Leela watched him in alarm. 'Doctor, the mechanical man said we should stay here.'
The Doctor had never liked being told what to do, particularly by a machine. Besides, not knowing where the TARDIS was always made him feel insecure. He cross-connected a circuit and stepped back in satisfaction as the door slid open. 'First we find the TARDIS, then we have a little scout round. We'll be back in here before they know we've gone!'
Cautiously, they slipped out into the corridor.
4 Death Trap
'Right,' said Uvanov exultantly. 'Hold them in custody until further orders!' He turned to the others. 'SV.7 has captured two intruders. Well, that settles that I imagine.'
Cass laughed. 'Didn't I say so?' He gave Borg a derisive look. 'So, one of us is a maniac, eh?'
Uvanov headed for the door. 'Come on then, let's all get back to work.'
Poul stood up. 'Just a minute, Commander.'
Zilda joined in. 'Yes, don't be so hasty. What do you mean, that settles things?'
'You heard SV.7, didn't you? There are two intruders, a man and a woman. Obviously they're the murderers, and we've got them safely locked up.'
Borg joined the revolt. 'Why are they obviously the murderers? I don't see that.'
'You don't like to admit you're wrong, that's why,' jeered Cass.
'Nobody's proved I am wrong yet,' said Borg stubbornly. 'I mean, who are these people?'
'Ore raiders,' said Uvanov. 'Chub caught them at work, and they killed him.'
'Ore raiders!' Borg was scornful. 'There's no such thing, hasn't been for years.'
In the early days of the planet's history, when all kinds of adventurers were scrabbling for the desert's mineral wealth, ore hijackings hadn't been unknown. But now, with the establishment of law and order under the rule of the all-powerful Company, they'd long been a thing of the past.
Uvanov was in no mood for debate. 'Now listen, all of you. We're sitting in the middle of one of the biggest storms we've seen since we started this tour, and we're wasting time.'
Borg said, 'The robots are mining. They'll have started automatically as soon as the storm reached us.'
'Robots do not have instincts,' said Uvanov furiously. 'We'll be lucky if they get half what we can get. We're not stuck out here in the middle of this desert for pleasure, we're here to make money, so get on your feet and get to work!'
Nobody moved.
'That is an order!' shouted Uvanov.
Borg yawned. 'Then give it to a robot.'
Toos said calmly, 'We really ought to find out more about these people, Commander.'
'After all,' added Poul, 'there could be more of them.' 'Makes sense,' said Cass persuasively.
Only Dask came to Uvanov's support. 'If there are any more of them they will certainly be caught. The robots will see to that. Meanwhile, I think the Commander's right. We should return to our posts.'
'Why?' demanded Zilda. 'Nothing's changed. Until we know more about these mysterious intruders ...'
Uvanov sighed. 'All right, Zilda, all right.' He returned to the communicator. 'SV.7, are you there?'
'Yes, Commander.'
'Bring the two intruders here.'
'I was about to inform you, Commander,' said the robot with infuriating calmness, 'they have just escaped.'
The Doctor and Leela were slipping silently along the metal corridors. So far they'd seen no one, not even a robot. They passed the entrance to a storeroom, and the Doctor glanced inside. Rows of shelves stacked with various kinds of stores and spare parts. The Doctor moved on. Leela paused, her curiosity aroused by something the Doctor seemed to have missed.
There was a trolley in the far corner. On it lay a long shape covered with green plastic sheeting. Leela looked thoughtfully at it. Even in this strange metal world, she knew a dead body when she saw one. And death meant danger.
Leela entered the storeroom and went over to the trolley. She grasped the edge of the plastic sheeting and was about to pull it back when she heard footsteps in the corridor outside—and they weren't the Doctor's foot-steps. Leela ducked into hiding behind one of the racks and froze.
Someone came in, and walked steadily towards the corpse on the trolley.
Absorbed in his surroundings the Doctor wandered on, unaware that he was now alone.
The corridor led into a hall and he found himself facing a row of storage hoppers, giant tanks set along one wall. Beside each was a gauge to show how much it contained. Each one had an entry hatch at its base.
