Doctor Who_ The Ice Warriors - Brian Hayles [48]
‘We could try bluffing him,’ suggested Jan seriously. ‘He doesn’t know about the computer’s command to hold back.
We could threaten to destroy the glacier and his ship with it!’
Before Clent could answer, Walters stepped forward, his face eager. ‘Better than that, sir, why don’t we do it anyway?
It’s our only chance of survival—’
Miss Garrett turned on the burly security-commander.
‘There are human lives at stake there, man: the girl’s and the Doctor’s! We can only bluff !’
‘We will not use the Ioniser,’ clipped the Leader firmly,
‘unless the computer authorises it!’
‘Don’t tell me about that damned machine!’ shouted Walters. ‘What’s your precious computer ever given us, Clent?
Nothing! Nothing but trouble! And it’s time somebody put an end to it!’ He dragged his tranquilliser gun from its holster, and was about to use it to smash the sleek head of ECCO.
Suddenly Clent cried out, and pointed towards the open doorway.
‘Walters!’
The wild-eyed security commander spun to face the intruders, gun in hand. His eyes widened at the sight of Varga and his three warriors. It was the last thing he ever saw. Almost instantaneously, Varga’s melt reacted to the sight of Walters’ weapon with a concerted burst of sonic fire-power.
The burly man fell, his face horribly contorted with pain.
As Jan stifled a scream of terror, Cleat stared dully at the body.
‘So much for trust...’ hissed the warlord.
‘That wasn’t planned!’ protested Clent. ‘He wasn’t going to harm you—it was the computer that he wanted to smash!’
‘I do not need your explanations,’ responded Varga.
‘Our truce is at an end!’ As the Martian strode into the control complex and began studying its equipment and layout, Jan had the distinct feeling that the truce was never intended to be kept. This alien was ruthless; unless they were careful, Walters would not be the last to die. She motioned to the few remaining technical operators to do nothing to antagonise the Martians. One glance showed her that they were not likely to make even a token resistance.
‘What is it you want?’ Jan boldy asked.
Varga looked at her arrogantly. ‘I have one major need; mercury isotopes for my spaceship’s reactor. You will give them to me.’
Clent frowned, and intervened cautiously. ‘But... we don’t use mercury isotopes.’
‘The Doctor stated that you had what we need—here!
Do not try to trick me!’
‘He was wrong—we have one,’ answered Clent simply.
‘What good would lying do?’
The warlord glowered at Clent, then moved towards Jan. He spoke gently, but the menace in his voice was unmistakable.
‘Tell me,’ he whispered smoothly, ‘what will hap-pen if we shut off your reactor in order to extract the fuel elements that we need?’
‘You can’t do that!’ Jan answered in alarm. ‘It powers everything: heat, light—’
‘And the Ioniser...’ hissed the Martian. ‘Without the reactor, you would be completely at the mercy of the glacier.’
‘You don’t realise the dangers!’ Clent exclaimed, his face pale with stress. ‘The power source is locked in directly with the Ioniser. If you cut out the energy pulse before it reduces to safety level, the feed-back effect will blast you and this building into a state of ion-flux!’
The warlord studied him briefly, then moved across to examine the Ioniser control panel. ‘What is its temperature range?’ he hissed, his great fists poised above the controls.
‘Don’t touch it!’ cried Clent. It’s fully primed!’ Varga’s hand fell back, but his arrogant head turned towards Clent, waiting for the answer. ‘It can melt rock; muttered Clent reluctantly.
‘It can volatise rock!’ the Martian was obviously impressed. ‘What a weapon!’
‘It isn’t a weapon!’ insisted Clent nervously. ‘It’s a scientific instrument!’
‘But highly dangerous,’ interjected Jan. ‘unless it’s handled correctly. You do so at your own risk,’ she added.
‘You are its operator?’ hissed Varga, then taking her nod of assent as answer, continued, ‘You will take it down to safety level. Now!’
Jan looked towards