DOCTOR WHO.

GALAXY FOUR.

by WILLIAM EMMS.

1

Four Hundred Dawns

The Doctor was puzzled. He had brought the TARDIS back into time and s.p.a.ce, switched off the controls and turned on the external scanner. But as he moved the scanner from one angle to another he grew more uneasy. It wasn't that there was anything particularly wrong about the landscape he was viewing, at least not within his experience. In fact, it was quite appealing. But there was something wrong out there and he couldn't yet put his finger on exactly what it was.The terrain wasn't exactly welcoming, he had to admit that. It was black, bearing a strong resemblance to tarmac. But numerous cracks had appeared in the surface and out of these trees and plant life had sprung in abundance. There were even flowers, though no evidence of how they were pollinated. He could see nothing even resembling a b.u.t.terfly. Come to that, there was no sign of bird life either. He continued to stare intently at the screen.Behind him Vicki was cutting Steven's hair. Her dark eyes moved from the job in hand to stare intently at the Doctor. 'Arrived, have we?'The Doctor's attention remained on the screen. 'We have, my dear.'Steven raised his head from the angle at which Vicki had tilted it. 'Good. Where?''Ah.' The Doctor examined the control panel. 'Somewhere in Galaxy Four. I don't know exactly where, I'm afraid. But... there's something not quite right about it.'Steven stood up and he and Vicki crossed the console room to join the Doctor in staring at the screen. Neither was overly impressed. Vicki did not care for the black surface, though Steven did find a redeeming feature in the plants. He tousled his fair hair where Vicki had last been clipping and looked more closely. There was something distinctly odd about the scene, something missing. He felt uneasy. Like the Doctor, he could see no sign of animal life, but there was something else. After all, life could be underground, or even concealed somewhere in the greenery. So what was it?'Could you put the sound on, please, Doctor?' The Doctor checked his instruments and made an adjustment. 'It is on. Full now.'They all listened intently and heard not a sound. The silence was quite overpowering. They could almost feel it. There was no sound whatsoever, not even of wind. All the trio could hear was their own breathing; all they could feel was the beating of their hearts.'Weird,' whispered Vicki.But the Doctor was again surveying his instruments. Everything was in satisfactory working order.He stood back and sighed: 'Atmospheric pressure, temperature, oxygen content, radiation, all satisfactory.' He looked again at the scanner. 'I wonder if it's possible to have a planet so obviously conducive to life, yet... without any?''Well, I've finished chopping Steven's hair. Can we go out and see?'The Doctor shrugged. 'I don't see why not. There's just a chance that we might get some peace.''For a change,' Steven added dryly. 'Perhaps there's even a river or a lake. Fancy a swim, Doctor?''Young man, this is a scientific expedition,' the Doctor replied tartly. 'It pays always to be cautious.''There's a limit to ' Steven broke off as something banged against the side of the TARDIS.They looked at each other, startled, and there was yet another b.u.mp. The Doctor raised his hand for silence. Whatever it was continued to keep knocking against the TARDIS, proceeding along one side, then another, obviously investigating the machine. And now they could hear something else: a curious chittering and jingling sound, obviously emanating from the intruder.'What is it?' Vicki whispered.'Something mechanical,' the Doctor answered. 'A robot of some sort.''But why the knocking?' Steven wondered.'I would guess that it's blind and has to proceed by touch,' the Doctor said.The knocking ceased, the intruder having completed its circuit of the TARDIS. It fell silent and they heard it moving away.'Look,' Vicki said, pointing at the screen.They followed her gaze and saw their visitor. It was a short, round structure made of some metallic substance. It could not have stood much more than four feet in height. The body consisted of a round base, a rather larger main body and a smaller shoulder section. The facial section was a grill, surmounted by a skull-like cap from which antennae protruded. The grill contained what looked very much like a gun. It came to a halt some ten metres away and faced the TARDIS again. A series of coloured lights started flashing in its head and it emitted a soft, high note.The Doctor was fascinated. He noted too that around the base were a number of pear-shaped instruments which he took to be sensors.'It looks to me as though it's sending a message,' Steven said.The Doctor nodded. 'To its controllers, whoever they are.'Steven grimaced. 'Or whatever they are.'The robot was on the move again. It turned and began to trundle away. Vicki was still staring at it. 'Look how it moves,' she said. 'It's got a sort of "chumbley" movement.'Steven stared at her in disbelief. 'Chumbley?''Yes. Can't you see?' Her attractive face weakened as she nearly lost conviction. 'All sort of... chumbley.''Well, he's gone now,' the Doctor said. But he was thinking how wrong he had been in deciding there was no life on the planet. Not only was there life, but highly intelligent life at that. It took considerable technical skill and knowledge to bring into being a robot such as they had been watching. The question was: what sort of intelligence? He had encountered many varieties of intelligent life forms and not all of them had been friendly. Well, there was only one way to find out.'We'll have the doors open,' he said.Steven was recalling the Doctor's previous words of caution. 'Wouldn't it be better to wait for a while? Those things might be dangerous.'But the Doctor ignored him. He pressed the control b.u.t.ton and the door swung open. Picking up his stick, he made for the open air, a strange but brave sight in his battered trousers and frock coat, cravat fluttering about his neck, and his white hair not as tidy as it might have been. Vicki and Steven exchanged a slightly worried glance, then followed. Once outside, the Doctor breathed in deeply and with enjoyment. 'Delightful. Just the right oxygen content.''And the flowers smell lovely,' Vicki said.Steven, however, was shielding his eyes and looking into the sky. 'I see we've got three suns. I wonder which one we revolve around?'The Doctor finished locking the door of the TARDIS. 'It's quite possible that they revolve around us.' He straightened and pocketed the key, glanced at Vicki who was examining the flowers, then at the terrain surrounding them. It reminded him of a past experience. 'The silence is just like it was on the planet Xeros.'Vicki turned from examining the flowers. 'We haven't jumped a time-track again, have we?''No, no, my child. Not this time.' He tilted his head to the side. 'But I don't like the silence. Not at all.' Vicki gasped. 'Doctor!'The Doctor and Steven looked at her, then followed her pointing finger'. A Chumbley had appeared from behind the TARDIiS and was obviously sensing them. Lights were flashing on the grill of this one as well. But what made it decidedly ominous was that its gun was pointed directly at them.'Keep still,' the Doctor said. 'Don't do anything to alarm it.'He moved cautiously nearer the machine, examining it carefully. Ignoring his admonition, Steven also moved, but sideways, hoping to be able to do some damage once out of range of the gun.For lack of anything more inspiring to do, the Doctor addressed the machine: 'We wish you no harm. We come in peace.'The robot remained stationary and silent.'I don't think it can speak,' Vicki said.But the Doctor was still observing and noting that beneath the head-grill was what looked very much to be a speaker. It had the necessary mesh covering which gave it every evidence of being a sound-box. Why, then, did it remain silent?It didn't, however, remain silent for long. From it suddenly came a rapid chittering sound, like that of a tape being run backwards at speed. Equally as suddenly it stopped. The Doctor was fascinated. He had no idea what it was trying to say, or even if it was directed at them. It could just as well be transmitting a message back to its unknown controller. He remained still.But Steven did not. Slowly he crouched to pick up a lump of black rock. What he had not calculated upon was the slight sound he made in doing so. In a flash the Chumbley backed a little and trained its gun on him.The Doctor was exasperated. 