But the big metal room held something far more interesting than the row of hoppers. There in a corner stood the familiar square blue shape of the TARDIS.
The Doctor wasn't particularly surprised. He knew they'd have to put the TARDIS somewhere, and he'd been confident that he'd find it if he went on looking long enough. He had a kind of homing instinct where the TARDIS was concerned.
He wandered across to the police box and gave it an affectionate pat. 'Ah, there you are! Hullo, my dear old thing!'
Satisfied the TARDIS was unharmed, the Doctor went over to the row of hoppers, trying to work out their purpose. The sand was sucked into the Sandminer through the scoops. The ore had to be separated from the fine sand, and then the various kinds of ore had to be separated and sorted, since some kinds of ore were far more valuable than others.
Still lecturing the absent Leela, the Doctor said, 'Ore comes in under pressure from the separating plant you see, Leela, and they store it in these tanks. I wonder what kind it is? Leela?' He turned and realised he was alone. 'Leela! Leela, where are you? I do wish she wouldn't wander off like this.'
Deciding that Leela would catch him up when she was ready, the Doctor turned back to the row of tanks. There was a rushing sound, and the gauge beside one of the tanks lit up. The Doctor went across and studied it. The rushing sound went on and the gauge rose steadily. Clearly the tank was being filled from somewhere above. 'Wonder what it is?' said the Doctor to himself.
He noticed that the inspection hatch on the tank on the end of the row was standing open and went along to take a closer look. He bent down to look through the hatch, and saw a metal chamber with high, smooth walls. He also saw a dead body huddled in the corner.
Instinctively, the Doctor ducked down and squeezed through the hatch, bending to examine the body.
Before he could even turn it over, the hatch slammed shut behind him, and he heard the sound of locking-bolts being slid home.
There was a rushing sound, and a fine gravel-like substance began pattering down upon him from above.
The Doctor rushed to the storage hatch. It was firmly locked. The inside offered only a smooth metal surface with no handle or grip of any kind.
The ore was still rushing into the tank, faster and faster now. Soon it covered the, entire floor—and its level began to rise.
The Doctor watched the fine grains rising higher and higher. In a matter of seconds they covered his shoes. Soon they were rising towards his knees. At this rate it wouldn't be very long before the ore level had risen above his head.
The Doctor considered the irony of his position. He was in the middle of a desert, thousands of miles from water—but unless he thought of something very quickly, he was going to drown .. .
Leela watched from hiding as two robots entered the storeroom, lifted the body from the trolley, and carried it away. Once the robots were clear, Leela slipped out from behind her rack and hurried after them.
5 Captives
The Doctor stood absolutely still, ignoring the ore as it poured into the storage tank, rising steadily towards his waist. He was following one of his most important rules. In any kind of emergency, the first thing to do is think. Wrong action can be worse than no action at all. His mind was sorting through the possibilities at computer-like speed. Open the door with his sonic screwdriver? No time. Call for help? Again no time, and little chance of being heard. While the Doctor's mind was busy, his hands were busy too, sorting through the incredible jumble of objects in his pocket for s
omething that might be of use.
Meanwhile his mind was breaking the problem down. His basic priority wasn't to get out of here—it was simply to go on breathing. Just as he reached this conclusion, his fingers touched a coil of plastic pipe. He took it from his pocket, uncoiled it, put one end in his mouth and held the rest of the pipe so that it projected above his head like the periscope of a submarine—or a diver's snorkel.
The Doctor stood absolutely still, conserving energy, as the ore flowed waist high, chest high, neck high. He clamped his mouth shut and closed his eyes tightly. The ore rose up to his neck, over his chin, and finally closed over his head.
Leela watched from hiding as two robots entered the storeroom, lifted the body from the trolley, and carried it away. Once the robots were clear, Leela slipped out from behind her rack and hurried after them.
Cass was almost out of the crewroom door when Uvanov's voice stopped him. 'Where are you off to, Cass?'
'To search, of course. We've got to find those two killers.'
'The robots can handle it.'
'So can I!' said Cass and disappeared.
Borg started to follow him. 'Where do you think you're going?' demanded Uvanov.
