. His attention was riveted on an older prisoner who had just wandered in from one of the corridors. The newcomer had white hair and a long, sensitive face.
‘Professor Dale,’ said Doughty in awe.
Cross sneered. ‘Yes, a real professor among us. You’ll find a lot of your intellectual friends up here.’ He spun round to the professor. ‘This prisoner in the frilly shirt,’ he shouted, indicating the Doctor. ‘Get him kitted out double quick.’ He turned away and strutted off down the corridor where the Governor had gone.
Professor Dale came across to Doughty, the man who had recognised him. ‘Welcome to prison,’ he said, wryly. ‘You were on our Youth Committee, weren’t you?’
The two men shook hands. ‘That’s right, professor. We met last year just before your arrest.’
‘You’ll be in good company here,’ said the older man. ‘I sometimes think there are more members of the Peace Party in this terrible prison than back on earth!’
‘If I may ask,’ said the Doctor, ‘does anyone ever try to escape?’
The professor reacted with suspicion. ‘Occasionally. Come with me. I’ll get you a uniform.’
The Doctor hurried after Professor Dale. ‘I was asking you a simple question.’
Dale did not reply until they arrived at a cupboard containing shelves of prison uniforms. ‘Let’s see.’ he said, measuring the Doctor with his