'You idiot!''I was only trying to ''Yes, yes, very n.o.ble of you,' the Doctor cut in. 'Now that thing is on its guard and we could be in deep trouble.' He paused a moment. 'Interesting, though. Did you notice that it wasn't aware of what you were doing until you made a noise?'Steven nodded. 'So it's blind.''But it can hear,' Vicki said.'And very accurately at that,' the Doctor added. 'It might also be locating us by heat waves, or something of the sort.'Again came the chittering sound and the Chumbley moved forward, heading for the Doctor. It reached him and nudged him. The Doctor stepped back. It did the same again, pushing him back yet another step. Then it turned and headed for Vicki and Steven, obviously intent on giving them the same treatment.'It's trying to get us to go somewhere,' Vicki said.'Indeed,' the Doctor agreed. 'But stand still. Don't let it move you.'The Chumbley nudged against them both in turn and each stepped back into place as soon as the opportunity offered. It would have been an amusing sight were it not for the gun constantly covering them.Finally the Chumbley backed away and remained still for a moment, clearly receiving a message. Then it chittered briefly to itself and rotated its gun until it pointed at some vegetation. The three looked on with some trepidation as a brilliant white ray leapt out, accompanied by a piercingly high shriek. It swept across the greenery and turned all into flame. Then the ray cut off and the gun turned back to them.'As neat a threat as I ever saw,' the Doctor said. 'We'd better do what the thing wants.'They grouped together and set off across the dark landscape in the direction the Chumbley had indicated. The Chumbley came jinking after them. Then it scooted up to the front, then to the side, then back behind them, for all the world like a destroyer herding a convoy into harbour. It occurred to the Doctor that as well as guiding them, it seemed almost to be guarding them. He glanced again about him, but could still see no movement. Perhaps the thing was programmed to a certain pattern of behaviour and had no alternative but to behave as it did.Drahvins One and Two watched the group approach the ledge on which they had hidden themselves. They were women. They had long, blonde hair and would have been considered extremely attractive by any man were it not for the total lack of warmth in their faces which were straight and set, reflecting no emotion whatsoever. Both wore the same dark, high-necked uniform dress and each carried a gun, rather like a twentieth-century Earth machine-gun, except that what came from the barrel could not possibly be bullets. Where the man-made variety carried a bullet clip these had a power pack. The Drahvins held them confidently. They well knew how to use them.As the sound of the Chumbley grew louder Drahvin Two set down her gun and grasped one side of a sheet of metallic mesh which lay at her feet. Her companion took the other side and they waited, stony-faced, as the party came into view beneath them, the Doctor leading, Vicki and Steven behind him, and the Chumbley following up.The Drahvins moved to the edge, awaited the right moment, then hurled the mesh down on the Chumbley. As soon as the mesh enveloped it the machine came to an abrupt halt and fell silent. Two immediately picked up her gun and ran down the bank toward the Doctor. One remained on guard, also now once again armed.The Doctor came to a halt and looked cautiously at the beautiful woman approaching. It seemed to him that there was something of a surplus of weapons on this planet. He did not greatly care for that. Nor was he much taken with the way they always seemed to be pointed at him, as this one was. It might well have a beautiful woman at the end of it, but her eyes looked cold and intense.'Who is she?' Vicki wondered.'I've no idea,' Steven said. 'But she's a lovely surprise.'Two lowered her gun slightly. 'We are the Drahvin.''And what might the Drahvin be?' asked the Doctor. 'We are from the planet Drahva in Galaxy Four.' The Doctor nodded. He was familiar with that part of the universe, though not the exact planet. 'And what do you want of us?''We came to rescue you.' She nodded in the direction of the immobilised Chumbley. 'They are our enemies.''Why?' Steven wanted to know.'Maaga will tell you.''Maaga?''Our leader.''Why don't you tell us?' said the Doctor. 'That would seem to be the quickest way.'Her eyes chilled him. 'Our mission was to rescue you. We have done that. We have no other instructions but to take you to Maaga. If you stay here more machines will come and you will be captured and taken to the Rills.'The Doctor watched as One approached and stood beside her companion. He noted their similar clothing and the same absence of expression. There was something odd about these two. They weren't physical clones, that was true, but he wondered if in some way they might be mental ones. It was not beyond the bounds of possibility. Something had to explain their lack of emotion.'Are the Rills the people who control these machines?''They are not people,' Two answered.'They are things,' One added.'They crawl.''They murder.'Vicki jumped. 'Murder?''They have already killed one of us.'The Doctor nodded in agreement. 'All right, we'll go and talk to Maaga.'Vicki stepped forward and grabbed his arm, pointing into the distance. 'Look.'In the distance were four Chumblies. They were heading toward them, their visors flickering with colour and their wheels bubbling over obstacles as though they did not exist. Their direction was clear and their intent easily guessed. Yet they did not seem to Vicki as menacing as the two women standing before her. Something about them did not ring true. There was a vacancy about them she could not quite put her finger on.But the two were busy, trying to retrieve the mesh from the Chumbley. Yet no matter how they pulled it would not move. The Chumbley stood quite still, not a flicker of life in it, but the mesh would not come free, despite their frantic efforts.'It's caught somewhere,' One gasped.'Or the robot is magnetised to make sure you can't get it off,' the Doctor observed.'But we must. We were instructed not to lose it.'Steven watched the Chumblies advancing like mechanised cavalry. 'Were you instructed to be killed as well? They're pretty close.Two looked over her shoulder. 'We must go. Come with us.'The Doctor shrugged at his young friends and they set off after the Drahvins, Two waving her gun at them to encourage speed.Behind them, the pursuers reached the trapped Chumbley and encircled it. One of them stood before it, chittered a while, then extended a clawed arm, grasped the mesh and effortlessly pulled it clear.Immediately it came to life, visor flashing, turned and set off with its comrades after the Doctor and his party.They had a surprising turn of speed and the party had to run to stay ahead of them, the Doctor soon wishing that he had found a younger body to inhabit. There was not a lot to be said for this one. In no time at all his hearts were hammering, his lungs labouring like a pair of ancient bellows and his limbs moving only with the greatest of reluctance. Steven turned back and put an arm about him to help him, but his a.s.sistance did little to improve things. This was an old body and there was nothing to be done about it, despite the hectoring calls from the two Drahvins for more haste.He was about to give up entirely when Steven gasped, 'There it is, Doctor.'The Doctor looked up and there before him was the Drahvin s.p.a.ceship. It was some fifty metres in length, observation ports lining its side, a badly damaged aerial protruding from the top. There were serious burns in its sides and several patched holes. It had obviously been in a battle and taken a lot of punishment. But at least it offered sanctuary, for which the Doctor would be deeply grateful. With one huge last effort he forced himself onward until they reached the ship's entry. It slid open and they piled inside, all out of breath.'Close external door,' One snapped.A voice came from a speaker above them. 