91Èȱ¬

"Anyway," asked the Doctor. "How did you know to come out when the Auton arrived?" Joe Grundy shuffled his feet. "Ah, that would be my grandson, Edward." "The tall, thin young man." "Ah, that's him. He's sort of my eyes and ears, you might say." The Doctor had the distinct impression that Joe wasn't telling him something. "Anyway," he said. "Now that we've lost this lead, we have to revert to our original plan. You and I an this little device are going to have to go up to Grange Farm."

* * *

Jo sat on a wall at Bridge Farm. George Barford walked over to her. "Left you all on his own, has he?" "Oh, I'm used to the Doctor suddenly rushing off. It happens all the time. That was a good shot of yours." "Oh, it weren't nothing special. Catching a pheasant in flight's much harder. Or shooting at a poacher so that you really put him off but don't actually do him any damage. Anyway, can I give you a lift back into the village." "No – but I'll tell you what you can do for me. Which way is Lakey Hill?"

* * *

The Master flicked a few operating dials on the console in front of him. With any luck Mr Barford should have disposed of the Doctor by now. Still, the Doctor had shown a distinct disinclination to die in the past, so he'd best have a back-up plan ready. A tall figure walked in. "Our sources report that that Doctor is still alive." "Really? Well, I was afraid of that. Still, hopefully he and his allies will remove the extra player, before we make our move."

* * *

The Doctor brought Bessie to a halt just outside Grange Farm. He and Joe Grundy climbed out, Joe holding the anti-Auton device they'd built. At the same time, another car pulled up. Out got Dr Hathaway, the village GP. "Ah, Dr Hathaway," said the Doctor, "what brings you up here?" "Some new information from my notes on the two dead boys. I was looking at them again last night, and I think I might have some new information." "Well, let's go in and discuss this with Mr Sterling, shall we?"

* * *

The Master emerged from a small hole under a tree root. He breathed in the early evening air. "Delightful," he said, and strode off towards Ambridge. He failed to notice Jo Grant, concealed in the shadow of an oak tree twenty yards away. She gave him a minute to get out of sight, and then slipped under the tree roots, into the tunnel the Master had emerged from.

* * *

Oliver Sterling looked up from his mobile phone. "Ah, Doctor, there you are. I'm afraid I've had no luck contacting the Brigadier." "Really, Mr Sterling. Are you sure you've been trying?" Sterling got up from behind his desk. "I beg your pardon, Doctor?" "The Nestenes are well informed of our activity here. There is presumably a chief Auton acting as controller. It could be any one of us." "You surely don't suspect me?" "The energy unit was found on Grange Farm property." "Now, Doctor –"

Sterling suddenly leapt forward and pushed the Doctor violently. "Look out!" From where he had been standing, behind the Doctor, the Auton impersonating Dr Hathaway raised his weapon and fired. Sterling was struck full in the chest. "Mr Grundy! Quick!" Joe turned on Hathaway, pointed the anti-Auton device and switched it on. Hathaway immediately collapsed on the floor, and his features started to melt.

"So it were him," said Joe. "He were the chief Auton. How's Sterling?" "Dead, I'm afraid," said the Doctor, kneeling by his body. "I'm very sorry, sir, I wholly misjudged you." "Now what?" "Where does Doctor Hathaway live?" "Honeysuckle Cottage." "Then that's where we'll find our answers."

* * *

Jo Grant slipped down the underground tunnels quietly, using all her intelligence training. She could see that there was a light at the far end, giving illumination. Suddenly she saw a shadow, and pressed herself against the wall. Shortly, the cause of the shadow came around a corner in the tunnel. She recognized it instantly.

* * *

In Honeysuckle Cottage, the Doctor came through into the front room, carrying the Nestene energy unit. It was completely dead. "Well that seems to wrap up the Auton menace. Let's go, Mr Grundy." Joe opened the door, and they walked out. "How very well done of you, Doctor." The Master was stood outside the front door. Despite the fading light, the Doctor could tell he was smiling.

"You," said Joe Grundy. "I remember you. Didn't much like you then." "I think you must have me confused with someone else, you doddering old fool. Anyway, Doctor, you've saved me and my associates a great deal of trouble in eliminating the Autons." "And who are you associates?" "Oh, I don't think you need concern yourself with that, right now. I'd be more concerned about your immediate prospects of survival." "You seem to be forgetting there's two of us, and only one of you." "Oh, Doctor, I assure you I'm not alone."

