Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen (9 page)

Gavrok turned and started walking back towards his ship. Mel’s face showed her relief. But it wasn’t to last long.

In the distance she could already hear the approaching throb of the Vincent. She scrambled to her feet in time to see the Vincent and Ray’s scooter rush over the rim of the valley, racing towards them. Gavrok turned, his gun ready.

Delta, in the sidecar, suddenly recognized the dark figures standing near the camp gates. ‘Bannermen!’ she yelled. Billy swung the bike into a tight turn, nearly flipping them over. Ray also spun her scooter around, the Doctor clinging on for dear life.

‘Don’t let them get away!’ Gavrok screamed. The Bannermen all opened fire at once. Shells exploded all around the two bikes as they raced for the safety of the valley.

Within seconds the pasture resembled a battlefield as smoke poured from burning craters. Whole trees were uprooted and had their trunks split from top to bottom by powerful energy rays. All signs of wildlife had disappeared except for flocks of terrified birds which covered the sky in a dark mass.

When they were out of sight Gavrok turned to Mel, his blaster glowing with heat. ‘You lied!’ he screamed at her, as he raised the blaster and took careful aim at her head.

‘STOP!’ someone said. Gavrok turned to see who had the effrontery to tell him what to do. Burton was furiously marching from the camp gates.

‘It would be extremely foolish to kill her – keep her as a hostage,’ he said to Gavrok.

Gavrok though for a moment and then nodded. He turned to his number two, saying, ‘Kill any other survivors and tie these two up. They will not be used as hostages, but as bait!’

Mel had never been so pleased to see anyone in all her life. She felt like kissing Burton. ‘Thanks; for one awful moment I thought I’d had it.’

‘Really, don’t mention it. I’ve had dealings with scoundrels like this before. It’s all a matter of psychology,’

said Burton putting a finger to the side of his head.

‘Whatever it was I’m very grateful.’ Mel took several deep breaths and felt the blood circulate freely in her veins once more. What a holiday this was turning out to be.

The two bikes slewed into a lay-by. ‘Do you think Murray and the others got away, Doctor?’ said Delta.

‘I’m afraid not,’ he replied, ‘That patch of scorched earth is all that remains of them.’

No one spoke. They were very upset to think of those hapless Navarinos, now reduced to free-floating ions.

‘Mel’s still there, Doctor,’ said Ray. ‘I saw her.’

The Doctor snapped out of his reverie. ‘My immediate objectives are to free Mel and get Delta somewhere safe,’ he said.

‘I go along with that Doctor,’ said Billy, who was ready to do battle.

Delta suddenly stood up, gently stroking the silver pits under her ears. ‘Do you hear something?’ asked Billy.

‘Those pits are actually high frequency antennae,’

explained the Doctor. ‘What do you detect, Delta?’

She screwed up her face in concentration. ‘It’s not clear but it’s coming from over there,’ she said, pointing to the east.

‘There’s nothing there except old Goronwy’s place...’

said Billy.

‘Does he keep bees?’ asked the Doctor.

Billy looked startled, ‘Yeah, that’s right. How did you know?’

‘His bees are telling us to come,’ said Delta.

‘Oh,’ said Billy not quite convinced.

‘Billy, which is the quickest route to this Goronwy fellow’s place?’ asked the Doctor.

‘Straight over the moors. I know a short cut.’

‘Good! We’ll follow you then,’ urged the Doctor. The Convoy started off across the difficult terrain towards Goronwy’s cottage.

Goronwy had a veil over his face and was unsuccessfully trying to eat a piece of honeycomb through it when the Vincent and the scooter arrived.

‘Hi Goronwy, we were wondering...’ said Billy.

‘Of course. I am Goronwy’ he said, holding out his hand to the others. ‘You know, I feel very popular at the moment. You’re the second lot of visitors I’ve had today,’

he added. The others looked at one another suspiciously.

‘Two Americans. At least I think they were Americans.

Not very friendly though! But then I suppose they were in a bit of a rush,’ he continued.

‘I thought for one dreadful minute...’ Ray was cut short by the Doctor.

‘If the Bannermen had been here first I doubt if this gentleman would have remained in such good spirits.’

Delta’s baby became agitated and started trying to grab the honeycomb from Goronwy. ‘She likes a bit of honey does she?’ he said, his face wrinkling into a smile.

