Doctor Who_ St. Anthony's Fire - Mark Gatiss [87]
‘It won’t take them long to realize we’re on the loose,’ said Imalgahite.
Grek rubbed his jaw. ‘The little one mentioned a bridge – command deck. If we can find that and take it…’
Liso’s eyes flashed with excitement. ‘Yes sir!’
Grek clapped him on the shoulder as they jogged up the stone corridor. He indicated the blaster with a smile. ‘If we’d had a few of these, what wouldn’t we have done to your lot, eh, Imalgahite?’
The Cutch leader smiled grimly. ‘Well, my friends. It’s time we took on the real enemy.’
* * *
De Hooch looked down at the floor as the earth tremor took hold. Panic flashed momentarily across his ugly little face. Bernice, recumbent on the slab and wriggling with her restraints, smiled tightly.
‘You see? What did I tell you? This planet is shaking itself apart.’
De Hooch scowled at her. ‘It cannot be. Saint Anthony would not lead us into barren pastures.’
The door opened with a crackling hiss and Yong stood there. ‘Quite right, Parva. This planet will provide ample resources for all our needs.’
His gaze flicked down to Bernice’s prone form. ‘You haven’t introduced me to your friend.’
De Hooch shifted uncomfortably. ‘She’s a crony of the Doctor’s. Seems to have some sort of scientific training. I thought she might well be of use.’
Yong considered this with a slow nod of the head. ‘Have you begun the conditioning?’
‘Not yet. I thought it wiser to glean as much as possible before her… independence is taken from her.’
‘Good, good. This is more like it, De Hooch. You have pleased me.’
De Hooch smiled, his tiny eyes flashing with resentment. He bowed stiffly.
‘Are you in charge here?’ said Bernice sharply.
Yong smiled. ‘I have that honour.’
‘Well, maybe you’ll listen to me, then. This planet is unstable. That’s why we’re having all these earthquakes. The Doctor says the planet is destroying itself.’
Yong yawned and patted his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘Well, he would, wouldn’t he? I’m quite well aware of the Doctor’s plans to sabotage my crusade. I suppose I should have killed him straight away, but I’m terribly sentimental, you know.’
Bernice sighed exasperatedly, attempting to hide her struggle against the straps. ‘Look, let me out of here. I’ve no quarrel with you. What the Doctor says is true. It’ll do none of us any good to stay put.’
Yong smiled pityingly. ‘Don’t fret, child. Soon all your troubles will melt like lemon drops. You will have but one priority: the service of Saint Anthony.’
A small grille inset in the wall beeped. Yong went up to it and pressed the side.
‘Yes?’ said the Magna.
‘Bridge, my Lord. There’s… I think you should come up here. I… There’s something you must see.’
Yong frowned. ‘Very well. I’m on my way.’
He patted De Hooch on the head. ‘You extract as much as you can from her, Parva, then begin the conditioning. Let us hope you do a better job than on the last one.’
As the Magna left, De Hooch readjusted his disturbed skull‐cap and spat on the floor.
‘You don’t like him, do you?’ said Bernice. She almost cried out with joy as she felt her left wrist beginning to slide from its restraint.
‘Shut up,’ hissed De Hooch. He approached the table, the floor still trembling beneath his feet. ‘Now, tell me, what was the Doctor’s purpose in coming here? How long has he known of our crusade? And what are his plans to disrupt it?’
‘Well…’ Bernice pulled her hand free but kept it hidden by her side. ‘Maybe I’ll tell you later. I’m a little tired now.’
De Hooch marched up to the table, his face twisting into a snarl. ‘Impudent filth! You will answer my questions now! D’you hear me!’
Bernice turned her head away. De Hooch grabbed her hair and twisted her head round to face him. In one rapid movement, she grabbed his fat neck with her free hand and slammed his face onto the cold steel of the table. His nose made a satisfying crack as it broke and he slid to the floor.
Bernice sat up and pulled her other hand free. She rubbed her wrists, swung her legs off the table and reached down for De Hooch’s blaster.
The bulk of the conditioning