'Close external door.'It slid shut and Vicki leaned exhausted against the observation panel to see the Chumblies come to a halt just outside. She could see their visors flashing and knew that they were reporting back, though she could hear nothing as yet. She turned away. 'Are you all right, Doctor?'The Doctor emptied his lungs, then inhaled deeply. 'I think so. I'm just not very good at physical exercise these days. This body's wearing out.''Oh, it should last a while yet,' Steven said. 'G.o.d bless you for those words of comfort.' 'You're welcome.'The Doctor turned to the Drahvins: 'What now?''We shall go inside,' Two said. 'Follow me.'She pressed her hand against a light in the bulkhead and another door slid open. She led the way into the adjoining compartment. This too, the Doctor noticed, was somewhat battered. Clearly, some attempt had been made to clear up the damage, but holed metal needs tools and he surmised that these were in short supply. The table to the side had one leg on chocks and the chairs looked none too sure of themselves. The shelving listed. A desk had been torn away from the deck and now stood forlornly to the bulkhead. Originally spartan, the compartment now looked utterly cheerless, no effort ever having been made to brighten it in the first place.'Warm and cosy,' he muttered to himself. 'A nice place to die.''Biggish, isn't it?' Steven said, looking about him.'And more than a little backward, by the look of it,' the Doctor replied. 'The machinery I. can see looks fairly primitive.''It got them through s.p.a.ce,' Vicki said.The Doctor nodded. 'Just.'Another Drahvin entered. She too wore the same uniform as the others. She too was blonde. She too had the same absence of expression. Steven was beginning to think that they looked like mobile dolls. For all he knew, that was precisely what they were. Whatever the truth of it, he was beginning to dislike attractive women who showed no sign of feeling.'Silence. Maaga is coming,' the third one said.Maaga stepped into the room. She also was blonde, but something about her was different. Her face was lively and her eyes bright. She glanced briefly at the trio, then addressed Drahvin Two: 'Report.'Drahvin Two stood rigidly at attention, as did her companion. 'Mission accomplished. We have brought the prisoners.''Prisoners?' Vicki wondered aloud.But Maaga was not yet interested in her. 'And the mesh sheet?''It stopped the machine.''Good.'Now One spoke, though the Doctor was interested to note that she now showed a trace of emotion that of fear. 'We could not get the mesh back again. It became affixed to the machine.'Maaga was clearly angry. The Doctor felt he should intervene in the interests of fair play. 'I think you'll find it was magnetised,' he said.Maaga glanced briefly at him, then returned to her two subordinates. 'I will deal with you both later. Sit.'They crossed to the chairs and did so, though they sat to attention, obviously in awe of their leader. Their faces lapsed into the normal lack of expression.Maaga turned back to the Doctor. 'I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, but I had to hear the report first. Please sit down.'The Doctor grunted his thanks and did so. He waited expectantly for her to speak.'We are at war, you see,' she said.Now the Doctor really was interested. 'War? With whom?''The Rills and their machines. It's a fight to the death. One of us has to be obliterated.''As bad as that?' the Doctor asked.'Very bad indeed. So bad that it is conceivable you too will be obliterated.'Vicki was angry. She had no liking at all either for the ship or its inhabitants. Nor did she greatly care for what seemed to be a threat. Who did this woman think she was? 'Who's going to do that: you or the Rills?'Maaga was unmoved by her anger. 'When a planet disintegrates nothing survives.'The Doctor was suddenly alert. 'Disintegrates? I take it you mean this planet?''Correct. It is in its last moments of life. Soon it will explode, taking all life forms with it. If my calculations are correct and they usually are that will happen in fourteen dawns' time.'Steven was not only alarmed. He was suspicious. 'How can you be so certain?''You don't have to take my word for it. The Rills contacted us by radio and confirmed my figures. That is why they are repairing their s.p.a.ceship so that they can escape.' A look of determination came onto her face. 'And that is why we must capture it from them.'Steven raised an eyebrow at Vicki. He was far from used to women having such an att.i.tude. He preferred the old-fashioned type, gentle, loving, fond of homely things. The warlike variety did not win him over at all.'Our ship is powerless,' Maaga continued. 'We were innocently seeking a planet we could colonise when the Rills appeared and attacked us. My crew fought well, but the Rills' armament was superior to ours. We damaged them all right and they had to come down, as we did. But I think their problems are less serious than ours, which is why we want their ship.''And how will you get it?' the Doctor asked.'We shall fight our way in and take over.''And the Rills?''They are of no importance.'The Doctor nodded. He could see that the Drahvins had little respect for life. But the question uppermost in his mind was: would they respect that of Vicki, Steven and himself? The woman before him gave little evidence of such an inclination. Nor did her subordinates, sitting like graven images at the table. He wondered briefly why he always managed to materialise in a trouble spot, then returned his attention to Maaga. 'Have you travelled far?''We come from Drahva. But the vegetation is dying there. Our planet is cooling, so we have to find another which is habitable. There is not a lot of time left.'Where are your men?' Steven asked. 'Or are they back at home feeding the swans?'She looked at him in puzzlement. 'Men?''Males,' the Doctor prompted. 'The counterpart of the female species.'Her face cleared. 'Ah, those. We have a small number of them, but no more than is necessary for our purpose. The rest were killed. They consumed valuable food and served no particular purpose. After all, why keep parasites? No civilization can go on doing that, especially when its planet is dying.' She gestured disdainfully in the direction of her crew. 'And these are not what you would call... human. They are 'cultivated in test tubes as and when called for. We have very good scientists.''All female, of course,' Vicki said, noting that the crew still sat rigid and motionless despite the condescension of Maaga's words.'Naturally,' Maaga said. 'I, by the way, am a normal life form. My crew are mere products and inferior at that.' She surveyed them with no look of fondness in her eyes. 'They are grown for a purpose and are capable of nothing more.''And what is the purpose?' the Doctor asked. 'To serve. To fight. To kill.''What an interesting place Drahva must be.' He pondered a moment. 'You're quite sure the Rills attacked you?'Maaga sighed. 'We were in s.p.a.ce above this planet when we saw a ship such as we had never seen before. We didn't know it, but it was the Rills' ship. It fired on us and we were brought down. But before we did we succeeded in firing back so that their ship crashed as well. They managed to kill one of my soldiers.'Steven remembered what the two Drahvins had told him at the outset. 'What do they look like, these Rills?''Disgusting,' Maaga said.'That's no description no description at all.' 'It's all I will say.''But now I begin to understand,' the Doctor murmured.'So do I,' Steven said. 