Doctor Who_ War Games - Malcolm Hulke [28]
The scientist looked up from his processing machine.
‘What are you doing here? There’s a security alarm out for you.’ His hand moved towards an emergency button.
‘Not me,’ said the Doctor. ‘They were after that girl. I tried to catch her but the guards got her first. Has she been killed yet?’ He tried to sound casual.
The scientist shook his head. ‘She’s with Security being questioned.’
‘I see,’ said the Doctor, pretending not to be very interested. ‘And what about this fellow? I would think it a great privilege if I can stand and watch what you’re doing.
In fact, what exactly are you doing?’
‘What you suggested. I shall completely de-process him first before the re-processing.’ The scientist, busy making adjustments to the machine’s circuits, glanced at Carstairs.
‘You might help by fixing those clamps to his wrists and ankles.’
‘Indeed I shall. Once completely back to normal, he’s likely to be dangerous, isn’t he?’ The Doctor gave a good impression of binding Carstairs to the chair. ‘There, that should hold him in.’
The scientist switched on the machine. As it hummed pleasantly Carstairs relaxed from his rigid, upright way of sitting. After only a few moments the scientist switched off. ‘He should now be completely de-processed.’
Carstairs shook his head, confused. ‘Where... where am I?’ He looked up. ‘Doctor! ‘
‘He’s not your doctor,’ the scientist said, scornfully. ‘I wonder if this de-processing has really worked.’ The scientist turned to inspect the machine.
‘I think it has,’ said the Doctor. ‘Lieutenant Carstairs is now free in mind and body.’
Carstairs was out of the chair before the scientist realised what had happened. He grabbed the scientist’s arms. ‘What do we do with him, Doctor?’
‘Into the chair, quick.’
Carstairs pushed the scientist into the chair and held him while the Doctor attached the clamps to his wrists and ankles. ‘And now, sir, you are going to tell me where my young friend is being questioned.’
‘I shall tell you nothing!’
The Doctor brought the cowl down over the scientist’s head. ‘You are in your normal mental state. What if I turned on this machine now that it is set to de-processing?’
The scientist cowered back in the chair. ‘I... I shall become an idiot. But you wouldn’t! You couldn’t!’
‘I don’t wish to destroy an intelligence,’ said the Doctor,
‘even yours. But my friend’s safety comes first. You have two seconds to save your own mind.’ His fingers touched the ‘on’ control.
‘Turn left,’ said the scientist. ‘Second corridor on the left. You’ll find a black door.’
The Doctor reached into his pockets and brought out bandages with which he gagged the scientist. He put out the lights in the room so that anyone looking through the window in the door would not see what had happened..
Then he opened the door and stepped into the corridor, followed by Carstairs.
‘Let us stroll gently,’ the Doctor suggested. ‘We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves.’
During their gentle stroll the Doctor explained everything he knew to Carstairs. Carstairs’s memory was still vague as to how and when he was abducted from his own world and brought to this one, but he could remember everything from the time he met the Doctor.
‘A black door,’ said the Doctor, pointing. ‘Our friend told the truth.’
‘How shall we rescue Zoe?’ Carstairs asked.
‘I have no idea,’ the Doctor answered honestly. ‘But let’s start by opening this door.’
He yanked open the black door and stepped inside. A guard whirled around, levelling a stun-gun. Zoe was slumped in a chair.
‘Get out of here,’ the guard shouted.
The Doctor ignored him. He walked straight across the room to Zoe. ‘My dear, what