A number of figures emerged from the shadows to stand behind the Master. "'Ere," said Joe, "That's John Higgs, and Tracy Horrobin, and them kids that were killed." All the figures had a faint blue glow about their mouths. At a signal from the Master, they moved towards the Doctor and Joe.

* * *

The figure was tall, helmeted, and covered in scaly green armour. Jo had seen creatures like this before, on the far-away planet of Peladon. They came from Mars, but the Doctor had called them Ice Warriors. On Peladon they had been allies against the machinations of Arcturus, but the Doctor had fought them before, and if they were working with the Master, they were unlikely to be friends on this occasion.

The two Ice Warriors walked back around the corner. Jo quietly backed out of the tunnel. The Doctor needed to be told about this.

* * *

At that exact moment, the Doctor had problems of his own. The Master had made zombies out of a number of the villagers, and they were now advancing on him and the former Time Lord who called himself Joe Grundy. "Now look here, Freda Fry," said Joe. "You knows me, and there's no need for ... for ... for whatever it is you're about to do to me."

The two Time Lords backed towards the door of Honeysuckle Cottage. The Doctor reached into his pocket, extracted a small packet, and hurled its contents in the faces of the possessed villagers. They hesitated a bit, and stepped back, leaving an opening towards Bessie. "Now, Joe, run!" said the Doctor. The two ran to the car, and leapt in. The Doctor immediately started Bessie up, and gravel was spat out by the wheels as he shot away towards Bridge Farm.

The Master watched them go. "Well, get after them," he said to the villagers. As they walked off after the roadster, the Master walked over to the abandoned MG Midget. He got in the driver's seat, and flexed his fingers. What a really rather magnificent machine, he thought. He got out a sonic screwdriver to start her up. "I wouldn't recommend doing that," said a familiar voice. The Master looked up into the barrel of an automatic pistol. He gave a thin smile, and raised his hands.

* * *

"So what were that you threw at them zombies?" asked Joe over the roar of the wind. "The same thing that drove the plant creature away from Bridge Farm – Helen Archer's cheese." "But how did you know it would work?" "I didn't. I just took a chance. But now we know, and we need to manufacture more, as soon as possible."

* * *

Somewhere along the way Jo Grant had got completely lost. She seemed to have wandered through tunnels for hours, and was no nearer getting out. It was almost pitch black, and she could see only what her pen torch illuminated. She stopped, in a desperate attempt to get her bearings. As she did so, she noticed two things.First, there was a distinct vibration, a humming. Oh no, she though, she must be getting close to the Ice Warriors' base.

Then she felt a small breeze come from above. Shining her torch over her head, she saw a shaft heading directly upwards. "Well," she said to herself, "this looks as good a way as any," and started to climb.

* * *

At Bridge Farm, Tony Archer's family and George Barford had been joined by Helen's boyfriend, Greg Turner. At George's suggestion, Greg had brought his own shotgun, and a supply of shells. "You're not serious," said Tony. "The cheese?" "I assure you I am deadly serious," said the Doctor. "There is obviously something in the formula of that cheese that interferes with these creatures. We have to duplicate it, and make as much as possible. Can you do that?" "I think so," said Helen. "I'll try anyway. Though I might not be able to get the exact formula. I was experimenting when that monster attacked me, and don't remember exactly what I did." "The we should get to work immediately. There isn't a moment to lose!"

* * *

Jo dislodged a cover on top of the shaft, and found herself in a hay barn. She breathed in the fresh air, before climbing out. "Hey, what are you doing there?" Jo turned to the voice, and saw a well-built farmer in his early forties. "It's a long story. Where am I?" "Brookfield Farm."

* * *

The Doctor and Joe were working with Helen when George Barford came into the workshop. "Doctor, you should come and see this." The Doctor followed George out into the farmyard. "Look," the gamekeeper said, pointing towards the road. The Doctor saw some faint blue glows, that seemed to be associated with moving figures. "Oh dear. That is unfortunate." "It's worse than that, Doctor," George said, pointing at the hills behind the farm house, and then across towards Heydon Wood. They were surrounded.

Concluding part>>