Doctor Who_ The Doomsday Weapon - Malcolm Hulke [40]
All the colonists seemed to agree with this. Then Morgan spoke up. 'Captain Dent's the killer,' he said. 'He's killed colonists on other planets, too.'
Dent thought quickly. Morgan might make mistakes, but he would never act the traitor. So Dent responded, 'Shut up, Morgan!' and tried to make it sound convincing.
Winton asked Morgan, 'You want to confess?'
'I only carried out orders,' said Morgan, which was more or less true. 'I could show you more evidence if you want to see it.'
'Don't trust him,' said Smedley.
But Winton asked, 'Where is this evidence?'
'In one of the lockers here,' said Morgan. 'Untie me and I'll get it for you. You can keep a gun on me all the time.'
'You show them anything,' Dent shouted at Morgan, 'and you're finished with IMC! Understand that? You'll lose your living quarters, your wife will turn on you, your children will disown you - ' One of the colonists hit Dent in the face.
Winton aimed his gun at Morgan. 'Untie him,' he told the colonists. Two of them quickly stepped forward and cut the ropes holding Morgan to his chair. He rose, and went to the most secret locker in the control room, unlocked it and put his hand inside. Now Dent had to get Winton's attention, even at the risk of another blow to the face.
'You listen to me,' Dent pleaded. 'I'm still your captain - '
Winton wheeled round, his gun pointed now at Dent. 'You're nothing!' he shouted. 'Keep quiet!'
And this gave Morgan the opportunity he needed. His hand came out of the locker holding a rocket pistol, which he pointed at the back of Winton's head. 'Drop that gun,' he said, 'or you're dead!'
To Dent it seemed a lifetime as Winton stood with his gun aimed at him, whilst Morgan stood with the rocket pistol touching Winton's head. In fact it was only three seconds before Winton realised that the colonists' victory was over, and he dropped the gun. Morgan moved Winton round, so that Winton acted as a shield against any sudden counter-attack. 'All of you,' said Morgan, 'drop your guns, or I kill this man instantly.' One by one the colonists dropped their guns to the floor. 'Now you,' he said to the colonist who had hit Dent, 'untie Captain Dent. And you,' he said to Smedley, 'untie Mr. Caldwell.'
As soon as Dent was free he picked up a gun and levelled it at the man who had hit him. 'I should blow your head off,' he said, 'but perhaps I'll save that till later.'
Then they all heard Mary Ashe's voice from the radio loudspeaker. ' Main dome calling IMC ship, ' she said. ' The Adjudicator is ready for the tribunal. Kindly advise me the situation there. '
Dent grabbed site microphone. ' The situation, ' he said, ' is that we are all, I repeat, all coming over there to state our case. '
' Who is that speaking? ' Mary asked, surprised to hear Dent. But Dent did not reply.
John Ashe had arranged benches along either side of the colonists' meeting-room in the dome, and one big chair at one end for the Adjudicator. The Adjudicator was already sitting there, smart in his black tunic and trousers, a small dark beard accentuating the thrust of his chin, and compelling brown eyes which darted from one to another of the colonists and IMC men as they trooped in. The colonists sat one side of the room, the IMC men sat facing them. All the colonists were unarmed; all the IMC carried holstered handguns. Captain Dent walked up to the Adjudicator, hand outstretched, 'Captain Dent, sir, at your service.'
The Adjudicator looked at Dent, but did not shake his hand. 'Please take your place,' he said.
The affront angered Dent, but he tried to cover up. 'Certainly, sir. But I thought you might first wish to see my credentials as Captain of this IMC survey team.' He produced from his pocket his plastic identity card which carried a colour photograph of himself.
The Adjudicator waved the card aside. 'I am here to settle