Doctor Who_ The Doomsday Weapon - Malcolm Hulke [9]
'Look,' the Doctor was saying, 'I'm not a professional mineralogist. But suppose I were? Why all the hostility?'
'Because,' said Ashe, 'we don't want our planet gutted.'
'This is our world,' said Mrs. Leeson, speaking up for almost the first time, her gun still trained on Jo and the Doctor. 'You've no right to be here!'
Now Jo couldn't contain herself any longer, 'Would someone please explain what all this is about?'
'Yes, indeed,' said the Doctor. 'Surely you could explain to us what we're being accused of doing?'
'This planet,' said Ashe, 'has been classified as suitable for colonisation. That means farming, so far as we're concerned. But if the big mining companies move in they'll tum it into a galactic slag heap in no time.'
'Don't you have any rights?' asked the Doctor.
'The big mining companies don't bother about people's rights,' said Leeson, full of bitterness. 'They move in, rip the minerals out of a planet, and move on somewhere else. It happened to the planet we got our seed from!'
'We're not sure of that,' said Ashe. 'We only know that their radio stopped working.'
'Yes?' said Leeson. 'And what about their final message?'
'Do excuse me,' said the Doctor, 'but I don't understand what you're talking about'
Ashe turned to the Doctor to explain. 'With no land farming on Earth, we had to get seed from somewhere to start farming here. So on the way we stopped at another colonised planet, and traded for seed. Once we got here we kept up radio contact with those colonists for a while. They were very useful, giving us advice. Then after some months they radio'd through and a voice said, “The miners are here - ” and cut out. We never heard from them again.'
'Because they were probably all killed!' said Leeson hotly. He turned back to the Doctor. 'If it happens here and we even have time to complain to Earth Government, there'll be no decision from Earth till the miners have finished their job. There won't be anything left to have rights about!'
'That's terrible,' said the Doctor. 'But I do assure you, I and my young companion aren't working for anybody. Our spaceship developed a fault and we had to land somewhere I'm very sorry that we've intruded.'
Ashe asked, 'Can you show use your identification?'
'Identification?' said the Doctor, taken off guard by this question. 'Oh, that's back in my spaceship. If we could go back there - '
But Ashe cut in, 'I think it better if you two stay the night. It'll be dark outside by now. We'll visit your ship in the morning.'
Jo had no wish to stay in this grim-looking barn for the night. 'We don't want to put you to any trouble,' she said. 'We're quite willing to go now, and find our own way.'
'As you heard,' said Ashe, 'two of or colonists believe they saw some hostile creatures abroad last night. We must all be very careful.'
'We'll come to no harm,' said Jo. 'We can look after ourselves. Can't we, Doctor?'
She looked up to the Doctor, hoping for agreement. Instead he was looking straight ahead at Ashe. 'We shall be glacl to stay,' he said.
Jo tugged at his sleeve, 'But Doctor...'
He turned and gave her a look that clearly meant, ' Shut up and leave this to me! '
Ashe turned to one of the younger women who was watching, a girl so like him in her looks that clearly she was his daughter. 'Mary, why don't you take our guests to the dining-hall? And arrange some sleeping quarters for them.'
The girl called Mary nodded, and smiled at Jo. 'We have a little food,' she said. 'You're welcome to share it. Come.' She held out her hand for Jo to take it.
Jo looked from the Doctor to Ashe and to the Leeson, all of whom were now looking at her. 'All right,' she said at last, 'we'll stay just this one night. Coming to supper, Doctor?'
'Shortly,' said the Doctor. 'There are things I wish to discuss here.'
Jo realised there was no point in arguing. She took hold of Mary's