Doctor Who_ The Doomsday Weapon - Malcolm Hulke [26]
The Primitive began picking up the various tools that Holden had used, he carefully replaced each tool into its right place in a tool-box on the little work bench. Meanwhile Holden gave his attention to a fuse-box on the far wall, so that he had his back to the door.
Norton planned his every move before going in. From the corridor he could see a large spanner lying on a shelf between himself and the Primitive. The Primitive was sideways on to him at the moment, but any time now he would have to turn his back in order to pick up one of Holden's tools. Suddenly Norton realised how much it compared with an actor waiting to go on stage. There he was, standing in the wings, waiting for his cue. He could see the other actors already on stage, but he had to wait till exactly the right moment to make his entrance. He could see his most important 'prop', the big spanner that he most remember to pick up on entering. The only thing was an audience; but in the circumstances that was perhaps as well.
The Primitive turned his back to pick up the last tool. Norton entered silently, picked up the big spanner and raised it above his head, all in one movement. Just as the spanner was arcing down onto the back of the Primitive's head, by some telepathic means the victim sensed his danger. He ducked, and instinctively tried to grab his spear which stood against the wall. But he was too slow. Before his hand could reach the weapon, Norton had raised the spanner again and brought it crashing down upon the skull of the unfortunate Primitive.
Holden whirled round. 'What the - ?' Then he saw the Primitive lying dead on the floor. 'You must be crazy!' he yelled at Norton. 'What do you think you're doing?'
Norton had found his audience - an audience of one startled man. Taking his time, he put down the big spanner, then picked up the spear. It was an actor's traditional joke that to be on stage carrying a spear means that you have only a very small part to play in the drama. And actors never had a chance to use their spears, not in real life.
'Put down that spear,' ordered Holden 'What you've been through - it's affected your mind.'
Holden was standing well away, his back to the far wall.
Suddenly, Norton lunged straight at Holden with the spear, aiming for the heart. It found its mark. Then, seizing the big spanner again, he quickly smashed fuse-boxes, switch controls, and electrical junction-points.
Norton raced back to the dining hall. The colonists' leader, Ashe, was talking to Mary and Jo. 'Please,' he called out to Ashe with the strained voice of a man who had just seen murder done, 'you've got to come with me.'
'What's the matter?' Ashe asked.
'Come with me, please ,' said Norton, grabbing Ashe's arm and pulling him towards the corridor. 'It's terrible! It's murder!'
Ashe came running after Norton towards the electrical room, the two girls following. Norton stopped abruptly at the door to the room, covering his eyes, waiting for Ashe to catchup with him.
'What are you talking about?' Ashe demanded. 'Look,' said Norton, and pointed into the room.
Ashe looked, then spun round on Mary and Jo. 'No, keep back! I don't want you to see this.' He put his arm round Norton, who was now weeping. 'What happened?'
'I was coming by,' Norton said, between sobs. 'I saw it all... he didn't have a chance.'
'The Primitive killed Holden?' Ashe asked.
Norton nodded. 'He went for me, too, but I grabbed a spanner and hit him. I know it was in self-defence, but I've never killed anyone or anything in my life before.' He continued to sob, his shoulders heaving.
'You couldn't help it,' said Ashe, as he glanced around the room. 'The relay circuits have been wrecked.'
'Holden must have caught the Primitive messing about with the controls,' said Norton, 'smashing things. That's why he got killed, with that awful spear.'
'Unless we get this lot repaired,' said Ashe, in his matter-of-fact way, 'the whole colony will come