Doctor Who_ Space War - Malcolm Hulke [26]
‘Let me ask another question,’ said the Doctor. ‘What do we do all day here?’
‘There is no day and no night. We’re on the Moon. We go to bed when we feel like it. Food, that is to say tasteless soup, is served at regular intervals. We pass the time playing three-dimensional chess, listening to audio-books, pursuing handicrafts, and forming discussion groups. Try these on.’ Dale offered the trousers to the Doctor.
‘Do you ever discuss escape?’ asked the Doctor, slipping off his own trousers.
‘Of course not,’ said Dale. He looked around uneasily. ‘If you want to know, there was an escape attempt last month. The three men involved were all killed. Why are you asking about escape?’
The Doctor pulled on the prison trousers. They fitted fairly well. ‘Because it’s what I intend to do.’
‘Are you a spy for the Governor, trying to draw me out?’
The Doctor looked at the man. ‘If I were, I’d scarcely draw attention to myself so quickly.’
‘A fine point of logic. Are you a member of the Peace Party?’
‘I don’t even know what it stands for,’ said the Doctor. ‘Tell me about it.’
Professor Dale sighed. ‘We support the President’s People’s Party when it stands for peace. But when the President gives way to pressure from the warmongers, we oppose her. It’s as simple as that. Let’s find a jacket for you.’ He hunted through the shelves for the right size. ‘Since you don’t seem to know anything about politics, why were you sent here?’
‘Perhaps because I know there’s a conspiracy to start a war.’
The professor showed no interest. ‘We all know that, my dear man. Put this on.’ He held out an illshapen grey jacket.
‘I mean there is a third force at work,’ the Doctor explained. ‘The incidents between the two great Space empires are all faked. Would you like me to tell you about it?’
Professor Dale nodded. ‘It would pass the time.’ Then he smiled. ‘After all, we’ve got nothing else to do.’
The President studied the two documents that General Williams had laid on her desk. Both carried the impressive emblem of Alderberan Four, a newly-created dominion within the Earth Empire. Both also carried photographs, one of the Doctor and the other of Jo. Under each photograph were details of these much-wanted criminals.
‘There is no doubt about it,’ said the President at last. ‘These are the same two people. This explains many things, though I’m surprised about the girl. We shall have to hand them over.’
‘But Madam,’ said the General, ‘they are in the pay of the Draconians. Surely we have prior claim to them? We still may extract vital information about the Draconians’ war plans.’
‘Relations with colony planets are always tricky, General Williams. If there is war, we’ll need all our allies. These criminals must be very important to the Dominion Government of Alderberan Four. I think we should co-operate. Bring in their representative.’
‘If you insist, Madam.’ General Williams crossed to the doorway and gave a polite signal.
The Master entered, wearing a uniform of a high-ranking diplomat of the Earth Empire. A vain roan, he was particularly pleased how well the simple tunic of metallic orange fitted his athletic figure. He crossed to the President’s desk, his short black beard jutting forward, eyes dancing, and bowed graciously.
‘Madam President,’ he said, ‘this is indeed a very great honour. Allow me to present my credentials as Special Commissioner Master from your dominion planet, Alderberan Four.’
It was not the Master’s first disguise in his long fight against the Doctor. Both renegade Time Lords, while the Doctor’s long journeys through Time and Space had allowed him to help many Space species in need, the Master had used his wisdom and intelligence to spread fear and evil in his relentless quest for personal power.
With a flourish, the Master placed on the desk a document which he had forged with ingenious care. The President glanced at it, a mere formality.
‘We have a problem,’ she explained. ‘These two people are