Doctor Who_ The Sea-Devils - Malcolm Hulke [41]
Trenchard turned to go. The Master jumped up, and put his hand gently on Trenchard’s arm.
‘I implore you, Mr. Trenchard, we must keep this to ourselves a little longer. Hasty action would ruin everything.’ He turned and pointed to the black box. ‘That thing you call a toy can draw these monsters out of the sea in their thousands!’
Trenchard moved back from the Master, positive now that he was in the presence of the Devil. ‘That’s exactly what we don’t want to do!’
‘You still don’t understand,’ persisted the Master. ‘We must trap these creatures. The whole of this part of England must be cleared of its civilian population. Then I—but we can let the world know it’s all being done by you—can draw these lizards out of the sea. Once they’re out in the open, the Army and Air Force can slaughter them.’
This made sense to Trenchard. ‘Where does the Doctor come into it? Why was he so interfering?’
‘He is one of my species,’ the Master answered, returning now to work on his black box. ‘Except that he’s a dangerous criminal. Somehow he has wormed his way into the confidence of the authorities. He can be destroyed all in good time.’
As though nothing more need be explained, the Master continued with his work. For some seconds Trenchard watched him, still wondering. ‘Just what does that thing do?’ he asked.
The Master said airily, ‘It emits a signal that these monsters will find attractive.’
Trenchard came closer to look at the box. ‘Make it work.’
The. Master seemed reluctant. ‘If you wish.’ He switched over the on/off control. The box emitted a series of regular bleeping sounds for ten seconds, then went silent.
‘I suppose you know what you’re doing,’ said Trenchard, not very impressed with the demonstration. ‘Like having a dog whistle—’ As he spoke, the box emitted a quite different series of bleeps. ‘What was that?’
The Master quickly switched back the on/off control. ‘Some random feedback. I really do need to get on with my work, Mr. Trenchard...’
‘That was a message,’ accused Trenchard. ‘You were receiving a message.’
The Master smiled. ‘Well, if it was, it wasn’t in any code that I’ve ever heard before.’
‘Switch that thing on again,’ said Trenchard.
The Master looked at him, and kept up his friendly smile. ‘Whatever for?’
‘You sent out a signal—’
‘That’s right,’ said the Master, cutting in. ‘As you said, it’s like having a dog whistle.’
‘Please don’t interrupt me,’ said Trenchard, as politely as he could manage. ‘You sent out a signal, and someone, or something, replied. Why won’t you switch it on again?’
‘Are you distrusting me, Mr. Trenchard? I thought we were friends, working together to save this country of yours.’
‘I shall repeat my request,’ said Trenchard. ‘Please switch that thing on again.’
‘If you insist.’ The Master switched over the on/off switch. Again the box emitted a series of regular bleeping sounds for ten seconds then went silent. Immediately, the Master turned it off. ‘There you are. Satisfied?’
‘I’m very unsatisfied,’ replied Trenchard. ‘You should have left it on.’
‘Have to care for the batteries,’ said the Master. ‘I don’t want to waste them in a series of useless experiments.’ He smiled again. ‘Now do you think that I might be allowed to get on with my work?’
Trenchard backed to the door. ‘Certainly. We shall talk again soon.’ He rapped on the door and the prison officer outside opened it. He urgently wanted to get to a telephone, to tell his superiors what he now believed to be the truth, and to offer his resignation.
Back in his office Trenchard unlocked the little padlock on his outside-line telephone and dialled a London number. He was convinced that what he had heard from the Master’s so-called calling device was no ‘random feedback’. It was a message, a response to the signal that the Master was transmitting. And that could only mean that the Master and these intelligent lizards were allies.
A telephonist at the Ministry answered him and took