Doctor Who_ The Web Of Fear Part 10

Got a handling s.h.i.+eld, Anne?'

Anne Travers looked in a locker and fished out a transparent box. Set into one side were a pair of heavy protective gloves on the end of little 'sleeves'. The Doctor put the tin in the box and closed it, then slipped his hands into the gloves.

Jamie looked on in astonishment. 'You're making a right old fuss, Doctor.'

'We're dealing with an unknown quant.i.ty, Jamie. Can't be too careful. Now stand back everybody.'

Fumbling a little in the heavy gloves, the Doctor opened the tobacco tin. As the lid came off, the others saw an expression of astonishment appear on his face. They crowded round to look. The tin was empty.

10.

Danger Above Ground At the head of the stairs, leading to the upper exits, Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart was concluding his briefing.

'We'll open Goodge Street Station, and go out that way. Once on the surface, my party will approach Covent Garden from Neal Street. Sergeant Arnold, with Private Evans and Corporal Lane, will take the trolley through the tunnels and arrive at the same time as ourselves. One party should get through, hopefully both. We'll be looking for a blue Police Box. As soon as it's found, I want it either on the trolley or out of the station by the surface route, as quickly as possible.

Captain Knight will stay here to look after the civilians.

Everyone got grenades? Time to go!' The Colonel led his squad out of the surface door.

Meanwhile, in the tunnel outside the lower main door, Lane and Evans began shoving the trolley along. Evans was already groaning in protest. 'Shouldn't be doing this really, Sergeant. Driver, that's my job.'

'Don't you come the old soldier with me, lad,' roared Arnold. 'And don't try skiving off either. 'Cause if you do-I'll get you-understand? Now shove!'

Slowly the trolley trundled away down the tunnel.

Captain Knight looked at the Doctor in astonishment.

'Evans? You can't really suspect that he's working with the Intelligence. The man's such an idiot!'

'That would make it all the easier for him to be taken over,' the Doctor pointed out. 'First he brings me that Yeti model-now my Web sample disappears in his charge. I certainly think we ought to question him.'

'I'm afraid we can't. He's gone off with the others-to get your TARDIS back for you.'

'What did you say?' The Doctor listened appalled as Knight told him of Lethbridge-Stewart's departure. 'I warned him it was hopeless,' he burst out angrily. 'The TARDIS will be too well guarded.'

'He realised the danger, I'm sure,' Knight said quietly.

'But I think he felt he had to do something. It isn't easy you know-just waiting for you chaps to come up with the answer!'

The Doctor nodded, realising the dilemma of men trained for action who found themselves completely unable to act. 'This makes my next request all the more urgent, Captain Knight. Our only hope of defeating the Intelligence now lies in my completing Professor Travers's work. The Yeti wrecked his laboratory, and I need a fresh supply of electronic spare parts.' 'According to the Colonel you've got all you need in this TARDIS thing. So if he brings it back for you...'

'He won't,' said the Doctor decisively. 'The best we can hope for is that he manages to get back alive. I most have those parts immediately, and I shall have to go to the surface to get them. Luckily this area is packed with electronic shops.

It'll take me only a few minutes to find what I need.'

Knight considered. 'Very well, Doctor, but on one condition-I come with you!'

Sergeant Arnold, Private Evans and Corporal Lane brought their trolley to a creaking halt. Blocking the way was a solid wall of the Web, glowing with a faint, sinister light.

Arnold was checking the fastening of a long coil of rope attached to the rear of the trolley. He looked up, satisfied, and took two respirator packs from inside the trolley. 'Right, here's the plan. Two of us put these on and go through the Web with the trolley to Covent Garden. Third man stays here on the rope. He pulls the trolley back once we get this box loaded, or us us back if we get into trouble.' He looked at the two soldiers. 'Now, I want one volunteer to go through the Web with me and the trolley. We should be all right in the respirators.' No one moved. 'All right, I'll go alone.' back if we get into trouble.' He looked at the two soldiers. 'Now, I want one volunteer to go through the Web with me and the trolley. We should be all right in the respirators.' No one moved. 'All right, I'll go alone.'