'This planet is going to explode and they're managing to repair their ship in time. You haven't, so you want theirs.''We do not wish to be here when this planet ceases to exist. Do you?'Before Steven could reply, Drahvin Three, who had been on watch at an observation window, turned and called, 'Machine approaching.''To your stations,' Maaga snapped, crossing to the window. The other did the same, at another window. They saw one of the Rills' machines chumbling across the landscape toward them, visor flashing and gun at the ready. Vicki thought again that she found them most attractive little machines. There was something almost human about them, though she knew such a thing was almost certainly impossible. A machine was a machine was a machine was a machine and that was the end of it. Even so... She thought it a pity that they would very likely turn out to be the enemy, particularly since that would make the Drahvins their allies. The situation was not overly full of promise.Maaga and her soldiers had now crossed to protrusions from the bulkhead and were pressing numerous b.u.t.tons. Canopies swung away, revealing two-grip guns and aiming ports. The guns looked as though they could do their job effectively, as did the Drahvins manning them.Maaga peered through her aiming port, her expression one of determination. 'Load,' she commanded.Each pressed another b.u.t.ton and quiet red lights glowed forward of the grips.'Prepare to fire. Switch off the outside radio.' Drahvin Two knocked up a switch.'Why do that?' the Doctor asked.'They send the machines to tell us lies,' Maaga said tightly. 'We do not want to hear them.''Possibly not, but we'd like to.'But Maaga ignored him. The Chumbley was stationary now and the Doctor could see that it was speaking its message. It seemed a pity he couldn't hear it,. There was something odd about the Rills trying to contact the Drahvins and receiving nothing but animosity in return. But then, he would put nothing past the hard-faced Maaga and her mindless minions.'Fire!' Maaga snapped.There was a harsh hissing sound and rays leapt out from the guns at the Chumbley. The machine was enveloped in smoke and glowed bright red from the attack. But its visor was covered now and it remained where it was. Still the rays stabbed at it as the Drahvins triggered their weapons again and again, and still the Chumbley remained. It looked to the Doctor very much as though the outer plating was protective, possibly even absorbing the energy hurled at it and using it, which would make the attack totally futile.'Cease fire,' Maaga snapped and the rays vanished.The smoke cleared from the Chumbley and they could see that it was still intact. It chittered briefly to itself and the shield vanished from its visor. Its lights still flickered busily away. Maaga took careful aim and her ray shot out at the visor. But it was an exercise in pointlessness. The visor was covered again before the ray was halfway there. Maaga grunted in exasperation. 'd.a.m.n them.'But the Doctor was impressed. Any intelligence which could produce a machine capable of reacting faster than a laser beam aimed at it had to be of a high order, even if it was evil and disgusting. He would definitely like to meet the Rills.The Chumbley chittered briefly, its visor once again open, received instructions, turned and moved away. It vanished over a hill, looking totally unconcerned about what had happened to it, bent upon tending to its own affairs.'Well, you didn't do him much damage, did you?' Steven commented.'My only intention was to drive it off,' Maaga said coldly. 'We have succeeded.' She turned to her soldiers. 'Disarm and return to your places.'They promptly obeyed, switching everything off, recovering the guns and crossing to sit again, all with immaculate timing, as though they themselves were machines guided by a centralised computer.'Zombies,' Vicki muttered to herself.'You haven't destroyed a single one of those machines yet, have you?' the Doctor said.Maaga was closing down her own gun. 'We will.''I think you underestimate the Rills. And why, I wonder, should they warn you that this planet is about to die?''To tempt us to their ship so that they could kill us.' 'But they did offer to help you,' Steven said. 'That is what they claimed.''But they might have been telling the truth,' Vicki insisted. 'They might have meant it.''Yes, and it might all have been lies too,' the Doctor said thoughtfully.Maaga nodded. 'That is precisely what I have been saying.'The Doctor grew testy. 'I mean that you could all be wrong and this planet might last for another billion years.''We do not make mistakes like that.''Really? Then yours is a very rare species indeed.' The Doctor warmed to his theme. 'In all my travels I've never come across anyone or anything that wasn't capable of error. Even I have been known to make the odd mistake. And, if I might say so, you don't look like any particular sort of genius to me. You can't even work out how to stop one of those robots. You put up a very fancy display, blazing away like that, but what did it amount to in the end? Nothing.' He waved absently in the direction of the rigid Drahvins. 'And you surround yourself with poor half-wits like these. No, no, no, it won't do at all. Your performance does not match up to your high opinion,of yourself. You're as bad as that fellow Plato I once ran into. I never did manage to get it across to him that you cannot build a lasting civilisation upon slavery, no matter how benign the masters. The old question rears its ugly head: how do you explain to a fool that he's a fool?' He checked his temper as best he could. 'You'd better let me run my own tests for you.'Maaga was offended by his outburst. 'And what makes you think you can do that?''I'm a scientist, woman. I know about these things.' She thought a mOment, then nodded. 'Very well.' 'Then we'll have to go back to the TARDIS. If you'll excuse us...' He moved toward the door,indicating that Vicki and Steven should join him. 'No,' Maaga said. 'You cannot all go.''Oh? Why not?' the Doctor asked.Vicki felt her suspicions confirmed. 'We are prisoners, aren't we?''Of course not. But if you should encounter the machines..'What of it?' Steven said.'We could not guarantee to rescue you again.' The Doctor waved her away. 'Oh, you worry too much.''I would feel easier if one of you remained here,' Maaga said firmly.It was a state of deadlock, the familiar Mexican stand-off. Doubt and suspicion hung heavy in the air. The Doctor did not want his group split up, but equally he could see no other way out. Maaga had the upper hand and she knew it. It showed in her face. There was too much arrogance about the woman, he decided. He would have to try and do something about that.'I'll stay,' Vicki said in a tight voice, seeing no other way out of the impa.s.se.The Doctor was about to protest, but she cut across him. 'You'll need Steven if you run into the Chumblies.'The Doctor had to concede. 'Very well. We'll be as quick as we can. Come along, young man.'Maaga gestured to Two. She got up and opened the door and exit lock for them and the Doctor hastened out. Steven paused before following him and gave Vicki a rea.s.suring smile. 'I promise we won't get lost.''Please don't,' Vicki said in a small voice.Steven went out and she was left alone with the Drahvins. The prospect of no company but theirs for a time did nothing to cheer her. Ah well, there was nothing for it but to wait in hope.The Doctor and Steven moved away from the battered ship. They went cautiously, wary of attack, but of the two Steven was the more cautious, the Doctor having lost himself again in a pool of thought. He was brooding upon the fourteen dawns of life left for the planet. The trouble was that he did not know what technology either the Drahvins or the Rills had used to determine the planet's remaining life-span. It could be quite primitive in the case of the former, but the latter had shown themselves capable of producing highly sophisticated robots, so he was inclined to believe them. Unless, as Maaga had said, they were simply trying to lead the Drahvins into a trap. There were too many ifs about the whole project for his liking and there was only one way to resolve them. He stepped up his pace as they went toward the top of the rise leading to the TARDIS.But Steven, a little ahead of him, waved for him to stop as he peered over. The Doctor crouched and joined him.'Company,' Steven said briefly.There, below them, stood the TARDIS, a battered old police telephone box to all intents and purposes and looking very much out of place in its surroundings. Also within their field of vision were two Chumblies standing before the door. One was making obvious attempts to get in, a clawed arm raking at the lock. But it made no impression whatsoever, rake as it might. The Doctor smiled to himself. They would have to do a lot better than that.Finally the first one desisted and turned away, to be replaced by the other. This one had more telling equipment. Jamming itself against the door it extended what looked to the observers very much like a drill.It was a drill. Its grinding scream reached them easily as yet another attack was made on the lock. The pressure was so great that showers of sparks flew out and the Chumbley itself tottered from side to side in its efforts to hold the drill in place. From behind and above it looked like a round-bottomed old lady pottering about her domestic duties, the Doctor thought. But its intention was much more serious.'Can they get in?' Steven asked worriedly.'I shouldn't think so.''Don't you know?'The Doctor nodded. 