Doctor Who_ The Doomsday Weapon - Malcolm Hulke [35]
As the three IMC men reached the crest of the hill they heard two shots ring out. By the sound of the shots they knew they had come from one of the specially-made IMC handguns. Curious, they ran over the crest of the hill until they saw below them Caldwell 's IMC tent, the robot, and Winton's body sprawled on the dusty hillside. Caldwell stood over the body, gun in hand. He looked up the hill.
'I got him for you,' he shouted up to them. 'Don't worry. Charlie here will dig a grave.'
The three IMC men turned back, to go down the rocky side of the hill again to their waiting buggy. One of them brought out his little-two-way radio and reported the success of the mission to Captain Dent, who seemed very pleased.
Outside the IMC tent, Caldwell remained exactly where the three security guards had seen him. When they were well out of sight he pocketed his gun and sauntered over to where Winton was sprawled on the ground.
'It's all right,' he said, 'they've gone.'
Winton slowly got to his feet. 'Thanks.'
Caldwell had gone into the tent, and gestured for Winton to follow. Inside there was a collapsible work table, and on its surface were various samples of rock which the robot had drilled out of the ground. Caldwell opened a fast-aid box, took from it some antiseptic and started to clean up Winton's shoulder wound.
Winton said, 'Why are you helping me?'
'I'm a miner,' said Caldwell, 'not one of Dent's killers.' He took hold of a dressing and put it on Winton's shoulder. 'Listen friend,' he said, 'go back to your colony and persuade your friends to get off this planet.'
'We're waiting for the Adjudicator,' said Winton.
Caldwell picked up one of the rocks from the table. 'See those silver-coloured veins in this rock? That's pure duralinium. This is the biggest strike we've ever made. IMC want this planet, and they're going to get it.'
'But an Adjudicator's decision is law,' Winton protested. 'If he says we can stay, then it's all right'
Caldwell stood back and grinned, but it was not a happy grin. 'I've just saved your life, young man,' he said, 'so that gives me the right to give you a little fatherly advice. Adjudicators can be fixed, understand?' He rubbed his fingers against his thumb. 'Money,' he said, 'that's all that really matters, I don't like it, and you don't like it, but that's how things work. So just you set about persuading your good people to get off this planet before anyone else gets killed.'
13 The Attack
Ashe called together the search party of a dozen men in the main meeting-room of the big dome. The Doctor explained to the men exactly what had happened - how he had been called back to the IMC spaceship where Dent had told him that Jo and Winton were chained to a bomb. When the Doctor had finished, Ashe spoke to the men.
'There are only two things we can do,' said Ashe. 'We can let ourselves be blackmailed by IMC, or we can go out and search for the prisoners.'
The response from the men made it quite clear that they were in no mood to give in to IMC.
'Fine,' said Ashe. 'With the IMC spaceship sitting on our doorstep, we'll have to wait till its dark before we leave.'
Norton spoke up. 'The prisoners could be anywhere. How do you expect to find them after dark?'
'There aren't many places to hide,' Ashe said. He went to a wall-map and pointed. 'There are some caves here, some Primitive ruins here and there, and that's about all.'
'But aren't we wasting our time with this proposal,' asked Norton. He pointed at the Doctor. 'We've only got his word about all this
'Why should I lie?' asked the Doctor.
Norton had his answer ready. 'Maybe you're