‘Could these people stay with you for a few hours?’

asked the Doctor.

‘Of course. But let’s go inside and have some tea,’ said Goronwy.

‘I’m going to have to leave at once. Could you lend me a white pillow case and a broom handle?’ asked the Doctor.

Goronwy accepted without question many strange things and so was not in the least curious about this odd request.

‘Splendid,’ said the Doctor. ‘And could I borrow your bike, Billy?’

‘OK,’ said Billy, looking doubtful, ‘but please be careful, Doctor.’

‘I’ll treat it like the TARDIS,’ said the Doctor.

Somehow this didn’t have the ring of reassurance which Billy was looking for.

Mel and Burton had been tied back-to-back outside the main block of chalets. Mel couldn’t help fidgeting. The knots were biting into her wrists and stopping the flow of blood. ‘I’m afraid, young lady, that the more you wriggle the tighter it will get,’ advised Burton. ‘Try to relax. The swelling should go down that way and you’ll feel much more comfortable. It’s an old army trick,’ he explained.

‘OK, I’ll have a go,’ agreed Mel unhappily.

‘Do you think the Doctor will come?’ asked Burton.

‘Yes! He’d never leave us here like this,’ said Mel as if Burton’s question was a silly one.

‘That’s what I thought. I wonder what his strategy will be.’

‘Don’t worry, the Doctor always thinks of something.’

‘You’ve been in situations like this before?’ Burton appeared shocked.

‘Oh yes, loads of times. We have a great knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.’

‘I see,’ said Burton, unsure of what to say next, and thinking what a curious pair they were.

Gavrok sat in a rocking chair, a power blaster resting across his knees, waiting for the arrival of the Doctor and Delta. Like Mel, he was sure the Doctor would come. It was only a matter of time. He had heard many things about the Doctor but never that he was a coward.

The

Bannermen slouched around, priming their weapons. All heads lifted as the sound of the big twin echoed down the valley.

Then the Vincent appeared, driven by the Doctor. Stuck into the sidecar was a white flag of truce, or on closer examination, Goronwy’s old bed linen. Gavrok smirked and raised the blaster. When the Doctor was within about 20 feet Gavrok fired. The flagstaff sheared and the white flag fell in a flaming heap. When the Doctor cut the engine he was apoplectic with rage.

‘How dare you? A white flag is an accepted signal of truce throughout the civilized universe!’ he cried.

‘Who will stop me? You with your puny flags and appeals to fair play and justice? I spit on justice!’ said Gavrok.

‘Your charm is matched only by your compassion,’

snapped the Doctor.

‘Why shouldn’t I kill you right now?’ barked Gavrok.

‘Because you’re in enough trouble already, Gavrok.

Release these people and I will testify that you showed some mercy.’

‘Testify? You’ll never get me to trial,’ said Gavrok.

‘Delta has sworn a statement alleging invasion and genocide of the Chimerons. You will be called to account, Gavrok.’

‘Bring me Delta and I will give you life,’ hissed Gavrok.

‘Life? What do you know about life? You deal in death, Gavrok. Lies, treachery and murder are your currency.

You see everything through a veil of smoke and blood. You promise life, Gavrok, but in the end it will be life which defeats you!’ shouted the Doctor, shaking with fury.

Gavrok sprang to his feet. ‘You have said enough! I have traversed time and space to find the Chimeron Queen and I will not be defeated!’

The Doctor stepped back a pace but threw out his chest defiantly. ‘Very well. I came here under a white flag and will leave under the same white flag. And woe betide any man who breaches its integrity. Now step aside Gavrok –

it’s over. You’re finished and we’re leaving!’

The Doctor took a white hankie from his pocket and waved it aloft. He pushed through the gawping Bannermen until he reached Mel and Burton. He started pulling at the ropes that bound them.

‘Steady on Doctor,’ said Burton.

‘Yes I know the old adage, "More haste less speed", but I don’t think this is quite the time or place to put it to the test,’ the Doctor replied. Finally they were free. As they turned towards the motorcycle they heard the ominous click of half a dozen phasers. They were looking down the barrels of a small arsenal. Standing with his blaster aimed straight at the Doctor’s chest was Gavrok.

‘Actually, I think I may have gone too far,’ muttered the Doctor to Mel and Burton, who were thinking the same thing. There was only one way to go. The Doctor took the lead and started walking towards the waiting Vincent.

