Doctor Who: Target - Novelisations [106] - Vengeance on Varos by Philip Martin

Author:Philip Martin
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426202912
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1988-07-14T22:00:00+00:00

10

Quillam

‘I can’t believe the Doctor is no more,’ Peri said in a small voice, wiping away her tears.

‘Oh, yes, of course. You grieve for his death…’ The Governor frowned at his oversight. ‘I forget that people do.’

‘You don’t?’

‘I might have done once but now death is my only friend, my constant and loving companion.’ A shrug and a wave of his hand encompassed the cold cheerless office.

‘Can you feel his presence, Peri?’

A shiver passed through the girl seated in the Governor’s chair. ‘I don’t want to, thanks.’

‘Well, you should; seeing that at this very moment your life is even more at risk than mine.’

Peri sensed the questioning was about to begin for the Governor’s blue eyes narrowed and focused upon her; but just as he was about to phrase his first question the door opened and the shaven head of the Chief Officer appeared.

‘Sir…’

‘I said, no interruptions…’

‘That Doctor… he’s escaped.’

The Governor glanced at Peri who stared in disbelief at the Chief Officer.

‘It’s a trick…’ she said eventually, making herself suppress the hope that had surged and warmed her being with its brief presence.

‘Yes, on us. He was only pretending to be dead though all physical checks showed no sign of life.’

‘He’s alive then?’ The small spark of hope glowed again within her.

‘And running. He’s got clear, sir.’

‘Good…’ The Governor nodded decisively.

‘Good, sir?’ The Chief did not understand.

‘Recapture him…’ the Governor explained patiently.

‘Then we can bargain this girl’s life for information from our mysterious Doctor friend.’

‘Ah.’ The Chief smiled. ‘I’ll arrange that straight away.’

A cruel self-satisfied smile played upon the Governor’s mouth, an expression that goaded Peri into furious attack.

‘I thought maybe you were a bit better than those other brutes!’

The Governor smiled at her anger.

‘Sorry.’

Then he shrugged, turned and left the girl who stared ahead before starting to rise, a movement that activated the restraining clamps on the arms of the chair which closed about her wrists with a sudden and painful snap. Fear gave her a manic energy but try as she might Peri could not budge the steel restraining bands until, finally wearied, she sank back into a hopeless stupor and waited dully for the next wave of horror to engulf her.

The Governor, the Chief Officer and Bax conferred worriedly before the bank of screens that showed the many variations of cruelty being practised throughout the Punishment Dome.

‘Where is the Doctor?’ the Chief demanded and scanned the screen furiously.

‘Not in sight of our cameras.’

‘Try again!’ the Chief urged Bax. ‘We must locate him.’

‘I’ve scanned through twice, sir.’

‘Why isn’t he within reach of our cameras? We cover every section of our jurisdiction…’

Bax shifted uncomfortably. ‘I’ve checked a ground plan. He could have followed an old linking passage and gone into the inner prison control centre.’

Inadvertently Governor and Chief Officer glanced at each other, one name entering both of their thoughts at the same instant.

‘Quillam?’ The Chief breathed the name for both of them.

‘He refuses to allow our cameras to enter his domain, sir.’

‘Then that’s where this Doctor must have gone,’ the Governor spoke decisively.

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