'To help Cass. He's right you know, Commander.'
'You stay where you are!' yelled Uvanov. But Borg was already gone. Silently Poul got up and followed him.
'Maybe it would be quicker if we all went?' suggested Toos.
Uvanov looked at the cool, elegant figure in exasperation. 'We are not armed. There are two killers loose on the ship, maybe more.'
Dask nodded. 'Quite right, Commander. The robots can deal with the situation more efficiently than we can.'
Toos shrugged. 'All right. I just thought you were in a hurry to get back to work.'
'And so I am, Toos. But I am not in a hurry to get myself killed!'
SV.7 came into the ore storage area and walked along the row of tanks, checking the gauges. When the robot came to the last one it stopped, and stood thoughtfully studying the gauge.
After a long, long pause, SV.7 reached out and touched a control.
Inside, the storage tank was full to capacity. The ore came almost to the ceiling. An inch or two of plastic pipe projected from the smooth, grey surface.
Grilles opened in the bottom of the tank, and there was a rushing sound. Slowly the ore level began to drop, to reveal the Doctor's hat, and then his head, with the other end of the pipe clamped firmly between his teeth. As the ore-level fell below his chest and down to his waist, the Doctor opened his eyes and drew a cautious breath. The air was hot, dry and dusty, just like the life-giving air that he'd managed to suck down the pipe.
The ore-level sank to his knees, his feet... Suddenly the tank was empty and he was free. A square of light appeared as the hatch opened, and a silver hand stretched through it. The Doctor reached out and took it, and a smooth powerful grip drew him out of the tank and into the storage hall.
Blinking, the Doctor straightened up, dusting the ore from his clothes. 'Thank you,' he gasped. 'Thank you very much.'
'Why were you in the storage tank?'
'Don't ask silly questions. Anyway, how did you know I was there?'
'When I arrived, the gauges showed a high percentage of impurity. I therefore checked.'
'Some of that impurity was me—and the rest was the dead man I found in there. He was murdered—strangled.'
SV.7 peered into the tank. 'That is Kerril.' The robot emerged. 'Nearest Voc, priority red, section five.' The blank, silver face turned to the Doctor. 'Commander Uvanov has ordered that you be restrained for questioning. Please do not try to escape again.'
The Doctor looked thoughtfully at the robot. Somehow its placid, neutral tones carried an unmistakable air of authority. 'Is the robot command circuit routed only through you?'
'That is so. I am the Co-ordinator.'
Another robot entered, clearly summoned by SV.7's command. SV.7 turned to the newcomer. 'Restrain this person, V.17.' V.17 took the Doctor's arm in a grip that was gentle, but immovable, and began to lead him away. 'Easy now, easy, don't get excited,' said the Doctor hurriedly. But he knew as he spoke he was talking nonsense. Robots never got excited. They just obeyed orders.
Leela crept cautiously into the Commander's cabin and looked around.
The robots carrying the body had disappeared into another room, the door closing behind them. Leela had waited for a while, then when nothing happened, she'd gone looking for the Doctor, though without success. Now, remembering the Doctor's words, she had returned to the Commander's office, hoping the Doctor would be there ahead of her.
The Doctor was nowhere in sight, but there was a curtained sleeping-alcove on the other side of the room and the curtain moved.
Leela padded silently towards it. 'Doctor?' she called. 'Doctor, there is danger here. I found a dead body.'
There was no answer from behind the curtain. Leela drew her knife. It might be the Doctor—but it might not. Still talking, she edged closer to the curtain. 'Two robots picked up the body and took it to a special place...
Leela sprang, knife poised, whipping back the curtains with her free hand. But it was not the face of an enemy that confronted her. It was the face of a corpse.
A man was kneeling on the bunk, his face contorted by death-agony into a leering mask. As Leela watched, the body toppled slowly towards her. She leaped back, and heard movement behind her. She spun round. A robot was reaching out for her.
Before Leela could move, one silver hand flashed out and gripped her arm, and another came up to cover her mouth. 'Please do not call out,' said a calm, emotionless voice. 'It is important that I am not found here.'
