Doctor Who_ Space War - Malcolm Hulke [40]
Jo returned to the flight deck. ‘Where are we now?’
The Doctor looked at the ship’s instruments, made a rapid mental calculation. ‘Just about to cross the frontier into Earth’s Space.’
She was pleased. ‘That’s good.’
‘Unless your Earthmen destroy us,’ said the Draconian Prince uneasily.
The Doctor smiled. ‘We’re in an Earth police ship, remember, even if it is stolen.’
The Prince was staring at one of the radar screens. ‘What’s that?’ He pointed to a small blob of light on the screen.
The Doctor studied the blob of light. ‘It’s another spaceship. They seem to be following us. I wonder what it can be?’
In the control cabin of the Ogrons’ spaceship the Master was also studying a blob of light on his screen. ‘That must be them,’ he announced to the Ogrons standing round. ‘No other ship would be on course for Earth at a time like this.’
An Ogron spoke up, ‘ We are on course for Earth.’
The Master sighed with exasperation. ‘Because we are following them, you idiot. Now shut up and let me concentrate.’ In his head he did a sum to work out the relative speeds of the two ships. ‘Soon we shall be in striking distance.’
‘What you will do, Master?’
‘I’d like to take the Doctor alive, if I can. But if not I shall blow him to pieces. A pity, really.’
‘You not wish kill him?’
‘Of course I do, you fool.’ said the Master. ‘But to use rocket fire at long range, somehow it lacks the personal touch! When he dies I want to see the surprised look on his face.’
The Doctor, Jo and the Prince all concentrated on the radar screen. The light blob was very large now.
‘They’re closing in,’ said the Doctor. ‘It may be a frontier patrol ship coming to investigate us.’
Jo said, ‘Can’t we talk to them by radio, say who we are?’
The Doctor nodded. ‘We can try.’ He looked about the controls for the radio-telephone equipment, pulled a microphone close to his lips. ‘This is Earth police spaceship’—he noticed a plate pinned over the instrument panel; it carried a number-’2390, on a special mission to the President of Earth. Do you read me?’
The Ogrons clustering round the Master grinned. One of them voiced their feelings. ‘You very lucky, Master. Out of bigness of Space you find right ship.’
‘This isn’t luck,’ said the Master scathingly. ‘I worked it all out. Once they realised they’d got one of you lot as prisoner, their first thought would he to take him to Earth to show the President. Then they’d realise that a Draconian space ship entering Earth Space at this time would be destroyed out of hand, so they would use the Earth police ship that I inadvertently provided them.’
One of the Ogrons frowned, deep furrows appearing on his sloping primitive forehead. ‘How you know all this when you not talk to them?’
‘I just explained, I worked it out! This is like playing a game of chess.’
‘Chess?’ repeated the Ogron.
‘Oh, forget it!’
The Doctor’s voice came over the loudspeaker a second time. ‘I repeat, this is Earth police spaceship 2390. Do you read me?’
The Master turned to speak into the radio microphone. To the astonishment of the Ogrons, he spoke with a voice entirely different from his own. ‘This is Earth police spaceship 142. Your ship is one that has been reported stolen. You will please reduce speed so that we can board you.’
An Ogron asked, ‘How you make voice different?’
‘Because I’m a genius,’ replied the Master.
The Doctor again spoke into the microphone. ‘Police spaceship 2390 to 142. We have recaptured this ship and are taking it to Earth.’
Over the loudspeaker a voice answered. ‘Reduce speed so that we can board you.’
‘Why should we submit to this delay?’ said the Prince. ‘Our mission has diplomatic immunity.’
‘Unfortunately they don’t know that,’ said the Doc-tor. He turned to the microphone. ‘We are reducing speed as you request.’
Jo looked worried. ‘Doctor, we don’t know that