Doctor Who_ The Doomsday Weapon - Malcolm Hulke [49]
Jo looked about in astonishment. Except for minor differences, it was exactly like the inside of the Doctor's TARDIS. 'It is a TARDIS,' she said. 'Why did you want to come here?'
'To see what I can find,' said the Doctor evasively. 'Now be careful!' He put a hand on Jo's shoulder to stop her going forward, and with the other hand pointed to a small white light in the wall close to them. The light shone a beam on to an electroplate opposite. 'A rather crude burglar alarm,' said the Doctor, 'let's duck under it'
They crawled on hands and knees under the beam of light, then stood up. 'What do you hope to find?' said Jo.
The Doctor was already looking in cupboards and drawers. 'Something that might tell me why the Master has come to this planet,' he said. 'You try that filings cabinet,' he said, pointing to a set of deep drawers.
Jo looked through the files. 'Do you think he's after that duralinium stuff, like the IMC people?' she asked. But the Doctor was too busy making his own search, or didn't think the question worth answering. Jo shrugged, and continued searching through the files. Then she came across a folder containing a plastic document bearing a colour photograph of a clean-shaven man with a round chubby face, blue eyes, and fair hair. Wording on the document stated that it had been issued by the Bureau of Interplanetary Affairs and described the bearer, one Martin Jurgen, as an official Adjudicator. 'I think this is worth looking at,' Jo said, showing the document to the Doctor. 'It's the man the Master is impersonating.'
The Doctor looked sadly at the photograph. 'Poor Martin Jurgen, whoever he was, is probably floating for all eternity in Space, or atomised.'
'Well, come on,' said Jo, let's take that and show it to Mr. Ashe.' In her eagerness as she made for the door her legs passed through the beam of light...
At that moment a bleep-bleep sound came from a pocket in the Master's tunic. He was with John Ashe in the latter's quarters in the dome, and together they were studying some crude maps which Ashe had drawn of the area of the colony.
'Excuse me,' said the Master with a smile, and drew from his pocket a small black box that fitted neatly into his palm. He opened a panel in the box, revealing a tiny television screen. On it he could clearly see the Doctor and Jo in his TARDIS. He didn't let Ashe see the screen.
'What's that?' said Ashe.
'A useful little device,' said the Master. 'A remote-control alarm in case someone tampers with my spaceship. Probably one of the Primitives touched the outside of the craft. It's of no importance.' He closed the panel. 'Now then, Mr. Ashe, you were telling me about the underground Primitive City ?...'
As the Master returned the little black box into his pocket, his thumb gently squeezed a button in its side.
'Come on, Doctor,' said Jo, 'what I found is enough to prove to Mr. Ashe that the Master isn't the Adjudicator. Let's go before the Master comes and catches us here.'
The Doctor straightened up from the drawers he had been searching. 'All right, Jo.' He turned, then froze. 'Jo! You've crossed back through the alarm beam!' And already the button on the side of the Master's little alarm box had activated poisonous gas to be pumped into the TARDIS. It came through six grills set near the floor, and it came under pressure. Its effect was to be almost instantaneous. The ship's only exit door automatically closed.
Half-an-hour later the Doctor started to come to. He was lying where he had fallen, looking up into the Master's face. The Master had an aerosol spray in his hand, aimed at the Doctor. 'A little device to speed up the recovery of those overcome by my sleeping gas,' said the Master, now putting aside the aerosol spray can. 'How are you feeling?'
The Doctor had a sick headache. He looked round for Jo. 'Where is Miss Grant?' he asked.
'Over there,' said the Master. He pointed to a tall up-right glass cubicle. Jo was inside, sitting on the floor with her head between her legs. 'She's perfectly