Doctor Who: Target - Novelisations [075] - Meglos by Terrance Dicks

Author:Terrance Dicks
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426201366
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1983-05-14T22:00:00+00:00

7

Prisoner of the Gaztaks

As the Gaztaks closed in, Romana retreated until she could retreat no further, her back pressed against the side of the spaceship.

‘No, please…’ she gasped. ‘Just listen for a moment…’

The Gaztaks raised their weapons in a sort of impromptu firing-squad. Romana closed her eyes, pressing herself against the side of the ship – and suddenly, miraculously it opened behind her, and she fell against another man, bigger, fatter, uglier and more ornately dressed than all the rest. Grugger shoved her away from him. He looked at Brotodac. ‘Who is she?’ Brotodac shrugged. ‘We found her spying on the ship.’

‘She’s not a Tigellan.’ He turned to Romana. ‘Where are you from?’

‘You wouldn’t understand if I told you.’

Grugger grabbed her by the collar with both hands and lifted her till her face was very close to his own. ‘Try me!’ he suggested.

Romana kicked and struggled. ‘Let me go and I’ll tell you.’

Grugger dropped her.

‘Thank you,’ said Romana with dignity. ‘If you must know, my ship landed here by mistake. We crashed.’

Grugger looked thoughtful. A crashed spaceship meant only one thing to him. The chance of loot.

Brotodac knew what his leader was thinking. ‘Let’s just kill her,’ he urged. ‘Meglos won’t like it if we get involved.’

The mention of Meglos clinched matters – in Romana’s favour. ‘I’m running this expedition,’ growled Grugger. ‘Not Meglos.’ He turned to Romana. ‘What kind of ship? Where is it?’

‘I’ll show you,’ said Romana. ‘If I can find it.’

Grugger jabbed her with his blaster. ‘Move!’

Deedrix stared up at the empty plinth, unable to believe the evidence of his own eyes. The Dodecahedron was gone.

Caris was repeating her story. ‘We saw the Doctor leave – and when we came in here, the Dodecahedron was gone!’

‘How long was he in here?’

‘A matter of minutes. Hardly any time at all.’

Deedrix shook his head. ‘It’s inconceivable. There’s no way I know of that anyone could move an object like the Dodecahedron. Not single-handed.’

‘But what was the Dodecahedron?’ asked Caris. ‘We knew its size and shape and colour, and when it was up there we could monitor the energy output. But what did we really know about it?’

Deedrix shrugged. ‘Very little. Over the years we’ve formed theories…’

‘The source of our energy,’ said Caris bitterly. ‘The heart of our civilisation, a device we’ve become totally dependent upon – and all we have is a few vague theories.’

A group of Deon acolytes had entered the Power Room, and were staring in disbelief at the empty plinth. Their god had deserted them.

Deedrix nodded towards them. ‘Yes – and all because of these Deons.’ From the Power Room Annexe they heard the sound of the loudspeaker. ‘Central Control to Deedrix. Central Control to Deedrix. Power drain now reaching critical point.’

‘The whole City will collapse,’ whispered Caris. ‘How often have I warned the Chamber…’

They hurried towards the door. ‘I know, I know,’ agreed Deedrix. ‘“We should all return to the surface.” Come on, I’ll need you in Control.’

For a moment it looked as if the group of angry, silent Deons would bar their way.

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