'Pretty well. They'd have to be extremely advanced to break my force barrier.' Steven watched the Chumbley make another attempt. 'How do you know they aren't?'But the Doctor didn't answer. He smiled interestedly down on the scene. A challenge always pleased him and here were the Rills and their robots challenging his knowledge of technology. Well, good luck to them. He had every confidence in himself.Vicki was seated alone in the Drahvin living quarters. She felt unhappy, primarily about the solitude, but also about her conviction that Maaga meant them no good. She had been fed some form of tablet food and given a sickly-sweet drink to quench her thirst, but what she wanted most of all was her liberty. The bulkheads of this dingy ship dripped fear and threat and she was sure they did so with good reason.It was odd that the only emotion the Drahvin minions had revealed was that of fearand that only of Maaga. The Chumblies had frightened them not at all in either of their encounters, but Maaga was an altogether different proposition. She wondered if they were test-tube bred in such a way that the awe was born in them or if it was instilled after birth. If the latter was the case she felt sorry for them. It must have been a terrible upbringing.Not that she was in a mood to spare much sympathy for them as she got to her feet and wandered aimlessly about the cabin. She was more concerned about the Doctor, Steven and herself. What had they got themselves into this time?She stilled as she heard voices in the next compartment, some quiet, one harsh and bullying. Then she crossed to the adjoining bulkhead and pressed her ear against it. The harsh voice she could hear was that of Maaga. Vicki pressed even closer.'To lose the mesh was gross incompetence,' she heard Maaga snarl. 'It was our only weapon against the machines. If we lose to the Rills it will be because of you. You want that, do you?' Her voice became sneering. 'You want to be captured by those creeping, revolting green monsters? You want their slimy claws about your necks?'Vicki could hear the Drahvins moaning in a terror induced solely by their leader.'You fools! You fools!' she heard. 'You will all be punished when I have time to attend to it.'Again came the moaning and a horrified Vicki shrank away into her icy loneliness.The Chumbley was still drilling away at the lock of the TARDIS and achieving the same result: it had no effect whatsoever. The lock remained as it always had been, old, rusted and impervious. The Chumbley backed away, retracted the drill and seemed to stand a moment in contemplation. This, it would appear, was something quite beyond its experience, the enigma beyond the puzzle. But, not to be defeated too easily, it had one more try. Its gun came down and pointed at the lock. A moment later the light beam flashed out and locked in a blaze of flame on the keyhole. Some ten seconds later the Chumbley desisted and the smoke cleared. Another useless attempt. The TARDIS stood as it always had, in supreme indifference.The Chumbley backed away and turned. The lights in its visor came to life and flickered busily as it communicated with its controller. Then they went out again. Both Chumblies made their way off into the distance, mission most decidedly not accomplished.Once they were out of sight the Doctor and Steven scrambled their way down to the TARDIS. The Doctor immediately went to the lock and was well pleased. 'Look at that, my boy,' he said. 'Not a scratch. Not even a scorch-mark. I excelled myself with that force field, I really did.'There were occasions when Steven found it difficult to distinguish between pride and conceit in the Doctor. He sighed, 'Are we going inside or not?'The Doctor started. 'What? Oh, yes, yes, yes.' He took the key from his pocket and opened the TARDIS door. 'Good job you're here to remind me what I'm supposed to be doing, eh?''You're so right,' Steven said, following him in.Once they were inside, the doors closed behind them. The Doctor crossed to the control panel and began to press a b.u.t.ton here and a b.u.t.ton there, his fingers seeming to know more about what they were doing than he did himself. Steven watched as, that series of operations completed, he took to adjusting dials one after another. Finally he grunted and straightened up. He flicked a switch and the astral map came to glowing life on the screen above the panel.'That's the stuff,' the Doctor muttered, eyeing the dots on the map, each one representing a planet in the sector in which they now found themselves. He made some more adjustments, then pressed another b.u.t.ton. One of the dots became a pulsating glow of red. 'There we are, Steven, now we know our exact whereabouts.''Do we?''Well, I do. That'll suffice for the moment. Now.. He moved to the side and began to work over more b.u.t.tons and dials, but thoughtfully this time, considering each move he was making. 'Let's see if we can work the oracle.'Steven looked on in fascination. 'Don't you know?' 'Not always. This instrument takes time to adjust to new surroundings and we haven't been here long.' 'Long enough for me.'But the Doctor was lost again in his instruments. He stared at the astral map. Nothing happened. He clicked his tongue in annoyance. 'What a time to choose to become temperamental!''No luck?' Steven asked.'All is not yet lost.' He returned to his work, glancing repeatedly at the screen, then slowly turned one last dial, his face tense, his eyes narrowed. And there on the screen appeared two lines of numbers and symbols Steven had never seen before.'That's it,' the Doctor said in satisfaction. He slid open a drawer and withdrew a heavy book which he set down on the panel. Constantly glancing at the screen he leafed this way and that through the pages. 'Now we'll find out just what is happening.'Steven could sense his concentration and said nothing. He felt like a prisoner in court as he awaited the verdict, always a.s.suming there was one on the way. An erratic man was the Doctor and as likely to go one way as another. He contained himself until the Doctor looked up.'Well, Doctor?' he said.The Doctor met his eyes, but his thoughts were obviously elsewhere. 'The Rills were right. This planet is doomed.''Then we'd better get off it, hadn't we?''That would seem the most sensible course. But do you think the Drahvins will let us?'Steven shrugged. 'What are we to them?''A possible means of escape,' the Doctor said. 'Surely you saw their killer instinct. They want our help to wipe out the Rills, so that they can take their ship and clear off out of it.''Why haven't they had a shot at the TARDIS, then?''That's just it. They've got their priorities wrong. Kill first, escape afterwards.' He gave a smile in which there was no humour. 'Odd, isn't it? Such attractive life forms, yet with that stream of evil running through them.''You can't be sure of that.' Steven didn't know why he should appear to be defending the Drahvins other than that he was reluctant to believe such beauty walking hand in hand with the figure of death.'Possibly not,' the Doctor said crisply. 'But I can give you odds of nine to four. Why d'you think they kept Vicki back: concern for her health?''It's the logical thing to do. How were they to know we wouldn't come back to the TARDIS and simply take off?''That is something we'd be well advised to do. And quickly, at that.''We've got fourteen dawns.'The Doctor looked at him quizzically. 'No, we haven't. We've got two. Tomorrow is the last day this planet will see.'

