Doctor Who_ The Sea-Devils - Malcolm Hulke [49]
‘The humans,’ said the Chief Sea-Devil, ‘will soon be told of our trick. The guard whom we killed and sent to the surface died in vain. They will attack us again.’
‘I agree,’ said the Master. ‘Personally I would have liked more time to prepare. But it does seem that now is the moment for you to attack the Naval Base in force. Once you are established there, you will have taken the first step towards the reconquest of your planet!’
12 Attack in Force
Parliamentary Private Secretary the Right Honourable Robert Walker regarded the Doctor and Lieutenant Ridgway across the lunch of cold chicken, sauté potatoes, mixed salad with French dressing, and chopped celery that was laid before him. All Captain Hart’s files and ink bottles and pencils had been removed from the desk top in order to turn it into a dining table for the man from the Government.
‘May I congratulate you,’ Walker said, bayoneting a slice of chicken on to the prongs of his fork, ‘on a remark-able escape. As soon as I’ve finished my lunch, I shall order that atomic weapons be used against these monsters.’ He popped the morsel of chicken into his mouth and started to chew.
‘With all respect,’ said Captain Hart, who stood to one side next to Jo, ‘I doubt that the Doctor would agree to that.’
‘I disagree very much,’ said the Doctor. ‘This is a time to make peace, not war. These creatures have underground bases all over the world. You must share the planet with them.’
‘We hardly know how,’ said Walker, prodding about in his mixed salad to find a slice of tomato, ‘to share the planet with each other, my dear fellow. Look at the Middle East, or Northern Ireland. If we could catch some of these things alive and put them in a zoo, to that I could agree. But the rest must be destroyed.’
‘These are intelligent creatures,’ the Doctor protested. ‘Wouldn’t you prefer to be known as Walker the Peace-maker, than the man responsible for the deaths of millions of people?’
‘Won’t be any deaths,’ said Walker, sipping his white wine appreciatively, ‘except for them.’
‘I believe that the Doctor’s right,’ said Captain Hart. ‘I’ve checked with Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart of UNIT about the creatures that were in those caves in Derbyshire. If they all start to emerge from their underground shelters throughout the world, we won’t know what’s hit us!’
Walker buttered a bread roll. ‘It’s really possible, Doctor, to communicate with these creatures?’
‘I can vouch for that,’ said Lieutenant Ridgway. ‘They interrogated Sub-Lieutenant Mitchell and myself. They wanted to know about the weapons we have, and how many millions of people inhabit the world. They’re intelligent—too intelligent, if you ask me.’
‘As it so happens,’ said Walker, ‘I haven’t asked you. But I have noted what you say.’ He popped a piece of buttered bread into his mouth. ‘All right, Doctor. Let’s see what you can do.’ He raised his wine glass to his lips.
‘Thank you,’ said the Doctor. He swung round to Captain Hart. ‘I shall need the diving-bell again.’
‘Doctor,’ said Jo, ‘couldn’t someone else go down this time?’ She looked at Walker. ‘What about you, sir? It’s a job for a trained diplomat.’
Walker almost spilt his wine. ‘I’m sorry, my dear, but I get terribly sea-sick. It’s just one of those little problems that one has to put up with in life.’
The Doctor, Jo, Captain Hart, and the Rt. Hon. Robert Walker left the administrative building and walked towards the waiting diving-bell vessel.
‘Not a bad day for a little jaunt out to sea,’ said Walker, adding quickly to Jo, ‘for those who don’t get sea-sick, of course.’
‘I’d hardly call this a “little jaunt”,’ said Captain Hart. ‘After those depth charges you had dropped, sir, I imagine the Sea-Devils will be in no mood to receive visitors—’
He stopped short because Jo was pointing wildly towards the quay. ‘Look!’ she screamed. ‘Sea-Devils!’
Sea-Devils came swarming up from the water on to the quay. Those who had already landed and secreted themselves in hiding places now appeared.