Doctor Who: Target - Novelisations [057] - The Space War by Malcolm Hulke

Author:Malcolm Hulke
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426110330
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1975-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

8

Space Walk

‘I don’t like it,’ said the Prison Governor, still scrutinising the Master’s forged credentials. ‘Normally no prisoner leaves here, at least not alive.’

The Master stood respectfully before the Governor’s desk. They were in the Governor’s private office, a large metal-walled room. The only decoration was a three-dimensional colour portrait of the President on the wall behind the Governor’s desk.

‘I have permission from the President herself,’ said the Master. ‘You see her signature there.’

The Governor sighed. ‘Very well.’ He handed back the Master’s papers. ‘But is seems odd to me. I’ll have the prisoner brought here.’ He reached for his videophone.

‘Couldn’t I be taken to him?’ asked the Master. ‘I want to see his face when he realises that at last I’ve found him.’

The Governor paused. ‘Yes, no reason why not.’ He smiled at the idea. ‘What sort of crimes has he committed on your planet?’

‘Fraud, theft, the usual enterprises of the criminal mind.’ The Master made a move to the door. ‘Perhaps someone could show me the way?…’

‘There’s no hurry, is there? I thought you might care for a spot of refreshment before you make your arrest.’ The Governor laughed. ‘I can assure you, the prisoner isn’t going to run away!’

‘It’s most kind of you,’ replied the Master. ‘But after such a long search, you can imagine my eagerness to lay hands on the man.’

‘Just as you like.’ The Governor touched a button on his videophone. A guard’s face appeared on the little monitor screen. ‘Escort needed for special visitor to L block. On the double.’

Professor Dale lay gasping on the floor, his face blue. The doctor leaned against the air-lock door, using his last strength to bang one of the empty oxygen cylinder packs against the heavy metal. Then, involuntarily, the cylinder pack slipped from his hand and fell noisily to the floor. The Doctor looked through the inspection panel, a last hope that someone outside might have heard his tapping. For a moment he had the impression of seeing a swarthy, bearded, smiling face that was all too familiar to him. As unconsciousness seeped into the edges of his mind, he wondered why he had imagined seeing the Master, his deadly rival. It was a strange delusion for his last moments of life. With that thought he slumped to the floor, prepared for death.

The door opened. A rush of air filled the room. The Doctor breathed deeply, believing he was already dead and this was some after-life that he’d never been too sure about. Heavy footsteps were pounding the metal floor all around him, and now hard hands were grabbing his shoulders, raising him.

‘Having a nap?’ asked the Master, bending over the Doctor. ‘What a good thing I happened to drop by. I’d hate you to come to any harm.’

The Doctor was yanked to his feet and marched off towards the Governor’s office to be released into the Master’s custody.

Jo was frightened and bored at the same time. For over an hour she had waited in the Master’s police spaceship, cooped up in a caged corner of the hold.

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