Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen (7 page)

‘I thought that you might be a little sceptical. What would it take to convince you?’ asked the Doctor, getting more agitated by the moment.

‘Really! This is a waste of time, Doctor,’ said Burton.

The Doctor spun around and thumped the desk. ‘Unless you act quickly innocent people will die!’ he cried.

Burton realized that the Doctor was serious. He decided to humour him. ‘All right, Doctor. Let’s see some proof.

How about showing me your spaceship, heh heh,’ chuckled Burton, winking conspiratorially at Ray. Burton always liked to feel in control of things and in his experience the best way to deal with people such as the Doctor was to play them at their own game. Psychology was currently a hobby of Burton’s and running a holiday camp gave him the opportunity to study all sorts of people.

‘Can I come too?’ asked Ray.

‘Of course, but let’s hurry,’ snapped the Doctor, already halfway through the door. Burton and Ray trailed along behind him.

Murray’s cabin was identical to Delta’s. As a matter of fact it was identical to every other cabin in Shangri-La. Except that it contained Murray – flat on his back, snoring like a buzz-saw.

He was sleeping so heavily that he didn’t hear the frantic knocking at the door. Finally Mel shoved it open.

‘Murray! Wake up! Wake up!’ she cried.

Nothing. Murray was sleeping the exhausted sleep of the hula-hoop-competition-special-award-for-effort-winner.

In desperation Mel grabbed the nearest thing –

Murray’s big toe sticking out from under the cover - and gave it a huge yank.

‘Whass’ matter?’ grunted Murray.

‘There’s an emergency, Murray. We have to be ready to leave as soon as the bus is ready.’

Murray threw aside his bedclothes and lowered his bare feet onto the cold linoleum.

Shivering, he snatched a coat from behind the door and put it on over his polka-dot pyjamas. ‘What kind of emergency?’ he mumbled, still half asleep. There was nothing he hated more than being woken up.

‘The Bannermen warfleet,’ said Mel.

‘Oh noooo,’ wailed Murray, instantly awake, his knees knocking like castanets. There was something he hated more than being woken up - the thought of his imminent painful demise at the hands of the Bannermen.

Outside the gates of the camp the door of the TARDIS

opened and the Doctor appeared, leading Burton and Ray.

Burton was grinning in simple stupefaction. Ray, already having seen some evidence of extra-terrestrial life, was no less impressed.

‘It’s called a TARDIS – an acronym of Time And Relative Dimensions In Space,’ said the Doctor.

‘It’s hard to keep track of progress these days, muttered Burton. ‘How was it all done? I think I might write an article for
Campers Weekly
. They’re always on the lookout for interesting news items. I’d like to get one of these for next year. It could prove to be quite a draw. Head Office likes their senior staff to show initiative.’

‘First things first,’ said the Doctor interrupting Burton,

‘We have to clear the camp.’

The Doctor started marching swiftly back to camp. Ray and Burton dawdled behind, both staring back at the amazing vehicle.

In the dining hall Murray was standing on a table addressing all the assembled tourists. They were moaning and griping about having their sleep interrupted and paid very little attention to Murray’s entreaties for silence.

Murray was getting very agitated with them and tried desperately to get their attention. He shouted above the clamour. ‘We should all go back to our cabins, quickly pack and then wait at the bus until we’re ready to leave.’

‘What’s the big rush, Murray?’ asked one of the tourists.

‘You told us we would be here for a couple of days yet. And besides, it’s nice here.’

Murray exchanged a look with Mel. He had no option but to tell them the hard facts. ‘Truth is, there’s a Bannermen warfleet on the way.’ Murray barely had a chance to finish before everyone was fleeing towards the doors. ‘Nice ‘n’ easy, folks. Don’t panic!’ cried Murray, but most people had already left.

Just then the Doctor appeared with Ray and Burton.

Murray hopped off the table and headed in their direction.

‘They were difficult at first, Doctor,’ he said. ‘But once I told them the real reason they didn’t need much persuading.’

‘Good, I’m glad that’s all been taken care of. I think we’d better go and check the crystal. As soon as it’s ready, you have to leave, Murray.’

‘You won’t see me for dust, Doctor.’

‘Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!’

The gong reverberated across the PA system. Inside his office Burton had changed into a smart suit and was hitting the small dinner gong in front of the microphone.

