Doctor Who_ The Paradise of Death - Barry Letts [22]
Freeth’s manner changed instantly. His eyes narrowed and the soft curves of his face noticeably hardened.
‘Do you indeed?’ he said. ‘And I have to tell you that I have no intention of complying.’
The Brigadier’s face was equally hard. ‘Then I shall be forced to close it down.’
‘I understood from that boy who described himself as a detective sergeant that his enquiries here were closed. On whose authority do you propose to take this officious action?’
‘My own, sir.’
‘I see. On what grounds?’
For a moment, the Brigadier hesitated. It would not be acting outside his powers to shut Space World with no explanation at all. Freeth’s cool arrogance deserved no less.
However, it might not be good policy. He needed Freeth’s co-operation.
‘Before he – he died,’ he said, reluctantly, ‘the Doctor told me of certain suspicions he had. Until I am satisfied that these suspicions are groundless, I cannot allow you to proceed with your plans.’
As Freeth listened, he seemed to relax. He spoke more gently. ‘My dear Brigadier, you should have come to me sooner. You’re too late. If you listen you’ll no doubt be able to hear the baying of the Great British Public bent on pleasuring itself. Or is that the phrase I’m after?’
He smiled winningly, his head tilted to one side like a manipulative toddler. His manner had quite reverted to its habitual bantering lightness.
‘We shall have to clear them all out then,’ said the Brigadier, harder than ever. ‘As Officer Commanding the United Nations Intelligence Task Force in the UK, I am empowered, under the treaty, to take any action I consider necessary to safeguard international security.’
‘Ah, but there are so many forms of power, aren’t there?’
Freeth rose from the sofa. In spite of the situation, the Brigadier couldn’t help thinking of a hot-air balloon casting off its moorings. As Freeth walked back to his desk, he smiled again.
‘Before you get stuck in the political mire of exactly who has the power to do what – and to whom – I would strongly advise you to read this.’
He opened a drawer and produced a letter.
The Brigadier’s lips tightened as he saw the impressive letterhead. He glanced down at the signature. Not only was the letter from Number Ten, it was signed by the Prime Minister himself.
Freeth was clearly enjoying himself. ‘It hurts the pride, doesn’t it, falling flat on one’s face? Never mind,’ he added comfortably, ‘I’m sure Mummy will kiss it better.’
‘But, General, it was a personal letter guaranteeing him and his precious corporation freedom from interference of any kind whatsoever!’
The Brigadier was sitting in the Doctor’s car, speaking to the world headquarters of UNIT in Geneva. In such a delicate matter, it would be most unwise to use a public phone, or worse still, one in the Parakon office block.
The General was sympathetic but ultimately unhelpful.
His authority, wide though it undoubtedly was, could not override that of the government of a host country in such a situation.
The Brigadier was determined that Freeth should not get away with it. ‘Would you have any objection, sir, if I went over your head to New York then?’
‘To the Secretary General? None at all. I don’t hold out much hope though. Use my name if you like.’
Armed with this authority, it took the Brigadier a surprisingly short time to get through. The Secretary General of the United Nations, however, intercepted on her way to a meeting of the Security Council, was clearly not pleased. Her trans-oceanic accent, a fitting symbol of her position, sometimes obscured the meaning of an individual word, but her total message could not have been clearer.
‘No, Brigadier Liffbrish-Stute,’ she replied to his urgent plea. ‘I shall not speak to Mr Freeth. To the contrary. You would be well advised to butter up his feathers, as the saying goes. It is of the utmost imperative that he is not to be made upset.’
The Brigadier tried again; in vain.
‘Understand me clear,’ she went on. ‘You will be held personally responsible if through any action of yours, there is any hitches in these delicate