Doctor Who_ St. Anthony's Fire - Mark Gatiss [77]
Martino immediately advanced towards him, his head bowed.
‘Report, Chapterman Martino,’ said Yong, looking at the flattened trees.
‘A fertile planet, my Lord. With countless lifeforms, dominated by reptilian humanoids with quite a highly developed culture.’
Yong nodded and gazed about him at the magnificently lush jungle and the glittering rings insinuating themselves like sheaves of shattered golden rainbow through the darkening clouds.
‘Get rid of it,’ he muttered.
* * *
15
Yellow Fever
The fugitives had made their way out of Grek’s quarters and were skulking in the trench. It had all but collapsed in on itself, the duck‐boards scattered haphazardly about in a slurry of black mud.
Grek managed to climb up the ladder and poked his head over the edge of the trench. He squinted at the bulk of the scout‐ship and its even bigger twin.
‘They don’t seem to be making any attempt to find us,’ he said at last.
Bernice stood at the bottom of the ladder. ‘Maybe they don’t know the strength of the opposition. I mean, they might think we’ve got an army down here.’
‘We did have an army down here,’ said Liso sadly.
‘Look,’ said Imalgahite, his claw sinking into the mud wall. ‘If we can take that ship and get off this planet then there’s a good chance that our people,’ he looked about at his former enemies, ‘and I do mean all our people, can survive. Or at least enough to ensure we proliferate somewhere else. If we stay here debating then we’ll die as surely as Betrushia.’
Bernice nodded. ‘He’s right. The question is, can we convince those lot that the planet’s about to blow?’
Grek clambered back down the ladder. ‘And if not, how do we attack?’
Bernice folded her arms and sighed. ‘I wish I knew where the Doctor was. And what he’s up to.’
Imalgahite seemed suddenly struck by inspiration. ‘That old man you mentioned?’
Grek looked round. ‘Thoss? What about him?’
‘They took him on board, didn’t they?’
‘Yes. He was amongst the first. Didn’t show any resistance.’
Imalgahite rubbed at his snout thoughtfully. ‘I wonder whether it isn’t time for us to start playing dumb.’
Liso looked at him with his sound eye and smiled.
* * *
Martino and Miller watched Yong stride back to the mothership and then let out a collective sigh of relief.
‘He seemed quite pleased,’ said Miller.
‘Hmm,’ muttered Martino. ‘We’ll start by razing the jungle. Miller, establish a couple of teams would you? A nice blaze should do us all good.’
‘What if they’re hostile?’ gulped Miller.
‘Well, of course they’ll be hostile.’ said Martino with a sigh. ‘We just go about things in the usual way.’
‘And what about you?’ muttered Miller, tapping his translator.
Martino frowned. ‘I’ll supervise things this end. Chapterman Fung and myself have some very complex navigation to work out. Now get about your conflagration duties.’
Reluctantly Miller picked his way through the steaming, flattened foliage towards the scout‐ship’s bulkheads. From inside, he produced a heavy twin‐canistered flame‐jet pack which he shrugged over his shoulders. A corrugated pipe led from the canisters and terminated in a shining chrome nozzle.
He nodded to some waiting Chaptermen and they put on their own equipment.
Once they were ready, the strange group of a dozen men formed into a line. ‘All right,’ said Miller. ‘Let’s get on with it.’
They trooped off into the jungle.
* * *
De Hooch stood in the doorway of the cell, a crazed expression on his fat, round features, like a child’s drawing of a face on a balloon. Sweat sprang out on his domed forehead. ‘Yong may think he’s got the better of you but I won’t make the same mistake, Doctor. I think you’re far too dangerous to have around. And as for that… thing!’ He gestured furiously at Ace. ‘She’s caused me quite enough trouble.’
The Doctor regarded the dwarf coolly. ‘You don’t agree with the Magna then?’
‘Of course not! He’s insane.’
‘Isn’t that rather a dangerous allegation to make?’ said the Doctor slyly.
De Hooch grinned. ‘It may well be, Doctor.