Leela twisted her head aside. 'Obviously!'
'If I had killed him, would I not now kill you too?' Releasing Leela's arm, the robot moved forward and knelt to examine the body.
Leela watched it warily. 'That still doesn't explain what you're doing here.'
'You have not explained what you, are doing here.'
'I was just looking for—' Leela broke off. 'I don't have to explain anything to you. You're just a mechanical man, you're not real...'
The robot held up the dead body's hand. On the back was a red disc. 'Do you know what this is?'
'No.'
The robot rose. 'I must ask that you tell no one about me,' it said placidly, and moved towards the door.
Leela jumped out of its path. 'Is there anyone left alive to tell?'
The door slid open. Suddenly the robot slipped round behind Leela and grappled her arms. She struggled furiously, without the slightest result.
A bearded thin-faced man in elaborate robes and head-dress came through the door, stopping at the sight of the robot and its captive. 'So, we've caught one have we?' He saw the body sprawled face-down on the bunk. 'Not soon enough, though!' He stepped forward and slapped Leela back-handed across the face. It was a mistake. Leela's hands were held, but her feet were still free. One of them flashed out and took Uvanov in the pit of the stomach. He staggered back, gasping for breath.
'I didn't kill that man,' shouted Leela. 'Ask this thing.'
Uvanov straightened up, rubbing his stomach tenderly. 'You'll have to do better than that! Now, who are you?'
'Leela. Who are you?'
'Why did you kill Cass?'
'I didn't.'
Uvanov raised his hand to strike her again and Leela hissed, 'Try that again and I'll cripple you.'
'Why did you kill him?'
'I didn't.' Leela struggled to look over her shoulder. 'Tell him, you.'
Uvanov said, 'That is D.84, a single-function labour robot, D class. The D is for Dum. It can't speak!'
'Has anyone told it that?'
Uvanov moved closer to Leela—taking care to keep out of range of her feet. 'You have cost me and the Company a great deal of money,' he said, producing his main grievance first. 'In addition, you've killed two people. Can you think of any reason why I shouldn't have you executed on t
he spot?'
'No, but you can, otherwise you'd have done it.'
'Don't get clever with me,' said Uvanov threateningly.
Poul came hurrying in. 'We've caught the man too, Commander. Apparently he killed Kerril, stuffed the body in one of the storage tanks. They're taking him to the crewroom.'
Poul moved over to the body. 'Poor Cass!' He looked at Leela. 'You must be stronger than you look.'
'You must be stupider than you look if you think I did that!'
Poul examined the red disc on the back of the dangling hand. 'Why do you use these things?'
Leela glared at him. 'I don't even know what it is.'
'A robot deactivation disc—otherwise known as a corpse marker. There was one on Kerril too.'
Uvanov gave a sigh of disgust. 'You fool, Poul, what did you have to tell her that for?'
'I assumed she knew!'
'If we could have got her to admit she knew what those corpse markers were, we'd have been half-way to a confession!'
'Half-way to two confessions, you mean. It was Dask who told us about them in the first place.'
'Which rules him out,' said Uvanov triumphantly. 'Don't you see? If he was responsible for the murders, he'd never have admitted he knew what the discs were.'
'Ever hear of the double bluff?'
'You're very keen to spread suspicion,' said Uvanov exasperatedly. 'Could it be you've got something to hide?'
Poul smiled wryly. 'We've all got something to hide—Don't you think so, Commander?'
Uvanov pointed a shaking finger at Leela. 'Bring—that to the crewroom,' he ordered, and marched out.
Poul paused to examine the body, paying particular attention to the head, and the area round the throat. He stood up, shaking his head. 'No,' he muttered. 'Pity, but no.'
In his own mind, Poul was quite certain. Whoever had killed Cass, it wasn't the girl—which made it at least a possibility that the man hadn't killed Kerril.
So, the murderer was still at large...
6 Suspicion
The Doctor was sitting on a table in the crewroom, a circle of hostile faces around him. He felt in his pocket and fished out a crumpled paper bag, offering it to Borg. 'Would you care for a jelly-baby?'
Doctor Who and the Robots of Death Page 3