Doctor Who_ The Devil Goblins From Neptune - Keith Topping [95]
'Good driving, though,' remarked Yates. 'I thought we were toast for sure.'
'Toast?' exclaimed the Doctor in exasperation. The longer you stay in the army, Captain Yates, the further you drift from your fine education.'
Yates decided to change the subject. 'Doctor, I don't understand why the aliens just vaporised the cobalt. I thought you said the goblin creatures wanted it to prime their bombs.'
'I can't imagine the Waro piloting craft like that.' the Doctor replied. "They're not interested if they're not exposed to the elements.'
'So what's going on?'
'I wish I knew,' said the Doctor, turning away. 'Perhaps Captain Shuskin can tell us. She seems to have been on the phone for an interminable length of time.' He ignored the look of contempt that crossed Mike's face, and strode over to one of the communication trucks. With all the cobalt destroyed, the convoy had come to an undignified halt in the middle of the road.
Apparently the head of the Northumbria police force's traffic division was having kittens, the road having already been closed for an hour, but UNIT were staying put until they had a reason to do otherwise. Soldiers sat on the tanks and jeeps, smoking and laughing. It was the strangest exercise they'd ever known.
Shuskin saw the Doctor approach, and barked a few last orders into the radio. The Doctor was sure that she was lapsing into Russian more frequently as her frustration increased.
'News from a UNIT operative in the United States.' she
'announced. 'A large amount of cobalt has just been moved to Groom Lake Air Force Base in Nevada.'
'That's interesting.' said the Doctor. 'They must know what the Waro are after.'
'And the aircraft that attacked our convoy did not register on any radar in the UK... '
'Really?'
'Except a station in Sussex that was using your modified equipment.'
The Doctor beamed in delight. 'I knew those improvements would be worth the trouble,' he said. 'Where did the craft come from?'
'They travelled across the Atlantic from America. And they were last reported to be heading back the same way.'
The Doctor nodded. 'The technology might be extraterrestrial, Captain Yates, but I'll wager that the pilots are no more alien than you are.'
'Thanks. I think.'
'I do not understand.' said Shuskin.
'Let me put it this way,' replied the Doctor mysteriously. 'If you wanted to catch a mouse with a trap and some cheese, you wouldn't leave the pantry door open, would you?' He smiled at the baffled faces of Yates and Shuskin. 'And at least we can now guess where the Waro are going.'
* * *
Rose folded away his newspaper. He didn't often miss his butler, but he did on occasions pine for a fresh Times, the pages gently smoothed with a warm iron. At the airport he'd had to make do with an early edition purchased in the departure lounge, all the while trying to steer Trainor away from the tabloids with their garish HIPPIE BLOOD BATH!
headlines. It simply wouldn't do to get the old boy all hot and bothered. After all, in their own ways, they had been working towards this conclusion for several years now. It wasn't the time for a sudden attack of conscience. Rose's policy with regard to Trainor was always to tell him as little as possible.
The viscount had used the professor, just as he had used so many others while bringing his Great Plan to fruition. Still, Trainor should be grateful.' at least he was alive.
Poor Arlo, thought Rose.
'I'm pleased something's amusing you.' observed Trainor, noting the viscount's smile. He'd now downed more vodkas than Rose cared to count.
'Oh, come, Professor, you must share my excitement.'
can't pretend I don't.' he admitted.' To be able to meet... '
He paused, aware that their conversation may be overheard.
To meet our friends after all this time. To begin to process the technology-sharing.'
'Of course, old man, of course.' said Rose with a thin smile.
Meanwhile, on another aeroplane, hundreds of miles away, Brigadier