Read Online Doctor Who: The Edge of Destruction by Nigel Robinson - Free Book Online Page B

him. But after that experience Ian wasn’t prepared to trust the old man as far as he could throw him.
    Over at the other end of the control room the Doctor glared at them suspiciously, and strained to overhear their conversation. Barbara glared back at him and then, saying goodnight to Ian and Susan, she made her way to the sleeping quarters.
    Susan approached the Doctor. ‘Make it up with her, Grandfather—please,’ she said softly.
    The Doctor looked down at his granddaughter and snorted indignantly. There was no way he was going to make amends with Barbara; to do so would be to admit some weakness and culpability on his part—and that the Doctor would never allow himself to do. Indeed, it would be tantamount to admitting he was wrong—and the Doctor stubbornly believed that he was never wrong about anything.
    Susan shrugged her shoulders in defeat and followed Barbara out of the room.
    When the girls had gone, Ian turned back to the Doctor, who was now relaxing in a chair. He seemed purposely to ignore Ian’s continued presence in the room.
    ‘Doctor, some very strange things are happening here,’ Ian began. ‘I feel we are in a very dangerous situation.’
    The Doctor raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh, do you now?’ he asked haughtily.
    ‘Yes, I do,’ replied Ian, his tone hardening slightly in automatic response to the Doctor’s supercilious manner. ‘I think it’s time to forget whatever personal quarrels we may have with each other.’
    ‘Really?’
    For the sake of us all, stop being so damn superior and acting like a spoilt brat! thought Ian. ‘I think you should go and apologise to Barbara,’ he said sternly.
    ‘Oh, should I, young man?’ the Doctor said. ‘Chesterton, the tone you take with me seems to suggest that you consider me as one of your pupils at that preposterous school of yours—’
    ‘That’s not fair,’ Ian interrupted him.
    The Doctor stood up and drew himself up to his full height.
    ‘Young man, I’m afraid we have no time for codes and manners,’ he declared loftily, treating Ian exactly as many of his former colleagues would treat a dim-witted pupil. ‘I don’t underestimate the dangers—if they do indeed exist. But I must have time to think! I have found that rash action is worse than no action at all.’
    ‘I don’t see anything rash in apologising to Barbara,’ said Ian, and sipped at his drink.
    The Doctor merely laughed off-handedly.
    ‘Frankly, Doctor, I find it very difficult to understand you or even to keep pace with you at times,’ Ian admitted.
    The Doctor’s eyes sparkled with conceit. ‘You mean to keep one jump ahead of me, Chesterton, and that you will never do. You need my knowledge and my ability to apply that knowledge; and then you need my experience to gain the fullest results.’
    ‘Results?’ said lan, realising how little he knew the old man and remembering the incident in the power rooms. ‘Results for good—or for evil?’
    ‘One man’s law is another man’s crime,’ replied the Doctor enigmatically. ‘Sleep on it, Chesterton, sleep on it.’
    Ian looked curiously at the old man and then drained his cup. He was already feeling very sleepy. Perhaps the Doctor was right after all: perhaps in the morning things would indeed seem clearer. But he would still lock his door—just in case.
    The Doctor watched him go and allowed himself a self-satisfied smirk. He chuckled; he really was immensely superior to everyone else on board the Ship, he thought.
    On the floor by his side his cup of beverage was left untouched. He was the only one who had not drunk it...
     
    ‘Who’s there?’ asked Barbara nervously as she heard a faint tapping at her door.
    ‘It’s only me—Susan,’ was the reply. ‘Can I come in?’ Barbara sighed with relief, thankful for any company, and got up out of bed to unlock the door. Susan was standing there in her nightgown.
    Susan looked down, trying hard to avoid Barbara’s eyes. ‘I just came to say I’m sorry