Doctor Who_ Storm Harvest - Mike Tucker [51]
‘What do you mean, man?’ Sands fought to contain the panic in his own voice.
‘It’s running hotter and hotter,’ Hanlon babbled. ‘The controls aren’t responding. It’s as if it’s got a mind of its own.
‘Or someone else is controlling it,’ Sands muttered. ‘All right, Hanlon, initiate emergency shutdown procedure.’
‘I’ve tried!’ Hanlon cried. ‘It didn’t do any good! It’s getting critical, Sarge!’
‘All right,’ Sands barked. ‘Constable Clark... put out a general mayday to all vessels. Tell them we have a meltdown on our hands.
Give our position and tell them to get the hell away. Norris, Bell, abandon ship. You too, Hanlon.’
‘You what, Sarge?’
‘Just do it, Hanlon. Get to the escape pods.’
‘I’ve sent the mayday, Sarge,’ Annie Clark said.
‘Good,’ said Sands. ‘Now let’s get out of here.’
He waited for her to follow the others towards the rear of the sub.
Casting a final look around his ship, he dived through the hatch after her. Norris and Bell were already cocooning themselves in their escape pods.
Hanlon appeared in the hatchway.
‘It’s no good, Sarge,’ he said. ‘When the reactor blows it’ll kill everything within a mile of the ship .We’ll never get away in time.’
‘Just climb into your pod, son,’ Sands said evenly. ‘You know the drill.’
He caught Annie Clark’s eyes, saw the fear in them. She knew as well as he did that they weren’t going to make it.
‘Goodbye, Sarge,’ she said quietly.
‘Annie,’ he whispered, squeezing her arm gently. ‘Look lively,’ he 98
said. ‘You don’t want to listen to Hanlon. You know what he’s like.
Voice of doom.
He watched as Constable Annie Clark climbed into her escape pod and sealed it shut. The others were launching themselves into the ocean. Annie soon followed.
He straightened his uniform and looked around the sub’s aft hold for the last time. The air was suddenly, painfully hot. He could hear a whining, screaming, rending sound coming from the guts of the craft.
For the briefest fraction of a second he was aware of a blinding, excoriating light, a furnace heat, a sound like the universe ripping in two; and in that sound he thought he could hear the voice of his father, twenty years dead, calling him, laughing.
‘Are you insane, Bavril?’
‘It’s Scratcher down there,’ said Bavril flatly. ‘Scratcher.’
‘I know,’ said Huttle quietly. ‘But what you’re talking about is mad!
Even suppose you do rescue him – what are you going to do with him then?’
Others in the crowded barracks grunted their agreement.
‘I don’t know,’ said Bavril. ‘Hide him... You know the Cythosi –
they can barely tell us apart. Look, all I want from you is a cutting tool.
Just for a short time. You know I don’t have access to that sort of equipment.’
‘Forget it,’ said Huttle.
‘I’ll get it for you.’
The voice rang out from the back of the long room.
Bavril saw Peck pushing his way towards him. He’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but had suspected Peck would be the only one to support him.
‘I’m a level two engine-room functionary. I can get you something that’ll do the job. I’m about to go on shift.’
Bavril sighed.
‘Thank you, Peck,’ he said. ‘But please – be discreet.’
Edwin Bryce was almost sober by the time he reached the central admin block.
‘Let me in,’ he said to the security officer on the main door. ‘I’m here to see Chief Engineer Garrett.’
The guard looked him disdainfully up and down. Bryce knew he didn’t present an edifying picture – he hadn’t washed, shaved or changed his clothes since yesterday. He stank of booze. He’d spilled a quantity of the stuff over himself in the course of the day.
‘Name,’ the guard said.
99
‘Bryce. Edwin Bryce.’
‘I’ve read a couple of your books, sir,’ the guard said slowly. ‘Didn’t think much of them.’
‘Just tell Garrett I’m here, will you?’ Bryce snarled.
The guard triggered his intercom. ‘Mr Garrett,’ he said wearily,
‘there’s a person to see you. Name of Bryce.’
His face registered mild surprise.
‘You’re to go up,’ he said. ‘Mr Garrett’s office is on the fifth floor.’
Bryce was scarcely aware of