When he was certain that he had everyone’s attention he put the gong aside. ‘Good morning everyone. This is a matter of some urgency – could all staff assemble in my office immediately. I repeat, ALL employees, without exception, to my office. Right away please.’

Ray, Mel and Murray had gathered at the bus. They could hear Burton’s voice faintly in the distance. The Doctor emerged from the TARDIS carrying a luminous glass vessel.

Inside, a large crystal hung suspended in red liquid. ‘It’s almost regrown. Another half hour should do it. And then you must leave, Murray, regardless of whether or not I’m back,’ said the Doctor, carefully handing Murray the glass jar.

‘Back from where?’ asked Murray.

‘I have to find Delta,’ the Doctor replied. ‘Mel, you stay and help Murray organize things. Let’s go, Ray.’ The Doctor jumped on the pillion of her scooter, Ray started her hike and they raced off.

‘Don’t worry, you can depend on me!’ Murray called to the Doctor as he disappeared in a cloud of dust.

In Burton’s office the scene was sober. The staff were all standing in silence. They had never seen Burton looking so grave before. Vinny shifted from foot to foot in agitation.

Beads of perspiration stood out on Burton’s forehead.

Mopping at them with a hanky he took a deep breath. ‘I’ve called you together at such short notice because we are facing a crisis. What I would like you all to do is go back to your cabins and pack whatever you need for one night. I have already ordered a bus to take you away in a few minutes’ time. You’ll spend the night in Llandidrod Well and return in a day or so. Any questions? Splendid!’

Burton’s tone of voice implied that he hoped there were no questions forthcoming.

Whispering excitedly to one another, Burton’s staff left the room. Everyone except Vinny that is. ‘I don’t like running away, Major. What’s up?’ he said, trying to look like Burton’s batman once again. He and Burton had served together in the army twenty years ago and they had remained together ever since.

‘It’s because we face an attack from... it’s... uh... because we are in danger from... uh... it’s top secret! Had a man here from the Ministry of Defence. Now, look sharp!’

barked Burton.

‘Are you staying, sir?’ asked Vinny. ‘Yes Vinny. They’ll have to drag me away from here,’ said Burton.

‘I’ll stay too, Major.’

‘Thanks Vinny, but you all have to go. And that’s an order!’ said Burton, looking as stern as possible.

Vinny saluted and left. Burton sank down into his chair.

He reached into the bottom drawer of his desk. There, under a pile of papers, was a bar of wholenut chocolate.

There was only one thing for Burton to do – he ate it. It was a little habit Burton had picked up years ago.

Whenever a crisis loomed or he felt under considerable stress he would experience an urgent craving for chocolate.

It was not an urge he could easily ignore. Therefore in case of emergency he would always keep a bar in his desk drawer. When he had finished eating he felt his world restored to calm; he was once again ready for anything –

except possibly an attack by murderous spacemen.

Billy had laid a towel on the sand for the baby who was by now about the size of a three-year-old. Crawling everywhere, it made strange high-pitched noises which were half musical and half insect. He watched it with undisguised fascination.

‘That noise she makes – it’s almost like singing,’ said Billy.

‘It’s partly a song and partly a defence mechanism,’ said Delta.

‘Against the Bannermen? asked Billy.

Delta made no reply. She gazed out across the water. ‘It seems a long time since I felt so calm. I feel very happy here with you. I even forgot my worries for a while.’

‘That’s what I like about this place,’ said Billy. ‘It makes you want to soar high above the horizon.’

A few miles away the Doctor was clinging limpet-like to the back of Ray’s scooter as she threaded a path through the bracken. Ray hooted wildly at loosely scattered clusters of sheep, to warn them not to stray into her path.

Eventually they arrived in a leafy dell. ‘It’s called Fern dell.

We used to play here as children. But I don’t see his bike anywhere,’ said Ray.

The Doctor peered through the tangled foliage. ‘It couldn’t be hidden anywhere, could it?’ he asked.

‘Not the Vincent,’ said Ray. ‘It’s much too big.’

‘Then let’s not waste any more time,’ said the Doctor brusquely. Ray managed to turn the scooter around in the clearing and they were soon off across the open moorland, divots of earth flying in all directions.

