Doctor Who_ The Sea-Devils - Malcolm Hulke [39]
‘We can’t trace the trouble,’ said the engine-room Chief, ‘but we’re checking everything, sir,’
Ridgway put back the ’phone. ‘Now where’s the sonar maintainance kilick—’
He stopped in mid-sentence because of the tapping sound from outside. The sound echoed through the submarine, causing every man to turn and look up for’ard.
‘We’re grating against a wreck,’ said Mitchell. Every submariner was aware that there were three wrecks somewhere on the sea-bed at this point.
‘Let’s hope it doesn’t puncture us,’ said Ridgway.
The sound was repeated. This time there was nothing irregular or vague about the tapping. Instead, there was a regular metallic thudding.
‘Divers?’ said Mitchell. ‘That’s impossible at this depth.’
Ridgway only listened for another moment. Then he gave the order: ‘Close all for’ard bulkheads! Sound action-stations!’
Ratings ran down the corridor leading for’ard. The action-stations’ klaxon hooters set up their staccato sound throughout the length of the submarine.
In the general hubbub, Mitchell asked Ridgway: ‘But what do you think it is?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Ridgway. ‘Whatever it is, I think it’s trying to get into this submarine.’ He turned to Petty Officer Summers who was on navigation control. ‘I want someone up top. Will you volunteer?’
‘Aye, aye, sir,’ said Summers.
‘I meant a volunteer,’ said Ridgway. ‘You don’t have to do it.’
‘I’ll do it,’ said the petty officer. ‘I’ll get ready.’ He went to the locker where they kept the emergency escape gear.
The ratings who had gone for’ard started to return. ‘We’ve closed up, sir,’ one of them told Ridgway. ‘But there was something like a blow-lamp starting to cut through from outside!’
‘I believe you,’ said Ridgway. ‘I’m beginning to believe anything.’ He turned to Sub-Lieutenant Mitchell. ‘Summers is going to need an R/T unit.’
Mitchell had already thought of that and was checking over a special radio-telephone unit capable of functioning after submersion in water. By now Petty Officer Summers had strapped on to his back a small oxygen tank, and had got rid of his heavy boots and cap. Emergency escape from a submerged submarine involves a man climbing into the upper part of the conning tower, closing behind him its lower hatch. When he opens the upper hatch the air inside the top of the conning tower automatically escapes upwards, and the man shoots up to the surface in the bubble.
‘As soon as you surface,’ Ridgway told Summers, ‘use the R/T to send out a May Day.’
‘Yes, sir,’ said Summers, taking the R/T unit from Sub-Lieutenant Mitchell.
Ridgway continued, ‘Wait until you have been picked up by Naval personnel before you say that someone seems to be boarding us.’
‘Yes, sir,’ said Summers. ‘Can I ask why, sir?’
‘The Lords of the Admiralty might not want the world to know exactly what’s happened,’ said Ridgway. ‘Now get on your way, and good luck.’
Summers started to climb the ladder towards the lower hatch of the conning tower. He reached up and tried to turn the opening handle. It would not move.
Ridgway called up to him, ‘What’s the matter?’
‘I don’t know, sir,’ said Summers. ‘It’s stuck... And it’s getting warm.’ He whipped his hand away from the handle, ‘I mean—hot!’
‘Come down immediately,’ Ridgway called, and turned to Mitchell. ‘Small arms.’
Mitchell got out the one key he never expected to use in a real emergency. It unlocked the special cupboard where rifles and revolvers were kept.
Ridgway called, ‘Every man get a gun!’ He looked up at the hatch. The whole centre of the hatch had now been cut out with heat; it fell and clanged on to the deck.
‘Guns at the ready,’ he shouted, getting for himself a revolver. ‘Hold your fire until I give the order.’
They waited. Something up in the conning tower was moving around. To attack them it would have to come down the ladder, and that would make it an easy target. But then the unexpected happened. A green scaly arm came down through the hole in the hatch, and in the hand was something like a flashlamp.
‘The tadpole,’ said