2

Trap of Steel

The suns spun leisurely through s.p.a.ce above the planet. Thus it always had been and thus it would stay, an observer would have thought. But when the planet went they too would go. First would come a throbbing pulsation through the emptiness as the planet began to expand outward, its surface beginning to split asunder and lava to spit and pour outward. Then an unholy white light would dance this way and that across the surface and the last moment would come. The planet and its suns would go nova, a brief spot of light in eternal s.p.a.ce and of no consequence in time. From then on they would be of no consequence in s.p.a.ce either, mere boulders rolling their way through eternity.The Doctor knew this as he watched the shock on Steven's face. He felt some sympathy for the lad. After all, strictly speaking this was not his field. He had been wrenched into it by unforeseeable circ.u.mstances and had borne up gamely whereas he, the Doctor, had learnt to adapt since time immemorial. Human life wasn't long enough, he thought, no sooner given than taken away, with insufficient time to learn what was necessary or do what had to be done. He dismissed the thought. There was nothing he could do about it. He wasn't G.o.d, simply something of a clown in his own eyes, trolling about through time and s.p.a.ce seeking the final truth as he inhabited one body after another, and yet with the dull feeling that that final truth would remain forever beyond his reach.This wouldn't do. 'We have to worry about Vicki,' he said quietly.Steven shook off his numbness. 'That we must. And right away, at that.'Fishing in his pocket for the key, the Doctor headed for the door. But Steven stopped him. 'Hang on, Doctor. Let's check first.'He made for the scanner to view outside and straightaway saw a Chumbley heading toward them. 'Take a look at this,' he said.The Doctor came up beside him to see what the scanner revealed. He saw the robot coming in across the black landscape, but was more interested in what it was carrying, a phial-shaped object about seventeen inches long and eight inches wide.'What is it?' Steven wondered.'I don't know.' The Doctor squinted at the picture. 'Whatever it is, I'd guess it isn't intended to improve the quality of our lives.''It's wasting our time.''We don't have any alternative but to stay, do we?' 'I suppose not.''Then try to be patient.'The Chumbley moved right in until it b.u.mped into the TARDIS. It paused a moment, chuttering to itself, then leaned the phial against the door, released it and moved back a little. Again a brief pause and it turned about and moved off. Now the Doctor and Steven could see that it was trailing a wire from each of its two claws. This did not look in the least bit promising.'What was that?' Steven asked.The Doctor was pensive. 'I wish I knew. They haven't actually harmed us yet, but it's possible they're losing patience.''I don't like the look of those wires.''Nor do I. We'll have to try something.' He flicked on the outside speakers of the TARDIS and spoke into the microphone. 'You out there. Can you hear me?'The Chumbley remained still.'We come in peace. We come as friends. Please answer if you can hear me.'Nothing happened. The utter stillness of the machine was unnerving, particularly since it still grasped the two wires which had to serve some purpose, not necessarily one in their favour.'It can hear us all right,' the Doctor muttered. 'So why no answer? They contacted the Drahvins without any trouble.''Maybe they didn't like the way the Drahvins responded. After all, they'He was cut off by a tremendous explosion, the sound of which ripped through the TARDIS and tore at their eardrums. They were thrown aside as a sheet of white light enveloped the time machine and seemed almost to pick it up and shake it, like some giant playing dice with anything to hand. There was the sound of shattering gla.s.s. Books and papers flew across the control room. Gauges danced to a tune other than their own. Then there was a final shudder and the TARDIS settled back again.Steven levered himself up from the floor and saw the Doctor lying flat on his back. 'Are you all right, Doctor?''Oh, yes,' came the reply. 'I just love games like this.''What was it?'The Doctor slowly sat up and rubbed the base of his spine. 'Some sort of bomb.' He groaned a little to give vent to his feelings. 'But they needn't have bothered to try. The TARDIS can take more than that.''Are you sure?''As sure as I can be.' He grasped the edge of the control panel and pulled himself to his feet. 'When I design a shield I don't fiddle about with half measures.' He c.o.c.ked his head as there came a familiar b.u.mping and knocking through the walls. 'The little devil's come to see what the score is.''I wish I knew.''Don't worry. We're still ahead. The thing's doomed to disappointment.' As the b.u.mping ceased he looked into the scanner, to see the Chumbley rolling away into the distance. 'Away he goes, empty-handed.'Steven rubbed his head where it had banged on the floor in the fall. 'Given up, I suppose.''Or to come back with a different variety of trouble. We'll try not to be here when it arrives, shall we?' He operated the controls and the doors moaned open. 'Come along. There isn't much time left.'Steven followed. 'Two dawns, to be precise, which isn't enough.'Maaga had joined Vicki at the table. Before her was a plate of greenery which she was eating, with no evidence of enjoyment. 'You're sure you won't join me?' she asked.Vicki looked in distaste at the food. 'No, thanks. It looks like leaves to me.''It is leaves. This particular form is high in protein, without which no life form can survive. How do you propose to do so?''Not by eating that rubbish. Anyway, your soldiers gave me some tablet food.'Maaga was shocked. 'You ate the same food as they do?''Why not?''Because they are slaves. And their food is suited to their status. It's inferior, enough to keep them alive and active but not to give pleasure. Our society is quite firm about what reward is given to which functionary. They are soldiers, no more, no less. I would be grateful if you would treat them as such and not give them ideas above their station.'Vicki knew she had found a weak spot. 'You mean they're capable of having ideas? I thought you had them all bundled up, neat, tidy and mindless.'Maaga stared at her coldly, then returned to her leaves. Vicki stood up and moved restlessly across the compartment. She was worried about the Doctor and Steven. They'd been gone for a long time. She prayed that they had come to no harm, but knew the Doctor had this unique ability to find trouble where others would notice nothing and pa.s.s on their way unharmed. Sometimes she wondered if he deliberately sought it out, or if he was some sort of magnet which unwittingly drew it to himself.'Don't worry about your friends,' Maaga said. 'They'll be back.'Vicki did not share her certainty. 'If the Chumblies haven't caught up with them. That's possible, isn't it?''I doubt if it would happen,' Maaga said calmly. 'They wouldn't let it. They'd be too worried about you.''Which is precisely why you kept me here.'Maaga did not bother to turn her head. 'You seem not to trust anyone. I have told you: you are here for your own safety.''Yes,' Vicki snapped. 'All hostages are safe, aren't they?'Maaga shrugged indifferently. 'If your friends are not back soon we shall go and look for them. After all, we need your help against the Rills.''Whether we want to give it or not.'Now Maaga did turn and her smile reached no further in than her lips. 