Doctor Who_ The Devil Goblins From Neptune - Keith Topping [111]
'That's not the point, and -'
'Now, look here, those controls are clearly labelled
"flaps". I may not have a thousand and one university degrees, but surely -'
'Shut up, all of you!' exploded Liz. She didn't know what was more painful, her throbbing ankle and gashed head, or watching Trainor, the Doctor, and the Brigadier squabbling over the controls of the plane. 'Can we please leave it to the Nedenah? They seem to know what they're doing.'
Silently the Nedenah had moved around the arguing people, flicking switches, correcting their mistakes, and, as far as Liz could see, basically preparing the plane for take-off.
Now they were ready.
The Brigadier looked shamefaced. 'Yes, of course, Dr Shaw. You're quite right. I think I'd be more useful back there with you.'
'Thank you, Brigadier. And, Doctor, hadn't you better protect this plane against the Waro's heat weapons? It would be unfortunate to have come all this way, only to fall at the last hurdle.'
'I was just about to attend to that.' said the Doctor quietly, moving to busy himself with the aircraft's hull. 'Professor?
Can you use my machine, just as I was showing you a moment ago?'
'Of course.' said Trainor, smiling eagerly. 'Ah, here we go.' A Waro landed on the glass of the cockpit, a bomb in one hand. The professor switched on the Doctor's machine, waved it in the general direction of the Waro, and immediately it flew off into the distance, exploding with a muffled bang. 'Let's just hope this gadget doesn't interfere with the controls of the plane, eh, Doctor?'
'My dear fellow... ' began the Doctor, but Liz glared at him, and he lapsed into silence.
Trainor flicked a few switches on the case containing the Doctor's jamming device, which threw a protective blanket around the entire aircraft. Meanwhile the Nedenah expertly steered the Cargo master through the hangar doors, and towards the main runway.
'Looks a trifle damaged.' observed Yates.
'Maybe so, Captain,' said the Brigadier, helping Liz and Shuskin with the Nedenah canister, but landing will be a bonus. Let's just get up there in one piece, and deal with these Waro things.'
'There.' said Liz at last. 'The cylinder is in place. Give me a few minutes, and this plane will be the biggest crop sprayer in the history of aviation.'
Trainor cried out in terror as the Cargo master bounced along the runway, the Nedenah swerving it from side to side to avoid the larger craters.
'You all right, old chap?' queried the Doctor.
Trainor smiled wealdy suppose I ought to be grateful. At least this plane isn't invisible.' He turned as a group of Waro pitched on to the nose of the Cargo master, then flew off again just as quickly.
The aeroplane lurched into the air at a steep angle, and Liz had to push against the cylinder to stop it rolling around in the hold.
Then the plane levelled, and she returned to rigging up the tubes needed to spray the chemical over the Waro.
'How are you doing?' said the Doctor, having again used his sonic screwdriver to protect them from the Waro's heat weapons.
'We're just about ready.'
'Perhaps the Brigadier would like to do the honours?' The Doctor pointed to the valve at the end of the canister of genetic material.
'With pleasure.' said Lethbridge-Stewart.
The C-133 pulled higher into the sky, reaching the top of the cloud of flapping Waro. A fine spray fell from the plane, and its effect on the goblin creatures was almost instantaneous.
Well-ordered ranks fell into squabbling and screaming chaos, and tens, then hundreds, of Waro tumbled from the skies, torn to shreds by their fellows.
The Waro screamed with delight as their old, unfettered bloodlust returned.
'The substance is taking effect.' noted Liz.
'It's like a plague,' observed the Brigadier, his face impassive as he stared out of one of the plane's windows.
The chaos was visibly spreading through the ranks of flying Waro.
'The second stage of the process will begin soon.'