Doctor Who_ The Devil Goblins From Neptune - Keith Topping [34]
'I am Captain Valentina Shuskin of...' She paused. 'Of the Spetsnaz. And I do not enjoy being lectured on protocol by an alien. Get in'
As the door to the van was held open for him, the Doctor stared back at her blankly. 'How could you possibly -?'
'Get in, Doctor,' she said, and pushed him into the vehicle.
Liz followed the Doctor into the van, and the doors slammed shut. They sat in virtual silence as the vehicle moved off, a look of great concentration on the Doctor's face.
Liz was too worried to think about anything. She stared at the soldiers who surrounded them. She noted their commando-style clothing, their impassive faces. Most, but not all, carried guns.
She could see the driver and another soldier in the front of the van, and through the windscreen observed the terraced housing give way to the newer houses on the outskirts, and then to country roads. Now clear of the city, the van picked up speed.
Suddenly the Doctor whispered something through gritted teeth.
'What?' asked Liz.
'I said "Brace yourself",' repeated the Doctor. He was using his hands to cling on to the rough wooden seating.
Liz followed suit just as the noise of the helicopters began to penetrate the van.
The soldier sitting in the passenger seat swivelled to address Shuskin. 'Three helicopters,' he said.
'What?' Shuskin clearly hadn't anticipated this development. Two Gazelles and a Lynx gunship in standard two-one formation to our right.'
'Motorcycles,' said the soldier at the back of the van, staring through the rear window. 'And an APC. They've got firepower.'
Shuskin swore openly in Russian as the first helicopter came into view. It swooped low, hugging the country lane for a moment, then ascended, spitting a rapid burst of machine-gun fire over the roof of the van.
'Just a friendly warning,' said the Doctor, unhelpfully.
Shuskin made her way to the back of the van and settled herself on the floor between two seated soldiers. She raised her assault rifle, braced herself, then booted open the rear doors. Immediately she started firing in the direction of their pursuers.
'That will just make them angry,' said the Doctor.
The headlights of the slow-moving armoured personnel carrier illuminated the motorcycles as they swerved from side to side in an attempt to protect themselves from the gunfire.
The hail of bullets, picking fragments away from the tarmac road, swung closer to one rider, just catching the front tyre. It exploded, the bike pitching forward and throwing the soldier over the handlebars. Another motorcycle swiftly slotted into place.
Shuskin stopped firing, and turned to shout to her second-in command. 'Komarov! Where are we?'
The man stood behind the driver and navigator towards the front of the van, legs braced against the bucking motion as the vehicle careered round another sharp bend. 'Miles from our destination,' came the reply.
'Suggestions?'
'Stand and fight' Komarov's response was immediate and unequivocal, and appeared to go down well with the men, who nodded in agreement.
'Not an option,' said Shuskin.
'Then you've really got no alternative but to surrender,'
butted in the Doctor.
Without warning the van swerved alarmingly, throwing the Doctor and Liz to the floor in a tangled mess of arms and legs.
'What is going on?' demanded Shuskin, clinging to the door frame.
'Smoke bombs,' replied Komarov.
Liz looked up from the floor, and could just make out a mist spilling around the periphery of the windscreen. She pushed herself into a more stable sitting position, then turned her attention back to Captain Shuskin. All eyes were on her.
As if aware of this, the woman cursed viciously, then barked out an order. 'Stop the vehicle! It is time to end this.'
'A very sensible decision,' said the Doctor softly. 'If you want me to talk to them -'
'Shut up,' said Shuskin. Even the Doctor was stung by the menace in her voice.
The van slowed to a dead stop, and for a moment there was a standoff. The helicopters continued to circle overhead, lights pinning the van to