Murray was standing beside the bus holding the glowing crystal regeneration cylinder in his hand. Furrowing his brow, he attempted to beam mental energy into the jar, thereby accelerating the growth of the silvery Quarb crystal. He wasn’t having much success. Brain power was never his strong suit.

Mel trotted up from the camp, somewhat out of breath.

‘Fortunately they don’t have much packing to do,’ she said to Murray.

‘No,’ he replied, ‘It’s well known that Navarinos travel light. I suppose it’s because in our natural habitat we don’t have much call for clothing.’

‘How’s the crystal coming?’

‘I’m trying to use mind power to make it grow faster,’

said Murray, scowling into the jar. Mel decided to make herself useful. Scowling like Murray she concentrated all her energies on the crystal.

An old bus chugged up the road and stopped with a clatter before the camp. Moments later Burton marched through the gates, leading a column of staff and campers behind him. He gestured for them to get onto the bus while he strode over to Mel and Murray. ‘I’m doing this with grave misgivings, but I can’t risk my staff,’ he said.

‘Just like a captain, eh Burton,’ said Murray with some sympathy. Burton nodded, ‘Well, I’m still not sure what I saw in there,’ he said pointing at the TARDIS, ‘but I can’t risk my people for it.’

‘You’re doing the right thing,’ said Mel.

Burton crossed to the bus as the last of his staff disappeared on board. Only Vinny remained, a lonely figure on the tarmac.

‘Remember, Vinny, you’re in charge now. You’re responsible for the staff in my absence,’ said Burton encouragingly.

‘Yes sir!’ said Vinny saluting Burton and briskly boarding the bus. Burton smiled one of his superior smiles.

He was extraordinarily fond of Vinny and always knew how to get the best out of him. Vinny would sometimes behave very stubbornly if he thought that he might be missing out on the action. But on these occasions all Burton had to do was to appeal to his strong sense of duty and Vinny would immediately tow the line. Burton shut the door firmly, and waved the driver on his way. He didn’t know when, or if, he’d ever see them again.

High above them, aboard the Bannerman cruiser, the flight deck was a hive of activity. Gavrok swaggered about, barking his orders and watching with satisfaction as his men scurried to obey.

A glowing grid-map of Wales had just appeared on Gavrok’s vid screen. In the centre of the map was an orange pulsing square. ‘She is somewhere in this quadrant.

It’s a pity that we had to destroy the beacon when we killed the mercenary. We’ll have to scan the whole area until we can find some sort of advanced technology emissions,’

growled Gavrok, staring at the light patterns dancing before his face.

At the edge of a wooded copse, smoke kept drifting into Weismuller’s eyes as he attempted to cook a sausage over a dying fire. Finally, when the sausage had turned black, Weismuller withdrew it from the embers, blew on it repeatedly and took a large bite.

He quickly spat out the mouthful of charred meat, and held up the remains of the sausage – inside the burnt exterior the meat was raw. The small brown pup tent was pitched in the background, next to the Morris which was intended to act as a kind of windbreak. In a fit of temper he took the sausage from the end of the stick and flung it as hard as he could, narrowly missing Hawk who sat nearby with the valve radio in his lap and the earphones on his head. He twiddled the dial one way and then the other, his face growing more sour with each revolution.

‘You’re wasting your time, Hawk,’ said Weismuller crossly.

‘Well, it’s better than stopping every passing stranger and asking them if they’ve seen our lost satellite,’ snapped Hawk. ‘All that gets us is a reputation for being crazy.’

‘But there’s no point in listening to the radio, Hawk. It’s stopped transmitting – that’s why we’ve got to look for it,’

said Weismuller.

‘Then I’ll listen to the Voice of America! Anything’s better than your yammering!’ said Hawk, turning the volume to maximum and yanking out the earphones.

The radio blared forth masking the sound of Ray’s scooter, as she and the Doctor belted around the corner and pulled up with a screech.

‘Excuse me,’ said the Doctor. ‘But have you seen a couple go by here? Fellow on a big black motorbike with a woman in a green polka dot dress?’

Hawk and Weismuller shared a look. ‘No sir, we ain’t seen no sign of life this morning. Ain’t that right Hawk?’

said Weismuller.

‘hope, not even an iddy biddy squirrel,’ Hawk chuckled.

‘I don’t suppose you’ve seen a...’

Hawk got no further as Weismuller jabbed him m the ribs. ‘Forget it Hawk.’