Doctor Who_ Trading Futures - Lance Parkin [27]
‘He’s turned away from the window. Wait, wait, he’s coming back.’
‘– simply require half an hour’s access to your country’s ULTRA computer. The computer used by your intelligence service.’
[Laughter]
‘Why on earth would a man from the future need that?’
‘I am trapped in this time. Returning home requires a precisely plotted course, and I need more computing power than is available in this time – except for the most powerful computer in the world. And that is the ULTRA.’
‘And then you’ll hand us the secret of time travel?’
‘Indeed.’
‘Won’t that interfere with established history?’
‘You’ll appreciate that I can’t discuss future events.’
‘But you can shape them?’
‘Malady, have you considered that this might be the year my history books show that mankind developed time travel?’
‘It’s too early…’
‘What was that, Doctor?’
‘Mankind isn’t ready. You said it yourself – the Europeans and Americans are on the verge of the Third World War.’
‘Fourth, surely?’
‘Ah… yes, thank you Ms Gordon. Fourth.’
‘Yet here I am, a man from the future. Mankind survives, Doctor I can tell you that much. The next century will see marvels, it will see mankind starting to reach its potential.’
Jaxa was looking puzzled. ‘It’s not the Doctor. He’s involved, but it’s Baskerville that’s instigating this. The Doctor seems reluctant.'
‘He’s holding out for a better deal, Jaxa, that’s all. We know Athens is destroyed in a couple of hours – that’s obviously our doing, to sterilise this area. We should call headquarters and get their authorisation for a low grade temp‐pulse out at sea.’
‘Possibly.’ But she didn’t seemed convinced. ‘They’ve stopped talking.’
‘The Doctor and that Asian girl have gone off somewhere to discuss something in private.’
‘Can you find them?’
Roja shook his head. ‘They’re away from the window.’
* * *
The Doctor ushered Anji into the room, got her to close the door while he swept the room for bugs with the sonic screwdriver.
‘It can do that?’ Anji asked.
‘Evidently. At any rate, it didn’t find any. Now, quick, what did you find out?’
‘I was in Brussels. It was far smoother than the TARDIS. More accurate, too.’
The Doctor looked displeased with the comparison. ‘And it’s a time machine?’
‘I got… well, I got time sick. Really disorientated.’
‘You’ve never had that in the TARDIS,’ the Doctor said, some of his pride restored.
‘No. But it is a time machine. I was there. Baskerville is on the level.’
The Doctor nodded. ‘When I asked how it worked. Dee got a bit snotty. I wonder if she really knows how to operate it. I would have thought Baskerville would want to retain at least some secrets. It doesn’t matter, at least not for the moment. What matters is that Athens is going to be destroyed, and we’ve got a chance to save some lives.’
‘Athens is…?’
‘Shush. What we need is for one of us to get out of this building and warn the authorities that at midday there’s going to be a tidal wave, and that they have to evacuate the city. Meanwhile, I’ll investigate this time machine and –’
‘Hang on.’
‘What?’
‘You get to investigate the time machine and go on a yacht, and I just have to go off and call the police?’
‘We could hardly do it the other way round. I mean, do you think you’re really up to poking around a time machine?’
Anji considered her next response carefully.
‘True. And it’s not as though you could convince the authorities.’
The Doctor looked confused. ‘Why not?’
Anji laughed. ‘Well, I mean… look at you.’
‘I could so.’
‘Bollo– Nonsense. Everywhere we land we get accused of murder or something and the authorities don’t believe a word of what you say.’
‘On Endpoint, I –’
‘The exception that proves the rule.’
‘Anji Kapoor, I could get this city evacuated like –’ he snapped his fingers – ‘that.’
‘Then we’re agreed: you alert the authorities, I investigate Baskerville?’
The Doctor nodded decisively. ‘Agreed.’
Anji smiled.
The Doctor tapped his lip. ‘Now… we just need a way to get me out of the building.’
The door opened, and Baskerville stepped in, with their chauffeur. ‘I’m sorry to press