Menagerie - Martin Day [95]
Jamie glanced over his shoulder as the Doctor moved back to where Zoe and the twins stood, arms around each other's shoulders, faces wet with tears.
Gritting his teeth, Jamie stared back at the Mecrim that stood in front of piles of corpses. He fired the gun again.
And again. And again.
The building was ablaze with light and rumbled with what sounded like thunder. 'A glorious sound!' exclaimed Zaitabor. 'The sound of destruction, the warning-note that will be heard by all who have meddled with science.'
'Stop!'
Cosmae turned towards the voice but was pulled harshly across the room to Zaitabor's side. A knife appeared at his throat. He was just able to turn his head to see the homunculus walking into the room. Araboam's mouth dropped open with surprise.
'Stop,' repeated the homunculus. 'Return all controls to their initial settings. If you bring all systems on-line then there will be a massive explosion.'
Zaitabor laughed. 'There will? Good. I thought as much.'
'I have been ordered to stop you.'
'Really? That pesky Doctor fellow still trails my shadow.
And what will you do?'
'I shall use the minimum force necessary. But if you do not stop I shall use force.'
'Make me,' said Zaitabor, turning his back to the tall grey figure. The knight casually operated some controls.
Cosmae watched the homunculus walk across the room.
'Come any closer,' said Zaitabor, holding the knife to Cosmae's throat again, 'and I shall kill the boy.'
The homunculus stopped, confusion audible in its voice.
'The Doctor has ordered me not to endanger life.'
'Good,' said Zaitabor. 'Now that I have your cooperation, tell the Doctor that none of us will survive the retribution of the Higher!'
Cosmae stared at Araboam, hoping for some hint of rebellion, but his eyes were glazed.
'I shall contact the Doctor,' said the homunculus.
'I'm sorry you had to see more death and destruction,' said the Doctor.
'It's real, it happens,' said Zoe simply.
'Will it soon be over?' asked Raitak.
'I think not,' said the Doctor. 'We still have a most unusual madman on the loose.'
As if on cue there was a shrill noise from the Doctor's pocket. Defrabax sighed sadly but said nothing.
The Doctor rooted through his clothing for the communications device and switched it on. The picture cleared to show the android in the power station control room. The Doctor stared down at the little screen in the communications unit, watching Zaitabor who stood just behind the android.
'Doctor, I have failed,' reported the android. 'I have been unable to prevent the —'
'Move away, machine!' shouted Zaitabor, walking forwards, dragging Cosmae behind him and still holding a dagger to his neck. 'Greetings, Doctor.'
'Hello, Zaitabor. At least, I assume that's you and not some clockwork toy.'
'No tricks now, Doctor. It is I, Zaitabor, humble instrument of the Higher.' The little figure on the comms unit stared defiantly upwards.
'Murderer of a civilization would be a more appropriate epitaph,' snapped the Doctor.
'I would not expect one so steeped in evil to understand the mysterious ways of the Higher.'
'I suppose nothingness is rather mysterious, in an empty sort of way,' said the Doctor. 'That's what you'll usher in if you operate all the power station's systems.'
'Indeed, Doctor. I find the prospect thrilling!'
'I wonder why,' said the Doctor. 'In fact, I have many questions to ask you. For example, why do you know so much about science? Few people could switch a nuclear power station back on, even if they were following Defrabax's instructions. And how did you create the clockwork version of yourself?'
'To defeat an enemy you must know your enemy.'
'Then perhaps you can answer this simple question. Who are you?'
'I am Zaitabor, acting Grand Knight, faithful follower of the ways of Kuabris and Rexulon.'
'Really? Then who are your parents?'
Zaitabor looked puzzled. 'I . . . I don't remember my parents.'
'Why?'
'I don't . . . I'm not sure.'
'For a man claiming to be tapped into a divine power, you don't know a great deal,' said the Doctor.