'I am sure you all want to help us.The Doctor and Steven made their way in the direction of the Drahvin s.p.a.ceship, the Doctor straying aside from time to time to pick the odd plant and stuff it into his pocket for later reference. Considering the circ.u.mstances, Steven found this irritating. They were on the brink of a nova and Vicki was in the clutches of the Drahvins, yet still he found time to potter. It made little sense to him. Perhaps one day he would grow used to the Doctor's ways, but he doubted it. Here was a man who was always insisting that people get their priorities right, but where were his?'Come on, Doctor.''I'm with you, I'm with you.''This is no time for gardening.''Research, my boy, that's what this is.''With Vicki in trouble?''Ah, yes.'The Doctor caught up with Steven and side by side they hastened to Vicki's rescue, until there was a loud splintering sound and the soil sagged beneath them. Then it gave way completely and they fell, clods, gravel and splintered wood going down with them. The Doctor landed on his side and his elbow shrieked agony. Steven, more fortunate, came down on his feet, only to sit abruptly as his legs gave way. Both were taken completely by surprise. It was some time before they could work out what had happened, the Doctor doing so by remaining where he was, clasping his elbow and peering dubiously about him.The Chumblies had been busy. The Doctor and Steven were in a neatly-cut pit-trap some four metres square and a little short of four metres high. The three suns stared down at them in their bed of rubble and for a while they stared back in hopelessness. It occurred to the Doctor that they were being outsmarted on all fronts. He blamed himself. He was in charge and therefore the responsibility was his. Why did he always allow himself to be distracted by minutiae? He should have been alert and concentrating for exactly such an eventuality as this, instead of which he had allowed himself to be diverted by the flora of this planet. Well, it was time he did something. He rose slowly and painfully to his feet.'What shall we do now?' he said.Steven, also now on his feet, put his hands on his hips and studied their plight. 'Easily asked, Doctor, but not so easily answered. We stepped right into this, didn't we?''That we did.'Steven gave a wry smile. 'The only way to get out of this is with one mighty bound. D'you think you could do that for me?''Alas, my boy, even I have my limitations.' 'Pity.'Steven went to one side of the pit and examined it. He dug his hand in and pulled some of the soil away. Apart from its colour it was very much like that of Earth, a little heavier perhaps and rather more like clay, but definitely diggable. The only trouble was that they had no tools and he could not see them digging their way out with their hands. That was definitely out. He stood back and eyed the top. Then he turned and looked judgingly at the Doctor.'I can't climb up that,' the Doctor said immediately, concerned momentarily for his own welfare.'I didn't think you could,' Steven said. 'How tall are you, Doctor?''Oh, five feet nine or ten. I've never measured this body. It's enough that I inhabit it.''And I'm about six feet.' He eyed the top of the pit again. 'I've an idea the Chumblies carved this pit to their own limitations.'The Doctor shook his head. 'I'm not quite with you.''Well, if you were to stand one of them on top of the other they'd still be well below the edge, wouldn't they?'The Doctor nodded. 'Yes.''But, of course, one couldn't stand on the other because they've got neither feet nor legs. Whereas we have.'Understanding dawned in the Doctor's eyes. He snapped his fingers. 'You have it. They didn't allow for either our height or our agility. What would trap them wouldn't necessarily do the same for us.''I'm glad you understand.' Steven's patience was wearing thin. Somewhere in the distance he could hear the familiar chittering sound of the robots. It lent some urgency to his att.i.tude. 'Right. I'll crouch down here against the side and you get up so that you can climb onto my shoulders.'He did so and the Doctor scrambled awkwardly up to his position, leaning his hands against the soil in readiness.'Now,' Steven said and slowly raised himself until he was upright, surprised at the Doctor's lack of weight, even though familiar with the slightness of his appearance. For his part the Doctor felt uneasy. There was an insecurity about his feet on Steven's shoulders, despite the fact that his ankles were being firmly gripped by the young man. He never had seen himself as part of a circus act and this experience was drawing him no nearer to it. But he too could now hear the sound of the robot. His fingers scrabbled upward for the edge of the drop. He strained and grunted but could not quite reach. Black dirt spattered into his face, but still he struggled, blinking to clear his eyes and trying to keep his mouth closed as much as possible.'Any luck?' Steven called.'I'm a matter of inches short of it,' the Doctor replied.'Hang on, then. I'm going to let go of your right ankle, but don't worry about it.'He did so and the Doctor was worried. He wobbled uncertainly, but managed to remain upright. And suddenly he found himself being inched further up. One hand against the side of the pit to help take the strain, Steven raised himself onto his toes and somehow managed to stay there, the calves of his legs telling him that, light though the Doctor was, they were unhappy about this unusual position. 'Try that,' he grunted.The Doctor's fingers clawed away againand found the edge. He gasped with relief and looked upward to see if he could possibly get a grip so that he could hoist himelf, though he doubted if this ageing body could manage such a thing. Still, the effort had to be made. What he saw above him was a Chumbley, its gun pointing in the usual direction, namely at the Doctor. But he was growing used to this and the situation was desperate. Praying that he wouldn't fall, he too inched his feet back and raised himself onto his toes. Steven's shirt began to slip on his shoulders and the Doctor felt his balance beginning to go. Sweat beaded his forehead. The last thing he could take was a fall from this height. In total desperation he lunged for the only thing he could get a grip on. This happened to be the metal skirting of the Chumbley. Inside it was a protruding rim and this the Doctor locked onto with both hands. And there he hung, staring upward with no little trepidation, suspended from this machine which was displaying no noticeable signs of friendliness.'Are you there, Doctor?' Steven called, in some pain now and urgently needing relief.'Heaven only knows where I am,' the Doctor replied through gritted teeth. 'But I think I'm in trouble.''Are you all right if I move away?''It makes no difference to me now.'Steven stepped back and looked up. It was a strange sight that greeted his eyes, the weirdly-dressed Doctor hanging rigid with fear from the skirt of his metal enemy. Clearly something had to be done, and quickly. He sized up the situation and came up with the only answer.'Have you got a firm grip, Doctor?''As firm as I can manage.''I'm going to pull hard on your ankles.''You're going to do what?' the Doctor cried.But this was no time for argument. He grasped the Doctor's ankles, readied himself and pulled hard. The Doctor hung grimly on, convinced that he was about to lose all his fingernails. 'Have you gone mad?' he cried as he saw the Chumbley moving inch by inch over the edge.'It's the only thing to do.''But you're breaking my hands.''Yes, yes, yes.'Steven gave another tug and down the Doctor came, to be caught in Steven's waiting arms. But he did not fall alone. The Chumbley was teetering on the edge before their dumbstruck gaze. Its wheels spun backward and soil cascaded from them. But to no avail. There came an awesome moment when it seemed to be leaning over at some forty-five degrees, then it fell to the bottom with a great crash of metal.Steven grinned. 'That's what I wanted.'The Chumbley lay on its side, quite helpless, its gun snapped, wheels spinning uselessly in the air. The arms emerged from its body and it tried to lever itself up, but the effort was in vain; they weren't long enough. It was as much of a threat now as a tortoise flipped onto its back.'Can you turn it off?' Steven asked the Doctor.The Doctor dug about in his jacket pocket and drew out a screwdriver. 