Doctor Who_ The Doomsday Weapon - Malcolm Hulke [47]
The Doctor and Jo rushed along the corridor from Ashes private quarters to the scene of the battle, the Doctor hoping he might be able to call for a cease-fire to stop the bloodshed. The Master, who had also heard the shooting, hurriedly left John Ashe, it would upset all his plans if the colonists' revolt was successful.
Keeping Jo well back, the Doctor stood in a doorway that led on to the scene of the battle. 'For the sake of reason,' he called, 'stop shooting!' And then he felt a gun rammed into the back of his own neck.
'Sorry, Doctor,' said the Master, 'but an opportunity such as this cannot be missed.' He moved round the Doctor, still holding his small handgun aimed at the Doctor's head. 'I'd rather be watching your face as I pull the trigger,' he said.
'You'd kill me in cold blood?'
'On the contrary,' replied the Master, 'you are going to die in the heat of battle. A stray bullet, from an IMC or a colonist's gun - no one will ever really know. Goodbye, Doctor.'
The Master raised the gun and started to squeeze the trigger. John Ashe came running down the corridor. 'Adjudicator,' he shouted, 'we've got to stop this! My people are making themselves into outlaws!'
'Exactly what I was saying to the Doctor,' said the Master, lowering the gun. He could hardly murder the Doctor in front of Ashe. 'Perhaps you'd like to tell them to stop.'
Both the Master and the Doctor took cover as an IMC man ran to the doorway for cover, and was cut down by a volley of fire from partly hidden colonists. The IMC man fell against John Ashe, knocking him backwards. Ashe struggled to get up again, but the IMC man lay where he was, dead.
'Stop shooting!' It was Captain Dent's voice, shouting from behind a crate of seed. His hand came into sight waving a white handkerchief. 'We give in.' Almost at once the shooting stopped.
'Stand up,' shouted Winton from his hiding-place. 'Tell your men to drop their guns'
For a few seconds nothing happened - no shots, and the men on both sides still lying concealed. Then Captain Dent slowly stood up and threw his gun on to the ground. He was white with the fear that some colonist might take this golden opportunity to shoot him.
'We are heavily outnumbered,' Dent called. 'I order all IMC personnel to lay down their guns immediately.'
Now Winton stood up, too. 'You must radio your men in your spaceship,' he called to Dent, 'and tell them of your surrender. If they refuse, you and all your men here will be killed.' He turned to the colonists. 'Round up the prisoners, and collect their guns.'
Everyone came out of hiding now, the IMC men with their hands raised. The women emerged and started to tend the wounded. Winton caught sight of the Master with Ashe and the Doctor and came over to them, his gun on the Master. 'We've had enough of you, too,' he said to the Master. 'You'll leave with the IMC men.'
The Master, quickly slipping his own gun out of sight, smiled at Winton. 'I don't think you understand the position you are now in,' he said. 'Unless you want Earth Government to send a space fleet to blow you out of the skies, you need someone to negotiate for you.'
Asir, said, 'You'd still be willing to help us, Adjudicator?'
'Of course,' said the Master. 'You've acted rashly, but I am impressed by your courage and determination.'
'Don't listen to him,' said the Doctor. 'He's trying to trick you.'
But the Master continued, ignoring the Doctor. 'There may be a case for preserving your colony on the grounds of the planet's historical interest. If I could investigate this claim, things might be very different. I should like to visit the Primitive City .'
'I am trying to warn you,' said the Doctor to Ashe and Winton, 'this man is not to be trusted. He is an impostor. You should check his credentials with Earth!'
They stepped back as a group of prisoners, which included Morgan, were led away by Smedley and other