'That's an uphill gradient, Sarge,' said Lane. 'It'll take two of us to s.h.i.+ft the trolley.' He reached out and took the other mask.

Evans looked at them in frank amazement. 'Potty, you are, both of you.'

'That's enough out of you,' said Arnold. 'Now, all you've got to do is feed us the rope as we go in, pull us back if there's any sign of trouble. Think you can manage that?'

Evans nodded. The two others put on their respirators and started moving the trolley into the Web. It parted like solid smoke, and soon they disappeared from sight. Evans paid out the rope as ordered, peering anxiously into the Web.

Suddenly its glow began to increase in intensity and an earsplitting electronic wail filled the tunnels. Evans dropped the rope, clutching his ears in agony. From inside the Web came the sound of a m.u.f.fled human scream... then silence.

Somewhere Evans found unexpected resources of courage. He stayed at his post, hauling desperately on the rope. The trolley slid smoothly back along the down gradient.

As it emerged from the Web, Evans saw Corporal Lane spreadeagled across it. The gas-mask had been wrenched from his face, which was covered with the thick, fluffy substance of the Web. He was quite dead. Of Sergeant Arnold, there was no trace. Evans's nerve finally broke. Dropping the rope, he tore frantically down the tunnel.

Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart and his men were fighting for their lives. As soon as they'd reached the surface, Yeti had appeared to ambush them, tracking them through the misty streets, antic.i.p.ating their every move. Now the soldiers had taken refuge in a warehouse yard, and still the Yeti were closing in from all sides. Many of them carried Web-guns. The Colonel threw a grenade, and saw a Yeti stagger back from the blast. He reached for another but the bag was empty. At his side, Corporal Blake yelled, 'I'm out too, sir, so are most of the lads.'

Lethbridge-Stewart realised that with the grenades gone their position was hopeless. No other weapons seemed even to delay the Yeti, let alone stop them. He stood up, cupping his hands, 'All right, men, scatter and run for it. Don't bunch up, take different directions. Now, go!'

The Colonel himself sprinted for the warehouse wall, running, dodging men all around. Some were smashed to the ground by Yeti, or smothered by the Web-guns, but others seemed to be getting through. The Colonel became aware of Blake close to him. 'Run clear, man,' he yelled. Two men together made an obvious target. But the warning was too late. Blake crumpled, choked by the stifling blast of a Web-gun. Dodging a slas.h.i.+ng blow from a Yeti, Lethbridge-Stewart jumped for the top of the wall and swung himself over. He dropped to his feet in the street outside and began sprinting for the Goodge Street tube entrance. He was determined to get back to the Fortress, to see things through to the end.

The Doctor was busily engaged in looting a Goodge Street electronics shop. At the back of his mind he hoped that the Government would remember to pay compensation. The owner of the shop had been no believer in system, and all his spares were jumbled on the shelves, mostly in unlabelled boxes. Captain Knight stood on guard in the doorway. In the distance could be heard the dull thump of grenades. He looked out into the mist, wondering what was happening to the Colonel and his men. Over his shoulder he called, 'Haven't you done yet, Doctor?'

The Doctor scrabbled in a carton. 'Nearly. Just need one more component... I'll try in the back.'

The Doctor disappeared into the back storeroom.

Knight waited. He kept thinking he could hear the faint electronic sound of a Yeti signal. It seemed to be very close...

Suddenly two enormous s.h.a.ggy figures loomed out of the mist, eyes glowing red, fangs bared in a savage roar. The Yeti had found them.

The Doctor heard the roars just as he found his vital missing component. Stuffing it in the box with the others, he ran into the shop. Two Yeti waited there. The body of Knight lay sprawled in the shop doorway.

For what seemed a very long time, the Doctor and the two Yeti stood facing each other. Then the Yeti wheeled and moved away, out of the shop and into the mist.

The Doctor hurried across to Knight. He was dead, killed by a single slas.h.i.+ng blow. Sadly the Doctor straightened up. Then he paused. Somehow he still seemed to hear a faint Yeti signal. It was coming from Knight. The Doctor searched the pockets of the dead man. Soon he felt a familiar shape.

From out of Knight's pocket he took a model Yeti. Jumping to his feet the Doctor hurried from the shop.

