[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
human figure moved in one of the tiled passages leading out
of the concourse. ‘Who’s there?’ called Travers. The shadow
drew back, and the footsteps moved away.
‘Do you think it was the Intelligence?’ whispered
Victoria.
Travers shrugged. ‘I doubt if the Intelligence has a
human form. Maybe it was one of its human servants—like me
a while ago.’ Travers spoke bitterly, aware how easily he could
be brought under control again. ‘If only there was something
we could do!’
‘The Doctor will turn up to help us,’ Victoria said
confidently. ‘He always does.’
‘Not this time, my dear. With you as a hostage, he’ll
have no alternative but to surrender.’
Over the loudspeaker system, the voice of the
Intelligence boomed, ‘You are right, Professor, the Doctor
must surrender. He will be here soon. He is our guest of
honour. Meanwhile do not attempt to interfere or my Yeti will
destroy you...’
The speaker licked off. Travers groaned. ‘And to think
that what’s happened is all my fault...’ He buried his face in
his hands.
Down below, the Doctor and his group waited on a
platform. It was almost as if they were about to make their
entrance in some formal ceremony. Jamie looked at the Yeti
guarding them. ‘It’s a pity you didna’ have any success with
your gadget, Doctor.’
‘Oh, but we did,’ whispered the Doctor. ‘I’m waiting for
the moment to use it.’ Swiftly he told Jamie what had
happened in the tunnels before they met, and of the Yeti
under their control. ‘Trouble is I’ve lost track of him.’ he
concluded sadly.
‘Och, that’s a great help.’
‘I want you to find him, Jamie. Take this and keep
calling our Yeti. He’s bound to come eventually.’ The Doctor
slipped the radio-microphone round Jamie’s neck, hiding it
under his wide-collared shirt.
‘How will I know if I’ve got the right one?’
The Doctor grinned. ‘You’ll soon find out if you haven’t.
Now then, Jamie, we’ve got to hide you. I hope you don’t
suffer from claustrophobia?’
Harold Chorley and Sergeant Arnold ran into each
other in a nearby tunnel, to their mutual surprise. Chorley
immediately burst into a flood of explanations, telling how he
had wandered lost in the tunnels, dodging the Yeti and
driven ever back by the advancing Web.
Arnold looked on impassively as Chorley faltered to a
stop. ‘We’d all forgotten you, Mr Chorley. Wonderful how
you managed to survive all that time, isn’t it?’
Chorley backed away. ‘What are you implying?’
‘Just wondering, that’s all, sir. And now I think you’d
better come with me, don’t you?’ Arnold gripped Chorley’s
arm with one of his strong hands, and led him away.
On the platform, the Doctor, Lethbridge-Stewart and
Anne Travers were still waiting. Jamie was nowhere in sight.
Doctor, why not use the control device on these Yeti?’
whispered Anne. ‘We could get away...’ The Doctor shook his
head. ‘And leave Victoria, and your father? Besides I’m
looking forward to meeting the Intelligence.’
The Colonel looked keenly at him. ‘You’re going to
surrender, Doctor? Arnold’s still free—and now there’s Jamie.
Maybe they’ll be able to do something.’
Before the Doctor could reply, two Yeti appeared,
carrying Evans between them. They dumped him beside the
other captives and moved away. Lethbridge-Stewart glared at
him. ‘Sergeant Arnold told me you deserted, Private Evans.
Didn’t do you much good, did it?’
Evans was shocked. ‘Me desert, sir? Sergeant Arnold
mast have misunderstood. I decided to make a heroic attempt
to go for help, single-handed you see.’ He looked round
nervously. ‘Er—is Sergeant Arnold here?’
‘No... luckily for you.’
Evans looked very relieved.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]