Doctor Who_ The Power of the Daleks Part 27

'Thank you.' He concentrated on his work as the Dalek glided away.

Kebble had seen Polly's hurt expression. He gave her a self-satisfied smile. 'You know what your trouble is?' he told her. 'You talk too much. Just when you're ahead, you have to go and insult Janley.' Seeing that Polly still didn't follow, he explained: 'Didn't you know? Valmar's soft on Janley.'

Polly stared at Valmar's back, feeling such a fool. How could she have missed the tell-tale signs? If she'd been thinking, she'd never have said anything. It was all too obvious that her big mouth had lost her the only potential ally that any of them had found among the rebels.

Now what was she going to do?

24.

The People Will Do Exactly as They

Are Told Governor Hensell was feeling tired and irritable. He stepped off the moving pavement at the Hub, rubbing his weary eyes. The drive back from the perimeter had been exhausting and he had only parked the vehicle a few minutes before. He was in dire need of a shower and a good night's sleep. If he could could sleep with the knowledge that the miners were not being reasonable in their demands. sleep with the knowledge that the miners were not being reasonable in their demands.

He wasn't looking forward to having to report back to IMC that the mine workers had rejected the new production schedules with barely a thought. That would stick in their craws like a chicken bone. And when he had to admit that there was even talk of unionizing, well, he knew how popular that notion was with the Board. He'd be lucky if they didn't want his immediate resignation.

The one good sign and it showed how tired and desperate for some cheer he was that he thought it so was that until the comet link with Earth was restored he simply couldn't report any of this back. Maybe after a good night's rest he could think of some fresh tack to take in negotiations. Right now, he was wiped completely clean of ideas.

As he walked down the corridor towards his office, he stopped dead in his tracks. One of Lesterson's Daleks was working in the corridor. Instead of a sucker attachment on the one arm it possessed, there was some sort of cable-laying drum. As the Dalek moved ahead, it was leaving a twisted ma.s.s of wires down the side of the corridor.

What the blazes was going on? He hadn't given permission for the Daleks to be out of the laboratory, let alone doing this kind of thing. He stared around and saw one of Bragen's guards marching down the corridor. He was wearing a riot helmet with the visor up and cradling a machine gun in his arms.

'What are all these cables lying about?' Hensell demanded angrily as the guard drew closer.

The man gave him a sharp stare. 'New emergency power supply,' the man said. He sounded bored.

'Oh?' Hensell asked. 'And whose idea was that?'

The guard looked at him insolently. 'What do you want to know for?'

'What do I ?' Hensell couldn't believe what he was hearing. 'Don't you know who I am? I am the Governor!'

That made the man jump. He instantly straightened at attention. 'Sorry, sir.'

Hensell was slightly mollified. 'Where are you from?'

'The interior, sir.'

The maze of the processing works. Hensell hadn't been there in a long time. He hated the noisy machinery and the stench. And since they didn't have video yet, or their own newspaper, it was understandable that the man hadn't recognized Hensell. But it didn't explain one other thing that irked Hensell. 'And just why are you carrying a machine gun?'

'I'm a squad leader in Bragen's Guard, sir,' the man replied smartly.

'I see,' Hensell said tightly. ' Bragen's Bragen's Guard, eh?' It became instantly obvious that Bragen had made maximum use of every opportunity he had managed to pry out of the Deputy Governors.h.i.+p. It was high time the man was taken down a peg or two. 'Right, carry on!' Guard, eh?' It became instantly obvious that Bragen had made maximum use of every opportunity he had managed to pry out of the Deputy Governors.h.i.+p. It was high time the man was taken down a peg or two. 'Right, carry on!'

The guard saluted crisply, then hurried away, clearly glad to be let off so lightly. Hensell marched off towards his office, determined that Bragen would not get off quite so easily.

The Doctor tootled idly on his recorder, waiting. Their jailer came around every hour on the hour to check on the two prisoners; presumably to make certain that they hadn't killed themselves to evade justice, or something. It was about time for him to come along...

There was the sound of footsteps outside. In a flash, the Doctor was on his feet, the recorder slipped into an inside pocket. He picked up the full gla.s.s of water and sipped at it. Quinn lay on his bunk, apparently asleep. The guard glared frostily at the Doctor, then moved closer to the cells to check that Quinn was still alive.

