Menagerie - Martin Day [98]
Zoe ran up to the machine and within moments had lifted the covers from the engine housing.
'Where are the wheels?' asked Jamie.
'There aren't any,' said Zoe. 'It floats over the ground.'
'Oh,' said Jamie. 'I see.' He ran his hands over the windscreen and the faded seats, then opened a door to look at the cockpit controls. 'Do you want me to press anything?'
he asked hopefully, eyeing the switches and dials.
'Not yet,' mumbled Zoe, holding a number of rubber-coated wires in her teeth.
'Well, I'll get in, just in case,' said Jamie, slipping in behind the steering wheel. 'I've always fancied driving one of these things.'
'One of what things?'
'One of these. Whatever it is. Does it work like the jeeps we saw when we battled the Cybermen?'
'This is much more sophisticated,' said Zoe proudly, replacing the engine coverings. 'Quite long-lasting, too.' She jumped into the seat next to Jamie's. 'Not bad for a soft-top family model.'
'Aye,' said Jamie knowingly. 'Not bad.'
'I've had to by-pass all non-essential circuitry — lights, electric windows, that sort of thing.'
'Right.'
'And there's about ten minutes' power left in the emergency cells.'
'Ten minutes. That's good. Now, which button do I press?'
'That one.'
The vehicle began to lift off from the ground, Jamie grinning brightly the whole time.
'Now,' said Zoe. 'Press that to disengage the parking lock, and this to go forwards.'
'You sure?'
'I think so,' said Zoe. 'I've never actually seen this model before.'
The hover vehicle shunted backwards slightly, bumping into something. Zoe turned to look behind. 'I don't remember there being a wall —'
A Mecrim stood behind them, its claws already deep into the plastileather back seats.
Zoe screamed and Jamie thumped the controls until the craft shot forwards. The rear end scraped along the rushing ground as the Mecrim struggled to climb in.
'Faster,' said Zoe. 'Faster!'
'I'm trying,' said Jamie.
The hover vehicle shot over the park like a dart through the air. Jamie was thankful that he hadn't yet been called upon to steer or stop. He pressed another switch, hoping to increase speed still further, and succeeded only in causing the left side to tilt towards the ground.
'Turn that off!' snapped Zoe.
The Mecrim's long arms were reaching out towards them, scrabbling at the back of their seats. Jamie felt a claw rake down his back and bit his tongue against the sudden stinging pain, edging forwards in his seat. 'There's a gun in my belt,' he said, swerving the flier around a tree.
Zoe grabbed at the revolver and turned in her seat, her hands shaking with unfamiliarity and fear. She pointed the business end in the rough direction of the creature and pulled the trigger.
There was a loud crack. She estimated that she'd missed the Mecrim by several metres.
She tried again, gritting her teeth and narrowing her eyes.
This time she had the satisfaction of seeing the bullet thud into the beast's chest, but it seemed to make no difference.
'Hang on,' said Jamie. 'Let's try something else.' He began to rotate the wheel from side to side. A couple of times the pitching vehicle hit the dried mud beneath them, gouging furrows in the earth and threatening to topple over.
Still the creature clung on, its long legs seeking to push it further into the machine.
Jamie scanned the controls in front of him, trying to make sense of the pictograms and symbols. 'This looks interesting,' he said, pushing another switch.
There was a whining sound from the rear of the vehicle, metal arms and clear plastic rising into position. As the roof tried to swing upwards it pushed at the Mecrim, which started to lock its primitive arms around the frame.
Jamie pulled down hard on the steering wheel and the roof mechanism shrieked. There was a thump and the Mecrim was gone, tumbling along the ground.
Zoe turned back and slumped in the seat, breathing heavily. They were approaching the Dugraqs and the main battle site.
'I didn't