Doctor Who_ The Green Death - Malcolm Hulke [6]
‘There are times, sir,’ said Jo, ‘when I think you have an open mind about everything.’
‘Meaning I have no opinions?’
‘Meaning,’ said Jo politely, ‘that it’s important to have opinions, and to stick to them.’
‘I suspect,’ said the Brigadier, letting out the handbrake, ‘that this conversation is verging on insubordination.’ He smiled to show he meant no harm. ‘Best of luck.’
‘Thank you, sir.’ Jo suddenly remembered the important thing she should tell the Brigadier. ‘And sir?’
The Brigadier was just about to drive away. ‘Yes?’
‘I almost forgot. The Doctor told me to say that he’ll be along soon.’
‘How very kind of you to have remembered,’ said the Brigadier. ‘If it had crossed your mind to tell me earlier, I might have enjoyed the drive from London.’ He let in the clutch, and the jeep drove away.
Jo went up to the door of the house and pulled an old-fashioned door bell. No bell rang inside; instead, the knob and some rusty wire came away in her hand. She put the knob down carefully on the step, and tapped on the door. Nothing happened. Cautiously she pushed the door, found it was unlocked. She looked inside.
‘Hello?’
No answer. The walls of the hallway were white-washed and clean but the hall had the musty smell of damp. Jo crept into the hall and followed a corridor leading to the back of the house. She found a door with a notice reading ‘ROOM FOR LIVING’, tapped, and looked into the room. It had a few old armchairs and a radio that might have come out of a museum. She went on down the corridor, found another door with a notice which read ‘TOADSTOOLS, PROFESSORS, AND OTHER THINGS—WATCH IT!’ Jo tapped on the door and was just about to push it open when a male voice bellowed, ‘Come in!’
Jo went in. It was a sort of laboratory with a work bench, Bunsen burner, microscope and cupboards. A young man in blue jeans and a polo neck sweater was delicately taking a slice from a strange-looking fungus and mounting it on a microscope slide.
‘Excuse me,’ Jo started to say.
‘Shut the blasted door,’ shouted the young man, without looking up. ‘It says outside “watch it”, and you didn’t.’
‘Didn’t what?’
‘You didn’t watch it.’ He placed the slice of fungus on the slide and seemed satisfied. ‘You could have ruined a month’s work by letting the temperature in here drop half a degree.’
‘How do you ever get in and out,’ Jo asked, ‘without opening the door sometimes?’
‘Ah, good point,’ said the young man. ‘But I watch it, Understand?’
‘No,’ said Jo. ‘But it doesn’t matter. I’m Jo Grant, from London. I rang up and spoke to someone called Nancy, whoever she is. I’ve come to help Professor Jones.’
The young man flashed a glance at her. ‘And how do you propose to help Professor Jones? You’re not old enough.’
Jo was outraged but tried not show it. ‘I’ve been assistant to an eminent scientist for some time, you know.’
‘No, I didn’t,’ said the young man. ‘How should I know if you don’t tell me?’
‘Well, I’m telling you!’
He stopped his work and looked at her, weighing her up. ‘Know anything about entomology?’
‘Insects? Yes, a little.’
‘Then tell me,’ said the young man, ‘what’s got twenty legs, a yellow body about two inches long and big red pincers on the front end?’
‘I’ve no idea,’ Jo answered.
‘Pity,’ said the young man, ‘because there’s one crawling up your left leg.’
Jo gave a screech, and brushed at her leg. But there was no insect. The young man had been joking. ‘That wasn’t very funny,’ said Jo.
‘It was from where I’m standing,’ the man assured her. ‘Why do you want to help this Professor Jones fellow?’
‘I’d like to put a spanner in Panorama Chemicals’ works.’
‘I see,’ said the man. ‘Ever gone to bed hungry?’
‘Not that I can remember. Why, is there nothing to eat in this house?’
The young man didn’t answer the question, but continued with his own train of thought. ‘Every night millions of people in the world go to sleep hungry. And those of us who do have enough food are starved of everything else a man needs to live like a man—‘
Jo couldn’t resist butting in. ‘Do you always use the word “man” when you mean