Doctor Who_ The Devil Goblins From Neptune - Keith Topping [86]
'You have received our preliminary report?' asked Shuskin, cutting through the small talk.
'Yes, sir. You must be relieved that the number of aliens at the Siberian bridgehead is diminishing rapidly.'
'We now have wider concerns, Captain.' said Shuskin.
'We need to find their site in Great Britain.'
'Not that we can be entirely convinced that they mean to attack here, either,' said the Doctor. 'The Waro have devastated entire worlds. They will almost certainly strike where we least expect them.'
Liz shook her head. 'No,' she said firmly. was thinking about that on the plane. You said you don't believe in coincidences. Well, what can be more coincidental than us finding out that the Waro come from one of Neptune's moons just as British Rocket Group are announcing the results of their latest probes to the planet?'
'You think there's a connection?' asked Yates.
'Liz has a point.' said the Doctor. 'What if one of the BRG
probes went to Triton?'
'So Professor Trainor has been working for the Waro?'
'Possibly.' said the Doctor, his eyes downcast. 'Or perhaps they're forcing him to cooperate. No one in England knows more about Neptune and its satellites than Trainor.'
'Which means at the very least he is a target.' said Yates.
'How was the press conference?' asked the Doctor.
'Went without a hitch yesterday.’ Yates smiled, seeing what the Doctor was getting at. 'But then, anyone with designs on the professor would hardly want to kidnap him from under the eyes of UNIT.'
'Whereas today?'
'He's unguarded.'
'I'II go up and see him,' said Liz.
'No.' said Yates. don't want you putting your life at risk when we have no idea -'
'But we don't want to alarm him - or those who are watching him - either,' interrupted Liz. have a legitimate reason to be there.'
'This sounds sensible,' said Shuskin.
She'd been silent for so long Yates was starting to think she wasn't even listening. He glared at her, when her face was turned away, but said nothing.
'I'll take that as agreement.' said Liz.
The Doctor was about to say something when Yates's radio crackled into life. Even over the hissing static Yates could tell it was Benton. And he was screaming.
'They've come up out of the stones! The goblins are here!'
Viscount Rose sat in the drawing room of his father's stately home. He looked up from The Times, casting a jaundiced eye around the room. The Rossettis and Hunts and the other early works of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood would be the next to go, exquisite works of art and priceless family heirlooms sacrificed to the greater good. But so be it. Rose's reward lay in heaven, or at least somewhere far beyond these rooms of dust and decay that stank of mothballs.
He laughed out loud. Perhaps he would sell the Bronzino in the hall. That had always been his father's particular favourite.
An almost inaudible rap on the door was followed by the entrance of his butler.
'What is it, Miller?' Rose asked, angry at the interruption.
'My apologies, sir, but the young gentleman is here to see you.'
'What?' Rose sat upright. 'That scruffy, good-for-nothing vagabond has dragged his stinking carcass here?'
'Indeed, sir,' said Miller gravely. 'He's in the great hall.
Somewhat agitated.'
'I'll give him something to be agitated about. Take my riding crop and see him off the premises!'
'He was most insistent that he be allowed to see you, sir,'
noted Miller.
'Very well,' said Rose with a long-suffering sigh. 'Show him in.'
Miller returned a moment later with Arlo. He was looking even more dishevelled than normal, and began babbling the moment he saw Rose.
'It's crazy, man, just -'
'Be quiet!' snapped Rose angrily. 'That will be all, Miller.'
'Will sir require anything further?'
'Yes.' Rose noted. 'A pot of tea. For one.'
As Miller closed the door Rose turned to Arlo, who was standing fidgeting beside the fireplace.
'Cool pad you've got here, man.' said Arlo nervously. He seemed terrified.
'You came here to tell me that?'
'No, man... ' Arlo seemed to be having