The Story of Martha by Dan Abnett

Author:Dan Abnett [Abnett, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Science Fiction, Doctor Who (Fictitious Character)
ISBN: 9781846075612
Google: 5rzFNwAACAAJ
Amazon: 1846075610
Publisher: BBC BOOKS
Published: 2008-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

Calvin raised his hands in puzzlement and said, ‘May I

say then, I am baffled. With respect, Miss Jones, if you’re

not a clear and present threat to the Master, why is the

UCF so anxious to stop you?’

‘I am a threat,’ Martha insisted. ‘I’ve got a year to get

this right. One year. And if I do, I will end the Master’s

reign. But I’m not an assassin, and I’m not hunting for

some mythical anti-regeneration super-weapon.’

She paused.

‘But I suppose,’ she added, ‘it couldn’t hurt if that’s

what he thought I was doing.’

‘Why?’ asked Calvin.

‘Because that would fit with his notions of what the

human race is,’ said Martha. ‘He treats us with violence

and oppression because he expects us to resist with

violence. The Master has a low opinion of our species,

Brigadier.’

‘That much, Miss Jones, is obvious,’ remarked Calvin

bitterly.

‘So, if that’s what he thinks I’m doing, fine. Let him

think that. I won’t contradict him, and it would help me if

the Underground kept that rumour in circulation. Anything

to distract him from my real purpose.’

‘Oh, absolutely,’ Calvin agreed. He hesitated. ‘And

what exactly is that, Miss Jones?’ he asked.

They talked until nightfall. As the shadows lengthened in

the weed-choked amphitheatre, they walked outside to

watch the sun set.

‘Will it work?’ asked Calvin. ‘I mean, will that really

work?’

‘It has to work,’ Martha said. ‘If I didn’t believe it

would, I’d have given up in despair weeks ago. The

Archangel communication system is the centrepiece of the

Master’s control of Earth. It’s how he conquered us, how

he really conquered us, long before the Toclafane came.

It’s how he made us trust him: rhythmic code, almost

hypnotic, and too subtle to hear.’

‘I always did wonder how we ever came to elect that

blasted Saxon fellow,’ muttered the Brigadier,

unconsciously rapping his knuckles, Tap-tap-tap-tap!

‘The Doctor’s plan is to use it against him, but that

requires vast preparation.’

‘Don’t you worry, Miss Jones,’ said Calvin. ‘The

Underground will start recruiting as many Martha Joneses

as we can find. We’ll get people on the ground, and use

the whisper channels too. We’ll help spread the word, and

get the world ready for the moment of truth.’

‘And tell the stories,’ Martha said. ‘Let me brief some

of your people about the sort of stories to circulate. In

fact, why don’t you share some of your father’s tales

about the Doctor from the Seventies too?’

The Brigadier nodded.

‘We’ll tell the stories, all right. And what about you,

Miss Jones?’

‘Me? I keep walking,’ said Martha.

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