Now! The Doctor spun around, throwing the water full into the face of the startled guard. As he gave a wordless yell, Quinn was on his feet. Reaching through the bars, he whipped his arms about the man's throat and jerked. The guard went limp.

The Doctor pushed open his cell door and hurried around to the guard. He unclipped the sound key from the man's belt and handed it up to Quinn. Quinn let the guard slump to the floor and hit the key-pad. On the tone, his door sprang open. Grabbing the guard by the collar, he pulled the man into the Doctor's cell. He was about to lock the door again when the Doctor shook his head.

'Just a moment!' He popped into the cell and picked up the jug of water and the gla.s.s. 'We don't want him copying our escape, do we?' The Doctor looked back at the guard.

'Though he looks to be tone deaf to me.'

'Will you come on?' Quinn grumbled. He slammed the door shut on their one-time jailer, and then led the Doctor cautiously out into the outer processing area. The other two guards were still missing, presumably still dealing with Lesterson. 'Right. Let's go!'

By the time that he reached his office, Hensell's plans had changed slightly. He had seen several other guards on the trip, all of them armed and ready for trouble. It was just barely possible that there might be some perfectly reasonable explanation for Bragen's outrageous conduct.

Hensell would give him every opportunity to explain what it could possibly be and then fire the man.

At the doorway to his office, Hensell saw a Dalek waiting. It was apparently on standby duty of some sort.

He s.h.i.+vered as the eye-stick followed his movements, but he didn't speak. Nor did the Dalek.

The final insult came as Hensell entered his office.

Bragen was seated at his his desk. There was a pile of papers atop it, that the Deputy Governor was working his way down. He didn't even bother to look up as Hensell crossed the long stretch of floor. desk. There was a pile of papers atop it, that the Deputy Governor was working his way down. He didn't even bother to look up as Hensell crossed the long stretch of floor.

'These trips grow more and more demanding,' Hensell said, more to let Bragen know he'd better acknowledge Hensell's arrival than out of a desire to make conversation.

'I didn't expect you, Governor,' Bragen replied, jotting a note on the sheet he was working on. He still didn't look up. 'That's obvious. I had quite enough with those miners.'

When Bragen didn't reply, Hensell snapped: 'Well? What's been happening here?'

'One moment.' Bragen scrawled his signature across the bottom of the sheet.

Hensell went white with rage. 'I asked you a question, man!'

'And I heard you,' Bragen said, insolently.

'Your work can wait,' Hensell snarled. 'You can show it to me in the morning, after I'm rested. Right now, I've a few questions that I want answered. I want to know what's happening with the Examiner, first of all.'

Bragen finally looked up. He didn't appear to be in the slightest bit worried. 'The Examiner is at present in prison.'

'In prison?' Hensell had a growing sense of unreality.

What had Bragen been up to while he was gone? Was the man insane? 'That's a bit dangerous, isn't it? Who put him there?'

'I did.'

'You did?' Hensell shook his head in bewilderment.

'For heaven's sake, man, why?'

'Because he's an imposter, Governor. Quite possibly a murderer as well. My men found the body of the real Examiner in the mercury swamps.'

Shaking his head in disbelief, Hensell said: 'I hope you're sure of your facts.'

'Quite sure,' Bragen said coolly.

'This could have far-reaching consequences,' Hensell pointed out. He didn't have to remind Bragen, surely, of the political clout and vast authority that an Examiner commanded? If Bragen had arrested the man by mistake, both of them could lose their positions, and never work again. If they weren't sent to prison for interfering with the Examiner's work.

'As far as I am concerned,' Bragen informed him, 'the matter is closed. Now, if there's nothing further, I do have a great deal of work to do.' He gestured at the stack of papers on Hensell's desk.

'Nothing further?' Hensell howled, outraged. 'Who the devil do you think you're talking to? This has gone on long enough. And stand up when I'm talking to you!'

'I prefer to remain seated' Bragen eyed the Governor coldly.

'Do you?' Hensell turned to look back at the door. 'We shall see about that. Guards!'

Two of Bragen's armed men entered the room and saluted smartly. That was more like it. Hensell pointed at Bragen. 'Take this man out of my office.'