He had reached the entrance of Goodge Street Station when he heard footsteps coming through the mist. A voice called, 'Doctor!' He turned to see Lethbridge-Stewart running towards him.

Private Evans was feeling distinctly aggrieved. Returning to the Fortress in the role of surviving hero, he was being sharply questioned by the Colonel, the Doctor and almost everyone else. 'Look,' he protested, 'it's no use trying to pin anything on me.' He glanced furtively round the crowded laboratory. The Colonel, the Doctor, Jamie, Victoria and Anne Travers looked suspiciously back. 'I didn't pinch your rotten Web sample. And I didn't plant no Yeti model on the Captain, neither.'

'You know,' said the Doctor, 'I'm inclined to believe you.' He held up a Yeti model. 'Here's the one you gave me. I put that out of action straight away. Here's the one I found on poor Captain Knight!' He put it in a vice, applying a vicious squeeze to the lever and crus.h.i.+ng the Yeti's base. 'Now that one's harmless. But there were three Yeti models un-accounted for-and the third is still missing.'

Lethbridge-Stewart shook his head. 'It's like a nightmare. An enemy we can't see or touch, who knows our every move. Out there in the street, the Yeti were waiting for us every time. Wherever we went, whatever we did, it was still no good...' He stopped, aware that the Doctor was staring at him in horror. 'What is it, Doctor?'

'Don't you realise what you're saying?' the Doctor said sharply. 'Colonel-turn out your pockets. Quickly now!'

Dumbly, Lethbridge-Stewart obeyed. He produced keys, money, notebook, wallet-and the tiny model of a Yeti. It started bleeping faintly. 'That's why they tracked you so easily,' said the Doctor grimly.

He was reaching for the Yeti model to make it safe when the door smashed open. The vast, s.h.a.ggy bulk of a Yeti filled the entrance.

With curious formality the Yeti entered the room and took a position to one side of the door. A second Yeti entered and stood on the other side. Then Professor Travers came in.

He stood like a barbaric monarch, flanked by guards.

'Father!' cried Anne joyfully. She started to move forward, but the Doctor stopped her. Anne saw that her father's face was blank, mask-like, all traces of humanity wiped away. With a shock of horror, she realised what had happened. He had been taken over by the Great Intelligence!

11.

'I want your mind'

'Father,' said Anne again. She took a step towards him.

The two Yeti moved menacingly towards her, blocking the way. The Doctor put a hand on her arm. 'No, Anne, don't go near him.'

'It was you you,' said Jamie accusingly. 'You were the one working with 1hem.'

The Colonel cleared his throat. 'Now see here, Travers, I don't understand what's happening but-'

'Silence!' The word came horn Travers's mouth, but not in Travers's voice. The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria had all heard those icy tones before. It was the voice of the Intelligence.

The cold, inhuman voice went on. 'Listen to me. I am the Intelligence. I speak through this man's mouth because it is time for you to understand my purpose.'

The Doctor stepped forward, unafraid. 'What do you want here?'

'You defeated me in Tibet, Doctor. Now you have fallen into my trap.'

'So that's why you brought me here. For revenge.'

'Revenge a petty, human emotion. My purpose is a greater one.'

'And what is that?'

'I observed your mind during our previous encounter, Doctor. It surpa.s.ses that of common humans.'

The Doctor didn't seem particularly pleased by the compliment. 'Get to the point, please,' he said irritably. 'What do you want want?'

'I want you you, Doctor-or rather your mind. Its contents will be invaluable to me in my conquest of Earth.'

'And how do you propose to get it?'

'I have prepared a machine. It will drain all knowledge and past experience from your mind. Your brain will become as empty as that of a newborn child.'

'I can resist you, you know,' the Doctor challenged. 'You can't just take me over, like poor Travers. My will is as strong as yours.'

'You must submit to me willingly. Otherwise the machine will not function.'

'And suppose I refuse?'

'Then I shall settle for quant.i.ty, rather than quality,' the cold voice mocked. 'I shall drain the minds of all the humans here, and those of many others, until I have the knowledge I need-to complete my conquest. Weaker minds will not survive the shock as yours will. The humans will die.'