The Bannermen guns followed their every move, waiting only for the signal from Gavrok to blast the Doctor into sub-atomic particles. The Doctor looked neither right nor left but strode resolutely towards the Vincent. His movements and facial expression showed no sign of fear.

He might as well have been walking to the corner shop for a newspaper. Mel and Burton followed on behind, fearing that each step would he their last.

Burton held the Doctor in high esteem for his brave stance. He hadn’t quite decided whether it was a sophisticated ploy or a spontaneous act of valour, but whatever the reason his action merited admiration. As he marched along behind the Doctor, Burton could feel the adrenalin pumping through his body. In fact, he was positively enjoying himself – it was almost like the old days in the army. But then, considering how traumatic this must be for his companions, he felt a ringe of guilt and tried to push the thought from his mind. After all, Mel and the Doctor were only civilians and had no military training. What a weekend this was turning out to be!

Burton made a mental note of his feelings and observations. If they managed to get away safely he felt sure that this would prove to be a rich source of material for his work on the human condition.

Mel wished she had never got up this morning. This was the second time in one day that she had been threatened with death. She was becoming quite a veteran.

At least she couldn’t complain that her holiday was dull –

it was more action-packed than most people dare hope for.

It felt like she was participating in a bizarre dream, and without being able to control herself she began to laugh.

‘I can’t see the cause for hilarity, Mel,’ whispered the Doctor. ‘I might even go so far as to say that laughing at Bannermen, under these particular circumstances, might be described as suicidal.’ Hearing the Doctor’s familiar voice brought Mel to her senses.

‘Sorry Doctor. I don’t know what got into me,’ she said guiltily. ‘But I think that it was nerves rather than humour.’

After what seemed an eternity they finally reached the Vincent. The Doctor firmly gripped the throttle on the bike and swung the kickstarter. The bike roared into life and Mel and Burton climbed on. The Doctor engaged first gear and slowly let out the clutch. The anticipated volley of fire never came and the bike moved slowly out of range towards the rim of the valley. Then, in a cloud of dust and with screeching tyres it took off like a bat out of hell.

Gavrok, who had followed their every move through his gunsight, smiled and raised his weapon into the air. He savoured nothing more than the smell of victory, and, carefully choosing his moment, he fired an incandescent flare into the sky. He stood motionless, watching it float earthwards like a small comet.

At the wooded copse the two Bannermen guards, Arrex and Callon, had Hawk and Weismuller sitting back-to-back. Arrex and Callon looked up sharply as the signal flare arced across the heavens. They instantly jumped to obey the command. Arrex headed back towards their fighter, while Callon covered Hawk and Weismuller.

‘What’s happening now, Weismuller?’ asked Hawk.

‘Why ask me? I’m as confused as you are. Anyway, whatever it is, it can’t be worse than sitting around with these two jokers,’ muttered Weismuller, nodding in the direction of Callon.

Arrex emerged from the ship carrying a flat metallic bar about three feet long. At each end was an adjustable metal collar, studded on the inside with cruel spikes. Hawk shot Weismuller a sour glance. ‘I gotta feeling we might be in for a long spell of sitting around,’ Hawk said.

Callon opened one collar while Arrex fiddled with the other one. Finally, they clamped the collars around the necks of the unfortunate Americans, effectively immobilizing them. Arrex locked the collars in plce with a small hexagonal device. They then stood back and studied their victims. Arrex laughed, ‘Come, Callon, they will be here when we get back.’

Then Arrex and Callon headed towards a bend in the road, leaving their prisoners shackled by the neck and unlikely to stray anywhere.

After careful manoeuvring, cursing, cries of pain and many shouted instructions, Hawk and Weismuller managed to get to their kees but no further. However much they tried they found it impossible to stand.

‘Even Houdini wouldn’t he able to find his way out of this contraption,’ Weismuller grunted.

‘Yeah, well I reckon Houdini would have been too darn clever to get himself in a mess like this in the first place,’

Hawk replied angrily.

‘Okay,’ said Weismuller, ‘let’s try sitting again... one...

two... three!’ Weismuller sat down abruptly, dragging Hawk behind him, They had to move in total unison, otherwise the spikes in the collar would dig into their necks. Hawk was trying to turn his head to glare at Weismuller but the slightest movement made him wince.