Neither man moved a muscle. Bragen gave a faint smile as Hensell's voice rose in pitch and volume. 'Did you hear me? That is an order!' Still the men didn't act.

'My dear Hensell,' Bragen said with a kindly smile, 'you forget. They are not your your guards, they are guards, they are mine mine.'

'I am the Governor!' Hensell snapped.

'No.' Bragen gave a slight shake of his head. 'Not now. I am.' He settled back in his chair and steepled his fingers.

He watched Hensell over the top of them.

The situation seemed finally to have sunk in. 'I see.'

Hensell was calmer, his temper on a tight rein. 'Your guards. Yes, Quinn warned me about your guards, but we all took them much too lightly. Well, we'll soon change that.' He turned to leave the office, but at Bragen's gesture the two guards blocked his way. Hensell lost his tenuous control over his temper and swung back to face Bragen.

'You imbecile!' he snarled. 'How long do you think your handful of guards can last when the people hear that I am being held a prisoner in my own capital?'

'The people will do exactly as they are told, Hensell,'

Bragen answered. He pressed a recessed b.u.t.ton in the desk, then stood up. He carefully straightened his pompous jacket and then looked at Hensell. 'It will, of course, be easier for them if you cooperate fully with us.' He gestured for the Governor ex ex-Governor to take the seat. Behind Hensell, the Dalek that had been waiting outside entered.

'Wait there,' Bragen told the Dalek. To the guards, he said: 'Dismissed.' They saluted briskly and left.

Feeling a little more secure now that the guards were gone, Hensell took the chair and sat down. 'So?' he purred.

'You want my cooperation, do you?'

'It would reduce bloodshed,' Bragen said practically. 'I might even let you keep the t.i.tle of Governor.'

'Might you now?' Hensell asked, cheerily. Then his face darkened. 'I'll tell you what you will will do. You'll order all of your guards to disarm, and then you'll place yourself under arrest immediately!' do. You'll order all of your guards to disarm, and then you'll place yourself under arrest immediately!'

Bragen looked vaguely disappointed. 'You reject my offer?' he asked with a sigh. 'I thought it a generous one, considering the circ.u.mstances.'

'What circ.u.mstances?' It was becoming more and more obvious that Bragen was demented. There was no other possible explanation for his behaviour. The man was completely raving. Hensell tried to imagine how he could get help to overcome Bragen. Quinn was undoubtedly still in jail; and so, apparently, was the Examiner. Bragen's tale about him being a criminal was clearly another of his insane lies. So who did that leave him to call on for help?

His fingers strayed slowly towards the comm unit.

Bragen picked up a bundle from the side table. 'Take a look at this,' he invited. He unwrapped the cloth to reveal a long cylinder with a universal joint at one end.

Hensell had never seen anything quite like it before.

'What is it?' he asked.

'The reason the colony is now mine,' Bragen told him.

Holding it firmly, he crossed to the waiting Dalek. Placing it into the empty socket beside the arm, Bragen pushed hard. There was a snap as metallic connections locked. The stubby arm whirred softly, then began to change its orientation as the Dalek took control of it.

Suddenly worried, Hensell stood up. 'Is it a weapon of some kind? I demand to know what it does!'

'Then I'll arrange a demonstration for you,' Bragen replied. 'Do you still refuse my offer?'

The Governor stood straight and tall. 'I will not be intimidated!'

Bragen sighed. What a theatrical gesture! 'No, of course not. In character to the last, Hensell.' To the Dalek, he said: 'Kill him!'

The Dalek's gun-stick rose, centred and fired. Hensel!

screamed as the deadly rays tore into his body, ravaging every last cell, exploding them from the inside out. Then he collapsed to the floor, his corpse smouldering slightly.

Immediately, Bragen reached down and gripped the Dalek's gun. It was still slightly warm. The Dalek released the connections and Bragen withdrew the weapon from its mount in a fluid movement. Then he placed it back in the cloth.

The Dalek's eye-stick stared at him. 'Why do human beings kill human beings?' it asked.

Philosophy from a tin can? Bragen grunted. 'Get on with your work!'

'Yes, master,' the Dalek acknowledged. 'I obey!'