Doctor Who_ Space War - Malcolm Hulke [27]
The Master pretended amazement. ‘These criminals? Still, I am not surprised. They will turn their hands to anything for money. However, Madam President, they are citizens of Alderberan Four, and we have sought them throughout the galaxy to bring them to trial for crimes on our planet.’
General Williams interrupted, ‘But your planet is part of Earth’s empire!’
‘And has been granted dominion status,’ the Master reminded him with a deferential smile.
The President interceded. ‘He has a point, General Williams. Once a colony has been raised to dominion status, it enjoys certain autonomous rights, including the right to try and punish its own citizens.’
‘If you concede to my request,’ said the Master, ‘we shall gladly return these people to you for interrogation once they have stood trial on Alderberan.’
‘All right,’ said the President. ‘Your request is granted.’
The Master bowed deeply. ‘I am most grateful to you, Madam President. May you live a long life and may energy shine on you from a million suns.’
Jo sat on her cell bunk facing the wall, playing mental games to avoid thinking about her fate.
Footsteps came down the passage outside, two or three men. She looked to the door, half hoping they were approaching her cell and half fearing them. The footsteps stopped and Jo nerved herself. The door opened and the Master stepped into the cell, smart in his diplomatic dress. Jo’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. She had encountered the Master before in her travels with the Doctor. Yet though she knew of his evil, her immediate reaction was joy at seeing a familiar face. ‘What are you doing here?’ she exclaimed.
He smiled, flashing perfect white teeth. ‘To coin a phrase, Miss Grant, I’ve come to take you away from all this.’ The smile faded to show the joke was over. ‘I am a fully accredited commissioner from a dominion planet within Earth’s empire. You and the Doctor are two dangerous criminals, much sought for the crimes you have committed on my planet, and you are being handed into my custody.’
In fear, Jo pushed herself back on the bunk until her shoulders touched the cold prison wall. ‘You’re behind everything, aren’t you? You told the Ogrons to attack those ships and pretend to be Draconians!’
‘Quite correct, Miss Grant. A really exciting space-war will leave an inter-stellar power vacuum which I shall fill.’ He offered his hand. ‘May I help you up? We have a journey to make.’
‘I’m not going anywhere with you?’
‘Be reasonable, Miss Grant. You want to see the Doctor again, don’t you? We’re going to the Moon to collect him.’
‘How do I know you’re telling the truth?’
The Master shrugged. ‘You’ll only find that out by coming with me.’ He offered his hand again. ‘Well?’
Jo remained cautious. ‘How did you know the Doctor and I were here, in this point in Time, in the first place?’
‘Lucky chance,’ the Master beamed. ‘As you rightly said, I told the Ogrons to attack those cargo ships, Earth ships and ones from Draconia. I also devised that remarkably clever device which makes Earthmen see them as Draconians and vice versa. All the loot from the pirated ships the Ogrons take to their home planet, a most unpleasant and inhospitable place, but currently the centre of my operations. Much to my delight they brought back the Doctor’s TARDIS.’ He paused, clearly pleased with the success of his venture so far. ‘Anything else you need to know?’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Why do you want me and the Doctor to go with you?’
‘A kindly impulse, Miss Grant.’ His eyes twinkled. ‘How can I, a fellow Time and Space traveller, leave you both to languish the rest of your natural lives in these awful prisons?’
‘I don’t believe that’s your reason at all,’ said Jo, easing herself up unaided from the bunk. ‘But I suppose anywhere’s better than this.’
‘It is, Miss Grant, it is. Once Earth and Draconia get angry enough with each other, millions will perish in the first few minutes of the war. At least with