'I can try.' He looked sharply at Steven. 'Always a.s.suming, of course, that my fingers will still work.'Steven was offended. 'Well, we got it down, didn't we?'The Doctor moved cautiously toward the machine. 'Almost disabling me in the process,' he added. He examined the back of the machine's headpiece. Sure enough, there was an inspection hatch there. He sighed with relief as he saw that the Rills used screws to secure such things and set to to get them out. They were tightly set but well-lubricated, so within minutes they were free and the Doctor lifted the hatch clear. Putting it aside he looked carefully at the wires, coils and other unidentifiable parts that made the robot function. He had to hand it to the Rills: they certainly were technologically advanced, sufficiently so to baffle even him initially. But it was only a matter of different means to the same end. He had encountered robots before. He would use his own advanced technique to stop the thing: that is to say, he would pull out everything within sight until his aim was achieved. Promptly he put his fingers in and did precisely that. It was quite enjoyable. Wire after wire came free under his tugging until they hung like a bunch of straw from the back of the robot's head. And finally it was still. The wheels stopped spinning, the arms gave way and it lay there dumb and, to all intents and purposes, dead.The Doctor stepped back and surveyed his handiwork with satisfaction. 'That seems to have done it.'Good.' Steven put his hands beneath the robot. 'Help me get it upright, will you, Doctor?''Why d'you want that?''So that we can stand on it.'The Doctor looked up at the top of the pit, shrugged and also put his hands beneath the robot. It was far from being light work. The Chumbley seemed to weigh a ton and the two were gasping for breath when they finally set it upright. Once there, however, it was easy to move. Steven trundled it to the side and sc.r.a.ped soil under the wheels to secure them. He hoisted himself up and made sure of his footing on the head. Then he crouched and held out his hands to the Doctor. 'Right, up you come.'The Doctor was baffled. 'What foolishness is this?''We get you up here, then you stand on my shoulders and climb out. It's quite simple,' Steven said patiently.'Is it?' But he took Steven's hands nevertheless and was hoisted up, to find himself pressed face to face against the young man, with no room to move back. 'I don't like this at all.'But Steven eased himself down to a crouching position. 'Right, Doctor. Up on my shoulders.'Wary of falling, the Doctor scrambled up and stood with his hands against the pit side.'Ready?''When you are.'Steven gently eased himself upright and the Doctor's hands stepped their way up the side and over the top. He found himself chest and shoulders above it and climbed easily onto the surface. Immediately he lay flat and stretched out his hands to Steven. The young man took them and leapt up and over. They stood and looked down upon the disabled Chumbley.'It seems a shame to leave it like that,' Steven said.'Don't you worry, my boy, no-one abandons machinery like that. His friends will be along soon to get him out.''Very soon, I should think. We'd better be on our way.'They set off for the ship as the distant chittering of the rescue party reached their ears and speeded their steps.The battered ship loomed above them and the Doctor paused at the entry to fish out his screwdriver again. He went to the hull and scratched through the s.p.a.ce-dirt to the body itself. He looked closely. 'As I thought, Steven. There's nothing particularly advanced about this material. It's tough, but not impregnable. A reasonably common metal with nothing special about it.''So?' Steven said.'So?' The Doctor sniffed. 'So much for their female scientists.''Biased, aren't we?''Amateurism never impresses me. Well, let's go and see our lady friends. It's no good you standing here admiring the scenery.'Vicki was relieved to see them. 'What took you so long?''We were held up by a Chumbley,' Steven said. 'Were you hurt at all?''No, no, my dear.' The Doctor smiled soothingly. 'Even though it tried to blow up the TARDIS while we were in it.'Maaga had entered while he was speaking. 'He did not succeed?''Well, of course he didn't,' the Doctor snapped. 'We're here, aren't we? And my ship isn't a piece of old tin like this.''It serves its purpose.''More or less. Frankly, I wouldn't venture anywhere in it. I'd be terrified of it falling to bits about me.'Maaga gestured to Drahvin One who had brought them in. The minion depressed a lever and the door hummed shut. The Doctor was annoyed. 'Is that necessary?''We have to protect ourselves against the machines,' Maaga replied. 'But we are wasting time. Did you learn anything more about this planet?''Only confirming what you already know.' The Doctor saw no reason for telling the truth. 'This planet has exactly fourteen dawns to live. Then comes the big bang.'Steven concealed his surprise at the Doctor's words. He saw no reason for the lie, but then no-one ever knew what was going on in the Doctor's mind. It was murky and devious and ploughed its own furrow, when it wasn't flying off in all directions.'Fourteen dawns,' Maaga mused. 'Doctor, will you help us?''To do what, exactly?''To capture the Rills' s.p.a.ceship so that we can escape.''And how do I do that, mmm? And, of course, the other question: what happens to the Rills if you succeed?'Maaga's lips tightened. 'They stay on this planet.''But they'll be blown up,' Vicki protested. 'Why couldn't you take them off with you?'Maaga was growing tired of this girl. She was not used to being questioned and doubted. Hers was to command and others to obey. Without that arrangement there could be no order. And already she was being delayed. But then, she reminded herself, she had to be civil or it was possible that this strange fellow called the Doctor would refuse to help. Of course, he could be forced, but willing co-operation would be better. She contained the snappy answer she'd been about to give. 'They are murderers and they are evil. Totally evil. If you were to see them you would know it immediately.''We have only your word for that,' the Doctor observed. 'But I'd better point out to you that we cannot help you at all.''Why not?''Because I kill nothing. I'm not permitted to even if I wanted to, which I don't. As for my friends here: they aren't made that way. No, no, anything involving the death of another being is out of the question.'Maaga stared at him coldly. 'I am interested to know how your species has managed to survive this long.''By the use of a moral code.''And what is that?''I don't believe it,' Steven said. 'You don't know what a moral code is?''If I did I would not have asked the question.' 'It's 'But he was interrupted by the Doctor. 'Never mind all that. You might as well talk to a post for all the good it'll do. The point is, we are in no position to be of a.s.sistance. Now if you'd be so kind as to open that door we'll be on our way.''You do not fully understand the situation,' Maaga said. 'It is a very basic one: either the Rills die or we do.'The Doctor was growing tired of such single-mindedness. In fact, he wasn't sure that it wasn't so much single as simple. Whatever it was, it was beginning to grate on his nerves. 'You could both get off together, couldn't you? Did it never occur to you that if you joined forces you'd probably be away from this planet in no time at all? Your problems would then be solved, out into s.p.a.ce and no-one left behind.''Impossible.''What's so impossible about it?' Steven asked. 'Have you ever tried being friendly?''Oh, she wouldn't do that,' Vicki said scornfully. 'I reckon she wants to be enemies.''The situation was forced upon us,' Maaga replied. 'They killed one of my soldiers.''It could have been a mistake,' Steven pointed out. 'After all, there you we