Doctor Who_ The Doomsday Weapon - Malcolm Hulke [24]
'Earth's needs,' mused the Doctor, 'or your corporation's profits?'
'What's good for IMC is good for Earth,' said Dent rather smugly, realising that he was now blustering against the Doctor's calm. 'There are over a hundred thousand million people back on Earth, and they need all the minerals we can find!'
'What those people need,' said the Doctor, 'are new worlds to live on, like this one. Worlds where they can live like human beings again, instead of like battery hens.
'That's not my concern,' said Dent. 'Minerals are needed. It's my job to get them.'
'Even if that reduces this planet to a slag heap?' said the Doctor. 'Now if you'll excuse me, I have lost some important equipment. I most go and look for it.'
An idea was already forming in Dent's mind as to how he could get rid of the Doctor by way of an 'accident'. 'What sort of equipment?' Dent asked.
'It's rather difficult to explain,' said the Doctor. 'You might say it is a tall blue box.'
Dent pretended to lose interest in the Doctor's lost equipment. 'Well, at least I can arrange transport for you back to your colonist friends. Wait here, please.'
'This time,' said the Doctor, as Dent was closing the door, 'do you mind not locking we in?'
'It's normal security procedure,' said Dent, 'when non-IMC personnel are on board. You won't be locked in for long.' He closed the door, and turned the locking knob. He stood in the corridor for a moment, thinking. He knew he had conducted the interview badly and was not much of a credit to IMC. Then he reminded himself that normally he didn't have to contend with intelligent people like the Doctor. Once colonists had been scared by monsters, they were usually only too happy to accept IMC's help to move them on to another planet. This time it would be different, at least until he had disposed of the Doctor. He went back up the connecting corridor to the control room. Morgan was alone.
'Where's Caldwell ?' Dent asked.
'He got called down by the motor room people, sir,' replied Morgan, 'some minor problem they've got.'
'Uh-huh.' Dent slumped down into his special captain's chair. 'This man he brought in, he isn't a colonist. I think he's some kind of scientist. He noticed the vegetation here doesn't fit in with the existence of monsters'
'Could he be working for Earth Government,' said Morgan, 'checking up on us?'
'Maybe,' said Dent. 'Anyway, I want you to drive him back to the colonists' place.'
'If he's going to cause trouble,' said Morgan, 'why not keep him here?'
'No,' said Dent, 'there would be questions. When Caldwell found him, he was investigating the wrecked dome. Right?'
'Right,' said Morgan.
'So,' Dent continued, 'if his body were found in the wreck, it would be obvious that the monsters had gone back and killed him.'
Morgan got up. 'Leave it to me, sir.'
'He says he's lost some equipment,' said Dent. 'You offer to help him find it - you know, play him along. That'll give me time to get the robot over to the wrecked dome to meet him there.'
'Thank you, sir,' said Morgan. He was eager to go and had his hand on the door knob.
'One final point,' said Dent. 'Nothing must go wrong.'
'I'll make sure of that, sir,' said Morgan, turning the knob of the door. But Dent still had more to say.
'You should have told me last night about those two colonists being killed,' Dent went on. 'On this planet I represent IMC, and you must always tell the Corporation everything, even when you make a mistake.'
'Yes, sir,' said Morgan. 'Sorry, sir.'
'That's all right,' said Dent. 'Now get on your way. And make it look good
Morgan hurried away. Dent liked Morgan. Morgan was ambitious and totally unscrupulous. Dent felt you could always trust people like that.
9 The Spy
From the moment of his arrival at the colonists' main dome, IMC Second Officer Wilfred Norton had been treated as a Very Important Person. That's what he liked about playing the 'survivor' every time Captain Dent arrived at