Doctor Who: The Planet of Evil by Terrance Dicks

Author:Terrance Dicks
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction:Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426116820
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1983-05-15T10:00:00+00:00

‘You’ve sent those men to their deaths,’ he said angrily.

He turned from the window and leaned over the control console. ‘Use the force-field barrier.’

Morelli shrugged helplessly. ‘We’ve tried—there isn’t enough power.’

‘Then link it through to your atomic accelerator. That’ll give you the extra power you need.’

‘We can’t do that—it’s too dangerous.’

There came another shattering roar from outside, and a scream as yet another guard was engulfed. ‘Things will get a lot more dangerous if you don’t do it,’ warned the Doctor. ‘Now, link the force-field to the atomic accelerator.

It’s your only chance!’

Morelli instinctively looked at Salamar, who was biting his lip indecisively.

Vishinsky shouted, ‘You’ve got to do it, Salamar. It’s our only chance.’

Panic in his voice, Salamar screamed, ‘All right, then.

Do it!’

Morelli worked frantically at the console for a few moments and then glanced up. ‘Link to accelerator complete.’

‘Operate force-field,’ ordered Vishinsky. They all ran to the viewing ports.

The Monster had almost reached the ship by now and the few surviving guards were retreating up the ramp. The Monster surged forward—and suddenly hit the invisible barrier of the force-field. There was a fierce crackling of energy and a shower of sparks, a sudden roar of agony from the Monster. It fell back and prowled angrily around the ship for a moment. Then it launched another attack, only to be repelled in the same way. Roaring angrily it started to retreat, finally disappearing into the jungle.

Vishinsky raised his hand in salute. ‘Thank you, Doctor. You appear to have saved all our lives.’

If Salamar felt any gratitude, he soon got over it. ‘All right Doctor. Tell us what you know about that—thing out there.’

Ignoring him, the Doctor looked at Sorenson.

‘Professor, you’re a scientist. Surely you appreciate the dangers of transferring this type of highly-energised material from one dimension to another?’

Sorenson blinked at him. ‘But to effect such a transfer was the entire purpose of my expedition.’

‘You’re tampering with incredibly dangerous forces.’

‘The energy-creature’s gone now.’

‘For the moment. But while those mineral samples are on board I assure you it will always come back.’

Vishinsky cut in. ‘Are you saying we can’t take off?’

The Doctor groaned. Wouldn’t they ever get it into their heads? ‘Not until you abandon those mineral samples.’

The idea of losing his samples threw Sorenson into a panic. ‘But we can’t do that! We need those samples. The fate of the entire Morestran civilisation depends on them.’

‘Why?’

‘Our sun is dying, Doctor. By taking material from this planet we can re-fuel it, and save our civilisation.’

‘I understand your problem, Professor, and I sympathise. But believe me, interfering with Zeta Minor isn’t the answer. You’ll only bring about a far worse cataclysm, involving many more civilisations than your own. You must find an alternative energy-source.’

Salamar was back in his command chair. ’Let me get this clear, Doctor. You say that if we jettison the canisters we shall be able to take off?’

‘I think so. Provided you make it quite clear that your intention is to depart as you came—empty handed!’

Vishinsky said cynically, ’And just how do we cornmunicate this intention? Is someone going to go and talk to that thing out there.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.